After delivering souvenirs to Zephyr-ossan, Sengoku, and Garp—and finishing the mountain of paperwork that comes with being a "reformed" Marine—I departed Marineford once more. Our mission: find Olvia.
But first, there was a birthday to celebrate.
"Robin, here's a present for your 7th birthday."
I handed her a black leather bag I'd commissioned from the Technical Division (for purely personal reasons). It was designed to be versatile—she could wear it on her waist, as a backpack, or over her shoulder.
It was just big enough for two or three thick books and featured several utility pockets.
The material was tanned Sea King hide—lightweight, incredibly durable, waterproof, and stain-resistant.
I also had them install a special safety feature: a strap that, when pulled, would trigger a high-decibel alarm.
"Wow! Thank you, Mister! I'll treasure it forever!"
"I'm glad you like it. Let me show you how it works." I gave her head a big, ruffly pat as I explained the alarm. From that day on, she was never seen without it strapped to her back.
Arrival at the Mangrove
A few days of chasing minor pirates and issuing warnings later, the lookout shouted from the nest.
"Captain! Target in sight!"
"Good! Head for Grove 60 as planned!"
We had arrived at Sabaody Archipelago, the lawless yet beautiful collection of Yarukiman Mangroves. It's a place of complex shadows—home to World Nobles, human auction houses, and outlaws alike.
After handing over our captured pirates at the Marine Station in Grove 60, Robin mentioned she wanted to see the sights.
I gave her a stern lecture on the dangers of the island—specifically the Celestial Dragons and the kidnappers.
I assigned three marines to escort her, let Ishizumi tag along in her new bag, and tasked Kafu with aerial surveillance.
Once they were off, I changed out of my uniform to avoid drawing unwanted attention. Clad in civilian clothes with my mace strapped to my back, I headed for the lawless zone of Grove 5.
I had to crack a few skulls of overconfident thugs along the way, but I eventually reached a dilapidated shack. I pushed the door open, only to be met with a shout.
"HYAAAH!"
A fist, coated in the obsidian sheen of Armament Haki, lunged at me. I caught it with my left hand, twisted my body, and hooked my right arm under his.
"Hup... there you go!"
I slammed him into the floor with a clean shoulder throw.
"Gah...!"
"Training seems to be going well, Tesoro."
"Plenty of... 'sparring partners' in this neighborhood," the man wheezed, rubbing his back as he sat up. "Ow, ow... Hey, show a little mercy, will you?"
This was Gild Tesoro. The man who would one day be known as the "Monster of the New World" and the "Casino King." For now, he was just a young man covered in sweat and grit.
The Man Who Knows the Future
To Tesoro, I am a benefactor. I saved the woman he loved, Stella, from the auction house and ensured she was taken care of.
I've funded his life here and taught him how to fight. He's grateful, though he'd never say it to my face.
To me, our meeting was... intense. He'd initially approached me with: "I've got your woman. Follow me if you want the details."
I almost killed him on the spot. But after he pinned me down (back when I was weaker) and showed me photos of Stella living peacefully as a housekeeper, I calmed down.
Then he dropped the bombshell: "I know the future."
I didn't believe him at first. But his predictions about the Pirate King and other world events have been eerily accurate. He told me, "You're going to be a big deal.
I've seen it. I'll handle your living expenses and info, but in exchange, you're going to train like a demon."
And so, we sparred.
Tesoro lunged again with Haki-clad fists. I parried, but he caught me off-balance and landed a solid blow to my ribs. I tried to roll back to dissipate the force, but he'd stepped on my foot, pinning me in place. I dropped low, aiming a sweeping kick at his legs.
CLANG!
It felt like kicking a steel pillar. I winced in pain, and a split second later, his fist was hovering an inch from my nose.
"You're getting sharp," he said with a satisfied grin.
I was genuinely impressed. This guy's growth is terrifying. He's already managed to manifest Armament Haki in just a year. He still lacks consistency, but the raw potential is staggering.
I haven't told him about the Gol Gol no Mi (the Gold-Gold Fruit) yet. I know he eventually steals it from Doflamingo's auction, but for now, we're focusing on the basics. Eventually, I want him to become the superstar he's meant to be, running a world-class entertainment city.
Though... what exactly counts as "entertainment" in this world? Is it just stage shows, or should I suggest something bigger?
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