At those words, Instructor Carter's face twisted—like he'd just eaten a Devil Fruit and gotten constipation as a side effect.
A surge of pressure welled up in his throat, stuck halfway—neither up nor down. Pure suffering.
But in front of a crowd like this, with all eyes on him, there was no way to back out gracefully.
Beside him, Rampaging Bear roared with laughter, jumping in to support Klein like an accomplice."Wahahahaha—Carter, you old ghost! Klein is your student, and such an outstanding one at that! How can you not go all out to support him, huh?"
"Besides, at your age, how many days do you even have left?"
"What, you planning to take all that money into the grave?"
Carter's face darkened. He looked like he wanted to glue Rampaging Bear's mouth shut—or maybe stitch it closed with a needle and thread.
Meanwhile, Klein piled on:"Instructor, you know me. I've always loved money. If you're going to support me, make sure it's in Berries, okay?"
"..."Instructor Carter's face slowly turned crimson, teeth grinding."One hundred million!"
"As my most, most, most outstanding disciple, how could I not support you!"
One hundred million?
Klein's eyes practically lit up with glittering stars. The old man was coughing up gold again!
He could almost hear the sweet jingle of coins tumbling into a bag.
If only this were like his past life, he thought, there'd be a voice notification going: 'ZFB payment received: 100 million Berries!'
So satisfying!
"Thank you, Instructor! Someday when my name shakes the Grand Line, everyone will know that the great Instructor Carter was the one who taught me!"
"...Heh heh..."Carter's smile was stiff and lifeless. No one could know just how much pain he was in.
My retirement fund... gone!
And to make it worse, he realized something: When Klein unleashed that Demonic Flame Kick just now, he used multiple advanced techniques.This bastard...
He sold him a stripped-down version!
What a devil!
And now the kid had the nerve to ask for money?
This brat...He needs to graduate immediately and get out of this school!I never want to see this little monster again!
Just then, Marshal Oharden spoke:"Klein, are you interested in becoming my adjutant? I'll teach you how to manage official duties."
Adjutant?
Wasn't that just another name for the future 'Meeting King Brannew'?
And hearing the Fleet Admiral personally extend an offer like that—face to face, no less—left Carter and Rampaging Bear dumbstruck.
What the hell!?This old bastard Oharden was trying to poach their talent!?
Klein looked stunned. Me? Go be some kind of 'meeting king'?
How much money can I make in meetings anyway...?
Recruiting him...
As an adjutant.
To nurture a future fleet admiral. But Klein had no such lofty ambition!
Fleet admiral?Even a dog can have that job!
Red-Dog Sakazuki got cursed out by the Five Elders, remember? "Your face doesn't mean sh*t!"
Just thinking about it made Klein want to unleash a "Hell Dog" and melt half of one of their smug old faces!
"No way!"
"I want to sail the seas! I want to clash with pirates till the very end! I will fight pirates to my last drop of blood!"
He looked like a walking embodiment of justice.Catching pirates didn't pay much—but pirates had treasure!They had ships, supplies, weapons—all of it could be converted into that beautiful, shimmering Berry!
Besides, as far as Klein was concerned, Kong became Fleet Admiral in the original timeline.So let him do it!
Let Kong take the heat from the Five Elders.
Oharden, though rejected, wasn't angry in the least."Young Marines should experience the sea firsthand. See just how vast it really is."
"You've already shown such resolve at your age... I'm proud of you!"
"Well then, we'll head to the infirmary and check on Kong's condition. We'll speak more privately later."
At the mention of Kong, Oharden's expression turned a little grim.
Kong, who had just recently been promoted to Marine Vice Admiral, was full of energy and potential.
And yet...
He'd just been defeated in front of everyone during a simple graduation exam.
Anyone would feel crushed after something like that.
He needed comforting. After all, Oharden had pegged him as a likely successor.
Well, now he was Backup Candidate No. 2!
As they left, Garp suddenly darted over and shouted:"Bro! That was the Fleet Admiral! That could've been your whole future—and you turned it down!?"
Right now, Garp was still 18—a hot-blooded youth.Not yet the future guy with a dog-head cap, endlessly eating rice crackers and repeatedly refusing promotions to Admiral.
Of course, it was Klein doing the rejecting now.
Admiral? Maybe.Fleet Admiral? No thanks!
He wasn't about to sit there getting roasted by the Five Elders.
He knew himself—if they pushed too far, he'd draw his blade and start swinging!
Unless...
They raised the pay!
Gave him a fat bonus!
"I turned it down, so what? It's just the future. What matters right now is... making money!"
Those last two words rang out like a hammer.The Sky Island, Jewel Ice Mountain, capturing pirates...So much treasure out there waiting to be earned!
Stay in Marine HQ holding meetings?
Broke as hell.
If he didn't save up, what was he gonna use for the next "New Year Gacha Event"?
His life?
How many kidneys could he even sell?
How much blood could he draw?
Sengoku quietly gave a thumbs-up."Bro... you're seriously obsessed with money. Not even power can tempt you!"
Any other person would've jumped at the chance to be scouted by the Fleet Admiral.
But Klein?Rejects Admiral posts like candy.Fleet Admiral? Please.
Gotta respect it.
"Power's whatever. As long as your fists are strong, the power will follow," Klein laughed."As for money? You gotta hustle. Can't be a pirate-hunting wage slave your whole life."
If you have power, the admirals will drag you into the role on a golden palanquin.But if you don't have power?
You can't even look at the Five Elders.They'd stare you down like a bug and squash you on the spot.
You wouldn't even have the right to complain.
That's why people say the Marines are the World Government's dogs.
Because it's true!
Garp nodded hard."Yeah, you're right, bro. Catching pirates is important, but you gotta enjoy life too!"
"Bro, you're amazing! Everyone's jaws dropped back there!"Zephyr was practically glowing with admiration.
Aside from Klein's obsession with money, he felt like the guy was cut from the very mold of a hero.
"Bwahaha—" Klein burst out laughing."I did prepare hard for this duel. If Kong had gone all-out from the start, he probably would've won."
First came the Fistbone: Honesty, then Demonic Flame Kick, then flashbacks and recovery buffs.
It took everything he had to beat Kong.
By far, Kong was the strongest opponent Klein had faced so far.But sailing the seas would be a different story.
He knew what was coming.The looming Old Era, overflowing with monsters—especially Rocks.
That guy...He was terrifying.
"Come on! Time to celebrate. Today's bathhouse trip—I'm paying!"
With a dramatic wave, Klein shouted his treat.
Of course, part of the reason was that he'd soon part ways with Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr.
He was heading out to sea!
Zephyr asked with concern,"Bro, are your injuries okay?"
"No problem. This kind of scratch doesn't even need healing."Klein smiled gently. After leveling up, most of his wounds had already healed.
Just a few bloodstains left, really—he only looked rough.
Sengoku's eye twitched. His heart skipped.
How did I never notice... Klein's body...
was this ridiculously strong?
That battle had seen Klein repeatedly smashed into the air by Kong.
And now... he says he's fine?
Was he just putting on a brave face?