At The Peak of One Piece

Wendy's playful demeanor vanished as she met Victor's gaze squarely. "Victor, I want to become an elite sniper. When you form your own crew, will you let me be your marksman?" 

Victor studied her for a long moment before responding. "Come to the seaside cabin for dinner tonight. I'll give you my answer then." He needed time to consider—after all, he hadn't decided whether he'd sail independently or join Garp's ship. 

"Perfect! I'll get to taste your famous cooking!" Wendy's laughter tinkled like wind chimes, showing no disappointment at his delayed response. His serious consideration pleased her more than an immediate answer would have. 

As Victor walked toward the shore, he couldn't help but respect her composure. Most would have pressed for an answer, but Wendy understood the value of patience—a sniper's virtue. 

--- 

Back at his cabin, Victor dove into the ocean, swimming farther than usual before finally encountering a Sea King. 'Fishing's gotten tough lately,' he mused wryly. The smaller fish probably thanked him for culling their predators, while the Sea Kings undoubtedly cursed this human who kept thinning their numbers. 

After breakfast with Rebecca—which included an hour of Observation Haki training—Victor demonstrated his "Steel-Cutting" swordsmanship technique. Compared to Zoro's grueling training under Koushirou, Rebecca had it easy with personal demonstrations. 

With time to spare, Victor pondered Wendy's proposal. Her confidence intrigued him—approaching someone who'd defeated a vice admiral took guts. Rebecca was learning navigation, so a sniper would complement their nascent crew well. Even if he joined Garp, three extra members wouldn't be an issue. 

A skilled sniper could turn battles—especially against evenly matched opponents. Armament Haki-infused bullets? Devastating. But first, he needed to assess her abilities. 

--- 

By afternoon, Victor sent Rebecca to invite Smoker and Hina while he hunted another Sea King and some forest game for variety. When he returned, Wendy had already arrived—having skipped unimportant classes to help prepare. 

The girls bonded instantly over vegetable prep, leaving Victor to corral a grumbling Smoker into firewood duty. "Consider it smoke training for your Devil Fruit," Victor quipped, dodging the glare sent his way. 

The feast that followed centered around massive Sea King steaks, with smaller dishes as accents. Wendy's eyes widened as Victor demolished the equivalent of three grown men's portions without breaking a sweat. 

"Life Return," Rebecca explained casually, though Wendy still eyed Victor like he'd grown a second head. 

With plates cleared, Victor got down to business. Smoker and Hina exchanged surprised glances—recruiting during newbie training was unprecedented, but then, so was Victor's rapid rise. 

"I'll be blunt," Victor said, locking eyes with Wendy. "My missions won't be safe. If you're just an average shot, you'll die. But if you've got real talent..." He gestured toward the distant trees. "See that blue leaf? One kilometer out. Show me what you've got." 

Wendy didn't hesitate. She'd prepared for this moment—not just with her rifle, but with the resolve to walk the deadly path beside him.