At dawn the next morning, Clara leaned weakly over the railing, staring at the sea breeze with dark circles under her eyes.
She hadn't slept a single minute.
All night she worried that she had accidentally discovered some terrible secret between Davy and Penny—
and that Davy would silently toss her into the ocean to keep her quiet.
Penny claimed to have explained the misunderstanding, but Clara absolutely did not believe it.
She had personally heard the noises inside Davy's room.
"Endure it… you'll get used to it."
What normal conversation uses those words!?
And afterward—
the painful screaming,
followed by that strange, trembling gasp of… relief.
The more she recalled, the more wrong it all sounded.
Disheveled hair… flushed face… drenched in sweat…
She'd never experienced "that kind of thing," but she had heard stories.
And her conclusion felt very logical.
But why would Penny lie to protect Davy?
Was she being threatened?
Clara shook her head. That didn't match what she knew.
Then she remembered Davy's clean face, calm demeanor, and handsome features—
Her eyes widened.
Maybe it wasn't coercion.
Maybe Penny had… fallen for him?
There was a condition she had heard about—
a terrifying one. Victims forming emotional attachment to their tormentors…
Even helping them… trusting them… depending on them…
Stockholm syndrome!
No wonder Davy rejected rewards and let everyone take supplies from the pirate ship.
Because he already had another kind of "payment" in mind!
Clara grew paler and paler.
So terrifying.
So twisted.
She almost wanted to jump into the sea to escape her imagination.
Just as she was panicking—wondering whether, if Davy set his evil sights on her, she should resist to the death or sacrifice herself to survive—
a hand patted her shoulder.
"KYAA!"
She shrieked, practically jumping out of her skin.
When she turned around, Penny was standing there, smiling strangely at her.
That smile alone nearly made Clara faint.
Heavens above… she really has been brainwashed!
Penny, for her part, was startled by Clara's reaction.
This girl had been avoiding her since yesterday.
She didn't expect to find her lurking on deck at sunrise.
Penny herself woke early because she planned to wait for Davy and train.
But Clara? Why was she here?
Does she also want to become his disciple?
Clara forced a stiff smile.
"Heh… h-heh… M-morning, Penny."
"Good morning, Miss Clara."
"Why are you up so early? You were exhausted yesterday. Shouldn't you rest more?"
"I can't. I have training."
Training!?
Clara's eyes shot open.
So THAT's what you call it!?
Penny didn't linger.
She nodded politely and walked toward the deck.
Clara froze.
They're not planning to do THAT out here in the open, right?
It was early morning, but still—what if someone saw?
Clara wanted to flee back to her room.
Yet her feet betrayed her.
She followed… hiding behind a corner.
Penny stretched her limbs, warming up with seriousness and discipline.
Clara swallowed hard.
So proactive!? No wonder you were screaming so loudly yesterday…
After a moment, the cabin door opened, and Davy walked out, yawning.
His eyes immediately found Penny, who was already warmed up.
Davy nodded with satisfaction.
She was diligent—he hadn't even told her training hours, yet she came at dawn.
Then he spotted Clara peeking from the corner.
…What is she doing here?
Trying to steal lessons?
He raised a brow but didn't expose her.
Instead, he strode toward Penny.
"Good morning, Master."
"Good morning. Call me Davy," he corrected casually. "How was last night? Any discomfort?"
"No. Just tired at first, but after a good sleep I feel lighter than ever. My mind is clearer too…"
She sincerely reported every change she felt.
"Hm?" Davy blinked.
It even affects her soul energy…?
"Did you get hungry in the middle of the night? And your appetite increased?"
"Yes!" Penny nodded rapidly, cheeks reddening.
Truth be told, she woke so early mostly because her stomach had growled her awake.
Davy leaned forward and reached for her—
Penny didn't flinch at all, simply pressing her lips together nervously.
He's touching her!
Clara nearly screamed, covering her eyes while still peeking through her fingers.
Davy, unfazed, withdrew his hand thoughtfully.
"Your bone structure and muscle fibers have strengthened. Feels like soul-energy reinforcement."
Is she naturally talented?
Or would soul-possession enhance anyone like this?
He pondered quietly, then asked:
"In combat training, there are many paths—Haki, martial styles, gunmanship, swordsmanship, the Six Powers… What do you want to learn?"
He planned to take this disciple seriously.
"I…" Penny hesitated, then whispered, "I want to learn swordsmanship."
Swordsmanship.
Davy considered it.
Among his captured souls were several swordsmen. Under his deliberate division of memories, most technical insights resided within the Chop-Chop soul.
And though he preferred to tailor training to the student, her own wishes mattered.
If she wanted swordsmanship, he would give her swordsmanship.
He summoned the Chop-Chop soul and pressed it into her.
"This time will be worse than yesterday. Brace yourself."
This possession did not bring the screaming agony of before.
Penny simply sat, frowning slightly as foreign knowledge surged through her mind.
Davy stroked his chin.
So the physical pain only happens the first time…
Meanwhile, Penny absorbed the new understanding—
until she suddenly split apart into countless pieces.
Her head rotated, her torso spun independently, her limbs floated—
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
A shriek echoed across the deck.
It was not Penny.
It was Clara.
She sat collapsed on the floor, staring at Penny's head—which had just turned 180 degrees to look at her.
"G-g-ghost!! She's a ghost! A vengeful ghost!"
Penny blinked, confused.
Her body flew toward Clara faster than her legs could follow—
her feet were still standing where she had been moments ago.
"Clara? What are you doing here?"
"D-don't come near me! If you have a grudge, go hunt the person who killed you!!"
"Kill me? I'm not dead!"
Clara couldn't hear a word.
Finally—
"Enough noise. That's a Devil Fruit ability."
Davy's calm voice cut through her panic like a slap.
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