One Piece: The Strongest Creature

"...!"

Seeing Zoro's embarrassed expression, Kuina seemed to understand his thoughts. She smirked slightly, and with a flick of her fingers, she unlocked the cell door. The lock dissolved, almost as if it were melting, and fell to the ground.

Kuina then manipulated the remaining wine in the air, letting it float as she turned to leave the cell. Her parting words snapped Zoro back to reality.

"Wait...!"

Watching Kuina open the cell door and walk away, Zoro stood there momentarily, stunned. He rushed out, face flushed with confusion, and asked, "You're letting me go just like that? Aren't you worried your captain might punish you for this?"

Zoro would rather return to his cell than risk Kuina being punished because of him.

Technically, Zoro could leave anytime he wanted. The Cross Family hadn't cuffed him when they captured him; they'd only confiscated his three swords. 

With his strength and Haki skills, escaping would be no problem. But he chose not to.

Their careless imprisonment only highlighted the immense confidence they had in handling him.

Zoro knew that if he escaped, he'd likely be recaptured quickly unless he could reunite with all his crewmates immediately. Worse, his escape might even bring harm to them.

So, just like when Luffy recruited him, Zoro stayed put, waiting for the right time to act.

He wasn't aware, though, that the real reason for his comfortable treatment here was because of Kuina—and because Kahn admired him.

Out of the original Straw Hat Pirates, the three people Kahn respected most were Robin, Nami, and Zoro.

These three were the backbone of the crew. Without Robin, Luffy wouldn't be able to pursue the One Piece unless he found another who could read the Poneglyphs. Without Nami's unmatched navigation skills, the crew's journey would have been far more perilous. And without Zoro, the crew would lack a steadfast presence.

Knowing Zoro's loyalty and commitment, Kahn had often considered recruiting him, confident that once Zoro made up his mind, he'd never switch sides, even at the cost of his life.

"...Punish me?"

Kuina, unaware of Zoro's thoughts, turned back with a smirk. "Zoro, are you underestimating the Cross Family?"

"I don't mean to put you down, but you should understand the food chain here in the New World."

"Even if I were to let you go completely, no one would blame me," Kuina said calmly.

"For the Cross Family, rookies like you, who've only just entered the New World, simply aren't worth serious attention," she added. "If it weren't for the strict laws in the waters of Wano, where trespassers are sentenced to death or forced into permanent labour, my sister wouldn't have even bothered leaving town to deal with you."

Zoro fell silent, sensing the Cross Family's immense pride and disregard.

Just how powerful were they to dismiss an alliance fleet with a total bounty of over 5 billion berries? Including their subordinates, the total bounty hovered near 10 billion. This realization made Zoro's heart sink.

Imprisoned by such a formidable force, could Luffy and the others ever hope to escape?

Looking at Kuina, he hesitantly asked, "Kuina, Luffy… my captain. Is he… alive?"

"The Straw Hat?" Kuina replied without hesitation. "He and his sworn brothers are still alive.

The Revolutionary Army's leader, called 'the Master,' negotiated with us. The Master offered certain conditions. If the Revolutionary Army fulfills them, the Cross Family has agreed to release you all."

Relieved, Zoro sighed, but sadness crept in as he thought of his fallen friends, taken by Hancock's lightning attack. He felt a deep conflict—if Luffy ever sought vengeance against the Cross Family, what would that mean for Kuina, whose companions had harmed his own?

Would that mean he'd have to face her as an enemy?

Kuina had no idea of Zoro's turmoil. If she did, she might've laughed at him, mockingly, like when they were kids. She knew that the Straw Hat Pirates taking on the Cross Family would be harder than even defeating the Whitebeard Pirates. And if it came to that, Kuina wouldn't hold back.

Having trained with the Cross Family since childhood, Kuina had grown to embody Kahn's ideals, both mentally and physically. If Zoro hadn't been such a formative part of her past, her brightest opponent and her father's favorite student, she wouldn't have bothered visiting him or helping him.

After freeing him from his cell, Kuina treated Zoro to food and drink in the Flower Capital. She joined him in drinking sake, reminiscing about the past and sharing stories from their separate journeys.

Once Zoro had eaten and drunk his fill, he asked to return to his cell, but Kuina only smiled and led him somewhere unexpected. Suddenly, his surroundings twisted, and when his vision cleared, he realized he was no longer in Wano—or even the New World.

He was back in East Blue.

This was the reward Kuina had requested from Kahn. Now transformed in both body and spirit under Kahn's influence, he'd granted her wish.

Kuina had spoken with Zoro, but hadn't challenged him to a duel. Since becoming the user of the Lion Lion Fruit to help the Cross Family, she'd let go of her original dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman. She was no longer a pure swordsman and saw no need to test her skills against Zoro.

Having safely returned Zoro to East Blue, Kuina returned to Kahn, her face reddening slightly as she went to "plead guilty" for her actions.

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