When Koushirou stepped outside, Zoro immediately handed him the newspaper. Kuina leaned in close to her father, tiptoeing curiously as her eyes scanned the page.
The very first glance revealed a blurry side profile photo of Don—but even in its lack of clarity, he was instantly recognizable.
"He defeated the pirate Chinjao of the old era—the one with a five-hundred-million bounty?!"
Kuina's eyes widened in disbelief.
Five hundred million beli… how much was that, really?
At her age, Kuina had no true concept of such sums. Still, she clearly remembered that even the bounties of Jinbe and Doflamingo, two of the Shichibukai, had never reached so high.
"He actually went to the West Blue!"
Koushirou studied the paper carefully, his tone laced with curiosity.
That Don could defeat Chinjao didn't surprise him in the least.
He knew Don well enough to understand just how much strength the young man kept hidden.
And even putting aside that hidden power—just the strength Don usually displayed was enough to make him nearly peerless upon the seas. After all, true top-tier opponents were not something one encountered easily.
"That guy just keeps getting stronger!"
Zoro muttered with frustration.
He suddenly felt as though the distance between himself and Don had stretched impossibly far—so far that even if he got lost ten times over, he still wouldn't close the gap.
"Just keep your eyes on your own path. Your goal is to become the world's greatest swordsman. Don's goal is not the same as yours."
Koushirou's smile was calm as he spoke. Then, hands clasped behind his back, he carried the paper back into the hall, leaving Kuina and Zoro staring at each other.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Zoro blinked, utterly confused.
"Father means you should stop thinking about it. You'll never catch up to him anyway."
Kuina's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Hah?!"
Zoro froze, then scowled at her in irritation.
"You brat—I'm challenging you right now!"
He roared in anger.
"You win!"
Kuina turned her back on him, wooden sword resting against her shoulders, and walked away. Zoro was left trembling in the breeze, utterly deflated.
Marine Headquarters.
"Karp-sensei, this young man really can't sit still, can he?"
Aokiji lounged back with crossed legs, the newspaper in hand, his tone lazy as if he'd just woken up.
"He clashed with Chinjao, did he?"
Garp stroked his chin whiskers, thoughtful.
"To beat that guy, I once flattened entire mountain peaks with my fists just to dent his head!"
The old man's eyes softened with nostalgia at the memory.
"Then… could it be that this youngster has already reached your level?"
Aokiji raised a brow, pushing up the eye mask on his forehead as he peered at Garp.
"Well… that's hard to say. Unless you've actually fought, no one can be certain. But back then, Chinjao was no pushover. Now though, at his age…"
Garp shook his head, tearing open a fresh bag of senbei crackers.
"Just watch. I've got a feeling this kid will stir up even bigger waves soon."
Aokiji shared that same premonition.
"But he's not planning on handing Chinjao in for the bounty, is he? With Kano Country being a World Government affiliate, that'll be complicated."
Garp shook his head.
The Happo Navy weren't really pirates in the usual sense—they were more like Kano Country's private military.
Sure, there was still an old bounty on Chinjao's head, but that was from another era.
"Doesn't seem like it. But who knows?"
After all, Don called himself a Pirate Hunter.
"Forget it. It's not my problem anyway. If anyone's going to get a headache, it'll be Sengoku!"
Garp waved the matter off without a second thought.
Aokiji nodded, fully in agreement.
And as Garp had said, Sengoku had indeed seen the newspaper.
News of this magnitude couldn't be kept from him.
But the Fleet Admiral could only sigh.
That Garp—completely unreliable.
Despite two personal attempts to recruit Don into the Marines, both had ended in failure.
And now, Don, still so young, had already defeated Chinjao.
Sengoku knew Chinjao well—they were of the same era, after all.
Back in his prime, Chinjao's strength rivaled the current Shichibukai. Though age had dulled him, Don's youth made the feat astonishing nonetheless.
Sengoku shook his head in exasperation, setting the newspaper aside.
"Just don't go killing the man, that's all…"
"Hahahaha! You almost did kill me!"
At the Happo Navy's banquet in Kano Country, Chinjao roared with laughter, raising a massive bowl of sake.
Lao G and the other elders joined in the hearty laughter.
Meanwhile, Don sat among them like a husky that had wandered into a flock of sheep, utterly lost as to what was so funny.
Awkwardly, he raised his own cup of juice.
Robin hid a laugh behind her hand, unable to resist.
"What's so funny?"
Don grumbled, catching her reaction.
"Nothing. I just realized I understand you a little better—you don't seem suited for gatherings like this."
Robin's voice was soft.
"Yeah… I just can't blend in. I don't understand how these people think."
Don sighed.
"Then you don't need to. It's the strong who should be understood by others, not the other way around."
Robin murmured.
Don blinked at her in surprise. Was she… trying to nurture him?
Their hushed exchange didn't dampen the banquet's rowdy atmosphere.
After all, with Chinjao's strongest weapon restored, it was a day of great fortune for the Happo Navy.
"Let me show you!"
Chinjao, drunk and emboldened, suddenly rose to his feet. Grasping the horn on his head, he strode outside in great steps.
A crowd of Happo Navy officers and members hurried after him.
Deep beneath the Jewel Ice Sheet lay the Happo Navy's legendary treasure—about to be revealed once more.
Moments later, Chinjao leapt high and smashed his head into the frozen expanse.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the ice before the massive sheet shattered apart.
Blinding golden light spilled forth.
Don and Robin squinted as the staggering hoard of wealth glittered before them.
"Incredible. No wonder it's a treasure amassed over centuries!"
Robin's eyes widened in awe.
"Then tell me… why hoard so much?"
Don turned to her, voice calm.
"Eh?"
Robin faltered, not following his meaning at first. But with her quick mind, realization soon dawned.
"…Because they never needed to spend it?"
"Exactly. If they had use for it, it wouldn't be piling up here."
Don shook his head lightly and walked away.
Robin followed close behind, leaving the jubilant Happo Navy to celebrate.
The feast lasted until the next day. And perhaps spurred by Don's earlier words, preparations had already been made.
Since their benefactor had spoken, Chinjao had ensured everything was ready with utmost speed.
"Benefactor, this time we'll sail through the Calm Belt. Waiting for Reverse Mountain's current would take far too long."
"Much appreciated."
Don waved casually before boarding the Happo Navy's ship.
Soon after, their fleet left Kano Country's port, heading straight for Reverse Mountain.
"Don, you've made the headlines!"
Onboard, Robin smiled as she handed him a fresh newspaper.
END OF CHAPTER
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