The instructor folded his arms, stepping back to give Klein space to demonstrate. He pointed casually. "Klein, attack that wooden post!"
To the uninitiated, "Klein" might've sounded like the name of a new Pokémon.
Klein lifted his left leg, balancing on one foot like a golden rooster. He hesitated for a moment, then clenched his jaw. "Whatever!"
The next second, he spun like a frenzied top.
Seeing this, the instructor looked completely dumbfounded and began to question himself. "Did I just say to create a vacuum with your foot!?"
"Did I say it wrong?"
Faced with Klein's terrifying learning speed, the instructor's first reaction wasn't to suspect Klein—
It was to doubt himself!
Before he could make sense of it, a wave of searing heat spread through the air. Klein's blurred, spinning figure began to glow red.
"Nani???" The instructor's pupils shrank. Then he saw Klein stop spinning and raise his right foot, now engulfed in flame.
A foot glowing red like a branding iron.
The instructor's eyes nearly exploded, veins popping out as his jaw practically hit the floor. "He created fire… with his foot!?"
"What the hell kind of Rankyaku is this?!"
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—
Klein felt like his foot was on fire. But on his face? Stone-cold calm, ice-cold demeanor. With his handsome features, he looked every bit like a stoic, ascetic heartthrob.
He slowly raised his flaming foot and took a drag from a cigar. "Ah—feels like the heat in my blood's boiling over."
Even with tears in his eyes, he'd finish this act!
…Wait, is my foot about to be roasted?
Why does the air smell like something's burning?
"Instructor, why is my Rankyaku different from yours?" Klein asked, his face half-shrouded in firelight, calm but puzzled.
"You're asking me?" The instructor clutched his head. "I wanna ask you! How the hell did a proper Rankyaku get turned into..."
Klein kept up the act like a pro. "I don't know either!"
That was his improvised strategy.
He couldn't use Rankyaku, but he could use Diable Jambe.
The styles were completely different—but hey, both used legs!
Too hot. Focus. First, just kick the wooden post like the instructor said.
The searing heat made Klein feel like his boots were melting. "Where did Sanji buy his shoes? I need a few pairs too!"
"Burn until the last flame dies out!"
Just as Klein was about to kick the post, the instructor raised his voice.
Wait your damn uncle! ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝※𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖※𝕟𝕖𝕥
My foot's about to be grilled here!
The instructor tapped his own chest. "Klein, kick me here. Let's see just how strong this mutant Rankyaku of yours really is!"
Your words. Not mine.
Naturally, the instructor wasn't about to go in undefended. He activated his Tekkai, hardening his body like steel.
Klein's blazing leg slammed straight into the instructor's chest. The sheer force, combined with scorching heat, exploded outward from his body.
The instructor was pushed back, his feet grinding across the floor with a piercing screech.
His shirt had a massive scorched hole right over the chest, and his chest hair?
Curled, charred, and still smoking.
He inhaled sharply, then stood with hands behind his back, giving a calm evaluation: "That kick… not bad at all. Today's lesson ends here."
"Yes, Instructor!" Klein bolted out of the training room straight for the bathroom, turned on the tap, and dunked his foot under the water. "Hot hot hot!"
The icy stream cooled him down fast. "Too reckless. Without Armament Haki, this move definitely hurts me as much as the enemy!"
Pant legs? Gone. His calves were exposed, previously covered in thick hair…
Now each strand was curled, burned from the root.
Which company is best for hair removal again?
So this is the price of putting on an act?
Once Klein left, the instructor puffed up his cheeks and started furiously blowing at his own chest. "Tekkai held up against the power… but the heat… damn."
"Good thing I've mastered Tekkai well enough. Otherwise, Klein would've left me with a burn scar from that kick."
As the burning sensation faded from his chest, the instructor cracked a grin. "Hahahaha—"
His words cut off like someone had grabbed his throat.
"Hmm?" He immediately wiped the smile from his face and scowled. "Klein, why are you back?"
"Instructor." Klein walked up shamelessly. "Instructor, what do you think of my talent?"
Not good enough. "Instructor, just very good?"
"Cough... Among all the students I've taught, your talent is—without a doubt—number one."
Klein grinned. "Instructor, interested in investing in this genius student?"
"So that's what this is about—trying to make money off me?" The instructor's eyes turned sharp, brimming with pressure.
Klein didn't flinch. "Instructor, how was the move I used earlier?"
A flicker of embarrassment flashed in the instructor's eyes. "It's powerful. Different from standard Rokushiki's Rankyaku, but effective."
"A high-level combat technique."
"Instructor, want to learn it? Just a tiny tuition fee." Klein bared his devilish fangs.
The instructor's eyes widened in disbelief.
You cheeky bastard. Reverse Tenkai indeed!
So now you're trying to teach me?
Is this even allowed?
How am I supposed to face the other students after this?
My reputation… my dignity…
"Ten million Berries!" Klein blurted. "Don't feel like it's too mu—"
"How much?" The instructor blinked.
Sweat formed on Klein's forehead. His heart pounded. Was that too high?
But he couldn't back down now. He held firm. "T-Ten million!"
"Deal!" the instructor agreed immediately.
Klein's eyes nearly popped out.
Ten million Berries—and he agreed!?
He couldn't believe it until the money was actually in his account at Marine Headquarters Bank.
Only then did the reality sink in.
"Instructor, you're the best!"
"Instructor, you're a legend!"
"Instructor, you're invincible!"
Klein conveniently forgot the instructor's usual venomous remarks.
With the money safely deposited, he didn't hesitate—immediately spent 6,888,888 Berries to unlock his second talent slot.
"Come on, let's get a powerful talent! If I can get 'Indestructible Body' plus 'Iron Balloon', I'll have maxed out HP—tank swordsman, here I come!"
"Maybe something even better…"
Klein fantasized about gaining the top-tier talents of the Grand Line.
This "fake genius" fueled by cash…
Would truly become a monster.
Back in the training room—
Since the instructor had already paid, Klein kept his promise and began teaching him the Diable Jambe technique.
Of course, he wasn't dumb enough to reveal the full set of moves.
Once the deal was done and Klein left—
The instructor waited a few hours, made sure he was really gone, and then cracked a wild grin:
"Jieh jieh jieh jieh—"
"Klein, I'm the instructor here. I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice!"
"In front of me, you still gotta study! You still gotta train!"
"Ten million Berries… that's a damn bargain!"