When Klein demanded payment for a sparring match, Garp's face darkened in disbelief.
"You damn ponytail punk! You money-grubber! Charging for a spar?!" he barked.
"No money? Then forget about sparring." Klein crossed his arms, expression firm. "That goes for the rest of you too. You want to spar with me? Bring Berries first."
"Otherwise, no deal!"
No pay, and they still wanted freebies?
As if the world handed out good deals for free.
Wasn't this just wasting his time—time he could be using to make money??
What if he got hurt while sparring with Garp? That'd be a major loss…
50,000 Berries.
That was the friend rate. Roommate discount. If it were anyone else, 100,000 wouldn't even begin to cover it.
Did they have any idea how tight his budget was right now?
He could barely afford the daily special bundles anymore—he was living paycheck to paycheck! If he didn't start earning soon…
He'd be eating dirt next month. Special bundles? Out of the question.
Garp looked helpless. He already owed Klein over 100,000 Berries.
There was no way he could fork over another 50K just to spar.
The other cadets scoffed at Klein's price tag.
"Hey hey hey, Klein, are you even here at Marine HQ to get stronger? You sure you're not just here to make a quick buck?"
"Klein, you've made millions in Berries these past two months. Isn't that enough? Now even sparring costs money?!"
"This guy charges for everything. Why isn't he a merchant instead of a Marine…?"
"We're all cadets! Charging for a spar is a disgrace to justice!"
"······"
Klein didn't flinch. Inwardly, he muttered, 'It's 50K now, sure. But once I get strong enough, 50K won't even get you in the door.'
'When that time comes…'
'Forget 100K. I'll be starting at a million.'
While the cadets were still grumbling over the sparring fees, a clear voice rang out.
"I'll pay!"
Klein looked toward the voice. What greeted him was a girl with long, deep-blue hair and skin so pale it almost gleamed.
Tsuru.
That was a surprise. But a sheep walks into the butcher shop, you don't send it home.
"If you pay, I'll spar," Klein said with a grin.
"Wait for me."
"No problem."
When Tsuru brought the money, Klein immediately picked a spacious training room.
At the door, Klein turned to the crowd and grinned, flashing his pearly whites. "Entry ticket: 5K Berries each. Pay to watch."
It was a smile—but in the eyes of the cadets, he might as well have been a devil.
A devil possessed by money.
Several cadets nearly burst into flames with rage and shouted:
"NANI?! Charging us to watch?! You're the worst, Klein!!"
"We're cadets too! Not even allowed to watch unless we pay—what is this?!"
"This guy charges for everything! How can someone love money this much!?"
"Curse him! If he ever becomes a Marine, he'll be the biggest corrupt officer in history!!!"
"·····"
Klein placed his hand on the door and let it half-close. "C'mon, decide already. Otherwise, I'm shutting it."
Grinding their teeth, many of them still chose to buy tickets.
After all, Klein was the top of the swordsmanship class, and his Doriki had skyrocketed lately. They had to see…
What level was this guy really on?
"One… two… three…" Each new ticket warmed Klein's heart just a little more.
Garp frowned. "Put it on my tab."
At this point, what's one more debt?
He already owed Klein over 100K. What's 5K more?
Sengoku and Zephyr? Same story.
Their debts to Klein just grew.
After collecting the money, Klein felt giddy.
"Nice. Just the spectator fees alone brought in over 100K Berries—more than Tsuru paid for the spar!"
"Over 200K in one go... I'm on fire!"
Way better than the chump change he made giving massages or training cadets.
Looks like I should do this more often. Way faster cash!
If he pulled this off ten more times, he could afford a Gold Substitute.
Wouldn't that be perfect?
Inside the training room, Tsuru stood with a serious expression. She wasn't from a wealthy family—50K Berries was no small sum.
And with so many people watching, it was her first time being the center of attention. She couldn't help but be nervous.
Klein noticed and teased, "Tsuru, with all the ticket money I've made, I can toss in a free sparring round just for you."
"Hmph!" Tsuru huffed, rolling her eyes. But in Klein's eyes, that little reaction was a beautiful sight.
She grumbled, "Klein, you're totally gonna charge for the next spar too, huh!"
Smart girl. The moment she said it, Klein decided she wasn't quite as cute anymore.
You know the truth, but you didn't have to say it out loud!
The other cadets glared at Klein with vengeance in their eyes. He felt like he was about to be torn limb from limb.
"Go, Tsuru! Give that guy a beating!"
"Yeah, don't hold back! Teach that greedy jerk a lesson!"
"All he ever thinks about is squeezing money out of us. I won't be able to sleep tonight if you don't pound him into the ground!"
"·····"
Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr—being closer to Klein—didn't cheer Tsuru on like the others.
They were all… Debtors. Each one owed Klein quite a bit.
Klein picked up a wooden sword, flashed a confident smile, and said to Tsuru, "Come at me."
After a month of training, his basic swordsmanship was already over level 30—just a bit more until he unlocked the Swordsmanship Trait: Breath of All Things.
He was brimming with confidence.
Plus, he had that Conqueror's Haki from his first purchase bonus. He couldn't control it yet, but it still made his presence stand out.
The moment he gripped the sword…
His entire aura surged, like a beast locking onto its prey—radiating danger and dominance.
Tsuru flinched, her pores tightening involuntarily as a chill swept over her. A crushing pressure loomed over her.
Cold sweat beaded at her temples.
'This isn't the Klein I know…'
'If this keeps up, I'll be on the backfoot the whole time, dancing to his rhythm.'
Her thoughts turned sharp.
Tsuru lunged forward, long legs tense like a cheetah, bursting with speed.
Her pale fist sliced the air with a sonic boom.
It was a textbook punch—fast and precise—aimed straight for Klein's face.
Swish!
His wooden sword swung. The air howled.
The blade's shadow sliced through the space in front of him.
Klein reacted instantly, swinging at Tsuru's wrist and forcing her to withdraw. But a fierce side kick swept in from the flank.
Her loose trousers tightened around her thigh, revealing the elegant, athletic curve of a powerful leg.
Now that…
That's a long leg.