Zoro's arms felt as though they were filled with lead. Wado Ichimonji traced a crooked arc through the air before he toppled straight backward.
The sound of the back of his head striking the paving stones was painful just to hear, but the boy did not utter a sound. He gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently.
Sweat pooled beneath him, proof that he had exhausted every last scrap of his strength.
"He didn't pass out..."
Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the bench's rough wooden armrest.
With willpower like that, he really was a promising prospect.
In the original timeline, how long would this fellow have had to drift at sea before reaching the threshold of Haki?
But now that he had boarded Lin Xuan's ship, some detours could be skipped.
After all, only when his followers' blades were fast enough could their leader free his hands to cut down stronger enemies.
Lin Xuan stood and rolled his slightly stiff neck, his bones giving several crisp cracks.
He glanced at the metallic cube icon lying quietly in his system inventory, and an amused smile curled his lips.
Since he had spent the money, he had to get results.
This was not charity, but an investment in the future.
They would soon find out just how far this purchase worth eight thousand points could take these recruits.
"Mr. Bogard."
Lin Xuan's voice was quiet, yet it carried clearly through the noisy crowd.
The perpetually silent adjutant stopped writing and raised his head, a flicker of confusion passing through the eyes hidden behind his sunglasses.
"This ground is too fragile to take much punishment." Lin Xuan pointed at the paving stones he had cracked underfoot, his tone level. "Find me an empty warehouse, preferably underground, with good soundproofing.