With the official matters settled, Weiwei shifted to more personal topics, seeming a bit absent-minded as she casually spoke, "Mr. Zefa..."
Zefa glanced at her, ready to say something, but after weighing several reasons, he held back.
The old man was surrounded by students everywhere he went—calling him "Teacher" like he was a classroom instructor rather than a strict master with rigid rules. There were no exact counts—one more or one less student didn't matter.
It was like running into an acquaintance on the street and calling them "Mr. Chen" or "Mr. Li"—no rules, just what felt natural.
Weiwei seized the moment and asked calmly, "I've been practicing Armament Haki recently. I heard that's your specialty, Teacher Zefa. I have a few questions—can you help me?"
Zefa, known as the "Black Wrist," was famous for his mastery of Armament Haki. Weiwei's question hit his weak spot, and the old man instantly switched into teaching mode.
He hummed thoughtfully, "I haven't been to the first half of the Grand Line for years. The situation in Alabasta is that dangerous now? Does a princess really need to train her Armament Haki?"
He pointed to the tall, lean Binz nearby. "You—use an iron block to punch the princess. Let me check her level."
"Yes, Teacher," Binz responded, perfectly fitting the role of a test dummy. He nodded at Weiwei, ready to attack on command.
Practical teaching? Sure beats just sitting around chatting, right?
Weiwei looked reluctant, hesitating.
Seeing this, Zefa grinned and pointed to the door. "If you don't want to practice, you can leave."
Weiwei hurried to clarify, "No, no! I'm just... I don't have enough strength. Lieutenant Binz is so tall, I'm afraid..."
She wanted to add she couldn't even open a bottle cap, but those words felt too embarrassing to say aloud.
Realizing she had to act, she rolled up her sleeves.
"Lieutenant Binz, watch out!"
Binz barely cared about Weiwei's warning. In his twenties and a seasoned soldier, he considered himself a master. He didn't take a girl seriously—even a beautiful one like Weiwei. Fighting skill had nothing to do with looks.
Domineering? Did she even understand it? For him and Ain, they'd only just touched the edges of Armament Haki, barely past the doorway. Now this little girl wanted to be taught? That was downright arrogant.
Seeing Weiwei take an attacking stance, Binz took a deep breath and accelerated blood flow to his muscles, making his body as hard as steel. Except in rare cases, no normal person could move in this state—defense was prioritized over mobility. This skill was "Sixth Form: Iron Nugget," used by World Government agents and Navy officers alike.
Weiwei focused, shedding distractions and adjusting her Armament Haki.
She lowered her weight, placed her right fist by her side, and as Binz's muscles tensed into a solid block, she struck decisively.
After two months of practice, even without mastering the finer points, relying on sheer effort alone, Weiwei had pushed her Armament Haki to level 3 (9/100).
Armament Haki tightens the skin and boosts strength by at least 30%. Though still at the basic "hardening" stage, she estimated with time she'd soon learn to "entangle" primary weapons.
At that moment, she condensed all her Armament Haki onto her right fist—the jet-black aura spreading from her knuckles to her elbow.
"Boom!"
When her fist slammed into Binz's lower abdomen, Weiwei felt like she'd punched steel. Her wrists and elbows numbed, and the bones not covered by Haki, like her shoulder, gave a faint crunch.
Weiwei didn't know Zefa beat his students daily. She only knew Brother Binz's "Iron Nugget" was tough—but her Armament Haki was even tougher!
She imagined she'd landed a clean hit. Binz, used to admiration from women, was stunned as a massive force slammed into his gut.
Sixth Form's defense shattered instantly. Binz's abs felt the hardness of Weiwei's Armament arrogance, and then he saw her eyes flash like a wild beast. The punch sent him flying more than ten meters back.
Why was this girl so strong?
Her defense was broken by the sheer hardness of Armament Haki, and being sent flying? That was pure strength.
Old Zefa's eyes narrowed. What's going on here? Is there some strange blood in the Neferutari family? Her power far surpasses her peers.
"Another punch!" Weiwei readied herself.
Binz's face darkened, but before he was struck again, Zefa shouted, "Stop!"
With years of experience, the old man could tell the core of Weiwei's problem after just two punches: lack of confidence, overthinking.
"What are you doing?!" he yelled. "Who taught you this sloppy, disorganized Armament? This is your Armament Haki? Don't use it recklessly outside or you'll be laughed at! If you come to Navy Headquarters for special training, I'll say one thing to you—get out!"
He didn't explain further, just scolded harshly.
Weiwei, cheeky as a transmigrator, didn't care about face and took the scolding head-on.
Ain and Binz looked even more embarrassed. Weiwei's Haki was scolded as nonsense and told to leave—what did that make their levels?
Weiwei let it go in one ear and out the other.
In truth, she muttered inwardly, "Old man's temper is awful and stubborn. No wonder that yellow ape doesn't like him—he probably scolds most young ones."
Zefa, full of momentum, continued: "Armament isn't used like that! What's the essence of Armament? It's your belief! You don't trust yourself and use it blindly. You hesitate with your Armament Haki—what's there to hesitate about? The only rule for Armament is this: with your belief, be tough enough to defend and strong enough to defeat your enemy. That's all!"