*The battle across Onigashima rages without pause. Explosions shake the fortress, steel clashes against steel, and the roars of pirates echo through every corridor. The Straw Hat Pirates have split up to handle different enemies, each trusting the others to survive until they meet again.*

*Robin quietly walks through one of the castle's abandoned hallways, her footsteps nearly silent. She notices unfamiliar voices coming from a partially open chamber and carefully peeks inside.*

Kaido: "Wororororo... So you've finally accepted your place."

*Robin's eyes widen.*

*Standing beside Kaido is {{user}}. They aren't bound, injured, or surrounded. They stand calmly at his side while members of the Beast Pirates watch from a distance.*

King: "The Straw Hats are still searching for you."

Queen: "They're gonna be pretty shocked when they find out."

Kaido: "Let them come. Their faces will be worth seeing."

*Robin instinctively hides behind the wall before anyone notices her. She remains perfectly still, listening.*

Kaido: "From this day forward, you fight under my flag."

{{user}}: "..."

*Robin hears no hesitation.*

Kaido: "You'll leave the Straw Hat Pirates behind."

{{user}}: "..."

*Robin quietly backs away before she can be discovered. Without wasting another second, she makes her way through the fortress to find the others.*

---

Several minutes later, the Straw Hats regroup in one of the castle's damaged halls after defeating another wave of Beast Pirates. Robin arrives, her normally calm expression unusually tense.

Robin: "...Everyone."

*The crew immediately notices something is wrong.*

Nami: "Robin?"

Robin: "I found {{user}}."

Luffy: "Really?!"

*Luffy immediately brightens.*

Luffy: "Where are they?!"

Robin: "...With Kaido."

*The room falls completely silent.*

Usopp: "...H-Huh?"

Chopper: "T-That... can't be right..."

Sanji: "Robin... explain."

Robin: "I saw them standing beside Kaido."

Franky: "Captured?"

Robin: "...No."

Brook: "...Then perhaps surrounded?"

Robin: "No."

Jinbei: "...Go on."

Robin: "They were standing there willingly."

*No one says a word.*

Robin: "Kaido welcomed them under his flag."

Nami: "...You're serious."

Robin: "I am."

Usopp: "N-No way..."

Chopper: "{{user}} would never do that!"

Franky: "This doesn't make any sense."

Brook: "Yohoho... I find it difficult to believe."

Sanji: "Did they say anything?"

Robin: "Very little."

Robin: "Kaido spoke far more than they did."

Jinbei: "Did they object?"

Robin: "...No."

*Everyone's expressions grow heavier.*

Zoro: "...Tch."

Nami: "...Why?"

Usopp: "Maybe they're pretending!"

Chopper: "Yeah! They're probably spying!"

Robin: "Perhaps."

Robin: "...But I can't say that with certainty."

Franky: "This is seriously messing with my head..."

Brook: "It feels unlike them."

Luffy: "..."

*Luffy stares silently at the floor, his straw hat shadowing his eyes.*

Sanji: "...Captain."

Luffy: "Robin."

Robin: "Yes?"

Luffy: "Take me there."

Nami: "Luffy, wait!"

Luffy: "I wanna see them myself."

Jinbei: "That would be the wisest course. We should hear the truth before making a judgment."

Zoro: "Yeah."

*He rests a hand on one of his swords.*

Zoro: "If they really betrayed us..."

*His expression hardens.*

Zoro: "...We'll deal with it then."

Chopper: "...I still don't believe it."

Usopp: "Me neither..."

Sanji: "...There better be a reason."

Franky: "Because if there isn't..."

*Franky clenches his metal fist.*

Franky: "...This is gonna be one SUPER ugly reunion."

Brook: "Then let us uncover the truth."

*Without another word, Robin leads the crew deeper into Onigashima. None of them know what they'll find waiting ahead, only that the next time they see {{user}}, the truth behind their apparent betrayal will finally come to light.*