"I've luckily crossed the threshold into the advanced level of Conqueror's Haki."
In response to Borsalino's question, Rosen remained as humble as ever.
"Yeah?"
"So, your Conqueror's Haki is comparable to Gol D. Roger's, junior?"
Borsalino looked at Rosen with burning eyes.
In his opinion, to suppress a Logia user to the point where they couldn't even use their Devil Fruit ability or move… only Gol D. Roger had ever done such a thing.
"You flatter me too much, senior."
"There are also differences in strength among those with advanced Conqueror's Haki, and I can only say I've just begun to glimpse the path to that level."
"Although I haven't seen Gol D. Roger in person, I can still roughly understand his strength. In the realm of advanced Conqueror's Haki, that Pirate King should be nearing the very peak."
"If I want to achieve Conqueror's Haki on par with Gol D. Roger, it will still take me some time."
Rosen shook his head.
Just like Kaido and Doflamingo—both possess advanced Conqueror's Haki—but the difference in the power of their Haki is vast.
There is also a huge gap within the advanced level itself, even more obvious than the gap between intermediate users.
His own Haki had only just barely reached the advanced level through his recent battle with Redfield.
Of course, it was easy for him to suppress someone of Smoker's level to the point where they couldn't even use their Logia abilities, but to reach the level where one could cross half of Wano Country and intimidate Admiral Aramaki with a single burst of Haki… that would still take time.
As for Joy Boy…
That kind of Haki, sealed away for 800 years without fading, powerful enough to use a giant robot as a medium to blast the Five Elders back to the Holy Land and seize their seats… that would take even longer.
"Will it just take a moment?"
Borsalino felt a chill in his heart.
He understood what Rosen meant.
Although both he and Gol D. Roger possessed advanced Conqueror's Haki, Rosen was admitting he wasn't at Roger's level yet—but was also saying that it would only take him a little time to get there.
Such humble yet confident words were far more Haki than arrogance or boastfulness.
After all, Borsalino had witnessed Rosen's growth rate more than once.
If Rosen said it would only take a little time, then it truly would be only a little time.
"Are you still going to continue, Smoker?"
Rosen did not continue talking to Borsalino about advanced Conqueror's Haki, but looked at Smoker—still suppressed by his concentrated Haki, unable to use the Smoke Fruit, and barely able to move.
"No need. I… give up."
Smoker's expression was complicated, but he still admitted the truth:
He really didn't deserve to graduate early.
Because, let alone defeating Rosen—he couldn't even make Rosen attack.
In other words, when Zephyr told him he was unworthy, it wasn't an insult. It was actually a compliment.
"Then let's leave it at that."
"Don't bear a grudge against Mr. Zephyr. He's just strict, and refusing you early graduation was for your own good."
Rosen withdrew his lingering, blade-like Haki.
Even though Zephyr had used him as an example to lecture Smoker—earning himself the White Hunter's resentment—Rosen didn't blame the man.
Instead, he understood Zephyr's intentions and the care he had for his students.
Zephyr treated the members of his class like his own children.
He would rather be hated than send his students out to die against pirates because they graduated before they were ready.
"I've never held a grudge against Mr. Zephyr. After all, what he said was true. I really don't deserve to graduate early."
Smoker glanced at Rosen and finally understood Zephyr's intentions a little better.
Even a monster like Rosen had stayed in the Naval Academy for nearly four months after returning.
But what about him? He couldn't even make Rosen take a step—and yet he'd ignorantly gone to Zephyr demanding early graduation.
It turned out that if you didn't train your Haki or physical skills, then no matter if you had a Logia or a Mythical Zoan, it meant nothing in front of a truly strong opponent.
"Stop thinking about graduating early. The Grand Line is full of pirates, and they won't disappear just because you graduate on time. On the contrary, if you train your Haki well before graduating, then you might have a chance to clear the seas of pirates. Understand?"
Without waiting for Smoker's reply, Rosen turned and walked toward the cafeteria.
His depleted Haki, stamina, and spirit could be restored through the Rokugan Rebirth (Six-Organ Rebirth) technique by eating air—but food was still necessary.
After all, eating was part of his training.
Whether to stand equal to Roger or to surpass Joy Boy, it all began with eating.
As for Smoker's roadblock challenge—in Rosen's eyes, it was just a small post-dinner episode. Negligible.
He didn't care whether Smoker would insist on early graduation, become the weakest Logia user like in the original history, or calm down and seriously train his Haki and physical skills.
For the sake of being a former classmate—and for Zephyr's sake—he had already said all he could.
…
Elsewhere
On the top floor of the Admiralty Building, beside the window of the Fleet Admiral's office—
Two towering figures in coats of justice gazed toward the Naval Academy.
"Feel it, Garp?"
"That sudden burst of Haki from the academy."
A red light flashed in Sengoku's eyes before he turned to look at the Marine Hero beside him.
"How could I not feel that level of Conqueror's Haki? There's no mistake—that's advanced Conqueror's Haki."
Garp's face was filled with solemn shock.
He had only been in Impel Down for a little over three months.
In terms of Devil Fruit ability, physical skills, and Haki—Rosen was now a completely different person.
He'd already been surprised that Rosen could defeat Patrick Redfield, but he never imagined Rosen had mastered advanced Conqueror's Haki.
That was a realm even he, the Hero of the Marines, had never set foot in.
The same was true for Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral—he too had never reached the advanced Conqueror's Haki.
"Garp, you were right."
"In just a few months… Here I am, the Fleet Admiral of the Navy, needing to ask Rosen—a student who hasn't even graduated yet—about Conqueror's Haki!"
Sengoku shook his head with a bitter smile.
A few months ago, he could still barely chase Rosen and teach him about Haki.
But now—after Rosen's return from Impel Down—he had no choice but to humbly seek guidance from him instead.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"You've always dreamed of the Navy welcoming a Marine King."
Garp looked toward the Naval Academy—his gaze piercing the distance, finding the owner of that sky-high Haki.
"Rosen… isn't he exactly the Marine King you've always wanted?"
...
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