"Then let's go back to headquarters first!"
Rosen did not resist Sengoku's recall but was rather happy about it.
The concerns of the Sengoku period were not without reason.
He had stayed in Impel Down for several months. In this dark and cold environment, he trained in Infinite Hell every day, keeping company with other prisoners.
Even with Zephyr and Borsalino by his side, he still felt a little depressed after such a long time.
It was a good time to go back to Navy Headquarters, take a break, and relax both mentally and physically.
Then—
Make a final break with Aloof Red and the Demon's Heir.
Put a perfect end to his Naval Academy career.
After all, once these two last relics of the old era in Impel Down were completely put to an end, Rosen would no longer be a student at the Naval Academy but would graduate as a real sailor.
By then—
What awaited him was the vast ocean of the Grand Line.
The ones vying for supremacy would no longer be the losers of the old era imprisoned in Impel Down, but the overlords standing at the pinnacle of this era—dominating the seas, possessing enormous power and vast territories.
Having made the decision, after leaving Infinite Hell, Rosen did not return to the fourth floor to have lunch as usual but went directly to the first floor of the sea in Impel Down.
However, when they passed through the huge iron bars on the first floor of the sea and came to the entrance of Impel Down, they saw Domino directing prison staff to carefully carry plates of steaming hot food, covered with fresh-keeping lids, to the deck of the warship anchored on the sea.
"My junior fellow! Look how thoughtful I am."
"Knowing you were leaving Impel and not even having lunch, I had someone transport the food to the warship."
"It's thanks to you that Mr. Zephyr and I don't have to go back to headquarters hungry!"
When Borsalino saw this, he couldn't help but bump Rosen with his shoulder.
That's right—
He hit Rosen's shoulder, not his head.
Because after months of training in Impel Down, Rosen's growth had not only leaped forward in his three types of Haki, physical skills, and Devil Fruit abilities but also in his height.
When he left Navy Headquarters, he was only a little over two meters tall.
In the world of One Piece, it was a typical child's height.
When standing next to Gion, it looked like a small horse pulling a big cart.
It was different now.
Even when standing next to Borsalino, who had the height of an admiral, Rosen was on equal footing—not inferior, and even slightly taller. It was no longer the scene of an adult and a child standing together.
Exactly because of this, when Borsalino swung his shoulder, it happened to hit Rosen's shoulder.
"Although it is most difficult to accept the kindness of a beautiful woman, I advise you not to be ungrateful."
"Like Borsalino said, I haven't had lunch yet."
"As a student, you wouldn't be so cruel as to let your teacher go back to headquarters hungry, right?"
Perhaps it was because he had witnessed Rosen's growth and was about to graduate, soaring up to the sky like a rock riding the wind, but Zephyr—who was always strict—actually joined in the fun and teased Rosen together with Borsalino, with whom he had the worst relationship.
At the same time, facing the teasing of his teacher and senior, Rosen could only shake his head and laugh.
"Mr. Rosen."
"Instructor Zephyr."
"Vice Admiral Kizaru."
At this time, Domino also noticed Rosen's figure. She hurried over and greeted the few people first, and then said:
"You said before that I don't have to prepare meals starting from tomorrow, but I have already prepared one for today."
"These are all foods made from medium-sized Sea Kings. Whether we throw them away or feed them to the prisoners, it would be a huge waste. So I took the initiative and had the food prepared today moved to the warship."
"You won't blame me for taking the initiative, right?"
As she began to explain, she observed Rosen's expression.
Seeing that he did not show any dissatisfaction with her actions, she felt slightly relieved.
"We certainly don't blame you, and we are very grateful for your kindness."
Borsalino and Zephyr looked at each other and said in unison.
"Let's go, let's go."
"Leave time for the young."
"Hurry up and get on board with me for dinner."
Finished.
Zephyr simply reached out and pulled Borsalino away, leaving Rosen and Domino alone.
"Thanks."
Rosen glanced at the dazzling array of food on the deck, then looked away and nodded to Domino.
"Wasn't this what we agreed on from the beginning?"
"You are in Impel Down. Warden Shiryu will be in charge of accompanying you to Level 6, and I will be in charge of your diet."
"Now, since you haven't left yet, I will naturally fulfill my promise and help you prepare food."
Domino was not at all shy and did not hide her feelings.
This was the world of pirates.
Whether they were pirates, navy, humans, or other races, they were romantic and heroic, expressing themselves freely and faithfully.
There would be no shyness or hiding anything.
"Are you armed?"
Looking at the blonde warden in front of him, who had been with him in Impel Down for several months and seemed to always be in a military uniform showing off her figure, Rosen suddenly asked.
"Of course!"
Domino was a little surprised and confused but still took her weapon from a prison officer.
As the chief warden of the prison, although she was only a deputy, she still held a high position of power.
Looking at the entire Impel Down, she was equivalent to a vice admiral in the Navy Headquarters.
The weapon she used, although not a named blade, was not a mass-produced standard weapon either—it was a long sword with fine workmanship.
Clang!
After Rosen took the sword handed to him by Domino, he grasped the hilt, pulling out the blade hidden in the scabbard.
Under the long-lost sunlight, the blade exuded a cold gleam.
He briefly looked at the sword in his hand, and then visible purple-black streams of light emerged from the handle, flowing towards the blade like a dragon. As they entwined, the entire sword—from the handle to the tip—was coated with a layer of metallic black light.
Compared to before, the blade had become more indestructible and heavy.
"Teacher Zephyr, what do you think my junior is doing?"
"You're not planning to use your Armament Haki to forge Miss Domino's sword into a black blade and then give it to her as a token of love, are you?"
Borsalino stood on the deck holding a bowl of fried noodles, watching Rosen and Domino at the entrance of Impel Down with interest.
He was just saying it casually, but just as he finished speaking, he saw Rosen return the sword in his hand—which had now turned into a black blade—to Domino.
"Wrong!"
"Borsalino, open your eyes and look carefully."
"Rosen… he really tempered Domino's sword into a black blade."
Zephyr also saw this scene, and his face changed instantly.
Everyone could use Armament Haki to transform their sword into a black blade, but it was not permanent—only temporary.
Only a very small number of top swordsmen could temper their swords into a permanent black blade.
But what about now?
Zephyr clearly saw Rosen return the sword to Domino, but the Armament Haki on the blade did not dissipate—it still retained the posture of a black blade.
"No… impossible!"
"Even the most elite swordsman would have to refine his sword with Armament Haki day after day for ten years. After more than ten years of tempering and countless life-and-death battles, he could forge a black blade that would never fade."
"My junior… he only took three seconds!"
"What's this? A wholesale of black blades, tempering one in three seconds?"
Borsalino's mouth dropped open in shock, the ramen still in his hand.
Even two noodles that should have gone into his stomach were ejected from his nostrils.
...
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