Chapter 44

"The Six Powers are one of Cipher Pol's signature techniques. Any child who graduates successfully from the agent academy has a chance to learn them. But your circumstances are special—you were sent to the battlefield before you could graduate properly. As your senior, I have a duty to teach them to you, even if you hadn't asked." Bathed in the morning light, Anderson was in a good mood after finishing his prayers. Perhaps it was because of his faith? In daily life, he was rarely unhappy—the complete opposite of the gloomy-natured Bred.

Bred listened patiently.

With a smile, Anderson said, "Finger Pistol, Tempest Kick, Moon Walk, Paper Art, Iron Body, and Shave are collectively known as the Six Powers. They all fall under the category of physical techniques. Like boxing, MMA, wrestling, and so on, they're essentially just stricter control over bodily movement, allowing one to surpass the limits of human physical ability and achieve greater power. Learning the Six Powers isn't difficult. Mastering them is."

"Oh?" Bred was intrigued.

Anderson explained, "Looking back several centuries, the power system of Nen was initially held firmly in the hands of the Hunter Association, while the power system adopted by the government was Haki. But Haki was not easy to master. The Six Powers emerged under those circumstances, specifically to lay the groundwork for Armament Haki—similar to Ten, which lays the foundation for Nen. However, the Six Powers possess practical combat functions and can be directly used against ninjas, Nen users, and Devil Fruit users."

He paused briefly.

"By the modern era, systematic methods of Nen training had gradually spread into the government. Its ability to rapidly awaken one's life energy through the help of a Nen user, allowing one to learn it quickly, made it widely popular. After all, training Haki required far more hardship than training Nen, and the chances of succeeding were much lower as well," Anderson said with deep emotion. "Coupled with the government's need for a steady supply of troops, it went with the flow and placed Nen training before Haki training. It's not a bad idea, especially since some effects of Nen resemble Haki's. But after a few more centuries, Haki may well be eliminated."

Bred blinked. "Father Anderson? You've gone off topic."

"Ah, haha..." Father Anderson was not embarrassed in the slightest. He said kindly, "In short, plenty of people nowadays know the Six Powers, but very few have mastered them. The former mostly rely on Nen or Haki to support their bodies as they perform the Six Powers. The latter use Nen or Haki to grant the Six Powers a second-stage enhancement, increasing their destructive power, or use the Six Powers in battle to conserve Nen and Haki. Do you understand the difference, child?"

Bred answered solemnly, "Yes, Father Anderson. I've already prepared myself mentally to bleed and sweat."

"Start with Shave and Moon Walk. What are you waiting for? Run! Train your legs, child." Anderson extended a hand, like a respectful waiter inviting a guest onward. "Five laps around Ohara Island."

Without hesitation, Bred broke into a run. "And please keep an eye on those rats beneath the Tree of Knowledge library, Father Anderson."

"Of course, child," Anderson replied.

Once he started, he could not stop. Bred took the pursuit of power seriously, so aside from eating, relieving himself, resting, and occasionally spending time with Altair, who had gradually begun recognizing people and looking for him, he devoted all his time to learning the Six Powers.

While monitoring those researching the Poneglyphs, Anderson also taught Mosquito Girl how to train in Nen.

Time flew by, reaching February of the year 1492 of the Sea Circle Calendar.

Bred had no choice but to suspend his Six Powers training. His superior, Minister Honest, had once again urged him to probe just how much the people researching the Poneglyphs knew.

By sheer coincidence, right after ending a phone call, Bred ran into some acquaintances—the Nicos.

Olvia's pregnant belly was remarkably large. She should not have been far from giving birth. Maternal tenderness radiated from her entire body, making her look increasingly beautiful.

Swain, who was about to become a father, also wore a happy expression... Following Shack Yak's suggestion, he had left Ohara Island to lie low for a while and had only recently returned to Bred's sight.

"It's been a long time, Mr. Swain, Mrs. Olvia," Bred greeted them.

The Nicos' happiness vanished instantly, and they could barely conceal their guarded vigilance.

"Y-you too, Bred," Olvia forced out a smile.

Bred stared at Olvia's belly for a while before meaningfully shifting his gaze to Swain.

The instant their eyes met, Swain's scalp went numb. He understood Bred's malice—malice directed at his unborn child!

"I have matters to attend to. Farewell." Bred dipped his head.

Watching Bred's departing back, Swain stood frozen in place, unable to move for a long while.

"Swain? Swain! What's wrong?" Olvia called.

Swain jolted and forced a smile. "Nothing. Let's continue our walk. Walking is good for you and the baby, haha~~~"

"Because of Bred?" Olvia was no fool, even if pregnancy was supposedly supposed to make women foolish.

Swain exhaled heavily. "Yes. He's a World Government agent. He's been living on Ohara Island for months, yet he has done nothing at all. That alone isn't normal. We still don't know what his purpose is..."

Abruptly—

"I'm afraid. I thought I was fearless for my dream, but Robin is about to be born... I'm afraid. Afraid of losing you, of losing Robin..." The repression and pressure in his heart struck Swain's fragile nerves. Tears flowed helplessly as he lost control. "Shack Yak was right. I'm an idiot, a selfish bastard who never considered either of you at all... I'm sorry, Olvia. I'm sorry..."

"It's all right, Swain." Awkwardly, Olvia pulled her husband's head close to her swollen belly, letting the child inside soothe him. "Since I chose to marry you and take your surname, it means that no matter what happens, I will never regret my choice. The quality I love most about you is also your persistence."

That night.

"Shh~~~"

Bred raised a finger to his lips. He had infiltrated the Nicos' home, swaggered into Swain's study, and lazily sprawled back on the sofa.

Swain's mouth fell open, unable to hide his shock. He had imagined countless scenes of Bred revealing the vicious fangs of a World Government agent, but never this one.

"Shall we talk?" Bred propped his cheek up with one hand.

PS1: A new week—please support me with recommendation votes. Um... G is awesome. Go 4A! Though I'm clumsy and can't play games, I still quite like esports.

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