At the Cabin - Training Plans
"Alright, Wendy," Victor said, "since we'll be heading to the Elite Training Camp soon, and you're both old enough now, you can start learning the Six Powers. How about using those for combat training?"
"That could work!" Wendy's eyes lit up with hope. "Though I wonder how long it'll take me to master them..."
"Your talent is solid," Victor reassured her. "You're meticulous, with sharp observation and insight. You'll pick it up quickly."
He wasn't just being polite—Wendy truly had remarkable aptitude. Reaching the threshold of Observation Haki in just a few months was impressive, likely thanks to her sniper instincts.
"I want to learn Geppo first! I want to fly!" Rebecca declared, stars in her eyes.
"For you, it should come easy," Victor chuckled. "Your speed is already on par with 'Soru.' Geppo is just an advanced application—you'll grasp it fast."
"I want to fly too! Just imagining it makes me giddy!" Wendy joined in, equally dreamy-eyed.
Victor rolled his eyes. 'What is it with humans and their obsession with flying?' Now that he'd mastered Geppo, the novelty had worn off.
Unexpected Guests Arrive
"Yo, everyone here? Perfect timing for another Sea King feast, eh, Victor?"
A familiar voice rang out. The trio turned to see Kuzan, Smoker, and Hina emerging from the forest, heading toward the cabin.
Victor smirked. Ever since tasting his cooking, Kuzan had become a regular visitor—always under the guise of "strengthening camaraderie between new friends."
"Smoker, fully recovered?" Victor ignored Kuzan's not-so-subtle hint. The man wouldn't leave without a meal anyway, even if he had to lie on the ground and wait.
"Mostly. Couldn't afford to miss the graduation exam—I've got ambitions for a higher rank," Smoker replied, though his pallor betrayed lingering weakness.
Rebecca and Wendy greeted Hina warmly while Victor stayed seated.
"Didn't take you for a career climber, Smoker. Surprising," Victor teased.
"Higher rank means greater impact. Saw too much bureaucratic nonsense at Loguetown to waste time as a grunt," Smoker said earnestly.
Both Kuzan and Victor gave him appraising looks—this mature perspective was unexpected from the young Smoker.
Dinner Preparations
"Alright, chat amongst yourselves. It's almost mealtime, and I've got a Sea King to catch. Honestly, a cabin full of Devil Fruit users, and not one can help," Victor grumbled as he headed to the shore.
Kuzan and Smoker scratched their heads awkwardly, knowing full well they were the useless ones in this scenario. Hina, at least, was spared the jab.
Soon, a lavish Sea King banquet covered the table, and drinks flowed freely.
"I wish Vice Admiral Gion were here too. It'd be even livelier," Rebecca suddenly mused.
Victor and Wendy exchanged odd glances while the others, unaware of the context, continued eating cheerfully.
"True. Vice Admiral Gion must get lonely on missions," Hina agreed.
"Ah, heard she's partnered with Vice Admiral Tokikake this time. Probably not too lonely," Kuzan added casually.
Wendy's expression turned downright mischievous. The infamous, repeatedly rejected marriage proposals between Tokikake and Gion were Navy legend. Her mind immediately conjured a soap opera's worth of drama.
Rebecca's feelings were more complicated. Part of her wanted Gion and Tokikake to just get together already—yet the thought of Gion suffering (because in Rebecca's mind, 'anyone' but Victor would be suffering) pained her. She recalled the conflicted look in Gion's eyes when she'd left and felt a pang of sympathy.
Meanwhile, in the New World...
On a Navy warship, another meal was underway.
"Gion, I truly love you. Marry me. I'll cherish you forever—whatever you say goes! East? I'd never dream of west!" Tokikake proclaimed passionately, extending a meaty bone like a bouquet.
Normally, Gion would have shouted him down instantly. This time, she just... stared. She didn't take the offering, nor did she continue eating.
Her mind drifted to 'another' infuriating cook—one who'd spanked her with the flat of his blade, leaving sensations that still haunted her. That bastard knew exactly how to tease her to the edge, then walk away. And the worst part? She couldn't even beat him up for it.
"Tokikake ," she finally said, voice eerily calm compared to her usual fiery rejections, "stop this. My heart belongs to someone else. There's no future for us."
For once, Tokikake was speechless. This wasn't the explosive refusal he'd come to expect. Something had fundamentally changed.
Back at the Cabin
Dinner wrapped up with everyone satisfied—Victor's culinary skills never disappointed.
Then Kuzan dropped the bomb.
"Ah, Victor... Saw Sakazuki and Onigumo return to HQ. Might want to watch your back. Pretty sure they're gunning for you."
"Sakazuki? Coming after me for Onigumo's bruised ego?" Victor raised an eyebrow.
"No way! Vice Admiral Sakazuki's a monster! There's no contest between him and someone who's only trained a few years like Victor!" Hina gasped.
"T-This Sakazuki guy... He's stronger than Victor now?" Rebecca asked nervously.
"His Magu-Magu Fruit is the most destructive Logia in existence. Yeah. He's strong," Hina confirmed.
The cheerful mood plummeted. Leave it to the Iceman to freeze a party with words alone.
"Hey Smoker," Victor joked, trying to lighten the mood, "your Smoke-Smoke Fruit isn't just the byproduct of his magma burning stuff, is it?"
Truthfully, Victor wasn't overly concerned. This was Marine HQ—Sakazuki wouldn't dare go too far. Victor wasn't some powerless recruit; he had both skill 'and' connections (including a certain peak-form Garp).
If Sakazuki 'did' escalate? Victor would make sure even a victory cost him flesh. The gap was sizable, but not insurmountable for a short clash.
Smoker, meanwhile, glowered. 'Why does he keep dunking on my fruit? What did smoke ever do to him?'
Victor truly couldn't bring himself to respect the Smoke-Smoke Fruit. The Mera-Mera Fruit? Now 'that' was a worthy power in capable hands. But 'smoke'? He barely stopped himself from muttering "Even a mutt wouldn't eat that fruit"—only his friendship with Smoker kept the words locked behind clenched teeth.
Still, relentlessly mocking the Smoke-Smoke Fruit served a purpose. If it pushed Smoker to focus on Haki and physical training instead, the verbal jabs were worth it.
"Ara ara? You're not worried at all?" Kuzan studied Victor with genuine surprise.
"Why would I be? Is he going to outright 'kill' me?" Victor shrugged, feigning nonchalance—though internally, his guard was up.
The three girls tensed further at his response. If anything, their anxiety spiked.
"Of course not. Even Sakazuki has his limits," Kuzan said gravely. "But severe injuries? That's likely. The Magu-Magu Fruit's destructive power is no joke. One misstep, and you could lose an arm... or a leg. 'Permanently.'"
Victor's lips twitched as he gave Kuzan an odd look. 'Talk about foresight. Did you have a prophetic dream about your future leg?'
Unnerved by Victor's stare, Kuzan paused mid-bite, his appetite waning.
"Victor," Rebecca interjected, voice trembling, "maybe... skip drills for a while? Just stay here at the cabin?"
The image of Victor maimed—limbs severed by searing magma—haunted her. The thought of his "perfect" form broken was unbearable.
"You think I'll hide from a threat that hasn't even materialized?" Victor's tone sharpened. "That kind of cowardice would 'guarantee' I never grow stronger."
A saying from his past life echoed in his mind: "When faced with an enemy, draw your blade. Blood may spill within seven steps, but victory favors the bold."
Could he defeat Sakazuki? Unlikely. But he'd stood his ground against 'Kaido'. Retreating now was unthinkable.
"Ara ara... So this is the heart of a true warrior," Kuzan murmured, impressed. "To face Kaido alone and now stand unfazed... Remarkable."