Koushiro looked at the departing Imperial Fleet, his eyes filled with helplessness.
His two most prized disciples had been conscripted by the Emperor.
Would Zoro, who joined the Imperial Royal Guard, still be able to carry Wado Ichimonji and Kuina's dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman?
Koushiro had not expected that Jake actually knew about some of his contacts with the Revolutionary Army.
This added a hint of gloom to his heart.
Now he could only hope that Jake would spare Shimotsuki Village.
Looking at the Goa Empire flag flying above the main building of Isshin Dojo, Koushiro gave a bitter smile.
Now Shimotsuki Village was also Goa Empire territory, and with Zoro and Saga joining Jake's forces, Jake should not attack Shimotsuki Village.
...
On the Goa Empire Fleet's Goa Empire.
"Zoro, this Imperial Guard uniform is so cool!"
Saga, wearing a majestic and domineering black military uniform, excitedly whispered to Zoro.
Goa Empire Military Uniform
"It's indeed good."
Zoro also didn't reject this handsome uniform, and the name of their Imperial Guard was also good.
A new, elite force within the Royal Guard.
"Don't think that all Royal Guard are weaklings!"
"Do you know that Kaido of the Beasts, one of the Yonko, came from the military of the Vodka Kingdom, and Barrett, the Devil's Heir, was also a soldier from a warring kingdom."
"And Jinbe the Knight of the Sea, one of the Shichibukai, also came from the King's Army of the Ryugu Kingdom."
"I want to build the strongest Imperial Army in the world; don't fall behind."
"The Goa Empire's advancement speed will exceed your imagination."
Jake slowly spoke to these arrogant young people who somewhat underestimated the Royal Guard and the King's Army.
Jake's Military Uniform
"What?!"
"People from the Yonko and the Shichibukai all have military backgrounds?"
"Can we become such great figures in the future?"
"I heard that Hawkeye Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, is one of the Shichibukai!"
...
Hearing Jake's words, Eric, Van Augur, Saga, and Zoro all looked serious.
As for Nami, Nojiko, and Kaya, just hearing these names that shook the sea made them feel a burst of fear and suffocation.
"Coming from the military can also lead to the peak; are you ready to fight your way to that position?!"
Jake looked at the battle-ready Zoro; as expected of a swordsman who could awaken Conqueror's Haki, he possessed an unwavering determination and sharpness.
Van Augur and Saga's eyes were also filled with conviction.
However, Eric seemed a bit timid and lacked confidence.
"You must take me to find Hawkeye Mihawk!"
Zoro grinned ambitiously; he joined the Imperial Guard to follow Jake's fleet and find that legendary world's greatest swordsman.
"Your conviction and will are good, but you are still too weak right now."
"Talk to me after you defeat Eric and comprehend Steel Cut."
The current Zoro wouldn't even last one cut against Hawkeye Mihawk.
His limited experience in Shimotsuki Village severely restricted Zoro's vision and trapped this young dragon.
"I will definitely comprehend Steel Cut!"
Zoro's eyes were filled with determination; he carried Kuina's dream and effort on his shoulders.
"Your Majesty, this kid wants to defeat me? Is this a joke?!"
It wasn't that Eric was conceited, but in the weakest sea, East Blue, he truly looked down on a rookie like Zoro.
Eric was not afraid of Kuro of a Hundred Plans, who had a bounty of 16 million Berries, or Krieg, who had a bounty of 17 million Berries.
Only Arlong the Fishman, with a bounty of 20 million Berries, made him quite wary.
"I will defeat you."
Zoro felt Eric's strength, but his eyes were very firm.
A capable person who could easily unleash sharp Wind Blade.
His strength was already comparable to a swordsman who could unleash flying slashes.
But Zoro was not afraid; his path to becoming the world's greatest swordsman was destined to cut down all enemies and opponents.
"Hmph, I'll be waiting for you, kid!"
Eric snorted; that moss-headed guy's beast-like gaze made him very uncomfortable.
He didn't mind teaching this arrogant rookie, who was just setting sail for the first time, a good lesson.
"It's good to be confident, but overconfidence is conceit; first, defeat these two little cats."
Jake looked at Zoro and pointed at the two pirate slaves, Siamese cat Sham and spotted cat Buchi, saying lightly.
Even Zoro two years later was injured by this pair of Cat Brothers.
It would probably be tough for the current Zoro to defeat the Cat Brothers.
However, Zoro's talent and growth speed were what Jake valued most.
During the year or two he was lost in the East Blue, he would go hungry two out of three days, surviving by randomly catching pirates.
This indeed wasted a lot of training and growth time.
"Little cats?"
Zoro looked at the Cat Brothers wearing slave collars; these two indeed had a brutal pirate aura about them.
"The Cat Brothers, with a bounty of 7 million Berries."
Saga, who had previously aspired to become a Marine, quickly recognized these two wanted criminals.
He could recognize almost every pirate and mountain bandit in the entire East Blue who had a bounty.
"Go, Cat Brothers, let these two newcomers experience the cruelty of the sea."
"Jango, give them a buff."
Jake knew that a person like Zoro, who possessed both diligence and talent, needed constant pressure to grow quickly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Jango immediately hypnotized the Cat Brothers, making them rampage and attack Zoro.
Now, Jango and the others desperately desired Jake's approval, to escape their slave status and become free people.
Because Jake had given them a glimmer of hope.
As long as they performed well enough, not only could they get rid of their slave collars, but they could even have their wanted posters revoked.
How could this not make them go crazy and actively show off?
In fact, Jake had previously thought about keeping Kuro of a Hundred Plans as his pirate slave.
But Fleet Admiral Sengoku was very firm; this villain who had massacred a ship full of Marines had to be executed.
So Kuro of a Hundred Plans didn't even get the chance to become a pirate slave; he was escorted to Marineford and Judicial Island for trial, along with Captain Morgan and Captain Nezumi.
After all, the authority to deploy troops from those few Navy Branches of the Goa Empire was not so easily obtained.
Everything was a compromise and negotiation of interests and power.
The Cat Brothers' berserk transformation made Zoro's eyes incredibly focused as he fully dealt with these two bounty pirates.
Even Saga, who was beside him, was eager to try; this was real combat against pirates.
The battle was very fierce, and Eric and Van Augur also roughly understood Zoro's strength.
"I thought he was so strong, but this? And he's so arrogant."
Eric sneered when he saw Zoro's current performance.
He didn't know how many swordsman pirates of this strength he killed every year.
Jake also didn't care about Eric's taunts towards Zoro.
Perhaps stimulating and pushing Zoro would help him grow faster.
The battle ultimately ended with both Zoro and the Cat Brothers collapsing.
Zoro and Saga had not expected that the Cat Brothers, with a mere bounty of 7 million Berries, would be so troublesome.
They had indeed underestimated the cruelty of this sea.
The world of pirates was not a game.
Fighting and killing were different from sparring in a dojo.
One wrong move, and you could really die.