Five days later.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Marine Detention Unit dormitory.
Inside the pocket dimension, Roy watched Zishu slowly walk away with the 'cargo'.
After confirming no one was around, Roy left the pocket dimension, box in hand, and eagerly opened it.
Inside lay the pitch-black Enma Iron, silent and still, Kōshirō, who had shown his disciple the vastness of the Sea, had kept his word.
"I don't know what you intend to do with this, whether you plan to forge a weapon or conduct research," Kōshirō had said. "But please, I implore you, do not dishonor my father's life's work."
After speaking these words, the Great Swordsman, who had concealed himself in the East Blue for many years, readily handed the Enma Iron over to Inoshi.
Inoshi immediately handed the Enma Iron to Zishu, who had been concealed nearby.
Yes.
Although Inoshi was merely a clone, and Roy possessed a basic understanding of the Revolutionary Army, his personality would never allow him to send Inoshi alone without proper preparation.
In truth, Zishu had been with Inoshi throughout their time in Shimotsuki Village, remaining hidden within a pocket dimension.
Should any suspicious activity from the Revolutionary Army arise, Zishu could immediately extract Inoshi.
Furthermore, Roy didn't care if the Revolutionary Army seized the Pluton Alloy. If they harbored hostility toward him, the Pluton Alloy itself, forged by Inoshi, could serve as a "bomb."
"I'm truly a master of scheming," Roy mused, before refocusing his attention on the box before him.
[Devil Fruit Loaded: Dice-Dice Fruit → Munch-Munch Fruit]
Without hesitation, Roy switched Devil Fruits and swallowed the Enma Iron, box and all.
Then…
Thump! Thump!
Roy clearly heard his own heartbeat, now pounding like a war drum.
As a practitioner of the Black Body Style, Roy had gradually gained precise control over his body's subtle changes. He could now sense the transformations occurring within him.
The Munch-Munch Fruit's power activated, rapidly transforming his body into Enma Iron.
Simultaneously, the Human-Human Fruit's ability maintained his human flesh and blood.
Yet, a power surged from within him.
It wasn't the power of flesh and bone, but the same force he had sensed in the deep sea, hidden deep within his body.
The power that had previously required Roy's constant guidance to unlock was now being continuously drawn forth from his body.
And then…
Buzz!
Roy watched as his arms began to transform.
Pitch-black Haki, tinged with crimson, coiled around his arms and torso, flowing ceaselessly like living entities.
At the same moment, Roy felt an overwhelming sensation, he was certain that a single punch from him now could level the entire dormitory.
This was…
"Flowing Sakura."
A grin stretched across Roy's face.
Just as he had predicted, the energy swirling around him was indeed Flowing Sakura.
Moreover…
"The Enma Iron is uncontrollable, endlessly absorbing its host's Haki output. But because of the Munch-Munch Fruit, I can completely control the intensity of its Haki release," Roy mused inwardly.
"The only problem is that my own mastery of Haki is still lacking. I'm far behind top-tier Haki masters."
This was only natural.
Top-tier Haki masters like Garp and Zephyr could manipulate every strand of their Haki with perfect precision, unleashing devastating power.
Roy, however, clearly fell short in this regard.
Yet Roy remained unhurried.
Because...
"It's already enough."
He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him. "As long as I continue training the Black Body Style, I'll eventually hone my Haki mastery to an elite level."
"And even though I'm using the Enma Iron to channel my Haki, it's still leveraging the Haki within my own body."
It was like someone who would have had to dig through a hard dam by hand had instead used tools to break through it early. Though he had taken a shortcut, the hole had been opened, and his body was gradually adapting to his Haki.
"Sensei originally estimated it would take me at least ten more years to refine my Haki to its peak level."
"But with the Munch-Munch Fruit's assistance, it should only take three years at most. By then, even without the fruit, I should have full control over my Haki."
After muttering to himself a few times, Roy stood up.
"In that case, let's go surprise Zephyr Sensei."
He grinned.
Yes, he had suddenly mastered Haki thanks to his "talent," but it was still proper to have Zephyr's approval.
With that thought, Roy picked up the remaining half-glass of cola and drained it in one gulp. Then, he decisively left his dormitory and headed toward the Zephyr Training Camp.
The Marine Headquarters had undergone significant changes since Roy's last visit. The most noticeable was the massive dome that had risen along the southern coastline, emblazoned with the letters "SSG."
"Making such a big mystery out of it," Roy muttered, though he wasn't surprised.
He had already heard that the dome was a special scientific class's creation, designed to seal off the Three-Forces Military Exercise grounds and prevent anyone from prematurely glimpsing the contents of the Martial Exercise.
On a related note, Fal and the brothers from Roy's Marine Detention Unit had recently volunteered to gather information on the participating candidates.
Which raised the question: why wasn't Hans among those collecting intelligence?
The answer was simple.
"Boss, you're my old boss, Hans-sama's old boss! You can't let us down!"
"Sky Guard, CP-9, you gotta take 'em all down!"
Having eaten a Devil Fruit, Lord Hans had become unusually boastful. Not long ago, Roy had kindly engaged him in a martial arts sparring match to test his skills. To this day, Hans is still receiving intravenous fluids in the infirmary.
"Hopefully, he'll recover before the Three-Forces Military Exercise," Roy muttered to himself.
Unnoticed, he had already arrived at the Zephyr Training Camp.
Entering the camp with practiced ease using the password, he quickly made his way to Zephyr's office.
"Roy, you rascal?" Zephyr exclaimed in surprise, having just hung up his Den Den Mushi.
"Sensei, where's Binz?" Roy asked casually.
"Ain is returning from her mission today. He went to pick her up."
"Senior Sister Ain?" Roy replied, equally surprised.
Ain.
Four years ago, during the attack on Zephyr's recruit training ship, she was the only other survivor besides Binz.
For the past two months, she had been away on a mission.
Hearing that she had finally returned, Roy felt a surge of happiness.
Mainly because he knew that Senior Sister Ain was a Devil Fruit User, and an extremely rare Time-type Devil Fruit User at that.
'I should definitely get to know her better', he thought to himself.
But at that moment, Zephyr boomed, "You showed up just in time, kid! I need to talk to you about something."
"Huh?" Roy asked, surprised. "What is it?"
With the Three-Forces Military Exercise approaching, Zephyr had even suspended Roy's daily Black Body Style training to focus entirely on preparations for the exercise. It was rare for Zephyr to seek him out personally.
"Yes, they're worse than Biros and Garp. No, it's mostly that old geezer Garp."
"Vice Admiral Garp?" Roy asked, even more surprised.
"Yes, from the last time you and Hanafuda..." Zephyr didn't bother hiding anything and quickly explained the situation.
Indeed, when Roy defeated Hanafuda, Zephyr, Garp, and Biros had all been in Sengoku's office.
At the time, Biros and Garp had jokingly suggested having their grandsons train under Zephyr for a while. When Zephyr refused, they instead asked Roy to train them.
Biros wasn't in a hurry, he planned to discuss it with Roy personally after retiring.
But Garp was different.
"That old fool... a few days ago, he just ran off to East Blue, saying he was going to bring his grandson to headquarters."
Zephyr covered his face, the sound of Garp's infuriatingly boisterous laughter still echoing in his mind.
"Hahaha! Perfect timing! Your disciples are participating in the Three-Forces Military Exercise this time. It's a great chance to show that brat Luffy what's what and stop him from spouting nonsense about becoming a pirate!"
As soon as Garp finished speaking, Zephyr noticed Roy's face stiffen momentarily.
"Sensei, are you saying Vice Admiral Garp has already set off?"
"He left a few days ago. He's probably already on his way back, after all, Sengoku issued a military order requiring him to return before the Three-Forces Military Exercise."
Seeing Roy's stiff expression, Zephyr assumed he was either nervous or annoyed by the trouble. He added, "Don't worry too much. I heard Garp's grandson is just as stubborn as he is. He might not even agree to come."
Zephyr's expression softened with amusement.
'That old fool Garp... His son joined the Revolutionary Army, and now his grandson wants to become a pirate. And this is supposed to be my disciple, the Marine's Supernova, the very symbol of Justice!'
No, that wasn't the real issue.
But at that moment, Roy's heart was in turmoil.
While Garp's request for him to train Luffy was surprising, it was ultimately a minor matter. Roy had actually been quite eager to meet the reincarnated child of Nika.
The real problem was...
According to Roy's original calculations, Marine powerhouses would gather at Headquarters around the time of the Three-Forces Military Exercise.
Therefore, shortly after Inoshi retrieved the Pluton Alloy refining materials and 10 billion Beli from the Revolutionary Army's coordinates, he had already set off again for Windmill Village.
After all, if possible, he definitely wanted to obtain the Nika Devil Fruit from Luffy.
But now, Zephyr was telling him:
"That Garp is currently in the East Blue and has just returned from Windmill Village?!"
A foreboding feeling rose in Roy's heart.
"It can't be that coincidental!"
(End of Chapter)
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