World Government, inside a magnificent hall.
Five old men of varying heights and builds sat here.
Placed before them was a photograph, and on it was none other than Raizen!
“Bordeaux Raizen, fifteen years old, an orphan.”
Saint Ethanbaron V.
Nasu Jurou held the Shodai Kitetsu, tapping his finger lightly.
“One of the root causes of the Totto Land incident.
He is the disciple of Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr.
He has awakened Conqueror’s Haki, is suspected to have eaten a Devil Fruit, and possesses extremely high potential.
He is expected to become an Admiral in the future.”
Opposite him, Shepherd X Pete spoke up, “To add to that, the Nidai Onimaru that the World Government gifted to Big Mom was given to Raizen by her.”
“I see.
Is he also a great swordsman?”
An orphan, the disciple of three former Marine Admirals, and possessing Conqueror’s Haki—this was a very high-quality prospect.
“The current landscape of the seas is becoming increasingly turbulent.
Garp, Zephyr, and the others are getting old, and the Marines are lacking in top-tier strength.
Therefore, we must support talents like Raizen to maintain the Marines’ deterrent power.”
“Seconded.”
“Seconded.”
“Then, how should we support him?
Raizen just obtained one of the 21 Great Grade Swords, and it seems he has also eaten a Devil Fruit.”
“Then wait until he graduates from the training camp.
We will make an exception to promote his military rank, and his flagship will be built to the standard of a Vice Admiral.
How about that?”
“Seconded.”
“Seconded.”
Half a month later, Raizen finally returned to Marineford with Garp.
After greeting Garp, Raizen coated his calves in lightning and returned to the training camp in no time.
As soon as he arrived at the training ground, he saw Smoker, a cigar clamped in his mouth and smoke billowing from his body, saying something to Hina while holding a newspaper.
“Yo, Smoker, long time no see.
What are you looking at?”
Raizen appeared behind Smoker like a ghost and snatched the newspaper right out of his hands.
“Marine Supernova faces off against a Four Emperor without losing ground?”
The newspaper depicted Raizen as a super monster the Marines hadn’t seen in a century—the kind who could hold his own against an Emperor today, become an Admiral next year, and completely steamroll the Four Emperors the year after.
Raizen curled his lips.
That guy Morgans was as full of hot air as ever.
Holding his own against an Emperor?
He had to use more than half his stamina just to block one of her minor attacks.
If Charlotte Linlin hit him again, he would have been flat on the ground.
The gap between the Vice Admiral level and the Emperor or Admiral level was simply too massive.
With Emperor Commanders and Admiral Candidates standing between those tiers, no matter how confident he was, he had to admit the fact that he was currently just a rookie.
After all, he was only fifteen.
He had only been receiving systematic training for a year, and potential required time to be realized.
“Break it up, break it up.
What’s so interesting about such exaggerated news?”
Raizen crumpled the newspaper into a ball and casually tossed it aside.
“What?
You’ve made a name for yourself across the seas, Raizen.
Aren’t you excited at all?”
Smoker looked surprised.
He thought a guy like Raizen would laugh uproariously and brag about how awesome he was, telling Smoker that he was still just a weakling who had a long way to go.
Hina also looked over.
“Hina is curious too.
Are you not happy at all, Raizen?”
Raizen shrugged, pulling a few Berries from his pocket and handing them to Hina.
This was to repay the money she had given him a month ago.
“A person’s most valuable quality is self-awareness.
If I truly had that kind of strength, I would certainly be proud.
But the reality is that I don’t, so this isn’t something worth boasting about.”
Hearing this, Smoker couldn’t help but look shocked.
This man in front of him was surprisingly humble.
Then why had he been so arrogant toward him before?
Thinking of this, Smoker couldn’t help but ask, “Then why did you act so arrogant before?”
“Because you’re too weak.
You aren’t worth my humility.”
“Raizen, you bastard!”
Smoker’s face instantly turned red with anger, and he started yelling, ready to fight Raizen again.
Seeing this, the corners of Raizen’s mouth curled up.
“Perfect.
I haven’t used this ability once since I got it.”
The next moment, Raizen’s gaze sharpened.
Golden-red lightning suddenly erupted, and an invisible, overwhelming pressure instantly blanketed the entire training ground.
Smoker and Hina, who were closest to him, were instantly knocked out cold.
The other cadets training on the field weren’t spared either, immediately collapsing to the ground in a deep sleep.
“Ah, crap.
Looks like I messed up.”
Raizen scratched his head, smiling awkwardly.
He had just started training his Conqueror’s Haki.
Currently, he had only progressed from the uncontrollable stage to being able to control its range, but he still couldn’t manage precise control.
As a result, the entire training camp’s cadets were laid out flat.
At that moment, a furious roar came from the direction of the office building.
“Raizen!
Get your ass in here!”
Raizen sighed and walked listlessly into the office building, only to come flying back out a few minutes later, smashing through the door.
“Yep, Teacher Zephyr’s punches are as familiar as ever.”
Raizen curled his lips.
Teacher Zephyr was always tough on the outside but soft on the inside.
At his age, he still acted so stubborn and proud.
He clearly cared about him, but he just had to be so awkward about it.
The moment he had walked through the door, Zephyr’s gaze had swept all over him, only breathing a sigh of relief after confirming he was unhurt.
Raizen had seen it clear as day.
But before he could even tease him about it, an embarrassed and angry Zephyr had punched him flying.
The airborne Raizen used Moonwalk to fly back and began moving the cadets, lining them up neatly against the wall.
Only after finishing this did he head toward the Fleet Admiral’s office.
After all, such a massive incident had occurred during his trip, so he had to report to his teacher, Sengoku.
Walking all the way to Fleet Admiral Sengoku’s office, he heard Teacher Garp’s booming laughter before he even entered.
“Hahaha, what does it matter?
You’re the one who’s going to get yelled at anyway, Sengoku!
Hahaha!”
Raizen poked his head in and saw a dark-faced Sengoku, Garp slapping the table in laughter, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, who was so used to their bickering that she was quietly drinking tea by herself on the side.
With nowhere to vent his anger, Sengoku turned his head toward the door and glared.
“You brat, what are you looking at?
Get in here!”
Catching the stray crossfire, Raizen could only shrug innocently and walk inside.
“Good morning, Teacher Sengoku, Teacher Garp, Auntie Tsuru.”
Tsuru nodded with a smile, her face full of kindness.
She was very satisfied with the disciple of her old friends.
Sengoku looked Raizen up and down.
“You’re not hurt, are you, kid?”
Garp ate rice crackers on the side, grinning as he said, “I told you he was fine.
Raizen’s strength is incredible now.”
“Shut up, Garp!
I wasn’t asking you!”
Sengoku stepped up and smacked Garp.
Raizen had every reason to suspect that Sengoku was just using this to vent his anger.