After several days of quiet inquiries, Eli Winters finally discovered the headquarters of the Fighting Alliance.
The organization, led by the formidable Chinjao, was stationed at a massive dockyard on the edge of the Flower Kingdom. The area was wide and bustling muscular men carrying crates, hammering metal, and shouting orders as ships gleamed under the morning sun.
Eli arrived at the dock with Simon and Dote. A group of broad-shouldered guards stood watch at the entrance, their eyes sharp and suspicious. Eli stepped forward, introduced himself, and stated his purpose. One of the guards nodded curtly and went inside to report.
Moments later, hearty laughter echoed from within. "Hahaha! Eli, my young friend! I was just thinking of paying you a visit myself!"
It was Chinjao his booming voice and cheerful grin as unmistakable as ever.
Eli smiled. "Oh? Was there something you needed, Senior Chinjao?" he asked, following the older man into the compound.
"Nothing serious," Chinjao said with a wave of his hand. "It's just about that little conflict between you and Lord Chikawa. I've already warned him not to cause you any more trouble. He even sent compensation yesterday. I'll be leaving on a mission in three days, so I wanted to make sure you heard it from me just in case anything unpleasant happens."
Eli chuckled lightly. "You're too kind, Senior Chinjao. It's a small matter, I didn't take it to heart."
"You might not, but the Flower Kingdom has to show some sincerity," Chinjao said seriously.
Eli nodded politely, choosing not to press the topic further.
Inside the shipyard, disciplined workers moved in perfect rhythm. The rhythmic clang of metal filled the air. Chinjao led them into a spacious hall where everyone sat around a large table. Squinting slightly, the old warrior studied Eli.
"So, young friend," Chinjao began, "what brings you to me today?"
Eli took a slow breath. "Please, just call me Eli. I came to seek your guidance on Haki. I've been trying to deepen my understanding, and since you're an expert, I hoped you could offer some direction."
Chinjao laughed heartily. "You're being modest! Your Haki is already on par with mine. Surely, your master must've taught you well, no?"
Eli shook his head. "I don't have a master. Everything I know, I learned from a damaged notebook I found. There are a lot of gaps in my understanding."
Of course, that wasn't entirely true the "system" had provided him with a complete Haki guide. But just as a book can't replace a teacher, self-study can't compare to learning under a master's eye.
Chinjao stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Your talent puts me to shame. At your age, I was still being tossed around by my old man for training, and you're already standing at the summit of this world."
He then began sharing his own experience with Armament Haki. "There are two main ways to develop it," he explained. "The first is constant physical training pushing your body to its limits until the power within awakens on its own. After that, you must keep strengthening your body to make your Haki denser and more potent."
"The second method," he continued, "is to let someone who already wields Armament Haki strike your body repeatedly. Feeling that power against your skin awakens your own awareness of it. Then, as always, you train your body to withstand it."
"In either path, physical strength is key. The stronger the body, the stronger the Haki."
He went on to explain Observation Haki as well how it tied closely to mental focus and experience. "It grows naturally through battle," he said. "The more you fight, the sharper it becomes."
As for Conqueror's Haki, Chinjao smiled faintly. "That one's different. You're either born with it or not. A will that dominates a million hearts no one can teach that."
He even shared a few of his more extreme training methods like ramming himself into icebergs to harden his Armament Haki.
Eli listened attentively, his mind clear and focused. For the first time, he felt he truly understood the essence of Haki training.
"Thank you, Senior Chinjao," he said earnestly. "You've given me a clearer direction to follow."
"Hahaha, think nothing of it! To guide a prodigy like you is an honor!"
Eli smiled. "Actually, there's one more thing I wanted to ask. Do you know much about fish-men?"
Chinjao looked over at Simon and Dote, nodding slightly. "I do."
"These two are my crewmates," Eli said, gesturing to them. "This is Simon, and this is Dote."
The two bowed respectfully. "Senior Chinjao."
Chinjao chuckled. "Ah, I remember you, Dote. You're the one who beat up my grandsons last time. Not bad."
"Just luck, sir," Dote said humbly.
Eli leaned forward. "Simon and Dote both have remarkable strength comparable to Marine vice admirals but neither has been able to awaken Haki. Do you know why that might be?"
Chinjao pondered for a moment before replying. "Back when I sailed the Grand Line, I met plenty of fish-men. Not one of them could use Haki. Some scholars studied it, but they never found the reason. Later, someone guessed it might be because of their environment their home under the sea lacks a certain natural essence. They called it 'Qi,' though no one truly knows what that means."
Hearing that, Simon and Dote lowered their heads in disappointment.
Eli placed a reassuring hand on their shoulders. "Don't worry. With your current strength, even a vice admiral would have a hard time beating you. I believe fish-men can awaken Haki. I just haven't found the right method yet but I will."
Both looked up and nodded firmly. "We believe in you, Captain."
Chinjao grinned. "Eli, how about a spar before I leave?"
Eli's eyes brightened. "I'd be honored."
For the next three days, Eli and his crew stayed at the Fighting Alliance's headquarters. He sparred frequently with Chinjao, while Simon and Dote received guidance in combat techniques. By the end, their strength had grown considerably.
When the third day came and it was time for Chinjao's departure, Eli and his crew bid him farewell.
"Thank you for everything, Senior Chinjao," Eli said sincerely.
"Yeah! Thanks, sir!" Simon and Dote bowed deeply.
Chinjao waved it off with a laugh. "You're welcome anytime, my friends."
Eli handed him a small silver ring. "This is something I made. A storage ring it'll recognize you once you drop a bit of blood on it. You'll see what it does soon enough. Thank you again, and I look forward to meeting you again someday."
As Eli and his crew left, Chinjao followed his instructions, pricking his finger. The moment his blood touched the ring, he could sense a small pocket of space inside roughly a cubic meter in size.
A slow smile crept across his face. "You're full of surprises, Eli Winters."
That evening, back at the inn, Eli and his crew found that Filina and the others were still out. After dinner, they relaxed in the hot springs, letting fatigue melt away.
When night fell, Filina, Big Pan, and the others returned, arms full of shopping bags.
"Had a good time?" Eli asked with a smile.
Big Pan grinned, his mouth stuffed with food. "We ate so many good things, Captain!"
Filina's eyes sparkled. "Eli! You should've come! The whole Flower Kingdom is in bloom it's like walking through an ocean of flowers. We even joined the Flower Festival! Everyone danced in clothes woven from petals. It was magical!"
Big Pan nodded vigorously. "There was this flower called the Dreamblossom. Smelling it makes you feel like you're floating in the air!"
"And we met a flower spirit," Filina added, leaning closer conspiratorially. "It was tiny and glowing, and it guided us through secret paths between the blooms. At the end, it gave us each a blessing flower for protection."
Eli smiled warmly. "Sounds wonderful."
"It was!" Filina beamed.
"Any trouble while I was gone?" he asked.
"None at all," she said proudly. "Your token from Chinjao kept everyone respectful. Only a few thugs showed up, but Big Pan scared them off."
"Good. Our work here is done. We'll set sail tomorrow morning. Anyone have unfinished business?"
Everyone shook their heads except Chiyo Mochizuki, who hesitated.
Eli noticed immediately. "Chiyo, is there something you'd like to do?"
She lowered her voice. "Captain… may I visit my grandfather's grave tomorrow? And… say goodbye to my father?"
"Of course," Eli said gently. "I'll go with you. Filina and the others can handle supplies. And remember, you never have to be so formal with us. We're crewmates family. We've got each other's backs."
The others nodded in agreement.
Chiyo smiled softly. "Thank you, everyone."
The next morning, Eli accompanied her to her grandfather's grave. She laid flowers before the stone and spoke quietly about her plans to sail, her hopes, and her trust in her new companions. Eli stood silently beside her, waiting until she wiped away her tears.
"You have my word," he said quietly. "I'll protect her."
They then went to the royal palace. With Chinjao's token, entry was simple. When Chiyo told her father she planned to leave the Flower Kingdom, the man said little only bowing deeply to Eli in gratitude.
"Thank you for looking after my daughter," he said solemnly.
Eli simply nodded. He could tell Chiyo's father was a strict man one who cared deeply but rarely showed it. Without another word, Chiyo turned away, tears glimmering in her eyes, and followed Eli out.
By the time they returned to the Voyager, Filina and the others had stocked the ship. Their time in the Flower Kingdom had been full of joy, discovery, and growth.
Eli stepped onto the deck, looked toward the horizon, and raised his voice.
"Crew, set sail!"
The Voyager slowly drifted away from the harbor, leaving the Flower Kingdom behind as the sea breeze carried them toward new adventures.
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