"I'm talking about muscle."
These Four Flowers of the Marines stood well over two meters tall, every one of them packed with rippling muscle.
Klein gave an awkward smile. "I don't know this martial art—it's a manual. You can take a look."
He pulled out his exclusive, hand-crafted training manual. Besides text, it also featured illustrations.
Stick figure illustrations.
Klein remained perfectly calm and collected. That's the level we're working with. As long as they can understand it, it's fine.
A deposit of 20 million berries brought his balance up to 30 million.
This was the first time he'd ever been this rich.
Tears welled up in Klein's eyes as he sighed emotionally: "Breaking my back doing hard labor doesn't compare to the speed of making money through business!"
Counting Garp's IOU, that put him at 80 million berries—he was closing in on a "small goal" of 100 million.
Even if that "100 million" was more like yen in value…
"Who said Okama Kenpo was garbage? It's freakin' amazing!"
This was the proper way to use a "trash skill." Before, he just hadn't unlocked it correctly.
He just needed a different… position.
After class ended at the training camp, Tsuru was covered in fragrant sweat—there was a light, maidenly aroma clinging to her.
Very different from the stench of sweat pouring off the other trainees.
"You need something?"
Klein looked over at her.
"Klein, I've learned Kami-e. I was hoping you could give me some pointers." Tsuru looked at him with eyes full of hope.
She really wanted to improve!
"Gotta pa—" Klein nearly blurted out his usual catchphrase but caught himself just in time. "You signed up for the standard course. No personalized coaching included."
Tsuru gave him a resentful look. "I know. Gotta pay. How about 5 student credits?"
Klein agreed readily. "Alright, show me your Kami-e."
He deliberately held back, controlling the speed and force of his punch, probably using only about 10% of his full strength.
As his fist shot forward, the force of it sliced through the air.
Tsuru immediately activated her newly-learned Kami-e. Her curvaceous figure instantly became like a "paper doll"—her body weight seemingly vanishing as she dodged Klein's blow with feather-like grace.
Klein offered some pointers: "Loosen up. Really loosen your body. Picture yourself as a leaf drifting in the wind."
"When the wind comes…"
"Focus all your attention on predicting the enemy's next move. Watch, feel, observe with your whole heart." New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥
Meanwhile, Klein was enjoying the view.
From every angle, a different mountain peak.
Perspective changes everything.
Now this is what you call "Big Thunder."
Klein sighed inwardly: "This world may be full of dangers and monsters… but if you're the strong one—then it's heaven!"
No filters, no beauty apps, no high-tech nonsense!
"How happy must the Celestial Dragons be?!"
No tricks. No tech. Just pure, natural beauty. It was a true pleasure to behold.
He even ended up being a little more serious than usual with his coaching.
Under Klein's guidance, Tsuru followed his instructions. Her evasive maneuvers began to look almost ghostly, her body flowing and twisting as if weightless.
"Yes, just like that. Keep that relaxed feeling."
As he said it, Klein felt like he was back in his old job as a "technician."
After some time, Klein ceased attacking. Tsuru let go of her Kami-e stance, raised a delicate hand, and tucked her sweat-dampened hair behind her ear.
"With your coaching, I feel like I've made real progress with Kami-e."
"I'm just doing my job." Klein smiled, then suddenly flashed a devilish grin, gleaming teeth and all.
"Tsuru, a friend of mine has a martial art that's perfect for someone like you. Asked me to help sell it."
"And it's only 5 million berries!"
In this world, there weren't many aggressive salespeople yet. So Tsuru didn't shut him down immediately.
Back on Earth, it was all insurance agents, bar reps, call center hawkers, real estate sellers, phone dealers…
Every industry scrambling for a few silver coins.
"Five million berries? That's out of my budget," Tsuru shook her head and declined.
Most of her student credits had already gone toward individual training sessions with Klein.
The credit she'd just spent on that Kami-e tip was the result of saving up for a month or two.
"You can pay in installments. I trust you," Klein added. "This martial art suits women particularly well. Its power rivals Rokushiki..."
"And in the future, I'll offer other fighting styles. You'll get first pick."
He was already planning to sell "Parfumé Kick" to her next.
Sure, it wasn't as strong without the Love-Love Fruit, but—
Tsuru's legs were long!
Nearly 2 meters tall, training diligently… once she learned Armament Haki?
One kick from her, and the "Junior Wans" out there would probably—
"An IOU?" A sly glint flashed through Tsuru's intelligent eyes. Her lips curled. "Klein, this 'friend' of yours isn't actually you, is it?"
Klein's face remained dead serious. Tsuru's grin widened as she leaned in, her sharp eyes glimmering with suspicion.
Her large eyes blinked adorably as she stared him down.
Their faces were only centimeters apart, their breathing almost overlapping.
Cold sweat gathered on Klein's forehead...
"Klein, you can't hide from these eyes of mine."
At this distance, he could clearly see every delicate detail in her deep blue pupils.
Those eyes were bright. Captivating.
Her snowy white face, dewed with sweat, had pores so fine they were nearly invisible—flawless and radiant.
Even Klein, in the prime of youth, felt his blood heating up, heart pounding, breath quickening.
For Tsuru, this was also her first time observing a boy her age up close.
Strong facial features. Bold eyebrows. High nose bridge...
His whole body radiated masculine energy.
Tsuru suddenly sensed something… off. The atmosphere was getting weirdly intimate.
And Klein's deep gaze seemed to burn a little too hot...
Her face flushed bright red. She quickly took a step back, lowering her head slightly.
Her mind a little scrambled.
Klein adjusted his composure. "Tsuru, think about the IOU, alright? Just like Garp's—five-year interest-free."
"A smart girl like you should know—investing in yourself is always the best choice. Power is everything in these dangerous seas."
"I'll think about it later," Tsuru mumbled, voice soft. She clearly wasn't quite thinking straight yet.
Back in the dorm room.
Klein couldn't stop thinking about that scene in the training room.
He touched his nose, lit a cigar, and thought to himself: "Even without makeup, she's already so fresh and charming. A certified beauty."
"If she put a little effort into dressing up..."
"She'd slay the entire planet."
Snuffing out the cigar, Klein lay back on his bed, heart fluttering.
"When the hell can I graduate?!"
One anime girl after another flashed through his mind.
Too many waifus. Simply too many.
He got up and took a cold shower.
Barrier after barrier—
It really was "even heroes fall for beauties."
Meanwhile, in another dorm.
Tsuru tossed and turned on her bed, unable to sleep.
How could I… make such an intimate move? That's not like me at all!
What if Klein misunderstands?
"That martial art Klein mentioned..."
"He said its power wasn't inferior to Rokushiki?"