Beating Training, Building a Faction

"Grandpa, I'm sorry."

"I've always caused you so much worry..."

Faced with the 'Den Den Mushi Paper' in his hand, the burly, silver-haired old man's lips trembled but he couldn't speak. His fists, capable of moving mountains and filling seas, trembled as if he had Parkinson's disease, and the expression on his face was hard to tell whether to cry or laugh.

Snap,

He held Den Den Mushi Paper in one hand and covered his forehead with the other, hiding his face. Large tears streamed down his cheeks as Garp's hoarse voice rang out.

"Little Roman, tell me this isn't true."

"Grandpa, I really am Ace! I—"

"Let me explain," Roman interrupted Ace, no, Ace's anxious words on the other end of the Den Den Mushi Paper, "No matter how you explain it Garp will think it's a recording, or even a hallucination or something."

And so on, and so forth...

"So, these are all abilities of Devil Fruit?"

"That's right," Roman nodded affirmatively after explaining his actions to Vice Admiral Garp.

"Garp, you know that the Navy had to kill Ace and Whitebeard back then, otherwise they would lose face in front of the whole world."

With Roman's diverse abilities, he certainly has the capacity to take Ace away alive. However, if he did, the Navy would never let it go easily, and Aokiji Kizaru, who have been holding back, would immediately go all out, resulting in even greater casualties for the Whitebeard Pirates.

To try and pull a switcheroo in front of Akainu would be an insult to his Observation Haki Akainu. Therefore:

"So, I used my ability to help Ace fake his death and escape. Now he's the acting captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, 'Ace' —but Garp- sensei, don't let that slip by accident."

After being given Roman's advice, Garp, in a much better mood, tossed the Den Den Mushi Paper aside and casually picked his nose.

"These two little rascals have ruined my mood lately! They've made me so talkative."

"Come on, let's continue!"

Facing Garp in a fighting stance, Roman looked utterly bewildered. "Didn't I already learn...?"

"Hahaha, enough talk, take this punch!"

The fist, the size of a casserole dish, rapidly enlarged in Roman's pupils.

I—

"Colonel Roman...?"

"Boss, are you... alright?"

After Major Isca and Captain Borgin, having finished their work report and showing off in front of reporters, arrived at the training ground, they were met with:

"Boss, do you have any last words... cough cough, should we call a doctor?"

The entire training ground looked like it had been bombarded by artillery, riddled with huge craters! These craters were from Roman's missed attacks, and as for Vice Admiral Garp's fist...

Of course, it all fell on Roman!

Even Roman's newly upgraded Armament Haki only allowed him to barely maintain a 'human form'.

"Don't panic, this is just normal training for Haki."

Roman, Roman horribly disfigured and unrecognizable, calmly replied, "Isn't getting beaten up during training normal? Watch my life return—"

Ugh, I'm not feeling strong enough. I'll lie down for a few more minutes.

"The boss is really hardworking. No wonder everyone is the same age but he has reached the rank of colonel."

"Yeah, yeah, they got beaten up like pigs—cough cough..."

"As expected of the boss, he can remain calm even under such circumstances!"

"Yes, yes, that's amazing!"

Roman chuckled as he looked at the group of second-generation rich kids who kept saying "I admire you" but were actually winking and making faces.

"Since everyone is so enthusiastic, I'll give you a 'Haki' training lesson in a bit."

"I just had a 'hands-on' experience with Vice Admiral Garp."

??!!

In an instant, the faces of the group of gloating rich kids turned a deep shade of liver. They were already imagining their miserable futures—being beaten senseless, their limbs twisted and their faces swollen like pig heads...

"Ahem, I see the boss is training really hard. How about we go to Sabaody to relax a bit..."

"Yes, yes, that's exactly right! A balance between work and rest is the key!"

"It's my treat, nobody should try to take it from me!"

"I know that one day... Big White..."

?

Is your "relaxation" approach legitimate?

"Ring ring~~"

"Ring ring~~"

??

Just as the group turned to look, the slender and beautiful girl Isca walked to a pile of papers not far away and calmly picked up a piece of paper with ears and a mouth on it.

"Hello, this is Major Isca on the phone."

???

"Who are you?"

In an instant, a clear, suspicious voice came from within the paper. —The only person who could call without regard to Roman's 'authority' would be:

Nami.

"I am Lieutenant Commander Isca from Marine Headquarters..."

"Where's Roman?!"

Faced with the increasingly anxious voice, Isca answered with a serious expression.

"Colonel Roman has just finished his Haki training and is resting on the side."

"Please let Colonel Roman answer the phone!"

·······

"Let's go, Isca!"

"Boss, we're off!"

"Take your time chatting, we won't invite you any further."

"Poor thing, boss, the grape trellis in the backyard is about to collapse..."

??

These idiots!

"Nami, it's me."

"Colonel Roman, who was that beautiful secretary just now?"

?

When did you Sanji? No, no, no, that's not the point.

"Not a secretary, but Isca Commander Iska from the Marine Headquarters."

Having regained some strength, Roman got up and gestured. A stack of papers, taller than a person, rustled over and formed a shirt. At the same time, the life force from the blood vial flowed into his body, giving Roman ample strength.

"Life Return!"

As his skin and muscles twitched, Roman, whose face had just been struck by Vice Admiral Garp, regained his former appearance. It was simply divine skill!

"You know, I recently joined the Navy."

Roman didn't hide his plans from the Straw Hat crew. The others understood: given Roman's status as Celestial Dragons, if he didn't join the Navy, he would have no chance to openly appear on the seas.

"Of course I know! But I didn't know there was such a thing as a beautiful female officer serving you personally. —Speaking of which, aren't all naval officers just stern-looking old men?"

During the Enies Lobby incident, the Straw Hat crew faced two hundred naval officers. Forget about pretty girls, there wasn't even a single female among them!

No... thinking back carefully, could those guys with particularly well-developed pectoral muscles be...?

Nami was horrified!

How would I know?

Roman left the training ground while making a phone call.

"This major was sent by Marine Headquarters to monitor me, not someone I chose myself."

"I don't care, I want to join the Navy!"

??

"Ah... well, it's not impossible, but we'll have to wait a bit."

In fact, Roman had already made arrangements for Nami, who had come all the way from the Sky Island. "As a Celestial Dragons, it's perfectly normal for me to bring a few 'subordinates' into the Marines, isn't it?"

As for the fact that this subordinate and the Straw Hat crew's "Law-Stealing Cat" Nami are not exactly similar, but rather identical: of course they are twins!

Isn't it perfectly reasonable that the war orphan of the Oikot Kingdom actually has a twin sister?

Even if Roman were Celestial Dragons, he couldn't simply convince others with words. Therefore:

It's time to build up our own 'power'.

"Ahem, is this the power of CP0?"

Rob Lucci, kneeling on the ground, looked up at the masked man in the white suit in front of him: the other party was just two people, yet they had suppressed the entire CP9!

Apart from Lucci himself, the other former CP9 members are already lying in the ruins. Even if they still have a fighting chance thanks to the powerful regeneration of their Zoan Devil Fruit, it seems unrealistic for them all to escape.

"Have you realized the gap between us? Rob Lucci, the former CP9 genius."

"Genius? Ha—"

Lucci gave a self-deprecating snort and stood up with a stern face.

"This period of escape made me realize the power of the ocean. Only those who dare to take on challenges and rise to the occasion can become true champions!"

A spy who wastes his time lying low will never reach the top.

Tear!

His suddenly swollen body tore his suit apart, revealing Lucci's massive, half-beast-like physique.

"Come on! No one will die here today! I will defend—"

Faced with Lucci's desperate attempt to fight, the masked man in the white suit simply pulled out a clean white cloth from his pocket:

Handkerchief?

It was tossed in front of Lucci instinctively caught it. His pupils contracted!

The sign above is...

"You've passed, former CP9 members."

?

"Come with me."

The man in the white suit and mask turned around.

"An 'adult' wants to see you."