After parting ways with Vivi and King Cobra, the ship slowly sailed down the middle of the Sandora River.
Issho turned his blind gaze toward Robin, who was leaning alone against the railing, and let out a quiet exclamation.
"I never imagined that Miss Robin would one day be personally invited aboard by Captain Will-san."
Robin gave a faint, elegant smile, her voice tinged with a helpless warmth. "Truth be told, I never expected anyone would actively invite me onto their ship either." "And our Captain Will-san didn't exactly leave me any room to refuse."
Despite her words, there wasn't the slightest trace of dissatisfaction in her tone—only a subtle note of relief.
Issho sensed it instantly. A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips.
Just then, Carina bounced over, grabbed Robin's hand, and beamed. "Come on, Robin! Let's go pick out your room before the good ones are taken." "You can have the one right next to Nami and me—it'll be way more convenient!"
Chatting brightly, she tugged the faintly surprised Robin toward the cabin.
Once Nami had set their course downriver, she hurried over to Will-san and asked with sparkling curiosity, "Will-san, where are we headed next?"
At the question, Issho slowly turned his head as well, clearly interested.
Will-san took a long swig of sherry instead of answering right away. Then, with a grin, he fished out the item Cobra had tossed him earlier and handed it to Nami.
Nami accepted it, eyes widening in shock. "This is… a permanent Log Pose?!"
"Yep."
Will-san's smile widened as he gazed toward the horizon at the bow. "That's our next destination."
––
Alabasta Kingdom, capital of Alubarna.
Inside the palace.
Vivi walked down the sunlit corridor, a soft smile on her face.
She had insisted on personally tidying the rooms Will-san and the others had used.
When she stepped into the largest bedroom, her gaze immediately landed on Will-san's jacket hanging from a rack.
Her eyes flickered. She walked over slowly, took it down, folded it carefully, and draped it over her arm.
Just as she turned to leave, something on the nearby table caught her eye—a letter resting atop a plain-looking book.
"…This is?"
She suddenly remembered: yesterday, Will-san had asked her for a blank notebook, saying he wanted to jot something down.
Curious, she picked up the envelope. Written on the front in bold strokes were the words "To Vivi."
"For me?"
Surprise flashed across her face. She quickly opened it.
To Vivi,
No need for long speeches. The book beneath this letter contains training methods to make you stronger. Practice them yourself, teach them to trusted people in the palace or army, or even pass them on to the children. That's all I have to say. Get stronger, Vivi.
– Will
"Training methods…?!"
Vivi's breath caught. She set the letter aside with trembling fingers and flipped open the book.
"Rokushiki…" "Three types of Haki…"
Page after page of meticulously written techniques stared back at her.
Her pupils shrank. Only now did she realize the staggering value of what she held. A storm of emotions surged in her chest.
"Will-san…"
––
Several days later, at sea.
The outline of an island slowly rose on the horizon.
"We're here at last!"
Will-san stood at the figurehead, staring ahead with a wild grin. "Bring her in closer!"
"Aye aye, Captain!" Nami called back cheerfully.
Issho, lounging in a deck chair and slurping noodles, suddenly lifted his head.
"The island ahead… feels extraordinarily lively."
Robin was seated on the steps leading to the upper deck, chin resting in one hand. At his words her eyes glinted with interest.
"When you say 'feels,' Issho-san, you mean that power Will-san has been telling us about these past few days—Haki, right?"
"Exactly," Issho replied with a gentle nod and a faint smile. "This is the power known as Observation Haki that Captain Will-san explained."
"I see…" Robin murmured thoughtfully. "No wonder Will-san is so insistent we train in Haki. It really can raise one's strength to an entirely new level."
So that's how he crushed Crocodile so effortlessly without even eating a Devil Fruit…
If Haki was honed properly, it clearly rivaled Devil Fruit powers—if not surpassed them.
Even before reaching this island, Will-san had already given her and Chopper a thorough rundown of the three types of Haki and how to awaken them. He'd recommended that she, Chopper, and Carina focus first on Armament Haki, while Nami was apparently better suited to Observation Haki.
Seeing Issho "see" the island from this distance only drove the point home.
Robin quietly resolved: I have to master Armament Haki as quickly as possible. I refuse to keep being dead weight.
Will-san overheard her and turned around with a grin.
"Oh yeah—Issho, about their Armament Haki training, and my own daily workouts… I'm gonna need you to help out a lot from now on."
Issho blinked, expression momentarily bewildered. "You need my help?"
"Yep!" Will-san laughed. "Your Devil Fruit isn't just for fighting—it's perfect for training the body."
"You mean… using the gravity I control?" Issho asked, realization dawning.
"Exactly. By adjusting the gravity to the right intensity, you can put perfect pressure on every muscle. And under that pressure, the Haki inside the body gets stimulated way faster."
Issho considered it for a moment, then let out an impressed chuckle. "I see… Yes, that method would definitely work."
Robin and Carina—both slated to focus on Armament Haki—felt their stomachs drop.
Gravity training…?
Will-san suddenly stomped the deck and launched himself high into the air, hovering with Geppo steps.
"Issho! Hit me with it—let's train right now!"
Issho smiled helplessly, drawing the blade from his cane. "Very well, Captain. Brace yourself."
The next instant, an invisible, crushing force slammed down on Will-san mid-air.
Under the stunned gazes of Robin, Nami, and Carina, Will-san's body plummeted like a meteor—only to stomp the air repeatedly and claw his way back up.
"HA HA HA HA! YES! This is it—this is the feeling!"
His face split into a manic, exhilarated grin. It felt like ten mountains were sitting on his shoulders, and he was loving every second of it.
He'd trained under reverse waterfalls, carried boulders the size of houses, endured crushing ocean depths… but lately nothing had been heavy enough to matter.
Until now.
Issho's gravity was the real deal.
Robin and Carina swallowed hard, already dreading their own upcoming "training sessions."
After just over ten minutes, Will-san dropped back to the deck.
They were almost at the island—no time for a full workout yet. Besides, he had something far more important waiting ashore.
––
Moments later, the ship pulled into a bustling pier and dropped anchor.
Dozens of pirate ships were moored around them, jolly rogers flapping in the breeze.
Nami's eyes widened. "Whoa…"
Will-san tossed down the gangplank and turned back with a grin. "Anyone coming ashore with me?"
Carina, Nami, and Robin all raised their hands instantly.
Issho, having already sensed the chaos on the island, volunteered to stay behind and guard the ship. Chopper was still holed up in the infirmary poring over Alabasta's medical texts and rare herbs, so they left him undisturbed.
Will-san gave Issho an appreciative nod and led the three ladies down the plank.
The moment the tall, ripped man with the confident stride and dangerous eyes stepped onto the pier, the rowdy pirates and thugs instinctively parted like the Red Sea.
Nami glanced around warily. "This place is Gaia Island, right? It's… kind of a mess."
Fights were breaking out left and right—gunshots, sword clashes, drunken laughter, screams of pain. Mock Town lived up to its reputation.
Robin smiled calmly. "Mock Town, the most infamous town on Jaya. Almost everyone here is a pirate. Laws don't exist."
Carina, completely unbothered with Will-san around, turned to Nami. "Still pointing straight up?"
Nami lifted her wrist and frowned at the Log Pose. "Ever since we entered these waters, it's been aiming dead at the sky. Hasn't budged once."
Robin's smile deepened. "Then there really is an island up there."
"An island in the sky…" Carina echoed, eyes gleaming. "Now that sounds fun."
Nami threw her hands up. "Great. So how exactly are we supposed to get up there?"
Will-san, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
"Relax, Nami. Getting to the sky? I've got more than a few ideas."
The three women turned to him in surprise.
Carina tilted her head. "So you didn't come to Mock Town just to look for a way up, did you?"
Robin's gaze sharpened with curiosity.
"Nope." Will-san's Observation Haki was already blanketing the entire island, searching. "I came here to find someone."
The ladies exchanged glances but didn't press further. He clearly hadn't located the person yet.
So, side by side, the four of them stepped into the lawless streets of Mock Town—toward whatever chaos (and whoever) awaited.
--
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