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Ikki was completely unaware of Bello Betty's thoughts.
At that moment, he was looking at Ginrummy with a serious expression, his eyes carefully examining her from head to toe.
"Lord Ikki... is something wrong with me?"
Ginrummy swallowed nervously.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"It's nothing." Ikki suddenly smiled. "I was just wondering whether you still want your crew mark engraved in the place you mentioned before."
As he spoke, he took out the crew seal from his personal space.
"The crew mark..." Ginrummy's eyes widened. "I... I can finally receive it?"
"Of course." Ikki nodded. "So, what's your decision? Do you want to change the location?"
"No need. Just put it where we agreed before."
Ginrummy spread her arms and looked at him expectantly.
Ikki shrugged and casually pressed the seal against her body.
What he didn't notice was the strange look that flashed through Robin's eyes after seeing where Ginrummy had chosen to place it.
Robin instinctively glanced at the mark hidden on her own body and felt grateful that she had selected a relatively discreet location.
Even now, she occasionally found it rather romantic.
Still, unlike Nami and the others, Ginrummy hadn't placed her crew mark on a visible location such as her hand.
Did that mean she occupied a different position in Ikki's heart?
Perhaps... she's one of his subconscious romantic interests?
Robin rested her chin on her hand.
I do remember him saying that he liked Ginrummy.
Meanwhile, as the crew mark settled onto Ginrummy's body, a familiar mechanical voice sounded in Ikki's mind.
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully inviting Ginrummy to become your partner.]
[Reward obtained: Iron-Cutting Realm Sword Shadow Challenge Permission ×1.]
[Reward obtained: Direct Advancement Permission to the Sky-Cutting Realm (Ginrummy Exclusive) ×1.]
[Note: The Direct Advancement Permission to the Sky-Cutting Realm may only be used after Ginrummy reaches the Iron-Cutting Realm.]
[Ginrummy's personal attributes have been updated.]
Name: Ginrummy
Age: 23
Weapon: None
Life Force: 9,999 (B Rank)
Swordsmanship Realm: Beginner
Breathing Style: Sun Breathing
Special Abilities: Basic Armament Haki
Almost ten thousand Life Force?
Ikki raised an eyebrow.
That's far beyond Hina's current level.
As expected of a pirate from the New World. She's significantly stronger than someone who's spent most of her time in the first half of the Grand Line.
Although with Hina's talent, she could probably catch up eventually.
Then another thought crossed his mind.
She's only one step away from breaking through from B Rank to A Rank Life Force.
What's holding her back?
With my training methods alone, she should already be capable of making the breakthrough without needing additional supplements.
After thinking for a moment, Ikki smiled.
Perfect. Once her Life Force reaches A Rank, I'll receive another reward from the partner system.
That should make her even stronger.
His gaze shifted toward the challenge area of the Sword Enlightenment Room.
After a brief pause, he reached into his personal space and pulled out the last bottle of Intermediate Observation Haki Awakening Potion.
He handed it to Ginrummy.
"Lord Ikki, what's this?"
"A potion that grants Intermediate Observation Haki."
"Drink it."
"Intermediate Observation Haki?!" Ginrummy stared at the bottle in shock. "Lord Ikki, isn't something this valuable too precious for me?"
"If I'm giving it to you, just take it."
Ikki waved dismissively.
"Afterward, you'll be challenging a swordsman whose strength is similar to yours but who specializes in Sun Breathing."
"Without Observation Haki, you won't have much chance of winning."
Of course, he didn't mention who her opponent actually was.
The opponent waiting for her was none other than an enhanced Sword Shadow of Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Without Observation Haki, her chances of victory were extremely slim.
Defeat wouldn't kill her, but it would waste a valuable opportunity.
Whenever a newly recruited partner defeated the system's introductory Sword Shadow challenge, they could directly master a Breathing Style and raise their swordsmanship by an entire realm.
Whether Ginrummy could reach the Iron-Cutting Realm and eventually advance toward the Void-Severing Realm depended heavily on this battle.
"Lord Ikki... you're so good to me."
Ginrummy was deeply moved.
When she had first joined the Explorer, her motivation had been simple: survive and become stronger.
At the time, she had felt more fear toward Ikki than loyalty.
But receiving a treasure as valuable as an Observation Haki potion immediately raised her opinion of him.
"Alright, stop looking at me with those watery eyes."
"Drink it and get used to Observation Haki first."
Ikki waved his hand.
"Yes, Lord Ikki!"
Ginrummy nodded vigorously and drank the potion in one gulp.
Almost immediately, Ikki heard the system notification indicating her increase in strength.
After checking her updated attributes and confirming she now possessed a realistic chance of victory, he summoned the Sword Shadow challenge.
A burst of flames appeared.
In the center of the Sword Enlightenment Room's arena, a man dressed in red materialized.
His expression was calm and cold.
"What... what is that?!"
Ginrummy had only just begun adapting to her newly awakened Observation Haki when the sudden eruption of flames caught her attention.
She stared at the figure in astonishment.
"That's your first opponent."
"My first opponent?" Ginrummy blinked. "He can't be that strong, right?"
"A swordsman capable of reaching the Iron-Cutting Realm while wielding Sun Breathing."
Ikki smiled.
"What do you think?"
Ginrummy's face stiffened.
"Then... do I actually have a chance of winning?"
"Of course."
"You've already awakened Observation Haki."
"As long as you use it properly, you can win."
"I..."
"Enough talking."
Before she could finish, Ikki casually kicked her in the rear and sent her tumbling into the arena.
After landing, Ginrummy rubbed the spot where he had kicked her, her cheeks turning red.
During an actual battle, she wouldn't have cared about being kicked.
But somehow, when Ikki did it, she felt strangely embarrassed.
That's weird...
Why do I feel like this?
Am I actually starting to like him?
Ginrummy cautiously glanced back at Ikki.
What she didn't realize was that some women were naturally drawn to strong, decisive men.
And when that man constantly helped them grow stronger, those feelings could develop remarkably quickly.
Ginrummy was clearly one of those women.
"I said, is it really a good idea to keep staring at me, Miss Ginrummy?"
Ikki pointed toward the arena.
"Your opponent has already moved."
Ginrummy's expression changed instantly.
Her newly awakened Observation Haki immediately sounded an alarm.
Without hesitation, she threw herself sideways.
A fiery slash swept through the space she had occupied a moment earlier.
Even with Observation Haki warning her in advance, she barely avoided the attack.
The scorching blade of fire passed close enough for her to feel its heat.
Before she could regain her footing, Yoriichi's Sword Shadow launched another strike.
Then another.
And another.
Under the relentless assault of flaming slashes, Ginrummy was quickly forced toward the edge of the arena.