"To be honest," Rear Admiral Ochiai said calmly, "I hesitated for a moment at first. The information Louis provided mentioned that Leon Fang might be a nineteen- or twenty-year-old young man."
Leon Fang paused briefly, then quickly understood.
"Perhaps it's because I'm a bit more mature than others my age. But Rear Admiral Ochiai, how did you confirm it was me? Just based on my name?"
"Of course not," Ochiai shook his head lightly. "The speed and power you displayed just now are things even some Headquarters colonels who specialize in physical combat might not achieve. I find it highly unlikely that two such powerful individuals with the same name would appear in this sea region within such a short time."
Ochiai silently added in his heart that even he himself, without using Iron Body or Armament Haki, could not possibly withstand a bullet with bare flesh at such close range.
Is the Navy finally going to produce a monster with a physique like Kaido or Big Mom?
(After all, even Vice Admiral Garp had bled when ambushed by Morgan—most experts did not possess steel-like bodies.)
"Compared to Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Zephyr, my strength is still far from sufficient," Leon Fang said seriously. "I must continue tempering myself under the banner of justice."
He chose his words carefully. Such moments were crucial to his future.
Ochiai was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! So you're aiming for the rank of Marine Admiral? Very good. Young people should have such lofty ambitions. I hope that when we meet again, you'll still be holding fast to your beliefs and advancing on the path of justice."
With that, Rear Admiral Ochiai did not linger. He turned and led the Marines away.
The crowd gradually dispersed, but the excitement did not fade. Stories and legends about the two quietly began to spread.
At that moment, the little girl stood nearby, clutching the nearly withered flowers to her chest. She looked up at Leon Fang and the burly man with bright, sparkling eyes and spoke in a soft, clear voice.
"Uncle Rein, Brother Leon Fang… thank you for saving me. These flowers are for you…"
She suddenly looked down. "Ah… they got crushed…"
Seeing her pitiful expression, on the verge of tears, Rein said helplessly,
"W-what's wrong? Did I… did I step on you somewhere?"
Leon Fang crouched down, gently placing his palm on the little girl's head.
"I really like your gift," he said softly. "It carries gratitude and tears. It's the most precious gift I've received this year."
"R-really?"
The little girl instantly stopped crying, her eyes lighting up.
"Of course," Leon Fang smiled. "Now hurry home. Your family must be worried sick."
"Yes! Yes!"
She nodded vigorously. "Brother Leon Fang, Uncle Rein, thank you! You're the best people in the whole world!"
Watching the little girl skip away happily, Rein smiled foolishly. If this were another world, he might have already been arrested as a suspicious pervert.
After a long while, Rein finally snapped out of it. He clutched the crumpled bouquet tightly and asked hesitantly,
"I… I'm sorry. C-could I keep these flowers? I… I don't have much money, but I'll definitely work hard and make it up to you."
"Of course," Leon Fang replied casually. "There's no need to be so formal. This was originally her gift. And if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have even had the chance to step in."
"Brother Leon Fang, thank you so much!"
Rein carefully stored the bouquet away, his face full of contentment.
"This is the third one… I've finally received the third gift in my life."
Hearing those words, Leon Fang finally understood why Rein was so determined to become a Marine.
People like Rein—whose face looked like that of a villain or even a demon—found it almost impossible to erase the instinctive fear and rejection others felt toward them, no matter how many good deeds they did.
From what Leon Fang had seen today, Rein had helped many people in the past. Yet the number of gifts he had received in return, including today's, was only three.
It was difficult to imagine the loneliness and pain he endured daily.
That was why he was desperate to become a Marine.
That was why, when beaten by those trash nobles, he didn't dare fight back at all.
He believed that once he put on the coat of justice, he would finally be accepted—embraced—by others.
Leon Fang had long understood that the world was never fair. People like Rein, who worked ten times harder than others yet received less than a tenth in return, were the clearest proof of that truth.
"Let's formally introduce ourselves again," Leon Fang said with a gentle smile.
"My name is Leon Fang. I'm seventeen years old, and I come from the mysterious East."
His expression was warm, but his thoughts were clear. He knew that someone as insecure yet kind-hearted as Rein only needed a small ray of light to grow a pure heart.
"I… I'm Rein," he replied nervously. "I'm nineteen years old, from Baiye City in the South Blue."
Leon Fang was momentarily stunned.
This guy really looked much older than his age. Even if he said he was thirty-nine, Leon Fang wouldn't have been surprised.
Fortunately, his thoughts didn't show on his face.
"The South Blue?" Leon Fang said with interest. "That's a dreamlike sea, full of strange and fantastic legends. I've even heard stories about creatures like griffins appearing there."
The moment his hometown was mentioned, Rein visibly relaxed. The invisible wall between them quietly collapsed.
"You know about the griffin legend too?" Rein said excitedly.
"That griffin appeared near my hometown. I even saw it once with my own eyes. Sadly, it was later captured by an extremely powerful pirate crew. I heard it became their private collection."
"Let's not talk about unpleasant things," Leon Fang shook his head. "Rein, are you also planning to register in two days?"
"Yes," Rein nodded. "But I don't have ideals as grand as yours. I just want to become a Marine… to protect people's smiles, and to be accepted and respected."
His voice was shy—but firm.
"In that case," Leon Fang said warmly, "let's go together in two days. We don't know anyone here. It'll be good to have company."
"R-really… is that okay?"
"Of course," Leon Fang laughed. "We've already fought side by side. That makes us friends."
"Friends…"
Rein murmured the word softly. For him, it had always been nothing more than a distant dream.
The burly man who looked like he was in his thirties suddenly broke down completely, crying like a two-hundred-pound child.
"Brother Leon Fang… thank you!"
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T/N:
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