[Congratulations, Host, for successfully recruiting crew member Perona. Claim reward?!]
After a four-hour-long 'battle', as the final movement concluded, the system's notification arrived as scheduled.
Harem +1.
"Claim reward," Leo recited smoothly in his mind.
[Congratulations, Host, for successfully obtaining the reward — Observation Haki: Future Sight.]
Not bad.
Leo wasn't surprised.
Since he had already obtained the Advanced Armament Haki 'Flow Release', it meant the advanced applications of Observation Haki and Conqueror's Haki were also within the reward scope.
Observation Haki: Future Sight allowed one to see a short period into the future.
A typical user was Katakuri, one of the Three Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates.
After briefly sensing the new ability, Leo closed the system, satisfied.
With Future Sight and the enhancement from his lightning powers, his Observation Haki was basically mastered.
As for special Observation Haki abilities like hearing thoughts, it would be nice to have, but it didn't matter much if he didn't.
So far, only his Conqueror's Haki hadn't reached an advanced stage.
But with the Three Haki Training Manuals as a foundation, mastering Conqueror's Haki Infusion and Observation Haki Nullification was just a matter of time.
Besides, there were still so many plot-relevant beauties in the New World he hadn't recruited; there would be plenty of opportunities later.
With a sense of satiation, the night passed without further incident.
The next day.
A hundred meters high, the Ark Maxim flew at a normal speed.
To avoid excessive attention, Leo had covered the entire surface of the Ark Maxim before heading to the Florian Triangle.
Most of the time, they chose to fly in the luxurious airship at 10,000 meters.
Not only was the space spacious, but they were also free from disturbances.
Whenever the girls wanted to feel the sea breeze and see the land, they would take the Ark Maxim and fly at a lower altitude.
On the deck of the Ark Maxim.
The girls spread their arms, enjoying the caress of the sea breeze, relaxed and content.
Although the air carried a tinge of salty腥 (fishy) smell, it was an experience they couldn't have at 10,000 meters.
"Leo, at this speed, we should reach Sabaody Archipelago in about three days!!" Nami leaned against the railing, holding a glass of iced coffee Sara had just handed her.
"It feels so fast, finishing the Grand Line this quickly," Vivi mused, propping her chin, seeming a little dazed.
She felt as if the scene of saying goodbye to her father was still vivid.
If she told Cobra they were almost at the New World, he would be utterly bewildered.
"After I recruit the beauties in the New World, I'll take you all on a world tour, visiting all the islands we skipped before," Leo promised from the side.
The top priority was recruiting the plot-relevant beauties, so during the flight, Leo basically made no stops.
Only when passing inhabited islands would Leo note down the island's name and leave a spatial marker on it.
After the main 'quest' was complete, he would take the girls for a proper tour.
With spatial markers, they could save a lot of time.
Moreover, if some big news broke out on an island that happened to have a spatial marker, he could just teleport the girls there directly. Simple and粗暴 (brutal).
"Captain, in your plan, how many beauties are you intending to recruit?!" Robin walked over to Leo with graceful steps, her red lips parting slightly.
Hearing this, the八卦 (gossipy) girls all turned their gazes to Leo, anticipating his answer.
Leo was stunned. He hadn't really thought about this question.
He just wanted to recruit them all. As for how many, he hadn't counted carefully.
"About forty or fifty," Leo said ambiguously.
"Fo... forty or fifty?!!" Tashigi subconsciously twitched the corner of her mouth.
Might as well rename the Leo Pirates the Beauty Pirates.
"Captain, do you have that much time every day?!" Kalifa's gaze drifted slightly downward as she teased with a smile.
"Leo, there's an island below. Go leave a marker," Nami said casually after taking a sip of her iced coffee.
"I'll be right back." Leo nodded, equally nonchalant.
He had done things like this dozens of times; the girls were used to it.
Unless it was a large, very lively island, they wouldn't stop to join the fun.
Nami released her lightning power, continuing to control the Ark Maxim's flight forward.
Leo had a coordinate marker on the Ark Maxim, allowing him to teleport back directly.
After Leo left, the girls started a new topic centered around him.
Time ticked by.
One minute.
Two minutes.
A full ten minutes passed.
"Huh?? Why hasn't the Captain come back yet?!" Perona, who had been chatting happily while holding her small umbrella, had a face full of confusion.
The girls finally realized Leo had been gone for over ten minutes.
Before, leaving a marker took only a few breaths. Why was it taking so long today?!
Something was strange.
"Let's go back and check," Nami decided immediately,操控 (controlling) the Ark Maxim to fly back towards the island they had just passed.
Another ten minutes passed. Everyone arrived at the island they had just passed and immediately spotted Leo on the island.
Next to him was a beautiful young girl with waist-length blue hair, wearing a light yellow short top.
The two seemed to be chatting about something, and the girl frequently smiled.
The girls' faces instantly fell with imaginary black lines.
They should have known. The only thing that could make Leo stay was a beauty.
"Let's go down and take a look," Nami said with a dark expression,操控 (maneuvering) the Ark Maxim to descend slowly.
"My crew is here. Let me introduce them to you," Leo said to the beautiful girl in front of him, raising his eyebrows towards the sky.
The beautiful girl looked up slightly, and the next moment her eyes widened.
All female crew members?!
And all uniformly beautiful.
Leo looked at the dazed beautiful girl, his heart blooming with joy.
When luck comes, you can't block it.
He originally thought it was just an ordinary island, but it turned out to be Asuka Island.
The island's name might be unfamiliar to most.
But mention the Seven-Star Sword and Maya...
That's right, the beautiful girl in front of Leo was Maya.
Although she was only from a movie, she was also one of the plot-relevant beauties.
Recruited!!
Besides that, there was also the legendary cursed holy sword, the Seven-Star Sword!
Since he encountered it, Leo naturally wouldn't leave empty-handed.
"Captain, what are you chatting about so happily with this beauty?!!" The girls stepped onto the island one after another, looking at Leo with knowing smiles.
While teasing Leo, the girls also sized up Maya.
Fair skin, tall and slender figure, except... her chest was a bit small.
Doberman, Nami, Sara, and others with high competitive spirit proudly puffed out their chests as they walked towards Leo.
Leo looked at Maya and smiled. "See?! It's not just me praising you. Even they knew you were a beauty at first glance."
Maya felt a little embarrassed, a blush instantly spreading across her cheeks.
No wonder he had so many beautiful crew members; he sure knew how to talk.
"Hello, my name is Maya." As the girls approached, Maya warmly introduced herself.
"Hello, I'm Nami."
"I'm Vivi."
The girls responded one by one with smiles.
"Brother Leo, are you planning to invite Maya onto the ship?" Kaya looked at Leo with a mischievous smile, asking a question whose answer she already knew.
Leo didn't beat around the bush, smiling slightly at everyone. "Yes, I just invited Maya."
The girls were taken aback. So fast.
Maya blushed and shook her head. "Sorry, I can't join your pirate crew. I have very important matters here."
"Is it because of the Seven-Star Sword?!"
"Huh?!"
"Leo, you know about the Seven-Star Sword too?!!" Maya looked at Leo in surprise.
"Brother Leo, what is the Seven-Star Sword?!"
"Captain, is the Seven-Star Sword also a famous sword?!"
"Captain, is this sword very powerful?!"
Hearing about a treasure, the girls began asking all sorts of questions, talking over each other.
Leo was speechless.
This was the downside of having many girls; they were all八卦 (gossipy).
Hearing something new, they had to get to the bottom of it.
"I've heard the legend of the Seven-Star Sword," Robin, knowledgeable and learned, stepped forward at that moment, a glint of wisdom in her beautiful eyes.
Robin looked at the unremarkable island before them and couldn't help but sigh. "To think this is the legendary Asuka Island."
"Robin, don't keep us in suspense," the girls urged impatiently from the side.
Robin nodded slightly and began recounting everything she knew to the group. "One night in the past, a red full moon appeared over Asuka Island, an event that only occurs once every hundred years. The people believed the red full moon would bring them disaster and mutation, an ominous sign."
"So, the Seven Deities of Asuka, to protect the people from the disaster and mutation, bestowed upon the Asuka royal family three sacred jewels as a shield, and one spear!"
"This spear was the legendary invincible sword—the Seven-Star Sword!"
"Invincible sword?! Quite the boast!" Kalifa, with her background as an agent, snorted disdainfully.
She had only heard of the World Government being invincible, never a sword.
If it were that exaggerated, the Seven-Star Sword would have long left this island.
Robin ignored Kalifa and continued, "At first, everything went smoothly. But later, the Seven-Star Sword gradually fell into a fate contrary to its original purpose. When the red moon appeared again, the dark power dwelling within the sword would be released, using its will to incite wars and bring about calamity."
"Slowly, the Seven-Star Sword absorbed the blood and resentment of countless people, becoming a cursed holy sword."
As she reached this point, Robin's face also showed some gravity, and she looked at Leo with concern.
She wasn't sure if the Seven-Star Sword was as exaggerated as the legends said, but she was certain it was an ominous sword.
Knowing Leo, he was definitely planning to take the Seven-Star Sword.
"Really? Is this sword really that sinister?!!" Nami looked at Robin skeptically.
"There's such a terrifying sword?!!" Conis shrank her neck in fear.
"The legends are true. Many people have already lost their lives because of the Seven-Star Sword. Now, it has become a taboo for the people of Asuka Island." Maya slowly收敛 (faded) her smile and sighed helplessly.
"Maya, where is the Seven-Star Sword now?!!" Leo asked.
"It's sealed right over there." Maya instinctively pointed in a certain direction.
The next moment, she retracted her finger, looking警惕 (warily) at Leo. "You... what do you want to do?!"
As if realizing something, she quickly stepped back, a belated panic dawning on her face.
"You... you're here to steal the Seven-Star Sword?!!"
No wonder they knew the legend of the Seven-Star Sword.
It all made sense now.
"Maya, don't be afraid. We really are just passing by. We mean no harm." Makino waved her hands repeatedly, gently安抚 (soothing) the somewhat hysterical Maya.
"Brother Leo, let's just leave this place. If we really take the Seven-Star Sword, there will be a calamity." Kaya gently shook Leo's arm.
"Captain, there are plenty of famous swords. Let's find others later."
Even Tashigi, who loved famous swords, chose to give up.
Leo looked at the girls, speechless. "The Seven-Star Sword isn't as exaggerated as you say."
Maya immediately looked over, her face pained. "Leo, it's true. The Seven-Star Sword is truly an ominous sword. Everyone who covets it dies."
Leo shook his head, his tone firm. "The reason the Seven-Star Sword can repeatedly incite wars is that it can influence the user's mind, making them act according to its will. But the Seven-Star Sword can only affect those with insufficient strength."
Leo wasn't speaking without basis.
If the Seven-Star Sword were as exaggerated as the rumors, it would have long left Asuka Island and ended up in a World Government lab or with some Celestial Dragon.
Take Pure Gold, for example. How many people in the seas knew about it?!
Probably not even the Four Emperors.
But the World Government had long since captured Olga to force her to reveal its location.
The World Government had stood for 800 years, with intelligence networks遍布 (spread) across the world, and the Seven-Star Sword had legends spanning centuries. Could they really not have heard any风声 (wind of it)?!
Normally it might be one thing, but when it caused杀戮 (massacres), were the World Government blind and deaf?!!
Moreover, in the legends of the Seven-Star Sword, among those controlled by it, none were notable figures.
In Leo's view, its nature was essentially the same as Enma in the hands of Kozuki Sukiyaki or Kozuki Hiyori.
In a world where Haki reigned supreme, with strong enough Haki, you could suppress anything.
If the will of a single sword could plunge the entire sea into darkness, then the existence of the World Government, the Marines, and the Four Emperors was a joke.
"Wait for me here!" Leo's gaze turned cold, and he vanished instantly.
Today, he would teach the Seven-Star Sword a lesson.
"Where did he go?!!" Maya's face changed in shock. "Did Leo go to find the Seven-Star Sword?!!"
"It's over, something big will happen. No, I have to tell Grandma about this."
Realizing the severity of the situation, Maya was just about to leave when, the next moment, Leo reappeared before her.
In his hand was a long, slender sword with a primarily black blade and green patterns running down the middle.
"Is this the Seven-Star Sword?!! It does seem与众不同 (unique)."
"Can this sword really influence people's minds?!!"
"What a beautiful sword!!!"
"This sword glows~"
Driven by curiosity, the girls gathered around, examining the Seven-Star Sword with great interest.
Seeing the Seven-Star Sword in Leo's hand, Maya's face turned deathly pale. She lost all strength and瘫倒 (collapsed) to the ground.
Especially when she saw the green patterns on the sword growing brighter, unprecedented terror appeared on her face.
"Leo, you... send it back quickly! Once the dark power inside the sword is released, we will all die!" Maya's voice was urgent, panicked.
Leo remained unmoved. He was sensing the Seven-Star Sword in his hand.
It was true; it contained a mysterious evil power.
In the original story, Saga was corrupted by this power, becoming the sword's puppet, acting according to its will.
The controlled Saga even wanted to dominate the Marines. Leo laughed.
And the Seven-Star Sword would take the opportunity to absorb more blood and resentment, making itself stronger.
The reason Zoro could cut the Seven-Star Sword during the red full moon was entirely because Maya used her sealing power to successfully seal the sword's strength.
Otherwise, with Zoro's strength back then, even if he went all out 100 times, it would have been tough.
Under Maya's horrified gaze, a visible green mist surged out from the Seven-Star Sword, drifting towards Leo.
"Quick... Leo, throw it away!!" Maya screamed in alarm.
"Maya, don't be afraid. Watch me suppress it!!" Leo gave Maya a reassuring look.
The next moment, his eyes narrowed, and his aura instantly turned sharp.
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T/N :
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