"Teach this kid swordsmanship?" A sharp glint flashed through Whitebeard's eyes as he stared intently at Ares, who was undergoing "self-mutilation"-like training.
He spoke quietly to Golden Lion: "This kid's strength is almost on par with an elite vice admiral at Marine Headquarters. Given his physique and vitality, he should have no problem lasting at least half an hour against an elite vice admiral at Marine Headquarters."
"If Ares learns swordsmanship, then even with that terrifying brute strength, he'll be more than most people can handle."
"Perhaps I really can teach Ares swordsmanship!"
Whitebeard gave his assessment. Ares's current strengths and weaknesses were extremely obvious: he had a powerful physique, but his techniques were far too simple and primitive.
Before an expert proficient in Armament Haki, his body absolutely could not withstand repeated attacks.
But against someone who was not proficient in Armament Haki, killing Ares might be impossible because they could not even break through his defenses.
"Gyahahaha... Newgate, he's already very strong now, isn't he?" Golden Lion looked up at Newgate, who was somewhat taller than him, and reminded him, "Don't forget, this kid is only fourteen or fifteen. I can't even see this guy's future..."
"Because Ares might create a miracle, and I, Golden Lion, will personally forge this legend."
With the corners of his mouth raised high, Golden Lion was in his thirties—the age when a man was at the height of his life. He asked Whitebeard with unrestrained confidence, "Isn't this something very interesting and exciting?"
"If one day this guy Ares becomes the World's Strongest Swordsman, then I, Golden Lion, will also be the master of the World's Strongest Swordsman."
Given Ares's potential, along with his persistence and seriousness toward training, Golden Lion felt that such a thing was not impossible.
Golden Lion's heart surged with excitement. The dull thumping sounds of Ares being struck seemed just like the beating of his own heart, making his blood grow feverishly agitated.
Whitebeard, standing nearby, suddenly furrowed his brows and said to Golden Lion with obvious reluctance, "You want to become that kid's teacher and then recruit him into your Division, don't you?!"
"That won't do!"
"I'm going to become Ares's teacher too and teach him Body Arts!"
A powerful sense of vigilance rose in his heart. If Golden Lion and Ares got mixed up together, wouldn't Ares become Golden Lion's man in the future?
He absolutely could not allow that to happen!
If I can't have it, that bastard Golden Lion can forget about getting it either!
"Huh?!"
Hearing Whitebeard's words, Golden Lion was completely dumbfounded. A moment later, a blazing fire ignited in his eyes, and he glared furiously at Whitebeard.
He bit down hard on the cigar in his mouth and said, word by word, "You want to compete with me for Ares?!"
"If I teach him swordsmanship, he won't learn Body Arts!!"
"He's a man born for the sword!!"
Whitebeard also widened his tiger-like eyes, unwilling to back down in the slightest. He slightly raised his head and said with an arrogant, fearless expression, "What?! Do you have a problem with that??"
"You can teach Ares swordsmanship, so why can't I teach him Body Arts?"
Their upper bodies were drawn together like magnets. Their leaning forms brought them face-to-face once again!
The other's face was mere inches away.
Many of the pirates training nearby also looked over. They had seen this sort of thing countless times already.
Aboard the Rocks Pirates' ship,
Whitebeard and Golden Lion's beliefs and ways of doing things were completely opposed to each other, yet both had their own persistent dreams and the same hobbies—alcohol and banquets!
Of course, those were hobbies shared by 99.9% of pirates.
At that moment, Ochoku walked over and placed one hand against Golden Lion's chest and the other against Whitebeard's.
He pushed the two of them apart and offered a perfectly reasonable compromise: "Since both of you want to teach Ares, why not each teach him for one day?"
"That way, you won't have to fight anymore!"
Although he considered himself quite skilled in swordsmanship, he was still a step below Golden Lion.
Ochoku had no intention of competing for Ares. He had no other ambitions or ideas.
As for Whitebeard and Golden Lion's goals, one was probably preparing to gain a powerful companion in the future, while the other most likely wanted Ares to become his family.
However...
None of that had anything to do with him.
Whitebeard and Golden Lion fell silent.
Ochoku smiled. "Let's do as I said. That way, you won't end up fighting. If the captain disagrees when the time comes, neither of you will be able to do anything."
Both Golden Lion and Whitebeard compromised. Whitebeard even took the initiative to give way: "Ares is yours today. Don't disturb me when I teach Ares how to train tomorrow!"
With that, he turned around and left without waiting for Golden Lion's agreement.
In other words, he had taken a small advantage for himself, directly cutting half a day from Golden Lion's time. Whitebeard felt slightly pleased with himself, and the corners of his mouth lifted faintly.
He left the training room in high spirits.
Golden Lion was so furious that he gnashed his teeth, yet there was nothing he could do. He snorted and said, "Half a day it is. There's still plenty of time ahead!"
He then looked toward Ares, who was training alone in the distance on an empty patch of ground, with no one else around, and called out, "Hey, Ares!"
"I'll take you somewhere. Follow me and practice swordsmanship!"
The pirates nearby cast envious looks over one after another. Being personally picked out and taught by a big shot was something countless pirates in the Rocks Pirates dreamed of.
Not everyone had the chance to latch onto Golden Lion's thick leg.
An ordinary person would never have caught Golden Lion's attention.
No one dared step forward to provoke him either. When Golden Lion Shiki got ruthless, he was even capable of killing his own subordinates and crew members.
Aside from Rocks, the people least to be provoked in the Rocks Pirates were Golden Lion and Charlotte Linlin.
That was a "rule" privately acknowledged by everyone aboard the ship!
Ares stopped his movements. Under the repeated blows of the iron rod, patches of flushed, blood-red color covered the muscles across his body, making him look terrifying.
He turned toward Golden Lion and uttered a sentence that left all the pirates in the training room dumbfounded: "I'm not interested in swordsmanship!"
"I only want to temper my body and surpass the Supreme Great Swords!"
All the pirates widened their eyes in unison, their jaws dropping to the floor.
He had... refused!!!
He had refused... Golden Lion Shiki!!!
The very thing they dreamed of, Ares had directly rejected in front of everyone.
Was this guy not afraid of making Golden Lion angry?
Once that man got serious, only a handful of people, such as Whitebeard and Rocks, could stop him.
When Golden Lion heard Ares's words, his face darkened, and three black lines appeared on his forehead.
For a moment, he suspected that his ears were playing tricks on him.
That brat Ares had actually refused him?!
Who was he? He was Golden Lion Shiki of the Rocks Pirates!
He was the world-famous dual-sword-style great swordsman!!
Golden Lion could not help taking a deep breath before shouting, "You brat... even if you don't want to learn, you're learning from me anyway!!"
"What I, Golden Lion, say—I always keep my word!"
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