More than a month had passed since the events on Little Garden.
However, the waves stirred by that incident had yet to subside with time.
This was evident from the fact that Issho was still holding onto the headline newspaper from that day.
With the media's widespread coverage, the news of Maude slaying the former Giant Warrior Pirates members, "Blue Ogre" and "Red Ogre," had spread across the entire Grand Line.
Although their bounties were only 100 million berries each, that amount had been set a hundred years ago.
Thus, those who followed the news did not believe that Blue Ogre and Red Ogre were merely worth that much.
Furthermore, firsthand accounts from bounty hunters and pirates who had safely escaped Little Garden lent even more credibility and weight to the continuous three-day front-page coverage.
Over time, the Little Garden Incident earned another name—"The Clash of Monsters!"
Thanks to the media's sensationalism, Maude's fame soared to new heights.
Such was the world of pirates.
The fastest way to gain notoriety was to battle renowned powerhouses.
Afterward, the media would take it upon themselves to amplify the spectacle.
While the outside world continued its fervent discussions, Maude and his crew had already returned to the waters of the Florian Triangle.
"Who are they?"
Inside the castle, Maude stood before a spacious prison cell, his gaze passing through the rusted iron bars to observe the hundred or so men inside.
"Hoho..."
Lafitte, who had led Maude here, chuckled eerily and explained, "They are pirates who lost their way in the Florian Triangle over the past two months."
"Oh?"
Maude raised an eyebrow.
Encountering Thriller Bark amidst the perpetual fog of the Florian Triangle was simply a matter of bad luck for these pirates.
Lafitte tilted his head slightly and said meaningfully, "Thinking they might hold some value, I spared their lives."
Maude instantly understood Lafitte's implication and shook his head. "They're too weak. Not worth the effort."
"What a pity... If they have no value, we should just dispose of them."
Lafitte rested his cane horizontally in front of him, his tone filled with feigned regret.
Then came the slow, deliberate sound of a blade being drawn from its sheath.
Hearing this, the hundred or so pirates in the cell shuddered violently.
They raised their heads, eyes wide with terror, as they watched Lafitte unsheathing his sword-cane. The scent of death filled the air.
Suddenly, Maude raised his hand, pressing down on Lafitte's arm to stop him.
Lafitte looked at his captain with curiosity.
"Value, huh…"
Maude gazed at the trembling pirates inside the cell and said indifferently, "They have some use after all."
These unfortunate fools who had wandered into Thriller Bark might not be worth much experience, but their shadows could be repurposed to animate a portion of the zombies.
Even if they lacked combat prowess, they could still be used as labor.
Three hours later.
A pirate ship sailed out of Thriller Bark's inner bay.
On its deck stood a group of pirates with vacant expressions, as if they had just endured a nightmare.
At the shore.
Cavendish watched the departing ship and murmured, "They had their shadows cut away..."
"Captain."
The Beautiful Pirates' navigator, Nokk, approached Cavendish cautiously and asked, "How much longer do we have to stay in this damned place?"
"That's something you should ask Maude."
Cavendish shot Nokk a glare, clearly annoyed.
"Uh…"
Nokk chuckled awkwardly.
Let alone asking Maude, just standing in his presence was enough to render him speechless.
"Not for too long."
At that moment, Maude's voice drifted over from the forest behind them.
Hearing him, Cavendish froze momentarily before turning around to see Maude walking out of the woods at a leisurely pace.
As for Nokk, he also turned, though his movements were stiff.
Upon meeting Maude's gaze, Nokk forced a polite smile.
Though, truth be told, his expression looked more like he was on the verge of tears.
To calm himself, Nokk shakily pulled out an eyelash brush and began grooming his long, thin black lashes.
Maude cast a puzzled glance at Nokk's peculiar behavior but didn't pay it much mind. Instead, he looked at Cavendish.
"About two to three months."
"!!!"
Cavendish's eyes widened in shock.
Nokk's eyelash brush slipped from his fingers, falling to the ground with a soft thud.
"T-Two to three months?! You call that 'not for too long'?!"
After a long moment, Cavendish shouted in disbelief at Maude.
Maude remained unfazed, smiling. "Is there a problem?"
"…"
Cavendish opened his mouth, but no words came out, as if his throat had been strangled.
Meanwhile, Nokk buried his head in his chest like an ostrich, unwilling to face reality.
Seeing Cavendish's reaction, Maude chuckled and said earnestly, "Trust me. Staying here a little longer will only benefit you."
Like hell it will!!!
Cavendish screamed internally.
A few days later.
In the training grounds near the castle's forest.
Cavendish lay on the ground, battered and bruised, looking utterly miserable.
"Maude, this is what you call a 'benefit'?!"
"Getting a free sparring partner—isn't that a benefit?"
A few meters away, Maude smiled at the defeated and exhausted Cavendish.
The training match had lasted less than thirty seconds.
As for the outcome, it was, of course, a complete one-sided beatdown.
Cavendish struggled to sit up, gritting his teeth. "It's more like I'm the free sparring partner for you!"
"With your level…"
Maude trailed off and shook his head, his meaning clear.
Cavendish nearly coughed up blood in frustration.
Outside the training grounds, everyone was watching—except for Philo, who was busy researching antibodies and antidotes in her room. Even the Beautiful Pirates were present.
They all looked on with complicated expressions as their captain was utterly dominated by Maude.
Perhaps sensing their gazes, Cavendish forced himself to stand despite his injuries.
Maude observed him, noting how he stubbornly refused to back down despite being completely drained.
"Cavendish, your inner persona can use Armament Haki proficiently, yet you haven't even grasped the basics. With your current level, heading to the New World is just asking for death."
"Even if it is, that's my choice."
Cavendish glared at Maude, clenching his teeth.
Maude shook his head. "Don't be so stubborn. Be a good training dummy for Brook and the others. In return, Lafitte will teach you how to use Armament Haki."
"…"
Only now did Cavendish realize Maude's true intent.
He was being made into a sparring partner for Brook and the others.
But if it meant learning Armament Haki…
Cavendish hesitated.
By the time he snapped out of his thoughts, Maude had already vanished.
"That bastard never even gives people a choice!"
Cavendish sighed in exhaustion.
Lafitte glanced toward the castle and smiled as he stepped into the training grounds.
For the crew to keep up with Maude, it was his duty as an instructor to ensure that Brook and the others mastered Haki.
Inside the castle.
Maude sat in his chair, watching a shadow slip in through the window.
In the next two months, while Cavendish served as a sparring partner, Maude had no intention of idling.
The Shadow-Shadow Fruit still held untapped potential.
He would use this time to further refine his abilities.
And to hone Hakoku.
Time flew by.
Two months later.
The Beautiful Pirates' Sleeping Forest White Steed approached the waters of the Sabaody Archipelago.
-------
Want to read waaaay ahead of schedule? Head over to my Patreon ——— patreon(.)com/EmperorGarus [remove the parenthesis ( )]
There are more than 400 advance chapters available for you!