"Although we avoided Horgus Town, where the Navy might have been lying in wait, that didn't mean we could necessarily evade the Navy's pursuit."
"The Navy rarely set such a high bounty on someone the first time. A bounty this high could only mean that the Navy had fully acknowledged our strength."
"While that's something to be proud of, it also means the Navy will pursue us with a much larger force. Next time, they might send a squad led by a Vice Admiral from Headquarters."
"Besides, the Navy aren't the only ones who have their eyes on us. There are also bounty hunters lurking in the shadows, as well as pirates with other motives! After all, our crew's combined bounty is nearly 200 million Berry. You'd be hard-pressed to find many like us anywhere in the North Blue."
"Whether it's the bounty they'd get for taking us down or the fame they'd gain, countless people will be drawn to us."
Rod looked at his companions and spoke with complete seriousness.
"We're not fools. We understand that much."
Luo stood up, holding his katana.
When he gets serious, he really does look like a captain.
With that thought flashing through his mind, Luo headed straight for his room.
His room was right next to the dining room, a large space connected to the infirmary.
Since he sometimes needed to research things, Luo had requested that his room be connected to the infirmary when the Polar Tang was built, so he could save time.
He had a few ideas he wanted to try out.
The fight against Gladius hadn't been too bad; it hadn't put him under much pressure.
But Rod's proposed method of retaining a Devil Fruit ability—creating a completely isolated space with an ability—had given Luo some new insights. He had practiced it three times, including one successful attempt.
If he could develop this ability, it would not only increase the chances of obtaining Devil Fruits and boost the crew's future potential, but also provide an effective method of combat.
"I probably can't be much help in a fight, so I'll go modify the storeroom instead."
Grey silently got up and headed down to the workshop.
"Let's go work out!"
Pekoms and Shakky were still full of energy.
The two of them considered themselves among the weaker members of the crew, and unlike Grey, they didn't have any particular specialty. So they had never slacked off, keeping up their training every day. Sometimes they even jumped into the sea and swam alongside the ship for a while.
Especially after acquiring the Explosion-Explosion Fruit, they seized every opportunity to jump into the sea and swim, treasuring this last chance to go underwater before becoming ability users.
Seeing how motivated everyone was, Rod smiled with satisfaction.
Then he, too, got up and headed for his room.
As captain, his room was in the middle of the second floor. There was a small balcony right outside the door, and the Polar Tang's helm was there as well.
When he opened the door, the first thing he saw was the massive sawblade sword, Shark Cutter, hanging on the wall. It was a trophy from his victory over Bastille.
The moment Rod reached out and grasped Shark Cutter, his ability, Knights Do Not Die Empty-Handed, activated automatically, and he instantly mastered the techniques for wielding the sawblade sword.
Unlike an ordinary katana or uchigatana, this weapon was meant more for slashing, and it required great strength from its wielder.
Most importantly, Bastille was a swordsman who had mastered Iron Cutting.
Rod closed his eyes slightly, feeling the power of a swordsman's realm. A keen, cutting aura radiated from him.
After a long while, Rod released Shark Cutter and picked up an ordinary long sword he had taken as plunder.
A sudden understanding welled up inside Rod. He could feel that he was now able to cut through steel with the ordinary weapon in his hand!
He had become a swordsman!
Although his swordsmanship had only just entered the swordsman realm, Rod's formidable stamina meant that his slashes were already far more powerful than those of an ordinary swordsman.
And that wasn't all!
Rod's thoughts shifted. An invisible force surged out from his body and flowed down his arm, wrapping around the long sword in his hand.
Armament Haki!
Armament Haki, like Observation Haki, was a power of the will. It could increase one's defense and strengthen one's attacks.
Bastille was not only a swordsman but had also mastered both types of Haki. He wasn't particularly skilled with them, but he had been more than enough to give Rod the key to unlocking Armament Haki.
Since he had been in the North Blue, Rod hadn't encountered opponents strong enough to push him. Although he knew the principles behind both types of Haki, he had only learned Observation Haki through Nerl and hadn't mastered the use of Armament Haki.
"Major General Bastille, what a good man!"
Rod released the long sword and let Haki flow over his body. With his formidable stamina to draw on, Haki poured out of him without end, covering his whole body in an instant.
Hardening and armament. Emission and projection. Internal destruction.
These were some of the ways Rod knew how to use Armament Haki.
Drawing on the insights he had gained from Shark Cutter, Rod had not only awakened Armament Haki but had quickly mastered the technique of hardening. And thanks to his powerful physique, even though he had only just awakened it, the strength of his Haki already far surpassed Bastille's.
I should be able to go toe-to-toe with a Shichibukai now!
Rod silently assessed his strength.
People in the world of pirates were all monsters when it came to stamina, but he was confident that his years of training from childhood had left him no weaker than them—perhaps even stronger.
As for the two types of Haki, he had now mastered both. Thanks to Nerl, his Observation Haki was more practiced; his Armament Haki was still at an early stage, but his physique should make up for it in both quality and quantity.
His swordsmanship had also reached the swordsman realm, and he had just learned Shave for footwork.
At that thought, Rod silently added another line.
Lieutenant Commander Hina is a good person, too!
The only thing he still lacked was combat experience!
As Haki flowed around him and he slowly grew accustomed to this new power, a surge of pride rose within Rod.
The solid foundation he had built through years of training, combined with his Sit-ups ability, gave him plenty of room to grow physically. He would soon be able to reach the pinnacle of this world.
And Knights Do Not Die Empty-Handed ensured that he could master all kinds of combat techniques as quickly as possible.
Especially with this latest discovery: as long as he obtained a weapon used by a powerful fighter, he could use it to learn that person's skills.
From here on, all he had to do was keep fighting strong opponents, fully draw out his body's potential in battle, then thoroughly absorb and integrate the techniques he learned. Before long, he would stand at the summit of this vast sea!
Before you continue