After firming the pn, Sengoku stated that he would dispatch persoo Water Seven as soon as possible to deliver the seastone enviroal fusion teology to Tom. Tom would then colborate with members of the Marine Sce Division to develop a new geion of sea trains. The goal was to implement this proje the Calm Belt as quickly as possible.

  The Aqua Laguna arrived two days earlier than usual this year. The heavy rain hadn't stopped, and the tsunami was already r. Standing iallest building in Water Seven, Cudius marveled at the massive waves geed by the Aqua Laguna.

  What surprised him even more was the tsunami's peculiar behavior.

  Instead of a single wave crashing head-on, it created a panoramic se where huge waves rose all around the city, eventually verging in the heart of Water Seven.

  "This is incredible," Cudius muttered in amazement. "For a city like Water Seven to withstand this year after year without sinking into the o, it's as if it's truly protected by the gods."

  At first, Cudius thought the massive tsunamis would collide violently within Water Seven, but to his surprise, the city's intricate waterway system dramatically reduced the impact. By the time the waves reached the lower three levels of the city, most of their force had been dispersed. Instead of a catastrophic collision, the lower levels were merely submerged, with no signifit destru.

  Cudius didn't uand the sce behind it, but he couldn't help but feel impressed. "This is on another level. A city of water that has stood strong for turies, it's unbelievable."

  The tsunami flooded the lower three levels of Water Seven, and due to the rising sea levels during this period, the tides wouldn't recede until Aqua Laguna subsided pletely in a few days. Aside from the breathtaking view of the initial tsunami, there wasn't much to see afterward.

  Smaller waves would tinue rolling in, but they posed no real danger. From his vantage point, Cudius could even spot thrill-seekers surfing amidst the choppy waters.

  "This sea really is full of strange people," Cudius murmured to himself.

  After lingering in Water Seven for a few more days, the Prometheus, a massive sailing warship, finally departed the city. Its destination was the prehistorid, Little Garden.

  For some reason, the sailors couldn't shake off a strange feeling of familiarity about the route they were taking.

  Sitting in the ship's spacious library, Cudius held an ats filled with detailed information about a creatures, most notably dinosaurs. The book featured descriptions and stunning illustrations of various dinosaurs, even including photos taken on the prehistorid.

  However, Cudius seemed distracted. Though his eyes were fixed on the pages, he didn't flip to the one for nearly half an hour. His thoughts clearly weren't on the book in front of him.

  Robin, who had grown into a young woman by this time, was also in the library. She wore a vender knit sweater, her figure already fully developed. She had added a pair of bck-rimmed gsses to her usual attire, a simple bination of jeans and sneakers, perhaps to match her schorly demeanor.

  Her jet-bck hair was tied into a ponytail, giving her a youthful yet posed appearahere was a quiet elegance about her, enhanced by her faintly bookish aura.

  Every time Robin visited a new isnd, she would buy as many books as she could find. Over the years, she had even enlisted the help of figures like Crocodile, Dofmingo, Enel, and Spao procure rare books from across the world.

  While Robin didn't frequently appear in Cudius's inner circle, everyone on the Prometheus khat she was one of his trusted fidants. She had a perma residence aboard the ship, and Cudius never hid anything from her. It was clear to everyohat Robie her quiet and introverted nature, was an indispensable part of Cudius's world.

  Even Enel, known for his idiosyncratiature, occasionally sent her journals and other writings he had "acquired" during his adventures. Of course, Enel didn't write them himself, he simply took them from others.

  Cudius's wandering mind had dulled his seo the point that he didn't noti arm suddenly sprouting from his shoulder. The hand at the end of the arm opeo reveal an eye, peering ily at him. The sight was eerie, to say the least.

  Robin had used her Devil Fruit power to create the eye, whiow stared at the page Cudius had been stu, a picture of a triceratops.

  Still puzzled by his ck of focus, Robin finally spoke from her per the library's third-floor baly. "If you're this distracted, maybe you should take a walk and enjoy the sea view instead of wasting your time here."

  Her voice startled Cudius back to reality. Wheuro look, his eyes fell ora hand and eye on his shoulder. Startled, his hand twitched, and the book nearly fell onto his p in an unfortunate position.

  Thankfully, his reflexes saved him in the nick of time. Annoyed, he pined, " you not do that without warning? Growing ara hand out of nowhere is freaky!"

  Robin's response was calm, as always. "You used to notice immediately. This time, you didn't eve fes."

  "I was just a little lost in thought," Cudius replied with a wry smile.

  Closing the book, Robin looked at him curiously. "What's on your mind?"

  Cudius paused before chug. "It's rare for you to take an i in my thoughts."

  Robin's expression stiffened slightly. Over the past few years, she had rarely left the Prometheus, preferring the quiet pany of books to social iion. Cudius's observation made her feel a little self-scious.

  Before Robin could figure out how to respond, Cudius stood ahe book aside. "I've been thinking about how to talk to my cousin."

  "Dofmingo?" Robin asked, her brow furrowing. "Don't you two get along well? Did something happen?"

  Cudius let out a soft ugh and shook his head. "No, nothing like that. I just feel… a little guilty."

  Robin tilted her head slightly, clearly intrigued, but before her curiosity could deepen, Cudius made up his mind. "Hesitating isn't like me. I'll just call him."

  Though she was still curious about his cryptic words, Robin decided not to press further. Her momentary i in his mood had already faded. She nodded and picked up the book Cudius had set dowreating back to her reading.

  Cudius, meanwhile, picked up his transponder snail and called Dofmingo.

  Sihe events on Minion Isnd, he had avoided tag his younger cousin. Deep down, he didn't know how to face him.

  Even though Cudius hadn't directly plotted against Dofmingo, he couldn't deny his role in Rosinante's death. He could have intervened and ged the oute, but he had chosen not to.

  The memory of Stussy telling him about how Dofmingo had cradled Rosinante's body a still lingered in his mind, filling him with an unshakable sense of guilt. Though Dofmingo likely had no idea about Cudius's involvement, the weight of it was something Cudius couldn't ignore.

  When the call ected, Dofmingo's surprised voice came through. "Cousin?"

  "It's me," Cudius said softly before f a more cheerful tone. "How have you been?"

  Dofmingo chuckled. "Business is good, the crew is strong, and our influen the underworld is growing steadily. Even the pirate business is booming."

  "Good, good," Cudius said with a faint smile. He already knew all of this, haviabs on Dofmingo despite their ck of tact.

  After a brief pause, Dofmingo added, "Cousin… were you worried about me?"

  "…Yes," Cudius admitted after a moment's hesitation.

  Dofmingo sighed, the out a soft ugh. "It was hard at first, but I've moved on now."