After standing silently for a while.
He retracted his gaze from afar, left the bow, and came to the open-air kendo field on the second floor.
Most of the crew had gathered here, standing in a circle, curiously observing the strange new member—Dream Grass.
This was delivered to Shano by Old Link before he got drunk at the bonfire party last night.
The original owner, Rocks, had long passed away, and after Shano used his powerful Conqueror's Haki to completely defeat Rocks' lingering will, this little spiritual being seemed to be in awe of him and naturally acknowledged Shano as its new master.
At this moment, Nami cautiously reached out her finger to poke its "cage."
It instantly snapped shut, pretending to swallow her hand.
Nami jumped in fright and hid behind Nojiko with a "wah!"
"Hey, can you show us your ability? I want to see what a real illusion looks like."
Smoker looked at it with interest, a cigar in his mouth.
Dream Grass ignored him, even turning its leaves away in disdain.
Smoker's forehead twitched.
It's just a grass, why the attitude?
"Looks like it only listens to the captain."
Robin chuckled, glancing toward Shano who was walking over. "Maybe it thinks only someone who can erase Rocks' will is qualified to command it."
Shano stepped forward and gently stroked Dream Grass. It immediately rubbed affectionately against his fingers, leaves stretching open and glowing with a soft, dreamlike light.
"Remember these people on this ship. They're all your companions from now on."
Shano instructed, "If they want to borrow your power for training, help them—just like you did back on Agatha Island, understood?"
Dream Grass nodded obediently.
"Who wants to go first?"
Shano glanced around.
Training within the illusion is different from reality. It doesn't improve physical strength, but most other benefits—combat skills, fruit ability control, mental willpower, and Haki refinement—can carry over into the real world.
With Dream Grass, it's as if the ship now has its own infinite simulation space.
Crew members can enter illusions at will, train without fear of damaging the ship or injuring comrades, and confront their deepest fears in full-force battle.
An incredibly efficient training tool.
"Boss, let me try it first." Smoker stepped forward, eyes sharp.
When he first joined, he was easily top three in strength among the crew—second only to Shano.
But now...
Excluding Nami, he was at most middle-tier. Since entering the New World, the enemies had grown increasingly powerful, and the pressure kept mounting.
Take Vergo, for instance—three consecutive matches on Thunder God Island all ended in draws.
Then, during dinner, that guy couldn't take the shame anymore and suddenly used his iron staff to stab at Shano's chest.
The outcome was predictable.
Shano casually lifted him like a chicken and snapped his neck.
If you didn't know his true identity, it might've seemed tragic—like a fallen hero of justice.
But everyone had already known from Shano that Vergo was just a spy of the Flamingo.
Trying to kill the captain for revenge?
Smoker looked at Vergo's crooked ten hands lying nearby and sighed.
"Alright. You go first," Shano nodded and signaled Dream Grass.
Smoker took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Remember, illusions reflect your deepest fear," Shano reminded him. "Don't get scared."
"Don't worry, boss. I'm naturally brave. Nothing scares me," Smoker grinned, cigar in mouth. "Bring it on!"
At that moment, Dream Grass opened and released a puff of dream mist, enveloping Smoker.
...
The scene warped.
Smoker blinked—when his eyes opened again, he was on a familiar training field: the Navy HQ's training base.
The setting sun painted everything in orange hues.
"This place…" Smoker frowned—then his eyes widened.
Not far away stood a tall figure with arms crossed and short purple hair blowing slightly in the wind.
"...Teacher?" Smoker whispered.
The man turned—"Black Arm" Zephyr, the former admiral and Smoker's most respected mentor.
But his eyes were cold. Disappointed.
"Smoker," Zephyr said grimly. "I heard you betrayed the navy... and joined pirates?"
Smoker's chest tightened. "No! I didn't! I just—"
"Just what?" Zephyr scoffed. "Just thought the navy was corrupt and beneath you? So you turned pirate?"
"That's not it, teacher!"
Smoker clenched his fists. "There are serious problems in the navy. I've been disappointed again and again, but I never betrayed justice! I follow Shano because—"
"Shut up!"
Zephyr roared, stomping the ground and shattering it. "Pirates are pirates! Stop making excuses! I once saw you as the future of the navy—you disappoint me, you bastard!"
Boom!
Zephyr vanished and reappeared in front of him, his blackened right arm coated in thick Haki, slamming down—
...
Reality.
Everyone stared at Smoker's expression.
He was drenched in cold sweat, trembling, eyes wide in panic.
"What's he seeing in there?" Nami waved her hand in front of his face, curious. "Hey, Smoker? Can you hear me?"
No response.
"Leave him be, Nami," Nojiko pulled her back. "If you're that curious, why not try it yourself?"
Nope!
Nami quickly retreated. She wasn't eager for strength upgrades—she just came to watch. Being the subject of the show? No thanks.
"I'll try next." A calm voice spoke up.
Everyone turned. It was Robin.
"I think everyone already knows what I fear most."
She took off her sunglasses and lowered her gaze. "Thanks to the captain... I escaped that long, fearful darkness."
Her fingers traced her glasses frame.
"But I know that fear still lingers. I want to confront it myself now."
Shano smiled but said nothing.
Robin, as if encouraged, stepped toward Dream Grass.
It sprayed mist. She stood still.
"Let me follow her," Shano said, placing a hand on Dream Grass and entering Robin's illusion.
As her master, he had full access—he could observe, wait, or even intervene.
The mist cleared.
An island burned in flames. In the dark night, Robin stood trembling.
Far away, a man in a cloak with disheveled hair approached slowly with hands in his pockets and a cold, indifferent face...
"Aokiji."
Shano smacked his lips and backed out quietly.
He glanced at Smoker's illusion again.
Zephyr…
Thinking through the timeline: Zephyr had already lost his arm to Whitebeard Jr., but hadn't yet become a pirate himself. That would happen five years later.
Still, his disappointment in the navy had clearly begun to fester.
Meaning—he was already someone Shano could consider recruiting.
Interesting.
After watching Zephyr bash Smoker around for a bit, Shano returned to reality.
He looked at Dream Grass, nodding in satisfaction.
To be able to simulate such elite fighters so accurately—yes, this was a great tool for training.
Unfortunately... it couldn't help him.
Whether it's Zephyr, Aokiji, or even Rocks—none of them in illusion form could bring real pressure to someone at his level.
For people like him, who stand at the peak of the world, every aspect matters—Haki, physical strength, will, belief…
And Dream Grass can't simulate all of that.
If a few punches can end a battle, it's not worth the time.
Still...
What would he see in his own illusion?
Out of curiosity, Shano let the Dream Grass spray him.
The scene warped.
Everything turned white. Nothing moved. He waited, bored.
Just as he was about to give up—
A salty breeze brushed his face. Sand shifted under his feet.
He was standing on the muddy shore of Kokosia Village.
The familiar wooden house smoked in the distance.
And the figure that turned to face him...
"Boring and insignificant humans!"
Aaron laughed wildly. "From now on, this island belongs to the Arlong Pirates! Sha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
Boom!
A single black energy wave tore him apart instantly.
Shano withdrew his finger, expressionless.
...What the hell?
How old is this memory?
Facing Zephyr and Aokiji is one thing, but this purple-skinned fish man? Come on.
He sighed and turned toward the training room where the historical texts were stored.
As expected—there was nothing left to fear.
Back to practicing the Flowing Water Rock-Smashing Fist, then.
...
Three days later.
The drizzle hadn't stopped since morning.
Through the mist, the outline of an island appeared.
Nojiko called out from the crow's nest, and the crew gathered on deck.
Everyone had taken turns using Dream Grass—except Nami—and had made different levels of progress. But no one had broken their inner fear yet.
It wasn't that simple.
Shano had just emerged from training, took a quick shower, and came to the bow. Raindrops wet his black hair as he looked into the distance.
A busy port town gradually came into view.
The town was jet black—every building made of dark stone. Even in the rain, it appeared solemn and mysterious.
At its highest point, a black spire pierced the sky. People crowded the streets, dressed in black and holding black umbrellas.
"Black Rock City?" Robin walked over with an umbrella, surprised. "Didn't expect to find it here."
"You know this place?"
"Yes," Robin nodded. "A famous trade hub in the New World, rich in black stone. It used to belong to Golden Lion. After he was captured, it was chaotic for a while, but over ten years ago, Whitebeard took over and brought prosperity."
"Whitebeard..."
Shano narrowed his eyes. On the black spire, a faint skull flag fluttered.
It reminded him of Fishman Island—where Marco invited him to meet Whitebeard.
But he never did find the White Whale.
Just then, Nojiko shouted from above:
"Brother! Seven o'clock direction, look at that ship—the flag!"
Huh?
Shano turned and saw a striking ship docked at the far end of the port.
It was deep red, with twin white sails bearing a skull with a red eye scar and crossed swords. Its figurehead was a horned red serpent.
"The Red Hair Pirates."
Shano's mouth curled up.
This was the main ship of the Red Hair Pirates.
And only one man was worthy of sailing it—
Red-Haired Shanks himself!
Behind him, Nami came out holding Tailmon in her pajamas.
She looked at Shano's face—
Was he...smiling?
And smiling very, very happily?