Time Passes

After making an agreement with Queen, Sirius would have him open a special chemistry class to help him create other types of toxins.

In exchange, Sirius would regularly provide him with toxins.

Once they had settled the matter, Sirius took Yamato, who had been wrapped up like a rice dumpling, to eat.

From morning until now, they really had not eaten anything for an entire day.

Sirius was alright. He had at least eaten a bellyful of dirt earlier to barely stave off hunger, but Yamato truly had not eaten a thing since last night.

Her stomach was growling with hunger.

But in Yamato's current condition, eating normally was impossible, so Sirius had the chef make her some meat porridge.

Strictly speaking, a normal person who had suffered injuries of this severity should have been unable to eat anything, but Yamato was clearly no normal person.

If Sirius had not stopped her with all his might, Yamato would even have wanted to stuff herself with meat just like Sirius.

Halfway through dinner, Jack and Black Maria came over after hearing the news.

Unlike Sirius and Yamato, they had completed all of today's lessons.

When they saw Sirius, full of energy and wolfing down food, both of them looked utterly bewildered.

"Sirius—"

Black Maria said blankly, "What exactly happened to you?"

Sirius casually answered while gnawing on meat, "What happened? Nothing much. My recovery ability is just a little stronger."

A little stronger?

Jack exchanged strange looks with Black Maria. What kind of joke was that?

This was no longer a matter of being strong or not! His current condition made them wonder whether Mr. Kaido had not eaten today.

"Hahaha, right? Sirius's ability is ridiculous, isn't it?"

Yamato, the bandaged figure sitting beside Sirius and leaning against the back of her chair, said with a grin, "I was startled just now too."

Only then did the two notice Yamato. Black Maria hurried over to her side and lowered her head. She wanted to reach out and touch Yamato, but was afraid of hurting her, and in the end could only say sadly, "Yamato, poor Yamato. Mr. Kaido was far too heavy-handed."

"Because Yamato said something she absolutely should not have said!"

Jack was worried too, but then he solemnly said, "Learn your lesson, Yamato! Don't drag Sirius into this again!"

"Even if he can recover from his injuries, the pain he suffers isn't fake!"

Jack truly was a good brother to his good brother. He was genuinely worried about Sirius.

"That's right, Yamato. Lord Kaido said," Black Maria hurriedly added, "he'll ask the same question again in a month. When that time comes, you absolutely must not talk back to him again."

"No."

But Yamato, who had been trembling as she drank her porridge, answered, "I refuse!"

"Huh!"

Jack shot to his feet in shock. "I really don't understand you! What are you thinking? Why do you insist on resisting Boss Kaido? He clearly values you so much!"

"I refuse! What Father wants me to do isn't what I want to do."

Yamato snorted. "I'll only do what I want to do."

Sirius smiled.

Uncle Kaido wanted Yamato to grow into a powerhouse like himself, but he had forgotten that a man like him would never submit to someone else's control.

Though their goals differed and their values were vastly different, Yamato was in some ways indeed heading in Uncle Kaido's direction.

After all, she was also an awakener of Conqueror's Haki.

"Even if you refuse to compromise, at least go along with Lord Kaido verbally." Knowing how stubborn Yamato was, Black Maria offered a suggestion.

"That's right." Jack nodded as well. "At least don't make Boss Kaido angry again."

"Hahahaha!"

Before Yamato could answer, Sirius burst out laughing and waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, it won't work. Give it up, Jack. This idiot will never compromise."

"That's right!"

Yamato put down her spoon. Though her face could not be seen, Sirius guessed she wore a solemn expression. "Wouldn't that mean I backed down because of Father's violence?"

Jack and Maria stared blankly at Yamato. Their feelings were complicated for a moment.

Was this really the silly, cheerful Yamato who laughed happily every day?

Could she say something like that?

"Why, Yamato? Why do you insist on going against Boss Kaido?"

Jack asked in confusion, "Wouldn't it be better to follow behind Boss Kaido?"

"Not at all! That's what Father wants to do! I have my own dream." Yamato answered without hesitation, then turned toward Sirius. "Right, Sirius?"

Sirius opened his mouth and swallowed an entire large chicken drumstick in one bite. Then he wiped the corner of his mouth and casually said, "I didn't come to this world to fulfill someone else's dream."

He looked at Jack and Black Maria. "Don't you have anything you want to do?"

"..."

Jack and Black Maria exchanged looks.

Black Maria couldn't help asking, "Then Sirius, are you going to give Mr. Kaido the same answer as Yamato?"

"Definitely not."

"Huh?"

What a joke. Yamato might get beaten up at most for speaking her mind, but it was different for him.

Though he was unwilling to accept it, all he could do was retreat, just as Yamato had said.

Standing with Yamato through thick and thin was probably the limit of what he could do.

A month had passed since that brutal beating.

That month had not been easy.

Teacher King had carried out Uncle Kaido's orders perfectly. After Yamato recovered, her training load skyrocketed. During morning drills and physical training, she wore weights far heavier than Sirius's, and she was nearly exhausted into unconsciousness every day.

During afternoon combat training, Teacher King showed even less mercy. He had begun using a real Spiked Club as a weapon, and Yamato's injuries never had a chance to heal.

Even so, Yamato had no intention of admitting defeat. She even seemed to enjoy it.

Sirius knew what she was thinking. Only by becoming stronger could she truly be free.

But no matter how miserable Yamato was, Sirius had no time to worry about her.

Because he had had an even harder month himself.

Teacher King's brutal training had steadily intensified. Even though Sirius improved rapidly, he still collapsed from exhaustion several times—sometimes more than ten times—every day.

The rare free time after dinner had to be spent learning chemistry from Teacher Queen, and every day was packed to the brim.

And so, that fulfilling month passed.

As promised, Uncle Kaido summoned Yamato and Sirius.

Uncle Kaido drank deeply from his sake gourd, calmly looking at his defiant daughter. "So, Yamato, a month has passed. What's your answer?"

Yamato took a deep breath. "I want to be like you, Father! Free from all restraints! I want to set sail! To find my freedom and dreams!"

"You're free and unfettered yourself, Father, so why do you have to restrain my freedom?!"

Sirius rubbed his face. All right, he was ready.

"Worororororo! Your mouth has gotten a lot better at talking."

Uncle Kaido set down his sake gourd, rolled his neck, and rose to his feet. His enormous shadow once again swallowed Sirius and Yamato. "Then I'll tell you why! Because I'm stronger! Brats, weak people aren't allowed to resist the strong!"

"Since you chose to answer me like that, you should know what comes next!"

Yamato pursed her lips, her eyes full of defiance as she looked at Kaido.

Kaido then turned to Sirius. "And you, brat? Are you going to share half of my anger again this time?"

Sirius scratched his head and grinned. "Can I fight back, Uncle Kaido?"

"Worororororo! If you can do it, then go ahead and try, brats!"

And just like that, time slowly passed. Three years went by.

Thanks to "Tornado Is My Wife" and "Her Smile, a Ray of Sunshine" for the massive hundred rewards, and thanks to "Chancellor Guo Renjie" for the massive five-hundred reward!