Takumi looked at the girl in front of him with complexity. Had Ain actually started climbing up the moment she learned his location?
"You had a way of communication with you, that was clear from the Den Den Mushi, so didn't it ever occur to you to ask exactly how to get here from me?"
Takumi asked the black-haired girl with a resigned expression, already having a good idea of what her response would be.
Ain paused, tilting her head in a daze.
"Didn't you already say where you were? Was there any need for a way to get here?"
....
Takumi held his head with both palms, suppressing the urge to strangle the girl beside him.
"During your first mission, what were the instructions I first taught you?"
Takumi took a deep breath before asking Ain.
This girl was sharp only when she was interested in what was being discussed. His so-called "first" times with her just so happened to be one of those interests.
Ain's eyes flashed, her memories of that day zipping past her mind. She answered without hesitation.
"Follow and listen to you first! I must listen to the orders I was given by others seriously!"
Takumi stared at the girl sporting a beaming smile, several veins throbbing on his forehead.
His hands dropped slightly, tracing the hilt of his sword with clear intent in his eyes.
Meanwhile...
"Raki-san said that Takumi-sama was located on this island cloud before leaving."
"Really? So will we finally be able to show our gratitude to the lord?"
Nearby, two people sporting the Sky Island's wings approached Takumi's location.
They wore expressions of excitement and nervousness, looking forward to meeting the hero of both the Shandians and Skypieans when—
Swoosh! Swish! Swoosh!
"AHHHH! Takumi-sama, I was wrong! I WAS WROOOOONG!"
The cloud ahead was torn into multiple pieces, crescent-shaped blades of wind flying in multiple directions.
A black-haired girl whipped past them with blurring speed, her expression one of panic and confusion.
Boom!
"Ahh!"
The two Skypieans were blown off their feet by the girl's aftershocks, a trail of destruction marking her path.
Takumi looked at the retreating figure of the girl with a helpless expression. He put his sword back in its sheath.
"She'll be back soon," he stated with a tired expression on his face.
Raki swiped the air, dispelling the cloud particles floating in the air. The slashes had damaged the island cloud they were on.
"Is there a reason for that? Was that girl's response incorrect?"
Raki looked at Takumi with curiosity. The girl before had a look of confidence when she stated the answer. Raki was curious where exactly she was wrong.
"What she said wasn't technically wrong, it's her interpretation that has me sporting headaches."
Takumi watched the girl's retreating figure with a touch of warmth.
"I had wanted her to listen to my words at the time as she followed me. The instructions were to prioritize her superior's instructions above all else."
Raki looked at Takumi.
"Judging from the way she acts in the list, that didn't go well, huh?"
Takumi smiled tiredly.
"Yeah, she mistook it for me saying my instructions come first before those of her superiors."
Takumi traced his finger against his sword's sheath.
"She also mistook my calling of her at the time for prioritizing 'following' me."
Raki nodded in slight understanding before raising a question on her mind.
"Why don't you tell her this then? Wouldn't it solve everything without causing any confusion?"
Raki looked at Takumi clearly. She felt this problem had a simple solution, which was baffling.
"No."
Takumi shook his head.
"Call it stupidity or being stubborn, but I don't like telling people where they went wrong...."
Takumi raised his head, settling his gaze back on the golden list.
"I prefer leading them to the answer themselves. Answers that come without struggle never stick."
Raki looked at Takumi and nodded. She was only looking at the surface problem, not the root cause.
"You want to change her way of thinking?"
Takumi smiled at her question.
"No, I want to change her way of understanding."
---
In the East Blue
Rice Field Island
"Zoro-aniki, do you really want to do this? This guy is ten ranks above you!"
"Yeah, at least try out the first five ranks! Why are you insisting on challenging the 90th place!?"
Zoro finished sharpening his swords, turning to his two partners. He glared. He felt like his ears were about to fall off!
"I told you before! The rankings don't automatically correlate with strength."
He stood up, sheathing his sword. He put away his sharpening stone.
"Challenging those near my ranking is pointless. The value and strength I get from a battle between equals is negligible compared to what I get with those who are stronger than me!"
He smirked, battle intent flaring in his eyes.
"Besides, even if I die, the list will revive me like it did with Akagami no Shanks."
Yosaku and Johnny fell silent, not knowing how to refute those words.
Zoro didn't wait for them to finish gathering their thoughts.
Above them, the golden list was being used as a world chat. Only one fight had happened in this list and most people were still processing it.
Suddenly....
[Swordsman Roronoa Zoro Challenges Swordsman Vanse Kurosaki!]
The golden list suddenly fell into brief silence before the chat exploded with comments!
[Afro Ghost Brook: Yohohoho! I didn't expect someone to actually challenge the list at a time like this.]
[Blood Fang Alpha: Tch, I remember this one. He's the first person to be ranked! Number 100.]
[Sword Domain Kalifa: Sister, I think that most people do. After all, first and last place are the most memorable.]
[Akagami no Shanks: I agree with the little girl upstairs, though I'm really curious about this Roronoa Zoro. Doesn't he realize that everyone had a silent agreement for challenges to wait until the listing ends?]
Zoro, eyes closed as he mentally prepared for his fight, completely missed this information!
The list had indeed been quiet. He had just not realized that this wasn't a coincidence.
The world's swordsmen indeed enjoyed the thrill of clashing swords, but at the moment....
Nothing mattered more than the remaining rankings of the Top 10!
End of Chapter 6