Just like last time, after Yami and the others sailed the Pegasus out of Water 7, Yami immediately opened an air door, returned to Water 7, and brought Robin back from subspace.
Then they kicked off a celebration.
"What a huge turf deck. I don't even need to go below to the courts—right here we can play volleyball."
"There's a swing sofa and a fishing platform, plus a chess table. From now on I can read here, fish, and play chess."
"The rooftop over the cabins is spacious too, also laid with turf and planters. Feels like we could turn it into a little garden, or a tiny kitchen plot."
The three girls didn't head inside right away. They looked over the deck and rooftop layout, voicing one exclamation after another.
Nami loved the turf deck. Yami and Carina were happiest about the swing, the fishing platform, and the chess table.
As for Robin, she adored the rooftop design and the idea of growing flowers there.
But once she saw the library inside, she was even happier.
It wasn't just large with lots of shelving—the key point was that those shelves were already filled with books.
Galley-La Company had procured them.
As Iceburg had said, a high-spec large sailing ship—warship class—ran about one hundred million belli.
A top-spec large sailing ship still wouldn't exceed two hundred million.
But the Pegasus, a custom large sailing ship, came to one billion two hundred million belli—the price of twelve warships.
What made it expensive wasn't only timber or shipbuilding and fit-out, but acquiring and custom-making all these extras.
If they hadn't commissioned her in the shipwrights' holy city… if Iceburg hadn't led Galley-La himself… if he didn't have the clout he had, finishing the Pegasus in a single month would have been impossible.
Just sourcing all this would take more than a month.
In Yami's eyes, twelve hundred million for a ship like this was an absolute steal.
While Carina and the others toured the interiors, Yami sat on the swing sofa and used clairvoyance and x-ray sight to check every part of the Pegasus—while nearly letting a gentleman stray as he "saw through" the three girls.
Yami trusted Iceburg's craftsmanship, and he respected Lucci and Kaku's skills.
Without excellent shipwrighting, they couldn't have infiltrated Galley-La or become foremen at Dock One.
But Yami did not trust the character of certain agents.
To guard against planted listening transponder snails or other tricks, he had to inspect the Pegasus.
Fortunately, nothing had been installed.
They likely took Yami for some noble scion and not an important figure—no need to monitor.
If they had known in advance that Nami was a Rumble-Rumble user, they might really have tried to plant something.
They were probably regretting it now.
After checking, Yami headed into the cabins as well.
He didn't go looking for the girls, but went to the combined sports deck on the first lower level.
He took a football from a bin and, for the first time in ages, started juggling.
An absurd sight followed at once.
With just a few taps, Yami sent the ball up into the ceiling.
Seeing this, he didn't frown—he smiled.
In truth, football, basketball, and other ball games were basically off-limits to Yami.
With his strength, even a casual shot would punch the ball through the hull and out over the sea.
One casual dunk would shatter both hoop and floor.
One lazy swing of a racket would turn table tennis into a murder sport.
Even so, Yami had spent a pile of belli to have Iceburg use an entire deck for a multi-sport complex.
These were his hobbies, and he would use them for training.
Too much power meant he couldn't play.
Then he'd keep controlling his strength—until he could.
In short, Yami would use sports to train Life Return.
Perfect force control is one of the must-haves for a true martial master.
Like Garp.
He could hit young Luffy—after eating the Nika Fruit—and make it hurt without truly injuring him.
Force control and Armament Haki so refined they were sublime.
If Yami mastered Life Return and pushed it to a high level, he could regulate output and play like a normal person.
Rokushiki would improve bodily control, but for Yami it was too slow.
He'd use what he loved to speed up Life Return.
Rokushiki drills need grinding; ball games come with partners and aren't lonely.
After a while of play, Yami went to find the girls.
There were plenty of fun things aboard, but for now they hadn't tried them. They'd only checked their rooms, then split between the library and the studio.
Carina and Robin were in the library; Nami was in the studio.
"Master, aren't you going to play?"
Seeing Yami, Carina looked up from her book and asked.
"It's almost dark. Let's go eat first. We'll explore more tomorrow."
Yami took the books from Carina and Robin, slipped an arm around each of their shoulders and waists, and firmly led them out.
Neither resisted.
Hooking her arm around Yami's, Carina smiled. "Mmm-hmm… Master, what's for dinner?"
"I'm in the mood for grilled meat. Let's do a barbecue on deck tonight."
"No problem."
As dusk fell, the Pegasus's deck filled with the aroma of roasting meat, drifting off on the sea breeze.
"What a beautiful sunset!"
"The view's so much better from a big ship. Tomorrow's sunrise will be even prettier."
Nami and Carina kept an eye on the grill while gazing at the evening glow, sighing softly.
After eating and drinking their fill, they went to try the facilities on the lower decks.
First the sports complex. Under Yami's coaching, they learned table tennis.
Without using her Fruit, Nami could only fight Carina to a draw.
But against Robin, she got utterly routed.
When their post-meal exercise ended, night had fallen.
They moved on to the bar-dance-karaoke hall to enjoy a performance from Carina.
Everyone had their gifts—Robin's archaeology, Nami's navigation.
Carina's gift was a beautiful singing voice.
It was so lovely that even her laugh had a unique lilt.
When Carina opened her mouth, Yami discovered he was a tone-deaf disaster.
No comparison at all!
After the songs, they danced.
They'd planned to hit the casino, but Carina insisted on a record.
Then she quietly switched on the mood lighting and boldly invited Yami to dance.
Yami wasn't about to say no.
The two of them danced—very clumsily.
Watching, Nami, newly brimming with confidence, got instantly sour.
When Carina and Yami finished, she pulled Yami onto the floor for a turn of her own.
Yami didn't refuse, and smiled inwardly—just as planned.
Because after dancing with Nami, so as not to leave Robin out, he took the initiative to invite her too.
Since being floored by his directness back in Water 7, Robin didn't refuse. She gently taught Yami how to dance.
The cool-headed lady had read more books than the other three had eaten bowls of salt; she knew a bit of everything.
But Yami wasn't satisfied—he pushed his luck.
He leaned in with a wicked grin. "Teacher Robin, I want to learn a cheek-to-cheek. Can you teach me?"
Robin's cheeks took on a faint blush. She shot Yami a look.
She didn't answer, but as she guided him, she gradually closed the distance, leading Yami into a new rhythm.
Seeing the two melt into a more intimate posture, Carina and Nami both sprouted black lines.
Then they glanced down at their own "capital"… and deflated at once.
No comparison. Not even close.
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