The day's business ended amidst laughter and chatter, with patrons leaving while gossiping about the tavern's excitement. Artoria's strength and Tom's cleverness became fodder for tomorrow's boasting or gossip, with no one worrying about free meals or punishment.
Zhang Da Ye locked the door and began his evening training.
After replenishing his energy, he paused to draw some prizes, hoping for something practical rather than legendary artifacts. Today's luck yielded:
**Congratulations! You obtained: Tom's Vintage Car ×1, Tom Family Invisible Ink ×1**
**Stored in inventory.**
"Tom's items again," Zhang Da Ye muttered, reopening his inventory to check.
The vintage car was Tom's all-in gamble to woo a white cat, even signing extreme debts—"one-arm-and-one-leg" or "enslavement for twenty years." Whether he ever repaid it remained unknown.
The real prize, however, was the invisible ink:
**Tom Family Invisible Ink: Apply to become invisible. Avoid water!**
Zhang Da Ye dipped his finger into the black bottle marked **INVISIBLE-INK**. His finger vanished instantly! As the ink spread to his palm, the hand also became transparent—no horror-inducing effect of seeing through skin.
Tom, unimpressed, glanced once and lost interest. Artoria curiously touched Zhang Da Ye's invisible finger, and her hand partially vanished as well.
"No magic aura, yet invisibility? Fascinating," she said, noting her shadow remained.
Zhang Da Ye, seeing his shadow still cast, abandoned his meager optical physics knowledge and pondered uses: scouting, robbing the rich to aid the poor… or maybe just selling it to Sanji later.
He tried applying the ink to a bamboo sword. Nothing happened. Even coating a sleeve partially made that sleeve invisible—but only when worn; the body didn't vanish. Invisible clothing wouldn't be feasible. Smart recognition, perhaps? Only in Tom's world.
After washing off the ink, training continued.
Zhang Da Ye sparred with Artoria, getting thoroughly beaten and frustrated. He then called out: "Tom, come train with me!"
Tom, holding a small fish snack, looked puzzled.
"Yes, you," Zhang Da Ye insisted.
Reluctantly, Tom agreed when promised tomorrow's milk as a reward. Excited, he grabbed a bamboo sword and readied himself. Artoria signaled: "Begin!"
They exchanged blows, following Artoria's taught techniques. Despite days of hard practice, Zhang Da Ye realized he was still outclassed by Tom's single practice session.
After dozens of moves, Zhang Da Ye wondered: was he really weak, or was it just Artoria's teaching Tom?
Tom grew slightly impatient, stepping back, then donned a red robe and a black wide-brimmed hat with white adornments—adding ceremonial flair.
"See my sword!" Tom announced, swinging decisively. Zhang Da Ye's bamboo sword swung wildly, missing entirely. Tom's second thrust caused abdominal pain, and the third pressed against his neck.
"Winner, Tom!" Artoria declared, impressed by his swordsmanship.
Zhang Da Ye squatted, questioning his life choices. His sparring ability may have seemed competent only because Tom used unfamiliar techniques to suppress his strength. Jealousy flared—he cursed Tom not to catch the female cat in his mind.
Tom performed a mysterious sword salute and smiled.
"Fine, I lost. Tomorrow's milk is yours."
He returned for a fish snack but was called by Artoria: "Try me next. Same stakes, or choose another treat."
Tom agreed: "See my sword!"
Half an hour later, Zhang Da Ye watched in awe as they sparred back and forth across the courtyard. Outwardly, they seemed evenly matched, but Tom was tiring while still dodging Artoria's attacks with astonishing agility.
Artoria was amazed—Tom avoided attacks she thought unavoidable.
Tom's evasive skill varied with composure: calm meant bullets couldn't touch him; panicked, he might not notice a falling utility pole. With friends, focused and unhurried, his agility was terrifying.
Finally, Artoria relied on instinct to anticipate Tom's dodges, successfully pressing her bamboo sword against his neck.
Zhang Da Ye wondered if Tom would retract his head into his neck next.