Magnus had been in this world for so long that he considered himself well-versed in the strange and unexpected. Yet this was the first time he'd ever caught a person while fishing—and even more baffling, his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) hadn't detected the woman's presence at all.
It was as if she had simply appeared out of nowhere and happened to get snagged by his hook.
"Captain, who is she?" asked Ripley.
"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask then?"
Before Magnus and Ripley stood a beautiful woman with light green hair, wearing a short pink kimono and a red-and-yellow hair ornament.
Just moments ago, Magnus had seen what looked like a fundoshi, because the fishing line had caught her kimono hem.
"She looks like someone from Wano," Magnus remarked.
"Wano?" Ripley's eyes lit up. "That's the land of samurai, isn't it?"
"Mm."
"What kind of place is it?"
Seeing her curiosity, Magnus paused to think. "I've never been there myself, but if we get the chance, we can take a look. Not like we've got anything else pressing to do."
Truth be told, Magnus wasn't particularly interested in the so-called Land of Samurai. Knowing it was currently closed off to outsiders made it even less appealing.
But Wano's warriors were known to be formidable, their martial spirit rivaling even the giants of Elbaf.
Though that was in the past.
With his taishō-level (admiral-level) strength, Magnus could go anywhere he pleased these days—including Wano.
And sending Rocks and Newgate there for some proper training sounded like a good idea. Neither was purely a martial artist; Rocks would one day wield a blade, and Newgate was destined to inherit the supreme-grade blade Murakumogiri. As a dai-kenjū (great swordsman) himself, Magnus could teach them, but true swordsmen honed their craft through real battles.
His gaze shifted to the blade at his waist.
The great-grade sword Shimojin, which had stayed by his side for nearly forty years, now just one step away from becoming a black blade.
If not for the system prolonging his life, he might never have managed to cross that final threshold.
"Wano!?"
The woman suddenly stirred, as though awakened by his voice.
"You're going to Wano?" she asked.
"That's the plan, though I need to pick up one of my little crewmen from Elbaf first."
"Elbaf? The land of giants?"
"Right."
Though it was just a passing thought, the more he considered it, the more Magnus felt it was a good plan.
After all, the World Government had no control over Wano. And the country produced rare ores in abundance. If he could take control, his power would grow substantially.
He turned back to the woman. "You're from Wano?"
"Yes."
Hearing the name of her homeland, she seemed invigorated.
"My parents are from Wano, but I've never been there myself. I want to see it with my own eyes."
She then seemed to remember something, quickly scrambling upright.
"Forgive me. I've been terribly rude to my saviors."
She knelt, bowing formally.
"My name is Toki Amatsuki. May I ask the names of my benefactors?"
Toki Amatsuki?
Hearing that name, long-dormant memories stirred in Magnus's mind.
He remembered now.
In the future, there was indeed a devil fruit user with a very peculiar ability.
A time-based devil fruit.
One that allowed its wielder to leap into the future. One of the most mysterious and unique powers in existence.
If his memory served him correctly…
The woman before him wasn't even from this era. She came from eight hundred years ago, and would soon use her power to continue leaping into the future.
He hadn't expected to meet Toki Amatsuki here.
And caught her while fishing, of all things?
The image of her fundoshi flashed through his mind as he glanced down at her kimono hem. In her kneeling position, the pink fabric barely covered her hips, leaving her pale, shapely legs exposed to the sea breeze.
"Tch…"
A sudden sharp pain in his foot made him glance over. Ripley was giving him a pointed look, puffing up her own ample chest.
"Captain, you're getting more perverted by the day."
"Really?"
He scratched his chin. Could it be that his recovering youth and Lily's appetite for attention had left him a little too restless lately?
Magnus, what happened to your iron will?
Women will only slow down your sword hand. Stay focused!
Shaking off the stray thoughts, he looked at Ripley and said, "Your Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) is improving. You even noticed that little detail."
"Heh heh."
"Well then, keep at it. If you don't catch anything today, you're skipping dinner."
"???"
Ripley's face immediately fell.
Then Magnus turned back to Toki and smiled. "Sorry about that. I'm Magnus. This is my crewman Ripley. Those two over there are Rocks and Newgate—they're just trainees on this ship."
At the word "trainee," Rocks clicked his tongue in irritation and turned away. He then took his frustration out on Newgate, pummeling him without mercy.
Newgate might have caught up to him in Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), but his physical technique still lagged far behind.
"Magnus?"
"That's right—Knowles Magnus. I'm a vicious, fearsome pirate!"
He pulled his most menacing expression, then burst out laughing.
But to his surprise, Toki only giggled softly behind her hand.
"Hehe. Mister Magnus, you really do like to joke."
"You don't think I look vicious?"
He glanced at Ripley, gesturing to himself.
"You do! Captain, you're a big meanie!" Ripley huffed, cheeks puffed out at the unfair fishing challenge.
"See? Haha! One day, I'll rule these seas as the greatest pirate of them all!"
The ambition burning in his eyes was undeniable. Even someone like Toki, who lacked strength, could feel the immense pressure radiating from him. Yet somehow, it didn't frighten her.
Because within that pressure, there was no malice, no cruelty—only the reassuring promise that so long as she didn't stand against him, he would protect her.
Without thinking, Toki asked, "Mister Magnus… would you take me to Wano?"
"What's in it for me?"
"Eh?"
"Haha, kidding. I already planned to go. But you'll have to wait until I pick up one of my little crewmen first."
It was already on his itinerary. Bringing along one more person was no trouble at all, as long as she didn't mind a detour.
"I don't mind at all!"
And so, with Toki's agreement, the Black Pearl gained one more temporary passenger.
(End of Chapter)
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