Chapter 163: Water 7 – The Final Progress

Enel suddenly felt like he had been tricked...

No, he was tricked!

"That old man... he actually fooled me!" Enel's emotions were all over the place—he couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. His face shifted through a myriad of expressions as he cursed, "A 'lowly' Vice Admiral? And I actually believed it... Damn it!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

But deep down, Enel knew there was no use in being mad. What could he do? He wasn't strong enough to take on Garp. All he could do now was stew in his frustration.

Kaku, noticing Enel's aggrieved expression, couldn't help but ask, "You alright?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Enel glared and asked, "So, Garp used this 'Armament Haki' to hit me, right?"

Kaku rubbed his long nose and nodded. "Most likely."

"Can I learn this Armament Haki?"

"Of course," Kaku explained. "Armament Haki can be trained and developed."

"Good. Then you're going to teach me."

"Eh?" Kaku froze for a second, then chuckled awkwardly. "Why me? My Armament Haki isn't anything special... You'd probably make more progress learning from someone stronger."

Someone stronger?

Takumi?

That guy spends all day either napping, drinking, or fishing. He barely says a word! Ask him for help. He'd probably punch me instead...

Enel stood his ground. "Just teach me the basics. I'll figure out the rest myself."

Kaku was starting to regret mentioning Haki...

"What's wrong?" Enel noticed Kaku's hesitation, his tone becoming displeased. "You don't want to?"

Kaku let out a nervous laugh. "Haha, of course not! If you want to learn and trust me, I'll teach you everything I know…"

"Hmph! Now, what about this 'Conqueror's Haki' and 'Observation Haki' you mentioned earlier?"

"Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki are all collectively known as 'Haki'…" With a sigh, Kaku reluctantly explained the basics of Haki to Enel.

Meanwhile, along the coast of Water 7...

Takumi sat quietly, focused on his fishing.

Just as a fish was about to bite, a voice called down from the sky.

"Yo, Takumi! Fishing again, huh?" Marco, with a playful grin, landed softly on the shore, his blue flames folding into wings.

The moment Marco spoke, the fish slipped off the hook…

Takumi shot him a deadpan look.

Marco waved casually, still grinning. "Heh, I didn't ruin your catch, did I?"

"You did," Takumi replied in a flat tone.

"Pfft!" Marco laughed. "Hahaha, you're usually so quiet, but when you do talk, it's kinda funny."

Takumi: "…"

"Alright, alright. I'm not here to mess with you," Marco said in a lighter tone. "The Moby Dick is repaired, and we're getting ready to leave. Before we go, Pops wanted me to say goodbye and pass along a message: He's looking forward to seeing how you fare in the New World."

Takumi: "…"

That's it? He's looking forward to how I'll 'perform' in the New World? Perform what, exactly?

"Well, I've said what I came to say. See ya around." Marco waved goodbye and took off.

Takumi considered not responding but ended up raising his hand slightly in return.

Not long after Marco left, another figure, looking a little tired, approached from the direction of the Moby Dick.

"Hm? Takumi?" Iceburg, carrying a toolbox, looked surprised to see Takumi fishing. "Didn't know you were into fishing."

"Yeah," Takumi responded calmly, his eyes still on the water.

Iceburg smiled, walking over to sit beside him on the stone ground. Gazing out at the vast ocean, he sighed. "Whether it's pirates, the Navy, or people like you, just traveling… sometimes I really envy you guys. You're all free to roam the seas. If I could, I'd leave everything behind and chase freedom on the open ocean."

Takumi, still focused on his fishing line, replied in an even tone. "If that's what you want, go for it. No point in holding back."

Iceburg chuckled, shaking his head. "I'd love to, but I can't. Water 7 needs me, and so does Dock 1. I can't just abandon them. You're still young. There's a lot you don't understand yet. One day, when you have something you'd protect with your life, you'll understand what I'm saying. Haha, I'm rambling. I've got a lot of work to do. You keep fishing; I'll see you around."

With that, Iceburg stood, dusting himself off. He gave Takumi one last smile before heading back into town, looking as energetic as ever.

Takumi glanced back at him.

Before he could dwell on Iceburg's words, a familiar notification echoed in his mind.

[Ding! Listening to the heart of Iceburg, progress +20%.]

[Ding! Water 7 sign-in task complete. Congratulations, host! Reward: Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet (Master Level) and all Six Powers +1. Current levels: Finger Pistol Lv3, Iron Body Lv5, Shave Lv3, Moonwalk Lv3, Tempest Kick Lv3, Paper Art Lv3.]

Takumi silently reeled in his fishing line.

But Iceburg's words lingered in his thoughts.

Would he... someday have something he'd be willing to protect with his life?

At Dock 1...

When Takumi returned, Enel was enthusiastically pestering Kaku to teach him Armament Haki.

The moment Enel saw Takumi, he zipped over with excitement all over his face. "Back on Sky Island, did you use Conqueror's Haki to freeze me in place?"

Takumi didn't answer him directly. Instead, he glanced over at Kaku, who rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

With a sigh, Takumi finally nodded.

Enel burst into laughter. "Yahahaha! I knew it! Only someone as destined as you could be my captain. I made the right choice following you!"

Takumi: "…"

What exactly did Kaku tell this guy…

Whatever. Let them do what they want.

Takumi couldn't be bothered to deal with them. "Let's go. Next destination."

"Alright!" Enel grinned, flashing back to the ship.

Takumi casually used Moonwalk to step onto the deck.

Kaku watched with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Enel twirled his golden staff, crackling with electricity.

The ship's propellers started to spin.

As the vessel slowly lifted into the air, the shipwrights at Dock 1 were left speechless.

"No way... is it really flying?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"Whoa! I thought they were joking, but the ship actually flies? That's insane!"

By the railing, Kaku gripped the edge, the wind whipping through his hair as he shouted in excitement, "It really flies! This is amazing!"

Enel smirked. "Of course. This is the divine ship I brought down from Sky Island. You Blue Sea mortals could never build something like this."

"Sky Island?" Kaku's eyes lit up. "You mean islands in the sky are real?"

"Of course," Enel said smugly.

"Islands in the sky… Incredible!"

"Yahahaha, I forgive your ignorance," Enel replied, turning to look at Takumi, who had already stretched out on a deck chair. "So, where to next?"

Takumi glanced at his stats and replied, "Sabaody Archipelago."