"Impel Down?"
Aokiji frowned.
He clearly hadn't expected that answer.
"Why do you want to go there?"
"Because the number of pirates in Impel Down is as numerous as fish crossing a river," Ian replied seriously.
"I want to observe as many pirates as possible before beginning any undercover mission.
"And besides, Impel Down is 'boring' enough — a perfect place to focus on training and improving my strength."
Aokiji nodded slightly.
He didn't agree with the first part, but… the second part wasn't wrong.
Impel Down sat in the Calm Belt, notoriously difficult to reach.
Its jailers had no entertainment, no nightlife — just work, patrols, and more patrols.
If you ignored the fact it was the most terrifying prison in the world…
it was actually a pretty good place to grind strength.
Although…
A stray thought passed through Aokiji's mind.
A prison.
The world's top prison.
Is the difference between a jailer and a prisoner really that big…?
"Even though the Marines and Impel Down are both under the Government," Aokiji mused aloud, "we're technically different systems. Transferring you there will take time. At least three days, at most a week."
"Yes, sir!"
Ian saluted crisply.
"Oh — one more thing."
Aokiji suddenly remembered.
"This training camp had one more member who received a SWORD recommendation besides you."
Ian already had a good guess.
Aokiji confirmed it before he could ask:
"Vice Admiral Tsuru's granddaughter — Peacock."
I knew it!
Ian gritted his teeth internally.
So that's how Zephyr learned about his "private commentary" on the Celestial Dragons…
Turns out a certain little birdie had been reporting behind his back.
If he'd known, he definitely wouldn't have spent that night stargazing with Peacock!
Aokiji opened his mouth, probably about to say something like "get along well with her," when—
BOOM!
The admiral's office door was kicked open from the outside with explosive force.
Ian didn't even see the blur before a thunderous voice filled the office:
"BASTARD!"
Ian looked up —
and saw a gray-haired old man, one-handedly grabbing Aokiji by the collar, ranting at him at point-blank range.
"My grandson says AGAIN that he wants to 'become a pirate'! I will NEVER allow it!"
That tone.
That presence.
That energy.
Ian recognized him instantly.
Vice Admiral Garp. Garp the Fist. Garp the Cannon.
The living legend.
Uh, Vice Admiral Garp…
Can you… maybe perform that scene?
You know, that one:
"Stop me, Sengoku! Otherwise, I'll kill Sakazuki!"
Ian's mind drifted into its own little theater.
Outwardly, he stared straight ahead, silent.
Aokiji's brows twitched.
His face was wet — whether with sweat or Garp's spit, impossible to tell.
"I've heard that line hundreds of times!"
Aokiji sounded exhausted.
"Why do I have to deal with your grandson?!"
While complaining, he waved to Ian.
Ian immediately understood and slipped out of the office silently.
The "battle" behind him continued —
Aokiji versus Garp, Round #784.
But Ian was already gone.
Sea Year 1518, Ian mused while walking down the top-floor corridor.
Garp's grandson who wants to become a pirate… that must be Portgas D. Ace.
One year until the Flame-Flame boy sets sail.
Four years until the Sun God sets sail.
The retreat of the old era.
The rise of new powers.
The awakening of the Warrior of Liberation.
The world-shaking war that would split the seas in half…
Time waits for no one.
A few minutes later, Ian descended from the admiral's office to the Marine Finance Department.
He had one purpose — collect salary.
That was the difference between Marines and pirates.
Pirates got rich by robbing people.
Marines waited patiently for the World Government to issue paychecks.
Marines were on an annual salary system.
A brand-new recruit earned:
Two million Berries per year.
This didn't include uniform stipends, meal subsidies, or housing allowances.
All things considered, Marine benefits weren't bad at all.
Soon, Ian received his paycheck:
Two hundred crisp 10,000-Berry notes.
He slipped the bundle into his pocket, left the finance office, and headed to the Logistics Armory.
Because what was the point of getting paid if not to spend it immediately?
Salary in hand, shopping spree unlocked.
The Armory's reception officer was a rough, bulky middle-aged Marine with a bristling beard. His eyes swept over Ian's uniform, then drifted to the bulging pockets.
"New recruit? Rare. What weapons do you want?"
"I want to commission two weapons. A longsword and a collapsible baton."
Ian's confidence rose along with the money in his pocket.
"But I have a special requirement for the baton's material.
I want a Seastone baton custom-made."
He hadn't awakened Haki yet.
A Seastone weapon was the perfect "just in case."
A Seastone baton —
the ultimate anti-Devil Fruit tool.
Every strike dealt true damage.
Every hit was a crit.
As for the longsword—
Ian wasn't a monster like Big Mom with a steel-balloon body from birth.
He could punch, sure —
but he also used a blade.
Ideally, he wanted a sword of serious quality.
A Good Grade blade would be perfect.
Normally, a Good Grade sword cost about 1,000,000 Berries.
Ian could afford that now.
But Good Grade swords were often "priced but never available."
More people used swords than used fire in this world.
The Navy alone had countless swordsmen and even swordmasters.
True famous blades almost never appeared on the market.
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