Vinsmoke Reiju had just been escorted out of her family's private library.
Storm didn't have the time or energy to teach Kid and Killer how to read.
In the end, the task of educating them fell to Robin.
"Such a thick book… and so many tiny words. It's making my head spin…"
Kid and Killer sat side by side at the desk like elementary school students, sharing a single textbook.
"Why did we end up with this woman teaching us? What kind of Knowledge could she possibly know…"
After all, Kid and Killer were natives of the South Blue.
Even though they had just been introduced and learned that Robin was a pirate with a bounty nearing 100 million Belly—
A bounty of that level would make her a legendary pirate in any of the four seas!
But Kid and Killer only knew half the story.
They knew Robin was a notorious pirate with a sky-high bounty.
What they didn't know was that she hailed from Ohara, the world-famous "Island of Knowledge" in the West Blue.
Normally,
if someone called Robin dark-skinned, eccentric, or tasteless, she wouldn't care.
Because she knew those things didn't matter.
But the conversation between Kid and Killer had somehow managed to step directly on Robin's biggest landmine.
The archaeologist could tolerate almost anything—
except being questioned about her Knowledge by two illiterates!
This was just too humiliating…
Robin turned to the red-haired spiky boy with a dangerously sweet smile.
"Mr. Eustass, do you have some kind of issue with my Knowledge?"
Kid glanced at Storm, who was still quietly reading nearby, then mustered his courage and retorted:
"I didn't know women could even read."
Snap.
Something in Robin's mind broke at that moment.
"Mr. Eustass."
Her smile grew even more radiant, but the aura of danger around her thickened like a storm.
"Then what do you think women can do?"
"Wash clothes, cook, sleep, and take care of kids… that's about it, I guess."
Kid thought back to the women he'd encountered in his life and nodded to himself.
"They're just women, after all. Naturally weak, can't fight, only good for chores."
Storm's eyes slowly lifted from the book Magnetism and Electric Current in his hands, silently observing Kid's reckless words.
You've dug your own grave, kid.
Those words weren't just stepping on Robin's landmine—
They were practically dancing on it!
Discrimination against Knowledge, sexism, strength bias, natural-born prejudice…
Storm shook his head inwardly.
Because he's still just a kid…
Robin set down the textbook and crossed her arms, her gaze sharp as a blade.
"Well, Mr. Eustass is still just a 'Kid' after all. It's understandable that his perspective would be so… naive and uninformed."
Kid didn't fully grasp her meaning, but his instincts screamed that something was off. He turned to Killer beside him.
"Bro… is this woman insulting me?"
Killer answered very honestly, "I couldn't understand a word she said."
"Damn it!"
Kid felt utterly exasperated. He glared at Robin furiously.
"You woman, you must be insulting me!"
"I'm not insulting you, child."
Robin looked at Kid with a gaze that was both pitying and sorrowful.
"I'm just objectively describing you."
"You—"
Kid still felt Robin was mocking him, but he couldn't find any evidence. He could only clench his fists, just as he often did in the past.
"You looking for a fight?"
"Tsk tsk, resorting to violence to solve problems now?"
Robin shook her head as she spoke.
"Still just a child after all~ But I'll accept your challenge."
The furious Kid immediately charged forward.
But before he could get close to Robin,
a pair of arms suddenly sprouted from his ankles.
The two arms pulled against each other, instantly forming an "arm barrier strap" that wrapped around Kid's legs.
Thud—
Kid, who had been about to rush up and teach this woman a lesson,
face-planted onto the ground in an undignified "dog-eats-dirt" position, then slid all the way to Robin's feet from the momentum.
After all,
Robin was a notorious pirate with a bounty of 79 million Belly.
At this stage, dealing with Kid who had just left the "beginner's village" could only be described in six words—
An adult bullying a child.
After disciplining Kid, Robin turned her gaze to Killer.
"Mr. Killer, you seem to have some grievances against me too, don't you?"
A moment later,
Killer also fell beneath Robin's skirt.
The Demon Child dealing with two little natives from the South Blue was as easy as taking candy from a baby.
From then on,
the internal hierarchy of Storm's crew was firmly established.
At the top was Storm, the leader.
Next came Kuma and Bonney.
Then Robin.
Finally, Kid and Killer.
Storm withdrew his gaze.
Robin had shown restraint—she only gave Kid and Killer a hard time without actually injuring them.
If we disregard the psychological damage...
"Being defeated by a woman" seemed to be a massive blow to Kid and Killer.
Even though Robin's bounty was nearly 80 million Belly;
Even though Robin was a devil fruit user with extremely bizarre abilities;
Even though Robin was a woman;
A loss was still a loss.
After this lesson, Kid and Killer no longer looked down on women as they had before.
Because of this incident, Kid and Killer also began training even more frantically to improve their strength.
Their current drive was almost matching Storm's "200% effort mode" crazy training back at the naval academy...
Storm greatly approved of subordinates willing to sweat and actively improve themselves.
He planned to teach them the techniques of Six Styles once Kid and Killer's physical abilities improved enough...
Time flew by, and two days passed.
Storm finished reading "Magnetism and Electric Current" and found some other books about electricity in the library.
Robin also completed the knowledge enlightenment for Kid and Killer.
Killer was finally freed from the sea of ignorance.
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However, Kid had to grapple with the profound knowledge of magnetism outside of his daily training.
Yet Kid also discovered that as his understanding of magnetism deepened, his mastery of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit became increasingly effortless.
He realized that in this world, things attracted by "magnetism" weren't just limited to metal…
That the seas were also filled with all kinds of magnetic forces, and every island in the Grand Line had its own unique magnetism…
That every living being carried an incredibly faint biological magnetic field…
Kid endured the pain and joy of improving his Devil Fruit abilities.
Meanwhile.
After two days of relentless effort.
Judge had completed a thorough and meticulous examination of Bonney, obtaining stem cell samples from her to begin the next phase of the cloning and cultivation plan.
That was bound to be a lengthy process.
That day.
Storm finished reading the last book on electricity in the Vinsmoke library and placed it back on the shelf.
The Magnet-Magnet Fruit that Kid possessed was a Devil Fruit with immense scientific potential.
Similarly, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit that Storm wielded could also be enhanced through knowledge, both in theory and practice.
Even though Storm's Rumble-Rumble Fruit had already been developed to the level of Awakening through his efforts.
The past few days of reading in the library had still provided him with considerable benefits.
Restlessness stirs after stillness.
Having spent two days dutifully reading in the Germa Kingdom, Storm felt the urge to venture outside.
According to Judge's earlier remarks.
The cloning and cultivation of Bonney's stem cells would likely take a year, and the subsequent treatment would require another year or so.
All in all, the entire process would take about two and a half years.
Storm had no intention of staying in the Germa Kingdom for two and a half years just waiting…
Besides.
This was the so-called "weakest sea" of legend—the East Blue.
Having finally made it to the East Blue, Storm didn't want to waste all his time in the Germa Kingdom.
He left the library and, relying on his memory, headed toward the secret laboratory of the Germa Kingdom.
Over the past two days.
Kuma and Bonney had been staying in that laboratory.
Storm approached Kuma directly and got straight to the point.
"Kuma, I'm planning to go out and stretch my legs. I'll leave everything here to you."
"Where do you plan to go?"
Kuma assumed Storm had come to him for a "trip" using his abilities.
"The Grand Line?"
"I haven't decided on a specific location yet. I just want to go out and explore."
Storm shook his head. He intended to operate alone for a while and wouldn't bring Robin and the others along.
"If anything comes up, I'll contact you later."
"Then how long do you expect to be gone?"
Kuma asked softly.
"I spoke with Dr. Judge earlier. He said the Germa 66 army has suffered heavy losses and can no longer continue fulfilling their contracts, so Germa 66 will soon return to the North Blue."
The Germa Kingdom had been hired to leave the North Blue and come to the East Blue for war.
But now, the conflict in the Oykot Kingdom hadn't even concluded.
And the "Evil Army" of Germa 66 had already been wiped out…
With no soldiers left, how could Germa 66 continue fighting?
Their only option was to return home…
And it was all Vinsmoke Judge's fault!
"Return to the North Blue? Understood."
Storm nodded and reminded,
"If Germa 66's funds are too tight, give Judge the money from before.
"Under no circumstances should Bonney's treatment be affected."
"I know!"
Kuma nodded solemnly.
"Even if it costs me my life, I will never let Bonney come to harm!"
"Also, Robin, Kid, and Killer—they're all in your hands now."
After a moment of thought, Storm added another instruction.
"Don't let your guard down around Judge—that man's character is far too despicable..."
"Yes, I understand."
Kuma replie
d softly.
"Storm, may you have smooth sailing on your journey."
"Kuma, has no one ever told you not to wish someone 'smooth sailing' when they're about to fly?"
"Huh?"
"Tailwinds make planes crash."
"Wait, what??"
"Never mind, just joking. Kuma, if anything comes up, contact me via Den Den Mushi."
With those final words, Storm mounted the Blue-Eyed White Dragon and soared out of the Germa Kingdom.
The East Blue is vast—time to explore it!