Zoro watched Mihawk walk away, his eyes burning with resolve.
Someday he would defeat that man — that was the vow he'd made to himself, the promise he'd sworn to Kuina.
Rox spoke quietly at his side. "Your base strength was too low. By using Senzu beans you effectively burned five lives to barely survive the dragon-grade monster cell."
"Yes, your strength, speed and reactions leapt ahead, but your swordsmanship and your haki remained where they were. It's like giving a child a peerless blade without the skill to wield it — that's why you lost to Mihawk again."
Zoro listened respectfully. Though Rox kept insisting he was just a powerless inventor, Zoro could sense something else — a true strength in Rox that might even exceed Mihawk's.
"Grind your swordsmanship," Rox continued. "Train your haki especially. On this sea, only haki rules above all."
"You already have the seed of becoming a king."
Rox had indeed felt the domineering edge in Zoro's iai slash — the flicker of Conqueror's Haki. As someone who'd crossed worlds, Rox already knew Zoro carried that potential. In the original story, Zoro only accidentally showed that power later — but the dragon-grade cell had pushed his awakening early.
Zoro felt Rox's faith in him and was moved. "Thank you, Lord Rox. I'll remember your teaching forever."
Though they'd only just met, Rox's earlier line — "Nobody is born on the mountaintop" — had struck a chord. Rox had given Zoro the dragon-grade cell when the young swordsman was down and then spent a fortune in five Senzu beans to keep him alive through the transformation. That debt cut deep; Zoro would never forget.
Still, Zoro wondered why Rox had singled him out so quickly. Rox smiled and explained, "We have a connection. You know Yamato and I are from Wano, right?"
Zoro nodded. "I read about it in the paper."
Rox continued, "Your master, Shimotsuki Kengshirō, is from Wano. My blade — the sword Enma — was forged by Kengshirō's father, Kengsaburō."
The revelation stunned not only Zoro but Yamato as well.
Zoro murmured, awed, "So my fate — meeting Lord Rox and becoming his subordinate — must've been arranged by destiny."
Yamato, eager and sincere, offered, "If Master Kengshirō and his father were driven away from Wano, I will apologize to them and set things right."
She turned to Zoro. "Tell them Wano is changed now. I will make sure the old wrongs are rectified."
Zoro promised to find his teacher in Shimotsuki Village. As he prepared to leave, Rox called after him: "Take Johnny and Yosaku with you."
"Huh?" Zoro blinked.
"They'll help with navigation." Rox's voice was suddenly firm — an order.
Embarrassed, Zoro climbed aboard Johnny and Yosaku's small skiff. Once a little distance had been put between them, he hissed furiously, "Did you tell Lord Rox I'm directionally challenged?!"
Johnny and Yosaku protested loudly and, in doing so, broadcast the rumor across the sea: now the whole world knew Zoro was bad with directions.
On Alvida's ship, Rox watched the trio with amusement. Yamato was delighted: rescuing Zoro meant righting an old wrong of Wano and helping a promising warrior. But Rox hadn't forgotten another important person aboard — the orange-haired girl, Nami.
Rox stole glances at Nami. She had matured into a lovely young woman: orange hair, delicate features, smooth skin. She reminded him of Rebecca. Both girls had been forced to shoulder unfair burdens far too young. As a man who liked to help, Rox felt compelled: if he had saved Rebecca, he would save Nami too.
For now, he kept his interest discreet — Yamato was at his side and Rox didn't want to make a scene.
That evening, just as Rox and Yamato were about to sleep, they heard sobbing from a nearby cabin. Yamato sprang up. "That's Nami crying — I'll go see."
Rox watched her go with quiet amusement. "That brat — she's probably putting on a show," he thought. But he didn't worry: Nami's tricks were harmless against him and Yamato.
Half an hour later Yamato returned, unusually solemn. She took Rox's face in both hands and declared with fierce conviction, "We must save Nami."
Rox tilted his head. Yamato's eyes were wet. "Nami told me her story. She's been driven to steal because of that fishman Arlong. She's so pitiful. We have to rescue her."
Rox understood at once. He wrapped Yamato in his arms. "If my wife commands it, of course we'll do it."
Yamato kissed him happily and that night — well — the two were inseparable.
Little did Yamato know that "saving" Nami suited Rox's plans just fine.
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