After breakfast, the morning sun shone upon Black's estate training ground, warming the sand slightly.
Black leaned against the railing at the edge of the training ground, idly twirling a whip in his hand as his gaze swept over the assembled group.
"Today's training is simple."
"Mandy, continue practicing your swordsmanship until you've completely corrected your rigid, by-the-book style."
"Koala, continue practicing strength control until you are completely accustomed to it, making control your natural state."
"Robin, you will begin systematic development of your Flower-Flower Fruit abilities."
At this point, Black paused and looked at Perona.
At only three years old, without having eaten the Ghost-Ghost Fruit or undergone any ability card enhancement, Perona was essentially just there to join in the fun.
But seeing her eagerness to participate, Black couldn't bring himself to simply let her sit beside him and watch.
"Alright, Perona will be in charge of anti-interference training."
"What's anti-interference training?"
Hearing Perona's question, Black's face broke into a mischievous grin as he looked at Robin and the others.
"It means all of you will be disturbed, and you must complete your training while Perona interferes."
"Wow!"
Perona exclaimed excitedly, jumping up happily.
Robin, however, slapped her forehead.
"I knew it..."
As soon as training began, Koala shattered the wooden floor beneath her feet.
Koala was about to kneel and apologize but suddenly stopped herself, scratching her head awkwardly instead.
Seeing this, Black was quite pleased and said with a smile,
"You need to train hard, Koala. Even the Celestial Dragons' training grounds can't withstand you tearing them apart every day."
"Your strength is enough to lift a whale, yet right now you can't even control your own body weight."
"S-Sorry."
Koala reflexively gave a fake smile, but Black pressed down on her head.
"No need to apologize. You haven't done anything wrong. Continue training."
"Mhm!"
Koala nodded vigorously and began her strength training for the day.
Just as Koala focused entirely on the water bladder in front of her, Perona quietly snuck up behind her.
Perona held a wooden bucket she had found somewhere, containing half a bucket of flour.
She giggled and splashed the flour toward Koala's head.
Just as the flour was about to fall, Koala seemed to sense something and instinctively turned her head, waving her hand.
This seemingly casual motion created a gust of wind that blew the flour back the way it came.
Half of it landed on Perona's head, and the other half landed on Robin, who was standing not far away.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to."
Koala, who still hadn't quite understood what had happened, had already begun apologizing out of habit.
Robin waved her hand dismissively.
"That's not your fault. It's simply that a certain brat needs another spanking."
As she spoke, she looked at Perona whose pink hair had now turned completely white from flour and sneered.
"Flower Funeral: Inverted Lift."
Robin's hand sprouted from the ground, instantly grabbing Perona's ankle and lifting her upside down.
Perona shrieked and flailed her arms and legs.
Robin pressed Perona onto the training mat as seven or eight hands sprouted to bind her wrists.
"The next time you play a prank, think about the consequences first."
Perona squirmed desperately, crying out,
"Wah! Bookworm, let me go! Stella sis, help! Waaah..."
Robin tightened the arms holding her and smiled coldly.
"Fake crying won't work either."
On the other side, Black was personally helping Mandy with her swordsmanship training.
With a crisp crack, the whip in Black's hand struck Mandy's rapier blade, knocking it flying.
"Relax your wrist. Power should come from the shoulder, not your fingers."
"Even the specimens in a museum are more agile than your swordsmanship."
Mandy lowered her head, feeling somewhat ashamed.
Robin, who was nearby, couldn't resist adding a comment.
"Oh my? You've actually been to a museum?"
"Shouldn't a Celestial Dragon's brain capacity be entirely devoted to thinking about Slaves?"
Black turned and glared at Robin.
She was sitting on a swing made from flower vines created by her ability, her feet swaying back and forth.
"Are you referring to Slaves like yourself?"
"This skill is completely useless. Redevelop it."
As he spoke, Black raised his whip and struck Robin's flower vine directly.
The swing instantly dissolved into scattered petals, and Robin tumbled straight into the sandpit.
She gritted her teeth in annoyance, inwardly cursing Black for holding grudges, before running off to continue developing new abilities.
Meanwhile, the recently freed Perona decided to temporarily avoid the super-strong Koala and the sharp-tongued Robin.
Instead, she turned her attention to Mandy.
Seeing Mandy standing there deep in thought, Perona quietly approached the rapier lying on the ground.
She pulled out a small bottle from her pocket, smeared the jam inside across the sword hilt, and then casually walked away.
When Mandy came back to her senses and instinctively picked up the sword...
She looked down at her hands, then at the jam-covered hilt, and finally at Perona with an expressionless face.
Noticing Mandy's gaze, Perona laughed awkwardly and immediately ran away.
But how could Perona's short legs outrun Mandy?
In just a few steps, Mandy caught her by the back of the collar, lifting her up to eye level.
Perona's eyes darted around nervously as she awkwardly changed the subject.
"Ahaha... Mandy sis's face is like a stone. So cold..."
Mandy's eye twitched.
This was the first emotion she had shown all day.
The two stared at each other for a long moment. As Perona's expression grew increasingly flustered, Mandy finally sighed lightly and set her down.
Perona became somewhat embarrassed and cautiously asked,
"Mandy sis, you're not angry, are you?"
Mandy shook her head and used her clean hand to gently pat Perona's head.
Perona immediately broke into a bright smile.
"I knew it! Perona-sama's pranks never make anyone angry!"
After saying that, she hurried off again, planning to find new prank tools.
Watching Perona's retreating figure, Mandy couldn't help but let her lips curl slightly into a smile.
"Days like this... seem pretty good."
Time quickly passed until noon.
Perona finally found an opportunity to sprinkle soapy water on the ground near Robin, successfully causing Robin's flower clone to slip and shatter into a pile of petals.
Just as Robin began chasing Perona all around the training ground, Black called everyone over.
"Alright, that's enough for today. We'll continue tomorrow."
"If anyone hasn't made progress by tomorrow..."
Black paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone.
Robin, still fuming, looked at Perona and interjected,
"We'll stuff Perona into a cannon and launch her?"
Black curved his lips into a Piglet-like smile.
"No. I'll make you teach her to read Ancient Script."
Robin's eyes widened in disbelief.
Just as her expression began to stiffen, Stella walked into the training ground carrying a tray.
"Everyone, it's time for a break."