A shortcut to Haki?
Ain stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in astonishment as she turned back.
Everyone else on deck instantly tensed as well.
If Lucas hadn’t said anything, that would have been one thing.
But after witnessing his monstrously powerful Conqueror’s Haki...
Hearing him suddenly mention a "shortcut" caused an absurd thought to spring into everyone’s mind.
Could he really possess a way to awaken Haki?
"Admiral Lucas..."
"Are you serious?"
Ain clenched her fists tightly, unable to hide the anticipation in her eyes.
Everyone stared at Lucas, waiting for his answer.
Adjusting his glasses, Lucas smiled.
"Do I look like I’m joking?"
"That said..."
"I don’t know if it’ll actually work."
"If things go wrong..."
"You could die."
"I can only offer you one chance to gamble."
A gamble?
Ain froze.
She had never expected an answer so completely opposite to the steady, methodical philosophy Zephyr had always taught.
But then...
Wasn’t Lucas himself proof of taking a gamble?
At roughly the same age as her, he had skipped countless ranks to become an Admiral.
No ordinary Marine, no matter how diligently they climbed the ranks step by step, could ever hope to reach that position so quickly.
Seeing Ain fall silent, Lucas didn’t rush her.
He had already confirmed with the system that the Tenfold Gravity Training Room could be integrated directly into his cabin.
Its adjustable gravity could easily be explained away without exposing the system’s existence.
As for why he was willing to help Ain...
The answer was simple.
As a model salaryman, Lucas naturally wanted capable subordinates.
If they could solve every problem for him...
He could happily lie back and collect his paycheck.
Wasn’t that the ideal life?
The deck fell completely silent.
Everyone watched Ain, eager to hear her decision.
Feeling everyone’s gaze upon her, Ain felt as though an invisible hand had seized her heart.
Looking at Lucas’s calm, indifferent expression...
She finally made up her mind.
Rather than spend her entire life unable to avenge those she had lost...
She would rather become stronger.
"Admiral Lucas."
"I’ll take the gamble."
"Please let me try this shortcut to Haki."
"Even if it costs me my life..."
"I won’t regret it."
Everyone stared at her in shock.
No one had expected her to actually agree.
Could there truly be a shortcut to awakening Haki?
"Admiral Lucas!"
Koby suddenly stepped forward.
"I want to try too."
As he spoke, he pulled Helmeppo along with him.
Helmeppo hadn’t even reacted before he realized Lucas’s gaze had fallen on him.
As a self-admitted coward...
He definitely wasn’t eager to gamble with his life.
Unfortunately...
Koby had already dragged him into the spotlight.
Backing out now would be humiliating.
More importantly...
He had always considered Koby his rival on the path to becoming stronger.
He refused to let Koby leave him behind.
"Admiral Lucas..."
"I’ll take the gamble too."
Smoker bit down harder on his cigars.
Beside him, Tina unconsciously clenched the cigarette between her lips.
The two exchanged awkward glances.
By seniority...
They were the veterans here.
Yet now they were being outdone by the younger generation.
Their pride simply couldn’t take it.
"Admiral Lucas..."
"I’ll try as well."
Tina stepped forward.
"So will I."
Smoker followed immediately behind her.
Inside the cabin...
And even in the corner where they had been pretending to be invisible...
Crocodile, Spandam, and the members of CP9 all froze.
If Lucas’s proposal alone had merely sounded ridiculous...
Then seeing so many people willing to risk their lives instantly shook them.
If not for standing on opposite sides...
They almost felt an irresistible urge to join the gamble themselves.
Fortunately...
Reason prevailed.
"Heh..."
Spandam sneered quietly.
"This new Admiral really is naïve."
"If there were actually a shortcut to awakening Haki..."
"My CP9 agents would’ve joined CP0 long ago."
"Would they still be stuck at Enies Lobby?"
"Just watch."
"This foolish Fourth Admiral is only going to make a complete fool of himself."
"Boss Crocodile..."
Mr. 1 couldn’t help asking,
"Is awakening Haki really that difficult?"
Crocodile remained expressionless.
"That idiot may be weak..."
"But he’s right."
"Just watch."
"Don’t expect too much."
"Treat it as entertainment."
His voice wasn’t loud...
But everyone present heard it clearly.
Tina and the others immediately looked ready to argue.
Lucas simply waved a hand to stop them.
"Alright."
"It’s getting late."
"I’ll be taking my lunch break soon."
"I don’t want to waste any more time."
"What you need to do is very simple."
"Anyone willing to gamble..."
"Come into my cabin."
"I’ll confine my Conqueror’s Haki to a limited area."
"Then I’ll gradually increase the pressure."
"My goal is to force your Haki to awaken."
"Of course..."
"If you don’t possess the potential for Haki in the first place..."
"Then dying is simply dying."
Using Conqueror’s Haki...
...to force Haki to awaken?
Everyone’s minds went blank.
Now they finally understood why Lucas had warned them that they might die.
After witnessing his terrifying Conqueror’s Haki firsthand...
Facing that pressure directly truly meant gambling with one’s life.
Ain clenched her fists several times before resolutely walking toward Lucas’s cabin.
Koby quickly followed.
Helmeppo’s legs trembled so violently they nearly twisted together, his face filled with regret, but he still forced himself to keep up.
As for Tina and Smoker...
They had already taken the first step.
There was no turning back now.
Through the open doorway, Crocodile, Spandam, and the others watched the five Marines gather inside the cabin.
Their nerves tightened once again.
They desperately wanted to witness Lucas fail.
"Admiral Lucas."
Smoker stood with both cigars in his mouth.
"Earlier, we only experienced a brief taste of your Conqueror’s Haki."
"Now that I have the chance to experience it directly..."
"I’d like to know just how long I can endure it."
Tina nodded.
"So would I."
"Please don’t hold back."
"We’re ready."
"Ready?"
Lucas adjusted his glasses.
Instead of entering immediately, he stopped several meters outside the cabin with a faint smile.
"Before we begin..."
"There’s something you should know."
"No smoking indoors."