Their Own Hatred

Primeval Forest.

In the faint light of dawn, one tall figure and one short figure appeared amid the ice and snow.

Winter forests... life had withered away, yet danger lurked everywhere. Mutated tigers, nimble leopards, and other large creatures, driven by food shortages, ignored the boundaries of their territories and became even more violent and dangerous.

The wilderness survival assessment for entering the Ninth Tower would never be held in winter... after all, anyone who encountered a wild beast there would be facing one at the very least above their level.

They had come to the Primeval Forest to train because of the secrecy of the Six Powers, as well as the immense recoil and destructive force produced during training—both of which placed a heavy burden on the tower.

Members with over 400 Doriki had already surpassed the limits of ordinary humans.

"Reg, do you miss your parents?"

Still dressed in a black suit despite the bitter winter, Colin suddenly spoke.

Reg froze behind him. He had no memories belonging to this body; the little he knew was what he had heard from others back when he was with Sam.

In his previous life, due to family circumstances, he had also been raised by his grandparents.

After he became an adult, the two elderly people passed away within the same year... peacefully. He had cried his heart out too, but people always had to grow up.

"I do."

Reg's eyes reddened... though he was thinking only of his departed grandparents.

"You've had it hard." Colin turned around and gently rubbed his head.

"Teacher Colin..."

Reg nearly burst into tears. This man had watched over him for three years, then tirelessly taught him for another two and a half. He had truly given so much.

Colin had never spoken about his own family. Even Joe, that carefree guy who had entered at the same time as Colin, had never revealed so much as a word... it was obvious that there was some hidden reason behind it.

Colin had also said that he and Reg were truly alike.

Colin had clearly misunderstood Reg's motivation for working so hard, but Reg could only continue hiding the truth.

"I assume you won't mind if we talk for a while." Colin withdrew his hand.

"Mm." Reg slowly suppressed the emotions surging within him.

"More than 0 years ago... I came to this island just like you did..."

Colin began telling the story of his past, while Reg listened quietly beside him.

Colin had been born in a town called Scarborough, located in the latter half of the Grand Line.

When he was two years old, the town where he lived had been attacked by pirates.

Hidden in a basement, Colin had narrowly escaped disaster... but when the Marines rescued him, he saw his parents' corpses, and his mind nearly collapsed.

The World Government welcomed children like this... yes, welcomed them very much.

Children who had seen hell firsthand, whose enemies happened to be the group known as "pirates," were simply ideal.

After being sent to Tower Forest Island, Colin trained like a madman... at the age of 1, he joined P9 and began carrying out missions. Then he uncovered the pirate crew responsible for that year's attack: BIG·.

That truth filled him with utter despair... the reason the pirates had massacred the town was simple: they had failed to provide delicious enough food.

Although Colin worked incredibly hard, the BIG· Pirates had not only failed to perish in the New World, but had instead grown ever more terrifying... so powerful that he could not even get close to them.

Even now, the gap between him and Charlotte Linlin was growing wider and wider... despairing enough to suffocate him. She was now a pirate with a bounty of 550 million.

Knowing that revenge was hopeless, Colin had chosen Tower Forest Island in his dejection. He had hoped to meet a student worthy of his all-out efforts, someone he could nurture to complete his revenge for him.

Unfortunately, several years passed without him finding a suitable candidate... and then Reg appeared.

Fate always loved making such cruel jokes. Reg's diligence left Colin's feelings exceptionally complicated, so he observed him for three years before finally making up his mind.

Yet over the past two and a half years, Reg had worked so hard that Colin began to waver... which was why this conversation happened.

"Teacher Colin, why did you tell me?"

Reg was full of confusion. Wouldn't it have made him angrier, more motivated, and less able to refuse if someone else had "accidentally" let it slip?

"Because you have an even more powerful enemy... his name is Golden Lion Shiki." Colin smiled helplessly.

"..." Reg's expression twisted with conflict. Isn't this a bit too much?

Reg had been thinking before this... although he had no memories, he had taken over this body. Once he gained enough strength, he would help this body's parents take revenge.

"Don't worry. The ones who killed your parents were the Bernie Pirates. They only joined Golden Lion's Grand Fleet two years ago. Their captain has a bounty of 55 million, so you still have a very good chance." Colin curled his lips and teased Reg.

"Whew... Teacher Colin!"

Reg breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that. If that was the case, then even if he failed to obtain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, his chances of success were still high.

Golden Lion would not care about a small fry like him. At most, he would send subordinates to hunt him down... if Reg was careful, he could even pull it off without anyone noticing.

After all, the Grand Fleet was not always gathered together. There were times when its members split up.

As for Colin's enemy, Big Mom... Reg knew perfectly well just how terrifying she was. Just one Giant race technique, "Majestic Nation," could effortlessly cleave apart a vast expanse of sea.

Not to mention that she could use her own soul to create beings capable of controlling the weather... at that level, it was like one person had eaten several Logia Fruits, and all of them were exceptionally powerful.

"As for me, I've killed many people in my life... and I can no longer tell right from wrong. Being a teacher these past years has been more like a form of self-escape. It was only after seeing you that I developed such unnecessary thoughts."

Colin loosened his tie and spoke again with a self-mocking smile. "But seeing you work this hard... I began to think, 'Using you means forcing you to become a second me, and it's also mocking my own incompetence.' Once that thought appeared, I could no longer suppress it. So I decided to lay everything out."

"Teacher Colin... I'll work hard."

Reg clenched his fists... As long as he could grow stronger, what was wrong with making a move?

Colin stared at Reg for several seconds... That determination was truly moving.

"You brat, don't go giving me hope so casually...!"

Bang... Colin rapped Reg on the head with his fist.

"Hehe... whether it takes ten years or none at all... if I have the ability, I have to give it a try. Teacher, you have to stay alive and well." Reg scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

"You little brat... Your teacher is perfectly safe here." Colin turned away, his eyes red-rimmed... This brat was so realistic, yet that was exactly what made it moving.

Given how hard he worked... Colin found himself looking forward to it: just how powerful would Reg become in the future?

"Let's go... We'll settle your matter first. You wouldn't want to drag it out too long, only for your enemy to suddenly die, would you?" Colin started walking.

"Yes, Teacher Colin... Please teach me with every ounce of your strength!" Reg pleaded.

"No problem... Your teacher will use twice that much."

Colin's figure as he walked ahead grew increasingly upright... Reg narrowed his eyes beneath the shadows: he was proud to have a teacher like him.

No matter what Colin had been like in the past, he had indeed poured his heart and soul into teaching him.

A person like that should not be tormented by powerlessness for his entire life... After all, the sorrow carved into one's bones would not fade with time.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair...

There are parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme...

Give my regards to someone who lives there; he was once my true love...

Tell him to make me a linen skirt...

With neither seams nor needlework...

Then he will become my true love...

Ask him to find me a place to rest...

Colin began singing his hometown ballad again as he walked ahead. His mother had often sung this song by his ear; it was this very song that had made his parents fall in love.

Colin's father had been a pastry chef. The first gift he gave was a long dress made of caramel.

And so Colin's father became his mother's true love... and found a place to rest.

It should have been a harmonious, happy, and blessed family... but now it had fallen apart.

"Teacher... mountains have their peaks, seas have their shores. Though the road is long, there will eventually be a turning point. Though the aftertaste is bitter, sweetness will eventually return... Please wait patiently."

Reg clenched his fists again... Now, he had one more reason to work hard and become stronger.

He was no saint and could not save everyone... but Reg wanted to repay Colin for this kindness.