Para Island.
Kuro, who had just disembarked, stood before Jango and the cat-man brothers, unsure of how to react.
He was livid upon discovering that the gold he had amassed over more than ten years had been stolen overnight.
"So, you... dozens, maybe hundreds of you... were tricked by two fifteen or sixteen-year-old female thieves!?" Kuro's voice was laced with disbelief.
"I gave you the task of guarding the treasure, and this is how you handled it!?"
He paused, wiping his face with frustration. His usual reaction would have been to throw anyone involved into the sea, feeding them to the fish. But this time, something held him back.
"I'm fortunate to have met geniuses like you," Kuro muttered sarcastically.
"Captain, that was uncalled for!" The two pirates, responsible for guarding, scratched their heads awkwardly.
"You really think I'm praising you you bastards?!" Kuro's voice dropped dangerously as he unsheathed the claw knife from his side, its cold blade reflecting the dim light.
The pirates visibly stiffened, recalling that until just over a month ago, Kuro had been a man who killed without hesitation, treating his subordinates as mere tools.
In an instant, the two pirates knelt, trembling like leaves in the wind. They no longer exuded the same arrogance they once had.
"Kuro." Gawain's voice cut through the tension as he placed a firm hand on Kuro's shoulder.
"Got it," Kuro replied, putting his weapon away, though his gaze still burned with unmasked fury.
The failure to guard, and worse, not understanding the gravity of the situation, was an unforgivable offense in any pirate crew.
Even Gawain's normally calm demeanor hardened as he turned his gaze onto the two pirates. His voice was icy.
"Tell me everything, from the beginning, in detail."
"Yes!" The pirates stammered, fear evident in their voices.
Though their words were jumbled, Gawain was able to piece together the story. He muttered under his breath:
"Two girls, about fifteen or sixteen... One with short orange hair and a strange tattoo on her arm, the other with short purple hair..."
As the description clicked into place, Gawain's lips curled into a faint smile.
"The monk can run away, but the temple cannot."
"This gold can't be lost. And if it is, it'll be taken back."
Kuro let out a quiet sigh of relief. He adjusted his glasses, casting a cold gaze at the two pirates.
"Captain, what do you want to do with these two?" Kuro's tone was chilling.
The pirates, sensing the imminent threat, knelt down in a desperate plea for mercy.
Gawain thought for a moment before speGing calmly.
"Lock them up for now."
"If the gold is recovered, I'll spare you. If not, you'll feed the fish."
Ignoring the pirates' frantic begging, Gawain gave the order to have them taken away and locked up.
His decision not to execute them on the spot, unlike Kuro's usual method, was a mercy. But Gawain understood the importance of discipline within a pirate crew. Allowing such mistakes to go unpunished would only breed more carelessness in the future.
While this incident still had a chance of being salvaged, the next mistake could cost lives.
Even Jango and the cat brothers knew this to be true. None of them protested the decision, understanding the gravity of Gawain's actions.
Gawain looked around at his crew. Though more than a month had passed since their last battle, many of the pirates were still bandaged, their wounds still fresh.
Kuro and Gin had regained their mobility, but it was clear their faces remained pale, worn from the aftermath.
After a brief pause, Gawain made a decision.
"We'll rest and recuperate for a while before heading to Cocoyasi Village. The crew needs to recover first."
There was more at stake than just Kuro's lost gold. Gawain's thoughts turned to Nami— a world-class navigator, a talent even the Golden Lion was willing to fight for.
If Zoro and Sanji were the gold standard in combat, Nami was a rare gem in the world of navigation. Her skills were essential, especially considering Gawain's and Kuro's lack of expertise.
Gawain's lips curled slightly at the thought of his own limited navigation skills. The East Sea's climate had already proven challenging for him, and the Grand Line was an entirely different beast. If they didn't have a skilled navigator, the bizarre and unpredictable seas might lead them to disaster.
"With swordsmen and a cook already in the crew, what's one more navigator?" Gawain's resolve hardened as he decided to add Nami to their ranks.
He also thought of Kuro, whose potential had grown to the silver level, and Gin, who had awakened his observation Haki. Gawain planned to use this time to strengthen his own abilities further, knowing the battles ahead would only grow more intense.
With the silver-level crew, Gawain was eager to see how much stronger they could become, and how they would help him face the challenges that lay ahead.
The Next Day.
On the stone wall at the center of Para Island, Kuro, having regained some mobility, began practicing with impatience.
The intense physical activity of the "death walk" exercise had to be set aside for now, but his training in Observation Haki, which relied on perception, could still continue.
Kuro sat down, closed his eyes, and focused on sensing the world around him. The chirping of insects, the calls of distant birds, and the salty sea breeze all filled his awareness. Gradually, his mind calmed, like still water in a pond.
At a certain moment, ripples spread across the surface of his mind.
Instinctively, he raised his hand and clamped it around a wasp that had flown towards him. Its stinger wriggled, dripping with a purple-black venom.
Kuro crushed the insect with a swift motion and then returned to his deep concentration. He muttered to himself:
"Observation Haki isn't like the five senses. It's not about seeing, hearing, or feeling—it's more like intuition."
"It's not reasoning or logic, it's just knowing something is there."
"In fact, it's less of a perception and more of a gut feeling."
"Gawain once said that Haki is a manifestation of the heart. By that logic, Observation Haki must be an instinctive ability to sense danger."
"And this instinct can be honed with practice."
With that realization, Kuro closed his eyes again and sat still, meditating until nightfall. As he stood up, feeling the progress he had made in mastering Observation Haki, his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Once I fully master this, I'll be able to push my skills even further. Then, even Gawain won't be able to beat me."
He could already imagine the moment he would defeat Gawain.
Though he respected Gawain, Kuro couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to take control, to be the one giving orders.
"When my body's fully recovered, I'll become the captain again."
Meanwhile, Gawain.
After finishing his evening routine, Gawain prepared for bed when a notification suddenly rang out in his mind:
"Physical experience +8!"
"Swordsmanship experience +7!"
"Observation Haki experience +33!"