Sabaody Archipelago.
A rickety old fishing boat that looked ready to fall apart at any moment drifted lazily into the dock.
Kael was the first to hop ashore. He stretched, loosening up his stiff muscles and joints.
When he pushed open the heavy oak door of the villa, two petite figures shot toward him with a waft of fragrance, darting into his arms like swallows returning to the forest.
"Lord Kael! You are finally back!"
"We missed you so much!"
Sakura and Rin clung to him, one on each side, rubbing their heads against his chest. Soft, warm, and sweetly scented.
Kael's face showed pure bliss. His hands moved on instinct to wrap around their slim waists as he drew in a deep, satisfied breath of maiden fragrance.
Ah. Sugoi. Home really is the best.
At that moment, both maids suddenly froze.
They lifted their heads from his chest and looked past his shoulder. Behind Kael, a black-haired little girl stood in the doorway, a bit nervous, quietly taking in every corner of the villa.
Sakura and Rin's cheeks puffed up in perfect sync, and their voices carried a faint and sour note.
"Lord Kael… brought another new girl home again."
"New girl! New girl!" Perona, twin tails bouncing, floated out from deeper inside. She circled Kael gleefully, chanting with malicious delight.
A bead of cold sweat slid down Kael's temple.
You cannot phrase it like that.
Sakura and Rin were brought over by Karon.
Perona was picked up by Moria.
Robin chose to follow Kael on her own.
Kael Grylls walks an upright, aboveboard path his whole life. A proper gentleman. Does not eat cilantro.
Most of the people by his side started with gratitude and stayed for his character.
Moria's life-saving favor.
Karon's support and guidance.
Mihawk's instruction as a teacher.
In short, you could never finish repaying Lord Kael's kindness.
\o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/
He reached out and pinched Sakura and Rin's puffed-up cheeks, one in each hand. They were soft and bouncy.
"This is Nico Robin. From now on, she is one of us."
Expressionless as ever, Mihawk walked past them, treating the colorful scene before him as if it were invisible, and headed straight for the training yard in the back.
He felt his sword was getting a little thirsty. How could women compare to the joy of training his blade?
"Gihihihihi… fresh research material." Moria's weird chuckle echoed as his body melted into the shadows in the corner of the wall and vanished.
After the clash with the Marines at Ohara, his understanding of his Devil Fruit had deepened again. There was work to be done.
The sword-obsessed Little Hawk and shut-in Little Mo retreated with impeccable tacit understanding, leaving the villa to Kael and a gaggle of chattering girls.
Kael: Good job.
Hawk, Mo: Say no more.
That night, the enormous dining table was covered with a feast.
Sakura and Rin stood to the side, a little embarrassed.
"Um… Lord Kael, we are really sorry. Our cooking still isn't as good as Mr. Mihawk's."
Kael picked up a piece of roast meat and popped it into his mouth without a shred of politeness.
"Knife work is the foundation of any chef. On that front, no one can surpass Mihawk. If he does not get enough chances to cut people on a normal day, he can only take it out on vegetables."
Mihawk, sitting very straight, paused mid-slice on his steak.
He lifted his hawk-like gaze toward Kael.
"Are there still strong swordsmen in the New World?" His tone was calm, but the question was serious.
Ever since he had grasped Conqueror's Haki infusion, it had been a very long time since Mihawk had needed to truly go all out.
Only by constantly seeking better whetstones could his sword grow sharper.
Kael swallowed his mouthful of food and thought it over for a moment.
Right now, Mihawk really was already among the top tier of swordsmen in the world.
Across the entire sea, there were very few who could actually pressure him.
"Let me think." Kael started counting on his fingers.
"Saint Garling of the God Knights is one. Among the Five Elders, that bald old man with the First Generation Kitetsu, Saint Nusjuro, should also be extremely strong.
"Then there is… Shiki the Golden Lion's dual-sword style, ah, although that guy's swordsmanship is probably nerfed a bit by that supreme rudder in his head. Rayleigh's swordplay is still as sharp as ever too."
He suddenly leaned closer to Mihawk, a wicked grin creeping onto his face.
"So, Little Hawk. Want me to take you up to Mary Geoise for a visit? You could pay Saint Nusjuro a call and snatch the First Generation Kitetsu to use as a kitchen knife."
Mihawk's eyes lit up at once.
He set down his knife and fork and, for once, looked truly solemn as he seriously weighed the idea.
"If you need me to."
Those five words held not even the slightest hint of a joke.
If Kael really needed it, he would draw Yoru without hesitation and climb the summit of world power with him.
Kael was so taken aback by his earnestness that he quickly waved his hands.
"I am kidding. I am kidding. It is not time yet."
"However," Kael shifted tracks, "tomorrow I will take you to meet Rayleigh. You two can have a spar and share a drink."
Sitting quietly at one end of the table, Robin ate in small, careful bites.
She listened to their conversation in silence.
She understood each individual word, but strung together, half of it might as well have been ancient runes.
I have no idea what they are talking about. Ohara's books never covered this stuff.
What did it mean to "storm Mary Geoise"? To "go meet the Five Elders"?
Things that would terrify any normal person just to hear them were tossed around by these people as casually as deciding which market to visit for groceries tomorrow.
There were no rigid hierarchies here (Karon volunteered, he just really, really wants to improve). No suffocating rules. No ever-present backstabbing and suspicion.
Lord Kael might joke around and act on a whim, but at critical moments he held the reins in a death grip.
Mr. Mihawk looked cold and unapproachable, yet was unexpectedly gentle in his own way.
Mr. Moria was… at least starting to resemble a human being.
Then there were Sakura, Rin and Perona, who might squabble over little things, but whose eyes held no shadows.
Robin glanced at Sakura, who was quietly placing more food into her bowl, then at Kael on the other side, brazenly telling Mihawk to go cook a couple more dishes.
For the first time, she felt that kneeling on that cabin floor and begging them to take her with them might have been the most correct decision of her entire life.
With that thought, the corners of her lips, which had been pressed into a tight line for so long, finally curled up into the faintest of smiles.
Mama, Saul…
I think I have found people I can truly entrust myself to.
From now on, I will not be alone anymore.
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