Fleet Admiral Oharden's brow tightened, worry clouding his face. "Carter, this might not actually be a good thing."
"Three 'kings' showing up at once, and two of them are already fighting. In the future…"
"If their ideals and sense of justice clash, we might be facing the greatest chaos in Marine history."
Those who possess Conqueror's Haki aren't just born gifted—their pursuits and dreams are backed by an iron will.
Unshakeable.
Three with the 'qualifications of a king' appearing in the sa class at the Marine Academy—unprecedented!
If king clashes with king, the disaster could be catastrophic.
At that, Admiral Rampaging Bear also frowned. "That worry… seems to be happening already."
Garp and Sengoku were covered in injuries and blood—one glance said it all: a brutal fight.
If they're already in conflict now, then in the future…
Once these cadets grow into powerhouses, they might not destroy the heavens and earth, but they'll definitely shake them.
"Hahahaha—" Carter suddenly laughed. "Fleet Admiral, Lincoln, you're overthinking it. From what I know, Klein's already got the other two toeing the line."
"With Klein's talent, suppressing the other two—or staying neutral—won't be a problem."
"Oh?" Oharden looked genuinely surprised, much of his worry lifting. "I read Klein's file. The kid's obsessed with money. Didn't expect him to have this kind of pull, too."
Admiral Rampaging Bear recalled the bathhouse scene and chuckled. "Wah-hahahaha—I did hear that big lug nad Garp call Klein 'big bro' with my own ears."
Back then, he was trying to recruit Klein under his banner.
Mm…
Looking at it now, that kid, Garp, got monstrous talent, too!!
Might be worth recruiting later!
Also…
Compared to Klein's small build, he preferred guys like Garp—tall and burly. Much easier on the eyes!
It's just the muscles—still too small. Needs work!
Instructor Carter had personally seen Klein defeat Garp. Even in daily training, Garp treated Klein with extra respect, calling him big bro…
A tagalong little brother!
He spoke again. "Just watch."
"Then I want to see how Klein 'suppresses' the other two with kingly qualifications." Oharden decided to observe and step in if necessary.
He hoped these three top-tier talents would one day lead the Marines to glory.
The shipyard.
Garp finally caught his breath and rushed up to Klein, eyes shining. "Big bro, what was that presence you released just now?"
"That was insane!"
As he spoke, he tried to recapture the feeling. He stared hard at Klein, eyes bulging.
He tried more than a dozen tis, but he just couldn't trigger that 'Conqueror's Haki' again.
"…" Klein's mouth twitched. Who could stand Garp's big square face doing that repeated glare? "Garp, quit batting your eyes at . You're giving goosebumps."
"Big bro, I just wanted to see if I could release that feeling again." Garp scratched his head, then—smooth as a thief—snatched a senbei from Klein's snack bag and popped it into his mouth.
Tasty!
Klein set the snack bag down, grinning. "It's a king's aptitude—only one in a million at sea has it. It's called Conqueror's Haki."
"It can intimidate—"
"Conqueror's Haki is innate. It ans your talent's pretty good. Compared to , you're just a bit short."
"Hahahaha—" Garp split into a grin. "One in a million?"
"I am a genius!"
'You're a standout, all right.'
The next second, he felt Klein's oppressive gaze. His scalp prickled. He hurried to add, "Big bro is the genius among geniuses!"
"I see…" Sengoku's face shifted with dawning comprehension.
But then he rembered how Klein's Conqueror's Haki had been far stronger and tighter than his own, crushing his aura like dry sticks.
Great.
That damned bastard Klein was miles ahead again.
So frustrating!
Why is this guy—obviously weak as a kitten just a few months ago—now beating in everything?!
It's… it's infuriating!
'I really want to land a punch right on that smug face of his!'
"All right, pick up where you left off." Klein sat cross-legged again and casually grabbed the snack bag.
Crunch—
Crunch—
Sengoku's temple throbbed, but the mont he rembered Klein's strength, the spark of anger guttered out.
So powerless…
Garp, still wearing that square-jawed look of confusion, asked again:
"Big bro, I felt a strange power surge through my body just now. What was that?"
"That was the power of my love—for you."
"The… power of love?" Garp froze. His scalp felt like it would split open.
So itchy.
Klein swallowed his senbei. "Hey, you two done resting? If you're done, hurry it up."
He shook the unconscious Zephyr beside him. "Don't sleep—miss the ending and you'll regret it!"
"Mmm—" Zephyr slowly ca to. His head was spinning. "Big bro, what happened? Why did I black out all of a sudden?"
"You got sleepy."
"I got… sleepy?" Zephyr blinked, baffled. How would I not know that?
I wasn't sleepy.
The duel was so hype I was boiling over. Sleepy, my foot… Did Klein smack the back of my head?
Can't ask. Won't say.
In the yard, Garp and Sengoku were trading blows again. After a short rest, they were tigers at full roar.
The fight hit a fever pitch.
Now that Garp had awakened Conqueror's Haki—a full-on "power-up"—plus his Iron Fist…
With no more accidents, he finally took the win in their spar.
The giant boulder hanging in Klein's heart at last ca down.
"Whew—"
He let out a long breath. 'Sengoku's gone "power-up" twice today. One more and he won't be human anymore!'
Garp braced his hands on his knees, panting hard. He glanced at Sengoku lying on the ground and grinned. "Haha—"
"Sengoku, I won in the end!"
"…" Sengoku felt like every bone in his body had fallen apart. He turned his head away—he couldn't stand Garp's smug face right now.
He'd lost in the end, but he knew he'd given it everything he had.
Defeat with honor!
Sengoku thought, 'The fistwork Klein taught Garp is really sothing.'
'If Garp hits this hard with it, then if Klein used it now, the power…'
Then it hit him: he'd lost. From now on, he had to call Klein, big bro.
His mood plunged to the ocean floor—cold and dark.
In this life…
His greatest humiliation was coming!
Speak of Old Cao and Old Cao arrives.
Klein imdiately smiled at the dejected, dead-eyed Sengoku. "Sengoku, isn't it ti you called big bro?"
"…" Lying there, Sengoku suddenly felt no pain at all. His blood rushed to his head.
Sha!
Rage!
Helplessness!
…
All tangled together, finally bursting out as a teeth-gnashing: "Big bro—!"
"That's bad for your molars. You'll get used to it," Klein said, barely suppressing a laugh.
His handso face blood like a chrysanthemum.
And from this mont on…
He was the Big Bro of the Marine iron triangle!
Kekekekeke—
So good!
Of course, Klein knew it felt great now—and it would only get better!
Endlessly better!
When Sengoku becos an admiral, then Fleet Admiral, when Garp becos a Vice Admiral, when Zephyr becos an admiral—then they'll still be calling him 'Big bro'!
Talk about face!
By then… even better!!
Just as Klein was basking in his joy, a sudden cough made everyone jolt.
"Ahem—"
From the shadows, Fleet Admiral Oharden stepped out with Admiral Rampaging Bear and Instructor Carter.
Oharden was still smiling as he walked. "Carter, I believe your assessnt now."
"Hahahaha—" Carter laughed with him. "If everyone else is a monster, then Klein's a monster among monsters!"
The three of them.
A four- to five-ter Rampaging Bear, a two-ter-plus Fleet Admiral Oharden, and Carter in a suit.
The pressure they gave off was imnse.
"Fleet Admiral Oharden!"
"Admiral Rampaging Bear!"
"Instructor Carter!"
Klein and the others snapped ramrod straight and saluted.
Even Sengoku, who'd been flat on the ground, scrambled up to salute—tugging every injury and sucking in cold air through his teeth.
Oharden spoke first. "Klein, Garp, Sengoku—you're all top cadets at the Marine Academy, and you've each awakened Conqueror's Haki. In ti, you'll beco excellent Marine officers."
"I hope you don't spread the news about Conqueror's Haki for now. It's for your own good."
Un-nad Zephyr looked crushed; he couldn't hide it in his eyes.
Why not ?
And what is this 'Conqueror's Haki'?
He was completely lost.
So when he'd blacked out earlier, sothing huge must have happened!
"Understood." Klein answered first. He knew the value of keeping one's head down.
Of course, showing your talent isn't always bad—it depends.
Klein guessed that Garp and Sengoku awakening Conqueror's Haki had alard these top dogs at Marine HQ.
They must have seen him release Conqueror's Haki, too.
Which ant…
He'd entered the sights of the big shots and left a deep impression.
Promotions and raises…
Should go even smoother!!
Still, Klein would prefer all these old-tirs to just retire. Replace every admiral and the Fleet Admiral with his bros—then who could tell him what to do?
Oharden smiled, satisfied. "I'm glad you have that awareness. As top cadets, I'll have Carter arrange special training and better benefits for you. I hope you beco excellent Marine officers soon."
Unfortunately, it's too late.
They can't share my burdens anymore!
Sigh—
Say any more and it's tears. The World Governnt won't let retire, either.
Damn it!
"Can we swap those benefits for cash?" Klein's eyes lit up as he blurted out the only thing that truly mattered to him.
Benefits?
What beats cold, hard cash?
Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr all stiffened. Big bro, you really dare say anything.
And ask for anything!
This is the Fleet Admiral!
"…" Oharden paused. He'd read Klein's file and knew the cadet was very fond of money.
He nodded. "You can."
A genius among geniuses deserves special treatnt.
Klein's heart blossod. He leaned forward. "How much!?"
"You're the Fleet Admiral—your word is iron!"
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