Chapter 70

"What about Nami-san and the others?" Sanji asked, puzzled.

"They're arriving soon. Weigh anchor, get ready to leave," Sima Di said.

Sanji nodded, called Chopper and the others over, and began preparing for departure.

Sima Di, meanwhile, was snickering to himself.

"Tch!"

"I wonder what Blackbeard will think when, after enduring that half hour, he finds out that not only did his target escape, but his little treasury got burned clean?"

"If a careless servant had gone straight in, he might've even gotten burned to death."

"Besides... the darkness itself shouldn't burn away, right?"

"Then won't the Amaterasu just keep burning? He can forget about hiding anything in his dark space from now on."

This time Blackbeard tried to steal a chicken and ended up losing the rice—hopefully he won't fly into a rage.

"Huh? Lord Sima, you're back?" Nami's surprised voice rang out.

Zoro tossed Luffy onto the deck without ceremony, then cast a concerned glance over. After confirming Sima Di wasn't hurt, he went off on his own to lift weights.

Still too weak—faced with a strong enemy, he could only run.

He had to get stronger!

This made Sima Di glance thoughtfully at Zoro. He recalled the reward he'd signed in for earlier—the Time-Spirit House Teleportation Stone!

This thing has a 30-day cooldown, so the sooner you use it, the sooner the CD starts, right?

But giving it to Zoro isn't the most suitable choice.

Although the teleportation stone can take two people, there's no one on the ship who can guide his swordsmanship, nor any strong swordsman to serve as an opponent and push him to break through.

In the empty Time-Spirit House, a year would at most just make his physique a bit stronger.

That would be a waste.

However...

Sima Di looked at Crocus—this one knows about training Haki.

Send him along too?

Not a bad idea.

But Crocus is already old. And though a year spent in the Time-Spirit House is only a day outside, the body still genuinely grows—would Crocus be willing to spend a year of his lifespan?

A wave of fragrance drifted over—Robin had arrived.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Mm..."

"Don't keep it bottled up inside, even if you have a problem. We're not as smart as you, but two heads are better than one," Robin said.

This gave Sima Di an idea.

"Alright then." Sima Di nodded. "Everyone come over here for a moment, I have something to say."

It happened that Nami had just given the order for the Going Merry to set sail, so everyone was on deck.

They gathered over at once.

As for Luffy lying on the ground with his belly puffed out like a corpse, hardly anyone was curious.

After all, the gluttonous Luffy normally never stops until his stomach is stuffed to bursting.

Sima Di took the Time-Spirit House Teleportation Stone out of his system space.

"You must all be wondering how I can develop my Devil Fruit ability to such a high level, right?" Sima Di said mysteriously. "Besides my brilliant brain, part of the credit goes to this stone—an heirloom of my family."

"Our ancestral teachings say it's a secret treasure of the Great Kingdom. It can teleport up to two people to a certain space. Apart from a dwelling, it's an endless wasteland, with gravity several times that of the outside world and thin air—built entirely for training."

"Most importantly, a year spent there is only a day outside!"

"Too bad, each person can only go twice in their lifetime, and each stay can't exceed one year. And I've already gone twice."

"It activates once every 30 days, and today happens to be exactly 30 days since my last activation. Does anyone want to use it?"

After hearing Sima Di's explanation, everyone was stunned silent for a long time!

Teleportation they could understand—after all, there are Hearthstones.

But...

One day inside equals a year outside?

Each person can only enter twice in their entire life?

Even with the precedent of the Devil Fruit separation drug, the Time-Spirit House Teleportation Stone still seemed far too fantastical.

However...

"Truly worthy of the Great Kingdom! The miraculous nation that built the Grand Line!" Robin sighed.

She believed Sima Di's words without a doubt.

At the same time,

she finally understood why Sima Di was interested in the historical texts.

So his ancestors had this connection with the Great Kingdom—naturally he'd want to uncover the truth of history.

"Yeah! It's amazing!"

"It's almost like a Devil Fruit..."

"You think maybe Devil Fruits are actually..."

"If Devil Fruits can be separated, why can't they be manufactured?"

Seeing the discussion drifting off-topic, Sima Di clapped his hands to call a halt.

"So, who's going to train for a year? Personally I'd suggest two people team up, because being alone in there is too lonely."

Hearing this,

The Straw Hat Pirates exchanged glances with each other.

Zoro was clearly tempted, but he also knew what he most needed right now, so his gaze hesitated toward Dr. Kureha.

Ma Di said,

one year inside is one real year, which made Zoro reluctant to speak up.

Dr. Kureha noticed this and glanced thoughtfully at Laboon.

He had spent almost his entire life alongside Laboon, and even after joining Luo Jie's crew, he did so to find the fate of the Rumbar Pirates.

They were more than partners.

Now that Laboon had taken human form, he treated him outright as a daughter.

He knew well...

Animals can learn Haki!

But most animals are too unintelligent to grasp it.

But Laboon clearly was not among them!

Seeing everyone hesitate,

Dr. Kureha said: "Let this old man and Laboon enter first to train! Afterward, whether or not Laboon masters Haki, I'll bring someone else in next time."

This was trading his own "one-year teaching time" for priority access to the Spirit House and the Teleport Stone.

"I'm fine with it—after all, I can never use this stone again," Ma Di said indifferently.

He left the decision to the others.

"I'm fine," Zoro spoke up first.

Without Dr. Kureha's guidance, his own training could only strengthen him so much.

It would be a waste of attempts.

"Me too."

"Agreed."

"Won't Laboon become the strongest among us?"

"Did you forget Ma Di?"

"No wonder Ma Di is so strong—he's been cheating with this stone!"

7. Pirate who targets ships! Kurekai's epiphany!

As the Thousand Sunny approached shore, two massive ships sped toward the island.

They looked like they were racing to arrive first.