Leno looked at Jack's talent with keen interest. He considered it carefully before making his decision.
"Choose, fearless!"
[Ding! Successfully copied talent: Fearless Heart]
[Talent Introduction: Fearless in heart, so fearless. Your courage will make you unshakable.]
Strength: S-rank
A powerful and fearless will rose from within Leno, granting his spirit and consciousness a sense of invincibility.
Leno opened his eyes, scanning those around him, a smirk playing on his lips. To him, everyone here was nothing but trash.
That's right! This was the feeling he had been chasing.
Leno had once acquired this talent from the bandit king, Higuma. However, back then it was only a B-rank Fearless Heart, and it eventually merged with other abilities, vanishing into the [Gluttony King] talent.
But Jack's [Fearless Heart] was an S-rank, a far superior version.
The difference was enormous.
Higuma's fearlessness came from ignorance. After encountering Shanks and his crew's strength, Higuma had chosen to run—proof that his bravery only stemmed from being a bully.
Jack's fearlessness, on the other hand, was different. Despite knowing his opponents included Admiral Fujitora, former Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, he still fearlessly charged forward.
Now that was true fearlessness!
Leno admired the audacity. Jack's indomitable spirit, his refusal to bow even in the face of such overwhelming power—this was the essence of true bravery.
"Jack!" Jack's underlings rushed over, pulling him out of the tree trunk where he had crashed.
"Hurry, get him to the hospital!" they shouted, disappearing quickly into the distance.
Watching them go, Leno turned to Gion.
"Pirates are right here in front of us, and yet the Marines are just going to let them walk away?"
"Humph!" Gion, who had just arrived, snorted. "Capturing Jack would only spark a larger conflict. What's the point?"
"Is that really Marine's justice?" Leno asked, smirking.
Gion clenched her teeth in frustration. "You didn't kill him. Are you afraid of Kaido coming after you?"
Leno took the sword from Kuina and tied it to his waist. "We hunters don't care about justice. We care about our goals and dreams. Justice? It's too rigid, too absolute."
Gion fired back, "So, you're willing to abandon justice for your dreams? Even if it means using underhanded methods?"
Leno chuckled and glanced toward the horizon, where the towering trees of the Sabaody Archipelago swayed.
"Justice? Is that what you call this? The Celestial Dragons openly trading slaves just down the street from Marine Headquarters. That's your so-called justice?"
Gion was speechless, unable to deny the truth in his words. The irony was hard to swallow.
The Sabaody Archipelago, practically neighbors with the Marine Headquarters, was a hive for pirates and a hub for the legalized slave trade.
A place where cats and mice lived side by side, as if that were perfectly normal. It was a twisted form of justice.
Leno stretched his arms toward the sky. "Ahh, are there any hot springs on this island?"
Kuina, holding a map, nodded. "Yes, there is one nearby."
"Then let's go to the hot springs!" Leno declared. He turned to Gion,
"What do you say, Vice Admiral Gion? Care to join us?"
Gion crossed her arms and sneered. "I already told you. As long as you're in Sabaody, I'll be watching your every move. Don't think you can pull any tricks!"
Leno shrugged innocently. "What tricks could I possibly pull?"
He nudged Kuina. "Isn't it nice to have such a beautiful Marine Vice Admiral accompanying us? Feels… safe, doesn't it?"
Kuina thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, very safe."
Leno laughed, surveying the area. "Wait a second, isn't someone missing?"
Kuina blinked. "Buggy!"
Gion's eyes widened. That's right, the red-nosed clown was missing.
She quickly grabbed her Den Den Mushi.
"Missing?" Gion's face darkened.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Gion. That clown fellow… he's gone."
Gion gritted her teeth in anger. "I told you to watch him! How could you let this happen?"
The person on the other side stammered, clearly embarrassed.
"Find him. Now!" she barked, ending the call.
Gion glared at Leno. "Is this part of your plan?"
Leno feigned innocence. "What plan? Buggy probably just got lost on his own."
He grinned. "Don't worry about him. He's always been incredibly lucky. Besides, Marine is already on the case."
Gion narrowed her eyes, still suspicious, but she had no choice but to follow Leno and Kuina.
Meanwhile, in the New World, King the Conflagration, the All-Star, picked up his Den Den Mushi.
"What is it?" he asked calmly.
"Jack… was defeated by Leno at the Sabaody Archipelago," the voice on the other side stammered.
King's eyes narrowed. "Leno? Who is that?"
The voice on the other side hesitated. "The leader of the hunter organization. He's made landfall on Sabaody."
"Interesting," King murmured.
"And Jack? Is he dead?"
"No, Jack is alive, but he was defeated in a single punch."
Jhin was briefly surprised. "A single punch? Haki or fruit power?"
"He used fruit power… and still lost."
King chuckled, flames flickering around him.
"That's fine. Jack is still young. There's time for him to grow."
Back at the hot spring hotel, Leno relaxed in the steaming waters. Kuina had already entered the shared bath, her cheeks flushed from the heat.
Gion stood nearby, arms still crossed, refusing to let Leno out of her sight.
Leno grinned mischievously. "Vice Admiral, care to join us?"
Gion shot him a deadly glare.
"Suit yourself," Leno whistled, sinking deeper into the hot water, his body finally relaxing after a long day.
The future was still uncertain, but at this moment, Leno's goals and dreams felt closer than ever.
Leno and Kuina had always shared an unbreakable bond. Their friendship was pure, free from any unsavory rumors or judgments. Only those with tainted minds would think otherwise.
As the warmth of the hot spring enveloped Leno, he could feel every bit of stress leave his body. The heat seemed to reach into his very soul, soothing both his mind and muscles.
"Ahh, this is the life," Leno sighed, sinking deeper into the water, eyes closing as he relished the sensation. It was a rare moment of peace in his chaotic life, and he intended to savor every second of it.
But just as he was drifting into total relaxation, a ripple disturbed the water. He opened his eyes, only to be greeted by the sight of a pair of long, elegant legs stepping into the spring.
Gion had arrived, casually adjusting her bathrobe that barely covered her thighs. She sat diagonally across from Leno, the bubbling hot water rising just high enough to graze her chest.
The water rippled as she settled in, facing both Leno and Kuina, who were visibly surprised by her sudden appearance.
"What? A Marine Vice Admiral can't enjoy a hot spring too?" Gion asked, a playful smirk on her lips. She let down her hair, shaking it free, adding to the casual allure of her presence.
Gion was stunning. Her height only accentuated her long legs, and beneath her calm demeanor, there was a palpable air of danger, enhanced by the spider tattoos on her back and thighs—marks of her past. They hinted at a wildness lurking within her polished exterior.
Leno's gaze briefly lingered on her before he looked away, unconcerned. He knew about Gion's past as a geisha before she became Marine. Her skills in charming pirates into a false sense of security were legendary. The spider tattoos were more than fitting, symbolizing a predator waiting for her prey.
"Whatever you want," Leno shrugged indifferently. "Kuina, want some fruit?"
Kuina nodded, and Leno slid a small fruit tray across the water toward her. He relaxed, letting Gion's entrance wash over him without much thought. Her attempts at seduction were futile—Leno wasn't interested in such distractions.
Gion raised an eyebrow as Leno closed his eyes again, seemingly unaffected by her presence. Was he pretending not to care, or was he truly uninterested? She couldn't tell, and that frustrated her. Gion wasn't used to being ignored.
She had intended to probe him, get a feel for his plans in Sabaody Archipelago, but now... he was falling asleep in front of her?
Annoyed, she glanced at Kuina, who was calmly munching on an apple. The girl noticed Gion's stare and innocently asked, "Do you want one?"
Gion's eyes flickered with interest. Kuina was close to Leno, often seen by his side. Maybe she could be the key to understanding him. Leaning in slightly, Gion took a slice of orange and asked,
"Aren't you worried about Leno's upcoming duel with Kaido?"
"Kaido?" Kuina echoed, chewing thoughtfully on the apple. "Is he strong?"
"Of course," Gion replied with a knowing nod.
"The strongest creature in the world, many say. In terms of a one-on-one fight, only a handful of people like Sengoku the Buddha, Vice Admiral Garp, or even Whitebeard could stand a chance."
Kuina's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Stronger than Kuzan?"
Gion hesitated before responding, "Kaido may be stronger in raw power, but Kuzan wouldn't easily lose either."
"Why?" Kuina tilted her head.
"Because," Gion said, leaning back into the water, "in battles between top-tier fighters, it's not always about who's stronger. It's about strategy, teamwork. Marine isn't a lone entity, it's a collective force. We've captured Kaido over thirty times because we worked together."
She paused, letting the steam rise as she splashed hot water on her shoulder. "In a head-on battle, sure, Kaido is a beast. But we're not alone. We've got Admirals like Borsalino, Sakazuki, Zephyr, and even our legendary Vice Admirals. Against that, Kaido has no chance in a prolonged fight."
Kuina nodded thoughtfully. "But Leno beat Kuzan in a one-on-one. He lost."
Those words pierced Gion's pride. She clenched her fists beneath the water, eyes narrowing.
"That's because Kuzan fought alone. With our full strength, things would have been different."
Kuina's innocent reply hit harder than Gion expected. "But Leno has us too."
Gion almost laughed but held it in. The difference between Leno's guild and the mighty forces of Marine was like night and day. But looking at Kuina's sincere face, Gion softened. She admired the girl's spirit, even if she didn't fully understand the world yet.
"Well," Gion smirked, "how about we compare swordsmanship instead?"
Kuina's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Yes!"
The two women quickly exited the hot spring, requesting bamboo swords from the hotel staff. Even in their bathrobes and barefoot, they stood ready to face off, the air between them charged with competitive energy.
"You attack first," Gion said, readying her stance.
Kuina wasted no time, launching a flurry of attacks with her bamboo sword. Their movements were swift, precise, and deadly despite the simple practice weapons. Gion's eyes widened in surprise—Kuina's foundation was impressive.
But Gion wasn't one to be easily beaten. She shifted her style, letting her bamboo sword dance gracefully in the air, blending elegance with lethal intent. Her geisha roots had taught her the art of assassination, and her strikes were as mesmerizing as they were deadly.
Still, Kuina held her own. Under Leno's guidance, her swordsmanship had reached a level beyond ordinary warriors. Each of her moves was fluid, deliberate, and efficient.
From the side, Leno watched as the two clashed, the sound of bamboo hitting bamboo waking him from his doze. He smirked at the sight. Both women were strong, but it was clear Kuina's discipline gave her the edge in pure technique.
And then, Gion made a small mistake—her legs shifted just slightly, creating an opening. Kuina seized the moment, thrusting her bamboo sword forward. It struck Gion's midsection, the force tearing her bathrobe apart.
Gion staggered back, stunned by the flawless strike. But then, she smiled, acknowledging Kuina's skill.
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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
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