"Gurararara~~~!"
"Sword Master?!"
"Who wants to learn?!"
"Artoria?!"
"No problem at all!"
Newgate's laugh shook the ship's mast as he nearly headbutted the transponder snail in enthusiasm.
When he heard his precious niece wanted to learn swordsmanship, everything else—loot, sea routes, even bounties—became irrelevant. The world could wait. Artoria had spoken. And when Artoria spoke, the heavens parted.
"Drop anchor! Find the best sword instructor in these seas! Nothing else matters!" Newgate bellowed, slamming his bisento into the deck for emphasis.
---
Back in Totto Land...
Argus hung up the transponder snail and rubbed his temples.
"...Why do I feel like Artoria's his daughter instead of mine?"
Serena, lounging beside him with regal elegance, covered her smile with the back of her hand.
"Husband," she murmured, "perhaps it's simply how your brother shows love. To him, blood is everything."
Argus sighed, his gold eyes flickering with old understanding.
In the original world, Newgate's love was given freely—to every orphan and stray boy he picked up. Now? With true blood ties? The love burned white-hot, and laser-focused.
Ace or Artoria?
There was no comparison.
And that suited Argus just fine.
His passive gift, [Many Children Are a Blessing], didn't care about pride or labels. It worked through lineage. Newgate's descendants, should he ever have any, would only add to the web of strength Argus was weaving.
Though frankly, he doubted that day would come. His brother was a slab of steel and discipline. A mountain of muscle. A monk in mindset.
He didn't chase women. Women didn't chase him—they fled.
"Hehehe~"
Serena's soft laugh pulled him back.
"Don't overthink. Sally and Shella are due soon. We need to be ready."
Argus nodded, shifting into father-mode without hesitation.
"It's already March. A few days at most. Serena, I trust you'll oversee everything. No complications."
"Of course. I've already arranged for Kureha to be present. The mothers are healthy. The boys are strong."
"Both boys, huh..."
He blinked once. Nothing more.
Gender didn't move him. Talent did.
Man or woman, strength decided value. If the boys were brilliant, he'd mold them into weapons. If not, they'd marry into strength and reinforce the next generation.
Simple. Practical. Ruthless.
And effective.
---
Eight days later…
The gates of Totto Land roared open.
Newgate marched in like a one-man storm, laughing louder than ever.
"Gurararara~~~!"
Artoria sprinted to the grand steps, golden hair flying.
"Uncle!"
Newgate scooped her up in one arm, spinning her through the air like she weighed nothing.
"My little niece! Ready to learn swordsmanship?! I've brought you a gift from Wano itself!"
Behind him stood an aged man in immaculate robes, silent and serene.
The old swordsman bowed deeply.
"Miss Artoria. I am at your service. I will teach you the way of the blade. But please, do not call me master—I am merely a student who's walked farther down the path."
Artoria, with a wide grin, nodded like a queen granting permission.
"Okay! But I'm gonna be the best!"
Newgate turned to the villa.
"Where's your father?"
Artoria clapped her hands. "Uncle! Go fast! Aunt Sally and Aunt Shella are giving birth! I'm going to have two baby brothers!"
Newgate froze. His eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
Still holding Artoria like a treasured sword, he charged toward the villa.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
The marble floors trembled under his feet.
Argus, inside the main hall, didn't even flinch.
"Here we go again…"
---
Doma, Hiroshi, and Jozu had arrived shortly after Newgate. They bowed deeply to Argus and Serena.
"Lord Argus. Lady Serena," said Doma, ever the formal one.
"You're glowing as always, sister-in-law," Hiroshi added with a wink. Serena chuckled.
"And where's our little hurricane?" Jozu asked eagerly.
"Right behind you," Serena answered.
Artoria popped out from behind a curtain. "Story time?!"
The three men dropped to their knees instantly.
"For you, Princess? Always!" Hiroshi grinned.
They played with her in the courtyard, told tales of sea battles, of towering waves and screaming skies, of valor and monster-hunts. She listened with sparkling eyes, asking sharp questions even grown men would struggle to answer.
"Why didn't the Kraken just swim lower to avoid the cannon fire?"
They froze.
"...Because... it's arrogant. Just like us," Hiroshi covered.
---
Meanwhile, Sally and Shella were feeling the pressure.
Shella, always calm, now winced more frequently. Sally, normally the more outspoken, turned quiet. Anxious.
Serena noticed immediately.
In a private chamber, she embraced Shella gently.
"You've tamed sea kings. This will be easier."
Shella smiled faintly. "Different battlefield."
Serena turned to Sally, who sat quietly, hands over her belly.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine," she said softly, then looked at Argus, who had just entered. "...Do you think I'll be useful again after this?"
Argus knelt and took her hand.
"You've already given me more than I ever imagined. After this, if you want, you can help with Totto Land's development. Your organizational sense is terrifying."
She smirked slightly. "You mean useful."
He kissed her hand.
"I mean indispensable."
---
Kureha arrived the next morning, coat flaring in the wind.
She checked Artoria first.
"...Good god. This child is strong enough to break a man's spine. What are you feeding her?!"
Argus shrugged. "Milk. And dragon blood."
Kureha glared. "Not funny."
She moved on to examine Sally and Shella, nodding in satisfaction.
"You're both good to go. Might be tonight. Get comfortable."
---
Outside, the Edward family shipwrights were working furiously.
With Argus' push and Newgate's command, they had decided to pursue not one—but two shipwright options:
Seek out Tom of Water 7.
Or find the elusive, retired master Magnus—if he could be tracked.
Designs sprawled across tables. Jozu supervised the hull plans. Hiroshi discussed cannon placements. Doma debated figureheads.
The vessel would not be just a ship.
It would be a floating bastion. A fortress of Edward's pride.
---
Back in the villa, Argus stood alone on the eastern balcony, looking out at the sea.
Somewhere out there was Kuja Island—the land that gnawed at his mind like an unsolved riddle.
So close... but something's missing.
Behind him, Serena approached silently.
She rested her head against his back.
"We're almost there," she whispered.
Argus nodded slowly.
"Yeah. One piece at a time."
---
(CHAPTER END)