The Team Is Formed, and Their Goal Is the Shichibukai!

"That should do it. He'll be able to move around normally after two days of rest."

After returning home, Luo quickly treated Grey's injuries and had him lie down to recover. Then he turned to Rod and couldn't help saying, "You didn't come back covered in wounds this time. I'm impressed."

Ever since he'd gradually mastered the Op-Op Fruit's abilities, Rod had been showing up at his door every so often, carried on Nerl's back and barely clinging to life. He took shameless advantage of having a doctor around, pushing his body to the limit without a second thought. That sort of behavior infuriated Luo.

Of course, thanks to Rod, he'd developed his Op-Op Fruit abilities at a remarkable pace.

"Hahaha! You know what I'm like, Luo."

Rod laughed heartily and thumped his chest.

"I'm really strong now. It won't be easy to get me into that kind of state again!"

When he was a boy, Rod had used his Sit-ups cheat ability to train himself, but only in moderation. Following the Kame Style training methods he remembered, he'd brought the others along to work in the fields, deliver goods, climb mountains, and swim—with Luo rowing. They'd worked to earn a living while training at the same time.

He'd also stuck to the Kame Style principles: exercise well, study well, play well, eat well, and rest well!

He made sure to get at least half an hour of rest every afternoon!

As his training progressed, however, Sit-ups rapidly improved Rod's physical abilities, and he soon hit a bottleneck. Ordinary training could no longer make him feel any strain, and even training with the heaviest weights had little effect on his body.

By then, Luo had also made considerable progress in developing his Devil Fruit abilities.

So Rod began all kinds of reckless training, pushing his body to its limits again and again. When he was on the verge of collapse, Luo would step in and save him.

With Luo's medical skills and the double safeguard of Sit-ups, his physical abilities improved at an astonishing rate.

And now...

"At least, I don't know how to push myself to my limits anymore."

"Unless..."

As he spoke, Rod slung an arm around Luo's shoulders, a hint of anticipation flashing across his face.

"You use your—"

"Absolutely not!"

Luo broke free of Rod's headlock and flatly refused.

"I will never attack any of you, no matter the reason!"

"That's so mushy, Luo!"

Rod burst out laughing. But when he saw the serious look in Luo's eyes, his smile faded a little, and he straightened up.

"We've all trained quite a bit by now. Even Pekoms and Shakky are doing pretty well. So it's time to raise our flag on the seas!"

"Just pretty well, Captain Rod...?"

Pekoms and Shakky burst into manly tears.

"I've been waiting for this day, too!"

Luo's expression grew serious as well, a cold glint flickering deep in his eyes.

"Before that, there's something I need to tell you. Think it over carefully before you decide."

Luo lowered his head slightly. Beneath the shadow of his hat, his gaze looked even gloomier, as if he were about to sink into darkness.

"I have a goal. Once we set sail, I'm going to settle things with him, no matter what. And he's bound to take notice of me soon."

Memories surfaced in Luo's mind, scene after scene from his past. He remembered his childhood.

He remembered the Lead Disease outbreak in the White Town, and how one friend and relative after another had died.

He remembered his narrow escape, joining the Donquixote Family, and wanting to destroy the world.

He remembered Mr. Corazon throwing him out again and again.

He remembered Mr. Corazon taking him from doctor to doctor, flying into a rage at their treatment of them.

He remembered Mr. Corazon forcing the Op-Op Fruit into his mouth after going through hell to steal it, only to collapse in a pool of blood.

He remembered the smile Mr. Corazon gave him at the end, and the word he'd said to him: "Love."

And he remembered Mr. Corazon being shot dead by Doflamingo!

"That man is one of the current Shichibukai—Donquixote Doflamingo!"

Luo kept his head lowered, his eyes cast down. He forced himself not to look at Rod or Nerl as he clasped his hands together, fingers tightening unconsciously.

"If you set sail with me, you're bound to cross paths with one of those monsters who rule the seas."

Luo pressed his lips together. More words lodged in his throat, but he didn't want to say anything else.

"The Shichibukai—Donquixote Doflamingo!"

Nia froze slightly at the name Luo had spoken. She'd spent years making her way across the seas; of course she'd heard of the Shichibukai, especially this Great Pirate who'd risen to prominence from the North Blue.

At that thought, Nia instinctively glanced at Bellamy, whom she'd tossed aside. The blond kid had woken up once along the way, but Rod had promptly knocked him out again.

"What an idiot!"

Rod suddenly laughed and nudged Nerl with his elbow.

"You've read a lot. Is this kind of personality called tsundere?"

"That's right, though it's usually a feminine character trait in stories," Nerl replied in all seriousness, holding back a laugh.

"I'll kill you two bastards!"

Luo lost his composure in an instant, his face turning slightly red.

"Even more so!" they both exclaimed.

After they'd bickered for a while, Rod put a hand on Luo's shoulder, his expression earnest.

"Did you think Nerl and I didn't know anything? You're underestimating us. Word has been circulating in the underworld about the Op-Op Fruit that once fetched an astronomical price, and about the Donquixote Family, which dominated the North Blue back then and still has a huge influence today!"

"We've just been waiting for you to tell us when you were ready. And we'd already decided that if you dared to leave without explaining yourself, we'd beat the hell out of you!"

"As your captain, I have to carry your dreams and hopes on my shoulders! In return, you'd better help me conquer these seas!"

"You sure know how to talk, Rod!"

A relieved smile appeared on Luo's face, and the gloom in his eyes seemed to lift.

"Now that we've decided to set sail, we can't go around hesitating! They're only the Shichibukai. They were our targets to take down from the start!"

"Then I'm counting on you, Captain Rod!"

"Captain Rod!" the others chorused.

Rod turned to Nia and invited her again.

"So, now that you've heard the name of the Shichibukai, are you still willing to join my crew?"

"What a clumsy way to provoke me."

Nia rolled her eyes at Rod and brushed back her hair, then took his hand.

"Fine. I'll stake my life and everything I own on you, Captain Rod!"