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Despite the barrier of wind and pressure, Jin heard Shanks clearly. He looked at the Emperor with slight surprise.
"'Trait' is how I define the higher-level application of Conqueror's Haki," Shanks explained, his voice cutting through the noise. "You can view it as similar to a Devil Fruit Awakening—the emergence of a specific characteristic unique to the user."
He didn't have the indestructible body of Kaido or Big Mom.
He didn't have a Devil Fruit that could overturn nature like Whitebeard or the Admirals.
He had even lost an arm, severing his path to challenging Mihawk for the title of the world's greatest swordsman.
So, how did he become a Yonko? How did he plan to become the strongest Emperor in the new era following Whitebeard?
Only Haki.
Armament Haki tempered a thousand times over. Observation Haki honed to perfection. And a Conqueror's Haki that feared no enemy.
When it came to the application and understanding of Haki, Shanks had absolute confidence.
He had seen much on Roger's ship, learned much, and then honed and verified those lessons through his own endless journeys.
"Like this..."
The light in Shanks' eyes intensified.
In an instant, Jin felt the spacetime around him being interfered with, twisted. Then, his Observation Haki was suppressed.
"This is the Killing of Observation Haki," Shanks explained. "By using one's own powerful spirit and will to interfere with reality, you destroy the opponent's ability to predict the future."
Jin absorbed the sensation. "Is this the 'Trait' you mentioned?"
Shanks shook his head. "The Killing of Observation is a 'feature'—an external manifestation of a Trait. The 'Trait' I'm talking about is something more like the variations in Observation Haki: mind reading, hearing the Voice of All Things, sensing emotions... It is a specific 'Desire' or ability unique to you."
"Put another way," Shanks continued. "Conqueror's Haki is the qualification to become a 'King.' But what is a 'King'? How do you define it?"
Jin looked thoughtful. "Haki... it is the external extension of my beliefs, my will, and my thoughts. It is also my 'Desire' that suppresses the Devil Fruits. Conqueror's Haki is the core of that."
"Every 'King' has different desires. Therefore, the 'Trait' of their Conqueror's Haki will naturally differ."
"The stronger the 'King,' the more unique their Haki becomes."
"Eventually, it becomes like a Devil Fruit—completely unique."
"That is the concept you are describing."
Shanks nodded slightly.
Because of Uta, he had been paying close attention to Jin, keeping track of what the young king was doing.
Although he had already bet one arm on the future, he still had a daughter—and she was already on Jin's ship!
He had to bet on him.
He could only continue to gamble.
Furthermore, Jin's rapid growth was incredible to Shanks. He wanted to see just where Jin's limit lay.
"Oi, oi, you two. That's enough," Benn Beckman interrupted, unable to stay silent any longer. "Put the Haki away. If you keep shaking things up, none of us will be able to stand it."
He listened to them chatting as if no one else was around, while half the Red Hair crew had already foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
The rest weren't feeling much better.
Lucky Roux clutched his chest. "Yeah, turn off the magic powers already!"
"Ah, sorry about that!"
Shanks retracted his aura.
Jin also withdrew his Conqueror's Haki.
Jin finally released Uta from the ship's internal space. When she emerged, she saw Carina, Brook, and the others lying on the deck. She jumped in fright.
"Eh? You knocked them all out?"
Uta rolled her eyes. "Honestly. You two are just bullying the weak. You didn't think about the bystanders at all."
Jin smiled. "You're right to criticize. I'll help you teach Shanks a lesson later. He did it too..."
"Tch!"
Uta looked toward the shore. Aside from Shanks, she saw familiar figures. She waved excitedly.
"Hey, Shanks!"
"Hey, Beckman!"
"Hey, Lucky Roux..."
Seeing Uta, the atmosphere instantly warmed. Shanks and the others waved back enthusiastically.
Since the pier had been destroyed in the Haki clash, a gangplank formed of interwoven chains and candy extended from the demonic carrier to the shore.
Uta dashed down it like a streak of light. Just like in the old days, she leaped into the air, aiming to land right in front of Shanks.
However, Shanks failed to catch her. Instead, he was tackled to the ground by Uta's momentum.
"Captain Shanks! You've gotten weaker! You couldn't even catch me!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry!"
Shanks lay on the sand, laughing heartily. It was as if they had returned to ten years ago, when Uta was still a child.
Everyone played together.
"You've grown up, Uta," Beckman smiled.
Uta made a face at him. "Uncle Beckman, you still love smoking just as much as before. You stink..."
She pinched her nose, feigning disgust at the smell of tobacco.
Lucky Roux grinned. "Hey, Uta! Want some of my meat?"
"Of course! It's been so long!"
"Uta, want to hear about our adventures?"
"Yeah!"
"Uta! Sign this for me first! Actually, give me a thousand autographs!"
"Eh? Snake, what do you need so many for?"
"To give to my beloved girls, of course!"
"Do you really have that many beloved girls? You just fall for every girl you see!"
Shanks sat up.
Watching this scene, memories of the past flooded back. A fatherly smile naturally formed on his lips.
Jin watched them. It was a beautiful scene, one that made people happy just by looking at it.
"Yohoho... I feel like I almost died," Brook said, his soul pulling itself out of his ribcage before his hand reached out and shoved it back into his skull. "That really made my skin crawl! Even though I don't have any skin!"
Carina, Porche, and the others began to wake up.
Seeing Uta laughing and joking with the Red Hair Pirates, they were astonished.
Few people knew the truth of Uta's origins.
"Let's have a banquet!"
"YEAH!"
Shanks invited everyone to the town for a feast, fulfilling his duty as a host with impeccable hospitality.
"There's... no one here," Carina whispered.
Still intimidated by the title of Yonko, she followed behind Jin, looking around uneasily.
Shops were closed, houses empty. Only places like bars and casinos still had a few pirates and ruffians hanging around.
"That's because when everyone heard you were coming, they were afraid a fight would break out, so they ran away early," Lucky Roux explained.
"Huh?!" Carina was shocked. "Are we that scary?"
"Not scary at all, beautiful miss. How could you be scary?" Lucky Roux said, then glanced at Jin. "But..."
When Emperors fight, ordinary people suffer.
The banquet began.
Everyone ate and drank. The arrival of Carina, Porche, and the others added a splash of color to the town.
The pirates cleaned themselves up, turning into simps one after another.
Of course, no one dared to cross the line.
Uta, just like in the past, sang like a pixie, creating an atmosphere of peace and harmony.
"Captain! Bad news..."
Suddenly, Rockstar came running in a panic, holding a Den Den Mushi. He had recently joined the crew out of admiration for Shanks.
"What is it?"
Everyone looked at him.
Rockstar was a man who respected protocol. He wouldn't lose his composure unless it was something major.
"It's Kaido!"
"Our scouts report that Kaido has led his fleet into our territorial waters. He's heading straight for us!"
Kaido of the Beasts?
Porche and the others were terrified.
Beckman frowned. "Wasn't there a report that Kaido was captured?"
"Heh. The Marines have caught him plenty of times. It's not like it's his first execution."
"Is he coming for us?"
A commotion broke out. The atmosphere of the banquet began to turn uneasy.
Carina's eyes sparkled.
Another Emperor?
His ship must have treasure on it, right?
Her hands itched.
Back in the East Blue, she had been a "Treasure Hunter" just as famous as Nami.
"Yohohoho... An Emperor gathering?" Brook mused. "I feel like singing a song!"
"Hahahaha..."
Shanks' laughter cut through the noise.
He looked at Jin. "Sorry."
"We'll have to pause the banquet for a bit. You guys rest here."
"I'm going to go chase Kaido away."
He stood up. The members of the Red Hair Pirates rose with him, their carefree attitudes vanishing, replaced by a deadly seriousness.
Their combined aura felt like a solid iron wall, capable of repelling any enemy.
"I'm going too!"
Uta jumped up.
"Hm?" Shanks looked at her.
"Captain... Father," Uta said, her voice serious. "I want to have one last battle, one last adventure with you."
Captain was what she used to call him, viewing herself as a member of the crew.
Father was what she would call him in the future. She had decided that here, she would disembark and begin her own battles, her own adventure.
Beckman cautioned her. "Uta, the opponent is Kaido. You should wait here for us to return."
"No. I don't want to wait anymore. Even if it is Kaido!"
Uta's eyes were firm.
She wanted to make up for the regret of not being able to sail with them from Elegia all those years ago. "Please. Allow me to be selfish just this once."
Shanks glanced at Jin, hoping he would stop her.
Jin smiled. "The World's Strongest Creature, Kaido... I'd like to see him for myself. Let's go together!"
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