Grand Line, Twin Capes.
"Wh-wh-wh... whale! A whale the size of a mountain!"
Seeing Laboon, the giant island-sized whale rising from the sea, Nami couldn't help but scream in fright.
"Master!" Erza gripped her magically-linked sword, ready to launch a powerful attack at Sullivan's command.
"Wait… just wait a moment, Erza! That's Laboon, the whale. He's Grandpa's companion!"
Juvia quickly stopped Erza.
"Guild Master, strictly speaking, this isn't my request—this is Laboon's. If possible, please listen to Laboon's story," Crocus said.
"Please," Sullivan gestured politely.
"That was fifty years ago… Laboon followed a pirate crew from the Four Blues…"
Crocus's face was filled with memories as he began recounting Laboon's tale with the Rumbar Pirates from fifty years ago.
"That's terrible…"
After hearing Laboon's story, the kind-hearted girls couldn't help but be moved.
"They… abandoned Laboon?" Juvia's eyes began to mist over, even the clear sky seemed to dim slightly.
"No, I don't think so," Crocus shook his head. "I don't know the full story, but I don't think they forgot their promise to Laboon. They likely perished somewhere on the Grand Line."
"That's the gist of it. I once went out to sea with others to look for them, but we came up empty-handed. Now that you know all this, are you still willing to accept this request?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't we?" Sullivan agreed without hesitation.
"But… the Rumbar Pirates that Laboon's waiting for might already be…" Nami hesitated with concern.
"So what?" Sullivan countered.
"A man's promise is his bond! Even in death, he should crawl out of the underworld to keep it!"
Sullivan said firmly.
"A fifty-year mission, huh? Sounds interesting," Erza said eagerly, itching to start.
"Mr. Crocus, here's the written request form. Take a look. If everything looks good, please sign here." Mirajane handed the form to Crocus.
Seeing Sullivan so confident and decisive, Crocus didn't hesitate further and generously signed both his and Laboon's names.
Only after signing did Crocus recall something.
"Right, about the payment for this request... I'm not exactly rich. Can we keep it within what I can afford?"
Crocus asked.
"Well, you've taken care of Juvia these past two days—that can offset part of the fee. As for the rest, perhaps we can exchange something else instead," Sullivan smiled.
"What do you want?" Crocus's eyes sharpened, sensing something in Sullivan's tone.
"It's simple. I just want you to teach the girls a few things."
Sullivan said.
"If it's medicine, I know a thing or two. That's doable."
Crocus nodded.
But Sullivan shook his head.
"I don't want you to teach medicine—I want you to teach Haki! Armament Haki and Observation Haki!"
"Nani!?" Crocus was stunned.
"As a former crew member of the Pirate King, surely you know at least some Haki?"
Sullivan grinned.
Crocus's pupils contracted sharply. Very few people in the world knew he had once sailed with the Pirate King. Those who did were all old men by now…
And yet Sullivan had exposed him with just one sentence.
"W-wait a second, Master—you—you're saying Mr. Crocus was on the Pirate King's crew?"
Nami was so shocked her voice turned shrill.
"Pirate King… is that the powerful guy you mentioned back in that small town? If his crew is anything like him, they must be incredibly strong!"
Erza's hand instinctively returned to her sword. She might not be a battle maniac like Natsu, but she, too, yearned to face strong opponents—especially in this unfamiliar world.
"Stop!"
Crocus suddenly burst out, exuding a forceful aura.
Just when the girls thought he was about to show his hidden strength—
"I'll die," Crocus added bluntly.
Nami nearly fell over.
The old man in front of them really didn't fit the image of a legendary crew member.
"I did say earlier, I went out to sea for two years to search for the Rumbar Pirates. That crew I was with… was indeed Roger's. But my Haki skills are only average, far inferior to the captain and the others," Crocus explained.
"That's enough. A master leads the way, but practice is up to the individual. As long as we can get a basic grasp, that's all we need," Sullivan nodded.
In the world of One Piece, the fastest way to improve Haki is through battle.
Even someone like Luffy, who trained for two years on Monster Island, only reached a mid-level proficiency. It was after the Wano arc that he learned advanced Armament Haki in just one week and soon after unlocked Conqueror's Haki infusion.
As long as you know the basics, you can refine them through real combat.
With that, training began.
Crocus opened a crash course on Haki.
Fairy Tail stayed at Twin Capes for three days.
Under Crocus's focused instruction...
Nami: gave up!
Juvia: gave up!
Mirajane: gave up!
Erza: successfully learned the basics!