A formidable foe

Borsalino looked Randall up and down.

His gaze made Randall deeply uncomfortable.

Coupled with Borsalino's somewhat sleazy expression, it nearly turned Randall's face green.

Yet he did not dare say a word.

Because the man before him was a genuine monster.

Even with the man completely unguarded, the pressure he exerted on Randall nearly sent the ki inside him into turmoil.

It was so terrifying that the back of his head went numb!

A single sneeze from the man might leave him dead on the spot!

He had better behave himself.

After carefully examining Randall from head to toe, Borsalino pursed his lips and said:

"How interesting~ So, Onigumo, what's the story with this young man?"

Onigumo hastily said, "This brat might be connected to Golden Lion. I was going to lock them up together and send them both to Impel Down later!"

Randall shot back, "I told you I have nothing to do with Golden Lion! I'm not a pirate, either! I'm a good person! Can you Marines just arrest anyone you please?"

Onigumo said, "You..."

Borsalino raised a hand to stop Onigumo again, then said:

"Onigumo, my Observation Haki tells me he's telling the truth~ Besides, how could Golden Lion possibly have a subordinate this weak~?"

Randall's face darkened.

Although Borsalino's words helped him, and were true, why did they sting so much?

Seeing that Onigumo still refused to let it go, Borsalino said, "That's enough, Onigumo. Leave this to me."

Onigumo gritted his teeth, then saluted. "Yes, sir!"

Watching Onigumo and the soldiers walk away, Randall let out a deep breath.

That meant he had made it through the crisis, right?

"Young man, you seem to have suddenly relaxed~"

The leisurely voice made Randall stiffen all over.

Had I just escaped the wolf's den only to enter the tiger's lair?

Although Borsalino had just helped him out, who knew why he had done it, or what he would do to him next?

Randall stiffly turned his neck to look at Borsalino.

He found the man studying him with flickering eyes and an intrigued expression.

"S-sir, is something wrong?"

Borsalino adopted a thoughtful pose, paused for a few seconds, then said, "Nothing at all~ Now, come with me, young man."

With that, he turned and walked away without checking whether Randall followed.

Randall swallowed.

What if I ran right now...

He suddenly deflated. Could even the Four Emperors escape from the fastest man in the world?

Then he obediently followed behind Borsalino.

With his back to Randall, Borsalino sensed his movements and pursed his lips.

A short while later, they reached the door to the Fleet Admiral's Office.

Borsalino casually said, "Wait by the door," then knocked and went inside.

Inside the office, a burly old man with graying temples was picking his nose while fighting over rice crackers with the old man beside him, whose beard was braided.

Behind the desk, a burly old man with a three-pronged beard looked up from his work as someone entered.

"Hmm? What a surprise. You actually came to my office of your own accord, Borsalino?"

Still as languid as ever inside the Fleet Admiral's Office, Borsalino casually said:

"Hello, Fleet Admiral Kong~ Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Sengoku~"

Seeing someone arrive, Sengoku hastily made himself presentable.

Garp, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to snatch all the rice crackers, without the slightest concern for appearances.

"Borsalino, what brings you here?"

Kong glanced helplessly at the two old men, then asked.

Borsalino said, "Well, I just discovered an interesting kid~"

"Oh? An interesting kid? Interesting enough to catch even your attention?" Sengoku first shot Garp a fierce glare, then asked.

The other two became interested as well.

Borsalino did not keep them in suspense. With his mouth twisted and his eyes askew, he said:

"That's right~ Although the kid is still very weak, there's a mysterious energy inside his body~

"It's completely different from Haki~

"Terrifying stuff~"

"Bwahahaha! An energy completely different from Haki? That really is interesting! Where's the little fellow? I've finished my business here anyway, so I'll go see what he's made of!"

Garp said with a hearty laugh.

Your business was stealing rice crackers?

Everyone was speechless.

Borsalino said, "I brought him along. He's right outside~"

"Then what are we waiting for?" Garp and the others exchanged glances and declared, "Let's go!"

Kong also tossed aside the documents in his hand and stood.

Compared with an interesting young man, what was so great about a few documents?

He certainly would not admit that he wanted an excuse to slack off.

Outside, an anxious Randall saw the office door suddenly open, followed by several big shots filing out one after another.

Whoa, the one eating rice crackers must be Garp. Garp in his prime.

And those unmistakable beards—Sengoku the Buddha and Kong!

What was he supposed to do? Randall felt his legs going a little weak.

At the same time, his face flushed a little.

Getting to meet this many powerhouses makes my whole life worthwhile!

"This is the young man you mentioned?"

The three big shots scrutinized Randall, occasionally furrowing their brows.

Randall felt an immense weight bearing down on him.

I'm delicate and frail, just a mere world's greatest martial artist.

Don't look at me like that!

After examining him from head to toe, the big shots all looked intrigued.

Just as Borsalino had said, this was an entirely unfamiliar energy.

They silently exchanged glances, and Garp said:

"Bwahahaha! Let's head to the Training Ground, then! Looking doesn't tell us much. We need to get hands-on!"

Randall shuddered at those words.

He felt phantom pain beginning to spread all over his body.

The group made their way to the Training Ground.

Along the way, they encountered a kindly-looking older woman and a cool middle-aged man with purple hair.

Heh, more familiar faces.

Chief of Staff Tsuru and Black Arm Zephyr.

Both were big shots.

The two also sensed the unusual energy inside Randall and said they wanted to take a look as well.

A short while later, inside the Training Ground.

The big shots watched from the sidelines while Randall and a soldier stood facing each other in the arena.

The soldier was a convenient stand-in the big shots had grabbed at random.

Pietro, ranked tenth in the Headquarters Elite Camp.

To the big shots, someone of his strength might die from a casual poke of a finger.

But to Randall, he was a formidable foe.

The pressure he gave off was definitely greater than that of the world's greatest martial artist Randall had defeated before!

And by a considerable margin!

Pietro looked at Randall with contempt and excitement in his eyes.

Although he did not know what the big shots were planning, this was a good opportunity.

As long as he put on an impressive performance, he could catch their attention.

From there, he could earn promotions and pay raises, marry a rich beauty, and reach the pinnacle of life!

As for Randall? Heh. Pietro did not know where this nobody had come from, and he did not take him seriously at all.

Lost in his dreams, Pietro smiled and said to Randall, "Come on!"