For the first time, Raifeng genuinely felt tired.
He told the truth—nobody believed him.
Instead, Colonel Bogard was out here cooking up theories like a madman, applying his "expert swordsman logic" with detailed, airtight deductions.
And the worst part?
…He actually made it sound convincing.
Otherwise, why did Garp look like he'd completely bought it?
Bogard's words came from a legitimate swordsman—serious, professional, authoritative.
The more he analyzed, the more exhausted Raifeng felt.
Man… you almost talked the dead into becoming alive.
Colonel Bogard—who knew you had such a powerful imagination?
With that kind of talent, you should've been the chief editor of the World Economy News Paper, not wasting yourself as a mere HQ colonel.
"Three years…" Bogard nodded confidently, smiling.
"So that means you started learning swordsmanship at four."
"My deduction… correct?"
"Heh." Raifeng smiled without smiling.
Keep deducing, old man—at this rate you'll resurrect history itself.
"Starting swordsmanship at four, and already possessing such refined technique… and battle instincts like a swordsman with ten years of training."
"What an incredible genius."
Bogard sighed in admiration.
Garp narrowed his eyes, suddenly suspicious.
"Brat. Why didn't you tell me you could use a sword earlier?"
With swordsmanship like that, what was the point of Garp's so-called "devil training" in the first place?
If Raifeng had that level of blade skill, the whole training plan might as well have been a joke.
Raifeng couldn't help himself. He tried one more time.
"If I say I only started touching swordsmanship yesterday… would you believe me?"
He was literally telling the truth.
Why is telling the truth harder than lying?
"Yesterday?!" Garp and Bogard froze at the same time.
Then they exchanged a look—
…and burst out laughing like they'd heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Brat," Garp wheezed, tears almost coming out, slapping Raifeng's shoulder hard, "stop lying."
"The way you lie is hilarious!"
Bogard grinned.
"If you insist you only started yesterday…"
"Then how do you explain that your swordsmanship has already reached the level of a qualified swordsman?"
"Are you going to tell me you spent one day going from total beginner to 'swordsmanship entry-level'?"
Raifeng nodded seriously.
"Colonel Bogard—this time your 'deduction' is finally correct once."
Bogard's smile twitched.
"…Huh?"
One day?
That joke was getting a bit too bold.
Garp immediately exploded.
"Brat, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?!"
"One day from beginner to entry-level?"
"Why don't you say your Conqueror's Haki also went from awakening to full control in one day?!"
Raifeng looked at him with a strange expression.
"Old man… this time, you actually guessed right."
"…Huh?!"
Now Garp froze too.
Garp and Bogard stared at each other.
You could practically see the giant question marks popping over their heads.
???
Swordsmanship in one day?
Conqueror's Haki controlled in one day too?
After a long pause, Garp reached out and pressed a hand to Raifeng's forehead.
"No fever…"
"So why are you saying these crazy things? Something's off."
Bogard nodded with an expression full of sympathy and understanding.
"Vice Admiral Garp… who isn't arrogant in their youth?"
"Raifeng has already accomplished what countless people on the sea could never do."
"If it were me, I'd be proud too. It's normal."
Raifeng sighed.
"Fine. I'll just say it outright."
"Whether you believe me or not, I'm putting the truth here."
"Believe it or don't—your problem. Just don't call me a liar later."
Then he spoke calmly, as if this was the most ordinary thing in the world.
"Swordsmanship isn't hard."
"I was just messing around."
"I really didn't expect…"
"Getting started with swordsmanship would be this simple."
"And yeah—like you saw."
"I only touched it for one day, and I reached this level."
He didn't even say the most horrifying part—
That in reality, it wasn't "one day" at all.
It was instant, like a switch being flipped.
But Raifeng didn't think these two would survive hearing something that ridiculous.
"Messing around?!" Bogard's eyes widened.
"And then you 'got started'?"
"And it was simple?!"
His expression cracked like glass.
Raifeng's words stabbed him right in the heart like a blade.
So… the years Bogard spent grinding himself to death—
Were they all for nothing?!
Bogard involuntarily remembered his teenage years, suffering in a dojo under a strict master.
That trauma still gave him chills.
Back then, it took him seven full years just to barely "enter the door."
Seven years.
And now Raifeng was saying—
One day.
And "simple."
Bogard's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
For some reason, he suddenly wanted to chop Raifeng on the spot.
So damn irritating.
So what, talent means you get to look down on everyone and do whatever you want?
But he had to admit—
Raifeng's talent really was terrifying.
A rare exception even across the sea.
"So yeah…"
"I never want to deal with geniuses ever again," Bogard thought miserably.
Because when geniuses talk casually—
They can inflict ten thousand times critical damage on normal people without even trying.
And Bogard… had just taken that damage head-on.
No doubt about it—
After today, Colonel Bogard had developed a deep psychological shadow toward the word "genius."
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