Teach rubbed the back of his head, glancing at the wreckage on the tavern floor. With an awkward grin he turned to the barkeep.
"Haha… Doyle, sorry about this. Looks like business won't be happening tonight."
"It's fine, Teach. I should be thanking you for dealing with that mess," Doyle replied with a smile. He shook his head, wiping down a wine glass with a rag. "Don't worry about the bodies. We've got professionals in town who take care of that sort of thing."
"Then I'll be off. I'll come back for a drink next time," Teach said as he headed for the door. Outside, most of the onlookers had already dispersed. With Schiller dead, the danger was over but nobody wanted to linger and risk angering the monster who had crushed him so easily.
Still, the scene had already planted itself in their memories, destined to become fuel for gossip over drinks.
Loya stood frozen, watching Teach's broad back as he disappeared through the doorway. She wanted to call out, but no words came. By the time she found her voice, he was gone. She lowered her head with a sigh.
Then, suddenly—
"Oi, little Loya!"
Her eyes shot up. From the left side of the doorway, Teach's head popped back in, grinning wide.
"You're my reserved little chef. Don't think you can escape. Train hard! I'll come find you next time."
He waved and let out his booming laugh before disappearing for real this time.
Loya's heart eased. She wiped at her eyes, smiling without even knowing why.
"What's this? Already decided you're going to sea with him?" Doyle's voice came from beside her as he bent down, wiping spilled wine off the floor and tossing shards of glass into the trash.
Her cheeks flushed crimson. "I–I didn't agree to anything! Don't talk nonsense!"
"Haha… then you'd better work hard." Doyle's tone grew serious. "A man like him is bound to become famous across the seas. If you're too weak, you'll just hold him back."
Loya fell silent, but the determination in her eyes gave her away.
Teach's strength had shattered the coldness she carried, and his warmth had reignited something she thought long dead. She clenched her fists.
Then her gaze snagged on something behind the window. A fruit the size of a melon, dark green with an uneven, swirling pattern.
"This… this is..." Her breath caught. Anyone from the New World would recognize it instantly. A Devil Fruit. But why was something so priceless here?
"You mean that?" Doyle said casually, catching her stare. "Teach left it for you. Seems he's got high hopes."
Loya blinked. "When… when did he—?"
"Right before he left."
"It's too precious. I can't take it. We should give it back," she protested, shaking her head.
Doyle only chuckled. "You sure? He said if you don't eat it, he'll feed it to a dog."
"A… dog?" Loya froze. Horrifying images filled her mind.
A golden retriever floating in the air, each paw wielding a blade. 'Doggy Arts: Earth Roll! Doggy Arts: Imperial Earth Roll!' Giant spectral dogs lunging in every direction.
Another vision, a huge white hound with crescent whiskers, jaws wide as it bit the sea, the sky, the very earth. Seaquake. Airquake. Earthquake. The strongest dog in the world, surrounded by kneeling followers crying "Pops! Pops!"
Loya shuddered, scalp tingling.
Doyle raised a brow. Whatever his niece was imagining, it had to be terrifying.
Coming back to herself, Loya tightened her fists, reached for the fruit, and lifted it. She stared at it, then, jaw set, took a huge bite.
The taste hit instantly, vile, bitter, and revolting.
"Ugh!" She gagged, forcing herself to swallow. One bite. Two. Then she ate the whole thing, gasping for air and clutching her stomach.
"That was awful…" she coughed, slumping to the ground.
Doyle leaned in with a sly grin. "Little Loya, want to hear a secret?"
She looked up, curious despite herself. "What secret?"
"With Devil Fruits… you only need to take one bite."
Her face went blank. The words echoed in her head. Only one bite. Only one bite…
"You—you old fox!" She grabbed a kitchen knife, fuming. "Why didn't you say that earlier?!"
"Hahahaha! I was just about to! You were too fast." Doyle laughed, though in his mind he thought, Where's the fun in telling you right away?
Despite herself, Loya's mood lightened. It felt almost like the happy days before everything had gone wrong.
Then Teach's image surfaced in her mind, and her smile faded into determination. She turned to Doyle.
"Uncle. Please… teach me how to become stronger."
Doyle froze, then studied her expression. He remembered the day he'd returned to find his home under attack, the way he'd beaten down a gang of pirates with nothing but his fists, saving her life. He knew she wasn't asking lightly.
"Are you sure?" His voice was deep now, his aura heavy with the presence of the fighter he once was. "My training isn't easy. I won't go soft on you."
"Yes," Loya said firmly. "I want to fight by his side."
Doyle stared at her a long moment, then finally smiled. "Alright. We start tomorrow. Tonight I'll draw up your plan. First, we'll build stamina and toughen your body. Then I'll teach you swordsmanship, martial arts, and marksmanship. Once I see where your talent lies, we'll focus. And your Devil Fruit ability... you'll need to develop that on your own. I can guide you, but the rest is up to you."
Meanwhile, outside in White Sand Town, Teach strolled the busy streets. For a pirate haven, the town was lively and well-kept. Casinos, taverns, restaurants, clothing shops—even a coliseum.
He scanned with his Observation Haki. The buildings were new, no older than four years, and the townsfolk wore genuine smiles.
This place had once been poor and plagued by pirates, but under the White Bird Pirates' control, it had transformed. Twenty thousand had lived here before; now, tens of thousands more had come, residents, merchants, and even pirates who'd settled down.
Teach smirked. To change an island this much in just three years… that's not just strength. That's vision. His anticipation for Mostima, the White Bird Pirates' captain, grew.
He didn't keep his Haki active constantly. Where was the fun in knowing everything ahead of time? Adventure needed surprise. Still, he already suspected their meeting wasn't far off.
And he was right.
When the fight broke out at the tavern earlier, he'd sensed a presence, stronger even than Schiller. Mostima himself. And nearby, the familiar aura of Abbi, the toll-collector with awakened Observation Haki.
"Oh! Cherry pie!" Teach's eyes lit up as the scent caught him. He dashed to a bakery window. "Boss, one slice now, and three to go!"
The pie came out fresh, the crust crisp, the filling warm with sweet-sour cherry. Teach took a bite, his whole face lighting up.
"Zehahaha! This cherry pie's to die for!"
He couldn't help wondering why Luffy hated the stuff. Maybe the sourness? No matter.. Teach was hooked.
With pie in hand, he crossed a bridge that led straight to a castle gleaming white in the sun, the rebuilt fortress that served as the White Bird Pirates' base. Their flag flew proud at the peak.
And waiting on the bridge was a man.
Mostima.
The swordsman stood tall, smiling faintly, with Hadena, Hademan, and the crew lined up behind him, tense and ready.
"I've been waiting for you," Mostima said.
Teach grinned back. "Funny. I've been wanting to meet you too."
For a heartbeat they stared at one another then both burst out laughing.
"Zehahahaha!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The crew looked at one another in confusion, but relief washed through them. If they were laughing, maybe there wouldn't be a battle after all.
Even so, the memory of Teach crushing Schiller kept their hands on their weapons, nerves tight.