The pirate knocked down by Nami suddenly stiffened before collapsing to the ground, twitching uncontrollably.
Nami sighed.
"Every single time, they just have to try sneaking up from behind... How many people have I taken out this way?" Though she was sighing, there was a faint trace of smugness in her voice.
"Hopefully, they'll spend the rest of their lives reflecting on their mistakes in Impel Down."
"Alright, Nami, don't act all humble when you're clearly enjoying this... We all know how deadly that thing in your hands is, so why not just fight on the front lines next time?" Nojiko's lips twitched. "I think I can protect myself..."
"Have you ever seen a navigator from any pirate crew just charge in swinging a weapon?"
"Pfft! Coward!"
Nojiko saw right through Nami's act.
Nami let out an awkward chuckle before turning away to keep watch.
Though she was indeed highly capable—even if she did fight on the front lines, she would be a formidable force...
She just felt that rushing into battle like that was somewhat wasteful.
A person's abilities should be utilized to their fullest potential... It definitely wasn't because she was scared.
No, she needed to shine in a more crucial role where she could make a greater impact.
All of this, of course, was observed by Michael and the old-timers.
"Hahaha! That Nami, aside from being a coward, is practically flawless." Garp, who had taught in the youth training program for years, laughed.
"But that fearfulness... There's just no helping it. I tried all sorts of methods to help her overcome it back then... but in the end, it all backfired?"
"Nonsense! You either shoved people off cliffs or tied them to balloons and sent them flying into the sky..." Zephyr glared at Garp disapprovingly.
"Any promising recruit would develop some kind of trauma after your 'training'! You think everyone has nerves of steel like those three brats of yours? Any normal person would come out of your methods with some issues! Though... I suppose there was at least one upside—when they went through my training afterward, they actually looked genuinely happy seeing the grueling but normal methods."
Garp, being mocked by Zephyr, didn't get angry—just a little embarrassed as he scratched his weathered cheek.
After all, every single word Zephyr said, down to the punctuation, was true...
At times like this, even someone as shameless as Garp could only Shut his mouth.
There was no arguing when the other person was speaking nothing but facts.
"Combat style doesn't really matter," Michael said with a smile. "What matters is whether that style can fully utilize a person's strengths... That's far more important than something like courage."
"So... how did Nami end up with that Clima-Tact anyway?"
"Probably there was this one time when Vegapunk came to teach a basic science class at the youth program. While everyone else was bored to the point of dozing off, only Nami was enthusiastically asking him about the causes of various weather phenomena... and probably even sighing something like, 'As a navigator, how wonderful it would be if I could control the weather,' right?" Rocks shrugged.
"After that, Vegapunk was thoroughly impressed by Nami's thirst for knowledge. He spent months researching and eventually created the prototype of this Weather Belly."
Michael smacked his lips a couple of times.
Honestly, was Nami really the type to be that attentive and eager in class?
Of course not.
But that girl was clever!
She completely charmed Vegapunk—a man with nothing but intelligence and technical skills—into becoming as simple as a paramecium.
This is why sweet-talking kids always get candy...
A silver tongue can really make golden horses run.
This Weather Belly would absolutely be a divine weapon for soldiers on the frontlines.
Of course, it didn't need to be as fully functional as the prototype in Nami's hands.
In fact, just iSorating one or even a few of its abilities to manufacture as standalone weapons, then mass-producing and deploying them to frontline troops...
No matter how you looked at it, that was far better than those outdated single-shot rifles.
This matter... could indeed be put on the agenda now.
"Kuzan... contact Tsuru and tell her to have Vegapunk design a mass-produced version of the Weather Belly. The focus should be on offensive and defensive capabilities... It doesn't need too many functions, just those related to combat."
"Ah... why me?"
"Because you look the most idle!" Michael said, sounding almost exasperated.
"Your overall image and attitude are starting to resemble a shiftless drifter! I know your personality is like this to begin with... but I don't get why you've started slacking off! Don't tell me it's because you lost to Sakazuki in a fight, failed to compete with him for Fleet Admiral, and then just completely spiraled into depression?"
Under Michael's rapid-fire questioning, Kuzan opened his mouth but ultimately wilted and nodded weakly.
This reaction even shocked Michael himself.
"Damn, so you actually thought you stood a chance against Sakazuki?" Michael crouched in front of Aokiji Kuzan, staring intently at the man leaning against the mast.
"Honestly, among the previous Three Admirals, the one I thought was most suited to become Fleet Admiral was actually Kizaru Borsalino... Whether in IQ or EQ, he could've given me the most convenience... Plus, he has unique leadership qualities."
"But Borsalino withdrew from the Fleet Admiral election himself."
"For me, that was unexpected but not surprising. Borsalino's ambitions lay elsewhere, so even if he refused, I could understand." Michael curled his lip. "That left the choice between you and Sakazuki... Kuzan, you're an outstanding top-tier fighter, but you're just not cut out to be Fleet Admiral."
"How would you know..."
"Let me ask you one question, and you'll see."
"Go ahead."
"A vacant Sea Train is approaching, with one person tied to the first track and a hundred people tied to the second. There's no time to brake now... You must make a choice—pull the lever."
The classic trolley problem instantly turned Kuzan's face ashen.
After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally stammered, "I... can't choose. I want to save everyone."
Michael sighed.
Then he patted Kuzan on the shoulder.
"This is the difference between a hero and a fleet admiral," Michael said seriously, looking at Kuzan.
"A hero must be perfect—saving everyone is both his ideal and his duty. But a fleet admiral..."
"Must make a choice."
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