Clear sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled patterns of tree shadows across the walls. The air was calm, the scene peaceful.
Daren opened his eyes and slowly sat up in bed.
The room was small, but tidy and well-kept.
He sat up straight, instinctively checking his condition.
As his finely honed physical perception activated, his "personal attribute panel" appeared in his mind:
Physique: 65.131
Strength: 63.135
Speed: 63.591
Fruit: 74.167
Compared to last time, all his stats had noticeably improved.
Physique had increased the most. That near-deadly Kamusari strike from Roger hadn't been for nothing—it had pushed his physical resilience up by at least two points.
The other three—Strength, Speed, and Fruit—had all gone up by over a point each.
Hard to believe all of that came from just a single battle.
Daren did a rough estimate. Using the old training methods he'd relied on back in the North Blue, even pushing himself to his absolute limit every day, it would've taken at least three months to see the same gains.
And this had come from just one brief exchange.
Then again, it made sense.
A hundred practice drills still couldn't compare to the impact of real combat.
That rush of adrenaline in a fight for survival, the suffocating pressure where every cell, every muscle, every nerve is pushed to its limit... regular training just couldn't replicate that feeling.
Only battles against true powerhouses could fully unleash his body's potential—and shatter his limits.
"If I could go through that a few more times..."
The thought sent a jolt through Daren, and he muttered it aloud—then quickly chuckled at himself.
One slash had nearly killed him. The only reason he'd survived was dumb luck... and the fact that Roger hadn't gone all out.
If that had been a real, serious fight, there was no way he'd have walked away alive.
That slash... the one even gods and ghosts would flee from...
Daren instinctively clenched his fists.
Huff...
Several seconds passed before he let out a deep breath and got up to wash.
Following the training camp's duel, the cadets had been given three days of free time.
Part of it was to allow injuries from the matches to heal. The other part was to give the cadets—who had come from all corners of the world—some time to get used to life in Marineford.
After a quick wash, Daren got dressed, threw on his Marine cloak, and stepped outside.
Golden leaves drifted through the yard—the crisp breath of late autumn had quietly arrived, tinting even the air with a faint chill.
As he looked down, Daren spotted Dragon sprawled across the beach chair, limbs flung every which way, a big bubble puffing from his mouth as he snored.
He couldn't help but rub his temples.
"What a mess..."
Daren shook his head and strode out of the courtyard.
A nervous-looking young Marine lieutenant was already waiting outside, carefully holding a fresh fruit basket. The moment he saw Daren, he jogged over respectfully.
"Commodore Daren! Here's the fruit basket you asked for!"
The young man gave a sharp salute.
Daren accepted the basket with a smile.
"Thanks for the trouble."
"No, no trouble at all!" the lieutenant said, waving his hands frantically.
Daren casually slipped another wad of bills into his hand.
"Commodore Daren, sir, you already paid me... I haven't even used all the money from earlier..."
The lieutenant instinctively stepped back.
"Take it. And grab me some breakfast," Daren said firmly, stuffing the cash back into his hands.
He pointed at Dragon, still sprawled out snoring on the beach chair.
"Nothing gets the day started better than a warm breakfast, right?"
With that, Daren turned and walked off with the fruit basket in hand, leaving the flustered lieutenant standing there, holding more cash than his salary for half a year, utterly baffled by the turn of events.
"This is... way too much..."
...
The morning mist had lifted, and a crisp breeze brushed across his face—cool and refreshing.
Daren walked down the street at a relaxed pace, expression calm and unhurried.
He wasn't the type to use people for free—especially those who weren't part of his core team.
Back in North Blue, a region tangled in mafia power plays, he'd seen more than a few so-called crime bosses end up dead in a ditch, killed by the very underlings they looked down on.
The nobodies they used to order around with disdain... often ended up being the ones to stab them in the back when their luck ran out.
The human heart is complicated.
That wad of bills was nothing to Daren.
But to that young lieutenant, it was a small fortune.
Real wealth isn't measured by piles of gold, or the numbers in your bank account, or your mansion or yacht...
It's in the hearts you've bought.
Daren might never need anything from that Marine in his lifetime, but having that goodwill tucked away? Better to have it and not need it than the other way around.
A few hundred thousand Belly to make a Marine lieutenant—someone who handled the daily affairs of the training camp—indebted to you? Worth every coin.
Why not just give him the money directly?
Of course not. That would look bad.
Bribery? Breaking military regulations? Daren would never do such a thing.
He simply asked the lieutenant to help buy a fruit basket. And breakfast.
Simple.
Following the directions, Daren soon reached his destination.
Even before he stepped through the gate, he heard shouting from the courtyard—accompanied by the sound of something being swung and rapid footsteps.
"You little brat! You're injured and still dragging home stray cats! There are already too many animals in this house! The pets eat more than the people!"
"Ahhhh! Dad, stop chasing me! You can't see—what if you fall?!"
"I may be blind, but I can still hear just fine! Don't run, you brat!"
"..."
Listening to the noise, Daren couldn't help but chuckle.
He stepped forward and pushed the gate open.
Two figures froze in place.
One, mid-sprint, had a buzz cut and was wrapped in bandages head to toe—still frozen in a running pose.
Behind him, a blind middle-aged man stood panting, gripping a wooden stick.
Both of them slowly, awkwardly turned their heads toward Daren.
He raised the fruit basket in greeting.
"Looks like you're healing well, Captain Yamakaji,"
Daren said with a smile.
...
(60 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake