"I did say that."
Belo took a slow drag from his cigarette and spoke indifferently.
Perona watched Chris's figure with starry eyes, smiling softly. "Our captain always has a way of saying the most surprising things."
Baccarat nodded, flipping through the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia with a faint smile. "His thoughts and emotions are the deepest in the crew."
"But his personality is too calm and rational—he doesn't talk much, so we rarely get to hear these profound words," Kalina mused, resting her chin on her palm, her expression nostalgic. "Though sometimes, I wish he'd speak up more..."
Bonney blinked her bright eyes and joked, "Anger without strength is meaningless."
"A lot of what Chris says is actually quite profound. We could totally compile a collection of his quotes!"
"Let's call it The Chris Quotations~"
Hearing this, the women all nodded in unison. "That's a great idea!"
On Deck
"Hmph. This fruit truly is the most fitting for me."
Van Augur made his habitual gesture, tapping his rifle against his shoulder. "This is fate!"
Earlier, Akin had explained the ship's rules to him, including future plans and the basics of Haki.
Every detail left Van Augur deeply satisfied.
A rare smile appeared on his usually stern face.
"Your strength still has a lot of room for improvement. Once you learn Armament Haki, even Q won't be your match," Akin said coldly. "But as you are now, no matter how skilled your marksmanship is, if you face a Logia user, you'll be crushed."
"That's all I have to say. As for Haki training, the captain will teach you himself later."
With that, he walked away without another word and began his own training.
Hearing Akin's words, Q's eyes gleamed with malice. "Hah! I actually like the way you put that."
"Want me to poison you right now, 'Demon Man' Akin?"
Just then, footsteps approached, followed by a cheerful voice.
"I've got good news for everyone!"
Laffitte, leaning on his cane, smiled. "The captain said he'll personally watch the ranking battle one month from now."
At his words, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at him in shock.
This was unbelievable!
"The captain's going to watch?! This is huge!"
Burgess was the first to react, raising his arms and laughing loudly. "I'll show the captain what a real fighting champion looks like! Uahahaha!"
Law, leaning on Kikoku, remained as calm as ever. "It seems the captain takes this ranking battle very seriously."
"Otherwise, a busy man like him wouldn't waste his time on it."
Hawkins nodded lifelessly. "No doubt, the results of this battle will be set in stone for a long time."
"For years to come, the order of the team captains won't change."
Q smirked at Laffitte. "Perfect. The captain can witness the moment I become the first mate."
Akin, filled with excitement, clenched his fists. "This is it! The moment of truth!"
"To rise into the top three team captains right in front of the captain—this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
Without another word, he threw himself fully into training.
Van Augur casually raised his gun and fired into the sky.
Bang!
A seagull fell.
"One month? Plenty of time for me to improve."
"Even if I can't become first mate, I'll at least take second place."
Laffitte watched his subordinates with a faint smile. "When the time comes, the entire crew will witness this moment."
"It will be a sacred occasion. I'm looking forward to it."
As the team captains fell silent, the crew members couldn't hold back anymore. They began shouting loudly, declaring their support for their favorites.
"Laffitte-sama! After the captain, you're the one I respect the most! The vice-captain position is yours!"
"Van Augur-sama is the best! Did you see that shot? One bullet, one kill—how badass is that?!"
"Screw all that! Just fight already! The more chaotic, the better!"
"Burgess-sama is the strongest! I've been training with his weights—Uahahaha!"
"Are you stupid? What's so great about that laugh? Hawkins-sama's words are the real deal. From a divination standpoint, you're destined to stay a nobody!"
"I'm too hyped! I can't take it—I gotta pee!"
[0680040127-194340310]
New World, Dressrosa, Flower Field
The Revolutionary Army's base was hidden here.
Inside a simple, unadorned room, three people stood—two women and one man.
Viola, Rebecca, and King Riku.
"Viola, didn't I tell you? You can't just meet with us like this!"
King Riku's aged face was stern as he spoke gravely. "If Doflamingo finds out, he'll grow suspicious!"
"You'll be in danger! Do you understand?!"
Rebecca sat gracefully, her posture elegant, exuding nobility even in silence. Her voice was clear and melodious.
"Grandfather, if Aunt Viola called us here, she must have something important to discuss."
"After all, she's always been the smartest and most rational one."
Viola sat with her legs crossed, arms folded in front of her, accentuating her flawless figure—undeniable proof of why she was known as the most beautiful princess in Dressrosa.
Her curves were unmatched in the entire kingdom.
"Father, do you really think I'd act recklessly?"
Viola shot him a playful glare, her expression full of charm.
"You're making your daughter feel quite helpless."
She turned to Rebecca and sighed softly. "Your words make me feel embarrassed."
"If I were really that amazing, I would've already dealt with that bastard Doflamingo and restored peace to our people."
"Instead, we're stuck hiding in this underground world, living these dark and cold lives..."
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T/N:
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