Issho Again, Then Green Bull—You Call This Poaching?

Watching Issho lose.

The onlookers around them fell silent.

They had initially only come to watch the battle.

But now, they were completely dumbfounded.

They truly had not expected it.

This blind man's strength.

To be this powerful.

Who was his opponent?

His opponent was their own division commander, for goodness' sake.

Losing to the division commander.

Was still an honorable defeat!

At once.

The way the trainees looked at Issho.

Began to change.

It became admiration.

It became respect.

Zephyr also gained a new understanding of Issho.

One had to know.

Before this.

Zephyr had believed Issho's strength had at most reached the level of a Yonko commander.

Yet when the result came out.

Issho had risen to the top in a single step, reaching admiral level!

Even he was stunned.

Very soon.

Under Lin Yan's introduction.

Issho and Zephyr got to know each other.

Zephyr was full of respect for Issho.

When Issho learned that the man before him was Black Arm Zephyr, the former Marine admiral.

Waves of emotion also stirred in his heart.

At that moment.

Issho spoke. "Captain, your Seventeenth Division was only established recently. Aren't you short on crew members?"

"Do you have someone to recommend?"

Lin Yan immediately caught the hidden meaning in Issho's words.

"Do you remember when I said earlier that I would give you a great gift?"

Issho said with a smile.

"Of course I remember."

Lin Yan quietly waited for Issho to continue.

"Captain, this is my first time aboard your ship, and I have no grand gift to offer. But since you're lacking crew members, I do have someone in mind."

"If we can invite him aboard, it would be an unquestionable boon for our Seventeenth Division."

"His strength is even greater than mine!"

Issho continued.

"How is that possible!"

Lin Yan shook his head.

Issho, Issho, don't belittle yourself like that.

Your strength was already extraordinarily powerful.

Even Zephyr thought.

That no matter how strong this person was.

Issho was being a little too modest.

"This is someone I encountered on the seas in the past. We became acquainted through battle. We fought for five days and five nights without determining a victor, and after that, we became friends."

"Captain, if you want to invite him, you'd best hurry!"

"I recently heard that he also seems to be considering joining the Marines."

Issho explained this person's identity to Lin Yan.

However.

When Lin Yan heard that this person had fought Issho for five days and five nights without either gaining the upper hand.

He immediately stood up.

One had to know.

Who was Issho?

He was a future Marine admiral.

In terms of strength.

He was in no way weaker than Akainu, Aokiji, or any of the current admirals.

Now.

This person could actually trade blows evenly with Issho.

Didn't that mean.

The other party was also an admiral-level figure?

If he could recruit the other man.

His Seventeenth Division could reach the pinnacle overnight with ease.

Lin Yan had thought Issho was merely being modest.

He had not expected him to mean it.

"Who is this person you're recommending?"

Lin Yan urged.

"Green Bull!!!" [His name had not yet been revealed, so this codename would be used for now.]

Issho naturally sensed Lin Yan's eagerness to recruit talent.

There was hope for Green Bull.

"It was him!"

As early as when Issho said the man's strength was no weaker than his own.

Lin Yan had vaguely guessed it.

He had just recruited the future Marine admiral Issho, and now Green Bull had appeared as well.

How could Lin Yan not be shaken?

How could he not be overjoyed?

In Lin Yan's view.

Being able to poach one future Marine admiral.

Was already an exceptionally fortunate thing.

But look at this.

Zephyr, Issho.

And now there was even a lead on Green Bull.

You called this poaching?

This was digging straight through the Marines' foundations!

Just imagine.

After the great incident.

Aokiji left the ranks, and Akainu became Fleet Admiral.

When the only Marine admiral under his command that he could mobilize was Kizaru.

What kind of experience would that be?

And then.

If the Marineford War broke out next.

Lin Yan could directly lead all three of them into the battle at Marineford.

When Sengoku watched the three admirals under his command fighting back and forth with the newly established Seventeenth Division.

He would fall into prolonged contemplation.

Zephyr, Issho, and Green Bull.

This was practically a lineup meant to astonish everyone and steamroll the Marineford War!

"Captain, you know Green Bull?"

Issho was somewhat astonished.

No way, it was one thing for Lin Yan to know his identity, but could he have heard of Green Bull too?

Wasn't his intelligence network a little too terrifying?

"Uh... I've never heard of him!"

Lin Yan shook his head.

Next.

Issho laid out the information regarding Green Bull.

Green Bull was currently in the region of Wano Country.

Issho would need to lead the way to his exact location.

No sooner said than done.

Lin Yan directly ordered the helmsman to turn the ship around and head for Wano Country, in the waters governed by the Beasts Pirates in the New World!

About a week later.

Lin Yan's Seventeenth Division appeared in the waters surrounding Wano Country.

Before their eyes.

A waterfall appeared!

Above the waterfall.

Several koi could vaguely be seen leaping over the Dragon Gate.

As long as they could land atop this waterfall, they could enter Wano Country's territory.

The problem was.

How were they supposed to get up there?

Lin Yan stroked his chin. He could not remember how to enter Wano Country.

But for the members of the Seventeenth Division.

This was not much of a problem.

Issho merely raised one hand.

The Gravity Fruit activated.

The ship beneath their feet slowly rose into the air like an airborne aircraft carrier.

The sudden sight.

Filled the surrounding trainees with delight.

Was this Issho's Devil Fruit ability?

As the ocean beneath them grew ever farther away.

The sensation of flying through the sky.

Made everyone exclaim in wonder!

Before long.

They reached their destination.

Lin Yan arranged for the trainees to guard the ship for the time being.

While he led Issho and Zephyr into the vast primeval forest.

Issho carried a jar of wine and walked at the front.

Lin Yan had purchased these wine jars at a market shortly before.

It was the right remedy for the right ailment.

Issho liked ramen, while Green Bull was especially fond of alcohol.

However.

Looking at Issho before him, Lin Yan asked curiously, "Issho, can you tell me how you can see the road so clearly?"

Only Issho knew Green Bull's whereabouts.

And Issho was currently leading the way.

Watching Issho keep his eyes closed as he skillfully moved through the forest, avoiding thorny vines and clearing a broad path ahead.

Lin Yan was truly curious.

Could you see, or could you not?

If you could see, why blind yourself?

"Heh heh, practice makes perfect!"

Issho gave only that reply.

At last.

After they passed through a deep, dense forest.

Before a thatched hut.

Issho stopped.

"We're here!"

Issho said.

Provided by Tatam: One Piece—Starting with Fishing for the Goro Goro no Mi and the Mangekyō Sharingan