Jerry crossed his arms, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "In fact, I know a secret training method. There was this guy who trained for just two and a half years, and he went from being a total nobody to being strong enough to challenge the strongest in the world. All it takes is putting in one hundred to two hundred times more effort than a normal person."
Deuce's analytical mind immediately kicked in. "Wait a minute. Are you joking? Even if a normal person only exercises for one hour a day, there aren't two hundred hours in a day. That's impossible."
Jerry wagged a finger with the look of a profound sage. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. So superficial. Ever hear of a master of time management? It's all about efficiency. Two hundred times the effort, not the time. Understand?"
Though Deuce was pretty sure Jerry was talking absolute nonsense, there was a strange, nonsensical logic to it that was hard to argue with.
"Anyway, don't worry about the math," Jerry concluded, waving his hand. "Just focus on exercising every single day until you feel like you're going to collapse. Then do a little more."
The training began immediately. Since Jerry could now control the ocean currents to steer the ship, Deuce and Skull had plenty of free time. Jerry started them on a classic regimen: weight-bearing exercises. It was an old method, but brutally effective.
And so, their days fell into a new routine. While Jerry relaxed on the side of the boat, petting Kotatsu and fishing, Deuce and Skull could be seen running laps on the deck with heavy packs, doing push-ups, and sparring, their grunts and groans providing a new soundtrack to their journey.
One afternoon, several days into their new regimen, Deuce looked up from his push-ups, panting for breath, and his eyes widened.
"Whoa! Look! Up ahead… is that…?"
His voice trailed off in awe. Jerry, who had just fished another old boot out of the sea, tossed it aside in irritation and followed Deuce's gaze.
On the horizon, shimmering under the sun, was a colossal, golden shadow. It was a ship so massive it defied belief, more like a moving island than a ship, with towering golden buildings that scraped the clouds. It was, in a word, magnificent.
"A golden ship… the city on the sea," Deuce breathed, his eyes alight with wonder. He immediately grabbed his notebook and began sketching furiously, trying to capture the impossible sight. "It's the Golden Legend!"
"Skull, give me the latest intel," Jerry said, his relaxed demeanor replaced by a focused calm.
"Right, Captain!" Skull snapped into his role as intelligence officer. "That is Gran Tesoro, the world's largest entertainment city. It's recognized by the World Government as an independent, neutral nation, a demilitarized zone where even the Marines can't intervene without permission. It's ruled by Gild Tesoro, the 'Golden Emperor.' He's a king of the underworld who controls a staggering 20% of all the Berries in circulation. They say he has enough money and influence to manipulate even the Celestial Dragons."
"Got it," Jerry said, nodding slowly. Skull's information, combined with the memories from his past life, gave him a clear picture of what lay ahead.
Deuce, having finished his sketch, looked up with hopeful eyes. "So, are we going?"
"Of course, we are," Jerry grinned. "It's not every day you run into a place like this. It would be a crime not to stop for a drink and see the sights."
Riding the current, he guided their ship straight toward the golden city. A little rest and relaxation were exactly what they needed after the ordeal in Totto Land.
As they drew closer, Jerry suddenly remembered a crucial detail about their host and his dirty tricks.
"Hold on," he said. "Before we go ashore, we need to put on masks…"
He trailed off, looking at the man in the skull mask and the man in the blue domino mask. A moment of awkward silence hung in the air. Jerry cleared his throat.
"Okay, new plan. Skull, you wear another one inside your mask. Deuce, you too. We need mask that protect our mouth and cover our face"
"Uh, why?" Deuce asked.
"I have a lot of fans now," Jerry said with a dramatic flair. "My handsome face is all over the news. It's best to go incognito."
"And me?"
"Safety first," Jerry said simply.
He didn't explain the real reason to them. He knew Gild Tesoro was the user of the awakened Gold-Gold Fruit. Anyone who set foot on Gran Tesoro unknowingly inhaled microscopic particles of gold dust that rained constantly.
Tesoro could then control that gold, and by extension, control anyone on his ship. Just in case, Jerry decided a physical filter was a good first line of defense, and he would secretly use his water manipulation to form a protective barrier around his friends, repelling any gold dust that tried to get near them. Besides, hiding their identities would let them relax and have fun without being bothered.
"Alright then," Jerry declared, striking a pose. "Let's get changed into something sharp. If we're going to the world's biggest casino, we might as well look the part!