8 Chapter 7

After waking up Omar's mood was overall quite bad.

Not only did he spend two entire days sleeping, but all he gained from the island's information was how to make an afro and the tech that uses carbonated drink into weapons as well as about 26% of the understanding of that world for how to make and operate simple dials.

It was honestly disheartening, especially since Omar understood after studying the carbonated water technology how this tech was actually quite powerful. With it, he could estimate that even a weak person of low level should be able to fight someone several times stronger without an issue.

It was something that could trouble Luffy a bit when used by someone, after all. How could it be weak? And with Omar's own genius intellect for research thanks to his Dying Will Essence, he was sure he could take this stupid technology and turn it into a much stronger force.

The only shame was that Omar lacked the carbonated water needed to make any use of this information.

As for dials, it was an even greater tech with uses both in the military as well as in the domestic and transport fields. If he could make use of it, he would be able to get even richer and many unique new weapons would be formed. However, right now Omar also lacked the resources and time to make any plans with what he found out a reality. If he could get the right materials though, there were simply too many things he could do with this Dial tech!

"Besides, if I can use the carbonated water or the materials for dials, why would I even need to worry about the bandits?" Omar complained. It was as if he was someone starving that had a cake put in front of him, but just far enough to be out of reach.

A rather unpleasant experience.

Either of these techs would be enough to give him such an edge as to let his current forces be able to crush those bandits, but he lacked the means to create this tech as mostly all transport channels via earth were blocked by bandits.

Sighing and knowing that he couldn't really do anything about this situation now, besides looking out for possible natural sources of carbonated water as well as setting a list of materials to buy in Zeltbul for the creation of Dials, Omar just brooded as he looked around.

On the corner of the bed, Omar could see the head of Nine resting there as he apparently slept while sitting beside his bed. The blue werewolf's hair was a mess and his clothes were not much better.

"... I could have sworn you had your own bed though." Omar muttered as he began shaking Nine awake.

The young werewolf's eyes slowly opened and, upon seeing Omar, quickly widened and began looking him all over. Excitement and worry emanating out of him in waves.

"Hey, stop that. I am fine, the picture of health." Omar said to which Nine just stopped, looked at him with a slight glare, before taking out a booklet and writing down in it.

'You passed out.'

"Just a coincidence." Omar said to dismiss it.

'You are sick.'

"I feel perfectly fine, see?" Omar said as he started to stretch to show he was fine.

Nine looked thoroughly unconvinced though.

"Really, don't mind, don't mind. Everything is okay." Omar said, trying to show he was fine.

Nine, though, was not taking any of that.

'Doctor orders, you have to rest and relax.'

"Eh? But, but there is a lot to do and-"

Nine just pointed back to the previous words.

'Doctor orders, you have to rest and relax.'

Nine was not giving up and Omar grunted in annoyance before he said.

"Get me Brian, he will see how I am perfectly fine and it will all be alright and back to normal." Omar said, thinking about the work he still had to take care of.

///---///

Needless to say, Omar's hopes were quickly dashed as Brian had unceremoniously said he would have to relax until they were sure he was perfectly healthy AND that they would be having a good and long talk about the importance of rest.

Omar was not pleased by this whatsoever, but accepted Brian's words if only to not make the old butler worry.

However, that did come with the trouble that he was now lacking anything to do.

Thinking for a bit Omar sighed and said to Nine.

"I will go back to sleep, and you should too. And Nine, you have your bed and your own room, use it and rest well. And don't go thinking you can slack off your own training just because I can't accompany you right now."

Nine looked a bit sheepish at that. In all honesty, he was sent to watch over Omar for the say, but he was tired from studying on proper manners and ended up falling asleep before he realized it.

In the training ground, the slaves were training like any other day.

Swinging their swords, stabbing with their lances, shooting their bows, learning hand to hand combat, training their bodies. Everyone was as dedicated as ever, they all improving one step at a time.

In a corner of the training ground, two of the slaves were talking while taking a break.

"Phew, now that hit the spot." An older male said as he drank a cup of freshwater.

"Yeah, it is quite good." The other male said, his expression relaxed as he drank a cup as well.

The two stayed in companion silence for a bit before the first one spoke up.

"You know, this is quite amazing."

"Huh? The water? Did you live in the southern desert or something before?" the second slave questioned.

The first one just waved him off.

"No, no, I meant our situation. It is weird, right? Even if we were bought to work as a private army, it is not normal."

The second slave sighed after a bit and said.

"Yeah, I guess. I worked in the army of my country for a while back before, well, slavery and all that. My life here and in the army, I can't say this one is the worse one."

"I know right." The first slave said before shaking his head. "I heard there were even some of the slaves that were close to death but were saved by the lord's hands, they seem near fanatic now."

"Tell me about it, the guy who sleeps next to me is like that for a while now and he has become insuforable since the young lord got sick."

As these words rang out the two looked a bit troubled. The rumors that the lord got sick spread like wildfire as this sort of information would be hard to be kept under wraps in a place like this.

"Hey, will the young lord be alright?"

Shrugging his shoulders, the other said.

"He should be, it doesn't sound like it will be anything too big that happened anyway. He just pushed himself too hard, I guess."

"That is for the better. This master of ours is harsh, but quite fair and feels nice. I would rather work for him than returning to sales."

The two clicked their empty mugs of water together as a sign of agreement before starting to move along to return to training after their short break.

Looking around, they noticed that wild girl there. She was sitting in the path Omar usually passed by, her face pensive and with a mix of anger, worry, and embarrassment. Whenever someone looked in her direction she would turn her face away as to pretend she didn't see them, but her actions were so childish that they were more funny than anything else.

"That girl, does she intend to stay there until the lord starts again?"

"I guess." The other said with a slight shrug. "I have never seen her interact much with anyone besides the young lord and since he got sick she would stand there on the path he would go."

And it was true. The girl stood there, a somewhat lost expression on her face mixed with anger as she waited for the boy who she had to defeat if she ever wanted her freedom back.

Clenching her fist she sat down then and there, her face with a pout as she refused to move.

It was another hour until news spread, the young lord had woken up.

The slaves, who were worried if their new master who treated them well would die or not, felt extremely relieved at the news. In their positions, being treated like actual human beings and given as much as they were was way more than most of them could dream of, they, of course, wanted to keep that position and were glad that it seems like they would be able to continue to enjoy this position for now.

Not like all of them thought the same, the girl's eyes flashed as she stood from her place, moving straight at the infirmary.

///---///

"Huh? You want those herbs?" a white-haired cat girl of about eight years old asked, her amber eyes sparkling in curiosity at the request.

"... Yes." The wild girl said with firm eyes.

"But, you are not sick." The cat girl said in a bit of wonder.

"Need medicine... Helps, heal..." The feral girl said.

The little cat girl scratched her cheek.

"Can you wait a bit? I will ask the teacher about it."

The feral girl growled a bit but nodded.

The little cat ran to the back of the infirmary where Chedale was currently working as she documented the last results of her experiment in creating medicine.

"Miss Chedale, miss Chedale."

Seeing the little blond girl approaching a slightly fond smile appeared for half a second before turning serious again and speaking.

"Miss Pitou, I already told you before. You can't just run around like that."

"Oh, right. Sorry, nyaa."

"Seriously, for my best student, you really are very lacking sometimes."

Little Pitou quickly calmed down with a slightly sheepish smile. She has had some slight issues with how miss Chedale wanted to teach her how to act properly since she was a slight tiny bit wild sometimes.

... Okay, she was very much a wild child not much better than the feral girl at the front. But, she at least could listen to orders more or less well and she could properly respect others.

Recomposing herself before she spoke.

"Miss Chedale, one of the other trainees is asking for some herbs. She says it is for medicine."

Chedale looks slightly interested and asked.

"Give me the list of ingredients."

Pitou gave her the list, letting Chedale examine it for a bit before nodding.

"It seems like it is a simple cold medicine," Chedale said, seeing at a glance what the medicine should be for. It was still a bit of a novelty approach though, so it caught some of her interest. "Let's go, I want to talk to this little one who wants this sort of medicine."

And so, one big and one small, went back to the front where the feral girl was standing.

"Hello, little one. My name is Chedale, my little apprentice here said you wanted these herbs."

"Yes, herbs good, medicine heals quickly, let fight more." the feral girl said, making Chedale more or less understand what she wanted.

"... I see, you have a friend you want to heal, right?"

The feral girl, however, shook her head in the negative.

"Not friend. He, enemy, defeat him, get freedom back."

Chedale looks at her for a bit before speaking.

"Is the medicine for the lord?"

The girl nodded her head to which Chedale look at her before sighing.

"He is already being treated well, what he needs now more is people to interact and talk. To relax a bit, get it?"

"But, training, relaxing?" The feral girl said, causing Chedale to put a hand on her forehead and shake it. This girl, it was hard talking with her.

Thinking for a bit, however, Chedale thought that someone like that might make a good distraction to Omar. At least trying to figure this girl out would get his mind out of work and study so much.

"How about this, you go there and help him relax. Play a bit, be kids really. You can take Pitou as well, she can help in case something happens and I wanted to introduce her to the little Duke anyway."

The girl looked pensive before nodding her head. She figured that, if she did this, she can just help him get better faster and then defeat him to get her freedom back sooner. Even with the battle being at the forefront of her mind there was no real malice there anymore, just a desire for freedom.

As for Pitou, she thought it might be fun to go meet the Duke. She heard that he is strong and he was a much better master than any she has heard off, maybe he would accept to train together?

Chedale didn't yet understand, both Pitou and the feral girl were the same type inside. Innate battle junkies both of them.

... Did it speak more about Omar that he innately attracted such types or not?

Nah, it can't be. It is just a coincidence.

///---///

Omar's P.O.V.

Bored.

Bored, bored, bored.

Seriously bored.

What am I supposed to do anyway? Whenever I try to study, Nine stops me. When I try to work out, Nine stops me. When I say I want to go out to the forest to hunt some monsters, Nine looks horrified as he stops me.

Isn't he supposed to be my servant? Why do I let him boss me around like that?

... Oh, right, he can do puppy dog eyes, with flopped down dog ears to match and max effect.

He may be a dude, but his looks when he does that is something I can't help but give in slightly. Besides, I understand that Brian also told me to relax and all that while I recover, but I feel fine.

Sure, there is some pain here and there and my nose is not well at all, but that was about it.

Getting up I see Nine staring at me intently, this kid should really learn how to relax a bit.

"I am going out for a walk." I said and Nine instantly shook his head and wrote.

'You are sick, you should rest.'

"I will go nuts if I stay in this room for much longer without anything to do." I declare with a sigh. "How about we just go and walk for a bit?"

'No, miss Chedale said you should rest well for today. Tomorrow we can go for a walk.' Nine said, irritatingly.

"... If I can't go out, what am I to do? Just lay in bed like if I am dying or something?"

Nine looks pensive for a bit before he eagerly writes his answer while nodding to it.

'That is a good idea.'

A tick mark appears on my forehead as I hear this.

"You know, I kinda want to punch you right now."

'If this is what it takes for you to rest, I accept.' Nine writes with a serious expression.

Sighing, I give up the idea. This guy is way too serious and it would feel like bullying if I were to do that while he still lacks his fangs and tongue. Without those his base stats drop too much, it would be almost like beating a cripple if I were to punch his mug.

Without anything to do while I recover from the sickness I lay down and think about what can I do in this situation.

That was when-

BANG

The door to the room was all but smashed open as the little feral girl and some girl I think works with Chedale appear.

"We came to give medicine, nyaa." The cat girl says with a cheshire cat smile.

"Heal faster, we fight." The feral girl says as she presents me with a bag I presume has medicine.

It was almost touching that this girl came over to give me medicine. Well, almost.

She did want me to get better, but it was just so we could fight more, after all.

Should I feel happy I bought such a person dedicated to improving herself, or feel annoyed from the challenges? Well, whatever, I just like the fact I have someone with good potential by my side.

"Thanks." I said simply as I take the medicine and take a look.

... Guh, the smell is terrible.

"It is home's medicine. It works." The feral girl says easily.

"It smells terrible." I say instantly.

The catgirl simply raises her hand excitedly and speaks up.

"That is how you know it works! Good medicine has bad taste."

Hearing her say that I grumble but take the medicine anyway.

Bleurgh, it probably is only one step above devil fruits in taste. It is terrible.

Feeling the taste pass through my throat I wait for a bit before taking some water on the side and drinking it down.

"Is it, good?" The feral girl asks shily.

"Tastes bad, really bad. Dunno about its effectiveness, but the taste is a big failure." I say honestly.

The feral girl glares and I ignore, no point in carrying about her not liking me saying the truth.

As for the cat girl, she puts a finger under her chin in thought.

"Teacher said we should stay here to help you with your resting. But, it feels boring to just stare at one another. Can we do something fun nyaa?"

"We were gonna play some cards, wanna join?" I propose.

They may be all kids, but at least the cat girl seems the type to like to play and the feral one hates to lose. Adding up Nine it would be an interesting experience, better than if it was only me and Nine since I feel like he would try and let me win.

///---///

"I hate this."

"It is unfair."

"I refuse to believe, I simply refuse to believe it."

As for me, Pitou (the cat-girl), and the feral girl (who still refuses to say her name), all complain together, Nine just looks at us with innocent eyes as he showed the fifth consecutive Straight Royal Flush.

I would accuse him of cheating, but anyone can tell he hasn't. He just played his cards like normal, and yet he got this sort of result.

Did, did his fighting potential, without an outlet for growth after he lost his fangs and tongue, just started becoming sheer luck?

Nine just looks at us as if we were acting weird. However, he soon shows a smirk for but a moment before he returns to his usual looks.

... This two-faced bastard, I will beat him in this game now one way or another!

3° Person P.O.V.

It was a few hours later that Brian came over to check how the lord was doing as well as bring him dinner.

Opening the door slightly Brian saw an unexpected scene. Omar was running after Nine screaming 'cheater! You cheater!' with two girls laughing at their antics while Nine kept evading by the skin of the teeth. It was clear that Omar was not trying that hard or had any violent thoughts towards Nine despite calling him 'cheater', but Brian was simply happy to see this.

Happy that his lord was having at least one actual moment of childhood.

Thinking for a bit, Brian smiled and decided to return later with dinner. Let the kids play some more for now.

///---///

The following days these four were together most of the time. They went to the lake, walked around for a bit in the elemental horses, ate outside, they simply enjoyed life for a while like normal kids. Brian, in the distance, was extremely glad to see this.

He was glad that his lord was relaxing so well, but the relaxing time would have to end far too soon since a message was just received that he could not just inform Omar later about.

Taking a deep breath Brian approached Omar who was now just playing a bit with his flames. Namely, he had learned to blast using the Rain Flames which had the attribute of tranquility when he was trying to make Nine go to sleep as to not try and stop him from practicing a little bit.

Turns out, it worked a bit too well and Nine together with the others all passed out from the 'tranquility' those flames caused so now Ace was trying to figure out how to use Mist Flames to cast illusions.

Hearing Brian approaching Ace turned to him.

"Brian, is everything okay? You seem a bit tense." Ace said, his mutated observation Haki letting him sense this sort of thing as well as the fact that whatever reason it was for Brian to approach, it was not good.

And it proved right when Brian simply presented his lord with a letter. Opening it he scanned to letter once, twice, and in the third time, Omar's face had several black lines as he cursed.

"Fuck." Omar said in irritation.

His plan of using the hakoku to clean his territory from bandits and use that to create an economical relationship with them was rejected by the other party. Omar had no real clue as to why of that for now, but he didn't have the time to care about it as he now had to think about how to deal with the bandit problem.

Racking his brains for a while he finally sighed in defeat.

"... We will have to find mercenaries, after all." Omar said in irritation.

In this world, there were several mercenary bands. They were not much different from a larger number of adventurers working together, but they were normally more unruly and could work as a military for hire.

Many former soldiers of the war, after it ended, turned into banditry, but many also turned to mercenary work. Omar did not want to use mercenaries since they were a temporary force and would be harder to manage, but beggars can't be choosers and if he didn't find some solution he would have to wait until his own slaves were strong and numerous enough to deal with all the bandits without them simply escaping, and that would take too long.

Brian, on the side, nodded in agreement.

"Unfortunately, it seems like it will have to be so."

Seeing that Brian agree Omar made the arrangements.

"Send count Wackenheim together with as many men as we can spare, tell him to find a company that can help us deal with the bandit problems. But remind him that they must have the best of reputations and be as trustworthy as possible, that is more important than simply being strong. For the price, as long as they don't demand an exorbitant price he is free to accept. I trust that a military man who worked in the war for so long would know what to do."

"Yes, my lord." Brian said, agreeing with the decision.

Wackenheim was their very best right now, the man was sharp and he would certainly be able to accomplish this task. If anyone could do it, it would be that man.

Now it was just a matter of waiting for the good news and hope it wouldn't be so expensive.

///---///

AN:

So, just posted to show that no, I am not dead. I am still writing, just that I am taking time to create a good stash of chapters before starting to post it. Thanks for reading, please tell me your thoughts and don't forget to follow and favorite.