Anne's greatsword was planted firmly in the ground.
She swept her gaze over the four people lying there, then finally looked at Kuina, Izumi, and Hiyori. Her voice remained calm, yet carried an unquestionable resolve.
"Anne, Sabo, Kuina. Let's set sail together."
Ace sprang up like a carp leaping from water, rubbing his numb arm as he grinned.
"Hey, Anne, that's not fair! You invited them first!"
They were still children back then. Reed did not always train alongside them, but he had sharpened the three kids' perception and forged a confidence to match it.
Sabo pushed his glasses up. A sharp glint flashed across the lenses. As for why Sabo wore glasses, that was something you would have to ask Reed. The reason was simple. Rayleigh wore glasses, and Reed still remembered winning over ten thousand Berries from Rayleigh because of that. Reed himself had spent decades drifting through life without a care.
"To be precise," Sabo said calmly, "we haven't even made our invitation yet."
Ace and Sabo both turned toward Anne, excitement gleaming in their eyes.
Hiyori asked softly, "Is it really okay? Can we really join your adventure too?"
Kuina clenched her wooden sword, her eyes burning with determination.
"If I can go to sea with you, my swordsmanship will definitely improve even faster!"
Anne nodded and answered simply, "Yes. I really want to sail with you."
Just like Uncle said. We will write our story together on the sea.
Ace strode up to Kuina and held out his hand.
"Then it's settled! We'll build the strongest pirate crew ever! We'll surpass Uncle's Crimson Lotus Pirates and become the next Pirate King!"
Sabo smiled faintly.
"What a shame. I thought we would be setting sail together. But that's fine."
After all, everyone had their own dreams.
Hiyori blinked in confusion.
"Different pirate crews? Does that mean we'll be separated? Can't we travel together like Whitebeard's crew?"
Izumi, meanwhile, swung her twin swords excitedly.
"Even if we split up, it's fine! As long as we meet again on the sea, we'll always be companions!"
Anne's gaze swept across everyone before stopping on Kuina.
"You. Come with me."
Her tone left no room for doubt, as if Kuina's place on her crew had been decided long ago.
Kuina froze for a moment, then broke into a firm smile.
"Alright!"
Ace clutched his chest dramatically.
"Anne, you actually stole Kuina from us! That's way too sneaky!"
Sabo shook his head helplessly.
"Looks like we'll have to find another swordsman."
"Then how about inviting Miss Izumi and Miss Hiyori to join my ship instead?" he added.
Izumi and Hiyori exchanged a glance, then stood up and shook their heads apologetically at Ace and Sabo.
"We're really sorry, Ace. Sabo."
"But we want to join Anne's ship!"
Anne nodded frantically, her eyes sparkling as her smile grew wider by the second. Excitement radiated from her entire body.
She grabbed Kuina's hand, then looked at Hiyori and Izumi, her voice brimming with uncontrollable joy.
"Together! Together!"
Ace stared at them, clutching his chest again with exaggerated despair.
"Hey! All of you chose Anne? That's blatant favoritism!"
Sabo adjusted his glasses, smiling wryly behind the lenses.
"Looks like our charm doesn't quite measure up to Anne's."
Hiyori smiled gently as she explained,
"Because Anne feels the most reliable."
"Reliable, you say!" Tesoro's voice chimed in from the side.
Izumi pumped her little fist and giggled.
"And Anne's fighting style is super cool! Her greatsword is super powerful!"
Anne flushed slightly at the praise, but nodded firmly.
"Yeah. I'll protect you."
The excitement on Hiyori and Izumi's faces suddenly faltered.
Hiyori gently squeezed her sister's hand and spoke in a low voice.
"But… Father. Wano is still…"
Izumi's expression fell as well.
"Ah… the isolation policy hasn't been fully lifted yet."
The two sisters looked toward Oden at the same time, their eyes filled with hope and unease.
Just then, a burst of hearty laughter rang out.
"What are you two little rascals worrying about?!"
Oden strode over, hands on his hips, standing proudly before his daughters with his signature radiant grin.
"Father…" Hiyori looked up, hesitating.
Oden crouched down and ruffled both their heads.
"Listen, Hiyori. Izumi. Wano is your home, but the sea is your future! Isolation policies? Your father is someone who's broken countless rules already. Go. Experience new adventures. Make new friends."
He straightened up and hooked a thumb at himself, grinning.
"Go chase your dreams! Denjiro and I will handle things at home. As for those stubborn old men…"
He winked and lowered his voice.
"You don't need to worry about Wano at all."
Izumi burst out laughing, and Hiyori covered her mouth as she giggled softly. The shadows in their eyes finally faded.
"Really?" Izumi's eyes sparkled.
"Of course!" Oden laughed loudly. "But," he suddenly put on a stern expression, pretending to be serious, "before you set sail, you must pass your father's passionate test of youth!"
"Huh?!" Both sisters cried out in shock.
Oden drew his twin swords in one smooth motion and took a battle stance.
"Come! Let me see if you're worthy of becoming warriors of the sea!"
Hiyori and Izumi exchanged a look, then smiled with renewed spirit as they drew their own blades.
"Please guide us, Father!"
"Twin Sword Style: Swallow Reversal!"
"Twin Sword Style: Blizzard of Flowers!"
The three figures intertwined in an instant. Sword light flashed like falling snow, carving brilliant arcs through the glow of the setting sun.
Nearby, Anne quietly gripped her greatsword, watching the scene unfold.
Kuina stood beside her and whispered,
"Their father is amazing too."
Anne nodded.
"Yeah."
Suddenly, Izumi leapt backward out of the fight and pulled something dazzling from her chest.
"A golden abacus!"
Izumi held up a gleaming golden abacus, the beads clacking crisply as they collided.
She lifted her chin proudly, her fingers flicking across the beads with practiced ease.
"Father, don't underestimate me! Lord Tesoro said that if I'm going to be a future daimyo of Wano, I can't be ignorant about finances!"
Oden's eyes went wide.
"A golden abacus?! Wait a second. When did that guy Tesoro become your teacher?!"
Hiyori laughed softly at the side.
"While you and Captain Roger were having a drinking contest, Mr. Tesoro and Izumi talked for a long time."
Izumi puffed out her chest proudly.
"Lord Tesoro said that even though Wano is rich in resources, its financial management is far behind! He promised to teach me how to expand the treasury tenfold!"
"Tenfold? Ten times?!" Oden's jaw nearly hit the ground.