Chapter 22: And Again, Her Insatiable Hunger Only Grow.
—OoOoO—
A day had passed since the attack on Ennies Lobby, with almost all the raiders returning safely. While there were no casualties among the Straw Hats, several members of the Galley La, the most significant contributor of troops during the raid, had fallen. However, they weren’t the only ones grieving. The entire Water Seven was mourning the loss of many lives due to the natural disaster that also occurred yesterday. Flags were flying at half-mast on every corner of the island as a sign of condolences to those who had lost loved ones.
However, life must go on. The survivors must work together to rebuild the island renowned for its maritime technology. Their homes, where warm memories were stored, must be rebuilt because they could only gather and preserve them. Even though every corner of their bodies ached and their souls were weary, they must continue to rise and move forward.
Maki began her morning routine as usual. Waking up at the crack of dawn while most people were still deep in sleep. Waking even before the rooster's crow, as if not wanting to be outdone by the notoriously diligent animal.
The girl ran before anyone started their activity, and continued running even when the streets were already crowded. Even though her endurance could already carry her through the day, she was trying to build her stamina further. Of course, just regular jogging wouldn't affect someone at her level.
Because of that, Maki ran so fast that the naked eye couldn't follow. She kept pushing her speed to the limit without stopping or resting until her lungs felt like they were being squeezed. She focused entirely on her vision, ensuring no accidents occurred at such high speed, given the amount of building debris scattered along the shoreline of Water Seven.
Eventually, her foot landed hard, digging into the ground and creating a crack. She abruptly stopped at a speed that nearly broke the sound barrier.
“Huff… huff… huff….”
Maki bent over, holding her knees, gasping for breath.
"If I count all the coastline I passed during two hours of constant running, my speed was about 1,233 kilometres per hour, almost the speed of sound. That's good, but I can push harder to break the limit."
Maki straightened her body while wiping away some sweat seeping from her pores.
"However, for now, the most important thing is to collect data on this body's minimum and maximum limits to benefit from endurance training efficiently."
Sure, Maki swam every morning while they were on the ship. However, she never went all out. There were many factors to consider when swimming in the ocean, especially the possibility of attracting large predators if she created too much movement in the water. Though that didn't mean she was afraid of them, she understood the fragile nature of the ship she was on. As such, she didn't want to take such a risk.
"Speaking of ships, it really hit hard when the Going Merry was sunk, even though we had only been sailing for a few weeks."
Maki strolled towards the city while her hand was fixing her hair tie.
"However, I can confirm that the little boy I often see on the ship embodies the Going Merry's soul."
The girl looked around at the scattered debris.
“And all the strange things about the objects I see through these eyes, it's possible that even inanimate objects have souls.”
Maki sighed softly with her eyes closed.
“As much as I hate to admit it, I should’ve been able to consult on this if only Satoru had been here.”
—OoOoO—
Nami wasn't a morning person like Maki, constantly waking up before dawn, but she wasn't one to sleep until the sun was high in the sky either. She was diligent with a regular biological clock for a normal person. However, the long and gruelling battle in Ennies Lobby had drained her spirit entirely, leaving her entire body helplessly collapsing onto the mattress when the adrenaline no longer provided the extra boost that kept her awake.
“Hoam… I hadn't slept this long after the war with Baroque Works in Alabasta.”
The short, orange-haired girl yawned as she stretched. Her body felt stiff, and aches shot through various parts even though she hadn't felt anything unusual.
Sitting on the edge of the bed with her head bowed, Nami tried to regain consciousness, some of which remained in the realm of dreams. The warmth of the sunlight streaming through the window seemed to hasten her recovery. The cold wooden floor sent small jolts through her brain. Her eyes darted around the room, confirming that she had truly escaped the terrifying hell that was Ennies Lobby.
With lazy movements, her slender feet quickly reached for her indoor slippers. Despite her exhaustion, she forced herself to move. Nami walked feebly toward the room's only door without bothering to change out of her pyjamas.
Her hand reached for the doorknob and turned it slowly. As soon as the door opened, a delicious, mouth-watering aroma immediately overwhelmed her senses. The fragrant smell seemed to stimulate her brain and completely bring her back from her dreamland.
“Is it just me, or for some reason, this place seems so clean? It's so different from what I remembered last night.”
Their accommodation was located in the upper part of the city, making it unaffected by the wrath of Aqua Laguna, which swept away everything in its path. However, the fierce storm caused water puddles in various parts of the city. Although the house they stayed in was relatively clean, everyone who entered was nearly drenched. Their clothes were soiled, and the floors were stained.
However, what lay before her now was the complete opposite of the scene from the night before. The gloomy atmosphere enveloping the house had vanished, replaced by a fresh, uncluttered scene.
"Nami-swan!! You're awake? How was your sleep? Did you get a good night's rest? You went straight to bed without a shower, I hope that didn't give you nightmares!!"
Nami had just stepped out of the room but was already bombarded with these questions.
The orange head turned, finding a blonde-haired man staring at him enthusiastically while arranging all the dishes on the dining table with Luffy, who seemed to be devouring the food even though he was asleep.
“Eh? I haven't showered yet? I don't really remember, though?”
Nami reflexively lifted the collar of her pyjamas and sniffed it thoroughly. She lifted her arms up, then pointed her nose at her armpits.
"There is no bad smell. If anything, it's all good and it smells good," commented the girl.
"Of course. Last night, I wiped you down with water and soap, after all."
The sudden soft, feminine voice made Nami jump. She glanced down at her cheek and was surprised to find a mouth there. Reflexively, her right hand immediately slapped something away, covering it without further consideration. However, in the next second, she remembered that one of her comrades possessed such an ability.
“Robin, can you stop surprising me?” Nami replied with a long sigh.
The girl glanced at a round table on the edge of the room, separate from the dining table where Sanji was preparing the dishes. And sure enough, Robin was there, sitting with her right leg resting on her left. As their eyes met, the black-haired woman waved with a sweet smile spreading across her face.
“Want to join me for a coffee in the morning?” the woman asked through her lips on her cheek.
“Sure. I would be happy to have it.”
Nami walked lazily towards the round table where Robin was.
“Nami-san, would you like a bowl of porridge? It will be good for your stomach after waking up tired.”
Nami nodded her head at the offer.
“Thank you, Sanji-kun. That's genuinely appreciated."
Simultaneously, the girl pulled out a chair before Robin and sat down. She leaned back on the table and buried her head in it as if it possessed a powerful gravitational force. However, her eyes caught an object belonging to her partner, but the owner was nowhere to be seen.
“Aren't these Maki-chan's glasses? It's unusual for her to leave it behind. Where is she, anyway?”
"She went to shower after cleaning this place," Robin replied while sipping her coffee.
In front of her was an open book. Judging by the thickness of the pages, Robin had apparently been sitting there for quite some time, reading it with a cup of coffee.
"Maki-chan's the one who cleaned it, huh? She exercises before the sun rises and goes straight to work afterwards. Doing it every day with no single complaint at all. If only I had some of her discipline and work ethic," Nami muttered.
Everyone on the ship had their own role as a crew member, and Maki was no exception. While she initially joined as a hitchhiker and would leave after finding a way back to her world, that didn’t change the fact that she was still part of the Straw Hats. With several positions filled and tasks not her speciality remaining, the only one left was the ship's cleaner.
Even though it sounded tiring, especially with the crew's penchant for throwing parties almost every night, Maki still accepted the role and did it very well.
“If I’m not mistaken, isn’t Maki-chan from a noble family or something?” Nami straightened up and looked at Robin, “I never thought that a young lady like her would be willing to do such a menial job.”
“Well, about that….”
Robin seemed to hang her words in the air, leaving Nami to stare at her with a raised eyebrow.
The black-haired woman could admit to understanding Maki's situation quite well. She was probably the only person in the Straw Hats aware of her past. After all, they had spent time together talking heart-to-heart during their adventures in Skypiea, exchanging stories to motivate one another. However, knowing and recounting were two different things. Without the other person's knowledge, she couldn't tell them anything.
“Maybe you could ask her directly?” Robin said again.
"It's not that I don't want to ask, but it seems like a sensitive topic. I'm afraid she might object or feel offended."
“I don't mind, though.”
The voice that suddenly interrupted their conversation successfully made Nami jump. Her heart nearly jumped when she heard the girl's baritone voice.
“Maki-chan, please don’t startle me like that. My heart still hasn’t fully recovered from yesterday’s fight, you know?”
The girl with straight bangs and loose hair didn't seem to care much about the scolding and just sat down in the empty chair provided.
“So, what do you wanna ask about my past, Nami?”
The orange-haired girl seemed to be biting her lip gently. She didn't want to make things awkward, but to be honest, she was also very curious.
“Err… you have sharp hearing, don’t you? You should have been able to hear our conversation, right?” Nami replied nervously.
“Physics doesn't work like that, though?”
Maki's words made Nami tilt her head, and even Robin seemed to close her book. They stared at her with questioning looks, indicating that they didn't understand what she said.
"Sharp hearing means I can detect sounds at frequencies much higher and lower than a normal human's. However, that doesn't mean I can simply hear sounds at lower volumes."
“Isn’t that the same thing?” asked Nami.
Maki shook her head slowly while putting on the glasses she had previously placed on the table.
"Frequency’s something that determines wavelength. In this context, it means the number of waves a sound can produce in one second. Meanwhile, sound volume’s the intensity of the sound, or how much pressure the sound exerts on the medium in which it travels. In other words, sound volume’s the amplitude of the wave."
“I have read that high frequencies do not always have high volume, but I do not fully understand it because it is outside my area of expertise,” Robin said.
Maki nodded at the question.
"As I said, frequency’s the number of waves per second, while volume’s the amplitude of those waves. There’re many cases where a sound has a high frequency but a low amplitude, like a whistle. There’re also cases where a sound has a low frequency but a high amplitude, like a bass."
Nami took a deep breath and buried her head on the table.
“I don’t understand the terms you have used, and I don't even know what it has to do with you not being able to hear our voices, even though your hearing is very sharp."
It was a bit annoying for Nami. She wasn't a stupid girl, and she hated being one. She had high confidence in science, believing her brain could process and solve even the most complex problems. However, she had to admit that intelligence and knowledge were two different things. And all the terms that came out of Maki's mouth completely didn't register in her mind.
"Well, in short, the higher the frequency, the more energy it has. So, sound can travel thousands of kilometres. However, if the frequency’s low, or when you're whispering, the energy’s very low and the sound will disappear in the air with a very short wave propagation distance."
“You mean, even if you have sharp hearing, you can’t hear something if the energy of the sound is very low and disappears in an instant?” Nami asked to confirm.
Maki nodded at the question, hoping it would clear up the misunderstanding.
People often misunderstand her because she could hear the smallest details simply because her body was different, just as she could see things in incredible detail with her eyes. However, her true vision depends on the intensity of light captured by her eyes. In other words, Maki had no problem seeing things that others couldn't because the speed of light reaching her eyes was incredibly fast.
Hearing, meanwhile, relied on the speed of sound, which in turn depended on the medium through which the sound travelled. Air was the slowest medium for sound to travel, at about 343 metres per second. Therefore, a whisper's small amount of energy dissipated before it reached Maki's ears. On the other hand, the ground or other solid objects were the fastest medium for sound to travel, at about 5,100 metres per second. This allowed Maki to hear the subtle movement as they travelled through the ground.
“So, what did you wanna ask about my past?” Maki asked, steering the conversation back to where it started.
"No, never mind. Forget it. The discussion just now has ruined my mood and irritated me. I need to learn more about physics so I don't look stupid."
Nami then looked at Robin with her eyebrows furrowed.
“Robin, you said you have read physics books, right?” the girl asked, earning a nod from her interlocutor. “Then, can I borrow your books? My enthusiasm for studying is at its peak right now.”
Nami has never been a stupid girl. In fact, she was probably one of the most intelligent people to come from the East Blue. Her scientific fields, if anything, focus on climatology, geophysics, and navigation. Nami even had a particular understanding of astronomy to support her navigational skills.
“Well, I would be happy to lend it to you. Unfortunately, I left my entire collection in Alabasta, and all I have now are books of history, philosophy, and culture.”
“Eh…? Seriously….”
Nami lay back down on the table with a tired expression for the umpteenth time.
“By the way, is it just me or does the atmosphere on the whole island really feel strange?”
Maki's question made the other two women turn their attention to her.
“Can you explain in more detail?” asked Robin.
Maki didn't answer the question immediately. She leaned back in her chair, her head tilted back. Her eyes stared at the ceiling as if searching for the hidden answer.
"I ain’t really sure. It was like a gripping feeling, something that's hard to describe. But, honestly, it’s like the uneasy feeling I had moments before Aqua Laguna happened."
“Please don’t scare me like that,” Nami whined in frustration, “You have no idea how tired I am right now. If anything else bad happens, I might actually go crazy.”
Nami could tell that Maki was one of the strongest in their group without a shadow of a doubt. She was like a fearless warrior who would stand tall like a mountain reaching for the sky. Mere breaking her arms and legs would probably never be enough to stop her.
However, that was precisely the problem. If that female warrior even felt something that made her uneasy or uncomfortable, it was clearly on a scale far beyond the capabilities of ordinary humans.
"This island does not have the strength to withstand another Aqua Laguna. If it were to hit again, we would probably be completely swept away and drowned in the ocean," Robin said.
When she heard those words, Nami's body immediately shivered down to the spine.
“Seriously, can we stop talking about scary things?”
The girl took a deep breath as her eyes scanned the room, looking for something to change the topic of conversation.
“By the way, did I miss anything while I was asleep last night?”
“Something you missed, huh?” Maki muttered.
The bespectacled girl was crossing her arms, her body swaying in the chair, making it seem like it was swinging. However, as she took a long time to think, Robin took over the conversation.
“Franky came to us and said that the money he stole had been used to buy some Adam wood.”
“What did he do?!”
Nami stood up and slammed the table, prompting Sanji, who had just come from the kitchen, to bring snacks for the ladies.
“Is something bothering you, Nami-san?” the man asked.
"Robin said Franky used all our money to buy Adam wood. Is that true, Sanji-kun? Then, what about his compensation to us?"
The blonde man took the dishes from the cart and placed them according to the women's orders. Warm porridge mixed with ginger, small sliced chicken, and some beans as a condiment, as requested by Nami. For Maki, rice with a sweet egg roll and grilled salmon as the main source of protein, accompanied by vegetables, miso soup, and a glass of milk, all served in large portions. Meanwhile, Robin only had a glass of boiled ginger water since she had already had breakfast.
"Yeah, Franky did that. Everyone was furious at the time," Sanji replied calmly, "But he added that he would build a ship for us using those materials."
Nami sighed with her shoulders relaxing, showing the dimming of the anger bubbling up.
“I understand his sentiments after our struggles together. But what made him suddenly propose that?”
"Well, that guy wants us to take his ship around the world since that's his dream," Maki replied while drinking high-protein milk. "Speaking of which, it's unusual for us to eat at separate tables. Why not at the long table over there with Luffy?"
Sanji turned to the guy the bespectacled girl was referring to, staring at him silently for a few moments before finally returning to the ladies.
"That idiot is in his gluttonous prime. He can even grind up all his food while asleep. If I put you at the same table, I'm afraid he'll eat your share too."
"You mean, somehow, he awakened a new ability to perform activities while asleep?" Maki commented while looking at the boy, "That damn monster. Now I'm jealous and wanna have the same ability as him. It’d be good, no?”
“Please, don't.”
Nami interrupted those words quickly.
"Only idiots can awaken such powers. And one idiot in the group is enough to hurt my head. I don't want to add another one of that kind."
The orange-haired girl didn't hesitate with her words, nor did she try to hide them. Although she deeply respected Luffy and owed him great gratitude, that couldn't erase the fact that her captain's behaviour often shortened her life. Beyond unreasonable, that was how Nami could describe him. Above all, she didn't want a second Luffy on board.
Bang!
The sound of the door being forced open caused everyone in the room, except Luffy, to turn their heads with questioning expressions. Three adults and a small creature were seen as the perpetrators of the intrusion. They were Franky, two female twins, and Chopper hanging from the blue-haired man's shoulder. However, what confused everyone in the room was their panicked expressions.
“What are you doing, Franky? And why are you on his shoulder, Chopper?”
Sanji left the trolley and walked towards the group. However, Franky and his underlings immediately ran to meet him.
“This is serious! You need to hide from this island for a while!” the man said in a panic.
Sanji raised his only visible eyebrow, indicating he didn't understand the meaning of the exclamation.
“Why? Will a major natural disaster really come again like Maki-chan felt?”
“No, that’s worse than a natural disaster!” shouted Chopper, still on Franky’s shoulder. “Listen, Sanji! This is an emergency! There’s no time to explain! We have to pack up and hide!”
Robin stared at their guest calmly, trying to assess the situation carefully. Her index finger and thumb pinched her chin. What Sanji had said, the bad feeling Maki had been having since waking up, and the panic that had ensued,
“Did you feel anything, Maki?” asked the black-haired woman.
The bespectacled girl was certain she hadn't sensed any dangerous presence. As she said before, the only thing bothering her was the unpleasant feeling of condemnation, similar to when the largest Aqua Laguna in history struck Water Seven. However, she kept her eyes closed, ensuring she hadn't missed anything.
"No, it's still the same as when I woke up. Only this time it's stronger," the girl replied after opening her eyes.
“Are you sure it didn't come from a human?”
“At this point, I ain’t sure at all. I feel this all over the island, no matter where I am. I've never felt it before, even when we were facing Enel."
Those words sent shivers down Nami's spine. Her face was deathly pale, her lips trembling. Her throat felt tight, and her brain couldn't even process what she should do next. Her heart was pounding, not from excitement but overwhelming nervousness, as if a spear were pointed right at her neck.
"M-Maki-chan, sword. Quickly take out your sword just in case!"
That's what Nami said, stuttering. However...
Doom!
The door to the building they were in suddenly shattered, along with the wall that supported it. Thick clouds of dust billowed into the air, obscuring the perpetrator's identity. Everyone in the room froze, frozen in place, watching the scene unfold. They were unsure what to do, as if chains were binding their feet. However, the loud, pounding footsteps seemed to bring their souls back to their bodies.
A muscular man emerged from the swirling dust. He was dressed entirely in white, his robes dancing in the breeze. His dog-shaped hoodie perfectly hid his expression. However,
"A Marine? And that outfit… a high-ranking official on top of that?!" said Sanji.
Maki gulped. Remnants of the food she had hastily devoured still clung to her mouth and throat. However, that wasn't what made the girls' eyes widen.
'So, what I've been feeling isn't just a strange feeling, but that old man? His presence’s overwhelmingly powerful and domineering. So mighty, in fact, that it can be felt from miles away. His presence overwhelms everything to the point of disrupting my Kenbunshoku. However, what's even stranger than that…'
The old man suddenly disappeared, causing the youngsters to widen their eyes. However, it didn't take them long to figure out where he was, as he suddenly appeared behind Luffy, still eating his meal in his sleep.
“You troublemaking brat!”
The man said with emphasis on every word.
“Wake up, Luffy!!”
Along with the scream that came out from the Marine, a raw punch hit the rubber boy's head right on the crown.
“Shit! It hurts!!”
Maki was shocked to see the fist that struck the black-haired boy. Besides her, everyone else who witnessed the scene assumed it wouldn't have any effect, considering that physical attacks from blunt objects had no effect on his rubber body. However, Luffy's reaction completely betrayed expectations.
“How? How could that damage Luffy?!” Nami said, her face turning pale.
“Isn’t that obvious?” the grey-haired man replied with a broad smile, "No one can escape a blow powered by love."
'No, it's not the case.'
Maki immediately denied the statement even though she didn't say it out loud.
'He's using the same ability as the blonde woman used. It seems like no one here can see it except me, but he seems to be drawing some mysterious power from within his body and coating his fists in black. At least, that's what it looks like to me.'
"G-Grandpa?! What the hell are you doing?!"
Luffy's scream echoed so loudly that it froze the entire atmosphere. In an instant, everyone's eyes widened with their mouths agape in disbelief, staring intently at the black-haired boy. Their brains seemed to suddenly freeze, refusing to process the shocking sentence that had just come out of his mouth. Silence spread and hung in the air, like a silence echoing in a vacuum. There was no rebuttal, no voice of rebuttal. But precisely because of that, the silence felt like a confession.
“Grandpa, you say?!”
Nami was the first to react.
“You mean your grandfather was a high-ranking Marine officer?” Frankie asked.
“And that's Garp the Hero on top of that?”
"Don't tell me everyone in your family is secretly a big shot. I've seen plots like this many times, and even one of my classmates turned out to be a descendant of a great figure from the past."
Maki's words immediately caused everyone to stare at Luffy with questioning gazes. Meanwhile, the two people at the centre of this chaos seemed utterly oblivious to their surroundings and were picking their noses simultaneously, as if to reaffirm their shared blood ties.
—OoOoO—
“Even after that meeting, I still find it hard to believe that Luffy-san is your grandson, Garp-san.”
The pink-haired boy with a centre-parted hairstyle walked behind a large, muscular man who walked with a firm stance.
"Everyone would find it hard to believe if suddenly an old man broke in and even struck his own grandson on the head."
Walking beside the pinkish boy was a boy who looked about the same age and had long blonde hair.
“Coby, Halmeppo, you saw for yourself that little idiot wouldn’t die from just one small punch, right?” replied the burly man called Garp.
“But you hit him a few times until there were some bumps on his head, though?” said the pink-haired boy.
Monkey D. Garp, better known as the Hero of the Marines. A high-ranking officer with powers that could shake even the entire island. A living legend capable of rivalling the Pirate King himself and a role model for young soldiers. His heroic tales were legendary throughout the world. Almost no one could match his discipline in training and duty. A senior officer with a wise judgment of justice.
However, no one would have imagined that his beloved grandson would be a rookie pirate whose name had recently risen to fame. Even more surprising was the relationship the two had displayed at the Straw Hat Inn earlier that day.
"Honestly, I'm the one who still can't believe that someone as good as you actually knows that troublemaker and even idolises him! Hahahaha!" Garp joked, laughing so hard that it echoed in the air.
"I may be grateful to them, but I don't idolise them. If anything, it's Coby," Halmeppo retorted.
Meanwhile, the pink-haired boy could only smile awkwardly while rubbing his neck.
“Well, Luffy-san is a kind person and will help people selflessly, after all,” The boy’s smile seemed to spread as he talked about his idol, “Even though it’s only been a few months since we last met in East Blue, it feels like it happened a long time ago. And now Luffy-san has really gathered some formidable comrades.”
“Formidable comrades, huh?”
Garp seemed to mutter as his eyes glanced back over his shoulder.
“Speaking of them, she should be here soon.”
Coby raised an eyebrow at his mentor's mumbling.
“Who?”
“That little beast.”
A powerful slash landed on his neck right after he gave that answer. The young officers' eyes widened. None of them had realised the attack was coming, as it was so fast. However, Garp remained calm and smiled defiantly at the uninvited guest.
“That was a powerful slash. Not bad.”
Seeing her attack fail, the figure immediately jumped back to get a safe distance.
“Not a scratch at all. That's even more impressive than I expected.”
A young girl with glasses and dark green hair tied in a high ponytail. She wasn't very tall and dressed like a bookworm. At first glance, her appearance didn't reflect that of a fighter. However, no one expected her to be capable of running at such high speeds, something that no one except Garp had noticed, and her attack even earned praise from the legend himself.
“You, you’re one of the Straw Hat members who had been standing at the back all the time!”
A scream from one of the officers made Coby realise the perpetrator's identity.
“Wait, why did you attack Garp-san?! Didn’t he say he wouldn’t catch you?!”
The pink-haired boy prepared to stop the madwoman from suddenly attacking his leader. He and all the soldiers guarding him were also on alert. However, Garp's shout caught everyone's attention.
“Everyone! Stand down!”
“But Garp-san! She dared to attack you despite your generosity!”
"Your grandson is something, but this girl dares to draw a sword at you!"
"If I say avoid conflict, then do it. If you persist, I won't take any responsibility because my orders are clear."
Garp looked his men in the eyes.
“However, none of you will survive facing that little beast. Not even you, Coby.”
The officers bowed their heads. Their expressions showed that none of them liked the order they had received. However, Garp's word was absolute to them.
"My bad. I didn't mean to start an unnecessary fight."
Maki rewrapped her sword in the cloth she brought from the inn.
“You say that after openly attacking a high-ranking officer of the Marine Corps?" Halmeppo asked doubtfully.
"Enough. Let's see what brings this little beast to me."
Garp crossed his arms over his chest with his coat flapping in the wind.
“Calling a young maiden like that. But well, I don't mind, though,” Maki replied, shrugging her shoulders.
The girl paused momentarily, letting the sound of the wind fill the void. She stared intently at Garp, ignoring the people around him as if they weren't even there.
"The thing you used to block my slash just now, the thing that makes the part of your body you're trying to protect turn black. The same thing you used to damage Luffy with a punch."
'Turn black?'
Garp furrowed his brows, but he had no intention of interrupting the girl.
"I saw that sight once when I was fighting that blonde woman," Maki continued, "I'm sure it's what's called Bushoshoku Haki. But what exactly is it, and how did you draw it out?"
“My Bushoshoku, eh?”
Garp's mouth twitched as he heard that. Of all his thoughts, he never imagined the girl would ask about Bushoshoku.
“I felt that someone was trying to track me using Kenbunshoku since I started approaching your inn,” the man continued, “And I assume it was you, Little Beast?”
"You’ve a mighty presence, and it's palpable even after entering the Water Seven waters. Don't blame me if I think another disaster’s coming."
The strongest opponent Maki had ever faced was Enel. Someone capable of levelling a forest with a single strike. However, just by his presence alone, the old man before her was a monster on a different level than the ruler of the skies.
The Vice Admiral felt the same way. He had met many powerful and talented individuals. He even went so far as to say that nothing could surprise him anymore. However, as he grew older, new things that excited him more and more.
“The body turning black when imbued with Bushoshoku Haki, that’s the first time I’ve heard of it,” the old man said with a wide grin, “No one has ever been able to see Haki, not even me, so it’s difficult for me to answer your question. However, you clearly have excellent perception, even better than my acquaintance in the Royal Guard.”
Garp was clearly impressed with the girl. Maki was perhaps one of the best young talents he had ever met. She was very young, only a year younger than his grandson. Yet, despite her obvious lack of experience, she was already quite proficient in Kenbunshoku. Furthermore, what impressed him was her incredible physical strength despite her relatively small body.
'If what Stussy told me is true, this girl is something else.'
"Learning Haki can't be done in just one day, especially through words. Come to me. I’ll teach you everything I know," the old man declared.
All the officers who heard it were stunned, not expecting this sudden offer.
"Garp-san! But she is a pirate!"
“Besides, the sword she used belonged to the CP9 leader, right? Doesn't that mean she killed him?”
Maki raised an eyebrow when she heard the officer's words.
'Kill the CP9 leader? Me?'
The girl also remembered when she pursued Robin alone and saw the body of a man named Spandam lying on the stairs while Stussy's hands were covered in blood.
'Don't tell me that woman made up a story as if I were the one who killed him?'
“Your answer, Little Beast?”
Garp asked once again, confirming his intentions despite the rejection from his subordinates.
Considering all the circumstances, joining the Marines seemed more advantageous. Vegapunk worked under the auspices of the World Government, so joining them would provide him with easier access.
'Besides, rather than hoping for something left behind by an uncertain ancient civilisation, taking a scientific approach to returning home sounds more plausible. Even if things go south, I can still take advantage of their knowledge of the last island and go there alone.'
Maki pondered all the possibilities, letting the wind blow and eliminating things that were beneficial or contrary to her interests.
'But was that the right thing to do? If my arrival in this world had a meaning, if my completely dissipating cursed energy contained a message I needed to understand, was taking a shortcut to go back something I should’ve taken?'
Although Maki didn’t fully understand why her cursed energy vanished completely when thrown into this world, she had a theory worth considering. Identical twins, the fate that binds her and her sister, Mai. They were essentially one soul divided into two bodies. The only reason they always suffered injustice was.
But what if one of Maki and Mai disappeared from the world? Would the Heavenly Restriction that bound them eventually evolve into something else?
'There’s no such thing as Zen'in Mai in this world. In other words, the bond that binds our souls has practically been severed. If I wanna obtain this power without the hassle of being stranded in another world, that means I'll have to sacrifice Mai in exchange.'
Maki clenched her fists tightly while biting the corner of her lips.
Despite her deep desire for power, she wouldn't trade Mai for a sacrifice. They often fought, argued, and even hated each other. But no matter what, Mai was her world.
'Many sorcerers in the book about Jujutsu Sorcery say that abandoning everything, even giving up on humanity, is the quickest path to true power. However, what’s true power if it means losing someone I should protect?'
It was hard to understand what the universe really expected from her. However, if taking a very long, roundabout path was the redemption she received for the rotten fate she experienced, then Maki would gladly accept it.
'Mai and the others will probably die if I stay here too long. I don't even know how the flow of time works between this world and mine. However, if I take a shortcut, I might end up damning myself.'
Maki took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
'Mai, once again, I'll be a little greedier. My ideals, relationships, and everything, I'll achieve them all. If everything’s as I predict, you'll be fine because Zen'in Maki’s no longer in that world either.'
Maki's eyes opened, reflecting a glint that radiated unwavering determination.
“Honestly, your offer’s very tempting, Vice Admiral. However, if I follow you, I might do things I hate. Besides, teaching me everything you know? I'm a girl with a bad temper and greed, you know? Will your knowledge really quench my thirst?"
Maki said this calmly and loudly. She raised her chin slightly, showing that even her smaller self in every aspect would never bow her head to someone greater than her, who held power and even authority within the world organisation.
"Hahahahaha!" Garp seemed to laugh aloud for a long time, "For a small fry, you really don't know your limits, huh?"
“Well, where I come from, there’s a legend about a koi fish that swam up a waterfall and turned into a dragon that protects the Eastern sky."
'That myth…, I heard the Five Elders assumed that this girl was from Wano even though Stussy didn't tell me anything about it. Maybe they were true about that?'
Before Garp could respond, the girl in the ponytail turned around and walked away without looking back even once.
“That being said, I’d never willingly be part of an organisation that hunts a woman just because she can dig up history that’s deliberately hidden.”
Maki glanced over her shoulder, finding the old man stiffening at her words. The veins in his temples bulged, and his fists clenched tightly, indicating that no matter how strong he was, he had no power to oppose something against his principles of justice.
'What's the point of having power if you can't even stand up for your values? Isn't that ironic, Hero?' the girl thought.
Without intending to stay there longer, Maki disappeared with a gust of wind.
—To Be Continued—
Author Note: Hello. I'm back. This chapter is part of the post-Ennies Lobby arc. However, the next chapter is expected to conclude the entire arc.
There are two things worth emphasising here. First, Maki's speed. As we know, in the manga, Maki could easily catch up with Naoya, who was traveling at Mach 3. For now, Maki isn't at that level yet, and I wanted to, at least, show her striving to reach her full potential. That's also why she asked Garp about Bushoshoku.
Second, is her hearing and sight. As explained above, the problem is that sound energy dissipates before it reaches her ears. I don't have the right words to put into the narrative, so I'll write it here. Essentially, I made Maki's ears able to pick up sounds in a wide frequency range, but not sounds whose energy dissipated before reaching her ears. Something that creates rapid, dense vibrations or waves, which is why Maki was able to hear the flapping of the old man's Unicorn in Skypiea, because it had a frequency high enough to reach her ears even though it was far away.
Meanwhile, vision is truly influenced by light particles. We can see something because the object reflects light back to our eyes, and its speed is 300,000 km/s, much faster than the speed of sound.
That's all from me. See you in two weeks with Hachiman's story. See you…