Three days later
The news spread like wildfire.
A Headquarters Marine Rear Admiral, Onigumo known by his alias Ghost Spider had led a fleet composed of multiple West Blue Marine branches in pursuit of the Ghost Hand Pirates.
The result
Total defeat.
Four warships destroyed.
And the Rear Admiral himself… missing in action.
When the newspapers carried the report across the seas, the entire West Blue erupted into chaos.
"This… this has to be fake!"
"You're telling me even a Headquarters officer couldn't stop him?!"
Countless civilians, bounty hunters, and pirates alike stared at the headlines, their faces filled with disbelief.
No one had expected that a pirate crew born in the West Blue could achieve such a result.
This was no longer something that could be dismissed as a local disturbance.
It felt
Like the emergence of a force from the Grand Line itself.
As the news spread further, even factions within the Grand Line began to take notice.
The Grand Line
In a turbulent sea region, aboard a massive vessel bearing the emblem of the Eight Treasures Water Army
A burly, bald old man with a thick gray beard crushed a newspaper in his hand.
This was the 12th leader of the Eight Treasures Water Army
Don Chinjao.
"Sai was weak. If he died at sea, so be it."
His voice was low, simmering with anger.
"But to kill the next successor of the Eight Treasures Water Army…"
His grip tightened.
"That is unforgivable."
His eyes burned with killing intent.
"Ghost Hand Rowan…"
"I will find you."
"And when I do "
"You'll pay for it."
Elsewhere on the Grand Line
A pirate with a bounty nearing 90 million Berries lowered his newspaper slowly, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"He defeated a Headquarters Rear Admiral…"
"A monster's been born in the West Blue."
Inside a dimly lit tavern
A one-eyed pirate let out a rough laugh as he tossed back his drink.
"Ghost Spider… that bastard once chased me across three seas."
"And now he's gone down like this?"
He smirked.
"Looks like that kid's heading for the Grand Line sooner or later."
"Maybe."
Another pirate beside him snorted.
"But the Grand Line isn't the West Blue."
"Standing out like that… is just asking to get crushed."
Among pirates, there were no allies
Only rivals.
After all
There was only one One Piece.
And only one man could claim the title of Pirate King.
Shipwright Town Two Days Before Completion
Inside the training cabin of the old ship
Rowan stood at the center of a storm.
Twelve sandbags swung wildly around him, each moving at different speeds and angles.
His eyes were closed.
Yet
His fists struck with perfect accuracy.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each impact was precise.
Each movement deliberate.
During his battle against Ghost Spider, Rowan had awakened Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki)
but only at its most basic level.
Unstable.
Unrefined.
Only usable under intense focus or extreme conditions.
And so
He trained.
Relentlessly.
"Haki… is no different from the body."
Rowan muttered quietly as he moved.
"It must be honed."
Even Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki), if awakened, required control.
Even Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) required battle and repetition.
Observation Haki was no exception.
Bang!
Bang!
His movements shifted.
No longer stationary
He weaved through the storm of swinging sandbags, dodging, striking, adapting.
"In that fight…"
"I was slower."
His mind replayed the battle.
"If not for that… the outcome would've come sooner."
Now
That weakness was gone.
The 40 Talent Proficiency points gained from defeating Ghost Spider had all been poured into Agility Enhancement.
The result
A breakthrough.
His agility had crossed into an advanced threshold.
His speed
His reaction time
Had nearly doubled.
"If we fought again…"
Rowan's lips curved faintly.
"I wouldn't need to rely on awakening mid-battle."
More importantly
His senses had sharpened.
His perception deepened.
Observation Haki
Became easier to grasp.
Easier to feel.
Easier to control.
What he sought now was simple
Not instinct.
Not chance.
But control.
Absolute control.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
All twelve sandbags surged into chaotic motion.
Yet Rowan moved like a current in water
Dodging every incoming strike.
Landing every counter.
Perfect.
Seamless.
Still
"…Not enough."
He exhaled slowly.
Mental fatigue crept in.
Observation Haki did not drain the body
But the mind.
Even he could not sustain it indefinitely.
Only when his perception dulled did he finally stop.
But progress
Was undeniable.
He had already found the path forward.
The rest
Was persistence.
As Rowan exited the training room
Robin was already waiting.
A newspaper in hand.
"Captain… Rowan."
Her tone carried a faint hint of amusement.
"You've made the front page again."
Rowan took the paper and scanned it briefly.
"'Criminal.' 'Threat.' 'To be eradicated.'"
He scoffed.
"The World Government never changes."
He flipped the page
And paused.
A new bounty poster.
He pulled it free.
For a moment
He simply looked at it.
Then
He smiled.
"92 million Berries."
"Finally."
"I'm no longer a captain worth less than his own crew."
Robin's bounty still stood at 79 million
Once higher than his.
Now
Things were in order.
Robin smiled softly.
"That number will rise again soon."
She had no doubt.
And neither did the world.
Across the West Blue
The reaction was explosive.
Bounty hunters stared at the figure in disbelief.
92 million.
Combined with Nico Robin
The total bounty of the Ghost Hand Pirates reached 171 million Berries.
An overwhelming figure.
Tempting.
Irresistible.
Yet
No one moved.
No one dared.
Because numbers meant nothing
In the face of reality.
A Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral.
Five warships.
All crushed.
That record alone
Was enough to silence greed.
Like a mountain pressing down on the sea
The name Ghost Hand Rowan now carried weight.
And fear.
Across the West Blue.