Hiyori continued moving her hands, pursing her lips as she thought deeply.
Unfortunately, the methods she knew for training Haki were quite similar to Luffy's approach. They required rigorous physical conditioning as a foundation, something not everyone could achieve easily.
With a helpless sigh, she eventually shook her head regretfully and apologized, "I'm sorry, Lady Violet. As far as I know, the only way to master Armament Haki is through relentless training—constantly honing one's body to its limits."
"And to make things worse, before Kaido was finally overthrown, Wano wasn't exactly a strong country. We never had the luxury of understanding even the basics of Observation Haki, let alone mastering it."
Violet let out a long sigh, slumping slightly as she shook her head in disappointment.
"I figured as much…" she muttered.
She had hoped for a shortcut, but it seemed like there wasn't one. It wasn't as if she hadn't sought help before—she had even asked Hancock about it. If any place in the world had a unique method for cultivating Haki, it would undoubtedly be Amazon Lily.
After all, it was an island full of warriors, a nation where women thrived through sheer strength. There had to be some secret technique for rapid mastery, right?
But alas, Hancock's explanation had been just as discouraging. The women of Amazon Lily were raised in a culture of combat. They fought from a young age, constantly sharpening their bodies through battle after battle. It was through this brutal cycle of experience that their Haki naturally manifested.
There were no shortcuts.
Violet groaned inwardly.
"Ah… What should I do? Even that girl Nami has already mastered Armament Haki… I don't want to be the weakest one in the family!"
Across the room, Alpha was flipping through a magazine he had picked up from who-knows-where. Hearing Violet's complaint, he suddenly became interested and asked curiously:
"Speaking of which… who do you guys think is the weakest in the family right now?"
Without hesitation, Violet and the others answered in unison.
"Olivia."
The timing couldn't have been worse.
At that exact moment, the office door swung open, and Olivia stepped in, fists clenched.
"Unbelievable," she seethed. "In my own office, you're drinking the tea I bought, lounging around like royalty while getting massages from my maid, and on top of that, you're badmouthing me behind my back? Do you people even have a shred of humanity left?!"
Violet and the others instantly stiffened, guilt flashing across their faces. They sat up straight as if trying to look innocent, but the awkward silence was deafening.
Meanwhile, Luffy, who had been watching the whole exchange, nearly burst out laughing. He had already sensed Olivia approaching, but Alpha's perfectly timed question had made the situation all the more entertaining.
The fact that the women had answered so decisively—only to get caught red-handed—was priceless.
"Hey, don't drag me into this," Alpha quickly backpedaled, waving his hands in mock innocence. "I didn't say a word. I just asked a question!"
Hiyori, who had been diligently massaging Violet, chose this moment to step forward. She hurriedly walked up to Olivia and helped her remove her coat, though Olivia seemed too annoyed to acknowledge the gesture.
Shooting one last glare at the troublemakers, Olivia strode toward her desk without the slightest hesitation. Without any regard for Luffy still sitting there, she promptly pushed both him and his chair aside as she bent down and rummaged through one of the drawers.
Luffy, now slightly displaced, tilted his head, taking the opportunity to admire Olivia's perfect curves from his new vantage point. With an amused smirk, he casually asked, "So, what brings you back from the lab? Something new in the works, or did something go wrong?"
Olivia finally found what she was looking for—a thick stack of documents. Flipping through them quickly, she pulled out a single sheet and handed it to Luffy.
"This," she said flatly. "This is the reason I came back this time."
Curious, Luffy took the paper from her and began examining it carefully.
While he read, Olivia walked over to the girls, sat on the armrest of the sofa, crossed her legs, and began explaining.
"Three days ago, I attempted to build a batch of more advanced computers—ones capable of running highly sophisticated games. I originally placed them in my hotel for VIP guests to try out."
She paused, then added, "But then, today, I received a message from someone wanting to purchase a batch of these computers… for the Celestial Dragons."
The room fell into silence.
Alpha, being a CP agent, immediately tensed up. Just hearing the words "Celestial Dragons" was enough to send a chill down her spine. She had spent years serving under the World Government, and now, as someone who had effectively defected, she feared the repercussions of this new development.
Panic spread across her face as she shrank into the couch, trembling.
Gion, Kujaku, and Violet were in slightly better shape, but even they couldn't hide their unease. When it came to the Celestial Dragons, nothing was ever simple. Any dealings with them usually spelled trouble, and this situation was no different.
What caught everyone off guard, however, was just how much of a reputation these computers had already gained. Even the Celestial Dragons—living in their untouchable world within the Holy Land of Mariejois—had heard of them and sent people to negotiate a purchase.
Luffy, meanwhile, had an entirely different reaction.
While the others remained tense, he suddenly burst out laughing.
"Haha! Seriously?!" he grinned widely, still holding the document. His expression lit up as if he had just stumbled upon a treasure chest filled with gold.
The girls all turned to look at him, watching as his smile stretched from ear to ear.
"Hahaha! There's actually something this good happening for once!"
Still chuckling, Luffy waved the document in the air and turned to Violet. His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Hey, how much is this new computer going to cost? What's your pricing plan?"
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New Fanfic
Marvel x Star Wars: Avengers in the Clone Wars
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