Chapter 6: Words Left for After You Return
"Oh, right—Sakazuki, do you want to come with me to the Sabaody Archipelago?"
As if something had just occurred to him, Ross suddenly turned to Sakazuki, who was still devouring his meal.
At that moment, Sakazuki's mouth was slick with grease, his once-exhausted body seemingly restored by the food. The intense pain and drained stamina were quickly fading away as nourishment surged through him.
This wasn't Life Return—a passive skill nearly all seasoned warriors of the sea possessed—but something like a rudimentary version of it. A latent talent: when the body is injured, it rapidly absorbs and converts food into energy and nutrients for recovery.
"Me?" Sakazuki looked up in confusion. Wasn't he supposed to stay behind and train?
But he didn't argue. Instead, he waited silently for further explanation, like an obedient student.
"Yeah. If you want to join the Navy in the future, this trip might give you a solid foundation... assuming all goes well."
Ross wore a mysterious smile. His tone was casual and harmless, but his intentions were more layered.
"And besides, training doesn't have to be rushed. That kind of intense training from earlier—I'll only let you do it once a day. More importantly, I'll be very strict about your rest schedule."
Ross wasn't Garp—he didn't believe in training people to the brink of death. That kind of brutal method only worked on monsters or protagonists. Not everyone could become a Fourth Emperor in two years like Luffy. Most would just die trying.
Even someone like Koby needed two hundred times the effort just to keep up.
Sakazuki had excellent talent, perhaps even genius level, but he wasn't a monster. So while Ross could push him harder, he would never push him recklessly.
"Understood! I'll follow your lead!"
Sakazuki didn't fully grasp Ross's reasoning. He personally wanted to be pushed to the brink. The sooner he could become strong like Ross, the better!
But he knew Ross wouldn't give orders lightly. If Ross said it was the best path, then it was. Obedience was the wisest choice.
With that decision, Sakazuki returned his focus to the feast in front of him, demolishing the oversized meal at a rapid pace.
"You mean… those people?"
Moxxi, standing nearby, immediately caught on to Ross's intentions. He knew Ross too well—he didn't need more than a few words.
He also knew about Sakazuki's desire to join the Navy. Everyone on board did. When Moxxi had returned from gathering intel, he'd been informed of it as well.
All fostered children would grow up eventually. When that time came, the question of staying or leaving would naturally arise. Ross never forced them either way.
If a child chose to stay, Ross would make arrangements.
But if they wanted to chase their dreams, all he asked was that they tell him first.
Sakazuki never hid his ideals or ambition. Everyone knew about his burning hatred for pirates.
Joining the Navy really did seem like the right path.
And yet…
"Sigh…" Moxxi let out a long breath.
He didn't know what the Navy was like internally, but one thing was clear to anyone who sailed the Grand Line: the Navy was the watchdog of the World Government.
And the World Government? It served the Celestial Dragons—beings even more vile than pirates, if only because their evil was more concentrated.
But that's exactly what made their evil so dangerous—concentrated malice hits harder, just like a focused will can shatter stone.
"Doesn't really matter," Ross shrugged. "You don't have to join the Navy just to kill pirates. Worst case, he becomes the king of bounty hunters."
Ross had considered the possibility that Sakazuki might choose not to enlist. And honestly, that was fine.
Sakazuki's goal in joining the Navy was to grow stronger—and he was getting stronger under Ross's tutelage, perhaps even faster than he would in the Navy.
Ross already understood most of the general frameworks for strength in this world. If Sakazuki's path just had to take a detour to reach its end, so be it.
As long as Sakazuki reached the power level of a Yonko, Ross's goal would be fulfilled.
The journey didn't matter. Only the result.
And by then, the Navy would likely seek him out anyway. If worse came to worst, Sakazuki could just become a vice admiral who only hunted pirates.
As for the Magma-Magma Fruit he would supposedly get in his twenties? Ross didn't care. Unless some time traveler showed up, things would probably go as expected.
"Devil fruits always choose their ideal host," Ross mused. He would know—he was living proof.
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Time slipped by like a shy whisper from a girl by your side—you heard it, but couldn't quite make it out.
Just like that, a full week passed.
Sakazuki spent his days training and getting to know everyone on board. During his rare moments of rest, he played with Ross's three children.
He seemed to be trying to take on the role of "big brother." Though his quiet nature made it hard to express joy, he never rejected the younger kids' invitations.
Maybe his innocence had been burned away alongside his family in that great fire.
"Bye-bye, Papa! Remember to bring me a gift when you come back! Or I'll make Mommy cook for you again!"
On the deck, little Mona chirped her farewell, her sweet face beaming with joy.
Completely ignoring Ross's awkward expression, she turned to Sakazuki.
"Bye-bye, Big Brother Sakazuki! Thanks for going on adventures with me! When you come back, I'll show you the really exciting stuff—you'll love it!"
Her wide eyes sparkled with attachment, like a child watching a beloved toy being taken away.
But inside, Sakazuki was in turmoil.
You're the last person I want to see again!
Adventure? You call that an adventure? Why is a two-year-old girl playing with live bombs?! And teasing Sea Kings when they surface?!
Now I finally understand that weird father-daughter conversation from when I first came aboard. You're all bullying me because I'm too quiet to say no, aren't you?!
His eye twitched slightly as he frantically looked toward Ross, begging him to hurry up and leave.
Next time, he would say no to Mona's "adventures." If it weren't for Moxxi watching over them, those games would've been fatal.
Ross understood his daughter well. Before Mona could cling any longer, he summoned a cloud to lift himself and Sakazuki off the deck, heading for Sabaody Archipelago.
Many came to see them off—Ator, Alisan, Moxxi, and three beautiful women. But only Mona spoke.
It wasn't the first time this had happened.
They had learned to leave their words for after Ross came back.
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