I want you."
After a moment's consideration, Senbonzakura listed her requests.
"Listen to me play the zither."
"Accompany me to admire the flowers."
"Drink with me."
She finished speaking and looked at Rosen expectantly.
"Agreed."
Rosen answered without hesitation.
"It's settled, then."
Realizing Rosen was treating her as a woman—his partner—Senbonzakura smiled.
"I want to play hide-and-seek."
Kyokotsu tugged at Rosen's pants, stating her desire.
"I'll play with you."
Rosen gently stroked Kyokotsu's hair, then looked at the other unmaterialized Zanpakutō.
"Tell me what you want. What you desire."
"Within my capabilities, I will fulfill your wishes."
Just as people have different personalities, so too do the Zanpakutō that Rosen manifests. What they want is as varied as their appearances.
For example, Senbonzakura desired Rosen to treat her as a woman, to cherish her like a partner.
Kyokotsu wanted to play hide-and-seek, to enjoy the innocence of childhood.
Sode no Shirayuki loved watching snow—beautiful snowscapes from all across the world.
The other Zanpakutō were the same. They each had their own hobbies and desires.
However, to conceal the secret power of materialized Zanpakutō within Judge's Forbidden Zone, they typically appeared as blades until the Red-Haired Pirates invaded that area. Only then did they reveal their true forms to the world, demonstrating their terrifying power and reminding the pirate realm of their existence.
In the following week, Rosen did not return to Marine Headquarters. Instead, he entrusted all post-war work to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the three Admirals, and their staff. He remained within Judge's Forbidden Zone.
First, he accompanied Senbonzakura to admire the flowers, drinking wine with her. Then he played hide-and-seek with Kyokotsu, taught Minazuki swordsmanship, and used the Garganta to take Shirayuki to Icecap to view the snow. He did the same for every other Zanpakutō.
Whatever they wanted, Rosen fulfilled their wishes.
Only after all the Zanpakutō had done what they desired, received what they wanted, and were all satisfied, did Rosen open a Garganta and return to Marine Headquarters with Senbonzakura, Kyokotsu, and Gion.
"Admiral Rosen!"
On the way to the Marine Hospital, every Marine he encountered looked at him with the eyes of someone revering a deity. Their voices filled with heartfelt awe and deep-seated worship.
Clearly, his stay in Judge's Forbidden Zone for several days had already spread throughout Marine Headquarters and the world. News of the battle with Whitebeard's Pirates and Big Mom's Pirates had already become legend.
In a single day, two of the New World's Four Emperors were wiped out.
Whether it was the "world's strongest man," Edward Newgate, or the "Golden Lion" of the old era, Shiki, they were all slain by Rosen's blade.
Most importantly, the entire Marine force that accompanied him on the expedition returned safely and victorious. After fighting to destroy two Emperors with such a small army, achieving a complete victory while suffering zero casualties, Rosen was a truly remarkable Admiral.
How could the Marines not revere him as a god?
"Rosen," Senbonzakura linked her arm with his, curiosity in her eyes. "Where are we going?"
"I'll take you to get your gift," Rosen said, maintaining a touch of mystery.
"A gift?" She blinked. "I already received it."
She meant Rosen putting aside all his naval affairs to stay in the Judge's Forbidden Zone with her, enjoying flowers, drinking wine, and listening to her play the zither. In her eyes, that was the best gift.
"This is something else," Rosen smiled. The mystery piqued her interest.
"Really?" Her eyes sparkled. "That's worth looking forward to!"
Soon, the group arrived at the Marine Hospital and went straight to the top floor. This was Dol's office. Since eating the Op-Op Fruit, she had begun studying medicine. Aside from battles, she was always with a medical book in hand. Now, the Marine Hospital was under Dol's jurisdiction.
"Admiral Rosen. You've arrived."
Seeing Rosen enter and sit, Dol immediately stood, put down her medical book, walked around her desk, and quickly bowed.
"Sit down. No need to be so formal." Rosen waved his hand and took a seat on the sofa. "There are no outsiders here. No need for theatrics."
He had given his first lieutenant—who had followed him the longest—the highest level of reward. Whether it was Devil Fruit ability, power, status, or honor, Dol had it all. Though not one of the three Admirals, Dol's status and power within Marine Headquarters were in no way inferior to theirs.
"Understood."
Dol sat opposite Rosen. Senbonzakura, who had been clinging to Rosen's shoulder since entering, didn't even glance at her, as if she hadn't seen her.
"How's the Haki transplantation experiment going?" Rosen asked.
"Even with the awakened power of the Op-Op Fruit, transplanting Haki from a living person is still impossible. However, transplanting it from a dead person is possible." Dol explained. "But the person must have just died. After death, the Haki stored in the body continuously dissipates. The longer the time since death, the more it dissipates until it's completely gone. Also, the Haki transplantation process itself causes some loss."
Since eating the Op-Op Fruit, obtaining medical knowledge, and receiving information from Rosen about the World Government's development of the fruit, Dol had begun several experiments. One was Haki transplantation—Rosen's own plan.
Since the Op-Op Fruit can create a spherical space within which it can dominate all units—kinetic energy, length, temperature, mass, density—and can freely cut, exchange, and piece together anything, even swapping minds, could it be used for Haki transplantation? Like transplanting an arm, a heart, or a personality.
If possible, all that would be needed was to capture pirates wielding powerful Haki, then transplant that Haki into materialized Zanpakutō. At that point, every materialized Zanpakutō would be without weakness. Possessing human intelligence and emotions, Zanpakutō abilities similar to Devil Fruits, plus Haki—the Oni race? Step back. The Lunaria race? Sit at the children's table. Materialized Zanpakutō would be the strongest race on the Grand Line, created by Rosen himself.
Similarly, if the technology of Haki transplantation could be mastered, the Marines would become even more prosperous and powerful.
"What about Conqueror's Haki?" Rosen asked a crucial question.
"Conqueror's Haki can also be transplanted," Dol replied. "However, unless the recipient was born with Conqueror's Haki, once the transplanted Haki is used up, it will completely disappear and cannot be recovered, let alone strengthened through combat and growth. Only those born with kingly aptitude can, after transplanting Conqueror's Haki, transform it into their own and amplify their own Conqueror's Haki. Otherwise, it's like a rootless duckweed, destined to dissipate one day."
Before Rosen could ask, she explained further.
"I once consulted Dr. Vegapunk. According to him, all living beings possess bloodline factors. Just as Devil Fruit users can use their abilities because they ate a Devil Fruit and gained a certain Devil Fruit bloodline factor, we can learn Armament Haki and Observation Haki through training because we possess these two types of Haki bloodline factors within us. As for Conqueror's Haki, because 99% of living beings lack this Haki bloodline factor, it cannot be acquired through training. Ultimately, the three types of Haki are essentially just bloodline factors. Dr. Judge agreed with Dr. Vegapunk's explanation after hearing it."
"Bloodline factors?" Senbonzakura, nestled in Rosen's arms, listened thoughtfully.
No wonder she couldn't master any type of Haki no matter what she tried; she was a Zanpakutō created by Rosen using the Arms-Arms Fruit. As a product of the Arms-Arms Fruit's power, where would she get the bloodline factors for the three types of Haki? Therefore, naturally, she couldn't master any type of Haki.
"Those with Conqueror's Haki bloodline factors can transplant Conqueror's Haki from others, incorporating it into their own power. Those without Conqueror's Haki bloodline factors can also transplant Conqueror's Haki, but because they lack the bloodline factor, it's like water in a cup—the more you drink, the less there is." Dol summarized.
"What if it's not just Conqueror's Haki that's transplanted?" Rosen tapped the armrest of the sofa. "What if we transplanted Conqueror's Haki bloodline factors as well?"
Dol was stunned.
She had tried transplanting Haki and succeeded, but transplanting bloodline factors was something she had never tried before. Let alone the King's aptitude bloodline factor.
"Give it a try."
Seeing Dol's reaction, Rosen knew she hadn't attempted it. After all, it was understandable. Which pirate with Conqueror's Haki wasn't a trendsetter who stirred up the winds of change in their time? Obtaining a pirate corpse possessing Conqueror's Haki was no easy feat. In the past, Impel Down was a formidable prison. Of the hundreds of thousands of prisoners, from Level 2 to Level 6, fewer than five possessed Conqueror's Haki.
In fact, Dol had been able to conduct experiments on transplanting Conqueror's Haki only because Rosen, in the previous war against the Emperors, single-handedly wiped out Edward Newgate, Charlotte Linlin, and Shiki, incidentally acquiring the corpses of numerous pirates possessing Conqueror's Haki, including Katakuri and Dracule Mihawk. Otherwise, finding suitable subjects for the experiment would have been impossible.
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