With a flick of his mind, an illusory screen—visible only to him—manifested before Rowan's eyes. The moment the screen appeared, the text upon it flickered and recalibrated.
[Peak Powerhouse System] — Detected Host's faction choice: Marine. Renaming to:[Supreme Marine System]
[Host: Rowan][Faction: Marine][Rank: Vice Admiral][Faith Points: 11,986]
[Mastered Skills:]
Marine Rokushiki: (Proficiency: 9/100)Armament Haki: (Proficiency: 59/100)Observation Haki: (Proficiency: 71/100)Conqueror's Haki: (Locked/Not Awakened)
[Combat Ratings:]
Physical Arts: Level 6Swordsmanship: Level 2
Looking at the personal data on the panel, Rowan felt a sense of quiet satisfaction. Though the raw numbers weren't staggering, having Haki proficiency in the 50s and 70s meant he was a force to be reckoned with in the world of One Piece.
What surprised him, however, was the listing for Conqueror's Haki. So, he truly possessed the "Qualities of a King"? It was a bit of a letdown that he had lived for a century without ever managing to awaken it.
Furthermore, what were these "Faith Points"?
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Rowan noticed a tab in the bottom-right corner: [Faith Point Shop]. Just as he was about to open it, the familiar prompt chimed again.
[Supreme Marine System bound successfully... Starter Gift Pack received. Open now?]
Starter Gift? Open it, obviously,Rowan thought without hesitation. This thing took a hundred years to load—it better not give me trash.
A "Starter" gift. Rowan had been in this world for nearly a century; he was the furthest thing from a "starter" imaginable. He didn't allow himself to hold too much hope.
[Starter Gift Pack Opened!]
Congratulations! You have received [Constitution Strengthening Serum].(Note: This is a fermented product. The longer it ferments, the stronger the effect. It is recommended to save for use during a growth bottleneck.)Congratulations! You have received [Marine Rokushiki Cultivation Manual] + 20 Proficiency Points.Congratulations! You have received [Dual-Type Haki Cultivation Manual] + 20 Proficiency Points.Congratulations! You have successfully awakened Conqueror's Haki.
As the notifications faded, even Rowan was taken aback. This system certainly lived up to the name "Supreme."
He brushed aside the Rokushiki manual—any Marine could learn those, and 20 points was just a basic head start for someone with talent. What truly caught his attention was the Haki.
The system hadn't just given him the theory; it had dumped 20 points of proficiency directly into his Dual-Type Haki. In a world as dangerous as the New World, Haki was the mark of the elite. Within Marine Headquarters, a Haki proficiency of 20 was enough to hold the rank of Commodore or even Rear Admiral. With a bit of experience and time, one could easily solidify a seat as a Vice Admiral.
As for Conqueror's Haki... Rowan vividly recalled Chinjao's words to Luffy at Dressrosa: Conqueror's Haki was the mark of a king, yet in the New World, those who possessed it were as common as "carp crossing a river."
But why were they all in the New World? Because of the words Gold Roger spoke before his execution.
"My treasure? If you want it, you can have it! Find it!"
Those few words had ignited the most chaotic era since the founding of the World Government: the Great Pirate Age.
Thinking of Roger brought another great-grandson to mind: Ace. Though they shared no blood, Rowan had looked after the boy for so long that he considered him his own. He had never approved of Ace becoming a pirate. But could the blood of Roger ever truly be content as a common Marine?
About a year ago, Ace had waited for Rowan to be away before sneaking off to sea. The tides of history weren't easily turned by a single transmigrator. Just like the original story, Ace had consumed the Flame-Flame Fruit, rejected the Shichibukai, and joined the Whitebeard Pirates as the Second Division Commander.
The only difference was that under Rowan's tutelage, Ace was stronger. His bounty was currently 650 million Berris—a full 100 million higher than in the original timeline.
Over the past year, Rowan had come to terms with it. Rather than forcing the boy's path, it was better to let him roam. Looking at his latest bounty poster, Ace's smile was far brighter than it had been during his childhood in the mountains.
If things still head toward 'that' event on this timeline...Rowan narrowed his eyes. Then I'll just show up as Ace's Great-Grandpa and take the boy back. Garp might not be able to throw away his position, but I'm old enough to not give a damn about my reputation!
Pushing thoughts of Ace aside, Rowan turned to look at Luffy, who had already demolished more than half of the roast goat. He glanced at the familiar straw hat sitting by the boy's side and let out a soft, internal sigh. Shaking his head, he returned his focus to the system.
Aside from the Three-Color Haki and the Rokushiki, the most immediate prize was that Constitution Serum.
He didn't care much for the Haki manuals; he was already proficient in those. Even the awakening of Conqueror's Haki was just a nice bonus for an old man who had no intention of ruling anything. But the Constitution Serum? That was something tangible.
In recent years, Rowan had felt his physical peak slipping away. The decline had accelerated over the last two years. Even the "playtime" with Luffy just now had left him feeling drained. If Luffy had lasted another five or ten minutes, Rowan might not have been able to maintain his Haki or use the Rokushiki at all, let alone box the boy's ears.
He looked at the serum. He ignored the "fermentation" warning.
Fermented product? Stronger over time?I'm a hundred years old. I could drop dead any day now. I don't have time to wait for you to ferment.
Without hesitation, Rowan used the serum.
In an instant, his pupils contracted.
"This feeling..."