Instructor's office.
Klein took a sip of tea.Good tea—must've been expensive, judging by how this old fossil sips it.
"Sensei, how strong is Kong now?"
The last time Klein saw Kong, the guy was still a Rear Admiral.He hadn't run into him this time, but heard he was now a Vice Admiral!Klein still wanted to gauge his strength.Know your enemy, know yourself, and you'll win every battle!
"You don't stand a chance. Why even ask?" the instructor said as he set down the steaming cup.
"..."
Klein's face darkened.From the way his instructor sized him up, it was clear—he wasn't Kong's match.
He…
He couldn't even be sure of it himself!
That's why he came to ask.But instead of encouragement, the instructor just went and stabbed him in the gut with those words.
Awkward silence.
Not strong enough?Then clearly... he hadn't spent enough money yet!
So...
If he wanted to get stronger—he had to spend!
Klein looked at the instructor and asked,"Sensei, I want to borrow some money."
"How much?" The instructor raised his cup again.
"Two hundred million."
PFFFT—!The tea sprayed out of the instructor's mouth, his tongue sticking out in agony from the scalding heat.
He stood up, eyes bulging."Klein, if you'd said a few dozen million beli, I wouldn't even bat an eye!"
"But two hundred million!?"
"What are you trying to do!?"
I'm trying to cash in!Only through pay-to-win could he become stronger!
Of course, Klein wasn't dumb enough to say that out loud.
"Money fires me up. The pressure of repayment fuels my drive!""The more pressure I'm under, the stronger my fighting spirit!""It'll unlock my hidden potential!""Borrowing money makes me stronger!"
Instructor Carter stared at him in disbelief.What kind of logic is this?
Borrowing money... just to stay motivated!?
No wonder this kid was the most gifted cadet he'd ever seen!
But still...
Could he ever get that money back?
Loaned money was like spilled water...
Tough to recover!
Instructor Carter curled his lip and pulled no punches,"Even if you borrow money, you're still not a match for Kong. This assessment is just for show."
"You don't actually think you can win, do you?"
"I do!" Klein shot back.If the instructor loaned him the money—
200 million plus his own 100+ million…
He could activate this year's 'First-Time Top-Up x2' event!
Boom—just like that, 600 million!
A full-blown cash blitz for the New Year event.It might just give him a shot at beating Kong.
Besides…
Stronger stats meant safer sailing once he left school.
Without Admiral-tier strength, the seas were still deadly.Any random corner could spawn a monster.He'd end up as cannon fodder, killed with one punch, kick, or sword swing—Just another stepping stone for someone else's fame.
For safety…
For survival...
He had to go all in.
Even if he had to borrow money—He had to max out every event!
I. Must. Get. Stronger.
"Kid, confidence alone isn't enough. You gotta know your limits," the instructor grunted like a rock in a latrine—foul and stubborn.
"I'll give collateral!" Klein said. "My martial arts manual. Or bathhouse shares. If I can't repay you within a year, it's all yours!"
Instructor Carter's eyes gleamed."Klein, you said it—put it in writing!"
"Since we're master and student, I won't charge you interest."
"You give me the contract, and I'll transfer the money."
Deal done.
As Klein turned to leave, the instructor suddenly called out,"Klein! Since you're so confident... how about a little wager?"
This kid… where did he even get this confidence?Well, no matter.Time to scam—no, earn—a little something off him.
"A bet?" Klein paused at the door, turned around, and amped up his acting to Oscar-worthy levels (in his own mind).
"You dare doubt me, Sensei? Do you know who I am?"
"I'm the most talented cadet in Marine Academy history!"
"There's no way I'll lose!"
Instructor Carter grinned inwardly, but on the outside, he scoffed."If you're that confident, let's make it a graduation gift."
"Let's bet 200 million beli. If you win, you don't have to repay it."
"But if you lose, not only do you pay it back—""Your bathhouse shares and your martial arts manual are mine!"
"Deal!" Klein strode back to the desk."Let's put it in writing!"
Slam. He left, gambling contract in hand.
Instructor Carter picked it up, laughing so hard his belly shook."Ahahaha—Klein really knows how to deliver the goods."
"Guess I'll just shamelessly accept this gift!"
After training, Klein returned to the dorm.
As soon as he opened the door, he jumped.
Garp, Zephyr, and Sengoku were all in the dorm.No extra training? No self-imposed torture?
Had they given up trying to compete with him?
Was his strength so overwhelming they had to lie flat and rot?
Klein looked at the three, puzzled."You guys aren't training today?"
He sat down on his bed.Zephyr immediately plopped beside him, kneading his shoulders.
"Bro, you're graduating soon. We figured we'd chill a few days."
Garp handed him a bag of rice crackers."Bro, have some senbei!"
When people act this nice, they're either crooks or con artists.
"Let it out. Whatever you're holding—"
"PFFF—" (fart)
"...I didn't mean literally!"
Instant chaos.Windows open.Doors flung wide.Everyone bolted—out to the hall, out to the balcony.
"Bro, you did tell me to let it out!" Garp blinked innocently.
Zephyr's face flushed red.He was just about to go, but Garp beat him to it.
Truly a lucky escape.
Ten minutes later, everyone returned.
Zephyr finally spoke,"Bro, once you're gone, I'll have no one to guide me anymore. And…"
"...Vice Admiral Rampaging Bear probably won't send me protein powder either."
Klein turned to Garp.Garp scratched his head,"Bro, I haven't even learned all the Fistbone techniques. I don't want you to graduate so soon."
Ah.
So that's why they didn't train today…
They just didn't want him to leave.
But…
I'm a legend.I'm the real deal—a dragon crossing rivers, not a frog stuck in a pond.The open sea is my destiny.
Klein looked at Sengoku, who sat quietly on his bunk.
Sengoku, ever the rational one, said,"I told them there's no use trying to keep you. You'll leave no matter what."
"No manners. Call me 'Big bro.'"
Sengoku's face turned blue, then purple.After a long struggle, he squeezed out a word—
"...Big bro."
"Good boy~" Klein beamed.
Boom.
Sengoku's face went red-hot.His clenched fist creaked.A pound sign bulged on his forehead.
Klein's inner mischief meter hit full.Nothing like teasing this guy.
He looked at Zephyr and Garp beside him, his mind flashing through the past year's memories.
"Bro, easy! My head hurts!""Bro, your massage technique's incredible!""Klein, want to train more? Let's become great Marines!""Donuts and senbei—share some!""The IOU is written!""Klein, I'll beat you someday!"
One scene after another flickered through his head.
He did feel a bit reluctant.But the thought of earning big money on the seas—
Yeah, totally worth it.
Come on. You're all grown-ups. Still relying on Big Bro? What is this—some Liu Bei nonsense?
What's next? Sharing bath time too?
When he returned to Marine Headquarters, they could always catch up.
Klein looked at Zephyr and patted the hands working his shoulders.
"Zephyr, when you graduate, join my unit. If you want, I'll make it happen."
"Eh—really!?" Zephyr's eyes sparkled.
To him, Klein's talent and strength guaranteed he'd become a top officer in the Marines.
Latching onto his thigh? Solid investment.
"Of course! You're my approved otouto!" Klein smiled and threw an arm around his shoulder.
"If I don't look after you, who will?"
Zephyr was touched.His lip quivered.
He knew he had the weakest talent among the dormmates.A year had passed, and he still hadn't gotten into the elite class.He couldn't even train in Rokushiki yet.
His gap with Klein was like a firefly vs. the full moon.
But Klein still remembered him, still cared.
Tears welled up in his big eyes.
"Bro—I'll train hard. I'll never let you down!"
"Haha—I believe you'll be a hero someday!"
Hearing that, Zephyr couldn't hold it in anymore.He burst into tears.
With his meager talent, almost no one believed he could become a hero.Only Klein had always believed in him.
Only Klein had supported him this much.
And now that Klein was graduating…
The crying got louder.
Klein understood—being a man isn't easy.Especially not when you're just 14 like Zephyr.
"Train hard. I'll check your progress when I'm back at HQ."
He turned to Garp."And you too."
"Hehe~ Bro, don't you trust me?"
"Train hard. And pay me back after you graduate."Just thinking about Garp's insane training gave him peace of mind.
Repayment day will come soon…
"If I have time, I'll teach you more Fistbone techniques."
Garp instantly grinned,"Bro, can I join your unit too?"