"Bai Yu already has the makings of a Swordmaster. That certainly surprised me, but to avoid wasting his talent, I'll arrange a training plan as soon as possible to improve his strength, so he doesn't die before he can grow."
Many thoughts ran through Bogard's mind as he spoke.
"However, the prerequisite is that Mr. Garp can get him to join Marine Headquarters. If he sneaks out to sea, all our ideas won't be much use."
"Don't worry. I understand your concerns."
Garp nodded in agreement.
"The main reason I let Ace go just now was that Bai Yu gave me such a big surprise."
"An unpolished gem like him-even if I have to tie him up, I'll drag him back to Marine Headquarters and shut that fellow Sengoku's mouth."
"I'll show him I didn't come back to the East Blue just to slack off."
"Tell me, what expression will he have when I bring a swordsmanship genius with the makings of an Admiral back to Marine Headquarters?"
On the shore, Bai Yu held half a broken wooden sword.
That strike of Sword Pressure had completely drained him.
Never mind fighting-even moving a finger was difficult now.
However, after that strike, Bai Yu had a clearer sense of where his strength stood.
Being able to unleash a Flying Slash meant he had already taken half a step into the realm of a Swordmaster.
But there was still some distance between him and a true Swordmaster.
At the very least, Bai Yu had yet to master the technique of cutting iron.
Otherwise, that strike would not have sent the iron ball flying, but cleaved it in two.
Of course, he had only unlocked five percent of his primary template, Kenpachi Zaraki.
If he unlocked it to one hundred percent and combined it with the strength of other subordinate templates...
Bai Yu could not say for certain what level his strength would reach.
But punching the Three Admirals, kicking the Four Emperors, and cutting down the Five Elders should be no problem, right?
"B-Bai Yu, let's run! Grandpa's coming back! Now that Ace has gone out to sea, he'll definitely take his temper out on us."
"That old man's punches really hurt!"
Holding down the straw hat on his head, Luffy ran back and forth along the pier, as frantic as an ant on a hot pan.
But just as he was about to hide inside a wooden crate...
A dark figure appeared behind him, slicing through the air.
"You damned brat! Didn't I tell you to call me Grandpa?"
"Taste my Fist of Love!"
Bang!
The enormous fist instantly sent Luffy flying.
The tremendous impact hurled him more than ten meters before he slammed headfirst into a reef and finally stopped.
Seeing the huge lump rising on his forehead...
Luffy immediately began howling like ghosts and wailing like wolves.
"You damned old man! Why didn't my Gum-Gum Fruit work?"
"Ah, Grandpa, stop hitting me! I know I was wrong! It's all Bai Yu and Ace's fault! They're always calling you an old man!"
A display of utterly harrowing love between grandfather and grandson unfolded on the pier.
Bai Yu rolled his eyes helplessly, plopped down on a reef, and took a swig of liquor on his own.
"You're Bai Yu, aren't you? I often hear Mr. Garp mention your name."
Bogard came over to Bai Yu and looked him over carefully several times before speaking.
"Mr. Garp always says you possess wisdom, perseverance, and comprehension far beyond others your age. I thought he was joking, but now that I've seen you for myself, I realize even Mr. Garp underestimated you."
"Young man, you have the makings of an Admiral. Would you be willing to join Marine Headquarters?"
Even Garp could not help stopping the instructive movements of his hands.
Luffy, too, clutched his lump-covered head and forgot to scream, his face filled with eagerness.
Faced with Bogard's invitation, they were eager to know what decision Bai Yu would make.
"I have the makings of an Admiral?"
Bai Yu took a sip of strong liquor and shook his head with a smile.
"I don't want to be an Admiral. I only want to pursue stronger swordsmanship, until there's nothing in this world my blade cannot cut."
"Originally, freedom was what suited me best."
"But for the sake of those foolish little brothers of mine, it seems becoming a Marine is the only way I can have a little peace of mind."
"At least when they're thrown into Impel Down, I'll still be able to fish them out."
"Hm?"
Garp was dumbfounded.
A moment ago, he had been so moved that hot tears welled in his eyes and streamed down his old face.
After all those years of raising them, Heaven had finally opened its eyes.
Now this outrageous idea had come out, instantly sending his rage through the roof.
"Mr. Garp, don't forget the purpose of our trip."
Bogard hurriedly stepped in front of Garp, genuinely worried that Bai Yu might have a rebellious phase too.
If Garp scared him away, they would probably regret it until their guts turned green.
"Right. Let's get this brat into Headquarters first."
Garp hurriedly came to his senses and swung another Fist of Love at the dazed Luffy.
"Luffy, listen carefully! Bai Yu has agreed to become a Marine, but you still can't run off and become a pirate either, or I'll beat you to death!"
"Makino, get the drinks ready! Today's bill is on me, Garp!"
Watching Garp, who seemed possessed by Young Master Zhao for a moment...
Bai Yu smiled, took a swig of liquor, and withdrew his gaze.
In the original story, Garp had also tried placing his hopes in Luffy and Ace.
Unfortunately, both brothers had ultimately sneaked out to sea and become pirates.
Garp never said it aloud, but he had felt disappointment in his heart too.
Bai Yu's reincarnation and the decision he had made could, to some extent, be considered compensation for the regret in Garp's heart.
At the same time, considering Garp's status as a Marine hero...
A bold idea arose in Bai Yu's mind.
"Bai Yu, thank you for making this choice."
Bogard did not leave with Garp.
He plopped down on a nearby reef and spoke.
"I'm the adjutant aboard Mr. Garp's ship, and I also serve as the adjutant for new recruits. We should be spending some time together from here on."
"The East Blue is vast, but among the Four Blues, it's called the Weakest Sea. Beyond the Four Blues lies the Grand Line, where danger lurks at every turn."
"And the Grand Line is divided into a first half and a second half. The second half is called the New World. It's a savage land of pirates, with the Four Emperors carving up the seas. Even we Marines have to tread carefully."
"You should know full well that Luffy is a Paramecia Gum-Gum Fruit Devil Fruit User, immune to all effects of blunt-force attacks. Yet Garp's fists hurt him. Do you know why?"
A string of words poured from Bogard's mouth.
If Garp had been there, he would certainly have been shocked.
The usually taciturn Bogard had actually become a chatterbox.
"You mean Haki?"
As someone who had reincarnated into this world, Bai Yu naturally knew how its system of combat strength worked.
"Mr. Bogard, did the old man ask you to guide me in training Haki?"
"It seems he really was worried I'd sneak out to sea. That's why he kept putting off teaching me Haki. If Ace knew, I wonder whether he'd regret missing such a rare opportunity."