West Blue, Rasgap Town.
Lomi, the base commander of Marine Branch 80, sat behind his desk, looking thoughtfully at the young man before him.
When did he start changing?
Was it when he went to Loguetown as an executioner?
Or when he was recruited by the World Government and sent to the South Blue?
Yet in this past week, he had still been actively hunting pirates.
"Kuzan… was it really you who discovered it?"
Rowan rested a hand on his forehead, thought for a moment, and replied,
"You know me. At that time, only someone like Kuzan, representing the Marines, could make the higher-ups hold back a little."
"He is a candidate Admiral from the South Blue. With the Great Pirate Era beginning, they need the Marines to maintain balance."
Lomi did not ask further.
The intelligence leak was already pinned on Kuzan. Asking more would only complicate things.
The arrested pregnant women in the South Blue had been released.
How much of that was because of Kuzan was something worth thinking about.
"Ha."
Lomi smiled slightly and said,
"Half a year ago, I wanted Kuzan to take you to Headquarters, and you refused. Now that the official order is here, you have no choice."
Rowan frowned.
"Is there any way to refuse? At Headquarters, you might not even see a pirate all year. Isn't that a waste for someone like me?"
Lomi snorted.
"A waste? Headquarters gathers monsters from across the seas."
"Kuzan, who trained in the same batch as me, is now already a candidate Admiral."
He stood up and walked over.
"I can feel your strength constantly increasing. Even half a year ago, I was no longer your match."
"But I trained at Headquarters. I still have that perspective."
"Since returning from Loguetown, your Haki and physical strength have grown even faster."
"At your age, I can no longer predict your future."
He paused, then continued.
"But Haki is not as simple as you think."
"Zephyr once said that covering your body with Armament Haki to enhance attack and defense is only the most basic and crude application."
"He never explained further, because I never reached that level."
"But you can."
Lomi placed a hand on Rowan's shoulder.
"The pirates of the West Blue are not the worst this world has to offer."
"In the second half of the Grand Line, in the place called the New World, there are monsters whose defenses even Armament Haki cannot break."
"I want you to go."
"Go and see what I never could."
"And crush the future of those bastards. I have always believed you can do it."
His voice grew emotional.
He even looked like he was about to tear up.
Rowan, however, wanted to cry for a different reason.
His strength did not come from training.
It came from attribute cards gained through crime value.
After using the Golden Chest attribute card, his Haki and Flying Thunder God had improved significantly.
He could now even cover his entire body with Armament Haki.
Life in the West Blue had been comfortable.
Shadow clones handled routine work.
His real body trained the Revolutionary Army.
Occasionally, he would go out to clear pirates.
It was perfect.
And now this…
Spandine's connection was meant for later.
To jump straight to higher rank and operate in the Grand Line.
Now this training assignment would just waste time.
At that moment, Lomi suddenly added,
"The elite training at Headquarters is dormitory-based. Your daily training will be recorded."
"I remember you prefer a private room. Want me to arrange something?"
Dormitory. Marineford. Sabaody Archipelago. Daily recorded training.
That meant…
With Flying Thunder God, he could create a time gap between locations.
That changed things.
Also, advanced Armament Haki techniques, like the flowing Haki used in Wano, could be learned either from Dragon or Headquarters.
Dragon was too busy.
And his Dragon Claw technique was too distinctive.
"Since the order is already here, I'll go try it," Rowan said.
"Maybe I'll be sent back in a few months anyway."
He needed to meet Spandine again.
Vegapunk was not secured yet, and this man had already forced this situation.
That "gift" needed to be repaid.
…
Leaving the office, Rowan entered a restroom.
His clone dispersed into smoke.
In the next instant, a black flash appeared.
His real body arrived and caught the falling document.
After thinking for a moment, he realized the solution still lay with Spandine.
Shorten training time.
Then transfer to a Grand Line position near Fish-Man Island.
However, Marine Headquarters was filled with Observation Haki users.
That place was not comparable to a West Blue base or CP9.
Which meant…
The remaining 12000 crime value could not be saved.
…
With a thought, Rowan entered the prison space.
The value dropped rapidly.
Only about 2600 remained.
A silver chest appeared.
Rowan opened it.
[Naruto World: Ice Release Swallow Snow Skill Card]
Rowan took out the card.
So the chest rewards were not based on his desires.
He had been overthinking.
Otherwise, it would have given something like Android 18, or transformation techniques.
The next moment, Rowan disappeared.
Roger, who had just rushed over excitedly, stopped mid-step.
Then one second later, Rowan returned.
Another chest appeared.
A bronze chest.
Rowan opened it.
[Naruto World: Transformation Technique Skill Card]
[Mental Attribute Card]
…
Rowan fell silent.
So this is what I wanted?
That did not seem right.
He frowned, slightly embarrassed.
This combination was suspicious.
Was he subconsciously trying to frame Kuzan again?
But Kuzan was a decent person.
Why would he want to target him?
No.
That was not it.
Transformation Technique combined with Shadow Clones…
This could make the identity of Spark even more mysterious.
Yes.
That had to be it.
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