With telekinesis bending the wind, the Grantaine needed only seven days to sail from Reverse Mountain to Water Seven.
An unbelievable speed.
A large three-masted ship making the same run without stopping to resupply would need at least half a month.
The Grantaine was only a medium two-masted vessel, yet did it in half the time of a large ship. It was moving at a pace of its own.
In an age of sail, wind matters more than anything.
Among Logias, a Wind-Wind Fruit would certainly rank among the very top.
"Robin, see if this island has a black market outpost."
After dropping anchor, Kahn and Robin rented a Yagara Bull and headed to the main avenue of Water Seven.
To train Robin, Kahn did not open his one-of-a-kind Observation Haki. He glanced at Robin, who was carrying a metal case in both hands. "Go."
"Yes, Master."
They booked the top suite in the most luxurious hotel on the main street.
After setting the metal case in the suite, Robin informed Kahn and left to gather intel.
Kahn settled into a chair on the balcony and released his innate Observation Haki fused with telekinesis.
Like Enel's mantra, it could eavesdrop on voices and read hearts, and it blanketed all of Water Seven.
More than that, Kahn, like a god, could telekinetically control anything within his sensing range.
If someone tried to sneak aboard the Grantaine, a flicker of thought could lift the thief into the air.
Or he could spin up a pebble, strip away air friction with telekinesis, and send it screaming like a sniper round through the intruder.
That was why he could anchor here with confidence and let Robin work alone.
Unless they ran into a top-tier master whose mind, body, and technique were all at the peak, Kahn was sure he could protect both the Grantaine and Robin from afar.
Over the past two years, Robin had learned almost everything about Kahn's abilities except that his Observation Haki could read hearts.
She knew he was watching over her from the shadows.
Even so, she did not rely on his long-range protection.
Leaving the hotel, Robin bought a local Water Seven mask to cover the lingering baby fat on the cute face recognized worldwide as the Devil's Child with a seventy-nine-million bounty at eight.
She walked the main streets, hands folding at her chest as she used her Hana Hana no Mi to peer into side alleys, searching for a black market sigil.
Every power in this world uses a mark, including the World Government that has ruled for eight hundred years.
To learn whether a city has a black market, check the busiest district for the sign.
Common knowledge in the underworld.
As the shipwright holy land acknowledged by all, Water Seven hosts both pirates and marines for buying and building ships, so of course it has black market outposts.
Soon Robin found a sigil in a narrow lane.
She did not report to Kahn across the distance. She returned to the suite and delivered the report in person.
"Good work."
Seeing her face turn serious as she switched into work mode, Kahn could not resist pinching her cheek.
"Master…"
"Sorry, sorry. Robin is too cute, that's all," he said, with no real remorse.
Robin looked at him, half speechless.
So proper and prematurely mature he seemed like a worldly adult, yet so childish he was more a little boy than a fifteen-year-old. Robin both loved him and felt helpless.
It was not the first time he had teased her during a report.
At first she would blush, but now she merely rubbed her cheek and asked, "Master, shall we go to the black market now?"
"Yeah."
Kahn stood. "I hope this one has a surprise for me."
Robin did not ask what kind of surprise.
Just as she had not asked why, upon entering the Grand Line, he intended to head for the Sabaody Archipelago at the far end of the first half.
A qualified maid simply carries out her master's orders faithfully.
Do not ask what should not be asked. Do not speak what should not be spoken.
When the time comes, the master will say.
With her keen mind and calm nature, Robin could quickly become elite in any profession except, for now, raw combat power.
In only two years she had become the perfect maid Kahn had dreamed of in his previous life.
They left the hotel and stopped at a door bearing the black market sign.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door opened promptly.
A portly middle-aged man in a black suit appeared before them.
He studied Kahn and Robin closely, shock flashing through his eyes before his manner turned warmly respectful. "Welcome. Please, honored guests, come in."
He stepped aside and gestured them through.
It was plain he had recognized Kahn.
Kahn read the man's heart with his insight and led Robin in without changing expression.
The man poked his head out to check the street, took down the sign, locked the door, and brought them to a parlor on the second floor.
Black markets have many faces. They are not all uniformly filthy or choked with smoke.
This one looked shabby outside but was lavish within, and only the middle-aged man was present.
If not for the sign, no one would know it was one of the outposts.
After seating them, the man set out red wine and tea, hosting Kahn as he asked, "Sir Kahn, what do you require?"
He did not ask what they wanted to buy, but what they needed.
To avoid robbery, most black market outposts do not store goods on site.
They act as salons to court clients, then, once paid, have the goods delivered to the docks.
If the requested goods are not at this outpost, they are transferred from another.
"I want information."
Kahn glanced at Robin, who was already decanting the wine, then looked back at the man. "I know…"