Nightfall Descends
As night fell, the Pandora Pirates' ship drifted calmly on the East Blue, the gentle waves lapping against the hull.
Casa and Artoria had already retired to their rooms to rest, leaving Rin alone on night watch.
Sitting cross-legged on the deck, he flipped through a worn notebook—a gift from Casa.
Inside, it contained detailed notes on Haki training, written by Casa's father.
However, it only covered Armament Haki (Busoshoku Haki) and Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku Haki).
As for Conqueror's Haki (Haoshoku Haki)—
There were no training methods, only a simple note:
"One does not learn Conqueror's Haki—it awakens naturally. Only those born with the will of a king can wield it."
Rin rested his chin on his hand, contemplating.
If that's the case… then Artoria will definitely awaken it one day.
After all—
She had once been a king in her past life.
Shaking his head, Rin turned his focus back to the training guide, memorizing the steps for Haki cultivation.
---
The Midnight Watch
Time passed silently.
By midnight, Rin had committed the instructions to memory and began his first attempt at training.
The night was peaceful.
The ocean breeze whispered through the sails, and the moonlight shimmered on the deck.
Standing alone, Rin focused—his breathing steady.
He channeled his will through his body, trying to feel the presence of Haki.
But—
Unknown to him… he was not truly alone.
On the upper level of the ship, a figure stood by the window—watching.
Casa, arms crossed, silently observed Rin's efforts.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"It seems… I didn't choose the wrong captain after all."
Muttering to himself, Casa turned away from the window, disappearing back into the darkness of his cabin.
---
Morning Routine
By the second half of the night, Casa took over the watch duty, allowing Rin to rest for the remainder of the night.
Since Haki training couldn't be mastered overnight, Rin chose not to push himself too hard.
Soon, the first light of dawn peeked over the horizon.
The next day had arrived.
Rin was the first to wake.
He headed to the kitchen, preparing breakfast before calling the others to eat.
Seated at the small wooden dining table, Rin sipped his milk, then turned to Casa.
"How much longer?"
Casa, glancing at the map, casually answered between bites of bread.
"About two hours."
Rin nodded, falling into thought.
---
Cocoyasi Island & Its Infamous Tyrant
Cocoyasi Island…
Rin was very familiar with its history.
After all, it was the hometown of Nami, one of the original Straw Hat Pirates.
If Casa weren't already his navigator, Rin would have definitely recruited Nami into the crew.
Her talent for navigation was legendary—something she was born with.
However, with Casa already filling that role, there was no need to seek her out.
This time, their destination wasn't for recruitment.
Instead—
Rin's true goal was to eliminate Arlong and his crew, forcing Marine Captain Nezumi out of hiding.
That corrupt Marine had been secretly accepting bribes from the Arlong Pirates, turning a blind eye to their oppression of Cocoyasi's people.
Rin felt no guilt about his plan.
Nezumi was filth—a disgrace to the Marines.
Killing him was no different from removing a cockroach.
And as an added bonus—
Taking down a notorious pirate crew and exposing their Marine collaborator would likely earn Rin and his crew their first official bounties.
---
Approaching the Island
Finishing their meal, the crew moved to the deck, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun.
Two hours passed quickly.
Soon, a distant landmass emerged on the horizon.
Casa approached, pointing at the island ahead.
"Captain, we're here—that's Cocoyasi Island. The headquarters of the Arlong Pirates."
Rin's eyes gleamed with excitement.
A worthy opponent awaited him.
---
A Pirate's Infamous Past
As they drew closer, Artoria, still holding an old newspaper, spoke up.
"Arlong… was once a member of the Sun Pirates, founded by the legendary Fisher Tiger. After Tiger's death, the Sun Pirates disbanded, and Arlong—along with his subordinates—came to the East Blue to form his own crew."
She paused, flipping through the pages.
"Given that he once sailed the Grand Line, his strength shouldn't be underestimated."
Rin scoffed, crossing his arms.
"True, he came from the Grand Line. But let's be real—he's still just a bottom-feeder. If he were actually strong, he'd still be in the Grand Line. Instead, he ran to the weakest sea—the East Blue."
Casa smirked, nodding.
"Can't argue with that."
The East Blue was the weakest of the four seas.
Most of the pirates who lingered here were too weak to survive on the Grand Line.
It was the same across all four Blues—East, West, North, and South.
Only those too afraid or too weak to venture into the Grand Line stayed behind.
For pirates like Rin, Casa, and Artoria—who sought true strength—such individuals were beneath their notice.
---
Landing on Cocoyasi
The Pandora Pirates' ship slowly approached the shoreline, docking on the beach.
Stepping forward, Rin grinned, stretching his arms.
"Alright, crew—this is our first real battle as a pirate crew. Let's make it count!"
Without hesitation, he leaped off the ship, landing lightly on the soft sand.
Casa, sighing in amusement, followed.
Artoria pursed her lips, but jumped down as well, falling in step beside them.
The three pirates moved directly toward the heart of the island.
---
A Village in Ruins
After ten minutes of walking, they reached a devastated village.
The sight before them was heartbreaking.
Collapsed homes.
Charred remains of buildings.
Smoke still rising from the wreckage.
Everywhere they looked, the scars of Arlong's reign of terror were evident.
This was no longer just a mission.
This was a necessary purge.
The Arlong Pirates had ruled over Cocoyasi with cruelty for years.
Now—
Their reign was about to end.
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