CHAPTER 75:1 Meal

After awakening her Kenbunshoku Haki, Weiwei's perspective on the world shifted. The way she sensed people and their intentions changed completely. And who was this man she just shared a meal with?

Fujitora.

To bear the title of "tiger" in the Navy isn't without reason. Tigers are not gentle creatures—they are vicious, restrained only by will. Weiwei had used her ultimate technique to destroy a casino, and she could brush it off as youthful hot-bloodedness. Everyone makes reckless choices in their youth, right? But the man before her? He was already fifty. Could he be called young too?

Despite the blind uncle's serene and amiable appearance, Weiwei could sense a beast lying beneath the surface—an immensely powerful one, suppressing a storm of inner fury with quiet dignity.

She realized that the strongest people often seemed gentle... but they were the hardest to read. You couldn't apply common sense to them. She decided not to challenge or test him. No sparring, no invitations. No provocation.

Still, near the end of their conversation, she mentioned casually, almost offhandedly:

"Uncle, you enjoy gambling, don't you? I heard there's a place in Alabasta called Rain Dinners. That casino? It's classy—massive, refined. Tens of millions of Berries exchanged without a blink. Not like the shady dens in Lulusia. If you ever get the chance, you should check it out."

Fujitora—still going by the name "Issho"—nodded with interest. Gambling was, after all, one of his few indulgences.

"Oh? Is that so?" he smiled softly. "Then the old man might just go and have a look."

The two finished their soba amicably, then parted with a respectful bow.

Weiwei's mission in the Lulusia Kingdom was over. Having grasped all three types of Haki, it was time to pursue her Devil Fruit. Despite the uncertainty ahead, she could already envision it: a Mythical Zoan Bat Fruit, a Vampire-type Eudemons. She had a goal.

Using Zefa's connections, she conducted some preliminary research at the Navy's G2 Branch. Nicole Robin, always calm and incisive, had already pointed her toward Torrance Town in the Kingdom of Prodence.

This time, she had no Randoluff Troupe to smuggle her in. She had to plan properly.

Polite as ever, she asked the navy navigators for directions. Young, poised, and polite, she made a good impression. The navigator explained the route multiple times, even sketching a detailed map.

"Oh, I got it!" Weiwei nodded confidently.

"Quack?! Quack!" Karoo pushed her aside.

You got it? You understand nothing!

The duck stared at the map, flapped his wings, gestured frantically, and finally got the accurate directions himself. Navigator approved.

The next day, Weiwei departed for Prodence. Zefa, Ain, and Binz didn't linger at the G2 base either. Their business in the New World concluded, they headed back to Marineford.

In Alabasta, her father, King Nefertari Cobra, had a scheduled meeting at Marineford early next year. The topic? Talks with Admiral Zefa and the upper ranks of the Navy. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and even CP agents were likely involved. The goal was clear—Zefa might officially be invited to serve as Alabasta's military marshal.

Weiwei knew full well: the top brass had tolerated Zefa's rogue moves only because of who he was. If they could keep him within the system, it was better than seeing him operate independently. Whether or not the deal succeeded would depend on politics, personal influence—and what her father was willing to offer.

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Meanwhile, far across the New World, in the isolated nation of Wano...

Once a mighty power, Wano rivaled Alabasta and Dressrosa, though it never joined the World Government. Self-reliant and fiercely independent, the country had been unconquerable for centuries—until now.

Now, Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, ruled from the shadows. The puppet ruler Orochi had driven the nation to ruin.

On a quiet beach, a battered old man lay coughing violently. His once-mighty frame was wasted, his face pale. The Golden Lion, Shiki, former rival of Roger, was now a shadow of himself.

The rudder once jammed into his skull—shattered by Lao Fan—had left his memory in disarray. In the past six months, his body had healed, but his mind was a blur. His past and present were jumbled. He wandered the seas without aim, sometimes flying, sometimes crashing. He fought when he had to, fled when he could.

Once, while flying over the Grand Line, pondering where to find food, he was suddenly struck by a tremendous beam of light.

Two idiots below had shouted "Hakai!"

The massive attack had caught him off guard. He tried to block it with his own technique—"Lion: Senkōhakujin"—infused with Armament Haki, but it was too late. The blow sent him spiraling, injured again. Weaker than ever, he barely survived. His flight faltered. He crashed into the sea.

When he washed ashore on Wano's coast, he was unconscious.

"Grandpa, are you okay...?" A little girl, maybe three or four years old, was watching him timidly.

"I'm fine! Just a scratch!" he rasped, pushing himself up. "No! I'm invincible! Just... a bit hungry. You got any food, kid?"

A few hours later, the girl—Ayu—returned, sweaty and dust-covered, with a large bowl of plain rice. No meat. No pickles. Just rice.

But Shiki devoured it gratefully.

"Another bowl!" he barked, handing it back.

Ayu frowned. "No more... Grandpa, that was all the rice we had..."

"No more?" Shiki's eye twitched. He glanced at the dilapidated surroundings. No food? No matter.

He thumped his chest. "I'll remember this meal. I'll pay you back—with interest! Tell me, who's the boss here? Who's the ruler?"

The girl hesitated. "Everyone says... General Orochi. But some also say Kaido is above him. I don't really understand..."

Shiki tilted his head. "Kaido? I remember a brat with that name... Back when I was on Rocks' ship. Hairy little punk... Don't worry, kid. Give this old man a few days to recover. Then I'll go slice that Kaido in half."