"Huh?"
The three Hancock sisters tilted their heads at the same time, identical giant question marks practically floating over their heads.
"What I mean is, you can at least feel the power of Armament Haki. But Observation Haki is different, right? I want to know what it feels like to you."
Vito explained his question. Sandersonia and Marigold paused in thought, unsure how to describe it.
"It's a feeling!" Hancock answered crisply.
Vito understood right away. Back in his previous life, he'd watched enough anime to recognize that Observation Haki was essentially a type of sixth sense, just like a certain unkillable bug character from that long-running series.
Hancock's answer helped Vito confirm his hunch. Observation Haki didn't seem to consume energy like Armament Haki did. Luffy had said before that using Armament Haki drained him and needed recovery time, but there was no similar description for Observation Haki.
Based on Hancock's phrasing, that made sense. If the essence of the ability was just a form of [perception], it wouldn't consume anything in the first place.
As for why emotional control and training mattered so much, Vito realized the true purpose was simply to refine and enhance that innate [feeling].
And the more he thought about it, the more ridiculous Observation Haki seemed compared to Armament. After all, it led to things like Roger hearing the voice of all things, Princess Shirahoshi sensing emotions, and Redfield being able to read minds.
"So the core of training is really about learning to trust that feeling, huh?"
It clicked.
Vito tied the blindfold back over his eyes and gestured for Hancock and her sisters to attack again.
This time, even though he took a few hits at the start, Vito quickly adapted. After dodging the first attack by instinct, he avoided all the rest. His progress was freakishly fast.
Even with his eyes shut, he could see their positions, their movements, even the animals creeping through the surrounding forest showed up clearly in his mind.
"Find the feeling. Trust the feeling. That's Observation Haki?"
Vito felt out the range of his sensory field. At his limit, he could detect movement in about a one-kilometer radius, a giant circle.
"That's it?" he murmured. His original plan had been to use Observation Haki to track Hancock, but with a range that small, that plan clearly wasn't going to fly.
Wait...
Beyond the edge of his Observation Haki, he suddenly sensed a lifeform moving.
"Huh? What's that?"
He focused on it, and immediately got the sense of déjà vu. It was a familiar signature, like looking at a mirror image of himself.
"I get it now… That's the tiger! Which means…"
A thought sprang into his head. He abruptly stood up.
"Hancock, thank you so much! That helped a lot!"
He grabbed her delicate, boneless-feeling hand and sincerely expressed his gratitude.
"Y-You're welcome... I guess?" Hancock stammered.
It was the first time someone had thanked her like this. She wasn't used to being touched either, especially not in such an equal, natural way. On Amazon Lily, people only ever offered her flattery, offerings, or obedience. Hancock had never been asked to help, only worshipped.
But when she was with Vito, it felt like… they were equals. She wasn't some untouchable goddess, she could be refused, or thanked, like anyone else. That unfamiliar feeling left her quietly confused.
"Hancock? Are you okay?"
Vito waved a hand in front of her face.
"I-I'm fine!" she replied, snapping back to reality.
Vito scratched his head and didn't press.
…
Time passed quickly. Sandersonia and Marigold tugged at Hancock's sleeve, reminding her it was time to go.
"But I still want to hear more stories!"
Hancock's charm was so potent that her sisters couldn't bring themselves to say no.
Before long, the Kuja warriors began calling out for Hancock again from the distance.
"Big sis, we really have to leave now!" Marigold urged.
"Or… we could just bring Vito with us!" Sandersonia offered.
Hancock's eyes lit up. "Yeah! That's a great idea!"
"No, that's not a great idea," Vito said, exasperated, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Why not? If we go back to Amazon Lily together, it'll be so much easier! You could train Haki with us, and I wouldn't have to come all the way here just to hear your stories."
Sandersonia looked genuinely puzzled.
"Because I'm not like you guys! I'm, "
"Who cares! I'm the one bringing you! Even the Empress won't be mad if it's me!"
Hancock cut him off confidently.
Taking advantage of his height, Vito reached out and patted her on the head.
"Even if it's you, Hancock, violating the laws of Amazon Lily wouldn't be that simple to excuse. You'd only be putting your Empress in a difficult position. Me staying here is the best arrangement."
"But why?! What's so different about you, huh? And don't give me that nonsense about Amazon Lily's laws! They clearly say, "
"I'm a guy."
Vito didn't let her finish.
"...EH?!?!?!"
All three sisters cried out in perfect unison.
Vito sighed. "Seriously? Don't tell me you all thought I was a girl this whole time?"
That reaction told him he'd guessed right.
Hancock circled around him a few times, then boldly poked at his chest. Sandersonia and Marigold were also curious, but not quite as daring.
"So this is a man?"
Hancock looked stunned. Her face was full of wonder, like she'd discovered a new rare animal.
"I don't see what's so different... Are you sure you're not lying to me?"
She squinted suspiciously. "You just don't want to come with us, huh?"
Vito's lips twitched. He was practically leaking black lines of speechless frustration. Never in his life had someone doubted he was a man before!
Still, it's not like he could prove it. What was he going to do, drop his pants right there?
No way. He was still a grown adult, for heaven's sake. Pulling that kind of shameless stunt just to prove a point, especially in front of kids, was beyond even him.
Even if Hancock didn't understand the implications right now, if Vito really had bad intentions… well, his odds of success probably would've been terrifyingly high.
But that wasn't the kind of man he was.
//----------------------------------------------------//
//--- Add to Collection!
//--- 150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter