Hancock descended the stairs with an awkward, stiff gait, her heart hammering so loudly she thought it might leap straight out of her chest. She paused on the last step, drew a deep breath, and silently repeated her plan to herself.
(Tactical steps: ① Casually approach the teapot. ② Pretend to slip. ③ While Brother Ritter rushes to save the tea… that's when !)
"I… I only came to pour a glass of water!" she blurted out, her voice pitched far higher than usual.
Ritter, facing away from her, swirled the wine in his glass with a lazy grin. "Oh?" he hummed, amused.
Hancock stiffly shuffled toward the teapot.
(From the second floor, Shakky mouthed silently: Act natural!)
But Hancock's nervous body betrayed her. Just as her fingers touched the handle, she stumbled her left foot clumsily stepping on her right.
"Ah!"
Her plan had been to tip the teapot just enough to create a distraction. Instead, she lurched forward entirely, sending the steaming teapot soaring through the air, trailing an arc of glistening red tea.
In that split second
Snap!
The blood mist that lingered around Ritter darted out like a hand, catching the teapot midair while Ritter himself reached out to steady Hancock. The teapot floated gently back into place as if nothing had happened, while Hancock found herself pressed lightly against Ritter's chest, her forehead resting against him.
Ritter lowered his gaze at the girl frozen stiff in his arms. Her entire body locked up like a puppet with tangled strings. He couldn't help but find it amusing.
Of course, Ritter had no hidden thoughts what could a man his age possibly think about a child barely twelve or thirteen? If anyone were to accuse him, he would scoff. A man of his status didn't need such nonsense.
But Hancock's mind completely shut down.
"Lord Ritter " she whispered, her voice trembling. She could hear his heartbeat through his shirt, steady and maddeningly calm. Her small hands gripped his collar without her realizing it.
And then
Thump!
Before anyone could react, the girl's eyes rolled back and she fainted dead away in Ritter's arms, a wisp of steam practically rising from her head.
The future Empress of the Seas had collapsed like a character out of a comedy play, already evolving into the "Steam Maiden" before her legend had even begun.
Later, after the three sisters had been carried back to their room, Ritter finally had a moment's peace.
That was when the roar erupted from his quarters.
"You bastard! What do you mean you're out playing?"
Tesoro, lounging nearby, scratched his ear. "We dragged you back to handle the paperwork, remember? You said it yourself world's in chaos, time to expand the business. Last time I helped you, and the very next day you disappeared. Don't tell me you forgot, Captain."
Ritter pinched the bridge of his nose. It wasn't that he disliked responsibility he was, after all, an excellent captain. When the moment demanded it, he could be both cold and ruthless. But paperwork? Sitting at a desk all day staring at endless documents? That was torture.
He'd rather fight Garp no, scratch that even spar with Aokiji for three straight days than suffer another hour of ledgers and seals.
From the Den-Den Mushi, Enel's scream rang out: "Captain, save me! Tesoro's working me like a pack mule hey, don't snatch that! Bang! Argh !"
The chaos gave way to Stella's soft, soothing voice: "Captain, you've worked so hard. When do you plan to return?"
"Uh… I just remembered something important. You all carry on without me." Ritter promptly slammed the receiver shut.
Maybe he wasn't in such a hurry to go back after all.
That night, he rested easy. By morning, Ginny arrived with news.
"Ritter," she said respectfully, though her strange verbal quirk still slipped into her tone, "Dragon wishes to meet you. He said he's found his answer."
Ritter tilted his head, eyes twinkling with gossip. "And Kuma? Did he say anything?"
Ginny faltered, her eyes dimming before she rallied again. "He asked after my well-being. I could tell he truly cared… That's Kuma for you."
Ritter leaned closer with a sly grin. "Need my help? You know about Tesoro and Stella, right? Without me, those two never would've ended up together."
Author's note: liar, they fell for each other without you.
Ritter slapped a hand over the invisible narrator's mouth. "Shut it. Without me, they'd have never made it work."
Ginny bowed deeply. "Then I'll leave it to you, Ritter."
Knowing that Ritter was the one who had once saved her filled her with comfort. After all, Dragon had always spoken of him as an incredible teacher, practically worshipping the man.
Maybe Ritter really can help… though, ah, it's embarrassing to even think it.
Just then, Rayleigh entered. "I'm planning to return those three girls to Amazon Lily soon. Their bodies are still far too weakened, and at their age they need proper recovery. I could bring you back at the same time, if you'd like."
Ritter raised a brow. "I'll come with you. Two of us together makes the trip safer anyway."
Rayleigh gave him a look of pure disdain. His expression said, I've known you since you were three. Don't try to spin it.
Ritter just laughed it off. "Ahaha, don't overthink it. I'll just tag along for fun."
With the sisters convalescing and Dragon yet to arrive, Ritter resigned himself to waiting. But waiting was dull.
So dull, in fact, that Ritter sprawled out like a salted fish on the deck, sighing dramatically.
"Ritter!" Hancock suddenly ran up to him, her tiny fists clenched with determination. "Please teach us how to grow stronger!"
Ritter had long since removed his mask. At that moment, he was idly shaping blood mist into a miniature Sea King, teasing a delivery gull in hopes of building goodwill. (He had killed quite a few of its elders, after all. If they cut off his newspaper deliveries out of spite, he'd be in trouble.)
He glanced at Hancock curiously. "Doesn't Amazon Lily already have its Haki traditions?"
"Not enough!" Hancock stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "We want to be as strong as you, Brother Ritter!"
Her sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold, immediately joined her side. Three pairs of eyes fixed on him with burning intensity.
Ritter sighed, dropping his playful expression.
"Fine." He snapped his fingers, and the blood mist shaped itself into three small stools. "Lesson one: the essence of Haki."
The girls obediently sat down.
"Haki isn't a tool it's the extension of your will and vitality. Observation Haki sharpens the mind. Armament Haki becomes your armor. And Conqueror's Haki…"
He paused deliberately, watching Hancock's eyes gleam with anticipation.
"…is the mark of a king."
The three sisters leaned forward, hungry for more.
But Ritter only rolled onto his side, presenting his back to them.
"That's it. Go practice with Uncle Rayleigh. He taught me everything I know. I'm taking a nap. Goodnight."
In truth, Ritter didn't mind teaching. But when he'd tried supplementing the sisters' depleted vitality with his blood mist, he'd realized their bodies were still too fragile. Pushing them harder now would do more harm than good.
That was Rayleigh's specialty anyway patience, precision, and timing.
The sisters turned toward Rayleigh, eyes sparkling like stars.
"Please, Rayleigh-sensei!" they cried in unison. "Teach us!"
Or, as Hancock put it, her words trembling with both nerves and excitement:
"Help us, Mr. Rayleigh!"
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