Chapter 28

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Afterwards, Dak picked up a wooden stick to experiment further.

However, the moment Conqueror's Haki wrapped around the stick, it was instantly crushed.

"Is my Conqueror's Haki too lethal?"

Dak frowned.

He picked up another stick, this time reducing the amount of Haki used by a large margin. The originally dark red Haki, like ripples of water, turned into thin threads wrapping around the stick.

This time, the stick did not break, though it still seemed to struggle under the pressure. So, he used Armament Haki to harden it, turning the entire stick black.

"This should work."

Dak lifted the stick and swung it around, feeling nothing unusual.

"Dark?"

"Ah? Do you want to try?"

Dak looked at Darkrai floating towards him, somewhat puzzled.

He wasn't worried about Darkrai; given his own physical condition, even if he attacked Darkrai with a weapon wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, the latter wouldn't suffer much damage.

Darkrai nodded, clearly eager to try.

"Alright."

Without further ado, Dak swung the stick.

Snap.

Darkrai raised a hand to block, and the stick exploded upon impact.

The force of the strike, combined with the pressure from Conqueror's Haki, was too much for the stick to bear, and Dak's level of Armament Haki was too low to mitigate much of this pressure.

"Dark."

Darkrai looked at its hand.

Though there were no visible injuries, it felt a significant pain.

For Darkrai, it was akin to losing 3 HP.

With that, the experimentation with Conqueror's Haki came to an end. Dak now had a clearer understanding of his Conqueror's Haki and could use it inside the shop without injuring his allies.

Upon returning to the shop with Darkrai, they found Bon Clay anxiously pacing back and forth under a tree.

"What's wrong?"

Dak was puzzled by Bon Clay's behavior.

"Dak?!"

Before Bon Clay could respond, Darkrai let out a somewhat panicked sound.

This was the first time Dak heard such a tone from Darkrai.

Following Darkrai's gaze towards the tree, Dak's eyes widened in surprise.

The remaining six Pokémon eggs from the first batch were flashing at a slow rate!

Dak immediately ran over and crouched down, carefully observing the six eggs.

"Dak, what's going on? There's no problem, is there? Also, my egg is starting to glow too."

Bon Clay held his pinkish-yellow egg in his arms.

Indeed, Bon Clay's egg was also flashing.

"This is a sign that the Pokémon are about to hatch!"

"Nani?!"

Hearing Dak's explanation, Bon Clay jumped up, holding his egg and running around the lawn in a frenzy. "What do we do? What do we do, Dak?"

"Calm down. When did they start glowing?"

Dak, too nervous to comfort Bon Clay, was equally anxious.

After all, this was his first time assisting in the hatching of Pokémon, and the thought of six more Pokémon joining Darkrai in his shop filled him with excitement.

"Just now, about an hour ago."

"So, within twelve hours, these kids will hatch. Put your egg down and start preparing some things as I told you. Darkrai, you go too."

Dak rattled off a list of things for Bon Clay and Darkrai to collect in a flurry.

According to the guidebook, when Pokémon eggs start glowing, it means the Pokémon will hatch within the next day.

However, considering these first batch of eggs were about to hatch just two and a half weeks after arriving at the shop, Dak guessed it must be due to the effect of the heat lamps on the ceiling.

The heat lamps were upgraded a week and a half ago, accelerating the egg hatching process.

Doubling the time of a week and a half to three weeks, plus the initial week, roughly made a month, in line with the guidebook's statement that Pokémon eggs would hatch a month after being laid.

This also proved that the heat lamps could halve the hatching time needed for Pokémon eggs.

Thus, the 24 hours of flashing should also be halved to twelve hours.

And...

"Tomorrow is the batch, huh?"

Dak's gaze fell on the second batch of nine Pokémon eggs.

These eggs arrived just a day later than the first batch, so their hatching time should not differ much.

Dak knew.

The peaceful days of the Mystery Hatchery House were coming to an end.

They were likely to enter a busy routine of caring for Pokémon babies every day.

"Right, such an important day."

Suddenly, an idea sparked in Dak's mind.

What would the guests' reactions be if they saw the Pokémon being born? Seeing the adorable forms of various Pokémon hatching, Dak didn't believe these people could restrain their hearts.

Dak stood up, calmed his surging heart, and tried to adopt a casual demeanor before heading outside.

The Mystery Hatchery House's first Pokémon hatching ceremony—inviting a few guests to witness it.

Pretty normal, right?

...

On the Moby Dick.

Newgate was listlessly watching his foolish sons making a ruckus on deck—fighting, playing cards, arm wrestling, bragging—just another day in the life of pirates at sea.

Meanwhile, Marco sat aside, holding a pink egg, even wrapping it in a scarf.

But just then, the captain's quarters' door suddenly opened.

Everyone on deck cast puzzled glances towards the captain's quarters, a place not just anyone could enter. Who could be so bold?

However, upon seeing the person who emerged, Newgate couldn't help but laugh.

"Gurarara. Dak, what wind blew you here?"

"Long time no see, Newgate. Remember those eggs you saw last time?"

Dak greeted Newgate.

Having gained a certain mastery over his Conqueror's Haki, Dak's presence and aura had taken a qualitative leap.

Many on board could notice Dak's transformation.

To put it plainly, he had the aura of a 'king.'

"Of course. What, you're willing to sell them to me now?"

"No, those kids are about to be born. I'm thinking of inviting a few guests to witness it, to prevent you from being clueless in a similar situation. Interested?"

"Of course."

Newgate immediately perked up.

"I want to go too!"

"Me as well!"

"No, Marco and Thatch already went last time; it's my turn this time!"

For a moment, the Whitebeard Pirates' crew argued among themselves, nearly coming to blows.

"Alright, this time let Jozu and Vista go. There'll be other chances."

With a single sentence, Newgate settled the outcome, deciding to take turns.

"Don't worry, I'll live stream it for you with a Den Den Mushi, no problem, right, shopkeeper?"

Vista asked Dak with a big smile, showing his white teeth.

"Of course."

(End of Chapter)