"That feeling just now…"
"Was that Observation Haki?!!!"
Doll looked at her body in surprise. That sensation, invisible yet perceptible, felt as if she had truly grown an unseen eye.
And all of this was the power that Orin had unconsciously been pressuring her with, which awakened multiple times under extreme danger.
Even now, it was only at a beginner stage, sometimes responsive, sometimes not—but it was already considered awakened. With further training and use, it would eventually be able to react to bullets.
"This is amazing!!!"
Doll was overjoyed. She jumped up, even burying Orin's head into the raging waves, instantly feeling a suffocating pressure.
Orin could only momentarily teleport air into his mouth, which finally made breathing smooth again.
"Alright, Doll… Your physique isn't on par with Virgo's, so you can't awaken Armament Haki just yet. Having the beginnings of Observation Haki is already very good,"
Orin said, watching Doll's excitement, feeling a sense of nurturing.
Indeed, for Orin, a mere beginner-level Armament or Observation Haki was something he naturally possessed and could easily develop in his youth.
But for these future Rear Admiral candidates, the progress they could make without Orin's guidance would take immense time and effort.
So Orin-sensei was truly a great blessing for them.
On the wide training ground, a few figures stood silently on the distant grandstand, observing the central group's training.
All of them were high-ranking Navy officers in charge of training camps:
Sengoku, Zephyr, and Kuzan.
Watching this unique teaching method and the students' excitement, they felt waves of surprise—
They had actually grasped the use of Haki so quickly!!!
Sengoku hadn't expected that the reluctant approval he gave for Orin to serve as an instructor in the Navy officer training camp would truly have such miraculous effects.
By helping these officers quickly master Haki, the Navy could soon gain more mid-to-high-level combat strength.
This meant that Sengoku's plan to expand Navy bases across the seas was already halfway to success!!!
"This is fantastic. The Navy will soon produce a large number of Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals. Each base will finally have capable commanders!!"
Kuzan, one of the instructors, saw Sengoku's excitement and turned solemnly toward Orin standing before the students.
"After all, it's Orin. According to intelligence, that monster was born with Observation Haki and had a strong physique at age twelve, already mastering beginner Armament Haki. Such talent and experience certainly provide unique advantages in teaching others,"
Kuzan recited Orin's history from memory, speaking objectively.
This scene was different from the usual murderous aura that surfaced when Orin's name was mentioned.
Sengoku was not surprised, but rather impressed.
He had long known that Orin and Kuzan had met in the training ground before and had not fought as he feared. Instead, they had a moment of profound dialogue.
"Orin, you hold the reins of the world and treat the seas as your playground, but I will become the one who supervises you!!!"
Closing his eyes, Sengoku pondered those words, lost in thought.
He agreed with and admired Kuzan's philosophy. Like Kuzan, he believed Orin must be monitored and controlled.
Yet ideology is one thing, and as Navy Admiral under the World Government's limitations, he could do only so much.
Orin was far younger than him, and Sengoku hoped that the future Admirals would inherit this philosophy and continue the effort.
Thus, Kuzan naturally became his ideal first successor.
While Sakazuki could also be considered, he had never shown Kuzan's dedication toward Orin. Under the World Government's influence, he would likely compromise repeatedly for Orin's sake.
As for Borsalino… better to skip.
"Indeed… but whether Orin acted on impulse or deliberately, the fact remains that our Navy's strength has greatly increased. The ability to control the seas will certainly rise to a new level."
Sengoku, the old cunning strategist, affirmed Kuzan's viewpoint.
A glint of cleverness shone in his eyes.
Like during the Marineford War, he never prepared in only one way.
Since Kuzan, through sheer strength, could limit Orin from overturning the seas, Sengoku decided to intervene from the softer side as well…
For instance,
If Orin were to fall in love with a righteous Navy officer, forming a bond, even if he didn't adopt justice, perhaps his actions would be restrained. At least, he would no longer do things that would make the seas rage uncontrollably.
If it works, this tactic is effective.
One could call it… a beauty trap.
He looked at the tall figure on the field, a beautiful Navy Commodore who got along well with Orin, silently considering how to persuade her…
At this moment on the grandstand, both Sengoku and Kuzan, watching the tall figure, felt stormy emotions.
Only Zephyr, the purple-haired giant, looked on with contentment at the Navy officers being carried away.
Though he disliked pirates, Zephyr had to admit that Orin truly benefited the growth of the Navy's new generation.
As Chief Instructor, seeing the disciples' progress filled him with genuine joy.
Taking a gulp of rum, Zephyr approached his old comrade Sengoku.
"Here."
Zephyr handed him a bottle, interrupting Sengoku's deep thoughts.
"Zephyr?"
Sengoku took the bottle, and they clinked briefly.
As for Kuzan, the "kid" in their eyes, he could only look on with admiration, thinking they were incredibly cool.
"Sengoku, I know your plan. With the abilities of these students, they can handle being base commanders. But to expand Navy bases…"
"Even I know this alone isn't enough."
"You mean…?" Sengoku, lost in thought, didn't immediately react.
"Funding, funding!"
Zephyr, usually uninterested in matters outside teaching, happily spoke more than usual today.
"Expanding Navy bases requires a lot of funding, but even salaries are being cut at Headquarters right now."