This navigation lesson perfectly exceeded Reno's expectations.
Carmen gave him a completely different feeling from Nami and the other three girls.
The four of them had a clear similarity in learning navigation techniques; they were all passive learners, finding it difficult to exercise their own initiative. Even when they tried to apply what they learned, it seemed a bit clumsy.
But Carmen was different.
Before long, she got right into the swing of it.
She went from passive to active, even diverging in her thinking, which made Reno click his tongue in amazement.
It perfectly matched Carmen's personality traits: bold and unconventional.
It also gave Reno a brand new experience.
Reno only stopped the lesson after Carmen had absorbed all the final pieces of knowledge.
Even so, Carmen still felt unfulfilled.
Reno checked the time. It was nearly dawn, so he decided to stop.
Most importantly, he couldn't wait to claim his reward.
...
In the next room.
"Claim reward."
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the navigation support skill—Hand of the Tides!]
Note: Once this skill is activated, you can easily trigger monstrous waves, giving the Host the most superior navigation experience.
Friendly reminder: Pay attention to waterproofing.
...
Reno pursed his lips, almost cursing out loud.
How thoughtful.
As expected of the system, it really understood him.
So far, among the five women he had subdued—Nami, Kaya, Nojiko, Makino, and Carmen—not a single one had talent in this area.
Their learning was always dry.
This made Reno feel a deep sense of regret.
The appearance of the Hand of the Tides perfectly made up for this shortcoming.
Even if everyone's comprehension ability was different, they could all master it.
"Let's test the effect of the Hand of the Tides first."
With the skill mastered, he had a candidate in mind.
The time, place, and person were all perfect.
Without further ado, Reno went to find Carmen again.
He used his Healing Power to completely remove all the negative effects from Carmen's body.
Carmen, revived with full health, was completely bewildered.
The captain still had work to do?!
The sun rose as usual.
The four girls were eating breakfast with earplugs in and dark circles under their eyes.
Even the gentle Kaya and Makino felt a bit of resentment.
What was going on?!
Was Carmen that novel?!
According to his usual practice, Reno's lessons for newcomers were generally kept within four hours.
They had left the Baratie at around eleven o'clock last night.
Now, it was seven o'clock!
And it wasn't over?!
Did he like new flavors that much?!
Was he planning to teach her all his navigation knowledge in one go?!
Damn it! Bastard!!
"You guys eat. I'm going to rest." Nojiko, whose eyelids were fighting to stay open, put down her half-eaten breakfast and turned to walk to her room.
Makino followed with a yawn. After finishing the last sip of her milk, she also left the dining table listlessly.
"Hey, are you all leaving?!" Nami looked at the backs of the two women. "So am I supposed to stay here today?!"
Nami was a little indecisive.
But she didn't dare to interrupt while Reno was teaching the newcomer.
"Forget it, Nami. Let's just wait for Brother Reno to finish," Kaya said, holding her forehead in resignation.
The sounds had been ringing in her head all night.
She was certain that Reno had definitely used his Healing Power.
Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible...
"Fine."
Nami muttered as she ate some more breakfast.
...
In the room, the floor was covered in water stains.
There was no helping it. A product of the system was bound to be of high quality.
Reno praised it repeatedly, ultimately only able to describe it as "overbearing."
It was as if the sea had overturned and poured into a dry desert.
"That's all for today."
Reno put away the tool that triggered the Hand of the Tides.
Carmen buried her head in the quilt.
She was too embarrassed to show her face.
A satisfied Reno walked to the living room, but no one was there.
He used his Observation Haki to sense and found that all the girls were sleeping in their rooms.
"Are they all such sleepyheads?!"
Reno couldn't help but shake his head.
Well, let them sleep. After he finished breakfast, he should also go rest.
He couldn't use his ability to remove negative effects every time; life would lose some of its experience that way.
...
...
At dinner time.
The way Nami and the other three girls looked at Carmen was different, strange.
Carmen, who knew the reason, kept her head down, just picking at her food, not daring to say a word.
What was there to say?
Last night was too shameful.
Every time a gaze fell on her, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
Reno couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He never thought the straightforward Carmen would have such a highlight moment.
She was shier than Makino and more bashful than Kaya.
His laughter immediately drew the dissatisfaction of the four girls.
"Reno, is it funny?!!" Nami gritted her teeth, spitting out icy words.
Although Kaya and the other two didn't speak, their judgmental gazes made Reno's hair stand on end.
It was over. He had incurred public wrath.
After quickly finishing his dinner, Reno hurriedly slipped away.
As he left, his voice drifted back in.
"Carmen, after you finish your cooking competition with Sanji, we'll set off immediately."
Carmen had been looking for Sanji for ten years and was now right in front of him.
Reno would naturally let Carmen fulfill this wish.
...
The next day.
Under the witness of Reno, Nami, and the others, as well as all the chefs of the Baratie restaurant, Carmen and Sanji finally began their cooking competition that had been ten years in the making.
Carmen in a chef's uniform was like a completely different person.
When she cooked, she gave people the feeling that she was completing a performance, a feast for the eyes.
Nami and the other girls watched, clicking their tongues in admiration.
Truly a master of her craft.
She was like a completely different person from the Carmen of the other day.
The confidence that radiated from Carmen's face as she cooked was incredibly charming to the other girls.
Unfortunately, her opponent was Sanji.
The final result of the competition was Carmen's defeat.
But Carmen's superb culinary skills won the recognition of all the Baratie restaurant chefs, including Sanji.
Although it was a narrow defeat, Carmen had finally fulfilled a long-held wish.
With a hint of regret, the Going Merry once again took to the sky and sailed away.
___________________________________________________
I have published a new novel. You can check it out on my profile. The title is:
Naruto: Kushina, you wouldn't want Minato to find out about us?