Faced with his trusted subordinate’s question, Caron stared absently across the distant sea.
Behind the warship, the waves spread outward in long ripples as the vessel continued on its course.
Some knowledge was deliberately kept from the public by the World Government.
Haki was one such secret.
If everyone on the seas learned that ordinary people could gain extraordinary power through training, it might weaken the World Government’s control.
Even as a Marine captain and commander of the Mushroom Town Marine Branch, Caron knew only fragments about Haki.
During his many years of loyal service, he had occasionally overheard senior Marine officers discussing it.
However, the information had always been incomplete.
Caron did not know the precise methods used to train Haki, but he knew enough to answer Bart’s question.
“There are many powers on these seas that defy common sense.”
“Devil Fruits are one example.”
“Haki is another.”
“To gain the power of a Devil Fruit, a person needs luck, opportunity, or enough wealth to purchase one.
It It is not a method that everyone can reliably replicate..”
“Haki is different.”
“Observation Haki and Armament Haki can be awakened and developed through training.
Even an ordinary person may learn to wield them with enough effort.”
“Haki is divided into three forms.”
“Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror’s Haki.”
Caron spoke slowly.
“Haki…”
Bart’s expression changed.
He felt as though he had just been introduced to one of the deepest secrets hidden beneath the surface of the world.
“The first two forms can be learned through rigorous training.”
“The third is different.”
“No amount of effort can grant Conqueror’s Haki to someone who wasn’t born with it.”
“Some gifts are innate.”
“You either possess them from birth, or you never will.”
“Because certain people…”
Caron paused.
“…are born fundamentally different from everyone else.”
“They are natural rulers.”
“Mr.
Leon is one of them.”
“He was born with the qualities of a supreme ruler—a monster destined to stand above ordinary people.”
Bart swallowed.
“So no amount of training can grant someone that potential??”
It was a harsh truth, but not an unreasonable one.
Some talents were simply present from birth.
Certain people were born extraordinarily intelligent, while others were average.
Hard work could improve a person, but it could not always erase every natural difference.
There were limits effort alone could never overcome.
“Mr.
Leon is one of those monsters born beyond the norm.”
Bart stared into the distance.
“Only those with the disposition of a supreme ruler can awaken Conqueror’s Haki.”
“Such individuals are said to appear only once among millions.”
“The power Mr. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Leon used to incapacitate that Sea King was Conqueror’s Haki.”
“If he had directed it at us instead, everyone aboard this warship could have been overwhelmed in an instant.”
“Even I might not have remained standing.”
“It attacks the will itself.
Without sufficient resolve, there is no way to resist it.”
Caron’s voice carried unmistakable reverence.
The disposition of a king.
One among millions.
A true monster of the seas.
Each description left Bart more shaken than the last.
Caron continued after a brief pause.
“What makes Mr.
Leon even more extraordinary is his age.”
“He is only sixteen, yet he has not merely awakened Conqueror’s Haki.
He can already control it with remarkable precision.”
“Even those born with the necessary potential usually require some kind of trigger or guidance before the power emerges.”
“Then they must slowly learn to control it.”
“But Mr.
Leon…”
Admiration filled Caron’s eyes.
“He awakened it on his own and mastered it without anyone teaching him.”
As far as Caron knew, even Kizaru—one of the Marines’ greatest military powers—did not possess Conqueror’s Haki.
Leon had also spent nearly his entire life in the North Blue and had never received formal instruction in its use.
Despite that, he had awakened and learned to control it by the age of sixteen.
That level of talent was almost impossible to describe.
Caron could think of only one fitting conclusion.
Leon was a natural-born Haki prodigy.
A terrifying one.
After hearing his commanding officer’s explanation, Bart felt as though a storm were raging inside him.
“True monsters are always different from ordinary people.”
“Look at the three Admirals.
Each of them has his own unusual personality.”
“Only people with extraordinary talent can afford to receive extraordinary treatment.”
Caron turned toward Bart with a serious expression.
“Later, make sure the recruits understand that they are not to disturb Mr.
Leon.”
“Understood.”
Bart nodded before turning and leaving.
Left alone at the stern, Caron thought for a moment before taking out a Den Den Mushi.
He placed a call to Marine Headquarters.
At the same time, far away in the first half of the Grand Line, near the Red Line—
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Admiral Kizaru had been summoned to Fleet Admiral Sengoku’s office and was currently awaiting orders.
Then—
The distinctive ringing of a Den Den Mushi echoed through the room.
Kizaru blinked.
Only then did he realize that he had accidentally brought his office Den Den Mushi with him.
He took it out and glanced at Sengoku, who sat behind his desk with a stern expression.
After receiving a nod of permission, Kizaru answered the call.
“Admiral Kizaru, this is Captain Caron of the Mushroom Town Marine Branch in the North Blue.”
The voice was familiar.
Kizaru had spoken with him only a few days earlier.
“What is it?”
“My nephew has completed his enlistment without any trouble, hasn’t he?”
Aside from something involving Leon, Kizaru could not imagine why a mere branch captain would contact him directly.
“Nephew?”
Sengoku openly listened from behind his desk.
“Kizaru has a nephew?
And he arranged for him to join the Marines?”
The Marines possessed an extensive intelligence network, but information concerning an Admiral’s private family was not something anyone could investigate casually.
“Admiral Kizaru, there is something I believe you should know in advance.”
Caron’s voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
“It concerns your nephew, Mr.
Leon.”
“Go ahead.”
“Were you aware that Mr.
Leon has awakened Conqueror’s Haki?”
Caron hesitated before continuing.
“And that he can already control it freely?”
Kizaru froze.
For once, his relaxed expression completely disappeared.
“What?”
He opened his mouth but failed to produce another word.
Conqueror’s Haki?
His nephew?
That hopelessly lazy brat who spent his days lying around like he had no bones?
Leon had actually awakened Conqueror’s Haki?
He possessed the disposition of a supreme ruler?
The revelation went far beyond anything Kizaru had expected.
He had originally planned to place Leon in a safe administrative position within the Marine Logistics Division.
The boy could sit behind a desk, earn a regular salary, and at least avoid starving to death.
But now—
Leon had apparently been concealing extraordinary power.
He was a genuine Conqueror’s Haki user.
Had Kizaru misjudged his nephew all these years?
Or had Leon simply hidden himself too well?
A startling thought suddenly appeared in Kizaru’s mind.
Could his nephew Leon…
actually have the potential to become an Admiral?