A Shortcut to Haki?
Ain's steps faltered, and she turned back with a look of astonishment.
Everyone else nearby had their nerves instantly triggered.
It would have been better if Luo Yu hadn't spoken.
After witnessing Luo Yu's freakish Conqueror's Haki firsthand, the thought that now suddenly popped into their heads was utterly ridiculous.
Could he really have a shortcut to awakening Haki?
"Admiral Luo Yu, are you joking?"
Ain clenched her fists, her face filled with eagerness.
Everyone else also stared at Luo Yu with anticipation.
Luo Yu adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
"However, I don't know if this method will work. If you're not careful, you could lose your life."
"I can only say that I'm giving you a chance to take a gamble."
A gamble?
Ain was stunned, completely caught off guard. She hadn't expected Luo Yu to offer a method that was the complete opposite of Zephyr's pragmatic teachings.
However, thinking of Luo Yu, who was around her age, and how he had swiftly been promoted to the rank of Admiral at such a young age...
Isn't this the same as taking a gamble?
Ordinary people climb the ladder, step by step, and might never reach this height in their entire lives!
Watching Ain fall silent, Luo Yu didn't press her.
He had just communicated with the system. With the training room manifested, it could merge with his cabin.
At the same time, Luo Yu had found a way to explain the changes in gravity, using it to cover things up.
It wouldn't let outsiders guess that he was hiding a secret.
As for why he helped Ain take a shortcut...
The main reason was that, as a qualified corporate slave, Luo Yu naturally wanted capable subordinates. Even if they caused a huge mess, he wouldn't need to take action, just lie back and collect his salary.
Isn't this exciting?
The vast ship's deck fell silent instantly.
Everyone stared directly at Ain, eager to know what choice she would make.
Feeling the gazes around her, Ain's heart seemed to be tightly clenched by an invisible hand. Facing the still nonchalant Luo Yu, a trace of determination finally flashed across Ain's face.
Rather than never being able to avenge herself!
Ain hoped to become stronger.
"Admiral Luo Yu, I'm willing to take a gamble. Please let me take a shortcut with Haki, even if it means death, I won't hesitate!" Ain gritted her teeth and said in a low voice.
Everyone present was shocked, completely not expecting Ain to actually agree.
Could there really be a shortcut to awakening Haki?
"Admiral Luo Yu, I want a shortcut too!" Koby suddenly stepped forward, not forgetting to pull Helmeppo along with him.
Helmeppo hadn't even registered what was happening before he felt Luo Yu's gaze land on him.
As a coward, Helmeppo wouldn't dare gamble with his life.
But now, Koby had dragged him into this.
If he backed down now, Helmeppo wouldn't want to lose face.
Most importantly, he always saw Koby as his rival on the path to getting stronger.
He especially didn't want to see Koby get stronger without him.
"Admiral Luo Yu, I want to take a gamble too!"
Smoker and Hina, unable to help themselves, clenched the cigarettes and cigars in their mouths, their faces turning grim as they exchanged glances.
The two of them, standing on this deck, were considered seniors.
Yet, they were being outdone by a group of juniors.
This was a loss of face, a truly unbearable one.
"Admiral Luo Yu, Hina wants to take a gamble too!"
"I want to try it as well!"
Smoker and Hina stepped forward, pushing through the crowd.
Inside the ship's cabin, Crocodile, Spandam, and the others, who had been quietly observing in the corners, instantly stiffened.
If Luo Yu's words alone moments ago had only sparked a vague, absurd guess in their minds,
the sudden chorus of this gamble from so many people undoubtedly struck a nerve.
If it weren't for their positions,
a devilish voice in their minds would have been madly urging them to take a gamble as well.
However, the moment this thought surfaced, they forcefully suppressed it.
Spandam couldn't help but sneer, muttering to himself, "Heh, this newly-promoted admiral is still too naive. If there were a shortcut to awaken Haki, my CP9 agents would have already been promoted to CP0 long ago. Why would they still be stuck on Enies Lobby?"
"Just watch. This very naive Fourth Admiral will only make a fool of himself in the end."
"Boss Crocodile, is it really that difficult to awaken Haki?" Mr. 1 couldn't help but look at the man beside him.
Crocodile, still wearing a cold expression, nodded. "That guy is indeed terrible, but he's not wrong. Just watch, don't get your hopes up too high. Treat it as a joke."
His voice wasn't loud, but it certainly reached everyone else.
Hina and the others' faces stiffened slightly, and they were about to retort, but Luo Yu gestured for them to stop.
"Alright, it's getting late. I'll be taking a nap soon. I don't want to waste time."
"What you need to do next is simple. Those who are willing to gamble can enter my ship's cabin. To avoid unnecessary effects, I will limit the Conqueror's Haki to a specific range, gradually applying pressure to force your Haki to awaken."
"Of course, if you don't have Haki to begin with, then you'll die."
Using Haki to guide them?
The minds of everyone present exploded.
They finally understood why Luo Yu had warned them from the start that their lives were in danger.
After witnessing Luo Yu's freakish Conqueror's Haki...
To directly withstand the impact of Conqueror's Haki, they would likely have to gamble their lives.
Aine clenched her fists repeatedly, finally walking resolutely toward the warship's cabin where Luo Yu was.
Koby quickly followed, and even Helmeppo, whose legs were trembling like noodles and whose intestines were filled with regret, followed with a mournful face.
Not to mention Hina and Smoker.
When they made their decision just now, they had already taken the first step.
Now was not the time to back down.
Through the open doorway, Crocodile, Spandam, and the others watched as the five figures instantly gathered in the cabin. Their nerves were stretched taut, and they all wore expressions of intense anticipation.
They were eager to witness Luo Yu's failure.
"Admiral Luo Yu, we're ready," Smoker said in a low voice, a cigar clamped between his teeth. "Your Conqueror's Haki just now was but a fleeting glimpse. Now, to experience it firsthand, I'm also very keen to know how long I can hold out."
Hina, standing beside him, quickly nodded in agreement. "Hina also wants to try. Please, Admiral Luo Yu, don't hold back. We're ready."
"Ready?" Luo Yu raised his gold-rimmed glasses and stood up, stopping about a dozen meters from the cabin, a faint smile on his face.
"Since you're ready, let me Caution/warn you first."
"Smoking is prohibited indoors!"