Leno looked over the women on deck and decided—
During this voyage, it was time to push them harder.
Pretty faces and good figures weren't enough.
In the New World, that would only make them burdens.
He didn't want vases.
He wanted roses with thorns—beautiful and deadly.
His eye for talent was unquestionable.
All of them had excellent foundations.
Relatively weaker were Kalifa and Domino. They had relied mainly on Devil Fruits and physical skills before; their Haki was still at beginner level.
Counting properly, his official crew had only four members:
Robin, Kalifa, Domino, and Perona.
Little Alice was still young—for now, she was the mascot… and technically a pet.
Highest potential? Without question, Perona.
The Hollow-Hollow Fruit had terrifying upper limits. Combined with Haki, her future ceiling was high.
Next was Robin.
The Hana-Hana Fruit, once enhanced with Armament Haki, saw its lethality skyrocket.
Kalifa's Bubble-Bubble Fruit, if developed properly, was actually quite formidable too.
Leno rubbed his chin.
It felt like a downgraded version of the Slip-Slip Fruit.
But if used right?
Still disgusting to deal with.
And so—
Their daily routine became high-intensity training mixed with subtle flirtation.
On the training ground, Leno showed no mercy.
"Armament isn't for decoration! Focus! Harden it—like this!"
"Kalifa! Are your bubbles for bath time? Restrain, corrode, deflect! Be ruthless with it!"
"Domino, harder Armament! …Forget it. Extra lesson tonight."
"Robin! Stop wasting Haki with scattered attacks. Concentrate it at a single point! Overlay Armament onto your fruit!"
"Perona! Negative Hollows aren't omnipotent! Use Observation to predict! Your body's too fragile—don't let anyone close in!"
He was harsh.
But a single nod of approval from him?
Enough to fuel days of silent effort.
After several days, they had figured out his temperament.
Kalifa would push up her glasses and dutifully offer water and towels—leaning just enough to display certain advantages.
Leno glanced.
No reaction.
Domino would lean close while "asking about Armament," her breath brushing his ear.
He'd give a casual pointer—
almost trigger unintended hardening—
and promptly dismiss her.
Robin preferred the quiet approach.
At night on deck, she would sit across from him reading.
Occasionally glancing up at him.
Her gaze… complicated.
He kept his eyes closed, pretending not to notice.
Though some things were harder to ignore.
Perona was the most direct.
Floating around him, whining sweetly:
"Leno-sama~ I'm tired~ Can't we rest a bit?"
Ghost Princess uses: Charm.
Leno: Ineffective. Miss. Counterattack.
He'd flick her forehead.
"Train."
She'd clutch it, half aggrieved, half delighted—and continue.
Leno maintained a consistent policy:
He wouldn't initiate.
He wouldn't refuse.
If it came to him, fine.
But right now? He wasn't interested in pursuing anything.
That distance—
made him even more difficult to read.
Which only deepened their fascination.
After all—
the hardest prize to win is the most desirable.
Whoever conquered Leno first?
Bragging rights secured.
—
A few days later—
Massive mangrove roots came into view.
Multicolored bubbles floated through the air.
Sabaody Archipelago.
They had arrived.
The ship docked at Grove 41.
Numerous pirate ships were already anchored.
Wild designs. Arrogant flags.
The air felt restless.
Volatile.
"Looks like the so-called 'Worst Generation' is mostly here."
Leno stood on deck, lips curling slightly.
—
Elsewhere on the island—
"Captain! Another unfamiliar pirate ship just docked!"
"Hmph. Another ignorant rookie?"
"What's the bounty? Hope it's not boring."
The Supernovas who had arrived earlier—all with bounties over 100 million—had noticed.
Leno's ship docked quietly.
No flag flew on its bare mast.
Among the sea of pirate emblems, it stood out.
"Hmm?"
Not far away—
Eustass Kid, red spiked hair and goggles, waited impatiently for coating.
He spotted the "flagless" pirate ship and grinned viciously.
"What's this? Any trash can waltz into Sabaody now?"
"Can't even afford a proper flag. And you call yourselves pirates?"
His voice carried.
Other Supernovas turned to watch.
Free entertainment.
Why not?
"Captain Kid's right!" Killer added flatly.
"Gyahaha! Maybe it's just a lost merchant ship!" Apoo cackled.
"How noisy." Hawkins flipped cards calmly.
Drake observed quietly.
Bonney kept stuffing food into her mouth.
Bege smoked.
Law lowered his hat brim—but his eyes shifted.
Urouge watched as well.
Everyone was curious.
Kid smirked wider.
"Looks ugly. I'll turn it into scrap wood!"
He raised a hand.
HUM—
Metal around the harbor trembled violently.
Scraps. Blades. Even swords at pirates' waists.
They flew toward him—
forming a massive metallic arm in the air.
It swung down toward Leno's ship with terrifying force.
Enough to obliterate a warship.
"Kid made his move!"
"He's always like this."
"Unlucky bastards."
All eyes locked onto the scene.
Then—
A figure appeared at the ship's bow.
Leno.
He yawned.
Didn't even look up.
He casually raised a hand—
and sliced.
No explosion.
No clash.
Shrrrk—
The colossal metal arm—
as solid as it was—
split apart like tofu under an invisible blade.
It shattered midair into countless fragments—
raining down into the sea and harbor.
Silence.
Kid's grin froze.
"…What?!"
Every Supernova straightened.
"He cut it… barehanded?!"
"Who the hell is that?!"
Dust cleared.
Leno's figure became visible.
He brushed imaginary dust from his hand.
His indifferent gaze settled on Kid.
"It's… it's Leno!!" someone screamed.
"The one who defeated Gecko Moria and 'Tyrant' Kuma?!"
"Why is he here?! Isn't he basically Warlord-level?!"
"He's one of us?!"
Expressions shifted instantly.
From amusement—
to caution.
Reputation carried weight.
And recently, Leno's legend had grown again.
"Hehehehehe~"
Perona floated up, hands on hips.
Looking down at the dark-faced Kid Pirates.
"Ugly red-haired freak!"
"You attacked first~ so we'll return the favor, okay~?"
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