The G-5 Fortress was an isolated military base. Its main gate was a narrow opening that led to a long, narrow bridge inside.
Kōjin's eyes swept over the scene. He took in the massive, pitch-black Battery Fort standing silently under the afternoon sun and the Marines patrolling with rigid, practiced discipline. Every single Marine was a seasoned veteran.
What sobered him was that all of these Marines were officers, each bearing the rank of Lieutenant or higher. A significant number were Lieutenant Junior Grade officers.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade officers are the minimum requirement to even step into the New World. Anything less, and they just don't have the muscle for it." Kuzan said this with a casual smile on his face.
Kōjin simply nodded. Compared to the first half of the Grand Line or the Four Seas, the New World demanded a completely different level of fighting ability. The enemies, the necessary strength, and the stakes were all on a far grander scale.
A few moments later, the group stepped into the interior of the fortress.
Garp and the others quickly split off; clearly, they had a meeting to rush to.
Kōjin remained with Kuzan and Bogard.
They were met by a blonde, wavy-haired female officer with a statuesque figure bearing the rank of lieutenant colonel.
"Kuzan San, your reputation precedes you. Like the two field officers stationed here now, you were one of those monsters fresh out of the Marine Academy."
The woman, whose name was Rista, spoke with a friendly smile.
"Me, a monster?" Kuzan waved a hand dismissively, then threw an arm around the silent young man beside him.
"This kid's the real monster!"
Rista looked at the black-haired youth curiously, realizing she didn't recognize him. Despite her warm smile, the boy didn't react; he didn't even offer a nod of acknowledgment.
Kuzan could only offer a wry smile and shake his head.
"Apologies, Lieutenant Colonel Rista. He's like Bogard: a bit reserved and introverted. He doesn't say much."
Rista blinked, then let out a soft chuckle.
"I can tell."
Her gaze lingered on Kōjin for a moment longer. It was obvious that he wasn't the talkative type; he just stood quietly, taking it all in.
After a moment, two tall figures approached from the opposite side.
"You terrifying guy, it's been ages since graduation; I finally get to see you again!" A jovial voice called out, causing Kōjin to lift his head.
His eyes narrowed infinitesimally, then returned to normal.
The other two, who would one day make up the Three Admirals, approached them.
"Long time no see, Borsalino and Sakazuki!" Kuzan greeted them with a wave.
"I hear you've been tagging along with Vice Admiral Garp," Sakazuki said coolly. "Let's see if your strength has improved."
"Hahaha, you'll find out soon enough." Kuzan laughed heartily.
The three of them began chatting casually while Lieutenant Colonel Rista tactfully excused herself and slipped away, sensing the shift.
She knew these three well. Within the Marine Academy's new generation, they were legendary. Their overwhelming talent and astonishing power had earned them the collective nickname, "The Three Monsters."
Their future in the Navy was destined to be brilliant and smooth.
"Yo, and who's this handsome little brother?" Borsalino grinned and asked as he glanced at Kōjin.
"He looks scary already. Kuzan, aren't you going to introduce him?"
Since they arrived, the boy had remained calm and silent, showing no reaction to their presence.
"His name is Kōjin. He's Vice Admiral Garp's disciple." Kuzan said with a faint smile. After a short pause, his tone turned more serious.
"And just like us... he's a monster too."
Upon hearing this, Sakazuki and Borsalino both paused slightly.
They knew that, in Kuzan's mouth, the word "monster" didn't refer to personality; it referred purely to power.
The Three Monsters was their title among the new crop at the Marine Academy.
"If Vice Admiral Garp sees fit to take him as a disciple... Then his strength must be truly formidable."
The coldness on Sakazuki's face eased and was replaced by a faint, challenging smile. Kōjin raised his head and looked at the young man who would one day become the Fleet Admiral of the Marines. Suddenly, he grinned.
"I am not that strong. But taking you down shouldn't be an issue."
That single sentence left Kuzan momentarily stunned. He turned to his friend in surprise. In his experience, Kōjin had always been calm and detached — unnaturally so for someone his age.
This kind of emotional, provocative attitude was something he had never seen before.
Even Bogard seemed taken aback.
Borsalino, on the other hand, was amused, muttering, "Another monster! What a terrifying presence!"
Sakazuki was silent at first, then he, too, began to smile.
He had keenly sensed it: The boy before him carried a kind of instinctive resistance, even disgust, toward him.
"Then I'd very much like to witness your strength for myself."
The moment Sakazuki's cool words fell, the quiet reception room was instantly charged with the thick, invisible scent of gunpowder—a palpable atmosphere of impending combat. Kuzan watched, ready to intervene, a wry smile fixed on his face.
Meanwhile, in an entirely different, heavily guarded office, Golden Lion Shiki had gathered nearly all his forces around Etwall. Such an unusual move has drawn the attention of the entire world.
We still don't know his exact objective."
Sengoku frowned deeply as he stared down at the large sea map spread across his desk.
"That damned Golden Lion is stirring up trouble again! He's the biggest source of instability in the world!"
Garp chuckled, unbothered. "But I only care about Roger. Where are the Roger Pirates now?"
Sengoku shook his head. "We can confirm that Roger and his crew are somewhere in these seas, but we still don't know which island they're on."
As he spoke, his face grew more solemn. "One thing is certain, though: Golden Lion's sudden mobilization must be connected to Roger."
A grin crept across Garp's face. Suddenly, he slammed his fist down on the table, causing the map to jump.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's set off! I can't wait to meet Roger again!"
"Garp, calm down," Sengoku said sternly. "According to my judgment, we may very well witness a battle between pirates this time."
"The Flying Pirates are probably moving to specifically target Roger. We both know the scope of Golden Lion Shiki's ambition."
Sengoku sighed deeply and shook his head.
Then, as if remembering something, he looked at Garp again.
"By the way, what made you suddenly decide to take on a young disciple? Even Kuzan idolizes you, yet he never became your student."
Garp broke into a wide grin at that, raising his thumb in pride.
"Because that kid is really something special! In the future, he won't be any weaker than me!"
Those words stunned the two Admirals present, Sengoku and Zephyr. Then, shock flooded their faces.
They knew very well what that statement meant.
Garp, at the peak of his strength and in his prime with countless legendary feats to his name, was arguably the strongest Marine alive. Even among the Admirals, there was no denying that, aside from the long-retired Kong, the mightiest Marine in existence was the Hero of the Marines, Garp himself.
"That boy's talent," Garp said, clearly bragging a bit, "is the most outrageous I've ever seen!"
"Just a few days ago, when I first met him, he couldn't do anything. His physical ability was only slightly above average, about the same as a normal Marine recruit."
"But now, he's awakened Conqueror's Haki!"
Sengoku's expression changed instantly, and Zephyr's pupils constricted with pure disbelief flashed across his scarred face.
"It's only been a few days, but under my guidance, Kōjin has already mastered Iron Body (Tekkai). His physical strength is no worse than Kuzan's."
"He's a monster among monsters!"
Garp continued proudly, unaware that the two veteran admirals beside him were shaken.
"Moreover, he's already learned Conqueror's Infusion!"
The bodies of Sengoku and Zephyr trembled violently.
(End of chapter.)
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