Impel Down

"Rosen's capacity for improvement is simply too great. His growth rate has far exceeded my expectations."

"At Navy School, even I have nothing left to teach him."

"Whether it's Haki, Physical Techniques, or anything else."

Facing Sengoku's gaze, Zefa sighed.

"Nothing left to teach him?"

"If this old man remembers correctly, that brat Rosen has only been enrolled for two days. At most, he's attended four classes."

"He's already reached the point where even you, Zefa, have nothing left to teach him?"

Garp was so startled that the rice cracker in his hand fell to the floor.

Kuzan, seated on the nearby sofa, immediately lifted his sleep mask, while Borsalino set down the nail clippers in his hand.

They were both the finest products of Zefa's teaching. Back then, they had studied under Zefa for an entire year before the former Navy Admiral admitted that he had nothing more to teach them.

But Rosen?

He had enrolled for two days and attended only four classes!

And Zefa already had nothing left to teach him?

"If Rosen remains at Navy School, then yes, that is indeed the case."

Zefa showed no embarrassment. Instead, he calmly admitted that, at this stage, he truly had nothing left to teach Rosen.

There was still Swordsmanship, of course, but his swordsmanship was only at the level of an ordinary swordsman.

With Rosen's comprehension, one glance would be enough for him to learn it all.

Besides, he had just taught Rosen Tempest Kick. Based on his understanding of Rosen's talent, that single move alone was enough for Rosen to draw inferences from one example and quickly surpass him, an Admiral who was not skilled with a sword, on the path of swordsmanship.

"So you asked me for an Impel Down pass and an Exemption Order because of Rosen?"

Sengoku gave Zefa a long look.

He seemed to have already seen through Zefa's intentions.

"The former Non-Killing Admiral is actually taking his own student to kill people."

"Is that really a good idea?"

"Teacher Zefa."

Borsalino had also seen through Zefa's intentions.

"Killing people is, of course, not good."

"However."

"Are pirates even people?"

Zefa said expressionlessly:

"Are the pirates imprisoned in Impel Down still people?"

He swept his gaze across the room and shouted each word with force.

Everyone who met Zefa's eyes was left speechless.

Even Garp, who had always had an unclear relationship with pirates, fell silent.

Indeed.

There were certainly good people among pirates, but pirates who could be imprisoned in Impel Down—not to mention being good people, they did not even deserve to be called human.

Murder, arson, looting.

Rape and kidnapping.

Killing and burning.

For the prisoners of Impel Down, those were basic operations.

"Since they aren't human, letting them continue to live is merely wasting the air of the Grand Line and the Navy's rice."

"Rather than that, they might as well shine and contribute in certain ways."

"Sengoku, I'll be honest with you. Rosen has already learned all Three Colors of Haki, every technique, and the Six Powers. Unless you can find a Great Swordsman to teach him Swordsmanship at the school, letting him remain there is nothing but a waste of time."

Seeing everyone remain silent, Zefa continued:

"Other than Swordsmanship, the only thing he lacks now is Haki intensity. And that is also the last thing I, as his teacher, can teach him."

At this point.

Everyone understood his intentions.

"So your fifth lesson for him is taking Rosen to Impel Down and using the prisoners there as sparring partners."

"Setting aside whether those prisoners are human or whether they might negatively affect Rosen's mindset, aren't you afraid something will happen to him in there?"

"Those prisoners are all monsters, each one vicious and evil to the core. They'll use any means necessary when they fight."

Garp looked displeased.

"A large amount of real combat can rapidly increase Rosen's Haki intensity, build his combat experience, and allow him to proficiently apply everything he has learned these past two days in battle."

"As for the viciousness and unscrupulous methods you mentioned, Garp, that is exactly what I want from them."

"Only by letting Rosen witness what real pirates are like early on will he avoid making the same mistake I made back then after graduation."

"And he certainly won't come to admire pirates and become a second leader of the Revolutionary Army."

Zefa argued his case without yielding an inch:

"Compared to taking him out to sea to find pirates for real combat, going to Impel Down saves time and effort while producing results far more quickly."

"Most importantly, it is very close to Marine Headquarters. If anything goes wrong, we'll be there to back him up."

"What do you think, Sengoku?"

After leaving Garp unable to retort, Zefa turned his gaze back to Sengoku.

The one who possessed both the power to make the final decision and the power of veto was not Garp, but Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral.

"Which layer are you planning to take Rosen to?"

After pondering for a moment, Sengoku realized that although Zefa's proposal was somewhat bold, Impel Down was undoubtedly a natural training ground for Rosen.

Just as Zefa had said, the prisoners in Impel Down could no longer be called human.

Even if Rosen accidentally killed a prisoner in battle, it would not burden him too heavily.

Most importantly, Zefa's final words—"he won't admire pirates and become a second revolutionary leader"—deeply moved him.

There had already been the precedent of Monkey D. Dragon.

What Sengoku feared most now was Marine Headquarters painstakingly training a new king, only for him to switch paths and become a pirate or join the Revolutionary Army before they could even hold on to him.

"The Sixth Layer."

Zefa's words shocked everyone.

"Have you gone mad, Zefa?"

"The prisoners in the Sixth Layer have already gone beyond merely being vicious criminals. Every one of them is a monster erased from history."

"You want Rosen to fight the monsters of the Sixth Layer? If something truly goes wrong, even you, Zefa, may not be able to keep him safe."

Garp could not help rising to his feet.

He had thought that, no matter how crazy Zefa was, he would only take Rosen to the Third Layer, or at most the Fourth Layer.

He never expected it.

Zefa had opened with a royal flush.

The Sixth Layer.

Infinite Hell.

"Keep him safe?"

"Garp, just how much are you underestimating Rosen?"

"Or are you planning to have me raise him into something? A flower in a greenhouse, unable to withstand wind and rain? Or a porcelain doll that shatters at a touch?"

Zefa sneered:

"No one understands Rosen's potential better than I do. He was born to become the Navy King."

"If we're talking about monsters, the pirates in Infinite Hell are monsters, but isn't Rosen a monster as well?"

"Mere Impel Down is nothing more than a little hardship on his path through the Navy."

Once again, he left Garp speechless.

"I can sign both the Impel Down pass and the Exemption Order for you."

"But, Zefa."

"I have one condition that you must agree to."

Sengoku tapped his fingers against the desk, stopping the dispute between Zefa and Garp:

"Whenever you take Rosen to the Sixth Layer, Borsalino or Kuzan must accompany you."

"If you can do that, I'll sign them for you right now."

"Zefa."

As Fleet Admiral, Sengoku considered matters more thoroughly than either Garp or Zefa.

He had to cultivate Rosen and let him witness the true terror of pirates, while also ensuring his safety and maintaining Impel Down's long-term stability.

Zefa alone was clearly not enough insurance.

After all, Zefa had been retired for many years and suffered from asthma.

But with Borsalino or Kuzan present, there would be no room for error.

"Fine."

"This old man agrees."

Faced with Sengoku's unquestionable gaze, Zefa could only nod in agreement.