The Fourth Abandoned Arsenal lay under a shroud of darkness.
Military police dragged Colonel Jimmy away. The man hung limp between them, mumbling about "demons" and "judgment," his mind completely shattered.
Outside the warehouse grove, KING finished fastening his belt and stepped out, releasing a long breath.
"…I'm alive."
He walked out of the shadows with his usual blank expression.
To the two towering figures waiting at the entrance, however, his composure looked like the calm of a man who had already finished delivering judgment.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Marine Hero Garp.
They stood blocking the exit.
KING's eyelids twitched.
Damn it.
Did I violate Marine regulations by relieving myself outdoors?
Am I about to be fined?
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
The Emperor Engine surged involuntarily.
Hearing the war-drum heartbeat, Sengoku's eyes gleamed with approval.
"The Military Police have verified Jimmy's ledgers," he said gravely. "Shocking figures. How did you determine he would conduct the transaction tonight?"
KING froze.
Determine what? I was playing a game!
He remained silent.
(Inner monologue: I really don't have money to pay a fine…)
To Sengoku, however, this silence was thunderous.
"You knew all along… didn't you?"
His voice softened with awe.
"That is why you arrived alone, without a single escort."
"You waited until he believed himself safe… to deliver a decisive blow."
"Especially that line— 'Do you know where the toilet is?'"
Sengoku's chest rose, eyes blazing.
"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."
KING: ?
"You compared a corrupt Marine who embezzled hundreds of millions to filth fit only for disposal."
"You implied such a man was unworthy of your strength — only worthy of being flushed away."
"To crush a man by shattering his spirit…"
"That is unmistakably your justice."
"Intolerant of even microscopic corruption…"
"…bordering on obsessive."
Beside him, Garp crunched a rice cracker.
"Hahahaha! Sengoku, I told you this kid was the real deal! That look he gives trash… even I get chills!"
Garp laughed and slapped KING's shoulder.
KING tried to dodge instinctively.
His body refused to move.
BANG!
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
KING did not budge.
(Inner monologue: It hurts! My bones are definitely broken!)
"Excellent physique!" Garp's eyes shone. "He didn't even flinch after taking a hit from me. Solid fundamentals!"
Sengoku pushed up his glasses.
"That's enough, Garp. Stop testing him."
He turned back to KING.
"You performed exceptionally. The rot in Logistics has been exposed."
"…Get some rest."
The two giants turned to leave.
Sengoku's voice drifted faintly on the night wind:
"Did you notice? Even under your sudden strike, his heartbeat never faltered."
"That composure… he is a terrifying rookie."
Only after the two legends vanished from sight did KING slide down the wall and stagger back toward the rest room like a man a hundred years old.
"Th-that scared me to death…"
He collapsed onto the wooden cot. Cold sweat soaked his back instantly.
Marine Headquarters was too dangerous.
At that moment—
[Ding!]
[Host has completed: First Execution of Justice]
[Achievement: S-Rank Intimidation]
[AFK Settlement: Critical Bonus]
[Location bonus: Abandoned Arsenal (hidden high-risk trading point)]
[Reward: +5000 free attribute points]
[Bonus reward: Pochi's Cell ×1]
KING jolted upright.
"I didn't do anything! How did I crit?!"
He stared at the attribute panel, falling into deep contemplation.
Logically, a couch potato should raise physique.
Thick armor. Maximum survivability.
But then he imagined being used as a punching bag like Kaido.
Not fatal.
Still painful.
Increase strength?
Ridiculous.
One-punch victories were Saitama's job.
What if he accidentally killed a Celestial Dragon?
An Admiral would hunt him to the ends of the sea.
He would never sleep peacefully again.
That left only—
KING's eyes landed on Speed.
"In martial arts… speed overcomes defense."
"If I run fast enough, trouble can't catch me."
Perfect.
Flawless logic.
"System. All in. Full acceleration."
[Operation confirmed]
[Speed +5000]
A strange heat flooded his legs.
KING looked at the water bottle on the table.
Thirsty.
Brain issued command: drink water.
Body executed command.
There was no process.
Only result.
The instant the thought appeared—
BOOM!!!
A detonation like heavy artillery erupted inside the cramped room.
It was not movement.
It was the shockwave created when flesh tore through the sound barrier.
A violent sonic burst exploded outward.
Wood splintered. Furniture shattered.
Even reinforced concrete cracked under the sudden pressure.
Dust filled the air.
KING was embedded in the opposite alloy wall like a nail hammered into steel.
He had no idea what just happened.
He tried to pull his hand free.
A slight tug—
WHOOSH!
His vision spun.
When it returned, he was hanging upside down near the ceiling, one hand gripping a crack like a bat.
Two deep grooves carved across the floor marked his path.
"…This isn't speed."
"This is becoming a human missile."
How could his body handle this?
He couldn't control it.
He clung to the ceiling like a gecko, trembling and afraid to move.
BOOM!
The warped iron door burst open.
"HEY! KING!"
Garp's booming voice filled the room.
"That explosion just now — what was that?! Hmm?"
He stormed in, scanning the destruction.
Splintered wood littered the ground. Furniture lay shattered. It looked like a fierce battle had taken place.
But no one stood inside.
"Where'd he go?"
Garp scratched his head.
His Observation Haki spread outward.
Then he looked up.
In that instant, the Marine hero's pupils shrank.
KING hung upside down in the darkness, gripping the ceiling with one hand in a gravity-defying posture.
His blond hair hung downward. Even inverted, his cold face radiated oppressive intensity.
"This kid…"
Garp inhaled sharply.
"That destructive force wasn't Haki… it was vacuum shock from pure physical speed breaking the sound barrier."
"He's using an extreme environment to temper his body."
"And…"
Garp stared at KING's pale face, drenched in cold sweat.
"That expression…"
"Is he forcing his body past its limits through sheer will?"
"Clearly exhausted… yet still hanging by one hand to train grip strength and balance…"
"For justice… such discipline!"
A complete misunderstanding.
"Vice Admiral Garp…" KING's voice trembled.
"I… can't stop…"
(Subtext: Help! Put me down! I can't move!)
But to Garp, the trembling voice carried another meaning.
"Can't stop?"
Garp grinned fiercely.
"That's right!"
"The path to strength cannot be halted once begun!"
"Even when the body reaches its limit, willpower drives it forward!"
"Good! Very good!"
He removed his coat and tossed it aside.
He stepped forward, aura surging like a rising tide.
"Sengoku told me to remind you to complete onboarding tomorrow…"
"But seeing you push yourself this far…"
"…this old man's blood is boiling!"
The doubt in his eyes vanished, replaced by blazing excitement.
The joy of discovering a diamond in the rough.
The thrill of finding a supreme sparring partner — no, a supreme talent.
"KING!"
Garp gave a thumbs-up, teeth flashing.
"Starting at four in the morning tomorrow!"
"I'll personally train you!"
"Special training!"
"I'll train you half to death — as long as you don't die, you'll become the strongest Marine!"
Hanging from the ceiling, KING felt dizzy.
Four in the morning?
Training?
No way.
He came here to AFK.
He opened his mouth to shout refusal—
"Hahahaha! It's settled then!"
Garp left in high spirits.
"…At least put me down before leaving…"
KING closed his eyes in despair. Tears slid along his temples into his hair.
"System… can I refund this?"
"I want defense instead…"
"Otherwise Garp might accidentally kill me…"