Chapter 38

As Zephyr observed Ross, he couldn't help but recall Garp's words about the young Marine in front of him. ' Ross, is a child of focus, commitment, and sheer will. It's something many people know very little about.' echoed in his mind.

The weight of those words settled on him, emphasizing the exceptional nature of Ross's character. To endure Garp's rigorous training regime at such a tender age required a level of determination and resilience that few possessed. It was a testament to Ross's extraordinary potential and his capacity to become a formidable asset to the Marines.

"Zephyr-san, you exaggerate," I deflected humbly, unwilling to accept too much praise. "I still have quite a way to go, and I've heard rumors around Marineford of a certain young Marine recruit who might be able to match my talent; isn't that right, Zephyr-san?" Redirecting the conversation toward Vergo, I couldn't help but acknowledge the remarkable progress of Zephyr's adopted son.

Since the attack on Marineford, Vergo has earned a special place in Zephyr's heart, his loyalty and bravery shining through. Despite not possessing the same monstrous talent as myself, Vergo's potential to become a Marine Admiral was undeniable. Learning that Vergo had consumed a mythical Zoan type Devil Fruit only heightened expectations, with both Zephyr and Kong eagerly anticipating Vergo's growth into a future marine powerhouse.

"Zephyr-san, I need your advice on resistance training," I requested, getting straight to the point, knowing Zephyr appreciated efficiency over ceremony.

Zephyr raised his brow at the mention of resistance training, a specialized regimen tailored for Devil Fruit users. The drawback of consuming a Devil Fruit was well-known: it rendered one powerless in the sea, turning them into a "landlubber" vulnerable to the sea's influence and the restraining power of seastone.

"Ross, as far as I'm aware, you're not a Devil Fruit user. Why do you want to know about this advanced training method?" Zephyr inquired, intrigued by my interest in the subject.

"Ah, Zephyr-san, I recently came across a rare Logia fruit," I began, offering a partial truth. "I'm considering consuming it, but I want to weigh the disadvantages against the advantages. Garp-sensei mentioned resistance training, so I thought I should learn more about it before making a decision."

While this was indeed part of my motivation, my true intent was to acquire the knowledge to protect my family. With more members of the Donquxote family's inner circle becoming Devil Fruit users, mitigating their vulnerability to seastone became paramount.

I still vividly remember the event in Canon where Marco, the first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, became a sitting duck after being shackled by seastone cuffs. So I have already made up my mind. Until I find a Devil Fruit that truly suits me, I'm content with becoming an apex powerhouse, relying on my haki and swordsmanship.

By sharing my concerns and objectives, I hoped to glean valuable insights from Zephyr-san to safeguard my family in the future.

"Hmm, a Logia Devil Fruit, you say? Well, as long as one doesn't overly rely on Devil Fruits and simultaneously hones their Haki prowess, the addition of the Devil Fruit can be advantageous. But honestly, only a select few can truly master both of these powers to the extreme simultaneously, especially considering a Logia Devil Fruit; its awakening will be a huge task in itself. However, I'm sure with your talent, you should be able to achieve what many others fail to do: reach the apex in both Haki and Devil Fruit abilities."

Zephyr gave his honest opinion regarding whether I should opt for a Devil Fruit. He continued, "And yes, I forgot that you also train in swordsmanship, right? Well, if you want my advice, then I would suggest first considering whether you can handle training in all these aspects to the extreme. Being mediocre in one of these aspects will be of no use to you in the future, especially when facing apex powerhouses. I'm sure you've heard the famous saying, 'One should fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.' Similarly, unless you are confident you can hone all three skills to the extreme, don't pick a devil fruit."

Zephyr's words were insightful, reminding me of the importance of mastery in each aspect of combat. It was a decision that required careful consideration, as each path carried its own challenges and rewards.

"I understand, Zephyr San. So, can you please teach me about the resistance training so that I can make a decision after getting all the facts straight?" I asked, bringing Zephyr back to the topic that I really wanted answers on. The man before me had a tendency to delve deep into his teachings, and while I appreciated his insights, I couldn't afford to spend too much time learning things I had already covered with Garp.

"Oh, yes, resistance training. Fine, I will help you with the training. I know that Garp has been assigned to the Sabody mission. How about you find me once you return to Marineford after you complete that mission? I will ask Garp to leave you under my care for a few months while I train you." Zephyr quickly made a decision to train me in the aspects that I was still lacking after I returned from the Sabody mission.

Two days later, as Garp's ship set sail for Sabody, I stood on the deck, watching as Marineford disappeared into the horizon. Kuzan had joined us for this mission, standing by my side as we prepared for the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, Admiral Sengoku's ship departed for Mary Geoise, where he would be escorting the World Nobles three days later. The tension in Marineford was palpable as preparations were made for the high-stakes mission, especially now that the Roger pirates were rumored to be heading to Sabody around the same time.

"Say, Ross, do you think the Roger pirates will cause some sort of commotion?" Kuzan's voice cut through the air, reflecting the unease that many felt at the thought of Roger and his notorious crew returning to the New World. Despite Roger's current status as one of the Overlords of the New World, alongside Whitebeard and Shiki, the world government held a special interest in Roger and his crew. Their history, including their involvement in taking down the legendary Rocks Pirates, made them a constant source of concern for the authorities.

"Kuzan-san, I don't think the Roger pirates will cause as much commotion as you think," I replied, contemplating the situation. "If you ask me, this whole mission is a farce. Do you really believe the Roger pirates have no better work than causing trouble at Sabody, especially when they're eager to return to the New World?"

I knew for a fact that Roger, aware of his illness, dreamed of circumnavigating the world and was currently on the hunt for clues regarding the remaining poneglyphs. With such a monumental goal driving him, it seemed unlikely that he would divert his attention from his main objective to interfere with the World Nobles' affairs at Sabody.

"Kuzan-san, you should be much more concerned about how you'll handle being around the World Nobles. Your entire belief in your so-called justice will be challenged when you're in the presence of the Celestial Dragons, and you might find yourself having to grovel before them. Are you prepared for that?" I knew Kuzan disliked it when I brought up such topics; he was still not a man who believed in acquiescing to unjust authority.

"Ross, you speak as if you know what true justice means," Kuzan replied, his curiosity evident. Despite knowing each other for more than three years, he still struggled to understand the depths of my character. There was something about me that made him feel as though I had experienced more than a typical twelve-year-old.

"It's just a gentle reminder, Kuzan-san. I don't want to see you stripped of your rank just because you couldn't keep your cool. And as for your question, there's nothing called true justice in this world; it's merely an illusion. As long as you're the winner, what you say is considered justice. However, that's just my opinion." I spoke from a perspective shaped by experiences in a different world, where even in a purportedly democratic society, justice often seemed like a facade.

"You need to be aware that both Garp sensei and Bogard san are going to just settle down at Grove 66 and leave all the matters regarding the Celestial Dragons to us," I couldn't help but say jovially while I eyed Garp, who was pretending to be asleep and eavesdropping on our conversation.

After a short trip from Marineford, our ship neared the destination, Sabaody Archipelago, a group of islands located near the entrance to the New World in the One Piece world. It serves as a major hub for pirates, traders, and travelers. The archipelago is characterized by its unique bubble-like trees called "banchi," which are crucial for coating ships to enable them to travel to Fish-Man Island. The islands are numbered in groves from 1 to 80, each with its own distinct features and functions.

As the Marine warship docked near Grove 66, Garp immediately ran off onto the base, probably to sleep, leaving all the duties to myself and Kuzan. Grove 66 is known for its marine base and is where marine ships often dock.

Sabaody is truly a bustling island filled with markets, shops, and entertainment venues catering to the diverse population of pirates, traders, and marines. However, it can also be a dangerous place, with clashes between different factions and threats from powerful pirate crews.

Just a few minutes after I landed on Grove 66, I opened an exquisite-looking box, with Kuzan by my side eyeing me curiously.

"Ross, you might be the only one in the Marines who would openly showcase your pirate family's products. Such an ingenious marketing strategy," Kuzan remarked, his gaze fixed on an exquisite-looking sniper rifle in my hand. The weapon looked quite powerful.

"Kuzan san, that's slander. My family has yet to involve themselves in piracy. We are honest merchants; we just trade with all parties," I declared without shame, though the word "yet" seemed to catch Kuzan's attention. However, he didn't press further. As Ross said, the current Donquixote family, despite most of them having bounties on their heads, primarily engaged in underground deals and handled complaints with bribes. Only in North Blue did they wield a bit of strength at sea.

"Is this an upgrade from the previous models?" Kuzan couldn't help but ask. This wasn't the first time Ross had introduced such novel weapons, and his unique marketing approach had attracted various parties to approach the Donquixote family for deals. Even the Marine bases in North Blue had engaged in business dealings with the Donquixote family.

"Sigh, I am not even sure why Garp-san lets you do all these things—keeping in touch with pirates, testing illegal weapons. You should keep in mind, Ross, you are a Marine commander," Kuzan berated me. He felt that my connection with my family was influencing me to be nonchalant about the Marines and what they stand for. Poor fellow, little did he know that I was responsible for my family's monstrous growth in just three years.

Back in canon, the best Doffy achieved in three years might have been burning a few towns for having a crooked path. In canon, Doffy was a nobody at fifteen. But now, in this life, because of me, Doffy could already be considered a big shot in North Blue, especially with his new bounty recently updated at 64 million Belly. The Donquixote family was now a giant in weapons manufacturing.

"Ross, I am curious; aren't you worried about your family's involvement in the underworld being exposed? I know that most deals in the Underworld happen anonymously to keep each party's identity a secret," Kuzan inquired, intrigued by this particular point. He was well aware that the Underworld operated on a principle of absolute secrecy, and all connections were shrouded in mystery. Ironically, this was mostly to avoid catching the Marines' attention, as some agreements were sometimes common knowledge within the Underworld. Furthermore, to ensure the anonymity of the participants, it was customary to use aliases.

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Currently updated until Chapter 50.