Unbeknownst to Reno, his battle with Hawkeye had unexpectedly won Chef Carmen's favor, smoothly securing her addition to the pirate crew.
Outside the Restaurant
Sparks flew.
Reno grew more exhilarated with each strike, his eyes blazing with fervor. Swordsmanship, Haki, teleportation, healing powers—his arsenal was relentless, each ability unleashed in turn.
Hawkeye, meanwhile, grew increasingly frustrated. And then, it clicked—the source of that familiar feeling.
"Who's the Golden Lion to you?!" Hawkeye demanded mid-battle.
Reno's moves felt eerily familiar, unmistakably reminiscent of the Golden Lion's signature techniques. Was he his disciple?! Was that old lion still alive?!
Reno knew Hawkeye was mistaken but had no intention of clarifying. "Hahaha, Hawkeye, beat me, and I'll tell you!"
Hawkeye: If you don't want to say, just say so.
Fine.
Clang!
Yoru slid back into its sheath.
Reno froze, reappearing. "What, you're done?!" He was just getting into it.
Hawkeye's lips twitched, but he spoke candidly. "Your swordsmanship and Haki are inferior to mine, but… I'm not your match."
A fair assessment. Reno's unpredictable teleportation was a nightmare. Even Observation Haki was useless against it. If Reno's Haki matched his, Hawkeye would've been crushed instantly.
As the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye had seen it all. But Reno's teleportation was unheard of—utterly unreasonable. Most shocking? Reno's relentless teleportation and swordplay showed no sign of fatigue. Not even a flush or a pant.
The East Blue was a bizarre place. The weakest sea, yet home to the Sea King that bit off Shanks' arm and now a guy who could best him. At least Creek was easy to bully.
Creek: ??? Feed me peanuts!
"You're right—Haki's my weak point," Reno admitted, nodding. His Three-Color Haki, from the system's starter pack, was at its lowest tier. Compared to Hawkeye's, it was far inferior. But with teleportation and healing, he was invincible. He might not win, but he'd never lose.
"Now can you tell me your name?" Hawkeye repeated his earlier question.
"Reno, Captain of the Reno Pirates. Just a rookie who set sail," Reno answered honestly this time.
Hawkeye nodded, expressionless. After a moment's hesitation, he pressed, "Reno, what's your dream?"
Reno: ??? Why the random question?
Hawkeye stared, determined to get an answer. A rookie with such troublesome abilities—what would he become? Weak Haki could be trained. With upgraded Haki and infinite teleportation, he'd be unstoppable.
Reno carried the potential to shake the seas. Hawkeye needed to know his ultimate goal. Wealth? Power and status? The Pirate King's throne? Or something else?
Reno thought for a moment, hands behind his head, turning back toward the restaurant. A casual voice drifted out. "I want beauties. Lots and lots of beauties."
Hawkeye: …Fine, you win.
"Reno, I'll be waiting in the New World," Hawkeye said with a grin. Someone like Reno wouldn't stay confined to the East Blue's tiny waters. They'd meet again.
Reno waved without looking back.
Hawkeye left, sailing off in his coffin boat, carrying his frustration with him. He couldn't wait to vent to Shanks—about the Sea King, about Reno, about the bizarre East Blue.
Before departing, he slashed Creek and Gin, who were trying to slip away. Creek's pirate dreams shattered completely.
…
As Reno approached, the crowd at the entrance parted, gazing at him with awe or fear.
"Big brother Reno, you're awesome!" "Captain!" "Reno!"
Kaya and the others called out, beaming.
Reno smiled in response.
Then he spotted Carmen among them. "What are you doing here?!" The usually bold, carefree Carmen seemed off—acting shy, almost delicate.
Ahem.
Nami cleared her throat, pulling Carmen forward with a serious tone. "Reno, allow me to formally introduce the lovely Chef Carmen. As of now, she's officially joined the Reno Pirates." "She's one of us."
Reno: ??? What's this?!
What happened?! He hadn't even made a move, and Carmen joined?! A fight with Hawkeye, and he gained a beauty crewmate? Sweet.
"You didn't do anything to her, did you?" He glanced at the girls.
They shook their heads, insisting they'd done nothing.
"Captain, they didn't do anything. I joined willingly. Looking forward to working with you," Carmen said, stepping forward and extending her hand.
Looking at the wild, alluring Carmen, Reno felt a spark.
And then— He paid the bill, led the girls back to the Going Merry, and used island clouds to lift the ship a kilometer into the sky. The whole process was seamless, fluid as water.
The girls were stunned.
"I knew it!"
Watching Reno and Carmen vanish onto the deck in a flash, Nami stomped her foot in frustration. No need to guess what they were up to.
Nojiko, Makino, and Kaya stifled giggles.
"Looks like another sleepless night," Makino said with a yawn.
"Kaya, the Going Merry's walls are too thin. Did they cut corners when building it?!" Nami demanded, hands on hips.
Kaya spread her hands, helpless. "How was I supposed to know it'd be like this?"
Nami sighed. Another night with dark circles under her eyes.
…