Gion's eye twitched as she watched Victor ignore her completely, settling back into his meditative pose as if nothing had happened.
Infuriated, she marched over and—WHAM!—kicked him straight into the ship's railing.
The wood splintered on impact.
Victor didn't even bother dodging. 'Eh, I've got Armament Haki. Plus, I did smack her ass a bunch. Fair trade.'
The recruits winced at the sound. "That had to hurt! But with his full-body Haki, Victor was unfazed."
Gion knew it was pointless—just a display of helpless rage.
Barnett, seeing the damage, immediately called the shipwrights for repairs. Victor He just shifted spots and resumed his training.
---
The voyage settled into a routine. Skilled fishermen hauled in plenty of catches, and at mealtimes, Victor would dive for Sea Kings. With his speed and Observation Haki range, he never lost track of the ship.
The four of them—Victor, Gion, Wendy, and Rebecca—ate like royalty, thanks to Victor's cooking.
Of course, the ship's kitchen was tiny, so he only prepared small portions for the girls, leaving the rest for the crew.
The kitchen staff was eternally grateful—even the leftovers were Sea King meat, rich in flavor and nutrients. A single haul could feed everyone for days.
But Gion had become Victor's persistent sparring partner, demanding daily duels. (Exactly as planned.)
This was why he'd worked so hard on her backside that first day—now, he had a legitimate excuse to train Armament Haki nonstop. The crew had even grown used to his pitch-black Haki-covered face.
'Though… will my face stay permanently dark like a blade?' No records existed in the original timeline, so he'd have to wait and see.
Gion, meanwhile, suffered daily beatdowns—each session ending with a final smack to her rear, sending her flying back to the ship.
It drove her insane—and made a few perverts on board wish they were in Victor's place.
---
Two days later, they reached their first island. The ship needed supplies, but no one had brought money.
Victor's solution Let's rob the rich and help the poor.
Gion vehemently refused.
"Gion, it's the fastest way. With the two of us, it's foolproof—no one would ever know it was us!" Victor grinned.
"Absolutely not! We're Marines—we don't do that!"
"We'll wear masks! Who'd suspect us We could even earn a cool name—like 'The Phantom Thieves'!"
"I don't want a thief's title! And you're not going either—I'm the Rear Admiral here. You follow MY orders!"
Victor sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. If you insist."
(But his eyes sparkled with mischief.)
In the end, they sent the combat team to hunt in the forests, trading meat for money in town before buying supplies.
Since the island was near Marineford, it was peaceful—no bandits in sight.
Victor wandered off alone, leaving the hunting to his deputy. (Meat scraps kept the ship well-fed anyway.)
But a diet of just meat wasn't sustainable. They needed fruits, vegetables, and daily essentials.
(Victor couldn't care less. Meat was life.)
---
Victor, Gion, Wendy, and Rebecca broke off to explore the town—until Victor suddenly paused, glancing back.
"What is it?" Gion asked.
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just a monkey watching us."
(Another lie. That familiar presence was back—but he couldn't pinpoint it.)
The town was bustling. After asking around, they learned the island's richest man hosted an annual eating contest—today.
The winner would challenge the undefeated champion (the rich man himself) for a mystery prize.
(No one knew what it was—he'd kept his title for ten years.)
The group's eyes lit up.
(Especially Victor's. He never lost when it came to eating.)
But then they hit a snag—entry fee 100,000 berries per person.
"This guy's a genius. No wonder he's the richest. Really makes me wanna rob him…" Victor muttered to Gion.
She glared, wishing she could punch him. (Alas, she couldn't win.)
Victor rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Still, the contest was profitable. Most contestants couldn't eat 100,000 berries' worth of food—but Victor's group could.
(Especially Victor. He never stopped eating.)
Victor paid the entry fee for all four of them without hesitation, and a servant led them to the contest area.
Rebecca and Wendy were the first to tap out, their stomachs full.
But Victor? He kept eating.
Gion, refusing to lose, glared at him while shoving food into her mouth like she was chewing on Victor's flesh. 'Still holding a grudge, huh?'
A few burly men remained in the competition, including the island's wealthy host—a rotund man with a face that screamed '"professional glutton."'
Servants continuously brought out new dishes, each round different from the last. Competitors had to finish everything in order, with clerks meticulously recording their progress.
One by one, the big men dropped out.
Soon, only Victor, Gion, and the fat tycoon remained.
The crowd murmured in shock—how could a slender woman like Gion keep up with these monstrous eaters?
But eventually, even Gion had to concede. 'No Life Return technique for her.'
That left Victor vs. the host.
By the time the final dish was served, both had cleared every plate.
The wealthy man smiled, nodding to his butler, who soon returned with…
A single cup of ice cream.
He gestured for Victor alone to eat it.
'Huh? Just me?' Victor shrugged and downed it without question.
The host wobbled to his feet and started clapping.
Confused murmurs spread until the butler explained:
"Sir, our master admits defeat. He can't eat another bite."
"This menu was designed to match his limits—and right now, he's too full to even speak."
"You won by finishing that ice cream."
The crowd erupted. 'So the host wasn't being smug—he was literally too stuffed to talk!'
The fat man nodded in confirmation, gave Victor an approving look, and waddled off.
"Sir, our master invites you to his villa," the butler said. "The mystery prize awaits."
Victor smirked. "Let's go see what it is. Maybe a Devil Fruit?"
The girls followed eagerly as they trailed the butler through the murmuring crowd.
'The townsfolk only now realized these four were outsiders—and the first in ten years to beat the challenge!'
---
The host's estate was lavish—more of a manor than a mere house.
The butler led them to a dimly lit drawing room, serving tea while they waited.
"Please relax. The master will bring your prize shortly."
Victor's eyes scanned the room.
'Odd.' Every other part of the villa screamed luxury—yet this space looked charred, like it had survived a fire.
'Why wouldn't a man this rich renovate it?'
Soon, the host returned, carrying a half-meter-long stone box—made of a material Victor had never seen.
"Young man," the host wheezed (his voice thick from years of indulgence), "this treasure came into my possession by chance during my travels."
"It holds unimaginable power—but my own weakness made it impossible to wield."
"I've waited for a worthy heir… and today, I've found one."
He placed the box before Victor and sat opposite him.
Curious, Victor lifted the lid.
Inside lay a slender, ornate rod—about 50 cm long, 4 cm thick, with intricate rings at both ends.
It radiated an ethereal glow, neither metal nor stone, wood nor jade.
"What is this?" Victor asked, his Observation Haki tingling—a numbing sensation he couldn't decipher.
The host's smile deepened.
"A divine artifact. I call it… the 'Staff of the Gods.'"
"Only its chosen master can awaken its power."
"Try lifting it. If you're the one… you'll know."