chapter 71. Academic talents meet soldiers

A short, suppressed chuckle came from beneath the eaves, sounding particularly jarring in the tranquil night.

Sakazuki and Gion immediately turned their heads, looking down below.

Borsalino was lying leisurely on the attic floor, holding a teacup, listening with great enjoyment to the emotional drama unfolding above the eaves. With the bug-like properties of the Glint-Glint Fruit, he had easily turned into light and slipped upstairs.

When he heard Gion's domineering declaration, he could no longer hold back the tea in his mouth. Borsalino forcibly used Tekkai (Iron Body) to lock his muscle movements, struggling to keep himself from bursting out.

The one being declared as "taken" was none other than Sakazuki!

The cold and ruthless demon king of Marine Headquarters, the iron-blooded vice admiral who made pirates tremble in fear.

And today, he had actually been claimed in a solemn and righteous declaration by a woman!

Oh hoho, I... No, that guy is totally a closet case!

The vice admiral, who had been eavesdropping to the very end, still failed to hold back the tea in his mouth.

"BO! RU! SA! LI! NO!" Sakazuki growled downward, enunciating each syllable with restrained fury.

"Hmm? What's the matter~~?" A deliberately drawn-out, peculiar voice floated up from the living room.

"I've been downstairs the whole time, drinking beer with Lindemann~~!"

"Oh? Then would you care to explain how there's spilled tea all over the second-floor floorboards?"

Sakazuki wasn't buying his bullshit at all. That bastard had definitely heard the most embarrassing part!

Gion wiped away the tear stains on her face with her sleeve, stepped down from the eaves, and gently persuaded, "It's getting late, we should take our leave."

Sakazuki wasn't one for sentimentality. He simply nodded. "Be careful."

Technically, saying this on Marine Headquarters' grounds was completely unnecessary. But, well, Gion appreciated it.

The smile tugging at the corner of the rear admiral's lips proved it. "Of course!"

Watching the two of them descend the stairs, Lindemann—his eyes swollen and dark from lack of sleep—looked on helplessly as Borsalino raised his beer in a toast. "Not staying for a bit longer?"

Heh. So you got your free show and now you're acting innocent?

Sakazuki sneered coldly in his heart, then casually threw an arm around his comrade's shoulder. "Gion, you go ahead. I need to have a little discussion with Vice Admiral Borsalino about close-combat techniques."

"Oi! No, wait, I didn't—"

A muffled crash of splintering floorboards echoed from inside Borsalino's house.

Robin was always an early riser.

Mornings were when her memory functioned best, and she liked to use this time to tackle the most difficult books.

"Good morning, Jonathan!"

The little girl walked downstairs and waved at the mustached man sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper.

From the sounds of steaming and cooking in the kitchen, Robin's past observations suggested that Miss Jessica was preparing a delicious breakfast.

And then, she froze.

She saw Jessica wiping down the dining table with a cloth.

So… who was busy in the kitchen today?

"Breakfast is ready, everyone."

A deep, powerful voice called out from the kitchen.

"Sakazuki!?"

Robin exclaimed in shock.

She had just dined with Kuzan and Onigumo last night, and she had indeed overheard some rumors—

But she hadn't expected him to show up so soon!

"You look well."

Still keeping his face stiff, Sakazuki forced out a dry attempt at a morning greeting.

"Go—Good morning!"

Surprised but ever-polite, Robin took the plate that Sakazuki handed her.

"By the way, Sakazuki, you really can't grow any taller! You're about to break my kitchen doorframe!"

Jonathan lamented, his heart aching for his solid wooden doorway.

"I'm here today to take you out for training, Robin."

Sakazuki placed Robin's breakfast in front of her.

"Training?" Robin murmured in question.

"That's right. Onigumo must have told you last night that I'm preparing for a match with Vice Admiral Garp, correct?"

Sakazuki turned the question back on her.

Onigumo had indeed informed Robin of this. With the reminder, she nodded. "Big Brother Onigumo said you stand your ground with reason and don't yield to authority."

Big Brother Onigumo...

Why do I feel like the seniority ranks in Marine Headquarters are getting more and more chaotic?

Sakazuki refused to engage in this nonsense.

The version Onigumo had told was undoubtedly exaggerated.

The actual story—how he had almost burst a blood vessel from anger thanks to Garp—was conveniently left out.

"I want you to integrate practical experience alongside your book knowledge."

Sakazuki turned his gaze toward Jonathan, signaling for backup.

"Ahem, that's right. You can't just stay indoors all day and turn into a little shut-in, Robin."

Jonathan said with a teasing smile.

"I'm not a shut-in! I went out yesterday!"

Robin pouted, puffing up her cheeks at the accusation.

"Going out to play and training are two different things."

Sakazuki shook his head. "How much do you know about the human body?"

The little girl furrowed her brows in thought.

"I know that the human skeleton has 206 bones, divided into three main parts: the skull, the trunk bones, and the limb bones. Specifically, there are 29 skull bones, 51 trunk bones, and 126 limb bones."

Knowing the total number of bones was easy, but being able to list their precise distribution impressed Sakazuki.

"Oh, actually, a child's skeleton has 217 to 218 bones."

Robin corrected herself.

"Not bad. You certainly read a lot of books."

Sakazuki downed a glass of milk in one gulp.

"Then, do you understand what joint locks are?"

"...Is that today's training topic?"

Robin's sharp mind worked quickly.

If he was asking, it must be relevant to today's training.

"Vice Admiral Garp wants you to learn his Fist Art: Hundred Strikes. That's based on his own personal growth and experience."

Sakazuki explained while swallowing his fried egg.

The vice admiral pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his lips.

"However, from what I understand, the Flower-Flower Fruit is an extremely versatile Paramecia fruit."

Robin nodded in agreement.

She could grow eyes to observe from unseen places, sprout ears to eavesdrop, and even generate limbs directly on another person.

It seemed far more practical than simply training in direct combat techniques.

"Finish eating, rest for a bit, and then we'll head out."

Sakazuki concluded.

"Yes, sir!"

Six arms sprouted from Robin's own, all saluting the vice admiral in unison.

"Joint locks involve twisting and deforming a person's joints unnaturally, causing extreme pain and incapacitating the opponent. You may know the theory."

Sakazuki stood in the training field, arms crossed.

"But knowing and executing are two different concepts!"

"Question!"

"Ask for permission first!"

"Oh... Report!"

"Speak!"

Sakazuki felt like he was back in military training again.

"Which is better, joint locks or striking techniques?"

...Could you not start with such a tricky question?

Sakazuki's eyelid twitched.

"Depends on the situation!"

"Depends on what?"

"Obviously, it's— Wait! Who's the instructor here?!"

"Report!"

Robin refused to back down on academic matters.

"...Speak."

Sakazuki sighed in exasperation.

"Can you be more specific about what situations?"

"Both joint locks and striking techniques require a strong physical foundation."

Sakazuki began explaining from experience.

"I don't understand!"

Robin raised her right hand again.

"Say 'Report' first!"

"Report! I don't understand!"

Alright. Enough of this.

Sakazuki decided to demonstrate.

"Use your Devil Fruit powers to pull my arm out from my jacket."

Eight small hands sprouted on his muscular right arm, tugging hard—

But his arm didn't budge, as immovable as a boulder.

"See? Without enough strength, even a hundred hands wouldn't move me."

Sakazuki flexed slightly, and Robin's replicated limbs instantly burst into fluttering petals.