Secrets and Ambition

Long Yi left, following Karp out of Sengoku's office.

Until the very end, he still could not give a definite answer. Facing the expectant gazes of the bald elder and Fleet Admiral Sengoku, he asked them to give him some time to think before making his final decision.

The bald elder and Fleet Admiral Sengoku expressed their understanding toward Long Yi's request.

Although Long Yi had displayed talent far beyond that of ordinary people, in their eyes, he was still only a child. Joining the Yatogami Family was no trivial matter. It was only natural that he needed time to think it through.

After Long Yi left, only Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the bald elder remained in the spacious office, and the atmosphere became somewhat stifling.

After clearing his throat, Fleet Admiral Sengoku did not continue speaking with the bald elder. He merely returned to his seat.

After contacting his subordinate Marines with the Den Den Mushi on his desk, all of Long Yi's information was delivered to his office before long.

"Mm, born in the North Blue. A survivor of the One-Eyed Belik village massacre, an orphan from Mosmar Village. He has been training in swordsmanship at Marineford for the past two years and has shown unusual ambition and hatred toward pirates."

Fleet Admiral Sengoku nodded slightly as he read Long Yi's file. Judging from the file alone, there was not the slightest issue with Long Yi's background. He was a direct descendant raised by Marineford, with an impeccable pedigree.

To be honest, Marineford had taken in quite a few orphans like Long Yi. Children who had endured such suffering were generally more diligent than Marines of the same generation and more likely to become capable. In their hearts, they held not only hopes for the future, but also bone-deep hatred for pirates.

Hatred born of weakness, strength born of hatred. Long Yi seemed to be the same.

"If he is an orphan, then having him adopted into the Yatogami Family would be even more certain."

As Fleet Admiral Sengoku quietly read through Long Yi's information, the bald elder listened in silence. Upon hearing of Long Yi's origins, he fell into thought and could not help but say this.

Three black lines appeared across Fleet Admiral Sengoku's forehead. However, when facing one of the Five Elders, he still had to maintain superficial politeness. He pushed up the glasses on his nose and suppressed his emotions as he spoke to the bald elder.

"Lord Taizo, Long Yi has already left with Karp."

The implication was that since the child he had taken a liking to had already left, he could leave as well.

Yet whether the bald elder failed to catch Fleet Admiral Sengoku's implication or was deliberately playing dumb, he did not reply. He simply sat quietly on the sofa, showing no intention of leaving.

Damn Five Elders.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku cursed inwardly, but he could do nothing about the bald elder's shameless behavior. As Fleet Admiral, he had to consider the dignity of both the World Government and the Marines.

"Sengoku, do you know why I insist on taking Long Yi in as the heir of the Yatogami Family?"

Just as Fleet Admiral Sengoku was silently at a loss for words, the bald elder suddenly spoke in a distant tone.

"Was it Kitetsu's choice?" Fleet Admiral Sengoku ventured.

"Mm. Kitetsu choosing its master is part of the reason, but not entirely. To tell you the truth, it is because of the issue of descendants."

The bald elder spoke softly to Sengoku, a trace of sorrow in his voice.

"Mm? The Yatogami Family is a prestigious clan with many descendants. Although the direct bloodline has always been passed down through a single line, I recall that you, Lord Taizo, also have a direct blood relative named Koushirou, is that correct?"

Sengoku did not know much about the Yatogami Family's circumstances, having only heard a little about them. As a result, he sounded somewhat hesitant when he mentioned that name.

"Sigh, my son is indeed named Koushirou."

At the mention of his direct bloodline, a flash of grief passed through the bald elder's eyes. But after a moment, he suppressed his emotions and continued speaking to Sengoku.

"However, you may not know that my son severed all ties with the Yatogami Family long ago. He took his wife to live in seclusion in the East Blue and has not contacted me for a very long time."

Upon hearing this private matter of the Yatogami Family, Sengoku frowned. Though he had questions, he did not know where to begin, so he remained silent.

"Not long ago, my only granddaughter, Kuina, tragically passed away young. The Yatogami Family's direct bloodline has been cut off."

Ignoring Sengoku's expression, the bald elder continued calmly. Though his voice did not tremble in the slightest, Sengoku could hear the sorrow in his heart.

At this moment, Yatogami Taizo was no longer one of the Five Elders of the World Government, a living legend. He had become an ordinary old man once more, an elder overcome with grief over his granddaughter's accidental death.

"Lord Taizo, please accept my condolences."

Sengoku did not know how to comfort the old man before him. He could only sigh softly and urge him to restrain his grief.

"It is nothing. There is no need to worry about me."

His spirits abruptly lifted, and his heavy aura returned once more. As one of the leaders of the World Government, he could not reveal weakness. Looking into Sengoku's eyes behind his lenses, he spoke solemnly.

"The reason I am telling you this is to let you know that I have no intention of harming the Marines' talent. Kitetsu needs a master capable of suppressing it, and the Yatogami Family needs Long Yi."

Having said that, the bald elder spoke no further. He rose and took his leave.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku was left alone in the office, holding Long Yi's file and lost in thought.

"Enter the system."

After following Karp back to his residence in Marineford, Long Yi immediately locked himself in the room Karp had assigned him. Once he confirmed there was nothing unusual inside, he impatiently summoned his system.

Because the disturbance at the grand training ground had been too great, Long Yi had only hurriedly learned the system's skills. Before he could even fully understand his abilities, Karp had brought him before Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

Now was the perfect opportunity to gain a complete understanding of his system.

With a silent thought, Long Yi's vision went dark. His consciousness instantly left his body and arrived in that sacred land that resembled a paradise beyond the world.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Long Yi spoke softly.

"Display data."

As soon as the words left his mouth, as though responding to Long Yi's command, a great deal of inexplicable information suddenly appeared in his mind.

[Data displayed. Current host data is as follows.]

[Host: Long Yi]

[Faction: Marines]

[Level: 5 (Seaman Third Class)]

[Reputation: 0]

[Unlocked Class: Ghost Swordsman (Basic)]

[Unlocked Skills: Upward Slash (Level 8), Chain Thrust (Level 1), Kazan's Blade Soul (Level 1), Air Combo (Level 1), Guard (Level 1), Silver Light Falling Blade (Level 1), Ghost Slash (Level 1)]

[Unlocked Abilities: None]

[Unlocked Achievement: "A Brilliant Debut" (The appearance of ghostly divine power caused quite a disturbance at Marineford and drew the attention of the higher-ups. Brilliant debut completed.)]

[Draw Chances: 1]

[Evaluation: You have only just begun in this world.]

"Mm."

Long Yi fell into thought as he looked over the various statistics displayed by the system. However, when he saw one incomprehensible entry among them, he grew curious and could not help asking the system.

"System, what does this draw mean?"

The system quickly gave Long Yi a clear answer.

[The draw system is linked to experience points. After the system is activated, the host receives one draw opportunity for every level gained. Rewards correspond to the host's level by default. The host may choose to draw from either weapons or items.]

The system's answer made Long Yi feel intrigued. Since he had nothing else to do, he decided he might as well give it a try.

"Oh? So that's how it is. Then can I draw now?"

[Yes.]

"Mm. Then I'll choose weapons and test my luck."

[Host has selected draw category: Weapons.]

[Beginning draw.]

The drawing process took only a few seconds. The result then appeared directly in Long Yi's mind.

[Congratulations, host, on obtaining item x1. Item details are as follows:

Katana (Common)

Type: Tachi

Attributes: None

Special Ability: None

Item Description: This is a very common katana. Though widespread, it is still a sharp weapon. Somewhere on the blade is inscribed a strange line of text: "Katanas must never lose to clumsy greatswords!"]

Long Yi looked at the slender tachi in his hand with satisfaction. It seemed this system could not only allow him to learn the skills of every Ghost Swordsman class, but also grant him weapons and items from the dungeon equipment inventory.

Although he had only unlocked the Ghost Swordsman's basic skills for now, Long Yi believed that as long as he continued growing stronger, he would eventually achieve the grand spectacle of awakening all four major classes at once.

Just imagine it: Long Yi carrying the Sword of the King, gripping Muramasa, wielding the Sword God's extraordinary swordsmanship, surrounded by the Emperor's Thunderclouds of Myriad Calamities, commanding the power of the sixteen great ghosts and gods, and freely transforming into a Blood Demon. In this world, what could possibly stop him?

Shichibukai? Four Emperors? Three Admirals? They were all trash.

"In my previous life, I lived an ordinary life. But in this life, I will surely climb to the peak and make my name resound throughout the world!"

A seed named ambition silently took root in Long Yi's heart, waiting to sprout.