Year 1520 of the Sea Calendar.
At this time, Shimotsuki Lumaru was in a casino called Rain Dinner in Rainbase, a super-power in the first half of the Grand Line, Alabasta.
The capital of Alabasta is Alubarna, with a standing army of 600,000.
Inside the casino, there was a clamor.
Lumaru had applied a "soundproof wall" to himself. A katana lay on the table, which he had taken from Moonlight Moria, bringing Shimotsuki Ryuma's remains back to Wano Country.
In Wano Country, Onimaru had already consumed the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Great Monk.
This gave Lumaru an additional combat force for restoring his country.
Lumaru blocked out the surrounding noise, unable to hear what the people around him were saying!
However, on the gambling table, Lumaru's front was piled high with golden chips. One golden chip could be exchanged for 10,000 Berries.
And Lumaru had over 300 in front of him.
This was a huge sum, but Lumaru's purpose in Rainbase was not for money, but to pass the time.
Now that the Revolutionary Army had ample personnel, he was dispatched for an external mission.
Since Lumaru joined the Revolutionaries, the Revolutionaries had been full of talent: Sabo, Trafalgar Law, Fisher Tiger.
The Revolutionaries had never worried about funding either.
Going back to the year 1504 of the Sea Calendar, Lumaru, after calculations, knew that Ginny would be abducted by the Celestial Dragons that year, enduring eight years of slavery.
She eventually died from the Jade Scale Disease!
The Jade Scale Disease was also inherited by Ginny's daughter, Jewelry Bonney.
However, with Lumaru's pre-knowledge, Ginny, under the protection of Lumaru and Bing Sanlang, repelled the Celestial Dragons' outstretched claws.
After the ordeal, Kuma finally confessed his feelings to Ginny.
The two married and gave birth to a black-haired Bonney, who was 16 years old and also a user of the Age-Age Fruit.
Shimotsuki Lumaru's vassal, Omamori Heisaburo, was on a mission in North Blue in the year 1510 of the Sea Calendar. The 16-year-old Lumaru was on Rubek Island in North Blue, waiting for an opportunity.
His goal was to seize the Ope-Ope no Mi.
Lumaru used the power of the Silence Fruit to have Bing Sanlang attack the pirate crew belonging to Diez Barrels, successfully obtaining the Ope-Ope no Mi and having Bing Sanlang consume it.
And at this critical moment, Trafalgar Law and Rocinante were taken away by Lumaru using his Devil Fruit ability, "Silence."
Bing Sanlang resolutely chose to stay, facing Doflamingo's fierce attack alone.
He showed no fear, gripping the weapon in his hand tightly, his gaze fixed on the enemy before him.
Seeing this, Doflamingo's lips curled into a cold sneer. He was full of confidence in his own strength, believing Bing Sanlang was merely overestimating himself.
However, Bing Sanlang was not intimidated by Doflamingo's aura. He swiftly launched an attack, engaging Doflamingo in a thrilling battle.
The two went back and forth, neither giving way, each move filled with power and skill.
Although Bing Sanlang was covering their retreat, he refused to back down easily.
Doflamingo gradually realized that his opponent was no ordinary foe. He began to go all out, wanting to end the battle as quickly as possible.
After a fierce exchange.
Bing Sanlang finally found Doflamingo's weakness. He unleashed a killing blow, striking Doflamingo hard.
Doflamingo was severely wounded, falling to the ground, unable to stand again.
Bing Sanlang looked at Doflamingo lying on the ground, a sigh of relief escaping him.
But he himself was also covered in wounds, and quickly left the battlefield, leaving behind the utterly defeated Doflamingo.
And Law's Lead Poisoning had recovered under Bing Sanlang's treatment.
Afterward, Law joined the Revolutionary Army, while Rocinante left. His identity was relayed to Doflamingo by Vergo, who was secretly embedded in Marineford.
So Rocinante could only return to the Marine.
Currently, Lumaru is 26 years old and has been awakened to the Silence Fruit's ability for five years.
He has mastered all three types of Haki.
His Observation Haki can now see into the future.
His Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki could easily defeat Katakuri.
His swordsmanship is on par with Vista, the commander of the Fifth Division on Whitebeard's ship.
Despite his immense power, he is in Alabasta, waiting for the son of a cheat, Monkey D. Luffy!
Lumaru will assist Luffy here in defeating Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Then he will board Luffy's ship, and incidentally, guide his nephew Zoro's swordsmanship.
After all, Zoro has half the bloodline of the Shimozuki family.
... ...
"Sir, how about a glass of red wine?"
A clear and gentle female voice came. Lumaru turned his head and saw that it was Nico Robin.
"Red wine isn't strong enough—a glass of watermelon juice, please!"
Robin: "... ..."
"Please wait a moment."
Robin smiled politely, about to walk away...
"Wait, this glass of red wine, I'll treat you!"
Lumaru called out to Robin.
His fingers caressed a golden chip, and with a flick of his thumb, the chip landed on Robin's wine tray.
"Thank you, sir, I don't drink alcohol."
Robin still smiled politely.
Lumaru looked at the wheat-skinned Robin. At this stage, Robin preferred dark-colored (purple, black) clothing.
She liked sexy and sleek cuts, often wearing clothes with exposed midriffs, low necklines, and high slits to emphasize her figure.
She also often paired them with leather materials and high heels.
Robin is a tall, long-limbed young woman with long black hair.
Her appearance is inherited from her mother, Nico Olvia, with deep features, a distinctive high nose bridge and slender eyebrows, and deep blue pupils.
"It's okay. Whatever you want to drink, order it yourself. You can put it on my tab."
Lumaru felt a little unwilling to trouble Robin.
"Thank you, sir!"
Robin nodded slightly to Lumaru.
She didn't feel any malice from Lumaru.
Robin carried the wine tray, her deep blue eyes lingering on Lumaru's face for a moment.
This blue-haired young man leaned lazily against the back of his chair, a small mountain of golden chips piled in front of him, yet he seemed utterly indifferent to the wealth before him.
His gaze was deep and calm, without the fanaticism of a gambler or the arrogance of a rich man, but rather with a sense of weariness that seemed to see through everything.
What concerned her even more was his apparent obliviousness to the clamor of the surrounding gamblers, the clinking of chips, and the shouts of the dealers.
Robin brought the watermelon juice.
"Sir seems to have little interest in winning money?"
Robin asked tentatively, with a professional smile.
Her voice clearly penetrated Lumaru's soundproof wall and reached his ears—evidently, this barrier did not completely block sound in and out, but was controlled by him.
He could hear whoever he wanted to hear.
This was also the ability after the Silence Fruit awakened.
Lumaru raised an eyebrow, took the watermelon juice, and placed it on the gambling table.
He wasn't surprised that Robin would initiate conversation.
He casually picked up a golden chip, skillfully flipping it between his fingers, making a slight rubbing sound.
"Interest? Ah... winning or losing isn't important, it's just to pass the time."
He answered lazily, his gaze sweeping over Robin, "It's you, though, serving drinks in a place like this, don't you feel you're underutilized? The survivor of Ohara—Nico Robin."
The smile on Robin's face instantly froze, like a crack appearing in a delicate mask.
Her deep blue pupils suddenly constricted, and her heart gave a violent thump.
Her true identity, in this desert kingdom, in this chaotic casino, was so casually exposed by a stranger she had just met!
Danger!
A huge warning sign instantly filled her mind.
She subconsciously wanted to activate her ability, her fingers moving imperceptibly.
"Don't be nervous."
Lumaru's voice remained calm, even with a hint of reassurance.
He stopped playing with the chip, placing his hand flat on the gambling table, indicating he had no hostile intentions.
"I'm not interested in your 78 million Berries bounty, nor am I interested in reporting you. That little money,"
He glanced at the golden mountain in front of him, "isn't enough for me to sit here for an afternoon."
Robin forced herself to calm down.
Years of fleeing had taught her to quickly assess situations in extreme danger.
The other party indeed showed no malice or intention of capture.
On the contrary, his lazy attitude was as if he was merely stating a perfectly normal fact.
Moreover, he mentioned "passing the time" and "waiting for someone." Combined with the demeanor he displayed and the astonishing chips on the table... this person was definitely not simple.
"Sir is truly... astonishing with his words."
Robin's smile reappeared, but it was less professionally perfect than before, with more inquiry and caution.
"Someone who can so easily expose another's identity must not be an unknown figure himself. May I ask your name?"
"Shimotsuki Lumaru," Lumaru stated his name, his tone as casual as if introducing a random passerby.
"A... idler who dislikes trouble but has to find something to do."
He paused, his gaze seeming to pierce through the casino's ornate dome, looking into the distance.
"I'm waiting for a Straw Hat kid, a guy who will turn this sea upside down. He should be arriving soon."
A Straw Hat kid? Turning the sea upside down? Thoughts raced through Robin's mind.
She had heard some rumors about a newcomer from the East Blue, but the information was limited.
This Lumaru seemed to know a lot and was clearly waiting for someone here.
"It seems the person Sir is waiting for is also a troublesome character?"
Robin followed his words, gently placing the wine tray on the edge of Lumaru's gambling table, leaning slightly forward. This was a posture more willing to converse.
She needed more information to assess this mysterious man and his intentions.
"Trouble? Ha..."
Lumaru let out a rare, short chuckle, with a hint of helplessness, "That guy is simply a collection of troubles, a walking trouble-making machine. However,"
His eyes became somewhat distant, as if he saw a chaotic yet vibrant scene in the future.
"The troubles he brings often break some 'more troublesome' stalemates. The World Government's way of doing things, unchanging, is the biggest trouble, isn't it?"
These words, like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirred huge ripples in Robin's heart.
"World Government"... "unchanging"... these words, spoken by someone who seemed to be a strong individual, had a clear implication.
His perspective on the World Government subtly resonated with the thoughts buried deep within her own heart.
"It seems Sir also has many dissatisfactions with the current situation...?"
Robin's voice was even lower, the probing in her tone more obvious.
Who exactly was this Shimotsuki Lumaru?
A Revolutionary?
Or some other force?
What was his purpose in waiting for that Straw Hat kid?
Was his exposure of her identity a gesture of goodwill, or... did he have other motives?
The clamor of the casino was isolated by an invisible barrier, and around this gambling table piled with golden chips, a small, independent world seemed to have formed.
The conversation about "trouble," "waiting," and "the world" had just begun.
And the "troublesome" storm that Shimotsuki Lumaru was waiting for, a storm that would sweep through Alabasta and even the entire Grand Line, was riding the going merry, breaking through the waves, towards this scorching desert kingdom.
"Could you please convert my chips into Berries?"
Lumaru pointed at the golden chips on the table and began to chug his watermelon juice.
... ...
"We're finally here. Is this your country, Vivi!"
Nami looked at Princess Vivi of Alabasta. She had a similar hair color to Shimotsuki Lumaru.
Luffy jumped off the ship.
"Crocodile! Wait for me, I'll definitely punch you flying!"
Luffy shouted, as if making a vow.
Then Vivi, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and others successively disembarked.
Ace, who was searching for Blackbeard, also jumped off the ship.
Luffy was teaching the Kung Fu Manatee how to punch, astounding everyone.
Only Ace laughed heartily.
Ace's purpose in coming to Alabasta was to find Blackbeard Teach, who had killed his crewmate Thatch.