153rd Marine Squadron. Rodney, with a sense of accomplishment, handed over a group of artillery pirates to the Marines, earning a generous reward for Clive Gez and the man with the bamboo pole.
"Guest, bon appétit!" said the waiter, placing a sizable plate of meat, emitting a delicious aroma, in front of Rodney.
Rodney, tired of the meager pirate fare, eagerly prepared to indulge in a sumptuous dinner. But his bliss was interrupted by a deafening bark, and a huge wolf burst into the restaurant like a tornado, heading straight for Rodney.
"Hey, you!" Rodney, without thinking, sent the wolf flying with a powerful kick, causing everyone present to freeze in surprise.
The wolf, having crashed into the wall, stood up, barked twice at Rodney, and retreated, as if frightened. The restaurant owner, alarmed by what was happening, whispered to Rodney:
"Brother, run! This wolf belongs to Captain Morgan's son. If you defeat his wolf, he won't let you go!"
Captain Morgan's name made Rodney shudder. This Marine captain, who had once captured Cora and been promoted for it, had, after being hypnotized, become the proud and cruel ruler of the city of Shells and the 153rd Marine Squad.
At that moment, a yellow-haired boy with a double chin and slicked-back hair entered the hall, followed by two marines with unpleasant expressions on their faces. They clearly wanted to hit the boy, but hesitated, fearing the wrath of his powerful father.
Rodney, looking closely at the boy, immediately realized something was wrong. He heard sobs and a threatening voice:
— Who? Who is this? How dare you beat my pet wolf?
The wolf that Rodney hit only barked at its owner, Helmeppo.
"Scoundrel! Pirate!" Helmeppo yelled, glaring at Rodney. "Catch him!"
Two guards, with gloomy faces, reluctantly approached Rodney, whispering:
- Sorry.
Rodney smiled and knocked them unconscious with one deft movement. He snatched a piece of meat from the plate, ate it with his hands, and, approaching Helmeppo, said with a grin:
- Do you want to catch me, baby?
Helmeppo recoiled in fear, falling to the ground. He cried out in despair:
"My father is Captain Morgan, the most powerful man here! How dare you try to harm me?"
Rodney, still chewing his meat, replied sarcastically:
- Oh, I'm so scared.
He hit Helmeppo, causing half his face to swell. The boy, covering his face, ran away, crying bitterly.
The restaurant owner, watching the scene with alarm, urged Rodney to flee. He warned that Captain Morgan was no joke, and that beating his son would inevitably lead to disaster. Rodney, small and fragile compared to Morgan's enormous frame, seemed utterly incomparable to his formidable adversary.
"Don't worry," Rodney reassured him, returning to his meal. "The meat tastes good, and after that slap, it tastes even better."
The restaurant owner, fearing an impending fight that could destroy his establishment, paced the room in panic. He didn't want to suffer the losses and consequences of the conflict.
In martial arts novels, conflicts often broke out in inns, and it was the innkeepers who suffered the most. The innkeeper considered fleeing to avoid unrest, as his small business couldn't afford the consequences.
At that moment, approaching footsteps were heard. Soon, Helmeppo brought his father. It was indeed Captain Morgan, just returned from a seafaring expedition. Upon entering the city, he encountered his battered son, which inflamed his anger and prompted him to bring reinforcements.
Captain Morgan, whose jaw had been shattered by Cora, now wore an iron jaw with the Marine Corps emblem, and in his right hand he held a sharp axe. He was tall, towering over the others, and exuded a sense of disdain.
"Are you his father?" Rodney asked indifferently, finishing his meat and picking at it with a toothpick.
Rodney's carefree manner angered Morgan, and he raised his axe, preparing to strike. But then his body froze.
"Your... your eyes..." Morgan's body trembled uncontrollably: it seemed to him that he had forgotten something.
But he couldn't remember what exactly. Three black tomoe slowly rotated in Rodney's crimson pupils, destroying false memories and replacing them with vivid recollections of that bloody night.
Morgan's tall figure swayed and fell to the ground.
"Boss, here's the payment for lunch," Rodney threw the money on the table, chewed a toothpick, and left. None of the guards who tried to block his path dared intervene.
Rodney used his Sharingan to break the hypnosis placed on Morgan by the hypnotist Jango. Now Morgan had to decide how much he could change. At the very least, he wouldn't be as arrogant and cruel as before.
The restaurant fell silent and all the guests held their breath, fearing that something might happen to Morgan.
"Papa, Papa, wake up! Don't scare me!" Helmeppo shouted.
The lookout checked Morgan and found him breathing normally and with no visible injuries.
"Master Helmeppo, don't worry. Captain Morgan simply fainted. Nothing serious. You don't need to worry too much," he reassured Helmeppo.
"Then why are you still standing here? Bring back my father!" Helmeppo exclaimed.
- Yes, sir.
The lookout swore quietly, frustrated by the situation. With the help of a few men, they reluctantly carried Morgan away.
The mission proceeded smoothly and efficiently. The escort mission wasn't particularly challenging; it could even be called leisurely. Rodney used the time to continue training and strengthen his physical strength.
In the pirate world, reaching the top simply required honing one's body. For example, when Garp was young, he and Roger's crew faced the formidable Rocks pirates.
None of Roger's crew were fruit people, and Garp didn't need such abilities either.
He realized that only the unshakable strength of the body could make him one of the most powerful people on earth.
The Eight Gates are a mystery that must be understood as quickly as possible. And physical strength is the key to unlocking them. The Seventh Gate is the pinnacle, inaccessible without an iron will and an unwavering body. The Eighth Gate will open only when he is prepared to die alongside the enemy. Otherwise, it would be foolishness, or madness. But he sensed such a chance would never present itself. Death was far from his thoughts.
Rodney has already mastered Garp's art, but his body is a weak vessel in need of strengthening. High attack power is his strength, but endurance is a weakness common to many ninja. Not everyone is destined to be as formidable as Hashirama Senju, Madara, Guy, or the Raikage, the Lord of Lightning.
Rodney spared no effort in training, paying special attention to his nutrition to support his growth and development. The process took time and dedication.
He combined assignments with physical exercise, managing his time effectively. This was his daily routine—the path to the top.