50,000 Berries? That's my rate… when I'm the one doing the bullying.
100,000 Berries, and you think you can bully me?
Do I look stupid to you?
Besides, with how strong you are, even if you just bump into me during a fight, I'll end up in a hospital bed. Total waste of time.
Wasting time is the same as burning cash.
Klein braced himself and declined. "Senior Kong, someone like me—my strength doesn't even count in front of you. Wouldn't it be better to wait until I'm stronger? That way a spar would be more meaningful."
He was already jotting down those two trainees in his little mental notebook. Better pray I don't get the chance…
Seeing Klein keep refusing, Kong didn't insist. His resolute face showed a tinge of disappointment.
Off to the side, the instructor wore a strange expression, barely holding back his amusement. "Hahaha—if those two ever spar and Klein finds out Kong also knows the 'Demonic Flame Kick'… I can't wait to see his face!"
"No way I'm missing that showdown."
The instructor and Kong left. Zephyr stayed behind, still thinking about Klein's response...
"Happiness-based justice?"
Is this really the Klein I know??
Bro, lie to your friends if you want, but don't go lying to yourself!
I thought you loved money??
Aren't you a die-hard gold-digger?
If you really care about my happiness, how about tearing up all the IOUs you've got on me, huh?!
Meanwhile, Tsuru furrowed her delicate brows and murmured thoughtfully, "Making money brings Klein happiness. Then… what else makes him happy?"
Over the course of the training camp, her opinion of Klein had completely changed.
Sure, the guy was obsessed with cash—but he genuinely got things done.
He didn't treat the cadets like royalty, no, but his attitude, service, and instruction were all top-notch.
During these past few days—
Under Klein's guidance, Tsuru had made solid progress. She'd even stopped insisting on training with Tekkai.
After cooling down, she realized that Tekkai really wasn't the right choice for her.
Klein smirked. "What's so hard to understand? Zephyr, if you got into the elite class right now, wouldn't that make you happy?"
Zephyr blinked, then nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, it would."
"Tsuru, if you captured a truly evil pirate, would that make you feel happy?"
He tossed the next question her way.
Tsuru smiled faintly, beginning to understand Klein's brand of justice.
There was no extra training today because Garp was injured.
And today, Zephyr was hanging out in their dorm. Compared to usual, it felt more lively. Lying on his bed, Zephyr suddenly asked, "Klein… do you think I'll ever become a hero?"
In the same dorm as Garp and Sengoku—both insanely talented—Klein had once been the weakest link.
But over the past few months, he'd rocketed forward like a man strapped to a cannon.
He was now strong enough to knock out Garp with one punch.
Only Zephyr lagged behind...
Mediocre strength, unable to make it into the elite class, and no access to Rokushiki training.
At this rate, he probably wouldn't even qualify to learn Rokushiki before graduation.
Klein knew Zephyr's dream… and his future—a future filled with tragedy.
So he asked back, "If you caught a pirate with a mountain of sins on his head… would you kill him?"
The question sent Zephyr into deep thought.
In the anime, he hunted countless pirates throughout his life—but never once killed a single enemy.
That's why he was known as the "non-killing" former Marine Admiral.
So kind it bordered on naïveté...
At least, that's how Klein saw it.
After thinking for a long time, Zephyr answered, "Isn't that what Enies Lobby is for? The Marine judiciary will judge a pirate's crimes. Some of them might've just joined a crew and haven't committed anything heinous yet."
"My job is to catch pirates, stop them from hurting others, and protect civilians."
Klein couldn't agree with that.
He knew changing someone's beliefs was harder than making money.
Possibly the hardest thing in the world.
The dorm door opened.
Garp walked in, wrapped in bandages. His right arm was a disaster area, slung up in a brace.
But his voice was as loud as ever. "Hey, Ponytail! When the hell did you learn such a crazy punch technique!?"
"Say it right," Klein said.
Garp's face turned all sorts of colors. He remembered the terms of their spar.
Winner's the big bro, loser's the little bro.
But calling this guy "bro" out loud… it was too much. His face flushed with embarrassment, but the words wouldn't come out.
Klein leisurely lit a cigar, crossed his legs, and blew a cloud of smoke. "Pfffft—"
"Gonna act like a naked brat and play dumb?"
"B-bro…" Garp ground his teeth so hard they creaked. His face burned red.
"Hm?" Klein turned slightly, cupping his ear. "Didn't catch that. That wasn't your usual big voice…"
Garp tried to clench his fist, but the thick bandages blocked him. Fine. He'd take the L for now. But once he got stronger, Klein would be screaming "Bro" 800 times a day.
With a face twisted like he'd just swallowed nails, Garp growled, "Bro!"
"Good boy!" Klein grinned ear to ear, utterly satisfied. Even Garp has to call me bro! Hahahaha—
Someday, even Roger and Whitebeard will have to call me 'Uncle'!
Then Garp looked at Klein with fire in his eyes. "That punch technique… can you teach it to me?"
Garp nodded like a pecking chick.
The image of Klein's punch—Fistbone: Impact—was still playing in his mind.
It was exactly the kind of power he'd been chasing his whole life.
"Call me bro one more time."
The flush that had just faded rushed back into Garp's face. His tiger-like eyes widened as if he wanted to eat Klein alive.
Klein ignored him and turned to Sengoku. "Sengoku, wanna spar?"
"Winner's the bro, loser's the little bro!"
"I refuse," Sengoku said, grabbing his change of clothes and heading for the bath.
"Bro—" Garp gritted his teeth and finally gave in. "Can you teach me now?"
"You wanna learn? Gotta pay up." Klein rubbed his fingers together, money-grubbing as ever. He'd already planned to sell his "Iron Fist" style to Garp.
The word "money" made veins pop on Garp's forehead. But then he remembered the power of Fistbone: Impact—and something in him said this technique was tailor-made for him.
"This much." Klein held up a single finger.
Garp frowned. "100k? 1 million Berries?"
"One hundred million."
"NANI??????" Garp's voice cracked like a teenager's, his face contorting in disbelief.
Even Zephyr, watching from his bed, looked like his eyes were about to pop out.
Garp dug at his ear. "Oi, oi—100 million? Klein, are you so obsessed with money that you've gone crazy!?"
"Say it right again. Or else…"
Klein raised a threatening fist.
Under pressure and remembering the bet, Garp clenched his teeth and shouted: "Bro!"
Klein nodded in satisfaction, then took another puff of his cigar. "You're underestimating this technique. 100 million is a steal. This move? It's one of the top-tier techniques across the entire sea!"
"That's way too much," Garp shook his head. "100 million Berries could buy a Devil Fruit."
...That's actually true.
Devil Fruits go for about that much.
Guess I did price this a bit high.
Garp successfully guilt-tripped himself.
Klein puffed his cigar, thinking seriously about what price would be fair. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩
Finally, he offered, "That 'bro' you just said… I won't let it go to waste."
"30 million Berries!"
"I'll teach you the full technique. It's packed with skills and shortcuts to power. You'll avoid years of dead ends."
He said with heartfelt sincerity, "My dear otouto…"
"Trust your bro—do I look like someone who'd scam you?"