Katakuri stayed behind.
It was breakfast time, so everyone introduced themselves to each other while they ate.
When everyone found out that this guy was specifically named by Shano to stay as a training partner,
the crew exchanged glances, and the look in their eyes towards Katakuri suddenly turned a bit strange.
Their gazes carried a hint of pity, some schadenfreude, and Jack even sighed faintly, pretending to be mature as he patted Katakuri's shoulder...
What was with this atmosphere?
Katakuri was baffled, thinking that maybe his scarf had accidentally slipped during breakfast, revealing his true face.
He instinctively reached with his right hand to pull his scarf up.
But then his pupils shrank as he was abruptly astonished—
Huh, something's wrong!
Where's my scarf?!
...
Meanwhile.
Having already filled his belly with desserts earlier, Shano didn't have much of an appetite for this breakfast.
After casually eating a dozen bowls of ramen to get by, he took a cup of coffee to the open-air Sword Dao arena on the second floor. Lying on a rattan chair, he leisurely sorted through his recent gains.
The faint blue system panel unfolded before him, and a stream of text information immediately refreshed onto the scene.
Having taken a trip to the Queen Mother's Chant, it certainly couldn't be in vain—
[You sacrificed Charlotte Katakuri's scarf, earning 3,200 points]
[You sacrificed Charlotte Smoothie's hat, earning 2,500 points]
[You sacrificed Charlotte Owen's cloak, earning 1,100 points]
These were the three most valuable items.
He had also stolen from the other Charlotte's Children on the ship, providing a total of 1,000 points.
These were basically marginal characters, to be honest. Even now, Shano couldn't remember their names.
A total of 7,800 points, quite a handsome gain. Shano was in a good mood as he glanced at the Katakuri below.
What strongest Observation Haki with future sight.
It might suffice to guard against attacks, but against this divine stealing skill, wasn't it powerless?
Besides that...
The Divine Knight Order presented itself, so of course, he couldn't pass up the opportunity to gather some wool.
However, during the standoff, their attention was quite focused, making it hard to make a move on each one.
He could only take advantage of the moment when they were teleporting away to quietly use the "Stealing" card on the leader Shanks.
Last time, the Stealing skill nabbed Kaido and Kizaru's shorts, but this time he was much luckier, directly obtaining Shanks' sword.
Shano looked at the line on top.
[You sacrificed Saint Figarland Shamrock's Western Sword, earning 8,000 points]
What?
Why is it so valuable?
Shano was momentarily surprised, 8,000 points? That greatly exceeded his expectations.
Even Rayleigh's severed arm didn't score this high, so what gave Shanks the edge?
Quickly clicking on the details to check.
[Saint Figarland Shamrock's Western Sword]
[Quality: Epic]
[Value: 8,000 points]
[Appraisal Comment: One of the Twelve Supreme Great Blades, possessing an "Awakened" Zoan-type Mythical Demon Fruit ability, capable of summoning the Hellhound Cerberus, with formidable combat power.]
No wonder!
Shano suddenly realized.
This sword is not only one of the Twelve Supreme Great Blades but also held by a Mythical Zoan-type Ability User with a fruit awakening. These two features are exceedingly rare across the entire Pirate World.
Combined, no wonder the price is so high. Fortunately, the price is high enough; otherwise, it would have been a pity to sacrifice it for nothing.
"I wonder how much Shanks' sword is worth..."
He mused thoughtfully while rubbing his chin.
Really looking forward to meeting that old friend again; both he and his skill-stealing technique dearly missed him.
Before closing the system panel, Shano took one last look at his points.
Originally at 36,800 points, with this windfall, it surged to 14,800, bringing the remaining points to a whopping 51,600, almost evening out the total expenses from last time.
He couldn't help but chuckle as he stretched lazily.
The New World is indeed a wonderful place.
...
After more than ten hours of sailing, before nightfall.
The Endgame finally reached its first island since entering the New World.
Thunder God Island.
The name of this island says it all.
—From a distance, the sky above the island seemed torn apart, with blinding lightning flickering within the pitch-black clouds.
Numerous massive lightning bolts crashed down thunderously, occasionally sparking terrifying explosive flares.
The entire island's terrain was rugged and dangerous, with hardly any vegetation, only scorched deadwood and bare rocks, and the air was thick with the smell of burning.
At the center stood a towering black rocky peak.
Like a giant sword split by lightning, it pierced the clouds, strikingly prominent.
"So this is Thunder God Island. It's my first time here too. They say this island is covered by lightning storms for most of the year, making it one of the most dangerous islands in the New World."
Katakuri stood at the ship's edge, gazing at the island in the distance. "Ordinary people don't dare to set foot on this island. Even pirates who have mastered Haki can be reduced to charred soup in an instant if they aren't careful."
His ferocious fangs and terrifying scars were now fully exposed, looking somewhat out of place with his overall aura.
The strange disappearance of his scarf had puzzled Katakuri all afternoon. Unable to find it, he simply resigned to fate and gave up.
At worst, when they set sail back to Ten Thousand Nations, he'd just buy another scarf to wear.
Anyway, he only had an image to maintain in front of his brothers and sisters.
In front of outsiders, it didn't matter at all.