Meanwhile, Van Augur pushed the door open at this moment and saw Zoro working frantically.
He silently walked to a corner and began to train as well.
However, a question arose in his mind: was what Hiroto said true?
He wouldn't be tricking him for amusement, would he?
Without an answer, Van Augur began sparring with Zoro after that.
A swordsman and a sniper sparring would be unequal, so their sparring involved alternating attacks and evasions.
That evening, the exhausted Van Augur returned to his room, which was originally a storage room but had now become his own. Van Augur collapsed on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
'Were the things Captain said really true? What does it mean to use one day as fifty days—he wouldn't be lying to me, would he?'
(Note: Effort King's effect is halved when granting through Genius Trader, meaning 200X—>100X. Then Hiroto has set the investment length to a few days, making it so that 50% goes to him. So 100X—>50X.)
Having only recently joined the crew, Van Augur understood that Hiroto was destined to become a great figure in the future. However, he lacked understanding of his personality, only knowing from his attitude towards civilians that he was a decent person.
But anything deeper, such as whether this might be a prank, he had no idea.
A prank?
Thinking about it carefully, it really seemed possible.
Van Augur's expression changed several times, then a look of helplessness appeared on his face.
Even if it was a prank on him, there was nothing he could do. After all, Hiroto was the Captain, and he had even eliminated an enemy he couldn't have killed himself.
Just that favor alone...
Van Augur's thoughts suddenly paused, then his face changed dramatically as he sat up.
In his mind, scene after scene flashed, instantly merging into himself, turning into an additional fifty days of training benefit.
"This is... Captain didn't lie to me." Van Augur was incredibly shocked.
Although he had heard Nami and the others talk about how incredible Hiroto was during their usual conversations, at the time, he only thought it meant Hiroto was incredibly powerful, able to defeat any enemy. He never expected such an inconceivable method.
Is this the incredible Captain Hiroto?
"I seem to have followed the right person—no, I should remove 'seem to have'."
When that doubt, stemming from conventional thinking, was shattered by clear, direct facts, Van Augur couldn't help but develop a deep reverence for his Captain, realizing that he had met a truly extraordinary individual.
"Captain is terrifying."
...
"Van Augur is terrifying."
Four days later, Hiroto in the Captain's cabin exclaimed.
As for the reason...
[Panel Update]
[Basic Observation Haki → Intermediate Observation Haki]
[Perception: C → C+]
That's right, [Genius Trader] + [Effort King] + [Van Augur] + [Battle with Moria] + [Battle with Vice Admiral Dalmatian] + [Brief Clash with Garp].
A series of accumulated benefits finally allowed Hiroto to make a breakthrough in Observation Haki.
This was different from the Armament Haki directly improved by using [Sit-ups].
"Let me try."
Hiroto closed his eyes and concentrated. His Observation Haki suddenly expanded, instantly covering the entire Going Merry.
He could 'see' Zoro diligently swinging his sword in the training room, he could 'see' Van Augur and Carina sparring, trying to dodge, he could 'see' Nami in the bathroom, and the pattering sound of water...
The perception of Observation Haki continued to spread, instantly covering hundreds of meters, reaching its limit only after extending to a thousand meters.
The coverage of Intermediate Observation Haki was more than double that of Basic Observation Haki, and the detection speed was faster. It could 'capture' things within the perception range more concretely.
'If I had this level of Observation Haki in Loguetown, Dalmatian's attacks wouldn't have posed any threat to me.'
Hiroto made a rough comparison and was quite satisfied with the progress of his Observation Haki.
"Next up is Drum Island."
...
Grand Line, Drum Island.
The weather in the Grand Line is treacherous and ever-changing, and the climate is extremely harsh.
Under extreme weather, extreme environments are born, and Drum Island is such a place. It snows all day long here, the climate is cold, and it has also given rise to a great medical nation.
At this moment, a pirate ship slowly approached the sea area where Drum Island was located.
On the deck, three people were present.
In order to take the three Devil Fruits that had appeared this time, Doflamingo had sent three subordinates.
Paramecia: Spin-Spin Fruit user Buffalo, Paramecia: Arms-Arms Fruit user Baby 5, and Paramecia: Glare-Glare Fruit user Violet.
Three Devil Fruit users, and they are extremely skilled in their Devil Fruit Abilities. When working together, they are almost invincible in the first half of the Grand Line.
In fact, this was the case. The pirate ship the three were on had been snatched halfway. The original owner was the Bear Pirates with a bounty of 67 million berries. But now, they had all been cleared out, a process that could be described as crushing.
Violet looked at the distant sea and the gradually emerging outline of the island, staring blankly.
This was the first time she had come to a place so far from Dressrosa to carry out a mission.
It gave her a faint urge. If she escaped here, Doflamingo wouldn't be able to find her, right?
But...
Violet shook her head, suppressing the unrealistic thought.
At the same time, her companion Baby 5 stretched lazily, her beautiful and graceful figure fully revealed.
She took out a cigarette and lit it, then said, "So boring, Violet. Why don't you just use your Devil Fruit Ability as soon as we arrive?"
"Find those three Devil Fruits, and Buffalo and I will just go and snatch them."
Buffalo spoke up to dissuade her, "You can't do that, Baby 5. That place is an affiliated nation, and the king there is the true owner behind this auction."
"Our mission is to bring back those three Devil Fruits, not to cause trouble for Doflamingo-sama."
"Ha? Who cares about that bastard!" Baby 5 became angry when she heard Doflamingo's name.
"He killed my sixth fiancé. That was the love of my life who swore to spend his life with me. And he did it by destroying a whole town along with him. Now everyone runs away in fear when they see me."
"It was right for Doflamingo-sama to do such a thing, wasn't it?" Buffalo complained.
Just look at those fiancés of Baby 5. They were all trash, each one uglier than the last, and they all kept borrowing money from her.
"What did you say!?"
"Let's carry out the mission first, Baby 5, please." Violet interjected at the right time.
A single sentence made Baby 5 blush shyly.
"Do you need me? Okay, I'll carry out the mission first."
"You should start by learning how to refuse other people's requests." Buffalo rolled his eyes.
The pirate ship beneath them sailed towards the port of Drum Island.