The makings of a conqueror?
Garp couldn't help swallowing. He turned back and stared straight at Bai Yu, forcibly suppressing his eagerness as he spoke.
"Bogard, Conqueror's Haki is an innate talent. You can't even describe it as something you learn."
"I imagine Bai Yu probably doesn't even know what Conqueror's Haki is, right?"
Bogard stared fixedly at Bai Yu.
He believed that absolutely no change in Bai Yu's expression could escape his eyes.
He had learned Observation Haki and Armament Haki after hearing about them just once.
That had shattered his fragile heart as an instructor into pieces.
Now, Bogard only wanted to find a trace of confusion, a trace of incomprehension, on Bai Yu's face.
Only then would he have a chance to wring some last bit of usefulness out of his role as an instructor.
But that thought had only just surfaced in his mind.
The eagerness on Bogard's face gradually stiffened.
He watched helplessness surface on Bai Yu's face as the boy raised a hand, rubbed the tip of his nose, and spoke.
"Sorry, is this what you mean by Conqueror's Haki? I think I accidentally triggered it just now..."
Bang!
An enormous Sea King burst straight out of the water.
It opened its bloody maw, stirring up a foul wind as it lunged straight at Bai Yu.
Garp and Bogard instantly tensed.
A Lord of the Coast like this might not measure up to the Sea Kings of the Grand Line.
But here in the East Blue, encountering one would be a disaster for anyone.
Yet that thought had only just flashed through Garp's and Bogard's minds.
Without even turning his head, Bai Yu suddenly widened his eyes.
The violent Haki lying dormant within him erupted like raging waves and a furious tide, sweeping outward in all directions with crushing force.
The Lord of the Coast lunging at him, along with the sea creatures that had broken the surface-
At that moment, they seemed to take a direct blow to the head from an invisible sledgehammer.
Their enormous bodies paused for an instant.
It was as though an immobilization spell had been cast on them.
The next moment, all the fish, along with the Lord of the Coast, rolled their eyes back and foamed at the mouth.
They plunged heavily into the sea.
Bang!
Seawater surged and splashed, covering the entire dockside shore like a torrential downpour.
Garp and Bogard were drenched in seawater.
They stared at the unconscious Sea Kings covering the sea's surface.
Both were utterly dumbfounded.
They even rubbed their eyes until the rims turned red.
Garp couldn't help speaking.
"Bogard, hurry up and slap me twice. I want to know whether I'm dreaming."
"Dreaming?"
"Mr. Garp, why don't you slap me instead?"
Watching the two suddenly descend into bewilderment and discuss who should slap whom-
Bai Yu helplessly rubbed the tip of his nose.
Originally, he hadn't intended to reveal that he had awakened Conqueror's Haki.
But when he thought about how people would find out sooner or later, he simply decided not to hide it after all.
After all, geniuses did as they pleased.
All the more so for someone with cheats.
Seeing that the two were still too shocked to recover, Bai Yu decided to rub in a little more salt.
"Grandpa, is the Conqueror's Haki you're talking about that gust of wind just now? It felt pretty refreshing. Want me to give you another breeze?"
Using Haki as a fan to stir up a breeze?
Garp and Bogard felt as though they had been struck by grade-twelve lightning.
This was a fucking criminal waste of a heavenly gift!
He was just toying with them!
"Brat, you're asking for death! Hurry up and tell me, did you really just learn the Three Types of Haki?"
Garp abruptly snapped out of it and roared hysterically.
"If all this is true, I'd really like to see the look on Sengoku's face."
"Hurry up and get me a Den Den Mushi! My grandson has the makings of an Admiral!"
"No, he should be a born Marine King!"
"Hahaha! My grandson is a born Marine King! Makino, I'm paying for the whole tavern for the next week!"
His deafening roar echoed across the open ground by the docks.
Watching Garp suddenly become possessed by Young Master Zhao's father again-
Even Bogard had lost control, draping an arm over his shoulder and dancing like a shaman.
Bai Yu shook his head helplessly. He believed that if he gave Garp another little surprise-
This Marine hero would probably really go mad.
After casually taking a swig of liquor, Bai Yu looked up at the sky.
This sea was vast, and after fourteen years of signing in, he had finally unlocked the system.
Bai Yu had ideas of his own, too. He didn't want to follow a prescribed path.
"Bai Yu, when are you planning to set sail?"
Makino suddenly walked up behind Bai Yu, carrying a jug of strong liquor.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Mr. Garp this happy."
"But I know you, Bai Yu. You'll never obediently do as Mr. Garp says."
Of the four little brats, Makino cared most about Bai Yu, who loved mooching drinks.
After fourteen years of being won over, even iron could be bent, let alone a woman.
"Auntie Makino, thank you for looking after me all these years. Grandpa is still too much trouble. I'm planning to set sail in a little while, so I hope you'll keep it a secret for me."
Bai Yu took the bottle, tipped his head back, and drank before speaking.
"Now?"
Makino froze for a moment, then rubbed Bai Yu's head and shot him a glare.
"You little rascal. Only now that you need a favor do you remember I'm your auntie."
"But don't worry. I'll keep your secret. As for the things you'll need at sea, I've already prepared everything for you."
"The boat is hidden behind the rocks at the eastern dock. I'll explain things to Mr. Garp for you. Have a safe voyage."
At that, a trace of reluctance to part surfaced on Makino's face.
Bai Yu smiled and nodded, then turned and headed straight for the eastern dock, leaving only a voice she had known for fourteen years still echoing between heaven and earth.
"Calling you Auntie makes you sound too old. I'll stick to calling you Makino."
"Next time we meet, I'll probably already be a Marine Admiral!"
A Marine Admiral?
Makino froze for a moment, then rolled her eyes.
"Just as arrogant as ever. But you're better this way. I like you quite a bit."
"Wait, why am I copying that Bai Yu's way of talking again..."
"Makino, is my liquor here yet? I'm not going home sober tonight..."
"Oh, right, where's that brat Bai Yu? Hurry up and bring him over for everyone to see. Let them know my grandson is a super genius..."
Fueled by alcohol, Windmill Village erupted into a frenzy.
At odds with it all, a small, single-masted boat swiftly left the dock under cover of night.
As for where he would go next, Bai Yu wasn't sure.
He was merely working out how he could challenge more powerful opponents before reaching Marine Headquarters.
Whenever he thought of fighting, because his character template was Kenpachi Zaraki-
Bai Yu could practically feel the blood boiling inside him.