On the bamboo raft, the diminutive blonde woman hopped onto the shore with a look of extreme irritation. The massive youth with the crescent mustache followed suit, attempting to imitate her.
However, as the big fellow kicked off the raft to propel himself upward, something went wrong. His strength was simply too monstrous; that single kick sent the entire raft flying back into the ocean, kicking up a massive spray of water.
Splash!
A wave several meters high crashed directly over the old woman. Unable to dodge, she was instantly drenched from head to toe, looking like a drowned rat.
"Ah? Mama, Mama! What happened to you? Are you okay...?"
The dim-witted giant's face immediately filled with panic. His short, thick legs scrambled as he rushed to the woman's side, looking incredibly nervous.
"You brat!"
Wet to the bone and shivering with rage, the old woman raised her cane and began mercilessly thumping the giant's head. "I've told you hundreds of times to be careful! Be more careful! Look, you've broken the raft again! How are we supposed to go back to sea now?!"
"Ah? The raft is broken again? Mama, what should we do...?" The giant stammered, looking completely at a loss.
"Foolish boy! Forget the raft! Hurry up and go cut some firewood to dry my clothes! What if I catch a cold and die here? What then?!" the woman shrieked, her face a mask of exasperation.
"I'll go cut it right now, Mama!" The giant hurriedly snatched up a massive naginata—identical in design to Whitebeard's Murakumogiri—and ran toward the nearby forest.
"Honestly, not a shred of growth. How are you ever going to inherit your father's fortune?" The woman muttered to herself. Her background was far from simple; decades ago, she had been a member of the peerless Rocks Pirates.
As for her simple-minded son with the mustache even more exaggerated than Whitebeard's, he held a terrifying title on the high seas:
Whitebeard Jr., Edward Weevil!
Approximately one hour later. Kust Island.
The giant warship carrying Zephyr approached stealthily from the western side of the island. This side wasn't a beach or a dock suitable for mooring, but a sheer cliff. The cliff was extremely steep, with the top towering more than fifty meters above sea level. Hidden beneath such a height, the ship was invisible to anyone on the island unless they stood right on the edge.
Shortly after the ship dropped anchor, a strange black figure leaped down from the cliff, landing silently on the deck.
"Reporting to Master Zephyr. The Ogre Pirates' ships are anchored to the northeast. Aside from a few sentries on the vessels, the rest of the crew is gathered near a cave. It looks like they're holding a victory feast."
The scout was Zephyr's disciple, the shinobi Binz. As he spoke, he handed Zephyr a hand-drawn map. As a ninja, Binz's scouting skills were superb; in less than twenty minutes, he had mapped out the entire pirate encampment.
Studying the sketch, Zephyr grinned coldly. "So this is where the filth is hiding? Good, very good. They still have the heart to feast? Let them drink their fill; it will be their final toast!"
Zephyr turned to the assembled recruits and shouted, "Little guys, it's time to get to work! Let Master Rowan see exactly what you've learned at the headquarters this past year!"
"We will complete the mission and not disappoint Senior Rowan!" the recruits shouted in a feverish unison.
After joining the Marines, they had heard Rowan's name constantly from Zephyr. Having learned of the Old Man's life story, many felt a profound sense of admiration. Though his personal strength was rumored to be average, he had shaped the legends of the Marines, including Master Zephyr himself. To them, Senior Rowan truly earned the title of "Marine Godfather."
To have their graduation test witnessed by such a legendary figure... how could they not be excited?
"Instructors, move out with the recruits. Each instructor is responsible for the performance and safety of ten students."
"I won't say much else. Show me what you're made of!"
"I am honored to be your teacher. I believe in you!"
After the speech, Zephyr nodded to Binz. "Begin."
Binz nodded and scattered several vine seeds onto the deck. He began to perform a strange, rhythmic dance, chanting: "Grow, grow... grow, grow..."
To Luffy's astonished eyes, the seeds burst through their shells and sprouted, growing at an unbelievable speed. The vines acted like tentacles, climbing the cliff face according to Binz's will. In seconds, they formed dozens of sturdy vine ladders.
The Paramecia-type Moso Moso no Mi—the Moss-Moss Fruit!
"Whoa! You can control plants! What a cool power! Are you a Devil Fruit user too?" Luffy ran to the vines, shaking them curiously, before turning to Binz. "Can you control any plant? Or just vines? Can you make watermelons grow that fast?"
When Luffy realized the vines weren't fragile despite their rapid growth, he became even more excited.
"This kid's personality is exactly like Garp's back in the day. Truly his grandson," Zephyr laughed heartily. Rowan, however, could only massage his forehead in helpless resignation.
Once the ladders were set, the recruits began swarming up the cliff. After the last soldier and instructor disappeared over the top, Zephyr fitted the "Battle Smasher" onto his right arm and gestured to Rowan. "Master Rowan, after you."
Rowan knew Zephyr was inviting him to watch the show. He didn't stand on ceremony. "Then the Old Man won't be polite."
With a light tap of his foot, Rowan executed a Soru (Shave) so flawless it bordered on perfection. His silhouette vanished instantly. By the time Zephyr reacted, Rowan was already standing at the top of the cliff.
The Old Man's speed... so fast! Zephyr's heart jolted. His naked eye hadn't even captured the movement; he'd had to rely on Observation Haki to "see" the trajectory.
But it was because he saw it that he was so shocked. Master Rowan seemed much stronger than he had imagined. Could the Old Man have actually improved during his decades of retirement?
Just how high was the Old Man's level now? Had he reached the tier of an elite Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral?
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