Cyrus had effectively taken Rayleigh's daughter hostage.
Rayleigh had obviously never heard that particular expression, but the moment he saw Cyrus's hand resting around Hancock's slender waist, his eyes widened and his breathing grew heavier.
"Hmph!"
After an especially forceful snort, Rayleigh turned and walked out.
Shakky watched him leave with an amused, helpless smile. She glanced at Hancock and Cyrus, then followed him.
"Whitebeard is here. I'm sure you'll want to visit your Pops."
Cyrus looked at Teach, who was wearing an awkward smile, and gave him the hint.
Teach was clever enough to understand that he was being dismissed.
"Right, right. It's been a long time since I saw Pops."
Without the slightest hesitation, he nodded and left.
Cyrus removed his arm from Hancock's waist, causing a brief flicker of disappointment to cross her face.
He then took Robin's hand and idly played with her slender fingers while looking toward Issho and Mihawk.
"So, Mihawk, are you interested in joining?"
"Becoming your subordinate?"
Mihawk did not reject the offer outright. Instead, he answered with a question of his own.
"No. Joining the Hunter Guild doesn't make you my subordinate. I have no interest in managing that many people. You've travelled with me before, so you should understand how I operate."
Mihawk nodded thoughtfully.
He had spent enough time with Cyrus to understand his personality.
Unless Cyrus had concealed his true nature exceptionally well, he genuinely had no desire to rule the world.
If anything, he resembled the explorers who wandered the sea in search of new sights and experiences.
"Think about it."
Cyrus continued with a smile, still absentmindedly tracing Robin's fingers.
"There are plenty of young swordsmen in this world with exceptional talent. Instead of waiting for a worthy opponent to appear out of nowhere someday, you could watch them grow with your own eyes and offer a little guidance along the way."
"With your instruction, some of those gifted youngsters might genuinely reach your level. Then you'd never lack opponents again."
He pointed to himself.
"Unlike me. I'm not a true swordsman in the first place."
"You certainly aren't."
Mihawk nodded firmly in complete agreement with that final statement.
"Still, even with talent, reaching my level would be extremely difficult."
His words might have sounded arrogant from anyone else, but those who knew Mihawk understood that he was merely stating an honest assessment.
"Wouldn't one or two be enough? Take my junior, for example."
Cyrus smiled.
"Zoro?"
Mihawk paused and looked at him in surprise.
"That boy is promising, but if we're speaking purely of natural talent, even Kuina surpasses him."
"Talent determines where someone begins. It doesn't decide how high they'll climb."
Cyrus shook his head.
"I expect Zoro to become one of the greatest swordsmen in the world. As for Kuina…"
The image of the now-grown young woman appeared in his mind.
She had never existed in the future he originally knew.
When Cyrus stopped there, everyone became curious.
Was there something especially unusual about Kuina?
"Very well. You make a reasonable point. There are indeed several promising young swordsmen."
Mihawk finally nodded.
"And I came here because I wanted to take part in this grand event of yours anyway. Tell me what you need when the time comes."
He rose and left.
Cyrus did not try to stop him.
That answer was enough.
"I never realized you were so persuasive."
After Mihawk departed, Issho wore a slightly strange expression.
"If I weren't, you never would've boarded my ship in the first place."
Issho paused, then shook his head helplessly.
"Everything here is ready. We're only waiting for the exam to begin. If you feel like stretching your legs, you could join in and test the applicants."
"I'll pass. I'd rather spend that time enjoying a few games of dice."
Issho shook his head.
"You can't start slacking off now, Issho."
Cyrus looked at him with open disappointment.
"I haven't seen a casino since arriving. Don't tell me Sky Island doesn't have one."
Issho completely ignored the criticism.
"The casino isn't in this town."
Cyrus waved toward the exit.
Issho immediately rose, tapping his cane sword against the ground as he made his way outside.
"That man…"
Robin burst into laughter when she heard Cyrus's exasperated mutter.
"Mr. Issho has always been like that. Surely you knew."
"I thought he might have changed a little."
"Why would his hobbies change? Gambling is practically the only indulgence he has."
Robin placed her free hand on Cyrus's shoulder.
"Speaking of which, how have you been lately?"
Cyrus turned to look at her.
Her close-fitting outfit revealed a figure every bit as impressive as Hancock's, and she seemed even fuller than the last time he had seen her.
'What ridiculous natural talent.'
Cyrus could not help admiring it.
Noticing his gaze lingering on her chest, Robin instinctively started to shrink back.
Then she saw Hancock watching from the side with intense vigilance.
A faint blush rose across Robin's cheeks, and she deliberately straightened herself instead.
When she nearly pressed directly into his face, Cyrus stood and rubbed his nose.
"Come on. Let me see how much stronger you've become."
The corner of Robin's mouth lifted when she noticed the gesture.
She knew Cyrus well enough to recognize it as a sign that he was slightly embarrassed.
The meaning behind that reaction delighted her.
He could be painfully oblivious when it came to romance.
"I'll give you a surprise."
Robin smiled mysteriously.
"Oh? Your Devil Fruit awakened?"
Cyrus raised an eyebrow.
"Couldn't you at least pretend not to know?"
Robin feigned displeasure.
Hancock watched the two trade remarks, wanting to join the conversation but unable to find an opening.
When Cyrus led Robin toward the rear of the building, she immediately followed.
The three left the Hunter Guild branch and entered the nearby examination grounds through a private passage.
"Chairman!"
The Guild members guarding the enormous gate immediately snapped to attention.
"I'm going inside to inspect the grounds."
Cyrus waved casually.
"Yes, Chairman!"
The guards responded at once and hurried to open the doors.
"Chairman, would you like someone to guide you?"
One of the Hunters eagerly stepped forward.
"No need."
Cyrus entered the vast trial grounds with Robin and Hancock.
"That was Miss Robin, wasn't it? One of the Guild's earliest members who's been with the chairman since the beginning."
"Of course. The other woman was the Empress of Amazon Lily. She's one of the Guild's current partners."
Both Robin and Hancock were famous across the sea.
Hancock needed little introduction.
She had already become renowned long before Cyrus rose to prominence and earned a place among the Seven Warlords through her own strength.
Robin lacked equally spectacular battle records, and outsiders knew little about her true abilities.
But she had accompanied Cyrus ever since his time in the Four Seas and stood beside him through nearly every major incident he caused.
Her fame now rivalled Hancock's.
"Crocodile did a good job."
Walking beside Cyrus, Robin surveyed the surroundings.
Nothing about the area made it feel like they were on a sky island.
Solid earth stretched beneath their feet, surrounded by dense vegetation and countless wild animals.
Far away, enormous birds with vast wingspans took flight. Deeper in the distance, the roars of gigantic beasts echoed through the forest.
"He certainly did."
Cyrus nodded approvingly.
"Is there anything I can do to assist you, Lord Cyrus? I desperately wish to do more for you."
Hancock clasped her hands over her chest, her face filled with expectation.
"The Guild's entire partnership with Amazon Lily depends on you. That's already more than enough."
"It isn't. I want to do much more for you."
Hancock immediately shook her head, hope shining in her eyes.
"Lord Cyrus, since the Empress is asking so earnestly, shouldn't you accept?"
Robin spoke from beside them in an extremely serious tone, though she was clearly teasing him.
"Fine. We'll think of something later."
Cyrus pointed toward a broad clearing ahead.
"This place should work."
His figure blurred and reappeared in the centre of the open ground.
"Gigantesco Mano!"
Robin attacked without hesitation.
Even after becoming stronger, she knew the distance between herself and Cyrus remained enormous.
There was no possibility of actually injuring him, so there was no reason to hold back.
Countless pale pink petals appeared from nowhere, filling the clearing.
A familiar floral fragrance drifted through the air as the petals gathered instantly.
An enormous upper-body replica of Robin formed a short distance in front of Cyrus.
"Gigante Fleur: Fish-Man Karate—First Palm!"
Robin's real body emerged among the petals before the giant construct.
At her command, the flower-like arms behind the enormous Robin swept forward and struck at Cyrus.
Boom!
Cyrus raised his left hand and caught the colossal palm.
The wind generated by the impact whipped violently through his clothes.
"Continuous Slaps!"
Robin immediately followed up.
The multitude of arms behind the giant Robin came crashing toward Cyrus together.
"Don't you have that other version?" Cyrus asked with a smile.
The giant's face was a perfectly enlarged copy of Robin's, but the patterns across its body clearly revealed that it had been formed from layered petals.
Some important details were missing.
"I can't use that particular technique in this form."
Robin paused, quickly understanding what he meant.
"Besides, you said that kind of move would suit the Woods-Woods Fruit better."
She crossed her arms seriously over her chest.
"That's true."
Cyrus would have liked to see Robin use a thousand-arm technique, but it genuinely did not suit her ability and would come with too many disadvantages.
The form before him was not her awakening.
He could tell at a glance.
It was simply the result of her Devil Fruit development reaching an advanced stage, only one step away from true awakening.
Demonio Fleur was probably the first expression of that awakening.
Even this was already impressive.
Robin had experienced far fewer battles than she had in the original future, yet at her current age, she had still developed the Flower-Flower Fruit to this degree.
That had only been possible because she travelled with Cyrus and Issho, received their guidance, and gained a far broader understanding of power.
Her physique remained the problem.
Even after such a brief exchange, Cyrus could sense her stamina beginning to weaken.
"What else do you have?"
He beckoned her forward.
Seeing his expression, Robin lightly bit her lower lip.
Had that not been enough to surprise him?
Did she really need to use her final technique?
But would Cyrus dislike how it looked?
Robin hesitated.
"Show me."
She still had concerns, but Cyrus immediately understood what she was thinking.
Just as Robin knew him well, Cyrus understood her too.
Had she genuinely mastered an awakening?
"No matter what form you take, you're still my Robin."
He raised one hand encouragingly.
"All right."
Robin's expression softened as she looked into his eyes.
"Demonio Fleur!"
The giant upper body behind her twisted violently, then dissolved into countless petals.
They spiralled into an enormous vortex as a powerful presence gathered within.
Standing nearby, Hancock watched Robin in surprise, her gaze fixed on the swirling storm of petals.
"What is that?"
Unlike the previous incomplete giant, this time the petals formed an entire figure behind Robin.
Dark skin covered its enormous body. Its long black hair fell over its chest, while a pair of massive, shadowy wings spread from its back.
A fierce, wrathful presence radiated from the giant demon.
It was not Conqueror's Haki.
It felt more like a unique variation of Observation Haki—an aura born from the Devil Fruit itself.
Cyrus studied the enormous demonic Robin closely.
There was no question about it.
This was a Paramecia awakening.
However, Robin clearly had not mastered it completely.
She was expending Haki far too freely, meaning she could not maintain the form for long.
Unlike many of the physical monsters who roamed the sea, Robin did not possess bottomless stamina.
Robin noticed Cyrus studying the giant behind her.
There was no disgust in his eyes. Instead, she saw a different look—something both familiar and strangely new.
Because she shared the giant's senses, his stare made her entire body feel hot.
The formerly intimidating Demonio Robin instinctively folded both arms over her chest.
Cyrus coughed lightly and looked away.
"Not bad. Attack me."
He beckoned again.
Whoosh!
The attack came far faster than before.
In the blink of an eye, several arms wrapped in Armament Haki stretched forward like rubber and reached Cyrus.
The giant hands seized him tightly.
Then Cyrus watched the enormous demonic Robin draw closer.
The hands pressed him directly against the giant's chest and squeezed from every side.
Cyrus sighed helplessly.
His body vanished.
A burst of fire gathered beside the real Robin and reformed into Cyrus.
Thump!
Robin released the arms she had crossed over her chest and raised one hand to hold her head.
The demonic giant mirrored her, covering its forehead with both hands.
"That's enough. I understand what your ability can do."
Cyrus paused, recalling the feeling of the previous attack, then smiled at Robin.
"But that last move…"
"It was pretty nice."
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