Vir got up, grabbed his medical kit, put on his clothes, and walked out.
He was heading to the main hall to wait for his client.
It was still important to greet them properly.
Besides, if he didn't leave, Hancock would have no way to put her clothes back on...
It was just barely dawn now.
The sun had only just started to peek over the horizon.
But when Vir arrived at the main hall, he spotted two familiar figures at the entrance.
"Robin, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it!"
A cheerful voice rang out.
Chopper was grinning at Robin as he spoke.
After taking a Rumble Ball, he felt an overwhelming surge of energy coursing through him.
That elusive sensation in his body was becoming clearer and clearer.
"That's amazing, Chopper."
Robin, who was sitting nearby taking a break, praised him without holding back.
"Ehh~ Not really~ I'm not that amazing~ Just a little bit~ yahaha~"
The switch had been flipped.
Chopper immediately started twisting and dancing.
The sight nearly made Vir laugh.
Robin was the first to notice Vir walking over.
But she simply watched him calmly.
She didn't say anything.
As Vir got closer, he crouched down and gave Chopper a gentle pat on the head.
"How's your axe training coming along?"
Chopper flinched at Vir's voice, but after realizing who it was, he frowned a bit and replied in frustration, "I've got some ideas... but I still need more practice."
"Mhm. Just remember—swing freely."
He gave Chopper's fuzzy head another pat, leaving the poor guy buzzing, then turned to Robin.
The two of them locked eyes in silence.
The morning breeze gently blew Robin's hair, her long black strands dancing in the wind.
A bit of sunlight spilled across her face, softening her features.
Then, a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Watching Vir with amusement, she said flatly, "So? Had a good night's sleep?"
Robin teased.
"It was alright. Not as comfy as Chopper though."
Vir replied casually.
Chopper blinked in confusion.
Not as comfy as him?
What are they talking about?
No clue!
Whatever. Better not interrupt them and go train somewhere else!
Soon enough, Chopper scurried off happily to continue his training elsewhere.
Robin didn't respond further.
She obviously knew Vir was talking nonsense.
It was written all over his face.
She just quietly admired the slowly awakening Amazon Lily.
"I'm leaving today. You two stay here and wait for me. Ace is about to be executed by the Marines—I need to bring him back."
"Mm."
"Right now, you're both still too weak. So spend this time getting stronger."
"Mm."
"There's not much time. A year, at most. I can only wait for you for a year..."
This time, he got no reply.
Robin didn't say anything, but the look in her eyes said enough.
His words clearly struck a chord.
Vir planned to take them to Whitebeard once things settled down.
That guy had a real knack for training newcomers, didn't he?
Having him help out should be no problem.
Not to mention all the sparring partners they'd have.
Who knows? Maybe little Chopperbeard could even spark something new when clashing with Whitebeard himself.
Of course...
That was assuming the Whitebeard Pirates were still around by then.
If the Marines wiped them out, then well... time to go teacher-hunting again.
"Oh-ho! Looks like someone pretty serious is on the way here."
Rayleigh stepped out with a grin.
"Yawn~ Yeah, you can already see the silhouette."
Marco came out stretching.
And it wasn't just them. In just a few minutes, everyone had gotten up.
Honestly, these guys were way too disciplined.
Vir could only nod in admiration.
Can't compete with that. Not even close.
If nothing was going on, there's no way he'd even open his eyes before noon.
"C'mon, come sit over here! Got fruits, snacks—the show's about to start!"
Yamato sat on a throne-like chair in the hall, beside a small table loaded with snacks and seeds she'd brought herself.
She looked like a total gossip-hungry grandma ready to dish on some neighborhood scandal.
This woman had suffered through her own torment—so seeing others go through the same brought her joy.
The classic "I've been through the storm, so now I enjoy watching others get drenched" type.
And if you dared to bring an umbrella, she'd probably snatch it and break it just out of spite.
And funny enough, she wasn't the only one with that mindset here.
Rayleigh and Marco plopped down beside her like veterans.
The three of them were forming a new trio...
The Peanut Gallery Trio.
"Think that guy can handle it?"
Yamato asked while munching on seeds.
"Handle it? You kidding? What's he gonna handle it with? The rudder on his head? If even this old man couldn't take it, there's no way he can."
Rayleigh had zero faith in Golden Lion.
He'd been drenched by that metaphorical storm the hardest—soaked to the stomach.
"It's fine. As long as Vir doesn't pull out the gas mask, it's not the worst-case scenario."
Marco shuddered at the memory but quickly shrugged it off.
Marco was a master of escaping by now, so he wasn't too worried.
Not long after, Hancock and her sisters arrived, along with Elder Nyon.
Nyon, in a way, was also a doctor.
So she came hoping to steal some techniques.
Even if she didn't succeed, just watching would be worthwhile.
At that moment, Elder Nyon clapped her hands, and breakfast was brought in.
But no one seemed very interested.
Who could eat right now?
They'd just throw it all up later—what's the point?
Only Luffy and Bonney's table was going wild, the two devouring food like it was a competition.
They seemed to have clicked—neither willing to back down until the other was completely stuffed...
Meanwhile, Vir stared at the approaching black speck in the sky and silently opened his medical kit.
Shiki's legs—he was confident he could fix those with his Vibro-Blade.
But that rudder in his head… that was trickier.
Pulling it out could kill him.
And if Vir tried sawing it out, it could be even riskier.
He was planning to use his medicine to sustain Shiki's life just long enough to safely remove it.
But now, feeling the oppressive aura getting closer and closer...
Vir gave up on that idea.
His medicine probably wouldn't work on someone of this caliber.
Who the hell said Shiki got taken down by Gear Third Luffy? Vir thought.
Which idiot directed that movie?
A monster like this—current Luffy wouldn't stand a chance against him!
Forget his Haki and swordsmanship.
Just the power of the Float-Float Fruit alone made him nearly untouchable.
One thought—and Luffy would be floating helplessly in the air.
But in the movie?
He just... won? Like it was nothing?
Right now, judging by aura alone—
Shiki was at least Admiral Candidate level!
Sure, he'd declined a bit.
But not by much.
In the movie, even Roger would've been toast.
But in reality?
Right now, if Shiki wanted to kill Luffy, all he'd have to do is make him float.
Then follow up with a single slash of his sword.
If Luffy didn't get sliced in two, it'd be a miracle.
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