Chapter 8

"Coribou!" Ikari called out. "You maintain a lookout. Hold the helm. Shachi did you arrange the records regarding the grand line?"

Shachi nodded as he led them to the cabin. "I compiled this based on what I think is important. Most of them were letters. The wench probably didn't bother reading them and just piled them up."

"Maybe there's something bout the letters." Penguin scratched his chin. "He can be writing stuff and islands he visited. And bragged bout it to his daughter."

Ikari nodded. "He has a point. So you can read the letters, Penguin." he read the papers on top of the pile for a while.

"Oh, in the grand line. We would not be needing our current compass. There is a compass necessary for navigating the ocean, it's called a log pose. It is written here that 'always trust the compass' what a peculiar thing to write." he disseminated to his crewmates.

Shachi distributed the papers to everyone in the cabin. "Read this for now. Later, we can brainstorm on what we can find."

A few minutes later, Bepo exclaimed. "There's a map! this man should be a navigator or the captain of the ship." he unfurled the entirety on the table. "This. This is the way written in the text. It's called the reverse mountain. Every ship from the four seas converges at the top and sends them towards the grand line."

"He wrote that there is a part of the sea that is so calm. There was no wind or wave found inside that sea. But it is infested with sea kings." Penguin disseminated what he read from the letters.

Bepo pointed at the map. "It should be the calm belt."

"There is nothing worth sharing in mine," Caribou added. "He just wrote what he had in his imagination. Must be bored out his mind from sailing... Kehihihi!"

Ikari snatched the papers from his hands. "Hmm... A sky island? He just mentioned this in passing... Huh. It ended. I don't know if he arrived on a sky island or not."

Caribou licked his lips. "Kehihihi! ...God should have welcomed him into his kingdom. He is a sinner for having blasphemous thoughts."

"We never know. As he said if the compass points toward the sky. There should be a sky island." Bepo glanced at his compass.

"We'll cross the bridge when we get there." Law patted Bepo's head. "Maybe he died after arriving on the sky island that he mentioned."

Shachi clapped his hands. "We have the map for the grand line! ...What's next Ikari?"

"There should be five more islands before we can go to the reverse mountain." Ikari looked at Bepo. "Retain the course. Our next stop would be Notice Island. I'll recruit one if someone catches my eye."

"But... Captain." Bepo voiced his thoughts reluctantly. "What if he's no good? You know..."

Ikari smiled. "I won't recruit just for the sake of it. He should be strong, disciplined, and trustworthy. Sailing the lecherous grand line is no joke. Don't worry, if I ever see someone who fits my requirements. He's good."

"I'll be on the lookout tonight," Law suggested. "Maybe our new guy is snoring in the cockpit."

"You can trust my younger brother," Caribou said. "He may be clumsy or idiotic sometimes. But I trust him with my life."

"Hmm. I'll see about that." Law looked over his shoulder. "You can ask Penguin to help you train haki. That's the name of the method Ikari used to wound you."

Caribou glanced at Penguin as his tongue hang out of his mouth. "Kehihihi! We'll start tomorrow morning." he patted Penguin's shoulder. "Let's see if you can hit me like Captain... Kehihihi!"

"I can punch his face right?" Penguin had veins visible on his forehead. "Ikari. I can pound that smug off his face right?"

"Ika Ha Ha Ha! Sure, you can." Ikari touched his stomach as it hurt from laughing. "There is a doctor aboard the ship anyway. His face can be cured."

...

The next day,

Caribou woke up from his slumber. "Kehihihi! I should learn that haki thing soon." a scowl formed on his complexion as he touched the scar on his abdomen. "He wounded me. It has been a while ago since I suffered from an injury..."

He went to the bathroom and washed his face. A smile deepened on his face as he gazed at the mirror.

Unexpectedly, someone walked in. "What are you grinning bout?" Penguin was grossed out by the smile. "I'll wipe that smug look off your face, later."

"Kehihihi!" Caribou licked his lips. "We'll see about that."

He stepped out of the room and the smile vanished.

"Bro bro. Are you sure the plan would work?" Coribou appeared by his side in the deck.

"Shush!" he looked around and didn't find the others, he sighed in relief. "You idiot! Don't talk about the plan loudly. After I learn Ikari's method of injuring me, we'll have our revenge," he whispered lightly.

Coribou nodded with his face looking the other way.

Later, Penguin reached the deck. "We can start." he smiled as he held a thick bat and tossed a blindfold. "Wear that. Now, sit down. Dodge my attacks, feel the intent as I whack your head off. And don't worry, as I am generous today. You'll experience firsthand the armament haki."

"I thought you'll be teaching me the thing that made, Captain injure me?" Caribou was puzzled.

"Sensei used to tell us that foundations are everything." Penguin smiled widely as he walked behind him. "It is much easier to understand and materialize your spiritual energy for armament haki when you manage to learn observation haki first."

Without any warnings or prior indications, Penguin began to slam the bat towards Caribou's cranium.

"Kuaaahhhh!" Caribou shrieked while rubbing his swollen head. He yanked the blindfold and was about to use his swamp ability. Law suddenly hopped from the crow's nest.

"Be gentle with the newbie, Penguin." Law sighed as he knew Penguin would treat Caribou badly because of his brother. "Ikari allowed you to teach him cos he wants Caribou to be prepared for what is about to come."

Caribou frowned not understanding what he meant. "What do you mean by what's bout to come?"

Ikari stepped out of the cabin. "Did you think that the pirate we stole this ship from, will not retaliate?" he looked around and got their undivided attention. "The scum that we fought days ago mentioned that we messed with a hundred million bounty pirate."

He stepped forward and pointed his finger at Shachi. "That fruit belonged to him. We owe that guy a ship and devil fruit. I reckon he already knew our next destination. That's why I want to recruit one more abled man or woman to the crew before facing him off."

Caribou gulped loudly that they all heard it.

Ikari continued his speech. "We are in this together." he looked at Caribou and Coribou. "I let you join us expecting that you can help us in this predicament, at the moment you'll only be learning observation haki."

Caribou glanced around and saw Law staring daggers at him and his younger brother. "Why not armament haki? Learning that will help us defend against such a dangerous pirate than the other haki."

Law has a scowl forming around his forehead. "Yes. Truly helpful..."

Caribou's heart skipped a beat and sweat trickled down his temple. "I mean. A pirate of that caliber should know haki, yes?"

Ikari laughed as he slapped Law's back. "This knowledge is special... You see, I came from New World. My family, in fact, lived in Wano Kuni." he walked beside Caribou. "Pirates will only know this common knowledge when they successfully step foot in New World. And to receive such training is undoubtedly a boon to such an ignorant individual. Unless you're in the marines."

Caribou conceded and took a knee to the floor. "What do I need to do to receive armament haki training?"

Ikari had a smile from ear to ear. He unsheathed his katana as it glistened with a terrifying glow.

"Offer me your fealty," Ikari glanced at Coribou. "It shall be your brother's head. Give him a sword you can either choose to accept or refuse. Swing it with the intent to kill. Once, his head falls off his shoulders. I will personally teach you the method of armament haki."

Caribou scowled as he remembered his grandma's words. He snuck a glanced around and saw Law's gaze at him again. His heart skipped a beat.

Caribou peered at Ikari's terrifying katana which emitted an icy aura and his dark-colored eyes. He could swear that it was the devil's gaze.

"I am sorry," he said in a low and hoarse voice. Katana is in his hands. Caribou felt that the world darkened as he stepped toward his brother's position.

"Bro bro." Coribou despaired, he heard the footsteps of his older brother. It felt like the reaper's scythe tightened around his neck. "R...remember what she used to say. T—to always stick together."

"We are out of options," Caribou almost kissed his brother's ear. "Either we die together, or you die." tears fell from his eyes. "I'm a sinner..." the katana in his hands dropped with immense speed but it decreased a bit when it almost reached Coribou's neck.

Law had his haki of observation at full speed. 'He didn't intend to kill his only brother. Should I be thankful or worried...' his thought stopped.

Ikari shifted his katana and halted Caribou's blade a hair's breadth from Coribou's neck. Sweat trickled on both brothers' temples. "A second later, and your brother will have his head severed. I see that you intend certainly to uphold my orders even if it meant breaking a vow..." he narrowed his eyes. "This will be invalid. I originally thought that you would refuse to wield the sword."

Caribou was furious at his words. "What do you mean by that? Coribou would die if you didn't stop me."

Law pointed at the dome surrounding the whole ship. "My room was activated the moment you took the sword."

Law swung his Kikoku and sliced Coribou's head. "Uwahh!!! ...oh, oh I'm not dead." Coribou held his decapitated head. "Bro bro, look, I am holding my head!"

Caribou had his jaw slackened. "T—that was there the whole time?"

Ikari nodded. "Why would I let you sacrifice your brother? He's already one of my crewmates. I just tested you. Either you would refuse to pick up the sword or not. It was neither about killing your brother nor was it about teaching you of the haki of armament."

"Then, why did you stop me? T—that was a test?" Caribou couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I barely knew of your characters. And I don't want you to experience cutting your own brother's head." Ikari sheathed his katana. "...Or do you want to truly cut your my crewmate's head?"

Caribou hurriedly shook his head. "No! Oh, god! That thought would never cross my mind!" he sneaked a glance at Law.

"I fulfilled my duty as the captain to let Penguin teach you the haki of observation." Ikari smiled. "As the captain of this crew, I expect nothing but your loyalty. We share our food, rooms, training methods, and loots. It is the basis of my trust in my comrades. But letting down that trust will be their undoing."

Caribou lowered his head, hiding his horrible expression. He then looked straight at Ikari's eyes unblinkingly. "I swear on my life that I will never let your trust down. Betraying you will never cross my mind."

Coribou stared at his older brother's declaration. "I also swear to never betray you, Captain!" Law already attached his head.