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On the training grounds, the Kuja girls who had regrouped scattered around, each training under the guidance of several adult warriors. They were focused on training Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) and Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki).
No one noticed a Den Den Mushi that blended seamlessly with its surroundings on the edge of the training ground. Its two eyes had transformed into small gateways to a miniature city fortress, where Liam and Robin sat, intensely observing the Kuja warriors’ training methods.
Some of the girls sparred with each other, exchanging punches and kicks, occasionally asking the adult warriors to let them experience the sensation of Busoshoku Haki up close. They continued to spar in hopes of awakening their own Busoshoku Haki.
Others paired or grouped up, blindfolded, attempting to hit or dodge one another, training their Kenbunshoku Haki.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
From the edge of the training grounds came the sound of explosions. The girls stopped, removed their blindfolds, and stared in awe. Blindfolded, Hancock was shooting arrows, each one striking the targets in a small grove with explosive precision, shattering the crude targets with each hit.
“……”
No one, including the adult warriors, knew what to say.
Hancock was not even eleven yet, but her prowess in both Busoshoku Haki and Kenbunshoku Haki was impressive. While others struggled to figure out how to begin, she was using both as effortlessly as breathing.
Nearby, Liam, watching through the Den Den Mushi’s left-eye portal, remarked, “This girl is so strong, how did she ever get kidnapped? The temptations of the outside world must have really caught her off guard. Even an Empress couldn’t resist.”
Robin: “……”
Liam’s joke went over everyone’s heads, and he began missing his Stand— at least it would respond to his jokes.
…
On the outskirts of Kuja Island, in a secluded forest, a dark figure was diligently practicing Rokushiki Kami-e.
…
As evening fell, the Kuja girls bid farewell to each other with smiles and returned home.
Hancock, having had a fun day, was in good spirits. However, her younger sisters knew better— though she had failed to catch the intruder and had been unable to convince the warriors to set sail in pursuit, Hancock was likely still frustrated that she hadn’t managed to sneak out to sea.
“Why are you two so quiet?” Hancock asked, humming as she turned to look at them.
“Ha ha! Are we?” Her youngest sister, Marigold, responded with a forced smile.
“Elder sister, what shall we eat tonight?” Sandersonia quickly changed the subject, listing off food options. “Fruit? Or meat? There’s still a leg left from the deer you hunted last time, and there’s still half a bear from old Narcissus’ catch. Also, I heard that the flowers in the eastern forest are ripe again. Should we pick some?”
“Ugh, I’m tired of all that. Whatever,” Hancock said indifferently. “Next time we train outside the city, I’ll catch some snakes to roast.”
“……” Sandersonia and Marigold fell silent. “Elder sister, we usually don’t eat snakes…”
“That’s exactly why we should!” Hancock said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “If we’ve never tried it, we should definitely taste it.”
Her pet snake, Salome, opened its mouth in shock.
…
“What? Snake Princess, you’re saying… that thing might be… the ghost of the Pirate King?!”
In the Kuja Palace, the old woman Suzuran’s shriek echoed through the hall.
The Snake Princess lazily lounged on a soft couch, her two-meter-tall frame and long legs stretched out comfortably. “Even though it was reported in a newspaper almost two years ago, Suzuran, have you already forgotten? Shoumu.”
At her command, her giant snake brought an old newspaper to Suzuran.
Suzuran flipped through it and found the article—a story in the corner about the West Blue, with a picture of a blood-stained wall and the words: “A man’s dream… will never die— Roger.”
The giant snake brought more papers, following up with stories of the so-called resurrection of the Pirate King’s ghost in West Blue.
Suzuran frowned in shock. “Wasn’t this dismissed as a baseless rumor? If the Pirate King’s ghost had truly returned, the Government would have already taken action in the West Blue.”
“Perhaps,” Snake Princess said indifferently. “But does the Pirate King’s ghost even need to resurrect? His story, the image of him at the moment of his death, already lives in the hearts of many powerful people…”
Snake Princess recalled a man she had encountered during her travels.
“That sea is always full of ambitious men…”
“What?” Suzuran’s face changed, and she yelled in a panic, “Snake Princess Tritoma! You’re not… you’re not falling for…!”
Snake Princess glanced at her.
Suzuran quickly pleaded, “Please don’t forget… how the previous Kuja Empress died! You mustn’t… be deceived by a man like she was!”
“Suzuran, let me ask you a question,” Snake Princess said calmly, idly flicking her nails. “Who is the Empress of this country now?”
*Thud!* Suzuran fell to her knees under the weight of Snake Princess’s Haoshoku Haki, trembling. “You… you are…”
“And let me ask you another question.” The terrifying pressure suddenly lifted, and Snake Princess’s voice grew lighter, even playful. “Raise your head, Suzuran.”
The old woman looked up hesitantly.
Snake Princess smiled. “Back then… were you in love with the previous Empress?”
Tears welled up in Suzuran’s eyes as she recalled the previous Kuja Empress, who had died of lovesickness. She whispered, “Not just back then…”
…
That night, within Kuja City:
“Huh? Where’s the rest of the bear I had?”
“I saw it earlier… Where did it go?”
“Sandersonia, did you eat the deer leg? Marigold, was it you?”
“Elder sister! Don’t accuse me!”
“Marigold, you’ve already eaten half the flower fruits, so it’s hard to trust you…”
“What? Where are my fruits?”
“My fish is gone! Who saw it?”
“The fish I caught this morning! It’s disappeared…”
Around the city, women and girls found their food mysteriously missing, raising many questions. However, since Kuja Island was abundant in food, no one was too concerned.
At the city walls, the green Den Den Mushi blended into its surroundings, closing its eyes.
Inside, it chased Liam around, trying to steal back some food…
Liam, along with Robin, had blindfolded himself, avoiding the creature’s clumsy pursuit.
Robin’s repeated “Oh no!” and “Ouch!” echoed as she tripped and fell, while the Den Den Mushi crashed into her. She had never trained seriously before.
Liam, on the other hand, moved swiftly. The Den Den Mushi, frustrated and sweating, couldn’t even brush against him, and could only watch helplessly as Liam popped pieces of deer, bear, and fruit into his mouth.
As Liam ate, he grumbled, “My senses are too sharp. Even blindfolded, I can still hear everything.”
The sound of the Den Den Mushi’s movements was amplified in the absence of sight, making it easy for Liam to pinpoint its location.
“How am I supposed to train Kenbunshoku Haki like this?” Liam sighed. “My body’s too finely tuned… My senses are so sharp, I can’t even suppress them.”
Robin, having just fallen again, removed her blindfold in frustration and muttered, “Maybe you just don’t have a talent for Kenbunshoku Haki?”
“Do you really think that’s possible?” Liam poked her head. “This genius, without Haki talent? How could that be?”
…
The next day, on the Kuja City training grounds, Sandersonia and Marigold stood blindfolded, facing each other silently, each gripping a wooden stick.
Though they couldn’t see, they sharpened their other senses, trying to read each other’s movements.
“No listening!” Cosmos’s voice called out, approaching them and offering advice on training Kenbunshoku Haki. “Overly sharp senses can actually hinder the awakening of Kenbunshoku Haki! Think about it— if you rely on your ears or even your nose, why would you blindfold yourself? Only by blocking your natural senses can you awaken a new sense beyond the body— Kenbunshoku Haki!”
(End Of Chapter)
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