But few weapons had successfully been reinforced beyond +10. Whitebeard's Great Blade reached +12, while Vista's swords and Curiel's guns reached +10. Most of the rest were +8 or +9.
Notably, thanks to the generous contribution of the other Whitebeard Pirates' weapons, Barn's Nidai Kitetsu successfully reached +13. The sinister red flame patterns on its blade, paired with the barely visible red glow it emitted, made it look even more eerie.
But the unfortunate pirates whose weapons had been used as "sacrificial attempts" could only suffer in silence as they stared at the shattered remains. After all, Barn had built the Reinforcement Machine, so he reserved the right to the final say!
"This is the Sabaody Archipelago, Barn. Let me ask you one more time: are you really leaving?"
Barn scratched his head helplessly and said,
"Newgate, that's the twentieth time you've asked me on this trip. Keep this up, and I really might not be able to bear leaving."
Whitebeard paused briefly, then laughed.
"Twenty times already? Guhahahaha! Since I can't keep you here, farewell, then. Are you leaving too, little Adam?"
Whitebeard looked at the boy clutching the hem of Barn's clothes as he spoke.
The boy had short, tousled light brown hair and brown eyes. A large black cloak covered his small body completely.
Barn had fished this boy out of the sea a month earlier. Yes, he had actually caught him while fishing.
Barn had been overjoyed for who knew how long. He had fished for almost thirty years without catching a single fish. When he felt something on his hook, he had excitedly called over every member of the Whitebeard Pirates.
But he had never expected to catch a person rather than a fish!
When Marco told him he had hauled up a person, the smile froze on Barn's face. A moment later, he sank into utter despair, squatting alone in a corner and drawing circles over and over.
The little boy had been unconscious for two days. After waking up and learning that Barn had saved him, he had latched onto Barn.
He had even gone about it strategically, first making friends with Fitz, then using Fitz's help to secure Barn's protection and become his disciple.
Barn learned that human traffickers had abducted the boy. Their ship had been attacked by Sea Kings a few days earlier, and he was the sole survivor. The boy's pitiful state softened Barn's heart, so he let him stay and even gave him a new name.
"Kid, you're so dazed you look like a block of wood. How about a new name-Adam? Forget the past and give yourself a fresh start!"
Later, when Marco told him that Adam was the name of a treasure tree, he ran around joyfully, shouting, "I have a name! I'm Adam!"
During those years aboard the traffickers' ship, he had never been treated as a person. He had long since forgotten his name, and everyone simply called him "kid." The name Barn gave him also gave him a new beginning.
In response to Whitebeard's question, Adam answered cautiously,
"Yes. Master can't see, so he'll get lost. I want to go with him so I can take care of him."
"Chirp, chirp!"
Fitz seemed to sense Adam's lack of faith and chirped indignantly in protest.
Hearing Fitz and Adam, Barn couldn't help giving a wry smile.
"Since when did I need a little brat like you looking after me?"
Whitebeard's crew burst out laughing at Adam's words.
"I really don't understand you, Mr. Barn. Weren't you doing well aboard our ship? Why insist on leaving? You know, the outside world already considers you the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Exactly, Mr. Barn. And you had to come here, of all places! The Sabaody Archipelago is right under the Marines' noses!"
It was Vista and Marco, those two best buddies, again.
Barn merely smiled at their concern and said,
"Once I've decided on something, I see it through. Stop trying to talk me out of it. Even your Pops has let me go, so why are you two brats fussing? As for the Marines, heh, do you think they can catch me?"
Hearing that, Vista and Marco stopped trying to persuade him.
Then Barn said to Marco,
"Marco, make sure you deliver my monthly Terrabreeze Coal on schedule and in the agreed quantities. And keep its source a secret. I'm going to sell it for thirty thousand Beli a piece! Haha!"
"Th-thirty thousand? Now I finally understand why you're leaving the ship, Mr. Barn. Being a pirate could never earn you as much as that!"
Marco's jaw dropped at Barn's words.
"Guhahahaha! Marco, my son, if you want to leave the ship too, I won't stop you as your father!"
"No, no, no! Pops, you know I was joking!"
"Guhahahaha!"
Their voices brought back memories for Barn. He smiled faintly, patted Adam's head, and slung his luggage over his shoulder.
"Goodbye, my friends!"
The Whitebeard Pirates grew unusually solemn. Watching Barn's retreating figure, every one of them silently bit their lower lip.
"Barn! I'll be waiting for you out at sea! My children! Give your vice captain a send-off!"
"Yeah!"
Barn stopped, but he didn't turn around. He merely waved and walked away without looking back.
"Master, you're crying."
Adam spoke as he watched Barn's tears flow without stopping.
"Don't say it out loud. Your master isn't a crybaby."
With Fitz perched on his head, Barn walked through the streets of the Sabaody Archipelago, led by Adam's hand.
Though Barn couldn't see, he could hear the sounds around him.
"What a bustling place!"
Barn sighed in admiration.
"Chirp, chirp!"
Fitz nodded with an air of agreement.
"Master, where are we going now?"
"To find the Marines!"
"Huh? But Master, we're pirates!"
Barn ruffled Adam's tousled hair and said,
"It's fine. Let's go!"
"Oh..."
"Reporting in!"
"Come in."
"Yes, sir!"
The Admiral from Marine Headquarters currently stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago was Sengoku. He sat upright at his desk, waiting for the unfamiliar soldier before him to report.
"Admiral Sengoku, there are two people outside claiming to be your friends. They want to see you!"
"Oh? My friends? What do they look like?"
Sengoku asked.
"One is a child, around eight or nine. The other looks about twenty, with black cloth wrapped over his eyes and a bird on his head."
The mention of the black cloth over the man's eyes gave Sengoku a good idea of who it was.
What's he doing here?
Sengoku wondered.
"Let them in!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Long time no see, Sengoku!"
Barn's flippant voice reached Sengoku's ears, and Sengoku gave a cold snort.
"Have you come to turn yourself in, Barn?"
"Of course... not."
"Heh, it doesn't matter either way. You're staying here today!"
Sengoku sprang up from behind his desk and hurled a punch at Barn.
Barn's smile didn't change. Nidai Kitetsu flashed out of its sheath to block Sengoku's fist, then Barn applied a sudden burst of force and pushed him back into his seat.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Sengoku, you're getting more and more impatient. Relax, I mean no harm. I just came to tell you that I'm no longer a pirate."
"What?"
Sengoku was stunned by both Barn's strength and his words. Though he hadn't used his full strength, Barn had pushed him back so easily. That power... And what did he mean by saying he wasn't a pirate anymore...?
"Fitz, we're leaving. Adam, lead the way!"
"Okay."
"Chirp, chirp!"
Ignoring the still-dazed Sengoku, Barn turned and called to Adam and Fitz, then walked out of the Marine Camp.
"Master, look, look! Those bubbles are so pretty! Oh, sorry, I forgot you can't see. Hehe."
Barn had developed a certain immunity to his disciple's taunts, so he didn't lose his temper. His expression merely darkened a little...
Pleased to have successfully teased his master again, Adam stuck out his tongue.
Just then, a little girl with blue twin tails, clutching a sword and running with her head down, crashed straight into Barn!
"Ah! What was that? So hard!"
Hearing the little girl on the ground say that, Barn couldn't help feeling thoroughly exasperated...
"Hard?"
Barn hurriedly felt himself. Only after finding nothing unusual did he realize she hadn't meant that part-she had meant his stomach...
Adam hurried over at that moment, pulled the reckless little girl away, and said,
"Why weren't you more careful? My master can't see!"
Hearing Adam say that, Barn felt even more exasperated...
The little girl immediately bowed in apology.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I have to deliver this sword! I was in such a hurry that I didn't see you!"
"It's all right. Is someone in your family a blacksmith?"
The girl's expression dimmed a little at Barn's question, but she still answered,
"My grandpa was a blacksmith. Dad and Mom went out to sea years ago and never came back. Grandpa passed away a few days ago too, but Lia can forge things too! I-I can sharpen swords as well! I'm a fine blacksmith too!"
Hearing the little girl's words, Barn patted her head and said,
"Yes, yes, little Lia is a fine blacksmith too. Now, how about we go with you to deliver that sword?"
Perhaps taken in by Barn's harmless smile, little Lia nodded happily.
"Yes!"