After boosting the skills of Raki, Aisa, and Conis, both Raki and Aisa busied themselves with familiarizing with their newfound abilities. Meanwhile, Ron lay back in his chair, basking in the sun and enjoying a freshly prepared drink by Makino.
Life was indeed as comfortable as that of a god—surrounded by beautiful girls and sailing on Ark Maxim over the ocean, he felt like a wealthy man cruising on a luxury yacht in the real world.
That evening, Makino, Nojiko, and Conis worked tirelessly to prepare a lavish feast, filling the table with delicious dishes for everyone to enjoy. Ron, indulging in the food, ate heartily, his face smeared with the oil of roasted meats. The food was exceptional, crafted by three chefs with maxed-out cooking skills.
"Oh, after eating meals made by Sister Makino, Sister Nojiko, and Sister Conis, I don't think I'll be able to stomach anyone else's cooking again!" Aisa said, smiling in bliss as she continued devouring the delicacies on the table.
"Pfft ha, when you're hungry, you'll eat even the blandest food," Ron quipped inappropriately before taking a sip of rum.
"You'd never let Aisa go hungry, right?" Nami raised an eyebrow at Ron.
"Of course not!" Vivi added, smiling slyly. "If Aisa went hungry, wouldn't we all starve?"
"Absolutely not!" Realizing the tone of the conversation, Ron quickly stopped eating and patted his chest reassuringly. "Even if I had to go hungry myself, I'd make sure none of you ever would!"
After dinner, everyone naturally retreated to their rooms. The girls had already sorted out the room arrangements. The Ark Maxim was a large ship with nearly a hundred rooms, several spacious warehouses, a dining area, galleries, and other facilities—vastly larger than the Going Merry, offering a more comfortable living situation.
Ron's room, of course, was the best one, but the girls' rooms were also well-appointed. Aisa, Apis, and Marianne, being young and afraid of loneliness, shared a room with three beds, which fit comfortably given the ship's size.
Ron lay in his empty room, feeling a little restless. Thoughts raced through his mind as he pondered his options.
Should I visit Kaya's room? he wondered, contemplating the idea. Or maybe I should consider the other girls?
Nami? He hesitated. Although their relationship had grown closer, it wasn't quite the right moment for that kind of move.
Tashigi? It seemed risky, especially since, although she hadn't resisted the last time he kissed her, taking things further might still be too abrupt.
The others? Even more challenging.
No, I mustn't use force. Absolutely not! Ron shook his head, reminding himself that his dignified image must remain untarnished.
The night passed, and in the end, Ron didn't leave his room. He slept alone, opting for a more restrained approach.
The next day greeted them with clear skies, blue waters, and seabirds soaring overhead. It was a picturesque scene, though it had grown a bit monotonous after seeing it day after day.
"Nami, where's my fishing rod?" Ron asked, deciding to spend some time fishing. He couldn't find his rod and called out to Nami, who was busy charting the ship's course.
"I don't know. Ask Vivi—I think she put it away for you," Nami replied without looking up.
"Brother Ron, are you going to fish?" Aisa and Apis ran over. Marianne, sitting quietly with Robin and sipping tea at a table on the deck, didn't join them. Aisa loved playing with Apis, and the two girls were always full of energy.
"Yes," Ron said with a smile. "How about I catch a big fish for you and we make it our lunch?"
"Yay! Can I help you sense where the fish are?" Aisa asked eagerly.
Aisa's Mantra allowed her to sense the presence of all living things, from people to animals like Sisi and the little dragon. It would certainly work for fish as well.
"No need!" Ron shook his head. "The fun of fishing is in the challenge. If we use that ability, it'd be cheating."
"Oh, okay!" Aisa nodded, understanding.
Vivi soon walked over, holding his fishing rod. "Here, your fishing rod."
"Perfect! Watch as Fishing Master Ron works his magic and shows you the art of true fishing!" Ron boasted, attaching a small piece of bait to the hook before casting it into the sea.
Vivi couldn't help but chuckle. "Fishing master, huh? Are you sure about that?"
She had seen Ron fish before, and he hadn't caught a single one in hours.
If Ron knew that Vivi doubted his skills, he'd have protested. Wait until I master my fishing ability—then I'll be able to catch Sea Kings with ease!
The two little girls, Aisa and Apis, initially watched with interest. But as time went by and Ron still hadn't caught a single fish, they quickly lost interest and wandered off to play elsewhere.
"These kids, they have no patience," Ron sighed. "Fishing is an art that requires dedication."
As time passed, Ron's line remained devoid of any catches. However, something else caught the crew's attention.
"Nami, look over there!" Tashigi said, pointing towards the horizon. A black line appeared over the sea.
"Is that… a Sea King?" Nami squinted, but as she took a closer look, her expression changed. "No, it's a fleet… A Navy fleet!"
"Yeah," Tashigi nodded, her expression conflicted. She had been with the crew since Loguetown, and after spending so much time with them, she had almost forgotten her original allegiance. Though she was the first girl Ron had essentially abducted, she had come to enjoy her time with the crew, even that scoundrel Ron who had stolen her first kiss.
Now, seeing the approaching fleet, her emotions were tangled. Part of her didn't want the Navy to target Ron, despite the fact that if they did defeat him, she could escape. But she didn't want to leave the crew behind.
While Tashigi wrestled with her thoughts, Nami's face turned serious as she ran over to Ron. "Ron, there's trouble!"
"What is it?" Ron asked lazily, still lying on the side of the ship with his fishing rod in one hand. Damn it, fishing is harder than it looks!
"There's a fleet—a Navy fleet! It's only a few dozen miles away, and it's heading straight for us!" Nami reported urgently. "Should we try to avoid it or use the Ark's flight mode?"
"A Navy fleet? How large is it?" Ron put away his fishing rod, handing it to Tashigi, who had just arrived. "No need to evade it. Keep sailing as usual. Whatever happens, I'm here. Don't panic."
"Alright!" Nami responded, feeling reassured by Ron's confidence. She knew his strength firsthand and didn't doubt him, even if the Navy was coming with a large fleet. Plus, she now wielded the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, making her far more formidable than before.
"So many ships!" Aisa and Apis marveled as the massive fleet drew closer.
"Those ships…" Raki and Conis were both shocked by the sight of the enormous fleet heading their way.