Chapter 9

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That evening, at the residence of the head of the 321 branch base, Darren completed his training, took a quick rinse, and stepped out of the steamy shower. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, seeing a body covered in scars and as explosive as a cheetah's. He found himself entranced for a moment.

Physique: 58.418

Strength: 53.890

Velocity: 57.548

Fruit: 71.345

Today's anti-blow training left him with many wounds, but they had mostly scabbed over. He estimated they would heal completely after a good night's sleep. His physique had improved by 0.312, reaching 58.418, inching closer to the 60-point mark.

"The progress is getting slower," Darren mused. The idea of transporting several heavy guns from the warships to the school grounds struck him as a necessary next step. 

Ordinary swords and guns were becoming less effective against his increasingly strong physical defense. The saber slashes and flintlock bullets could barely leave a shallow red mark on his skin. The injuries sustained in today's training were mainly from Flying Squirrel's bombardment. To enhance his physical resilience and blow-withstanding ability, Darren knew he needed to escalate his training intensity. His "perception" talent provided accurate data feedback, allowing him to adjust the training's intensity. It ensured no unhealable or fatal injuries occurred.

Despite his promotion to the governor of North Blue and control over the Marine military power in the region, Darren understood that personal strength was the true cornerstone of standing firm in this ocean. His goal now was to consolidate North Blue under his command, fully exploiting his position before moving on to the headquarters' officer training camp. Power meant more access to cultivation resources, and his focus was on enhancing his personal strength as much as possible.

Before he mastered Haki, he concentrated on improving his strength, speed, and physique. Darren wasn't a Penultimate monster like Sakazuki; thus, he trained harder than anyone. He estimated an adult giant's strength around 60 points, and at that level of physique, his strength under normal conditions would equal the six-position "Iron Body." He was nearing this objective.

Darren aspired to follow the path of a monster with no weaknesses – a power that brought others to despair. With his "perception talent," he believed he would someday match Kaido's inhuman physical strength.

There was a knock at the door. Darren wrapped himself in a bathrobe and went to answer it.

"Basic Commander Darren," greeted Flying Squirrel at the door, "The ice cubes you requested have arrived."

"Sorry to bother you," Darren replied with a nod and a smile.

Flying Squirrel signaled to two Marine soldiers, who entered carrying boxes of ice. They filled the bathtub with the icy clatter of the cubes, looking at Darren with respect before leaving the room.

Darren asked about the two soldiers as he disrobed and stepped into the ice-filled bathtub, unfazed by the zero-degree water. Ice baths were his routine, aiding in recovery and reducing inflammation and soreness after intense training.

Flying Squirrel shivered just looking at the ice water. He smiled oddly in response to Darren's question, "They've been stimulated by you and are training on the school field now."

Darren was startled and then he stopped laughing. "It seems that the geniuses in this department have their pride." But after thinking about it, the reactions of the two of them were normal. There is also a hierarchy of disdain within the Marine system. The elite at the Naval Headquarters look down on the branches stationed in the Grand Line, and the branches in the Grand Line look down on the Marine Bases elsewhere. This is quite normal. After all, in terms of strength, military discipline, and equipment, the Marines at this headquarters have a significant advantage.

As for the Marines in the Four Seas, due to their high level of independence and the old saying that "the mountains are high and the emperor is far away," their management is more neglected and military discipline is lax. Kake and Gion, who grew up at the headquarters, were well-educated, well-loved, and extremely talented. How could they have imagined that when they came to a place like North Blue, they would be easily outmatched and defeated by Darren? No, I suddenly found myself inspired to be competitive.

"But Darren, are you sure their arrival won't affect anything?" When there was no one else around, Flying Squirrel would act as Darren's right-hand man and usually called him by his first name.

Darren half-squinted his eyes. "My actions here cannot be hidden from the headquarters. The so-called 'review' this time is actually just a superficial effort. That shrewd old man Sengoku sent Gion and Kake here, in fact, largely because he wanted me to lead them. The third officer training camp is about to begin. Although they have already been selected as candidates, they still need to put on a show to accumulate some experience and meritorious deeds. If the headquarters wants to move me, it won't be the two of them who are stunned. Instead, I'll have to face 'baptism' by Vice Admiral He."

Flying Squirrel was silent for a moment. "I always feel that your situation is too dangerous. I think the headquarters will find something soon."

Darren smiled and shook his head. "North Blue is too small, and the headquarters will look down on it. And even if the headquarters finds something, what can we do? If they want to investigate, let them do so, and let them see the situation in North Blue for themselves."

Darren paused, then changed the subject. "I heard that Vinsmoke Judge has been causing a lot of trouble recently?"

Flying Squirrel replied, "Yes, he flaunted his power everywhere, expanded his troops aggressively, led his troops to conquer territories east and west, and threatened to behead the kings of four countries, including the Kingdom of Yadis, to 'dominate North Blue again.'"

Darren sneered. "That guy seems to have acquired a lot of advanced weapon technology and is probably getting ahead of himself." Vinsmoke Judge once collaborated with Vegapunk, known as "the genius scientist who is 500 years ahead of the world." After Vegapunk was taken by the World Government, he fled back to North Blue with some of Vegapunk's technology. Upon returning to the Kingdom of Germa, Vinsmoke Judge used science and technology to reestablish Germa 66, and later led them to behead the leaders of the North Blue Four Kingdoms. A giant painting was created to commemorate this event.

"Send someone to deliver a message to him. North Blue can't allow Germa 66 to wreak havoc. Although the review of this department is just for show, if Vinsmoke Judge really turns North Blue upside down on my watch, that's not okay." He tapped his fingers gently on the edge of the bathtub. "The overlord of North Blue is not Germa 66."

Flying Squirrel nodded, then hesitated. "Anything else?" Darren glanced at him.

Flying Squirrel carefully chose his words. "Recently, a new power group has arrived in North Blue. It is very powerful, and its methods are extremely cruel. They have defeated several well-known mafia families, including the Galen family, and taken over their businesses. I sent people to investigate this gang, and I found that they are not ordinary."

He took a deep breath, his face solemn. "The leader of this gang is a kid less than 10 years old. His name is... Don Quixote Doflamingo."