The ice spear halted less than a centimeter from KING's shoe.
White frost hissed softly, creeping across the surface of his ordinary sneakers.
The training ground fell silent except for the wind sweeping across shattered stone.
KING did not move.
Not because he did not wish to move —
his leg muscles had completely locked from cramping.
He forced himself to relax.
Only if the muscles loosened could he regain control.
But to onlookers, the scene told an entirely different story.
The man stood with hands in his pockets, eyelids half lowered. His gaze was not fixed on the deadly ice at his feet but seemed to pass over Kuzan's shoulder, staring into distant emptiness.
As if what spread beneath him was not freezing power capable of icing over the sea…
but merely spilled cold water.
Koby's notebook slipped from his fingers and hit the ground.
He didn't pick it up.
His hands clenched the seams of his trousers, knuckles white.
"He… ignored it?"
Helmeppo swallowed, teeth chattering.
"H-hey, Koby… anyone normal would defend themselves when an Admiral attacks — even in a test. He didn't even use Armament Haki…"
"You don't understand!" Koby spun around, glasses flashing with fervor.
"People defend when they sense danger."
"Mr. King didn't defend because, in his eyes… this level of attack isn't a threat at all!"
"Facing an Admiral's provocation, he neither retreated nor guarded himself."
"…What confidence. What absolute composure."
Kuzan tilted his head slightly, sunglasses sliding down his nose.
For once, his sleepy eyes lost a trace of drowsiness.
Interesting.
Observation Haki spread like a fine net over the man before him.
The heartbeat thundered — steady, powerful, rhythmic.
Most people's pulses became erratic under pressure.
This man's rhythm was precise.
Heavy.
Unwavering.
Was this the so-called Emperor Engine?
Then the muscles.
Humans instinctively tense when facing danger.
Yet this man's body remained relaxed — especially his legs, completely loose.
What did that mean?
It meant…
he truly did not consider this a threat.
Kuzan scratched his curly hair and exhaled a long stream of white vapor.
He had intended to give the rookie praised by Garp a small "naval reality check."
A reminder that Headquarters was not a playground.
Yet the clown now seemed to be himself.
"Ara ara…"
He withdrew his foot but did not dismiss the ice, instead studying KING's expressionless face.
"You couldn't even be bothered to dodge?"
KING screamed internally:
Bro, you're standing on ice! If I move I'll slip and break my neck! Why are you staring at me?! Is there something on my face?!
But fear had numbed his facial muscles into something resembling divine indifference.
No…
that wasn't it.
Kuzan's gaze sharpened.
Looking at KING's empty, all-seeing stare, realization struck like lightning.
"Ah… so that's how it is."
His expression shifted — surprise softening into a faint smile tinged with admiration.
Kuzan had always followed his own philosophy: Lazy Justice.
Justice was not rigid.
Ambiguity and personal judgment could reveal truth.
But now…
in KING…
he glimpsed a higher state.
"I understand," Kuzan murmured.
"Hm? Understand what?" Garp asked.
"I understand King's justice."
For the first time, Kuzan's tone carried genuine respect.
"I once believed lazy justice meant minimizing effort — resolving matters with the least possible cost."
"But I was mistaken."
His gaze remained fixed on KING.
"True laziness… is doing nothing."
"When your presence alone deters conflict…"
"When your power is so overwhelming that enemies lose the will to act…"
"When your resolve is so steady that no provocation can disturb it…"
"Is action still necessary?"
He shook his head.
"No."
"Stillness becomes the strongest action."
"Silence becomes the loudest declaration."
"This… is the ultimate realm of Lazy Justice."
"To counter all movement with absolute stillness."
"It is a state of being, Mr. Garp."
Kuzan felt as though a philosophical barrier within him had shattered.
He had found clarity.
And the man named KING stood before him as a pioneer of that path.
Garp blinked.
"…Huh? I don't get it."
KING blinked too.
(Inner monologue: What is this telephone pole talking about? Why is he giving a lecture? Is he still half asleep? I'm just too scared to move! Please leave! Your presence is terrifying!)
Having reached enlightenment, Kuzan felt refreshed.
He gave KING a genuine, understanding smile.
"Mr. King, I've learned something today."
"It seems we may share much in common."
He lifted his foot.
The ice path dissolved into vapor instantly.
"Please forgive my earlier rudeness."
He turned, mounted his bicycle, and adjusted his sleep mask.
"As an apology… I'll treat you to something next time."
He pedaled away slowly.
"I need to sleep and process today's life lesson…"
His voice faded with the wind.
The Marines stood frozen.
An Admiral…
had apologized to a rookie.
And claimed to have learned from him.
They didn't understand justice philosophies.
What they saw was simple:
KING stood still…
and forced an Admiral to withdraw.
"Gulp."
Someone swallowed loudly in the silence.
Garp watched Kuzan ride away and scratched his head.
"What's with that kid today? Acting weird…"
Then he turned to KING and grinned.
"Alright! Warm-up's done!"
"Your power control's still rough, but that'll improve with practice!"
"That's it for today! Go digest the results!"
The sun rose slowly over the sea.
Marineford glowed in morning light.
At last—
the first day of special training ended.