Chapter 76: Foundations and Futures
The morning sun streamed into Major General Jock Ian's office at the Sabaody naval base, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Skylark stood by his desk, a pair of small, delicate scissors in her hand as she meticulously trimmed the leaves of the potted plant. Under her daily care, the leaves were a vibrant green, the flowers in full, fragrant bloom.
In the base's serious atmosphere, these small, living touches did wonders to lighten the mood.
"Skylark," Jock Ian began, his voice lazy as he lounged in his chair, watching the "little flower" arrange the flowers. The sight was warm and pleasing. It was a stark contrast to the image of the plant's original giver, the cold and resolute Admiral Akainu. How did someone like him end up with a descendant as gentle as Skylark? "Haven't I told you many times? You can take it back to your room to care for. You don't need to come here every day."
"Of course not!" Skylark replied, her tone earnest. She didn't look up, her focus entirely on a stubborn leaf. "From the moment this plant was entrusted to Major General Ian, it belonged only to Major General Ian!"
Jock Ian raised an eyebrow, a thoughtful smirk playing on his lips. "Tsk... Little Skylark, are you using a very advanced metaphor there?"
Skylark finally looked up, her bright eyes filled with genuine confusion. "Hmm? Major General Ian, what do you mean?"
Jock Ian shook his head, waving a dismissive hand. "It's nothing, it's nothing. With your level of emotional intelligence, you probably didn't mean it to be that complicated." He let out a soft sigh. "You're such a simple girl, and I'm the one who's complicated."
He immediately regretted his words as he saw Skylark's face fall, her gaze dropping to the floor. She was intensely sensitive to his every word.
"Major General Ian," she said, her voice small, "am I... the least talented one on the team? Sister Nami and Sister Peacock have been practicing together, and they've both started to grasp Observation Haki recently. I learned Armament and Observation Haki a long time ago, but my level has always been... lacking. I..."
Her insecurities were written plainly on her face. If Jock Ian didn't know her better, he might have thought she was fishing for compliments. But her worry was genuine.
How old is she? Peacock and Nami are years older. She's mastered both types of Haki at her age and she's still not satisfied? The thought was almost laughable.
"Little Skylark," Jock Ian said, his voice softening considerably. "You are talented. You are the most naturally gifted sniper I have ever seen." He leaned forward slightly. "Next time you train, try something new. Don't just aim for targets you can see clearly. Try to predict your target's next move, combine it with your Observation Haki and your own sharp hearing. I believe you'll make a huge breakthrough in your sniping technique." He paused, a faint, nostalgic smile on his face. "In a game I played a long time ago, this kind of technique had a common name..."
He looked her directly in the eye. "...It was called 'Blind Fire'."
Though she didn't fully understand the reference, the concept itself was deeply shocking. A new world of possibilities seemed to open before her.
"Thank you for your guidance, Major General Ian!" Skylark said, her voice filled with renewed determination.
…
Inside the base's training ground, Colonel Peacock and Colonel T-Bone were locked in a sparring match—a direct clash of whip against sword.
Peacock had consciously forbidden herself from using her Devil Fruit abilities, relying solely on her Haki to confront T-Bone.
"Uncle T, your Haki is improving way too fast!" Peacock remarked, a note of genuine admiration in her voice as she deflected a swift slash with her coiled whip. "I remember when we first arrived on the island, you weren't this strong."
The informal way Jock Ian addressed T-Bone had gradually rubbed off on the rest of the cadre. Now, several of them respectfully called the older Marine "Uncle T."
"It is thanks to Major General Ian taking the time to train with me recently," T-Bone replied, his stance solid and unwavering. "I never thought I could progress further at my age." A hint of a smile touched his usually stern features. "Adjutant Peacock, your youth and talent are truly something to be envied."
He adjusted his grip on his sword. "I recently learned a new swordsmanship technique from Major General Ian. Adjutant Peacock, may I try it?"
Even in the heat of sparring, T-Bone maintained his respectful demeanor, always asking permission before using a new, potentially dangerous move.
"Hehe, of course, Uncle T! Bring it on!" Peacock grinned, her eyes sparkling with challenge. She flicked her whip, cracking it in the air. "I'm Little Ian's adjutant, after all. How could I possibly lose to the team's third-in-command?"
"The third in command..." T-Bone repeated, his focus intensifying. "Adjutant Peacock, I was once in a vanguard unit. Now that I am a permanent member of this team, a position like adjutant... is something I would actually like to try for!"
He gathered his strength, his mind centering, and his aura shifted dramatically. The air around him seemed to grow heavy.
A moment later, Peacock's eyes widened in sheer surprise. "Is this for real? Can a swordsman even do that?"
…
Behind the station warehouse, facing a tall, blank wall, Nami held a handful of soft rubber marbles. She took a deep breath, calming her racing heart and steadying her stance.
Then, in one fluid motion, she hurled the marbles with all her might against the wall and snapped her eyes shut.
The marbles shot back in a chaotic, unpredictable volley.
Swish…
Swi-swi-swish…
Relying on her petite frame and nimble footwork, Nami weaved and dodged, her body moving instinctively into the gaps between the rebounding trajectories. One by one, the marbles shot past her, none making contact.
"I did it… I really did it!" she exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air. "That's great! Yeah!"
This was the first time she had successfully avoided every single marble. And it wasn't luck. She had felt their trajectories, predicted their paths. The difference between being a Marine maintaining order and a pirate risking everything at sea was vast. If she wanted to keep following Jock Ian, relying solely on her Climate Baton wouldn't be enough. He never asked it of her, but Nami knew deep down that she had to learn more, master more, to remain by his side.
Once the motivation came from within, the results followed twice as fast.
…
Back in his office, Jock Ian watched the morning reports, a sense of quiet satisfaction settling over him. His crew was growing, each in their own way, building the foundation for whatever storms lay ahead. The peace, he knew, was temporary. But for now, it was a solid foundation.