From the bustling central town of Chuanliu (Flowstream) Island to the coastal port where the Marine warship was docked, the trip normally took about an hour on foot.
But for Kai and Vice Admiral Kuzan (Aokiji), it took only a quarter of an hour to return to the port.
From a distance, Kai could already see the massive Marine warship anchored quietly along the coast.
The sea breeze blew gently, rustling the tall white flag emblazoned with the Marine seagull emblem — a symbol of justice on the seas.
Splash—!
Waves lapped at the shore, the breeze stirring the sea's surface into shimmering ripples. Water rushed over the jagged reef rocks, creating a crisp, pleasant sound.
Before long, Kai and Aokiji stepped aboard the warship, walking up the gangway and onto the deck.
Immediately—
A crowd of Marines gathered, eyes full of awe and reverence.
But they weren't just staring at the renowned Vice Admiral Aokiji.
They were also looking — with equal awe — at the four-year-old boy, Kai.
"Oi, Kuzan — why're you two back so fast?"
"You already dealt with the Demon Pirates?"
"You're telling me over three thousand people were taken down already?"
Vice Admiral Garp approached slowly, eyeing Aokiji with an odd expression.
This brat Kuzan…
Had he gotten this strong already?
Taking on over 3,000 enemies — and finishing the job in under half an hour?
Garp couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Based on his very accurate understanding of Aokiji's strength, there was no way he could've taken out the entire Demon Pirates that quickly.
"Vice Admiral Garp, you really kept this one from me."
Aokiji let out a helpless chuckle the moment he saw Garp, casting a sidelong glance at Kai as he added:
"You never told me your grandson Kai was such an absurd monster!"
"The whole time, I was worried about this kid for nothing."
"Who would've thought…"
"…he's this powerful!"
"Everything I worried about was just a joke in the end."
"You really hid your grandson's true strength a bit too well!"
Just thinking back to what Kai had shown in the battle—
That overwhelming combat power, the shocking burst of Conqueror's Haki…
Master-level Rokushiki, and even hints of Life Return (Seimei Kikan)…
At that moment, Aokiji realized—
He was the fool.
Both Garp and Kai had played him like a fiddle.
"WAHAHAHAHA!"
Garp burst into laughter, clearly remembering the exact moment Aokiji's face twisted in shock upon witnessing Kai's power.
He slapped Aokiji hard on the shoulder.
"But it's not like you asked, did you?"
"I told you from the start — my grandson Kai…"
"…is the most terrifying monster this sea has ever seen!"
"You just didn't believe me, brat. What could I do? Force you to believe it?"
"Until you saw it for yourself, no amount of words would've convinced you."
"You know as well as I do — Kai's talent is monstrous. There's no explaining it in a few sentences."
"You had to see it with your own eyes to believe it, didn't you?"
Aokiji was momentarily speechless.
He couldn't deny it.
Kai's talent and potential were too shocking, too surreal.
If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes today—
He wouldn't have believed such a monster could even exist.
A freak like Kai defied all reason.
This kind of existence—
Could only be accepted after seeing it firsthand.
Any verbal description would seem exaggerated or delusional.
If this ever got out to the public, no one would believe it.
Because Kai was just that monstrous.
"Kai doesn't just have Conqueror's Haki."
"He's mastered the Navy's Rokushiki techniques…"
"And he even showed signs of using the high-level technique Life Return!"
"And he's only four years old!"
Every time Aokiji thought about it, he couldn't help but feel deeply shaken.
Exhaling slowly…
He looked at Kai beside him with a deeply complicated expression.
Beside them, Garp once again patted Aokiji on the shoulder, looking proud as he said:
"Now do you finally believe me, brat?"
"My grandson Kai…"
"…is the most terrifying monster in all the seas!"
"I assume you won't argue that anymore."
Aokiji nodded without hesitation.
He completely believed it now.
The moment he saw Kai unleash that Conqueror's Haki, he already knew Garp hadn't been exaggerating.
And then—
Kai used Rokushiki, showed Life Return, and proceeded to one-shot three infamous pirates, each with bounties in the tens of millions.
There was no longer any room for doubt.
"Let me guess…"
"The reason the Demon Pirates were taken care of so quickly…"
"…is because Kai got involved, right?"
"Otherwise…"
"Even you, Kuzan, wouldn't be able to wipe out over 3,000 enemies that fast!"
"Hell, even I couldn't pull that off if I tried."
Garp's tone was firm and sure.
He understood Kuzan's strength very well.
While Aokiji was undoubtedly one of the strongest among the new generation of Marines…
Taking out an entire 3,000-man pirate crew in less than half an hour?
That was still a stretch.
Which meant—
The only explanation was that Kai had made a move.
Only someone like Kai…
Could perform such a swift and overwhelming annihilation.
"Heh, nothing escapes your eyes, does it, Vice Admiral Garp?"
Aokiji let out a wry smile.
"You guessed it right…"
"It was your grandson Kai who unleashed his Conqueror's Haki across the battlefield — completely crushing all 3,000 Demon Pirates in an instant."
"That's the only reason this mission was wrapped up so fast."
Even now, as he spoke of it, Aokiji's voice carried a trace of lingering awe.
"WAHAHAHAHA!"
Garp roared with laughter.
"I knew it!"
"There's no way you could've done that, brat!"
"In the end, it's my grandson Kai who had to handle it!"
"A four-year-old who already controls Conqueror's Haki — so, what do you think, Kuzan?"
Aokiji didn't respond.
What could he say?
Jealous?
Envious?
…Well.
Maybe just a little.
"Your grandson Kai…"
"…is a bona fide monster."
Aokiji gave his honest evaluation.
Then he turned and left without saying more.
In a quiet corner of the warship, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and contacted Marine Headquarters — Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
After all—
Aokiji had personally received the original mission order from Commander-in-Chief Kong to eliminate the Demon Pirates.
Now that the mission was complete, it was time to file his report.
Seeing this, Garp didn't disturb him further.
He turned his gaze back to Kai and chuckled:
"So, brat — now that you've had your first real taste of pirates who crawled back from the Grand Line to the East Blue…"
"What are your thoughts?"
Kai thought for a moment, then replied honestly:
"Thoughts?"
A gleam flashed in his eyes.
"Weak."
"Absolutely weak."
"The so-called pirates in this part of the sea… aren't nearly as strong as I expected."
Garp's mouth twitched violently.
Good grief!
The whole point of bringing Kai here had been to broaden his horizons.
To let him see how fearsome the seas were…
To help him cultivate respect for the dangers of the world.
To prevent arrogance. To keep him humble.
And now?
This was the result?!
Garp didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Looks like even I underestimated how fast this kid's power would grow…"
"A complete miscalculation!"
"It's only been — what, half a month?"
"And Kai's already strong enough to make even me feel unsure of his limits."
"This brat really does live up to my evaluation…"
"The most terrifying monster on the sea!"
With the Demon Pirates annihilated…
There was no longer any reason to remain at Chuanliu (Flowstream) Island.
Garp ended his conversation with Kai, then turned to a few nearby Marines and issued a new order:
"Pass along my command — set sail immediately! We're heading back to Marineford!"
Soon after—
The warship raised anchor and unfurled its sails.
The massive vessel pulled away from the port of Chuanliu Island and headed into the open sea, its course set for Marine Headquarters — Marineford.
Within moments—
The warship disappeared from the coastline,
vanishing into the endless horizon.
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