{For Readers: I couldnt figure out the swordsman rankings from chinese text. So just skim through the mistake. Not much important for story}
[Ding! Successfully recruited Roronoa Zoro. Reward has been issued to the system space!]
Kyle's smile widened.
Why did he want to recruit Kuina first?
It was because if Kuina agreed to join the Marines, then getting Zoro to join would be a piece of cake.
Zoro at this age was so easy to trick, a simple provocation would do it effortlessly.
Moreover, Zoro's obsession with Kuina was not something to be taken lightly. Initially, Zoro had decided to join the Isshin Dojo after traveling around challenging others and finally losing to Kuina.
So if his target was leaving, of course he had to follow.
"Alright! Stay here for two days to say your goodbyes properly. Then I will take you to Marine Headquarters!"
Kyle said, looking at the two of them.
"Marine Headquarters? Are we going directly to Marine Headquarters?"
Upon hearing this, Kuina was stunned.
She wasn't a clueless little kid. Marine Headquarters was not comparable to these Marine branches in the Four Blues.
It was where the Marine's top-tier power gathered.
She had originally thought Kyle was just having her join a Marine branch in one of the Four Blues, and that she would have to earn her way to Marine Headquarters through promotions.
Kyle glanced at her and spoke calmly,
"Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"Grandpa Sengoku!"
"Where else would we go if not Marine Headquarters?"
"Only Headquarters has countless master swordsmen for you to challenge. Of course, if you want to get a feel for the level of Marine Headquarters' swordsmen first, I can spar with you!"
"You are a swordsman?!"
Kuina was even more shocked upon hearing this. She admitted Kyle seemed very strong, but she hadn't sensed any swordsman's aura from him.
Logically, this made no sense!
"What? Doesn't seem like it!"
Kyle replied lightly, while silently thinking in his mind,
'System, receive the reward!'
In the next moment, countless memories flooded into Kyle's mind.
Drawing the sword, swinging the sword...
It was as if Kyle had experienced it all himself. Simultaneously, Kyle's physique underwent another minor enhancement.
The next second, a sharp, fierce aura erupted from within Kyle, sweeping out around him.
Everyone present except Koushirou felt their hearts grow heavy. A sense of extreme danger made beads of cold sweat break out on their foreheads.
In their eyes, Kyle no longer seemed like a person, but an unsheathed treasure sword, its edge fully revealed!!
While Koushirou did not feel this same sense of dread, his face was also filled with shock, and he couldn't help but exclaim,
"Swordsmaster!!"
This Kyle before him was actually a swordsmaster. The key point was that he hadn't been able to discern Kyle's swordsmanship level.
This was... bizarre!
It was one thing for Kuina not to see it, but why couldn't he?
It made no sense!!
Had his perception abilities declined recently?
Koushirou couldn't figure it out.
His own swordsmanship level was far stronger than an ordinary swordsmaster. In theory, a swordsman of only swordsmaster level shouldn't be able to conceal his aura from him.
Hmm...
After a moment of silence, Koushirou finally reached a conclusion, his gaze turning to Kyle.
This guy has a problem!!
He was sure the problem wasn't with him, but with this brat in front of him.
On the other side, feeling the aura emanating from Kyle, the fear in Zoro's eyes gradually faded, replaced by intense excitement.
"You are a swordsman too?! I challenge you!!"
Kyle: ....
"What? Are you a hardheaded fool?"
"Can you first recognize the gap between us?"
"I could casually cut you into at least eight pieces with a single swing!"
Kyle now somewhat understood the feeling Kuina must have had earlier.
Shaking his head, Kyle looked at Zoro and spoke calmly,
"When you defeat Kuina, then you can challenge me!"
"Until then, you don't even have the qualification to challenge me. My words might not sound pleasant, but that's the reality!"
"Right now... you are still too weak! So weak it doesn't interest me in the slightest!"
Zoro fell silent for a moment, then immediately turned his gaze to Kuina, shaking his fist.
"Kuina, I will definitely defeat you!"
Kuina: ....
Kyle turned to Koushirou and said,
"Mr. Koushirou, may we speak in private?"
As soon as the words fell, without waiting for Koushirou's agreement, Kyle transformed into a violet thunderbolt, shooting towards the area behind the dojo.
The residual, violent aura of lightning left in the dojo made everyone's hearts tremble with fear once more. They spoke with horrified expressions,
"What was that? Why did he turn into purple lightning and disappear?"
"I vaguely remember hearing a legend somewhere, about a demonic power on the seas..."
Hearing this, Zoro couldn't help but move closer, listening curiously to the story.
Only Kuina looked beside her, but did not see Koushirou's figure.
She murmured softly,
"Father..."
——
On the other side, on the mountain behind the dojo.
Kyle and Koushirou stood facing each other. Koushirou still looked at Kyle with a smiling expression and asked,
"Little friend Kyle, what matter did you wish to discuss with me privately?"
The corner of Kyle's mouth lifted in a smile. He didn't answer directly, but instead asked a question,
"Mr. Koushirou, I wonder how the Isshin Dojo's business is? Is the Beli enough to spend?"
"Huh?!"
Hearing this, Koushirou was momentarily stunned, completely bewildered, not understanding what Kyle meant.
After some consideration, he replied,
"It's alright! Barely enough to get by!!"
Since he didn't understand Kyle's intention, he would just answer along and see what Kyle was really after.
"Well, if it's enough, how about giving me some Beli to spend?"
(⊙o⊙)…
Looking at Kyle's smiling face across from him, Koushirou's eyes widened, stunned once again.
What?
How could such shameless words come out of someone's mouth?
Seeing Koushirou's utterly speechless expression, Kyle waved his hand.
"Hahaha! Just kidding, Mr. Koushirou, just a joke!"
"The main reason I came to find you is actually to discuss something!"
At this point, Kyle paused. The smile faded from his face, his eyes suddenly turned cold, and his entire demeanor changed drastically in an instant.
"Mr. Koushirou, if it's not absolutely necessary, you might want to reduce contact with certain people, certain organizations."
!!!
Upon hearing this, Koushirou's pupils contracted sharply. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. After a moment of silence, he still looked at Kyle with a smile and asked,
"Kyle, what do you mean by that? I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you're saying!"
"Heh~"
Kyle let out a light laugh and shook his head.
"Mr. Koushirou, do I really have to spell everything out so clearly?"
"Since that's the case, I'll stop speaking in riddles!"
"Emporio Ivankov, Monkey D. Dragon!"
"Getting too deeply involved with these two, with the Revolutionary Army, is not a good thing."
...
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