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The Eight Treasures Navy was one of the official pirate forces of the Kingdom of Kano.
From the One Treasure Navy to the Eight Treasures Navy, they were a formidable and considerable force. They were a feared power across the entire West Blue. Even on a global scale, they held a significant place.
Clearly, within the Four Seas, there were many hidden forces that possessed equally formidable strength and could not be ignored.
Controlling the vast region of West Blue brought obvious benefits to Kojin.
Even though the forces he currently commanded were only those of the Marines, it was already quite impressive.
Many world-famous sword heroes, pirates, and Marines originated from the Four Seas, including the Pirate King Roger from East Blue and the future Yonko Red-Haired Shanks from West Blue. The Pirate King, Roger, came from East Blue, and the future Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks, came from West Blue.
“If I can twist vast resources into a single rope and forge the entire West Blue into one solid iron block… Then I can focus more on training talent and expanding my forces.” Kojin lightly tapped his fingers against the desk as he spoke softly.
As the number of capable people under his command increased, so did the resources required by him and his subordinates. Powerful figures continuously emerged within the Marines generation after generation precisely because they controlled the world’s grassroots foundation.
His gaze moved past the window toward the training field outside.
Smoker, Buggy, and the newly recruited Lunarian youth, Aroshu, were sparring amicably.
It was, naturally, a highly entertaining match.
After receiving formal training from Kojin for two years, Smoker and Buggy had improved rapidly. Though still teenagers, their combat strength was already impressive.
On the other hand, the Lunarian youth had grown up fighting in underground Black Fist arenas. His techniques were rough, but he had abundant combat experience.
“Catch!”
Smoker tossed a longblade over. Aroshu caught it, confusion appearing in his eyes.
“You want to fight me with your fists?” Smoker asked with a smile.
“No, this feels easier to use,” the Lunarian youth said, shaking his head.
Smoker laughed, but then his expression turned serious. The next second, he dashed forward.
In the blink of an eye, the two collided fiercely.
Smoker also wielded a blade and swung it rapidly. Their long blades clashed repeatedly, producing a continuous ringing sound.
“He’s the same age as us, with no formal training, and he’s already this strong!”
Buggy exclaimed in shock from the side.
He noticed flames constantly appearing and vanishing around the boy’s body.
“What is that?”
“A Devil Fruit user?”
As he watched the battle with growing seriousness, Buggy became more and more astonished the longer he observed.
In barely more than a dozen breaths, this early-maturing youth transformed his sword movements from awkward to proficient.
Kojin’s eyes also flickered with surprise as he watched the spar.
“He actually has quite a bit of talent for swordsmanship.”
With his keen insight, Kojin immediately recognized Aroshu’s remarkable aptitude for swordsmanship.
Compared to the Rokushiki techniques he had used in underground fist fights before, his sword techniques—despite being in the early stages, already displayed considerable power.
“Not bad! As expected, treasures can be found in West Blue.”
Nodding with a smile, Kojin continued watching.
Half an hour later, Smoker stood on the ground, breathing heavily. Aroshu lay sprawled out in a star shape in front of him.
“I lost,” Aroshu said.
“You’ve never had formal training, yet you’re this strong.”
“You really are a monster,” Smoker said through gritted teeth as he extended his hand.
“Monster…?”
Aroshu murmured. When he noticed the hand extended toward him, he froze.
In the Black Fist Arena, and in every part of his past life, no one had ever reached out to him with kindness before.
Smack!
Aroshu suddenly grabbed the hand. With a pull from Smoker, the three-meter-tall youth rose to his feet.
“If you ever get the chance to be personally trained by a truly powerful great swordsman, your future will be unimaginable!”
“A powerful swordsman…?” Aroshu muttered, then looked up suddenly.
“Vice Admiral Kojin… would that be possible?”
Smoker and Buggy were momentarily stunned, then both laughed.
“Kojin does carry a sword all the time,” they said, “but we’re not sure if he’s actually a swordsman.”
“You can try asking.”
Aroshu silently memorized this and nodded. He wanted to help the man who had saved his life reach the throne and assist him in achieving his dream.
After all, that man had saved his life and pulled him out of a dark, bottomless abyss, a prison from which escape had once been impossible.
But all of that required strength.
Right now, he was still weak.
He couldn’t even use the flames behind him.
After spending a little more time with Smoker and Buggy, Aroshu turned and walked toward the tallest building in the base.
“You want to learn sword techniques?” Kojin asked with a smile, gazing at the boy before him.
“Yes!” Aroshu nodded firmly.
“Very well. I will teach you sword techniques and train you to become the world’s strongest swordsman.”
After a brief moment of thought, Kojin agreed.
“But my time is limited, so I won’t have many opportunities to teach you. Most things will require you to figure out on your own.”
Excitement appeared on Aroshu’s face as he nodded vigorously.
Kojin then personally taught Aroshu the fundamentals of sword techniques for two hours.
As Kojin watched the Lunarian youth practice, he couldn’t help but marvel at the boy’s talent.
“A natural-born great swordsman?”
“And if he combines that with his racial abilities…”
Kojin was genuinely astonished.
After Aroshu left, Vegapunk hurried over, his face filled with excitement.
“Kojin, I heard you took in a Lunarian youth?”
Kojin nodded. “That’s right.”
“That’s a legendary, godlike race! I want to study his Lineage Factor! And you… don’t forget what you promised me!”
Vegapunk rubbed his hands together eagerly.
Back when he worked for the World Government, he had researched a Lunarian youth once. Unfortunately, the subject escaped, ending the research.
He hadn’t expected to encounter another one here.
“You may,” Kojin said, his expression turning serious with a hint of warning. “But your research must be conducted on the condition that Aroshu’s life is not harmed.”
“Also, the research requires his personal consent.”
Then Kojin asked curiously,
“Isn’t the laboratory still unfinished? How are you planning to conduct research?”
Vegapunk glared at him.
“I’ve already set up a temporary office inside the base. I can perform some basic experiments there. Otherwise, where do you think the blueprint for that electromagnetic airship came from?”
“With help from scholars like Dr. Clover and Olivia, this kind of thing is easy!”
Kojin suddenly understood.
He couldn’t help but sigh. “True experts never complain about their environment.”
Upon hearing the praise, Vegapunk immediately lifted his head proudly and chuckled smugly.
“I need to draw your blood!”
He suddenly remembered the real purpose of his visit.
Kojin didn’t refuse. Since he had already agreed, he let Vegapunk draw a full tube of blood.
“I will definitely uncover the secrets hidden in your bloodline!” Vegapunk said excitedly as he turned to leave.
“This is the mystery of immortality!”
Kojin shook his head lightly.
If he had truly succeeded, it would mean that Vegapunk had gained the ability to break the rules of the world itself.
But how could that be possible?
Afterward, Kojin contacted Capone Bege.
“You want to establish a shipbuilding factory?” Bege sounded clearly surprised after hearing his leader’s request.
“Is there a way?” Kojin asked.
“Yes, in West Blue, several islands and kingdoms have shipbuilding facilities,” Capone Bege replied immediately. “But the shipwrights aren’t particularly skilled. They can only build according to existing blueprints.”
“That’s enough,” Kojin nodded.
He currently had blueprints for the flying vessel traveling between Skypiea and the sea, as well as the plans for building the Seastone Battleship that Crocodile had copied.
As long as the shipyards could keep up, both types of ships could be produced continuously.
“Then it’s time to make a trip to Kano Country.”
Kojin narrowed his eyes and slowly stood up.
This time, he planned to go in person. Eveya quickly learned the news after receiving orders to prepare a battleship.
“You’re going to Kano Country to subdue the Eight Treasures Navy?”
“I’ll mobilize personnel immediately.”
Kojin laughed lightly. “No need. I alone am enough.”
As he spoke, lightning flashed across his body. A streak of lightning arced through the sky and landed on the battleship docked in the harbor. The battleship’s hull was adorned with a golden scepter emblem.
The next second, the battleship shot out from the port.
—
At the training field…
“What? Vice Admiral Kojin agreed to teach you sword techniques?!”
Smoker exclaimed in shock. He and Buggy exchanged glances, both revealing eager expressions.
They had been in the Marines for two years and had received nearly all their training from Bullet. They had never dared to request guidance directly from Kojin.
But what if they could receive instruction from one of the strongest people in the world?
Then…
“Let’s go try too!”
The two quickly made their decision.
Nervous, excited, and anticipating what was to come, they arrived at Kojin’s office. However, after meeting with Eveya, they learned that he had already left the base.
They were instantly disappointed by the news.
—
Two hours after Kojin set off from G-18 Fortress…
Kano Country.
“A battleship?!
“Why would the Marines come here?”
“Quick… check how many ships there are!”
The pirates guarding the harbor immediately grew tense. The pirate holding the binoculars moved them rapidly as he surveyed the surroundings of the approaching battleship. Soon, the pirate let out a sigh of relief.
“Only one ship.”
Then, he focused the binoculars directly on the battleship itself and observed carefully.
“There’s only one person on board, too.”
When the binoculars settled on the lone figure and the pirate clearly saw the man’s face, his entire body trembled. Fear instantly spread across his face.
“That person is…”
“Kojin?!!!”
(End of Chapter)
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