Action.
The female dealer cast a wary glance at the group of gamblers surrounding her, then at the blind, middle-aged man seated beside her.
She knew what this was—a setup. A group of crooks had conspired to cheat a blind man out of his money. She had seen schemes like this far too many times before.
But this time…
As she looked at the plainly dressed man beside her, something tugged at her conscience. Despite knowing better, she hesitated. After a brief internal struggle, she gritted her teeth and spoke up:
"Sir, gambling isn't ideal for someone who's visually impaired. After all—"
Before she could finish, one of the thugs yanked her by the hair and dragged her toward the back room.
"You nosy bitch! You dare run your mouth here? Guess you need a little reminder of who runs this place!"
But then—
The blind man, silent until now, finally spoke:
"Could you leave her be?"
His voice was calm, steady.
"I've traveled far and wide, met countless people… and here, I finally witnessed the kind of sight I've longed to see."
"Humans can be vile and selfish—but at rare moments, they shine with the brightest light."
"Tch."
The lead gambler sneered. Realizing the con had unraveled, he lost all patience for playing games. With a grin, he pulled a flintlock pistol from his coat and pressed it to the blind man's forehead.
"This is the light of humanity? Hand over your money before I blow your head off."
But before the sentence was finished—
A flash of silver streaked through the air.
The thug's eyes widened as he suddenly felt a biting cold along his arm, immediately followed by blinding pain.
"AAAHHH!"
"M-my hand!"
He collapsed, trembling, clutching his bleeding stump, his earlier bravado vanished without a trace. The rest of the thugs, overwhelmed by the pressure radiating from the blind man, froze.
Then—they ran.
Legs shaking, they scrambled to escape the casino like terrified children. Even the one holding the female dealer dropped everything and squeezed through the crowd, vanishing in seconds.
The female dealer, shaken but unharmed, struggled to stay on her feet. Her voice trembled:
"Sir… who are you?"
It was the question on everyone's mind in the room.
The blind man slowly sheathed his blade, his tone as calm as ever.
"My name is Issho."
"I travel the world… seeking to understand its true nature."
"And since they fled, I believe that makes me the winner of this game. Please exchange all my chips for cash."
"Y-yes, right away!"
The dealer nodded hastily. For a moment, she felt something indescribable—a quiet authority that radiated from him. Her fear had completely dissipated.
What she didn't know was that, had Gawain been here, he would've instantly recognized this man.
One of the two monsters who had stepped into the Navy's highest ranks after Aokiji's departure and Akainu's promotion—
Future Admiral
codename: Fujitora.
A few minutes later—
Issho emerged from the casino, holding a modest stack of cash with a content smile.
Behind him, the casino quickly resumed its usual rhythm.
Scenes like that happened almost every few days. Though patrons were startled, they were used to it. Soon, their heads were buried in cards and dice once more, not stopping until they lost even the shirts off their backs.
Outside, on the bustling streets—
Vendors called out cheerfully, and the crowd buzzed with conversation.
The talk of the town was all the same.
"A martial arts tournament in Raven Harbor, East Blue? They say it's not just a tournament—it's a tourist paradise too!"
"I've already made plans with my buddies. I want to see those monsters clash with my own eyes!"
Countless voices filtered into Issho's ears.
All of them said the same thing.
"A martial arts tournament...?"
"In the East Blue—supposedly the most peaceful sea in the world?"
Issho paused for a moment, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.
"Then that's where I'll go next."
He muttered to himself, already resolved.
He wanted to visit the most peaceful sea in the world… to see what kind of people were nurtured in a so-called paradise.
"What kind of flowers will bloom in such a land…?"
"What kind of souls will it raise…?"
The more he thought about it, the more anticipation swelled in his heart.
Eventually, he reined in his excitement and turned his attention to the present.
Walking into a small bakery, he used most of the money he had just won to purchase freshly baked bread. Then, turning back to the street, he began handing it out to the poor—half-naked, hollow-eyed souls who lined the gutters.
As he watched their faces light up with joy and gratitude, Issho smiled softly.
"For those struggling to survive, a single piece of bread is a blessing."
"But for those perched atop the world, such things aren't even worthy of notice."
"What a tragically uneven world this is…"
East Blue Sea, Raven Harbor
At the heart of the bustling port, a colossal circular arena—spanning hundreds of meters in diameter—had taken shape.
The entire project had been overseen by a team of highly paid engineers hired by Grayza. Whether in aesthetics or scale, it rivaled the grandeur of Dressrosa's famous colosseum.
Watching the completed structure, Gawain gave a satisfied nod before walking toward the back mountain, Seikō Masamune in hand, to begin his daily training.
By now, everything in Raven Harbor and within Gawain's pirate crew had fallen into a smooth rhythm.
No reckless pirates from the Grand Line dared stir up trouble, and the East Blue Navy had been unusually compliant. Raven Harbor entered a rare period of peace.
Yet, despite the tranquility, everyone had become busier than ever.
The reason was clear: they were all working tirelessly to earn a top rank in the martial arts tournament scheduled two months from now.
Some even dared to aim for the championship.
In the Training Hall
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
Gin was immersed in strength and endurance training, just as he had been every single day. But lately, his dedication had only grown stronger.
It wasn't without reason—his previously stagnant strength had begun to surge again, stronger and faster than before.
This renewed growth thrilled him. Having once lost that momentum, rediscovering it only made it more precious.
"Strange... I can't explain it, but I think it has something to do with my resolve—to win the martial arts tournament and claim the Bone-Bone Fruit using my own strength."
Suddenly, Gawain's words came to mind. With a flash of realization, Gin found the answer to his recent transformation.
"Something about..."
"Understanding your heart and tempering your will?"
"That's right."
Kuro's voice came from beside him, laced with genuine admiration.
"In terms of perseverance and fighting spirit, I might not even measure up to you."
He meant it.
Back when they first crossed blades in Raven Harbor, Gin's determination—to win at all costs—had left a lasting impression on Kuro.
It was a moment that forged a quiet bond between them.
"Practice?" Gin asked, setting down the barbell with a grin tugging at his lips.
"Let's go."
A Few Minutes Later
In the practice room, the clash of metal echoed endlessly, lasting deep into the night.
"Hah…!"
Gin collapsed to the floor, breathing heavily. His entire body was aching with exhaustion, but his eyes sparkled with clarity and joy.
"The gap's smaller now. I can finally feel myself improving again!"
Standing nearby, Kuro wiped the sweat from his brow, casting Gin a look of astonishment.
Before, a few serious moves would have been enough to bring Gin down—but not anymore.
Gin was still not his equal, but the difference was no longer overwhelming.
Kuro couldn't help recalling Gawain's words.
At the time, he'd taken them as a joke—but clearly, Gawain had meant every word.
If he slacked off even a little, Gin might truly surpass him.
And then there were Zoro and Sanji—monsters with limitless potential and terrifying futures.
The thought alone made Kuro's scalp tingle. After catching his breath, he resumed training immediately.
It wasn't just about staying in shape. Gawain had once said:
"Everyone possesses Armament Haki. But only by refining the body to a certain level can one awaken it."
For Logia users especially, that was the only solution outside of seastone.
Unlike others, Kuro thought far ahead.
This tournament was no longer just an East Blue event—it had grown beyond expectations.
Now, contenders from the Four Blues, the Grand Line, and even the New World were preparing to join.
To rise above a field of such monsters, his current strength simply wasn't enough.
Fueled by resolve, Kuro left the hall and found a secluded space to begin a new round of brutal training.
No matter how exhausted he became, so long as his injuries weren't internal, he knew he'd be back at full strength by morning.
Meanwhile
Elsewhere in Raven Harbor, the Gawain Pirates' settlement was alight with lanterns and alive with the sounds of training.
Zoro, Sanji, Van Augur, the Cat Brothers—everyone was deep in their own practice.
They each had their own goals, and none of them intended to come in last.
Time passed quickly under the pressure of daily training.
Two months flew by in a blink.
Two Months Later
At the center of Raven Harbor, the arena now stood fully completed.
It could accommodate 80,000 spectators at once—an even grander scale than Dressrosa's bullfighting arena.
Visitors had flocked from across the world.
Some came to compete.
Others, to watch.
But all contributed to an unprecedented level of prosperity for Raven Harbor.
The streets were vibrant with glowing lights and bustling crowds.
The commercial district seemed to transform daily.
And on Grayza's face, the smile only grew wider.
In just two weeks since the arena's opening, port revenues had already surpassed the entirety of last year's earnings.
Without hesitation, she continued pouring money into the project.
The former settlement of the Gawain Pirates was officially renamed Red Dragon Street, reserved only for the City Lord's household and Gawain's crew.
Inside his room, Gawain sat by the window, watching people pass and catching glimpses of smiles on his subordinates' faces.
Peace, prosperity, stability...
This was the life Kuro had always dreamed of.
And now, it was right in front of him.
Yet Kuro had already set his sights on something greater—his own strength.
Perhaps... what one cannot have will always stir the deepest longing.
With a quiet sigh, Gawain turned his attention back to the system panel before him.