So, where could he obtain systematic knowledge related to Armament Haki?
Zhu Mang's gaze fell on the wizened old woman not far away.
Vice Admiral Tsuru!
As one of the "old fossils" of the Navy from the same generation as Garp and Sengoku, she currently held the powerful position of chief staff officer at Marine Headquarters. She also had a younger sister who was a candidate admiral and a biological granddaughter serving in the secret unit "Blade."
It could be said that Vice Admiral Tsuru's influence within the Navy was no less than that of the three admirals.
Perhaps it was even greater.
Because she was also a role model and object of admiration for all female Marines.
The three admirals could only attract some of the male Marines whose personalities and aspirations resembled their own.
And as chief staff officer, this woman's emotional intelligence and intellect should both be rather high.
"This graceful old lady, would you be willing to make a deal with me?" Zhu Mang looked at Vice Admiral Tsuru.
As he spoke, he did not approach her too closely.
After reviewing the information about her in his mind, he recalled that she was the user of the [Paramecia · Wash-Wash Fruit].
The name alone sounded mysterious.
It strongly suggested some kind of rule-based Devil Fruit.
And judging from the few times she had acted, her ability seemed capable of turning people directly into something like clothing, while stripping them of their ability to resist.
Perhaps it could even wash away the evil in one's heart.
Zhu Mang was not sure whether he might fall victim to such a bizarre ability, so it was better to be cautious.
"Graceful? Hey, hey, this is our Navy's chief staff officer. She's already so old—how can you flirt with an elder?" Aokiji's face darkened.
Tsuru and Garp were friends, and Aokiji had once been Garp's student. He had also indirectly received considerable guidance from her, so he respected her greatly.
"Kuzan," Tsuru raised a hand to stop Aokiji. Looking at Zhu Mang, she smiled. "This handsome young man, what sort of deal would you like to make with this old woman?"
"Give me your Navy's most detailed training materials on the Six Powers and Haki. After you begin fighting the Whitebeard Pirates, I can act once when necessary. What do you think?"
As soon as he said that, the expressions of the people present changed slightly.
Why was it that, despite pirates emerging endlessly throughout the One Piece World, the Navy could still maintain considerable prestige and suppress pirates in most places?
It was because the Navy possessed a professional system for training soldiers.
At Navy branches, Marines received all kinds of basic training.
At Marine Headquarters, once one reached the rank of commissioned officer, one could begin coming into contact with Six Powers training.
And if one had exceptional talent and could enter the Elite Training Camp, one could receive more meticulous instruction, even including training methods for advanced skills such as Armament Haki and Observation Haki.
If one lacked actual combat experience, there were even Navy admirals leading teams to rack up battle records.
As a result, the Navy possessed a more scientific and rational cultivation system, allowing its members to avoid many detours.
By comparison, pirates were basically all self-taught wildcards.
Anyone who could rise to prominence among pirates was a freakishly talented individual.
For that very reason, in order to maintain stability on the seas, the training methods for the Six Powers and Haki were classified as top secrets by both the Navy and the World Government.
Doflamingo understood this point very clearly as well.
Because he had once set his sights on those things, hoping to use them to strengthen the Donquixote Family's members.
However, even with his status as a former Celestial Dragon and current Shichibukai, and despite spending considerable effort, he had failed to obtain the complete materials.
In the end, after resorting to many methods, he had only acquired incomplete fragments. Combined with his own additions, those had allowed the Donquixote Family to develop a fairly decent Haki training method.
But likewise, that was also a top secret of their family and was not easily shared with outsiders.
However, that was not the only thing that shocked him.
What had he just heard?
Lord Gebinz actually wanted to trade a single intervention for the Six Powers and Haki training methods!
Even now, he could not gauge this lord's true strength.
But he was certain that if this lord truly acted, the Whitebeard Pirates would definitely suffer a devastating blow!
My lord, look at me!
My family has that stuff too!!!
Doflamingo screamed inwardly.
But he did not dare say it aloud.
Here at Marine Headquarters, and before the chief staff officer and a Navy admiral, revealing that the Donquixote Family possessed such things would easily attract the Navy's attention.
That would severely violate his principle of developing discreetly.
If it caused the Navy to notice Dressrosa, the losses would outweigh the gains.
He could only look for another opportunity later!
"What a bold proposal, young man. You want our Navy's Six Powers and Haki training materials in exchange for only one intervention," Tsuru said. She neither grew angry nor rejected him immediately.
She weighed Zhu Mang's words in her heart.
From that brief exchange earlier, he had been able to instantly kill Gecko Moria. Even if Gecko Moria's carelessness and other factors had played a role, it was enough to show that his strength rivaled an admiral's!
Yet this man had been brought here by Doflamingo.
She had indeed received intelligence reports that, over the past two days, someone suspected to be Doflamingo had appeared at the Sabaody Archipelago, accompanied by a man with a monkey tail.
Doflamingo had rented out the largest pleasure house on the Sabaody Archipelago, and the two had stayed there for two days. Their relationship seemed exceptionally close.
Clearly, this monkey-tailed man was the "Lord Gebinz" before her.
Yet there had never been any news of him on the seas before this.
He looked so young, and he was not one of the older generation's powerhouses.
A young man only around twenty years old who possessed admiral-level strength—if he were also allowed to master the complete Six Powers and the training methods for both types of Haki—
If he became a pirate in the future, it would undoubtedly be an extremely heavy blow to the World Government!
Because he was too young!
That meant that, barring any accidents, he could dominate these seas for decades!
However, after observing carefully just now, she noticed that there seemed to be something unusual between Doflamingo and this Gebinz?
The two did not seem to be as close as she had imagined?
Zhu Mang revealed a confident smile. "It would absolutely be worth the price. Old lady, you may wish to consider it carefully."
"My, what a confident young man. You're simply brimming with charm," Tsuru said with a smile. "If I were forty or fifty years younger, I might have been moved."
"Not at all. You are still as elegant and charming as ever, old lady."
"Haha, what a sweet tongue you have, young man. How about this? I have a younger sister, an absolute beauty—the flower of the Navy. Why not let me introduce you two after this is over?" Tsuru began playing matchmaker.
As she spoke, she pulled a photograph from her pocket.
The photograph showed a long-legged beauty with especially long legs. She wore a short red jacket and a Navy cape draped over her shoulders, exuding both heroic spirit and seductive charm.
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