One Piece: Heaven-Defying Talent

Chapter 31: Sengoku's Decision, The Significance of Marine's Era

"Could it be that I was too hasty?" Sengoku felt a pang of regret.

He'd wanted to secure Chiba's future within the Marine, afraid that Chiba might slip away. Out of this fear—and his respect for Chiba's potential—Sengoku had advocated relentlessly for his promotion, pushing him up to the rank of Vice Admiral and considering him for an Admiral position.

He wanted to anchor Chiba with authority, camaraderie, and resources, even setting up a lab for him. But in doing so, he had perhaps overlooked Chiba's extraordinary talent and the inevitable consequences of it. He'd also underestimated the Celestial Dragons' possessiveness.

In just a year, Chiba had developed both the Divine Awakening technique and the Foundation-Building Pill. The Celestial Dragons would inevitably want to claim him, to have him create potions and techniques to extend their lives and strengthen their hold.

"Chiba…this time, it's your grandfather who's let you down," Sengoku muttered, feeling the weight of his actions.

"Grandpa Sengoku, you don't need to blame yourself so much," Chiba replied, trying to ease his worries. "Even if you hadn't reported my achievements, the Celestial Dragons would have learned of them sooner or later. It was only a matter of time before they came for me."

Sengoku's remorse only deepened upon hearing Chiba's calm acceptance.

From beside them, Vice Admiral Tsuru gave Chiba an appraising look. "I didn't expect you to understand the situation so clearly, Chiba," she said, admiration tinged in her voice. "Given the founding of your lab and the groundbreaking work you've done, it was only a matter of time before the Celestial Dragons took notice."

"So, what do you plan to do next?"

Sengoku and Garp turned their gazes to Chiba as well. Unconsciously, they had started to rely on his judgment. In their minds, Chiba had become the pivotal figure in this matter.

Chiba chuckled softly. "I don't have grand ambitions. I just want to continue my experiments. I'm not sure when the Celestial Dragons will come, but before that happens, Grandpa Sengoku, I hope you can provide me with more research materials."

Sengoku understood: once the Celestial Dragons came, Chiba would likely leave the Marine, taking those materials with him.

In Sengoku's eyes, Chiba had already become the successor Marine needed—the one who could end the scourge of piracy across the world. Those vile pirates who pillaged, burned, and terrorized were a blight Sengoku had dedicated his life to eradicating. He would not let even the World Government or the Celestial Dragons stand in his way.

Sengoku's voice rose with fierce resolve. "No one will take Chiba from us—not Kong, not the Five Elders, not even the Celestial Dragons."

"I refuse to believe that Kong, the Five Elders, and the Celestial Dragons would truly risk conflict with the entire Marine system. I'll hold a press conference, officially appointing Chiba as Marine's alternate Admiral and announcing his contributions to the entire world."

"I will establish Chiba as a new Marine hero. I want every Marine soldier to know how much they owe to him. I want them to respect him, protect him, and honor him from the depths of their hearts. I want Chiba's prestige within the Marine to surpass even that of Garp in his prime."

"If the World Government and the Celestial Dragons dare to lay a finger on him, I want the entire Marine to stand against them."

Sengoku's words were passionate, resonating with unyielding conviction, and they left both Tsuru and Garp stunned.

"Sengoku, are you really prepared to go against the World Government?" Tsuru asked, her voice laden with disbelief.

"I don't wish to oppose anyone," Sengoku replied. "But as Marine's marshal, it's my duty to uphold justice and protect the world from those who would cause harm. If anyone—any organization or force—tries to undermine Marine's mission, I won't stand by."

With that, Sengoku looked back at Chiba, his tone firm. "Don't worry, Chiba. As long as I am Marine's marshal, no one will harm you."

Chiba felt a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, Grandpa Sengoku. I have one small request, if I may?"

"What is it? If it's within my power, I'll do it. And even if it's not, I'll do everything I can to make it happen."

"It's simple, really. Grandpa Sengoku, would you let me study your body?"

Sengoku froze, processing the unusual request. As Marine's marshal, he knew all too well the grim nature of human experimentation. Those "researchers" often dissected bodies, examined cells under microscopes, and subjected test subjects to all kinds of brutal procedures. No one volunteered for such horrors.

Tsuru gave Chiba a sidelong glance, clearly unsettled by the proposal, while Garp's expression twisted with disbelief. This boy was serious about using Sengoku as a test subject.

Sengoku's mind raced. Is this brat also a mad scientist? Then he thought, Of course he is.

Realizing the misunderstanding, Chiba hurriedly clarified, "No, no, Grandpa Sengoku! I just want to observe how your body changes when you activate your Devil Fruit powers. I promise, nothing inhumane."

Sengoku heaved a sigh of relief. Had Chiba asked to dissect him, Sengoku honestly wouldn't have known how to respond. Thank goodness Chiba wasn't that obsessed.

"All right then, I'll allow it," Sengoku replied, a smile breaking across his face.

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𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼:

• 𝘽𝙤𝙜𝙙𝙖𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙪

• 𝙅𝙘𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟮

• 𝘼𝙝𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙝

• 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗲

𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸:

• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟴𝟱+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.

• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗢𝘂𝘁: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩!

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀!

👉 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬: 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧