The next morning, Yami's group set out to return to the port city, Nanohana.
Before leaving, however, Carina, Nami, and Robin took a spin around Alubarna to buy some local specialties.
They especially went for Alabasta's famous perfumes, picking up nearly every variety.
They even bought some traditional local clothing.
Though the three girls are Yami's maids and secretary, he never smothered their sense of style, nor did he require them to wear maid and secretary outfits every day.
While sailing, they sometimes switch things up and wear what they like.
When they land on an island, they very consciously change into their "work clothes."
After shopping, they retraced their steps back to Nanohana.
On the way, Carina and Nami looked for conversation, asking Yami and Robin about last night's results.
When they learned that Alabasta's Poneglyph didn't record the Void Century but rather the location of one of the three Ancient Weapons, their interest vanished.
They were somewhat curious about the erased history—after all, it's a world secret the World Government deliberately wiped out.
Weapons, though, were whatever.
Crossing the scorching sands, Carina and Nami performed better than yesterday.
Aside from sipping water when thirsty, they didn't stop to rest, keeping a pace far faster than ordinary people and taking only a few hours to get from Alubarna back to Nanohana.
A trek that would normally require traveling through the night in the desert was shortened to just a few hours.
It showed the two were gradually moving beyond ordinary limits in endurance and will.
Their recent training had paid off strikingly.
At this rate, even without eating a Devil Fruit, by eighteen they should be little powerhouses.
Maybe not quite on Kalifa's level, but not far off.
Back in Nanohana, they returned the camel first thing.
Deposit reclaimed, they headed straight for the harbor.
Working together to raise anchor and set sail, they immediately steered the ship away from the Alabasta Kingdom.
"Finally out of that blasted place. Stay any longer and I swear my skin would turn dark."
Gazing at Sandy Island's outline—still massive even from afar—Carina couldn't help sighing.
"Master, my Log Pose isn't fully charged yet. Which Eternal Pose do we use next?"
After securing the helm, Nami trotted over to Yami to ask.
"Next, we're going to Jaya," Yami said with a smile.
"Jaya? I don't think I have an Eternal Pose for that."
Nami spread out the Eternal Poses she'd bought on the starting island and confirmed there wasn't one for Jaya.
"No worries, I've got one."
On his way to the East Blue earlier, Yami had swung by Jaya to observe Enel up on the sky island.
Jaya isn't on the same route as the Alabasta Kingdom and Water 7—the one in the sky, Apayado, is.
Since they aren't on the same route, Yami could only reach Jaya by Eternal Pose.
As one of the world's best-known islands, Water 7's navigation shops carry Eternal Poses for almost all islands in Paradise, and even some for the New World.
Yami had bought the Dressrosa Kingdom's Eternal Pose in Water 7.
"Master, what are we going to Jaya for?"
Carina slipped in on Yami's other side, hugging his arm, curious.
Ever since they entered the Grand Line, aside from the starting island, their Master had a plan for every step.
Catching a pirate for bounty exchange—to get to the underwater prison.
Using an Eternal Pose to head for the Alabasta Kingdom—for the Poneglyph.
Now they were using another Eternal Pose for Jaya. It couldn't be just sightseeing.
Yami had long since experienced Carina's sharp eye.
So he didn't hide it. "Remember what I said yesterday? I've prepared a Devil Fruit for both you and Nami."
"Mhm."
Carina and Nami nodded in unison.
Even Robin, reclining on a deck chair with a book, glanced over.
In their time together, Robin had realized how seriously Yami valued Carina and Nami.
With his power, he could easily keep them safe—but he hadn't coddled them.
As maids, they could act spoiled with him whenever; he never turned down their small requests—except when it came to training.
No matter how tired they were, Yami demanded they finish their daily regimen, sometimes adding extra practice.
Clearly, he wasn't raising them to be logistical or support staff, but combatants.
So the Devil Fruits he'd chosen for Carina and Nami would certainly be top-tier among the three classes.
You could see that from Carina's Animal-type, Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Vampire Model.
If Carina had a Mythical Zoan, what about Nami?
A Logia? A top-tier Paramecia? Or another Mythical Zoan like Carina?
Even knowing Yami wouldn't give Nami anything ordinary, his next words still made Robin's pupils contract in surprise.
"I prepared the Animal-type, Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Vampire Model for Carina; for Nami, I've prepared the Devil Fruit known as the strongest Logia—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit?!"
"The strongest Logia?!"
Nami and Carina's eyes went wide.
They didn't yet know everything about Devil Fruits, but they knew the classifications.
Aside from the rarer-than-Logia Mythical Zoans, the world generally recognized Logias as the strongest class.
To be called the strongest among the strongest spoke volumes about the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's status.
Just hearing the name made Nami's eyes sparkle.
She didn't need to ask—like how the Sand-Sand Fruit controls sand, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit must control the lightning of nature.
If she could wield lightning—how cool would that be!
"Among all Devil Fruits, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit is one of those truly called invincible."
Robin sighed softly. "It hasn't appeared on the seas for many years—practically a legendary power."
"Master, I want that Devil Fruit!" Nami squealed, clinging to Yami's arm in excitement.
"Alright, alright."
Yami fondly pinched her cheek and gave her a head pat.
"Master, I want mine too," Carina said, snuggling up to beg.
And so, Yami began his daily cat-petting.
Robin watched with a smile, then lowered her head and returned to her book.
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