"So that's how it is... In other words, as long as you keep training, your Armament Haki and Observation Haki will keep growing stronger. It's like slow and steady grinding—meaning the longer you train, the stronger it gets. So generally, the older you are, the more of an edge you have?" Ortoren jotted down the key points in his notebook, deep in thought.
Rocks went on to evaluate and compare different power systems, including Haki, Qigong, and Devil Fruit abilities.
That's right—he even mentioned a system called "Qigong," which took Ortoren by surprise. Curious, he read on and found that it was a relatively rare style originating from the Kano Country in West Blue. Rocks only knew about it thanks to Ochoku, who was skilled in that discipline and had sailed with them.
Ortoren thought back carefully. If he remembered correctly, in the original story, one of Donquixote Doflamingo's family officers—an old man named Lao G—also used a power called "chi." What was that style called again? Ah, right... "Jio-Ken." It allowed users to store up the "chi" of their youth and, once they were older, release it to draw on their past strength.
"This world really is colorful... I never paid much attention to it before," Ortoren murmured in awe.
As he kept reading, Rocks concluded that Haki was the most versatile and universally adaptable power—it could merge seamlessly with virtually any other power system to push its limits even further!
In other words, no matter what your core strength was—swordsmanship, Devil Fruit abilities, or even some rare qigong art—adding Haki to the mix could only enhance your overall power.
And even if you didn't train in any other discipline, Haki alone was enough to carry you to the top and make you one of the strongest!
So Rocks came to a bold conclusion... Only Haki stands above all!
Reading that, Ortoren couldn't help but think of Kaidou, who later became known as a Haki-obsessed powerhouse. If he had to guess, Kaidou's extreme reverence for Haki probably came from Rocks himself.
"What a great book... Even with all the random junk mixed in, this is definitely a rare and invaluable training manual." Ortoren looked at the book in his hand, deeply impressed once again.
Just then, the doors to the library opened, and Katakuri walked in from outside.
Ortoren turned at the sound. Katakuri smiled and made his way over.
"You've been holed up in here for two days straight. Don't you think it's time to get some fresh air?" Katakuri said with a grin.
"I just really want to get stronger, that's all..." Ortoren laughed, teasing a bit.
"Still, you've got to pace yourself." Katakuri gave a friendly reminder, then added a little sheepishly, "Things have been busy these past couple days, and I kind of neglected you. The rest of our siblings have gone to the front lines, so they didn't get to meet you. I'll introduce you when there's a chance."
"Is it because of that war with Shiki you mentioned before?" Ortoren asked casually.
"Yeah. Actually, Mama and I were supposed to leave for the front lines around now…" Katakuri nodded.
Without even realizing it, he'd just shown Ortoren a bit of goodwill again.
"Speaking of which, tonight's the full moon... I really hope her plan works," Ortoren said, a bit hopeful.
"Exactly. That's why I came to get you—wouldn't want you to miss this one and have to wait for the next full moon." Katakuri smiled warmly.
Ortoren's full moon curse wasn't completely unavoidable. The simplest solution was to hide somewhere the moonlight couldn't reach and wait it out.
He'd tried that trick when he was younger, but it was just a temporary fix. It didn't help him truly overcome the madness that struck every full moon. And if he didn't deal with it head-on, the "mad blood" would slowly erode his temperament, mood, and even personality over time.
That's why, after a few attempts, Ortoren had made up his mind to confront the full moon directly and find a real solution.
Looking at the Homies clock hanging on the library wall, Ortoren finally realized that he'd been so absorbed in the sea of knowledge that it was already afternoon. Dusk was fast approaching.
"So soon..." Ortoren closed the book in his hand and placed it on the small square table.
"Yeah. Come with me now—we'll grab something to eat, take a short break, and then I'll take you to the forest behind the island. Mama will be waiting there to help suppress your mania. Hopefully... it'll work," said Katakuri.
Before long, the two of them left the library and headed to the restaurant. As always, Katakuri wouldn't touch his food without donuts on the side!
...
Meanwhile, on the cliffside coast behind Whole Cake Island, the Oren Jackson had skillfully bypassed the island's defenses and anchored on the treacherous shore, where it could run aground at any moment.
The anchor was quickly dropped, securing the ship so it no longer drifted with the current.
On the deck, Roger's crew was engaged in their final discussion.
"Roger, why don't you stay on the ship and wait to pick us up? We're not here to fight Charlotte Linlin and the others. This is a stealth mission—sneak in, find the Road Poneglyph, take it if we can, and if not, make a rubbing. Fewer people means better stealth and more safety!" suggested the helmsman, Sunbell, a Fish-Man.
As soon as he finished, Scopper Gaban, who was holding a pair of axes, nodded in agreement.
But the ever-restless and thrill-seeking Roger wasn't having it. He shot back, "Without me, who's going to find the Poneglyph? I'm the only one who can! I have to go!"
Rayleigh looked conflicted but nodded slightly. "That's true. Of all of us, only Roger can hear the 'voice' of the Poneglyph and figure out where it's hidden…"
That's right. Roger possessed a powerful gift for Observation—he had the ability to "hear the voices of all things." It was this gift that gave him the confidence to plan a heist of Charlotte Linlin's Road Poneglyph. By "listening," he could pinpoint exactly where she'd hidden it.
Their journey through the seas of Totto Land, evading every patrol and surveillance unit, had been made possible partly because the Big Mom Pirates' elite forces had recently been dispatched to the front lines. But it was also thanks to Roger's formidable ability and his sharp Observation Haki that allowed for accurate predictions.
After a brief discussion, the five-man infiltration team was set: Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban, Shanks, and Buggy.
Roger was indispensable for his unique ability. Rayleigh and Gaban were the strongest among the remaining crew, vital if things went sideways. As for Shanks and Buggy, being small and still kids, they could slip through tight spaces—like dog holes or windows—that adults couldn't, and then open the way for the others.
Shanks was quick-witted, and Buggy's Bara Bara no Mi ability to split apart made him especially useful for tight infiltration work.
With the team and plan finalized, the five of them began scaling the cliffs behind Whole Cake Island, planning to enter the castle through the forest beyond.
As they climbed, Roger said, "Linlin's powers are strange. There's a good chance she's got Homies hidden in this forest, monitoring everything. So stick close to me—and don't blow our cover."