The next day.
Klein handed the hastily scribbled design draft to Tsuru, who accepted it with a look that practically screamed "as expected" and "I saw this coming". She openly laughed and said:
"Klein, you're probably the only person in the world who can actually understand these blueprints, huh?"
In fact, most of the page wasn't even a diagram—it was just text.
No joke!
Klein had written down his ideas for running the bathhouse, the services it would offer, and more."Ahem—those are just minor details. The really important thing is..."
"We need the instructor to recruit some massage therapists. I can give technical guidance!"
Bathhouses are all about service. The guests come to relax, so the massage techniques have to be on point.
This was about his money-making and gacha-funding operation. He had to take it seriously.
After all...
He'd invested 5 million Berries into the bathhouse. Now his account only had a few million left.
He was about to—
Return to square one overnight!
Must. Make. Money!
Now that the game had updated, there were more daily discount bundles than ever.
He was spending hundreds of thousands of Berries a day.
If he went even one day without making money, Klein would get the shakes. The pressure was unreal.
Sure, the game didn't have loan payments like mortgages or car loans, but what if a limited-time event came out, or a super valuable bundle?
With his current savings...
No shot. He wouldn't be able to afford it. He needed enough money in the bank to feel safe.
Tsuru replied, "We'll have the instructor head to the Marineford residential district to see if any family members are willing to work in the bathhouse."
Then, she took the initiative to help refine the renovation plans and handed everything to the instructor.
Including the therapist recruitment request—and newspapers for the bathhouse.
Just imagine: soaking in the bath, reading the latest news...
Pure bliss.
Later, Klein snuck a newspaper from the instructor and spotted a headline about Charlotte Linlin.
In the photo, Linlin still had the same massive, towering figure she did as a child.
Klein couldn't feel even a flicker of excitement.
He froze.
"Charlotte Linlin, already worth 200 million Berries??"
"Eight years old..."
"I wonder if she's still a virgin?"
Klein decided to check the character compendium later, just to see how old Linlin's eldest son was.
"But to be that powerful at eight... probably only Prince Loki of the giants has that kind of freakish talent."
"200 million..."
Catching her would make me rich.
Too bad...
With Linlin's broken Iron Balloon ability, he couldn't even break her defenses, let alone capture her.
Besides, she wasn't alone. She was Big Mom, with her whole pirate crew.
No chance.
She had Streusen, and a whole squad of subordinates.
Klein flipped through the paper and found no mention of Rocks."I'll dig through the old papers later—Rocks is gonna be loaded in the future…"
"If Garp can chase after the Roger Pirates, then I can take a few bros and chase after the Rocks Pirates. No problem, right?"
A few days later.
The bathhouse was already finished, which left Klein dumbfounded.
He'd just seen folks hammering away and moving materials here and there—
And now, just three or five days later, the place was done?
The speed of this world was faster than the game itself!
Turns out, One Piece laborers were even more cracked than his old world's.
Tears.
Meanwhile, his in-game training room and sword training room were taking longer and longer to upgrade. It now took several days per level.
The gorgeous bathhouse stood right beside the dorms. The name?
Platinum Han!
Opening day.
It drew a massive crowd of students from the academy, all there to gawk, gossip, and join the fun.
Klein's dormmates—Garp and the others—already knew he'd funded the place and was one of the shareholders.
In the crowd...
Klein clapped Zephyr on the shoulder."Zephyr, from now on, the therapists here will be in charge of your massages."
"No... I'd rather have you do it, bro." Zephyr's face twitched with panic.
"It's free."
Klein was trying to lighten his workload. After all, massages every day took serious time.
These days, he pushed away any students he could—except for the Dorm Trio. He still treated them.
Lately…
He'd been busy teaching Garp the Iron Fist. In just over twenty days, Garp would face off with Sengoku in a decisive spar.
Losing was not an option.
After some simple fireworks and the instructor's opening speech, the bathhouse officially opened.
Klein led the Dorm Trio into the main hall.
The space glittered with light. Chandeliers hung overhead, sparkling and ornate.
At the center of the room was a large pool, and standing proudly above it—
A statue of Klein.
With a plaque that read:
"The First Genius in Marine School History: Klein.""Mastered Rokushiki in mere hours...""Fastest Doriki growth in recorded history!""Record holder!""Outstanding student leader, who sacrificed sleep and sanity to train and guide his peers...""..."
Shing shing shing shing—
In an instant.
Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, Tsuru, and all the other students turned their eyes to Klein.
Shameless!I've never seen someone so shameless in my life!!Where's your shame!?
A statue. In the dead center of the bathhouse. Impossible to miss.Unless you were blind like Issho, there was no way you wouldn't see it.
Utterly shameless!
Most people thought the same thing—but the Marine Four Flowers burst into cheers.
They danced and hollered in celebration.
Klein's face flushed, but he didn't flinch."So what if I put up a statue? Every class from now on can admire my greatness."
"What's wrong with being a little vain? I'm happy with it!"
"I'm a major shareholder! Of course I get a statue!"
Just imagine...
One day, when the Marine Trio—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru—enroll and see this statue...
They'll be forced to admire their "senpai's" glory.
You can't go through transmigration without leaving a legacy, right?
The past was the past. Now was now.
Hahahaha—
Oh right, there might even be Garp's son one day—Dragon.
Given his relationship with Garp, being Dragon's godfather wasn't out of the question, right?
Hahahaha—
His network would be stacked!
No more fighting and killing...
It's all about connections now, bro!
Everyone gave him a look full of disdain. And maybe envy.
After all, Klein had actually left a permanent mark on the Marine school.
If it weren't for the system, he would've been just another student—insignificant.
After graduation, they'd all be sent off to some Marine branch, scattered across the world, leading their "ordinary lives."
But now?
No one helped me chase my dreams—so I paid to reach the peak!!The wind and snow crushed me for 18 years—now I laugh as they fall like feathers!
A minute later...
Klein's moment was stolen by the therapists, each dressed in high-slit cheongsams and heels, showing off their curvaceous, stunning figures.
The custom outfits outlined every alluring curve with breathtaking precision.
They became the center of attention.
Pffft pffft pffft—
Pffft pffft pffft—
A chorus of synchronized nosebleeds echoed through the room.
Might be some blood loss happening.
Even...
Instructor Carter, well into his 60s, was no exception.
"You think this is all? No, no..."
"I've got more costumes lined up!"
"We gotta prep something for the female readers too. Remember the pink nurse outfits from Whitebeard's retirement days? Those were cute as hell!"
Klein chuckled to himself. This was anime world, after all. The youth were always full of hot blood.
Time to let some of it out!
Too bad...
He couldn't take a picture of nosebleeding Garp and Zephyr, or the tomato-faced Sengoku.
"Klein, this bathhouse—I freakin' love it!" Garp grinned from ear to ear.
Klein clapped him on the shoulder, a sly smile on his face."Keep working on that Iron Fist. If you win, I'll let you enjoy a month of free service!"
At that moment...
He couldn't help but think back to when he was still trying to win over Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr.
The classic "Four Brotherhood Bonds":Climbed out the window together, carried a gun together, split the loot together... and hit up the brothel together.
While Platinum Han was a legitimate bathhouse, it still sorta counted as a shared experience, right?
"Bro, don't worry. As long as I'm not dead, keep training me till I drop!" Garp thumped his chest, full of spirit.
Klein killed the vibe immediately:"Wipe your nosebleed first, then talk."
Youth... truly full of energy and hormones.
Suddenly, a student's shout silenced the room—
"Lincoln… Admiral!!"