"A little Haki prodigy? Do you mean Sentomaru?"
Sengoku raised an eyebrow. The Two Types of Haki were a product of the New World.
Never mind the Marine recruit camp-even in the first half of the Grand Line, they were rarely heard of.
"To gain an initial grasp of Armament Haki while still at the Marine academy certainly qualifies him as a genius!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is right. I think everyone understands how difficult Haki is to learn."
Tsuru voiced her agreement.
"According to the report, Sentomaru had already awakened Armament Haki at twenty. Born in a small country, he was selected by the World Government at twenty-seven and sent to the recruit camp. After Zephyr's training, his use of Armament Haki has reached the height of mastery."
"By Zephyr's estimate, as long as he spends another six months diligently studying Taijutsu, he should be close to finding the opportunity to awaken Observation Haki."
"Once Sentomaru masters the Two Types of Haki, he will absolutely rank among the outstanding members of the younger generation even in the New World. Calling him a little Haki prodigy would be no exaggeration."
Sharp intakes of breath rang out, and even some veteran officers looked visibly moved.
In the first half of the Grand Line, or even throughout the Four Blues, being a Devil Fruit User might symbolize strength.
But once one reached the New World, mastery of the Two Types of Haki was the true path to supremacy.
Mastering Haki while still at the Marine academy meant he had obtained his ticket to the New World ahead of time.
Many of the Marine officers present had probably yet to reach that stage themselves.
"Tsuru is right. Sentomaru did set out to sea a little late."
"But reaching this stage while still at the Marine academy means he lives up to the title of Haki genius. Give him a little more time, and someday, calling him a Marine Supernova would be no exaggeration."
As Sengoku spoke, he leafed through the recruit files in his hands.
Inwardly, however, he sighed.
Kizaru's words earlier had been a little harsh.
But compared to that class, whose members had graduated together and become the Three Admirals almost simultaneously...
These so-called geniuses in his hands undoubtedly felt as though they had been instantly crushed into dust.
If things continued at this rate and no one capable of carrying the banner emerged among the Marine recruits...
As time passed, they would probably find themselves on the back foot again.
Against the Four Emperors, they would definitely stand a head lower, too.
"By the way, has that bastard Garp still not called me back? Don't tell me he's gone missing again and had Bogard cover for him!"
"He's been fobbing me off with that excuse for so many years. Can't he actually bring back a promising youngster for once?"
As an old friend, Sengoku clearly could not be fooled by Garp's petty little schemes.
He truly held no expectations for an excuse that had been used who knew how many times.
Bringing it up now was merely a way to vent his pent-up frustration.
Of course, he knew just where that unreliable old man might have gone now.
"Ahem, just now, Bogard sounded unusually delighted as he hinted that something wonderful had happened to Garp. Perhaps he really has found a promising youngster this time."
"The East Blue is indeed the Weakest Sea, but it has produced quite a few powerful figures. Don't forget Roger, Golden Lion, and Garp all came from the East Blue."
Tsuru gave a dry cough, intending to smooth things over.
"Bullshit! Tsuru, all you ever do is cover for him. How many years has that fellow been saying he'll train a promising youngster who'll make me sit up and take notice?"
"Every time he goes back, he either drops out of contact or hides in a tavern and gets dead drunk. Like hell I'm going to believe him again!"
Sengoku looked indignant.
"Give me the Den Den Mushi. If that bastard dares to slack off again, he can forget about setting foot through the Marines' gates."
"Purupurupuru!"
The Den Den Mushi's ringing abruptly sounded, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Especially upon seeing that it was the Den Den Mushi reserved for contacting Garp, even Tsuru helplessly covered her forehead.
He had walked straight into the line of fire.
Still, faced with Sengoku's thoroughly displeased expression, Tsuru answered the Den Den Mushi.
"Moshi moshi, Tsuru speaking!"
"Garp, Sengoku is absolutely furious right now. You'd better promise you're not hugging a wine jar and slurring your words, or even I won't be able to save you!"
As a Marine of the same generation, Tsuru knew perfectly well how unreliable Garp was.
He could abandon his Marine duties and spend all day chasing Pirate King Roger across the seas.
Only he could do something so idiotic.
Now, Tsuru was not praying that Garp had truly found a promising youngster.
She merely hoped he was not drunk on the street, babbling nonsense into a Den Den Mushi.
"Haha, Tsuru, don't you worry. I knew that old rascal Sengoku would come looking to give me trouble!"
Garp burst into hearty laughter.
Beside her, Sengoku's cheeks twitched wildly. Had it not been for their surroundings and the vast stretch of sea between them, he really would have slapped him.
He was just about to snatch the Den Den Mushi.
But the next moment, the words coming through it froze Sengoku's outstretched hand in place.
"Sengoku, you old rascal, I know you're listening in. Let me tell you, I really did find a promising youngster on this trip back to the East Blue."
"Have you ever heard of a genius?"
"At sixteen, he reached the Swordmaster realm and unleashed a Flying Slash that knocked my Steel Bone Giant Meteor away. What's more, he awakened all Three Types of Haki at once, and his Doriki has reached five hundred, already surpassing the superhuman threshold."
"Someone like that has the makings of an Admiral."
"Let me tell you, he's my grandson, Bai Yu, the next number-one Marine Supernova. This time, Sengoku, you finally have nothing to complain about. That ought to shut your nagging mouth for good!"
The vast conference hall instantly fell deathly silent.
Then the Marines present erupted.
Even Sengoku crushed the teacup he had just picked up with an audible crack.
"A Great Swordmaster who awakened the Three Types of Haki at sixteen and can unleash a Flying Slash-and most importantly, he's Vice Admiral Garp's grandson."
"Put all those things together-is this some kind of colossal joke?"
"Mr. Garp must be joking, right? Even that recruit at the Marine academy named Sentomaru only awakened Armament Haki at twenty, and he still hasn't awakened Observation Haki. Awakening the Three Types of Haki at sixteen is absolutely impossible."
"Aren't you focusing on the wrong thing? Vice Admiral Garp just mentioned the Three Types of Haki. That means, besides Armament Haki and Observation Haki, that fellow awakened Conqueror's Haki at just sixteen-the kind only one in a million possesses!"
"Across all of Marine Headquarters, there are practically no people with the Three Types of Haki..."
The room erupted, discussions rising one after another. Even the Marine Vice Admirals who were usually calm and composed were no exception.
Before a sixteen-year-old boy with the Three Types of Haki...
The genius at the Marine academy mentioned earlier was simply nothing but a fart.
As for the other so-called Marine super rookies, compared to this Bai Yu...
Wouldn't they be instantly crushed into dust?
If Garp was not planning to blow his boasts sky-high this time...
This Swordmaster who had awakened the Three Types of Haki at sixteen and could unleash a Flying Slash...
Would probably truly have no trouble becoming an Admiral in the future.
There really was nothing wrong with what Garp had just said-"My grandson has the makings of an Admiral"-was there?