"Now do you understand the gap?"
"Even though a 10-month training has significantly improved your strength, remember one thing: this vast sea is full of surprises, but the only thing in endless supply is the unexpected."
"Once you set foot out there, be on high alert. I don't want to see your names carved onto a memorial stone."
Hammer spoke calmly as he looked at the nine people collapsed on the ground.
Even Tokikake, who had been frozen into an ice block earlier, had now thawed out and was clutching himself, his face pale.
"Hammer is right. The sea is teeming with all kinds of Devil Fruit users. Once you step onto the sea, you must be cautious." Zephyr unexpectedly backed Hammer up this time, which gave Hammer a surge of satisfaction.
In Zephyr's mind, Hammer had always been a good role model.
If only he weren't such a slacker.
"Brother, I'll follow you from now on. My electric discharge can now form a direct current, I think that should help with your forging, right?"
After the battle, Hammer brought Shirley back home.
Over the course of the elite training, Sherry had transformed into a model female marine.
"Forget forging for now. For the next few days, go find Lance and get familiar with the routine. We're setting sail in a few days."
"Huh? Setting sail? Where to?"
Three days later, in the Admiral's Office
"Admiral Sengoku, who's this little bean sprout?"
Hammer walked in holding a mission application, only to find a yellow-haired child inside Sengoku's office.
He thought to himself:
'Judging by the timeline, this child must be...'
'Donquixote Rosinante, huh...'
"Hammer, this child is someone I ran into a few days ago while chasing after Byrnndi World. He's now my adopted son, Rosinante."
"Rosinante, this is Rear Admiral Hammer of Headquarters."
A rare softness appeared in Sengoku's sharp eyes.
The eight-year-old Rosinante nervously stared at the towering three-meter-tall Hammer, who looked like a hulking bear, his face filled with fear.
Which made Hammer feel a little awkward.
"Admiral Sengoku, I'm heading to Punk Hazard. You promised before that I'd have priority access to the Science Division's facilities."
Sengoku took the file Hammer handed him and skimmed through it.
Somewhat surprised, he said:
"You're actually volunteering to go out to sea? That's rare."
"But Punk Hazard has only recently been established. Aside from the seastone technology, none of the other research is fully developed yet. I doubt you'll find much there."
Hammer just shrugged indifferently.
"I'm going specifically for the seastone. When I blew up the armory factory before, it was because the seastone couldn't fuse with the forging materials."
"Seastone is currently the hardest known mineral. I must integrate it into my forging."
This was Hammer's genuine thought. Even now, his ability to work with seastone was limited. Although he had successfully forged the Frostbane, it wasn't made from true seastone, just steel plates imbued with attributes similar to it.
If he were to use actual seastone, success was far from guaranteed.
Sengoku nodded and signed the form, approving the voyage.
"Hammer, a fe da agp, that bastard World sank several of our battleships. Even Vice Admiral Scolio was seriously injured."
"Be extra cautious on your way to Punk Hazard."
Hammer nodded. He was familiar with Byrnndi World, a pure brute. Anyone who stood in his way would be sunk without mercy.
"Got it. I'll take my leave then. See ya, Admiral Sengoku. Bye-bye, little Rosinante~"
After leaving Sengoku's office, Hammer didn't head straight to the port.
Instead, he knocked on the door of Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Chief of Staff.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, I'm here to see Gion."
Hammer entered to find Vice Admiral Tsuru buried in mountains of paperwork, and sitting on the sofa nearby was his target, Gion.
Both Tsuru and Gion were surprised.
In their experience, Hammer rarely left the forging area. He almost never wandered around HQ.
Gion curiously examined Hammer.
"Oh? Hammer, you're looking for me?"
"Yeah, I'd like to borrow your sword, Konpira."
As soon as he said that, Gion's curious expression turned stern.
To a swordsman, nothing is more important than their blade.
Their sword is their everything.
"What for? Konpira is my beloved blade."
Hammer understood, so he explained his intention.
"I know. Kinpira is one of the 21 Great Grade Swords. It's an exceptional weapon—one of the best in all of HQ."
"You've seen my Frostbane Sword. I'd like to compare the two to see if my forged sword can match up to a Great Grade blade."
After hearing that, Gion's expression eased.
She had noticed the unique qualities of Frostbane during their previous fight.
"Alright, if it's just for comparison, I'll lend it to you. But you must do it where I can see it."
"Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll break my Konpira. After all, you did blow up the armory."
Hammer: '...That was an accident!'
"Hehehe... Seems like Gion has high hopes for your sword. Otherwise, she wouldn't agree to something ."
Vice Admiral Tsuru set aside her papers and smiled.
After all, she had watched Gion grow up and had gifted her Konpira herself.
No one knew how important that blade was to Gion better than she did.
"Well then, I'd like to see this too. I'm curious whether your weapon has truly reached the level of a famed blade."
"Alright! Hammer, wait for me. I'll call a few more people to watch. Don't worry, they're all skilled swordsmen like me. I'm sure they'll be eager to see the results."
Now that she agreed, everything else was easy. As for how many people came to watch, Hammer didn't care.
After all, in his past life, he participated in tournaments watched by millions, he wasn't the least bit stage-shy!
Armory Factory – Hammer's Exclusive Forging Room
The forging room, once reserved for Hammer alone, was now bustling with activity.
Led by Gion, nearly all of the second-generation elites had shown up.
Most Marines were sword users nowadays.
Among the high command, only Vice Admiral Tsuru was present, she didn't inform anyone else. This matter could be big or small, and her presence alone was enough.
Sengoku: '...Little Tsuru...'
Zephyr: '...Why wasn't I invited!'
Kong: '..The once-warm cotton jacket now lets in the wind...'
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 15 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu