After declaring their intention to follow Zino, Miria and the two brothers, Hibari and Binko, wasted no time hauling their belongings onto the Silent Orca.
The brothers brought crates of tools, blueprints, repair materials, and specialized equipment—clearly the supplies of seasoned shipwrights. Their meticulous handling of the crates impressed even the crew members, especially Kaya and Nami, who exchanged curious glances.
"They really came prepared…" Kaya whispered.
"They're serious about staying," Nami replied with a sigh.
Meanwhile, the battleship that had brought them drifted aimlessly near the base of Reverse Mountain. Its purpose fulfilled, it was now left abandoned like a forgotten chapter. Zino didn't spare it a second glance. "Not my ship, not my problem," he muttered.
With the newcomers settled, Zino ordered the crew to get the Silent Orca moving once more. The sails unfurled, and the sleek black ship resumed its course. The stars above glittered over the Grand Line, marking the beginning of their true journey.
By the time night fell, the ship was alive with warm lantern light and the sound of laughter. The crew had gathered on the main deck for dinner, where the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the air. Plates were passed around, mugs were filled, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement.
Zino stood and raised his cup, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, listen up! I don't really know your full motives for joining my ship—" he gave a brief glance at Miria and the brothers, "—but it doesn't matter right now. What matters is that you're here. So welcome aboard."
He clinked his cup with Miria's, then the others'. The crew echoed him with cheers and welcoming voices.
"To new comrades!"
"To adventure!"
"To not dying horribly!" Usopp added, which earned a few chuckles.
Miria, sitting beside her son with a calm smile, tapped her cup once more on the table and stood up. The crew's eyes turned to her as the noise quieted.
"Everyone," she began, her tone carrying an unusual blend of warmth and authority. "At first, I came aboard only to train my son in the ways of Haki. That was the plan."
Zino glanced at her, curious.
"But after observing all of you, I realized something," she continued. "You're his nakama—his trusted comrades. Which means you're important to him. And if you're important to my son, then you're important to me as well."
The crew sat quietly, unsure where she was going with this.
"That's why I've decided…" she paused dramatically, setting her cup down. "I will officially act as the instructor on this ship. From now on, I'll be training all of you."
The silence that followed was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Usopp raised his hand timidly. "Uh… even me?"
Miria's eyes found him immediately. "Especially you."
"Gah…"
"No one is excluded," she said firmly. "You're all going to improve. I'll make sure of it. I've seen too many crews fall apart because they weren't prepared. I won't let that happen to Zino's crew. So from now on, I expect effort. Strength. Growth."
Her gaze swept across the deck—Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Kaya, Alvida, Gin, and the rest. Even the more carefree members sat straighter under her gaze.
Zino gave a low chuckle. "Guess we've got ourselves a drill sergeant."
Miria smiled. "A mother who wants her son to live."
No one argued with that. Not even Zoro.
"Earlier, you mentioned training Zino in the ways of Haki," Alvida spoke up from her seat, swirling her drink. "But... what exactly is Haki?"
Miria blinked, caught off guard. "You don't know what Haki is?"
Alvida shook her head, and a few others mirrored her confusion. Miria turned toward Zino with a questioning look. "You didn't tell them?"
Zino scratched his cheek awkwardly. Seems like the real Zino has knowledge about Haki. After some thought, he replied. "Yeah... I haven't told them about it. I never learned Haki myself, so explaining it felt like talking out of my depth."
Miria checked Zino's expression. Did this guy turned lazy, or abandoned training in Haki? Or did that old guy only focused on teaching him in Rokushiki? Either way, she is here now to teach him.
She then let out a slow sigh. "I see. Then I guess we're starting from the basics."
She stood up, her expression turning serious as the firelight flickered behind her. "Listen up, all of you. Haki is a mysterious power that lies dormant in all living beings. It's not something everyone can access—but for those who can, it's a game-changer."
The crew leaned in.
"There are three primary types of Haki," she continued, holding up three fingers. "First, *Observation Haki*—it lets you sense the presence, intent, and even emotions of others. At advanced levels, it can even allow you to perceive glimpses of the future."
Whispers broke out among the crew.
"Second is *Armament Haki*—a form of spiritual armor. It allows you to harden your body—or weapons—to greatly enhance your attack and defense. It's also essential when fighting Devil Fruit users, especially those with Logia powers."
Zoro's eyes narrowed in thought.
"Lastly, there's *Conqueror's Haki*—the rarest of all. It allows the user to exert their willpower over others, overwhelming them. It's not something that can be trained—it's inherited. Only a select few are born with it."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.
"Each Haki type serves different purposes, but all of them are incredibly powerful tools. That said, not everyone can awaken Haki. Some live their whole lives without even sensing it."
Gin folded his arms. "So what's the real difference between having Haki and not? Is it really that crucial? If it's not a major edge, it sounds like a waste of energy."
Miria's gaze sharpened. "You're underestimating it."
"I'm just being practical," Gin replied calmly.
A slow smile tugged at her lips. "Then let me make it clear. Tomorrow, during training—I'll show you firsthand what it means to have Haki."
She glanced at the rest of the crew. "And trust me, by the end of it, you'll know why mastering Haki could mean the difference between life and death in the Grand Line."
Silence followed, tension and curiosity hanging in the air.
"Until then," Miria said, sitting back down and lifting her drink, "enjoy the calm. Tomorrow, we sharpen our blades."
...
Next day.
The morning sun broke over the Grand Line, painting the clouds gold. The Silent Orca gently rocked on the waves, sailing calmly along the sea. But the calm didn't last long.
"Everyone on deck!" Miria's voice rang out like a cannon blast.
Zino's crew scrambled out, groggy but alert. Their sweat dream shattered when Miria's fierce aura snapped them into wakefulness.
She stood in the center of the deck, arms crossed, a no-nonsense expression on her face. "Today, we begin your real training."
Ussop gulped. "I thought yesterday was real…"
Miria ignored him. "First, I'll test each of your instincts and perception. This is Observation Haki training. Let's begin with something simple."
She pulled out a black cloth and blindfolded herself.
"You'll attack me, one by one. Try to land a hit."
"What?" Zoro raised a brow. "Blindfolded?"
"She's underestimating us," muttered Gin, stepping forward. "I'll go first."
He lunged without warning. A sharp strike aimed at her midsection.
But Miria didn't move—her hand shot up effortlessly, grabbing his wrist mid-attack. She twisted and swept his legs out from under him in a flash.
*Wham!* Gin hit the deck with a grunt.
"She didn't even flinch…" Kaya whispered.
"She sensed it," Zino said. "That's Observation Haki."
One by one, the crew tried—Sanji with kicks, Ussop with a makeshift staff, even Zoro with the blunt side of a blade.
Not a single hit landed.
"She's predicting our moves," Zoro muttered, sweat beading on his brow. "This isn't just instinct—this is precision."
After the last failed attempt, Miria removed the blindfold. "That was level one. Awareness. Observation Haki allows you to read intent. Feel it—not with your eyes, but your spirit."
Now, everyone were fully absorbed into listening, and felt amazed about the uses of Haki. Even Gin, who somewhat looking down on this skill is now sat with attention, eyes wide open.
"Next is Armament Haki," she said. "This is about power and control. Hardening your spirit into force."
She raised her arm. A black sheen spread over it like armor.
"Zino, come."
Zino sighed, but still stepped forward. "Alright."
"Try to block this using Tekkai," she said with a smile.
Without warning, she threw a punch.
Zino braced—*BOOM!*—the force sent him skidding back, feet grinding on the deck, stopping just short of the mast. He gasped, rubbing his arms. "Ugh. That's hurt."
"That was Armament," Miria said simply.
Everyone still looked sceptical. This one, does feel much amazing in their view.
"This looks normal." Ussop whispered. "Of course her punch is strong. She is Zino's mother after all."
Hearing that, Miria then took out a paper, crumpled it into a small ball, and flicked it toward Ussop, hitting his forehead.
"Argh! I'm hit!" Ussop touched his forehead, which now red from the hit.
Everyone glanced at him, and the paper that hit him. They could see a small trickle of blood on Ussop's forehead. Sanji took the crumpled paper, and examined it. "It just a paper. How can it be capable of injuring Ussop?"
"That's Armament Haki." Miria said. "Tomorrow, I'll teach you how to awaken it. But today—feel what you're aiming to master."
She turned toward the rest.
"Lastly… Conqueror's Haki. Only Zino has shown signs of it. But the rest of you—if you have it, I'll find out soon enough."
Everyone stood still. A mix of awe and intimidation filled the air.
"This is the Grand Line," Miria declared. "And if you want to survive, forget your limits. Push beyond."
The crew stood silent, but something had changed. Their blood was pumping. Their eyes sharper.
The real journey had begun.
...
A few days later.
As the Silent Orca sailed deeper into the Grand Line, the weather changed rapidly. At one moment calm, and then the next filled with storm clouds. But with the help of Hibari and Binko, now serving as shipwrights and support crew, the ship maintained balance and navigated the wild currents with newfound precision.
Meanwhile, the crews were busy training Haki under the watchful gaze of the ship instructor. This is especially true for Zino. After all, Miria was here specifically for him. His training was primarily on Observation Haki.
"Land ahead!" Ussop shouted from the crow's nest.
Everyone gathered as a jagged silhouette emerged through the misty horizon. A small desert-like island sat at the foot of towering cliffs, with cacti scattered along the terrain. A signpost read: Welcome to Whiskey Peak.
From the distance, the town looked festive. Bright flags danced in the wind, and faint music could be heard. The townsfolk waved, and a group stood at the docks with big smiles and welcoming arms.
"Now this is suspiciously cheerful," Zoro muttered.
Alvida squinted. "They're either the kindest people in the Grand Line… or hiding something."
Sanji looked pumped when he saw many beauties among the welcoming people. "Either way, they've got wine and fine beauties. I'm going ashore."
Zino raised a hand. "Hold on. No one goes ashore alone. We move as a crew."
They docked silently. As they disembarked, a woman in an elegant dress greeted them with a wide grin.
"Welcome, brave travelers of the Grand Line! You must be tired! Come, we've prepared a grand feast in your honor!"
Zino's expression didn't change. He gave a brief nod. "Thanks for the hospitality."
As they were led deeper into town, the crew was surrounded by smiling locals. The town was bustling with energy, as some musicians playing upbeat tunes, dancers performing, kids laughing. It felt too good to be true.
Miria leaned close to Zino. "Keep your guard up. These smiles aren't natural."
Zino nodded, his eyes scanning the crowd. He couldn't explain it, but something in his gut twisted. It wasn't fear—more like instinct. Like the air itself was whispering something was wrong.
'What is this feeling…?' he wondered. A strange awareness pulsed at the edge of his senses, faint but persistent.
Still, for now, the crew played along. They were seated in a large open plaza under the setting sun, food and drinks laid out like a royal banquet.
Laughter echoed, glasses clinked, and the air turned festive. Yet beneath the music and merriment, something felt ready to crack.
Zino eat some food, while silently running his medicinal abilities. At the same time, he kept watch over all the surrounding people.