On the hot desert.
The immense Nine Tails had vanished, replaced by a sailboat powered by the wind, which naturally belonged to Sara and her father.
The father and daughter manipulated the sail nervously. Not long ago, Gnar had informed them that he had secured the oasis in Yuba from King Kobra.
Despite their gratitude, the recent slaughter on the outskirts of Alabasta Royal City still haunted them.
On the deck, Gnar outlined his plan to Robin and Zala.
Their reactions were vastly different.
Zala's reaction was the most intense. "Gnar, are you crazy? That's a Marine Admiral!"
Robin, though surprised, remained calm and simply asked, "Does it have to be this way?"
Gnar nodded slightly, his face showing no fear, only excitement. "I need a strong mentor, and I'm fortunate to have one. If it were any other high-ranking Marine coming after me, I wouldn't be so bold. But Zephyr is different. Even though I disdain Marine justice, I admire this man named Zephyr."
"It seems you really respect this Marine Admiral!" Robin said with a faint smile.
Zala was impatient. "It's still too dangerous. I've heard about this Admiral—he shows no mercy to pirates."
"But haven't you faced enemies before?" Gnar's rhetorical question left Zala speechless.
"This is my best chance," Gnar continued. "Though I've learned the training method for Haki from Brogy and Dorry, I still don't understand it. Zephyr is a master of Haki, which is why he's known as Black Arm Zephyr. I need to seize this opportunity to fully awaken Haki. After all, fighting is the fastest way to grow."
Realizing she couldn't change Gnar's mind, Zala complained, "If I had known, I might have let you fight the BOSS!"
Zala had finally found someone she could rely on who didn't see her as just a tool, and now this person was heading into danger. She was understandably worried. But knowing she couldn't change his mind, she asked, "What are your chances of winning?"
An excited smile appeared on Gnar's face as he said something rather disheartening. "Unfortunately, the chance of winning is zero!"
"!!!"
"Even with the power granted by my Devil Fruit, I still don't know my own limits."
Gnar clenched his fist tightly. "I understand that Admiral Zephyr and I are on completely different levels. His combat experience and the opponents he has faced put him in a league of his own."
"Gnar, you?" Zala questioned.
"My goals are simple. First, to awaken Haki through my battle with Black Arm Zephyr. Second, to understand my body's potential. And lastly, to determine my place in this world's power hierarchy."
After hearing this, and seeing Zala and Robin's continued worry, Gnar added comfortingly, "Don't worry. I'm not the type to recklessly throw myself into a fight. The reason I'm pursuing this is that Zephyr is an Admiral who doesn't kill. Even though I have no chance of winning, it won't be easy for the Marines to catch me."
"Moreover, I have my advantages. Although Black Arm Zephyr is a Marine Admiral, he's already sixty years old. He was relegated to the second line a few years ago, and it's unclear how much strength he still has. More importantly, I've just learned that he suffers from severe asthma and cannot fight for long."
"What!?" Both Robin and Zala were shocked by this news.
Gnar's information made the battle seem less perilous. "Hehe, although it feels like taking advantage of an old man, finding such a suitable opponent is rare. If we miss this chance, it might be too late when we next encounter someone of his caliber."
Robin and Zala fell into deep thought. After a moment, Robin asked, "But what if you fail?"
Gnar grinned mischievously, adopting a villainous tone. "Don't worry. I've made some preparations. While nothing in this world is 100% guaranteed, if I do fail and get caught, it might not be as bad as it seems!"
"Um!?" Robin and Zala were intrigued by Gnar's confident demeanor.
Unfortunately, Gnar didn't reveal his preparations. Instead, he turned to Robin with a peculiar smile.
"Now, Robin, it's your turn…"
Robin looked at him with anticipation. "So, what are your plans for me, dear?"
Gnar did not disappoint Robin. "I'll provide you with the location of the next historical text…"
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