It's been 5 months since Mark's last visit to Carlos's house. Mark never left his villa after that day, and was focused on only one thing.
Training his observation Haki.
"My range isn't increasing at all."
Mark was shaking his head while sitting in his personal bedroom. He whispered to himself indifferently.
He was training his observation Haki nonstop all this time, but the range didn't increase in the slightest.
"This is my limit, at least my current limit; my young age is holding me back."
"I am turning four in a few months, but I am not big mom who could kill giants at age five."
"My body is that of a normal human, that's totally not enough."
Mark wanted strength, and observation haki was a dead end.
Now he had a few options before him, all of which could solve his current problem.
"I can eat a zoan devil fruit, but I don't want to eat a random one."
Rubbing his chin Mark muttered thoughtfully.
"I know a devil fruit which suits me well, sadly I can't tell my parents to get it for me."
"If I tell them, the world government will know that this fruit exists, and they'll take it for themselves."
"It's a very good devil fruit, the holy knights and elders will take it for sure."
Mark hummed and decided to let devil fruits be for now.
He was interested in their powers and wanted eat one, but as of now he couldn't get the fruit he wanted.
He wasn't too sad though, he had other options, he was a celestial dragon and never lacked options.
"Now that devil fruits are out of the question, I have two more ways remaining."
"Haki and Rokushiki, which one do I choose?"
Mark wondered for a bit, then stopped thinking because thinking was for plebes.
He didn't want to waste time thinking about something he didn't need to. Mark was almost four and had his very own maidservants.
They will do the thinking on his behalf, he simply clapped his hands and called his servant.
_Clap clap_
Immediately the door opened, and a woman of considerable grace bowed to him.
"Please command Saint Mark."
Mark said casually.
"I am interested in methods of promoting strength."
"Bring me a copy of ALL such methods available in the sea."
For many this would be considered an impossible task, but celestial dragons have ruled the world for 800 years, their library was filled with all kinds of books.
This task was as easy as it got.
"I'll be right back, Saint Mark."
Unbothered by her caution, Mark waved her away.
"You are dismissed."
Swiftly leaving Mark's room, the maid got to work; meanwhile, Mark kept on practicing his Observation Haki.
This time around he was sensing the maid, while she did her job in the most efficient way possible.
Not only her, even the librarian was rushing to collect everything he could find on the topic.
"They are an efficient bunch; mother and father have selected the best of the best."
Understanding that his servants were not slacking off, Mark stopped observing them and began to observe his mother and father.
They were currently discussing the economic situation of the Rose family.
Mark knew this because he could read their lips, not because he had activated the ability to listen to people's voices.
Koby could do something like that, but it was random and it traumatized him when he kept hearing people die.
"Our finances look okay this year."
"Although an Island was punished as they couldn't pay their heavenly gold."
Mark shrugged, that island had nothing to do with him. He just was relieved seeing they were in no financial crisis.
Sure, it was basically impossible because they were celestial dragons, but it didn't hurt to check.
"This reminds me."
"While my servants find new training methods, let me see if I can listen to people's voices like Koby."
"I don't need Roger's voice of all things; just give me voice of somethings."
If possible Mark wanted this observation haki ability, and he didn't want to unlock it randomly, as it could be quite traumatizing.
So he decided to keep practicing, he was trying to awaken abilities by controlled training, not abruptly in the middle of a fight.
It's very difficult to control new abilities during a death match. Unless you have a thick plot armor named destiny.
"I am a regular man; I have no fate helping me around."
"Unlike the saviour who's destined to succeed, I gotta put in some real effort."
Mark promptly decided ignore Luffy's cheating destiny, and focused on himself. In Kaido's words, he would use his Haki to overpower everything.
Regardless of what happens in the future, a strong Haki will be his biggest support.