The Road Ahead
Deep in the jungle, in the very center of a clearing, a few embers of fire flickered, and plumes of smoke rose steadily into the air.
The large chunk of meat, over ten meters long, was held up like that, with Ye Chen occasionally rotating it to prevent it from burning.
Sitting on the ground, his long black hair was dragging on the ground, his whole body was dirty, and his clothes were tattered. If you didn't look closely, you would definitely recognize him as a beggar.
Six months of living like a wild man could be a period of complete isolation from the world, but Ye Chen did not feel lonely. Instead, he felt a sense of fulfillment, because every bit of growth in strength was the best gift for him.
"Now that I can control my Conqueror's Haki completely, it's time to go out!"
Touching his left eye, Ye Chen sighed softly. Because of the Awakening of Conqueror's Haki, he hadn't been able to go to Drum Island, which delayed him for six months. He didn't know if he could recover.
However, Ye Chen did not regret it, because the Devil Fruit's power could also heal his eyes.
Now, the most important thing is to think carefully about the future.
The Awakening of Conqueror's Haki was unexpected for Ye Chen, so he needs to think carefully about whether he should stay in the Navy.
According to Ye Chen's understanding, the Navy has its own system, making it impossible for anyone to Awakening Conqueror's Haki. Furthermore, those rulers would not allow a Conqueror's Haki user to remain in the Navy, as it would be a ticking time bomb for them.
Because no one who possesses Conqueror's Haki can submit to someone else unless they do so willingly, wait for Conqueror's Haki!
If I remember correctly, during my last battle with Red the Aloof, in the moment I lost consciousness, I clearly sensed two Conqueror's Haki, one from Red the Aloof, and the other...
When Ye Chen woke up, he learned that it was Garp who rushed over in time to capture Red the Aloof, that is, the other Conqueror's Haki user, Garp.
"No wonder, how come I didn't think of that!"
Patting his head, Ye Chen combined all the information in his mind and began to analyze Garp.
Garp's unwillingness to be promoted to Admiral, his freedom within the navy to do whatever he wants, and his complete lack of constraints all demonstrate his status.
Clearly, Garp stayed in the Navy voluntarily. Later, when Sengoku became Sengoku Fleet Admiral, he helped him with some missions only because Sengoku were friends.
Furthermore, Garp spent most of his time chasing Roger, completely neglecting other missions, and there are many other details that show that Garp is not simple.
Who is Roger? He's the One Piece! Only a true king could chase after Roger everywhere.
That's true; his son, grandson, and future generations will all possess Conqueror's Haki. Garp couldn't possibly not know it.
Sora, Sengoku, Zephyr, and even the five people on Holy Land Mary Geoise should all know that Garp possesses Conqueror's Haki. So why is Garp still able to stay in the Marines and live such a carefree life without being restricted by any rules?
There are many answers.
First, Garp has no ambition; he possesses a sense of justice, and although this justice is unrestrained, it is at least still justice.
Secondly, there are Sengoku, Zephyr, Tsuru, and others, all of whom are Garp's friends. It's clear that Garp cares about them a lot.
Third, and most importantly, Garp possesses unparalleled power. No one dares to kill Garp now, and even if the World Government could, they would pay an unimaginable price.
Furthermore, if the goal is simply to eliminate Garp for the sake of Conqueror's Haki, then Zephyr, Sengoku, Tsuru, and even Ku would rebel. At that point, the very existence of the Navy would be in question.
Mary Geoise seeks balance; every advantage has its disadvantage, and the two are relative. If Garp were removed, the consequences would be predictable, such as the collapse of the Navy, followed by rampant piracy and loss of control over the seas. In the end, it would be the World Government that suffers.
Therefore, the people of Mary Geoise were clever and decided to keep Garp. Not only did they gain a super-powerful fighter, they could also subtly get Garp to serve them. Although they couldn't force him, they could do so indirectly.
Keeping it brings far more benefits than removing it!
There may be other reasons, but the fact that Garp can stay in the Navy and live a comfortable and carefree life speaks volumes about Garp abilities.
All of this is based on one premise: that Garp is acting voluntarily. Otherwise, no one could force him!
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Mary Geoise restricted naval development.
Having figured everything out, Ye Chen first breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned.
Should I leave or stay?
After much deliberation, Ye Chen realized that staying would maximize his benefits.
My current strength is still too weak. With the Navy behind me, I have many resources to utilize; but if I leave the Navy and try to build my own power, it will be a waste of a lot of time.
This world is dangerous. I am too weak now. If I want to survive to the end, I must keep a low profile and be patient. Otherwise, I won't even know how I died.
However, forbearance does not mean surrender, because usually, the one who survives to the end is the victor.
Ye Chen understood. Although he disliked this feeling, he knew that impulsiveness was a devil, and countless people could kill him.
No matter what, being alive is the most important thing; otherwise, everything else is meaningless!
"It seems I need to place some of my own people in positions of power. It's time to build up my own influence. Let's start by getting a Fleet Admiral in charge."
"Compared to building a force from scratch, it's much easier to replace it with the navy. Besides, the navy is ultimately the righteous one, and having that brand will save a lot of time."
Driven by deep ambition, Ye Chen had already begun to formulate a comprehensive plan.
First, cultivate your own people within the Navy, then seize the position of Fleet Admiral, and finally go solo. Those old fogies in Mary Geoise who want to mess with you should be prepared to be overthrown.
In this world, only I can establish justice!
Ye Chen clenched his fist, his gaze sharper than ever before. However, just in case, he had to conceal his Conqueror's Haki before he had the strength to back it up. Otherwise, being too high-profile would lead to a quick death!
Food still needs to be eaten one bite at a time; temporary forbearance won't make a difference.
"Brubrubru"
Just then, a Den Den Mushi that was sleeping on a rock not far away suddenly woke up and started calling out.
Ye Chen was surprised that the Den Den Mushi had survived for six months; its vitality was truly remarkable.
"Hello!"
Ye Chen answered the Den Den Mushi casually, still grilling the meat.
"Your son is still alive? Six whole months, not a single word from him. I called you so many times, why didn't you answer?"
A roar came from the Den Den Mushi, making Ye Chen rub his ears.
"Admiral Sengoku, I'm training in the Calm Belt, so I might not be with Den Den Mushi when you contact me."
Ye Chen frowned slightly, and his expression immediately turned cold. He didn't know why, but listening to Sengoku's condescending roar made him very unhappy!
In the past, although I would have felt some discomfort, I wouldn't have been so furious as I am now.
Now, Ye Chen has Awakening Conqueror's Haki, and without realizing it, he has already changed, destined to no longer be an ordinary person.
However, Ye Chen quickly suppressed the irritation in his heart and continued to speak as before, because he was not yet qualified to ignore the Sengoku.