After everyone finished bathing, they noticed that Klein didn't have a single visible injury on his body.
He was still as full of vigor as a "dragon and tiger," which completely convinced them!
Utter admiration. Total submission!
A few shirtless men lay soaking in the hot spring-like pool, arms stretched wide. It was hard to describe just how blissful and relaxing the moment felt.
The only regret… was that they were surrounded by nothing but burly dudes.
Sengoku stared blankly at Klein's fair-toned, well-defined muscles, filled with suspicion:"Klein's condition is too good. No visible injuries… Could this guy be hiding his true strength?"
Knowing Klein's scheming personality, the more Sengoku thought about it, the more likely it seemed!!
Even Kong couldn't draw out this guy's full power. That's terrifying—enough to cause nightmares, damn it!
And if he asked directly? This guy would probably just play dumb. Stupid birdbrain!
Meanwhile, to Klein's right, Garp grinned and chuckled:"Bro, that 'Fist of the King' you used today—can you teach me?"
"I get the deal—I'll write you an IOU. Just name your price!"
Garp still couldn't get that move out of his head. That punch? Damn, it was sick!
Even the ground trembled from its power. It wasn't just for show—it blasted out a terrifying shockwave.
Even Kong, using Conqueror's Haki and Tekkai, had been sent flying and coughing blood.
He wanted to learn it.
Garp's rugged, scarred face practically screamed: "I wanna get stronger!"
"Sure thing. Still 50 million Berries. Write up the IOU, and I'll teach you over the next couple days," Klein replied with a slight smile.
That move wasn't easy to use in real combat anyway—if he could trick one person into learning it, so be it.
Perfect. Another 50 million. Now Garp owed him over 100 million Berries.
Nearby, Zephyr looked visibly tempted… but the mention of 50 million Berries and his own repayment capacity made him hesitate.
Then Garp clapped Zephyr's bare back and grinned wide:"Zephyr, if you wanna learn it, just sign the IOU! Get strong first—then worry about paying it back later."
He might act goofy, but Garp wasn't stupid. In fact, the guy was actually really smart.
Just… sometimes, his decisions were baffling.
Pay it back? Pay it back when he had money!
First, get the powerful technique. That's what really mattered!
Zephyr's eyes sparkled. He immediately turned to Klein and said,"Bro, I wanna learn Demonic Flame Kick!"
He remembered that Garp wasn't allowed to share any other techniques. So Demonic Flame Kick seemed like the only option left to him!
"Sure thing!" Klein's face lit up. Who was he to reject free money?
Besides… Demonic Flame Kick had already been sold to a bunch of instructors. It was practically flooding the streets.
Thinking that, Klein suddenly felt like he might've lowballed Garp when selling him Fist of the King. He added,"Garp, never mind Iron Fist, but I can't give Fist of the King to just you alone."
"Okay, whatever you say, Bro." Garp laughed happily.
Sengoku, however, looked absolutely grim. He was miserable.
Garp's learning Iron Fist AND Fist of the King. Am I about to get totally steamrolled for the next few years!?
Just the thought of Garp no longer being restrained by Klein… that smug, bragging face of his… Sengoku clenched his teeth.
If I wanna keep up… I gotta learn it too!
But… that would mean swallowing his pride and asking Klein. Writing an IOU.
Sengoku was deep in thought when he suddenly realized—three annoying faces had leaned in dangerously close, each wearing an expression full of smug mischief.
"Hey—what the hell are you guys doing!?"
Garp picked his nose and grinned:"Hahaha! Sengoku, my bro's leaving HQ soon. If you don't learn it now, it'll be too late!"
"If you don't get stronger, bullying you won't be any fun!"
That mocking tone. That smug little face. It begged for a punch.
A vein bulged on Sengoku's forehead—but clever as he was, he saw through the provocation.
And… it warmed his heart a little.
Zephyr encouraged him too:"Sengoku, with your talent and brains, earning 50 million Berries in the future will be easy."
"You're always practicing calligraphy. You could make a lot of money with that alone."
If he had Sengoku's talent, he'd have already signed an IOU and learned a powerful move from Klein.
Sengoku looked up at Klein. The guy was wearing the smuggest smile imaginable, eyes practically sparkling as he said,"Wanna learn it? Sign the IOU. I'll teach you!"
Sengoku's blood pressure skyrocketed. Bastard, that smug face makes me wanna punch you SO BAD.
But… I can't beat you. Not even close. All this anger's just stuck inside me!
Klein added more fuel to the fire:"If you don't learn it, even Garp will beat you. And you want to surpass me? Please."
"Being invincible is... just so... lonely~"
He even started humming the tune.
"I'll buy it!" Sengoku growled, face dark under his puffed-up afro."I'll buy Fist of the King!"
"Excellent!" Klein grinned. "Good luck! I'll be waiting for you out at sea!"
Another 150 million in Berries' worth of IOUs. And not just from anyone—from the future three Marine Admirals.
They'd become vintage relics.
"One of Klein's Great Treasures!"
Marine HQ Medical Building
"Commander Kong is waking up!" reported a nurse.
Fleet Admiral Oharden, Admiral Rampaging Bear, and Instructor Carter all rose from the lounge and rushed to Kong's ward.
Inside the room, Kong slowly opened his eyes. Images flashed in his mind—
Fist of the King, Fistbone techniques, basic punches, Demonic Flame Kick…
And finally, the moment he was knocked unconscious.
Eyes wide."I lost… I lost… That guy recovered his strength at the final moment!?"
"Was… was that the power of a Devil Fruit?"
Too weird. If not for that sudden twist, Kong was absolutely certain he'd have won against Klein.
"But if Klein really is a Devil Fruit user… his power… might be even greater." The battle played over again in Kong's mind, making his pupils twitch.
Just a first-year student… but already powerful enough to defeat him.
Back in the day, he had been the Navy school's "prodigy." After graduation, he rose through the ranks in no time—within just a few years, he became a Vice Admiral. Newest update provıded by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝙣𝙚𝙩
Now, Kong's eyes looked hollow.
He was reflecting on his entire life.
Fleet Admiral Oharden, Admiral Rampaging Bear, and Instructor Carter entered.
Seeing Kong wrapped in bandages, Carter shrank behind Rampaging Bear, too guilty to face him.
Who knew that was just a half-baked version of Demonic Flame Kick!?
Who knew Klein's Haki would reach Vice Admiral-level in just a few months!?
Carter ranted internally in frustration:Kong—don't blame me! Blame Klein for being such a damn monster!
I lost two hundred million Berries… and I even shelled out another hundred million!
Oharden stood by the bed. Seeing the emptiness in Kong's eyes, his heart clenched."Shit—did that fight break him!?"
To be fair, the blow was massive. A Vice Admiral-level examiner, defeated by a first-year student.
He'd have resigned already!!