Until Shano spoke softly, "Hey, Jack."
"Boss?!"
Jack was startled and quickly turned around. Seeing Shano and Nojiko, he immediately stopped what he was doing and awkwardly wiped the sweat from his face.
"Why... why are you here?"
"Just passing by, heard something and came to check it out."
Shano walked into the training room and casually tossed over a large jug of orange soda that Nojiko had just brought from the restaurant.
"Take a break and have some, don't end up dehydrated and fainting."
"Thanks, Boss!"
Jack only then realized he hadn't drunk water for a long while.
He hurriedly grabbed the jug, intending to take just a sip, but the refreshing, cool orange soda soothed his throat instantly, reviving him as if he came back to life.
"Gulp gulp—"
Not until the jug was empty did Jack reluctantly stop and wipe the water stains from his lips, letting out a long breath.
"So thirsty and not drinking any water, that's too absorbed, right?"
Shano laughed, "What's up, got provoked?"
As expected of Boss Shano, to notice it immediately?
Jack felt a bit ashamed and lowered his head, muttering, "Yeah, Boss, I... I'm really too weak, can't help with anything."
"That night in Water Capital, when Kaido casually threw a punch, I couldn't catch it at all. If you hadn't intervened in time, I'd probably be bedridden for days before recovering..."
"And before, at home, Aokiji also got me with just one move..."
He became more and more dejected, as if Perona's ghost had passed through him, lifelessly, "I, I'm really useless, Boss."
This...
Aren't you setting the bar too high for yourself?
Shano felt amused and exasperated.
Feeling weak without considering who your opponents are, Kaido, Aokiji... each a titan standing at the pinnacle of the world.
A young rookie just setting out to sea, daring to charge at these two, maybe only you, this simple-minded guy, would.
Of course.
Charging without thinking.
This unwavering loyalty is still worth praising.
"I understand your desire to become stronger, but training is never a matter of a day or two. Pay attention to your schedule and health in the future, don't be too impatient."
"And don't keep dwelling on past events. Those two old guys are exceptions. You're still so young, why compare with them? Mental exhaustion is the scariest thing."
Shano encouraged and comforted for a while until Jack showed a contemplative expression, then he laughed and patted Jack's arm:
"Believe in your talent. Look at you, Life Return has already shown some results. If you talk about it, outsiders would be envious. How's your Haki training going?"
"No sign of Observation yet."
Jack scratched his head, reporting progress truthfully, "But I've started feeling something with Armament. Boss, give me a little more time... Within half a month, I should have a basic grasp."
"See, having a plan like this and progressing step by step, isn't it great?"
Shano gave a thumbs up, seriously saying, "When you face difficulties in training later, don't hold back, come to me if there are things you don't understand. From now on, I'll try to spare two hours each day to train with you personally, guiding you to master Dual-Colored Haki soon."
"You, teaching me personally? Two hours a day?!"
Jack raised his head sharply, eyes filled with surprise and joy.
"What, don't want to?" Shano chuckled.
"No! Of course I want to!"
Jack waved his hand excitedly, his voice even trembling with excitement, "Thank you, Boss!"
"No need to thank me, I really fear you might suddenly collapse here, quickly go have breakfast, fill your belly, and take a good rest before continuing!"
"Yes, Boss!"
After this barrage of encouragement, Jack felt as if he'd been shot up with adrenaline, his dejected mood vanished entirely. He excitedly pushed open the door and went thudding towards the kitchen.
"Brother..."
Nojiko watched Jack's massive figure disappear into the distance, softly moved closer, "Why do I feel this scene is so familiar?"
"Of course it's familiar."
Shano glanced sideways at her, "Back then in Cocoyashi Village, whenever you couldn't keep up with punching practice and came crying for consolation, didn't I comfort you this way too? I'm best at coaxing kids."
"I see."
Nojiko realized, then blushed and angrily started hitting Shano, "What kids, I was already quite sensible back then, wasn't I? You're always teasing me, you brat~!"
"I was talking about Jack."
"That's more like it!"
Nojiko snorted.
Although Jack was an adult, his simple and honest nature indeed made him seem like a mentally young child to the crew.
"Speaking of which, brother."
Nojiko suddenly sighed and said seriously, "Jack's anxiety and worries aren't just his, we all feel a bit of it."
"Oh?"
Shano looked at her.
Nojiko didn't waste words, she directly spilled all her thoughts clearly.
Since setting out to sea, they have been sailing on the Grand Line for three months now.
After maybe two or three more islands, the first half of the Grand Line will be almost over.
After getting the coating done at Shampodi, the Endgame Adventurer Group will face entirely new challenges—
Entering the New World.
The crew of the Endgame has almost all mastered Haki and aren't short of Logia-type Ability Users. Even without Shano being there, they can walk dominantly in this first half.
But the New World is completely different.