Inside the room.
Klein took out the sniper rifle he'd drawn from the game—"Qianlu"—and began tempering it with Armament Haki.
The originally wood-and-gold sniper rifle transformed under the infusion of Haki into a sleek, black weapon gleaming with menace.
While working on it, he sighed.
"How the hell did my solid nickname 'Black Gun' end up as 'Bird Sniper'? That's just wrong!!"
Truly exhausting.
This trip to Elbaf was also a good opportunity for the crew to sharpen themselves in Elbaf's so-called Underworld—a place where combat equaled growth.
He calculated in his mind,
"Whether it's Linlin or Shakky, both have talent when it comes to gathering intel. With a few more years of cultivation, I should be able to send them off to work independently. And more importantly..."
"They'll start making me money!!"
In the future, the BIG MOM Pirates were known as the number one intel force in the world.
With those two working together, they'd become an invaluable asset.
At present, Klein had no steady source of income, and his wealth value was decreasing by the day.
There were more mouths to feed on board now, and the cost of food was no joke.
With his wallet thinning, Klein was still thinking about some long-term business ventures.
Then again…
Something did occur to him—a great way to make money. Stroking his chin, he muttered,
"Looks like pictures of Gloriosa and Shakky sell better than any news article. No need to even worry about demand!"
"Man, I've gotten lazy lately. Damn those two enchantresses for throwing my mind into disarray!"
Knock knock knock—
A knock at the door.
"Klein-sama, it's Edward Newgate."
"Come in."
The door opened, and a tall, broad-shouldered Newgate stepped inside.
"Klein-sama, you called for me?"
"I wanted to ask about your goals. Your dreams for the future." Klein gestured for him to sit.
The man who would one day be known as Whitebeard, the so-called "Strongest Man in the World", was now before him.
Klein had changed this man's fate—so naturally, he wanted Newgate to reach his absolute peak.
The Marines...
They were a tool of the World Government. Once someone became an admiral, even if a Celestial Dragon merely felt disrespected, that admiral would have to mobilize.
The World Government held life and death in its hands. Even Vice Admiral Doberman, despite his rank, was executed on the spot by the Five Elders just for one wrong sentence.
Anyone below Admiral was forbidden from even looking at the Five Elders.
Those who broke this rule? Killed.
The Marines had no dignity before the World Government.
Even the Fleet Admiral would be chewed out like a dog.
Klein had no interest in ruling the world. He knew he didn't have the political chops or patience for that.
But—
Using power to win respect and privileges?
Absolutely necessary.
He wanted both face and substance.
"I want to make my hometown peaceful and prosperous. I don't want it to stay a lawless island." Newgate's face was resolute.
Klein's gaze sharpened. His tone turned serious.
"Good. Whether it's food, supplies, or combat training, I'll provide everything you need."
"But what you need to give me is..."
"Effort—and LOYAL ORANGE!"
Newgate didn't even flinch. His voice was firm and clear:
"No amount of pain can shake my resolve to grow stronger and protect my home!"
At just 14, he had already endured the loss of family, starvation, and violent struggle.
Training? That was nothing compared to what he'd lived through.
"Can you endure the pain of 100x effort?" Klein asked.
"I can!"
"What about 200x effort?"
Newgate's pupils trembled. But he clenched his jaw.
"I can!!"
"Hahaha!" Klein burst out laughing. Then, he grew solemn.
"You're only 14. Can you really handle the hellish pain that comes with 200x effort?"
Sweat beaded on Newgate's forehead. In his mind, he recalled the suffering and hardship of his past years.
His tiger-like eyes burned with resolve, with a willpower far beyond his age.
'I'll keep going until I can't. Nothing hurts more than simply staying alive.'
"Even 200x effort—I'll endure it!"
"Even if I can't—I WILL! I don't want the kids born in Sphinx to live in that same hell I did!!"
"I don't want them to be orphans like me, born without parents, never knowing love..."
"I don't want them shivering in the cold winter, digging through trash to find moldy, rotting food!!"
"·······"
His emotions overflowed. His chest heaved, shoulders trembled, and his eyes began to redden.
Klein's pupils shrank. He stared at Newgate, dumbfounded.
So this is what it takes to become a powerhouse in the world of pirates...
The burdens they carried were far heavier than he imagined.
He reached out and clapped Newgate's wide shoulder, took a deep breath to calm himself, and said,
"Then give me that 200x effort. Show me how far you can go!"
"If you can endure it, I'll take you to the top of the world!"
From this moment on, the fate of Whitebeard Edward Newgate was rewritten.
He didn't care about the original plot anymore. Back when he had no cheats, he just wanted a quiet life in some peaceful branch.
But now?
Now he was going to live exactly how he wanted.
"Go train. I'll personally check your progress from time to time and guide you."
"Oh, right. Your weapon before was a wooden stick, yeah?"
"Yeah. I've always had natural strength," Newgate nodded. But there was another reason.
He didn't want to bring too much bloodshed to his homeland.
So he chose the wooden staff.
"From now on—use a naginata!"
"Naginata?"
Newgate blinked. He had never really thought about weapon types.
But now, hearing Klein's suggestion, he gave it serious thought. A naginata's image floated in his mind.
'That kind of weapon… would suit my strength well.'
"I'll learn to use one!"
Later, Newgate walked onto the deck. The kids swarmed him, chattering and asking what Klein had said.
"Klein-sama told me to train hard." He didn't say much more as he took off his shirt.
"You guys better not slack off."
"Of course not! I'm gonna be just as badass as Klein-sama someday!"
"······"
A bunch of energetic, spirited kids threw themselves into training, bringing laughter and joy to the warship.
They were slowly becoming part of the ship's big family.
The ones who weren't so happy?
That'd be Vice Admiral Crotto of G-14 Base and Fleet Admiral Oharden.
Because once again, Klein was… off running wild at sea, completely ignoring any concept of jurisdiction.
Half a month later — on the warship.
After half a month of intense training, Newgate's physique had become clearly more defined, packed with raw strength.
Food was no longer a concern. Everyone could eat their fill every meal—high-quality, nutrient-dense dishes.
In just two weeks, all the kids had become vibrant and full of life.
Along the way, they encountered a few pirate crews. Klein had Os, Gloriosa, and Linlin take turns sparring with them.
Life for Klein?
Comfy, happy, and relaxed.
"12,510."
"12,511."
Crunch—
A senbei cracked between his teeth. The roasted, crispy flavor was so good it was addictive.
Breaking his own Senbei Record yet again, Klein dropped the snack bag, stretched, and muttered:
"You're all training so hard… I'm getting kind of bored over here."
"Guess I'll need to bring some entertainment aboard this warship soon."
Mahjong?
Murder Mystery RPGs?
Werewolf games?
That comment earned him a synchronized eye-roll from everyone on deck.
They were already overworked to death.
Meanwhile, all Klein did—aside from the occasional training tip—was eat, get massages, and nap.
So annoying!!
Of course, Klein did have one more side gig—photographing Gloriosa and Shakky, and holding massive clearance sales whenever they passed an island.
Their popularity was skyrocketing!
"Klein-sama! We can already see Elbaf!" the lookout shouted.
"We've arrived?"
Klein's eyes lit up. In a flash, he appeared atop a cannon, gazing at the colossal Treasure Tree Adam in the distance.
He couldn't help but gasp:
"This whole place is shining with gold, I swear—"