Chapter 48: 48. Qualified Teacher

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari Remainder: Giveaway will end on 24th ---------- After a brief stop at the village of Bakkera, the ship set sail again, heading towards the destination where Hogback was waiting. Onboard, geisha watched the skies and surroundings, keeping an eye out for anything unusual, while Alex gathered the crew in the spacious training room for some Observation Haki practice. Perona's ghostly laughs echoed throughout the training room as her ghosts zipped around, making Maria and Yamato repeatedly fall to the ground, disoriented and frustrated. With Perona now part of the crew, Alex decided to focus today's training on improving everyone's Observation Haki, given her tricky abilities. Even after months of practicing blindfolded to hone their senses, the two found themselves fooled again and again by Perona's ghostly tricks. "Alright, let's take a break," Alex said, clapping his hands. He stepped forward and added, "Next, I'll demonstrate a step-by-step approach for improving Observation Haki." "Huh?! Master Alex is going to show us himself?" Perona, feeling a bit smug after watching her ghosts best Maria and Yamato, suddenly hesitated. "It's fine. This is all part of the lesson," Alex reassured her. Perona took a deep breath, then summoned three ghosts at once, sending them to attack Alex from different directions. "Listen closely," Alex began, effortlessly dodging each of the ghosts, "Observation Haki sharpens the five senses, enabling you to detect the breath and emotional changes of those around you, so you can predict and avoid danger." Laffitte and Robin, who had been training blindfolded, couldn't resist and quietly pulled off their bandages, joining Maria and Yamato in watching intently. "Through the training method of Wanokuni, you've already learned to sense the breath of living beings even with your eyes closed. The reason you keep failing against Perona's ghosts," Alex continued, "is that they don't have a typical breath." As Perona's ghosts swooped toward him, Alex calmly sidestepped each one, not breaking his stride. "So, to counter abilities like these, you need to go beyond sensing breath alone. Try to observe emotional shifts. Since Perona controls the ghosts, focus on her to anticipate where they'll strike." Without moving his feet, Alex bent, ducked, and leaned just enough to dodge each ghost coming from three different directions. "Master Alex is amazing!" Perona exclaimed, a hint of admiration in her voice, even as her ghosts missed him. "So that's how it works! I think I'm starting to understand!" Yamato clapped her hands, enlightened by the demonstration. She then pulled a reluctant Perona back for more practice. After several more rounds, Maria and Yamato showed marked improvement. While they weren't dodging as effortlessly as Alex, they were clearly starting to predict the ghosts' movements, especially Yamato, who could now anticipate them with growing accuracy. Alex nodded approvingly, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Maybe his teaching skills weren't so bad after all—he just might make a decent teacher. Given the chance, Alex would always choose to teach those with exceptional potential. Mediocre talent wouldn't interest him. --- West Blue, Al Island. A massive ship hovered above, blocking the sunlight and casting a vast shadow across the streets and towns below. The sight was unmistakable to anyone familiar with the news; some townsfolk immediately recognized the threat and began to shout in panic: "It's the Flying Admiral, Alex! That 480 million-Berries criminal!" As word spread, chaos erupted. People abandoned their work and fled, bolting for shelter. The bustling streets quickly fell silent, a heavy hush replacing the usual chatter. Just as the news of Kozuki Oden's death took years to reach the Whitebeard Pirates due to Wanokuni's isolation, the battle between Alex and Kaido hadn't yet spread to the rest of the world. His bounty remained unchanged from half a year prior. Watching the terrified crowd scatter below like ants, Laffitte couldn't help but feel amused. "Now this is the impression a 'Flying Admiral' should leave," he remarked. "This should be our final stop in West Blue," Alex replied. "Usually, I keep a low profile around towns and islands." "Because of the trouble it could cause?" Laffitte asked, curious. "Not exactly," Alex explained with a smirk. "I just prefer to travel in peace. Causing a scene isn't my style unless I have a particular purpose. But if I needed to, I wouldn't hesitate to show my strength and resources." Laffitte nodded thoughtfully, understanding Alex's approach. Robin, who had been reading nearby, subtly raised her book to feign disinterest in their conversation, hiding a small smile. Here in the Four Seas, even pirates with a 400 million-Belli bounty were considered emperors, making Alex's airship appearance an overwhelming display of power. The ship didn't descend but floated ominously above the town—a spectacle that struck fear into the hearts of the townspeople, as if a calamity had descended upon them. "You know what Hogback is like," Alex said to Laffitte. "I'll leave it to you to bring him aboard." With a nod, Laffitte leapt from the ship, his large white wings unfurling as he descended gracefully toward the clinic below. Inside, Hogback frantically locked his doors and windows, muttering curses under his breath. Today had promised to be a lucrative day, but the arrival of the Flying Admiral had disrupted his plans. Just then, a voice broke the silence. "So, you must be the renowned genius surgeon, Hogback." Startled, Hogback looked toward his desk, where an unfamiliar man had appeared without a sound. The man had an unsettling smile and a waxy, pale complexion. He wore a black top hat, carried a cane, and sported thick purple lips, radiating an aura of eerie refinement. "Who... who are you?" Hogback stammered. The man tipped his hat in a gentlemanly salute. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Laffitte. I'm here on behalf of Captain Alex." Laffitte's gaze sharpened as he continued, "Are you interested in serving Captain Alex?" "Serve him?" Hogback blinked, then chuckled smugly. "So I'm the reason you're here? My medical skills are impressive enough to attract the Flying Admiral's attention?" "That, I cannot personally judge," Laffitte replied, "but the captain sees promise in your talents." Hogback raised a hand with mock humility. "Ah, I must say, I'm flattered! But, you see, I'm a well-known doctor here in West Blue, with plenty of patients who need me." This, of course, was a lie. Hogback simply disliked the idea of working under anyone else, especially with his skill in such high demand. He thought he might be able to negotiate some favorable terms. Laffitte's smile took on an unsettling edge. "Captain is well aware of your character, Doctor Hogback. You may have the public convinced that you're a respectable healer, but deep down, you're a man who treasures wealth above all else, aren't you?" Hogback's smile froze. He had always prided himself on hiding his true nature. "Ah, I see you aren't denying it," Laffitte continued smoothly. "If you serve our Captain, he'll reward you handsomely—far more than a simple doctor could ever hope to earn." He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a persuasive whisper. "And here's a little hint for you: He is no mere pirate. He's the ruler of a powerful country." Hogback's expression flickered, revealing a spark of interest he couldn't conceal. If Alex himself had been here, he would have seen that Hogback's heart was already racing with excitement.