The Answer Was Definitely Yes!

"Last one, Conrad."

When all the marines had finished their tests, Conrad's name was finally called. The sun had also climbed to its highest point at noon.

This was an ordinary grand finale, but Conrad's appearance was sure to make it extraordinary.

If a man wasn't crushed by the impressive performances of the countless people before him, then he was bound to amaze everyone!

With the sun directly overhead, Conrad walked forward, stepping on the dark shadow beneath him that looked like a mass of black clouds.

He was building up momentum. From his very first step, he adjusted himself to his peak condition, like thunder about to crash across the sky from within a dark cloud.

In the stands, Tsuru climbed the stairs alongside her granddaughter. The female Vice Admiral, who wore her hair in a Japanese-style bun and had a beauty mark below her right lip, said, "Are children this young allowed to take part? He hasn't even finished growing yet."

"Ah, don't underestimate the young." Tsuru gazed into the distance, lost in thought.

Conrad kept walking. His pace was neither fast nor slow, yet every step seemed to set something in motion, drawing everyone's attention.

"Gion, my darling! Go out with me!" Tokikake, who was proctoring the test, suddenly dashed away. With hearts in his eyes, he produced a bouquet from who knew where and slid onto one knee in front of the beauty-marked Vice Admiral's long, pale legs, which were clad in high heels.

Just as Tokikake came to a stop and Gion was about to wave him away as usual,

an aura burst forth from Conrad's hand as he drew a standard marine sword from the weapon rack.

Like a storm rising beneath a clear sky, it seized everyone's attention.

"Haki?" said the spotted-dog-faced officer as he stood up.

"Conqueror's Haki!" said the long-faced, bearded Rear Admiral, wearing a genial smile as he bit down on his cigar.

The bearing of a king, one in a million, poured out without restraint.

Conrad didn't want to be singled out because of something like this. It would make him seem as if he relied on an external advantage.

But why did he have Conqueror's Haki? The answer was simple: of course he did! He was just that strong! A peerless powerhouse, for fuck's sake! Was there anything he couldn't possess?!

Even among the one in several million who had Conqueror's Haki, he would be the only true conqueror!

His silent Haki rippled outward, reaching the ranks of marines. Fortunately, everyone present was an elite, so no one fainted on the spot, but they were all shaken to the core.

Conrad drew his sword. Fixing his gaze on Hand-Match Turtle's blood-red eyes, he focused his entire being, bent his knees, and leaped. As he came crashing down from above, he brought his blade down on the turtle's shell.

"Yeah! Turtle-Slaying Tyrant Blade!"

The turtle's eyes stayed fixed on him, their calm, steady gaze shifting bit by bit.

At last, it released the claw it had braced against the ground, then suddenly leaned backward and rose onto its hind legs.

It dodged Conrad's descending blade and staggered backward on two legs.

Clang!

Conrad's blade struck the floor, half its length snapping off and lodging in the stone tiles. His hand kept swinging until it stopped at his right hip.

"What are you dodging for!" Conrad dropped the sword, clenched his fist, stepped forward, and punched. "Turtle-Slaying Tyrant Fist!"

Hand-Match Turtle said nothing. Its limbs shot inside its shell, and the whole shell tipped upright and rolled.

Its body was over ten meters long, and it spun like a tire, dodging Conrad's punch once again.

"Stop! For fuck's sake! I said stop!" Conrad was furious. He raced after it, but his legs were far too short compared with the other creature's size, and the distance between them kept growing.

"Can that giant turtle actually dodge?" the marines wondered.

Fullbody's jaw dropped. He'd been afraid this kid would surpass his hundred Doriki and make him look like a rookie, but he couldn't make sense of what was happening now.

After all, Tokikake had kicked it right at the start—a kick with three thousand Doriki—and Hand-Match Turtle had taken it without so much as flinching.

Conrad obviously couldn't have more than three thousand Doriki. His physical abilities spoke for themselves: he was just a minor who'd trained for a long time. And the Doriki Value test excluded damage from Haki.

A bizarre sight unfolded: the giant shell rolled, Conrad chased it, and the test became a race.

The shell rumbled all the way to the gate. Five limbs popped out, and Hand-Match Turtle looked back to see Conrad still chasing it.

It hurriedly clenched both claws into fists and pounded on the gate. Its blood-red eyes wide with panic, it spoke its first words: "Open the damn gate!"

The winch turned, and the gate began to rise.

Hand-Match Turtle glanced back again. It was too slow; it couldn't wait. It shoved its claws straight into the gap and heaved the gate upward.

With a snap, it shot up. The turtle clambered inside in a sorry state, then pulled the gate down behind it and hung a sign through the bars: "Hibernating. Do not disturb."

Conrad stopped in front of the iron bars and met those red eyes for one last second. Without hesitation, the other creature closed its eyes and turned to crawl into the damp darkness.

"All right, the test is over. You can all head back."

Tokikake stood in the viewing area and picked up the score sheet. Drawing a line through it, he said, "The list of those who passed will be posted Friday. Be sure to check. Those who pass will take part in the Elimination Arena next Monday."

Since many marines had signed up, the tests weren't all held on the same day. They would run for three days, and the median result would be used.

The marines present still hadn't recovered. They waited for Conrad to walk over to the stands so they could ask about his result.

Conrad first nodded to Vice Admiral Tsuru in greeting, then looked at Tokikake. "My test—"

"No need. You passed. Just show up for the Elimination Arena." Tokikake waved him off and lit a cigarette, immersed in the heartache of having his thirty-third confession rejected.

He'd decided to confess a hundred times. That was sure to move Gion. His codename was Chaton, and hers was Momousagi—what a perfect match!

At the thought, Tokikake's face lit up with a springtime smile.

Conrad didn't dwell on it. He went downstairs and left the training grounds, where Bling Bling was already waiting for him at the passageway.

Bling Bling asked curiously, "What was that ability you used just now? It was incredible! I almost couldn't keep my balance."

"Haki. Once I learn how to use it, I'll teach you," Conrad said with a smile. He hadn't studied the stuff very deeply yet. It was like he'd only just figured out how to strike a match; he still couldn't control the flames or how long they lasted.

Bling Bling nodded. No one where he lived, at the East Blue Branch, knew how to use Haki. He'd never even heard of it.

Just then, a shadow suddenly fell across the passageway entrance.

Prince stepped out with his hands in his pockets. Beneath the long brim of his hat, his face was grim as he looked down at the two of them.

"You deliberately provoked me, hoping to use me to show off, didn't you?"

Conrad laughed, letting out a sudden snort. "Don't be like that. Move aside. A good dog doesn't block the road."

Prince frowned. Perhaps he'd heard it so often that he'd replayed it in his mind too many times. Hearing "dog" again didn't stir up any anger or revulsion. It was like some ordinary remark passing through his ears.

"I won't treat you like a kid anymore. Even if you are one, I'll beat you until you cry in the Elimination Arena."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the two of them with his back.

He didn't duck into an alley until he reached a street corner, where nobody could see him. He pressed his hat against the wall.

"I can't accept it. I just can't accept it!"

Prince pulled out a hand wearing four massive gold rings, clenched it into a fist, and punched the wall. His words came through gritted teeth. "I must have Conqueror's Haki too, right? I just haven't awakened it yet!"

"Maybe," came two heads, one on either side of the alley entrance: Conrad's and Bling Bling's.

Prince turned around in astonishment.

Conrad said, "Next time, remember to let people finish before you walk away. Otherwise, we have to chase after you. Uh... what was I going to say just now?"

Bling Bling shook his head. "I don't know. You didn't tell me."

"Never mind, let's go." The two heads ducked back behind the corner.