The next day, Lister stepped out of the captain's cabin in high spirits. He stopped by the vice-captain's quarters, opened the door, and found Nami wasn't there, so he headed for the deck.
He soon spotted her reclining on a beach chair, reading a newspaper. Beside her stood a small table shaded by a parasol, with a glass of juice and a fruit platter on top. A crewman waited not far away. Nami looked thoroughly at ease.
Lister smiled. He signaled to the crewman, then walked over. The sharp little fellow hurried to set another beach chair on the table's far side and slipped off to the galley.
Lister sat naturally and asked with a grin, "Anything in the news worth noting lately?"
Nami blinked, glanced at him, and smiled. "You finally left the captain's cabin? Finished developing your secret technique?"
"Finished. I'll rest a few days, then start the next project," Lister said, full of confidence.
"What kind of technique? Show me," Nami asked, curious.
Right then the crewman returned with a drink, a fruit platter, and several fresh fruits, a small knife laid at the side.
Lister looked at Nami and smiled. "All right. Watch closely."
He picked up the knife from the tray and drew it across his palm. Blood welled at once.
"What are you doing? Why hurt yourself for nothing?" Nami asked, puzzled.
"Just watch," Lister said lightly.
He pushed the Quick-Quick Fruit's power into the tissues around the cut. In the next instant, the gash he had just made sealed over at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Nami's mouth fell open, her face full of disbelief.
"This move is called hyper-regeneration. How is it?"
"Incredible," Nami breathed.
"I rather thought so," Lister said, pleased.
"If I get hurt, can you use that on me?" she asked.
"Not for now," Lister shook his head.
"Not for now? So later you can?"
"Maybe. Hyper-regeneration branches off my Quick-Quick Fruit. It's a Paramecia, and for now the power only circulates inside me; it can't affect external matter. But once my fruit awakens, it should be able to influence things outside me. Then I might be able to heal others."
"I see," Nami said, half-understanding. "A healing move is nice, but you should really focus on combat techniques now. Your opponent is Arlong."
"Relax. Bread will come, and milk too," Lister said with an easy smile.
While they chatted idly, the lookout suddenly called down from the mast, "Captain, suspicious ship to port ahead!"
"What are they?" Lister's brows lifted. He'd spent days shut in the cabin without a hitch, and the moment he came out, trouble arrived.
"Sorry, Captain. No flag on their mast. I can't tell who they are," the lookout reported.
Lister stood and walked to the rail. "Telescope!"
Johnson handed one over at once. Lister raised it and peered in the direction indicated.
He soon made out a large ship about thirty to forty meters long, with black sails and no markings. Judging by the faces he could see on deck, the men aboard weren't good sorts. Maybe not pirates, but whatever they did wasn't any better.
Lister's lips curled. "Bring us about. All hands, battle stations."
"Aye!"
Everyone knew a fight was coming and moved to their posts.
"Nami, if this kind of scene makes you uncomfortable, you can go back to your room," Lister said with a smile.
"I've been on these seas nearly ten years. I'm not that delicate," Nami shot him a look.
"Fair enough."
The big ship, newly christened the Money, swung onto a new heading and drove toward the black-sailed vessel through wind and waves. The black ship noticed and, without hesitation, swung its prow to charge straight back at the Money.
"They see us and don't shy from attacking. Looks like they're no pushovers," Lister said with a laugh. He'd worried they'd simply run. Chasing would be a pain.
The two ships closed on each other, soon within two kilometers.
"Johnson, give them a round."
The Money's layout wasn't to Lister's taste, but it had the essentials. A turret with three barrels sat at the bow.
"Aye!"
Johnson barked orders and his gunners sprang to work. When the loading was done, he looked to Lister. "Captain, ready."
"Fire!" Lister shouted, excited.
Before crossing worlds, he'd never gotten to play with such toys; after crossing over, even less. Watching war dramas, he'd dreamed of bellowing like Li Yunlong one day. Now the chance was here.
"Fire!" Johnson relayed.
"Fire!"
Boom!