When she heard that Rosinante intended to storm Impel Down, Shaxia couldn't help but reveal a deeply worried expression.
For one thing, she was worried about Rosinante's body.
After all, he had been lying in bed for ten whole years. No matter how extraordinary he was, his strength had to have declined significantly.
For another, both the World Governnt and the Marines had grown much stronger over the years.
The profits from Sleepless City had made the World Governnt and the Marines incredibly well-funded. With abundant resources in hand, and with the threat of the Four Emperors looming over the New World, Sengoku, as Fleet Admiral, had naturally poured all his efforts into military expansion.
In truth, the Marines had no choice but to grow stronger.
After all, pirate crews like the Whitebeard Pirates had also received a share of Sleepless City's profits, and had only beco more and more powerful because of it.
And although the Gray Kingdom had shattered, much of its overall strength still remained.
The five great divisions had beco five pirate crews and entered the New World. Over the years, their developnt had turned them into an extrely formidable force in their own right.
To deal with the pressure from the Four Emperors and the countless pirates of the New World, the Marines had not only established the Seven Warlords of the Sea over the past few years, but had also launched several massive rounds of recruitnt.
The Marines now didn't just have the three Admirals, Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji...
They also had four Admiral candidates: Fujitora, Ryokugyu, Momousagi, and Chaton.
And that wasn't even ntioning monsters like Sengoku and Garp, two supre combat forces whose nas alone could shake the seas.
Not to ntion...
Even Impel Down's Chief Warden, Magellan, wielder of the Venom-Venom Fruit, possessed strength not inferior to an Admiral.
(And to be clear: Sakazuki hadn't died back then. Although Rosinante's sword slash had knocked him unconscious and nearly killed him, he had ultimately been saved. Even so, a scar remained across his chest... one that still throbbed with pain to this day.)
If Rosinante barged into Impel Down this ti to rescue soone, never mind whether he could successfully save Bins...
The mont the Marines learned that Rosinante was still alive, they would almost certainly launch a brand-new manhunt against him imdiately.
"Don't worry," Rosinante said with a smile. "I haven't just been lying in bed for nothing all these years. You have to understand... only a little over ten years have passed in the world of One Piece, but I personally experienced twenty or thirty years. My body may be much weaker, sure, but my actual strength hasn't dropped by much."
"And I'm not going right away. I'll prepare for a few days first. I'll only move once I'm absolutely certain."
A softer warmth entered his eyes.
"Besides... I still have to protect you and Elsa."
"Rosinante!" Hearing those words, Shaxia happily threw herself into his arms.
Rosinante gently wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
"Ah!" Shaxia suddenly let out a startled cry.
Only then did she realize that Rosinante had lifted her up in a princess carry.
"Shaxia... it's been a long ti since we did this, hasn't it?" Rosinante said.
"B-But... you only just woke up. Your body still hasn't recovered..." Shaxia said, her cheeks flushing.
"My body's in great shape right now," Rosinante replied with a grin. "You'll find that out very soon."
"Ah...!"
That night... there was no need for words.
Actually, there were far too many words. You can imagine the rest yourselves.
Rosinante's stamina was indeed absurdly good.
Even after an entire night of intense activity, he was still able to get up early the next morning.
Shaxia, on the other hand, absolutely could not get out of bed.
So, since Shaxia was too exhausted to rise, Rosinante got up at the crack of dawn and began bustling around in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
At that ti, Elsa also woke up early.
When she saw that it wasn't Mother making breakfast as usual, but Rosinante instead, a trace of confusion appeared in her eyes.
"Where's Mom?" Elsa asked curiously.
"Your mom's still sleeping. She was tired yesterday, so I'm making breakfast today," Rosinante said with a smile. "Does little Elsa always get up this early?"
Elsa looked puzzled for a mont, but didn't think much of it.
Even though Rosinante's room had practically been turned upside down the night before, Elsa hadn't heard a single sound.
After all, Rosinante's power was silence.
"Yep! I get up at this ti every day to train," Elsa said seriously. "Mom says I have to learn how to protect myself!"
Shaxia knew very well that as Rosinante's daughter, Elsa was destined to never live an ordinary, peaceful life.
So she had to learn how to protect herself.
That was why, from a very young age, Shaxia had already begun training her.
"Do you like training, Elsa?" Rosinante asked as he brought the breakfast to the table.
"I do!" Elsa nodded eagerly. "Mom really likes watching practice swordsmanship. She says I'm very talented with the sword... and that one day, I might even catch up to Father!"
"Oh?" Rosinante raised a brow and smiled. "If your mother says that, then it must be true. After breakfast, I'll train with you. If you really like working hard, then I should be able to teach you a thing or two."
"Really?" Elsa's eyes lit up. "Mom says Father is super strong!"
"Well..." Rosinante chuckled. "At the very least, there are very few people in this world who can beat ."
After breakfast, Shaxia had also gotten up.
After the two of them inford her, Rosinante and Elsa left the house together.
It was still early morning.
In the small town where they now lived, very few people were awake yet.
Every now and then, they passed a few early risers. When those people saw Rosinante and Elsa together, they paused in surprise for a mont... but none of them paid it much mind.
"This is where I usually train!" Elsa said as she led Rosinante on a run to the back mountain where she practiced every day.
This was already near the edge of the island.
Beyond it was the open sea.
From the cliffside, one could take in a perfect view of the ocean stretching endlessly into the horizon.
"What a nice place," Rosinante said with a smile, looking out at the sea beyond the cliff while the ocean breeze brushed against his face.
It had been a very long ti since he had last seen the sea.
After all, the Land of Fire was inland.
"Right?!" Elsa said proudly. "It took forever to find this place!"
"Very nice indeed." Rosinante nodded with approval, then turned to her with a faint smile.
"Then first... let see just how good your swordsmanship is."
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