One Piece: The sky is azure, I just time-traveled today.

Page 28

Her heart skipped a beat, and her survival instinct made her struggle to sit up straight, squinting her eyes as she tried to see.

The black dot gradually grew larger, and its outline became clearer.

It was indeed a boat. Not large, but much sturdier than her dilapidated vessel. There seemed to be figures on board.

Hope, like a faint flame, was rekindled in her almost frozen heart.

Was it a merchant ship? A fishing boat? Or... pirates?

Whatever it is, she has to try. It's her only chance to survive and return to Ohara.

With her last ounce of strength, she raised her trembling arm and weakly waved it toward the ship.

A hoarse, almost inaudible cry came from his throat:

"Help……"

"Please... save me..."

The sound of the waves drowned out her faint voice.

The ship did not seem to change course, continuing to sail at a leisurely pace in its predetermined direction, forming a slight angle with her course.

The distance is slowly closing.

Olvia's heart sank little by little.

Didn't the other person see her?

Or...did you see it but don't want to cause trouble?

On this chaotic sea, indifference is the norm.

His strength rapidly waned as his hope faded, his vision blurred, and his waving arms fell limply to his sides.

She lay on the rough deck, panting heavily, the salty seawater splashing into her mouth, carrying the taste of despair.

Am I... going to die here?

To die in this sea, so close to home yet so far away?

She was unwilling to accept it...

Just before her consciousness was about to completely sink into darkness, she seemed to sense that the ship, which had been sailing parallel to hers, slightly adjusted its direction.

He moved closer to her.

With her last bit of strength, she lifted her head.

Through the blurry vision, the outline of the ship became clearer and clearer. A tall, silent figure could be seen on the ship, and... a small figure that seemed to be lying on the side of the ship, looking around curiously.

Olvia's pupils dilated slightly.

Then, endless darkness completely engulfed her.

The small boat slowly approached the nearly disintegrated wrecked ship floating on the sea.

Liu Jiu stood at the bow of the boat, his gaze calmly sweeping over the unconscious, disheveled woman on board. Her life force was as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, almost imperceptible.

He still recognized it.

She's Robin's biological mother?! That's too much of a coincidence!

Robin also lay on the ship's railing, watching the unfamiliar woman with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness, because the woman was lying face down. She looked terrible, as if she had experienced something horrific.

Liu Jiu did not act immediately, but simply steered the small boat to maintain a distance from the wrecked ship so that they would not collide.

The sea breeze howled, blowing the woman's disheveled hair.

After a while, seeing that the woman remained motionless, Liu Jiu lightly leaped, landing as if weightless, on the dilapidated boat. The boat rocked violently from the force of his landing.

He crouched down and checked the woman's condition.

The injuries were severe, with excessive blood loss, severe dehydration, and exhaustion... The only reason I've managed to hold on until now is because of an amazing willpower.

He extended two fingers and placed them on the woman's cold wrist; a faint, invisible ripple traveled along his fingertips.

It wasn't treatment; it was more like...exploration.

A few seconds later, he withdrew his hand, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

The woman's vitality was even weaker than he had expected. Moreover, there seemed to be some kind of... tracking mark remaining in her body? It was very well hidden, but it couldn't escape his perception.

It is a tactic employed by the World Government (CP).

He stood up, glanced at his small, not-so-spacious boat, and then at the unconscious woman.

Bringing her along means risk. Being tracked by the World Government, unknown troubles, and… the depletion of resources.

If we don't take her with us, she'll surely die.

Liu Jiu stood there silently, the sea breeze ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead.

On his boat, Robin asked softly, "Uncle, is that aunt... still alive?"

Liu Jiu didn't turn around, but simply gave a faint "hmm".

He finally bent down, his movements not gentle, but steady enough to lift the unconscious woman up by the waist. The woman's body was frighteningly light.

He held her in his arms, leaped back into his small boat, and gently placed her on the relatively dry deck.

Robin immediately came closer, looking at the woman's pale face and cracked lips, his eyes filled with sympathy.

At the same time, I finally felt a sense of familiarity.

"Will she...die?"

Liu Jiu didn't answer. Instead, he took out a water bag from his baggage, uncorked it, and gently dripped a small amount of water into the woman's chapped lips while supporting the back of her neck with one hand.

Most of the water flowed down the corners of her lips, but it seemed that a little bit still slipped into her throat.

The woman's bloodless throat moved slightly.

Liu Jiu put down the water bag, then took out some clean strips of cloth, dipped them in alcohol, and roughly wiped away the more obvious dirt and bloodstains on her face and arms to prevent infection of the wounds.

His actions remained devoid of warmth, as if he were handling an object, but they were effective enough.

Robin watched from the side, wanting to help but not knowing where to start.

After doing all that, Liu Jiu ignored the woman and returned to the stern to continue steering the ship.

The small boat resumed its voyage, but now there was an unconscious passenger on board.

Robin sat next to the woman, glancing at her every now and then, then at Liu Jiu's silent back.

"Uncle, when will she wake up?!"

Chapter 28: The Care from Robin

The small boat sailed on the gloomy sea for another half day.

Olvia remained unconscious, occasionally letting out a few unconscious groans of pain due to the rocking of the ship.

Following Liu Jiu's instructions, Robin would occasionally moisten her lips with water and carefully stand by her side.

Liu Jiu remained silent at the helm, his gaze occasionally sweeping across the sea, wary of any possible tracking.

As dusk fell, the outline of an island came into view. It was not a bustling island, but it seemed sufficient to provide supplies and temporary shelter.

As they drew closer, several warships flying naval flags could be clearly seen moored in the harbor, and naval soldiers in white uniforms patrolled the docks, checking people boarding the island; the atmosphere was somewhat tense.

Liu Jiu maneuvered the small boat, not heading directly to the main dock, but instead circling around to a relatively secluded cove on the other side of the island where fishing boats gathered.

He anchored the boat and secured the mooring lines.

Then, he went to Olvia, who was still unconscious, bent down, and carried her on his back. The woman's body was very light, and she could hardly feel his weight as she lay on his back.

He adjusted his position, letting Olvia's face rest against his back, then reached out and brushed her disheveled, blood-stained hair down, deliberately obscuring most of her face.

After doing all that, he looked at Robin standing to the side and stretched out his free hand.

Robin glanced at the aunt whose face was hidden by her hair on his back, then at his outstretched hand, nodded obediently, and placed his little hand into his large palm.

With one hand steadily carrying Olvia on his back and the other holding Robin's hand, Liu Jiu jumped off the small boat and stepped onto the island's land.

He kept his head down, walking at a moderate pace, mingling among the fishermen returning with their nets, heading towards the island.

The sounds of naval questioning could be faintly heard coming from the direction of the port.

Naval soldiers were holding portraits and comparing them one by one with the faces of the people who had landed on the island. The person in the portrait vaguely resembled Olvia, only more clearly and looked more haggard.

Liu Jiu didn't stop walking, nor did he even glance in that direction. He turned slightly to the side, cleverly blocking any possible view with his tall stature and the loose hair of Olvia on his back.

Robin gripped his hand tightly, her little face tense and a little nervous, but she tried her best to imitate Liu Jiu, walking forward without looking to the side.

The inspecting sailors glanced at the group of fishermen, who reeked of fish, and at the silent man in the middle carrying what appeared to be a sick family member and leading a child, but paid them little attention. Their focus was more on those who were alone or looked suspicious outsiders.

With Olvia on his back and Robin by the hand, Liu Jiu crossed the dock area without incident and entered the relatively bustling town inside the island.

Instead of lingering in the bustling areas, he wandered through the alleyways, eventually finding a relatively clean but secluded house on the edge of town.

The landlady was a taciturn old lady. She glanced at Liu Jiu, then at the unconscious woman and timid little girl on his back, and without asking any questions, she accepted the money and gave him the key.

The room was small and simply furnished, but it was enough to shelter us from the wind and rain, and it was much safer than on a ship.

Liu Jiu gently placed Olvia on the only bed in the room.

Robin immediately went to the bedside and looked worriedly at his aunt who was still unconscious.

After checking the doors and windows and confirming they were safe, Liu Jiu said to Robin:

“Look at her.”

Then he turned and went out the door, probably to buy necessary medicines and food.

The room fell silent, save for Olvia's faint breathing and the faint sounds of bustling city life outside the window.

Robin moved a small stool and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the unfamiliar, scarred aunt on the bed, at the profile of her face hidden by her hair, and felt a mixture of curiosity and a strange... sense of familiarity.

She reached out to help the aunt tidy up her messy hair, but when her fingertips were about to touch her, she timidly withdrew them.

She just sat quietly, keeping watch.

Waiting for her uncle to come back, and also waiting... for this aunt to wake up.

When Liu Jiu returned, it was already dark.