Chapter 105

"Too young!"

"Only four years old!"

"A four-year-old boy, possessing the capital of strength to single-handedly take down a great pirate with a bounty of over ten million Berries?"

"What kind of concept is that?!"

"Hard to imagine!"

Even Gerson, a Colonel of Marine Headquarters, was shaken to the core by all of this.

A moment later,

Gerson forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart.

He came before Lu En, his face courteous and respectful as he spoke: "I suppose you must be the powerhouse who personally took down Clown Buggy and sent him to our Marine branch, yes?"

A being capable of personally subduing a great pirate with a bounty of over ten million Berries—even Gerson, this Colonel of Marine Headquarters, had no choice but to treat him with the utmost deference.

Moreover…

The one before his eyes was still merely a child of only four years old!

A four-year-old child already possessed such an astonishingly terrifying strength!

One could well imagine.

Given time, what a terrifying powerhouse would this person become?!

Building good relations early…

Was absolutely all benefit and no harm!

At the very least,

The fact that this person chose to act against pirates proved that he shared a bitter enmity with them.

This alone was enough to earn the Marines' friendship.

Anyone who made an enemy of pirates would be a friend of the Marines!

"Only four years old, yet able to take down a great pirate with a bounty of over ten million…"

"In a few more years, he'll likely become one of the top-tier monsters of this sea!"

"Such terrifying talent is simply unheard of!"

"There's never been a precedent like it."

The more he thought, the more Gerson's heart filled with awe. "At four, he already possesses combat strength at the level of a ten-million-bounty pirate."

"Could it be that he started cultivating from the womb?"

"Truly a terrifying monster!"

"An unrivaled genius!"

After much deliberation,

Gerson developed a deep love for talent.

He believed.

If he could take a genius of this caliber…

And draw him into the Marines' camp.

That would surely be a great merit!

For him, a Marine Colonel who had already served in Luo Ge Town for a full twelve years.

If he could draw a once-in-a-century peerless genius into Marine Headquarters, surely his own rank would rise along with the tide!

When that time came…

He might very well become a Marine Headquarters Commodore!

Or even…

A Vice Admiral!

Thinking of this, the look Gerson gave Lu En grew increasingly fervent.

"I am Gerson, the Marine Headquarters Colonel in charge of garrisoning this Marine branch in Luo Ge Town."

Gerson began to introduce himself.

A genius who at four could take down a great pirate with a bounty of over ten million Berries was entirely worthy of being received with such ceremony.

The future of such a genius…

Was something he could never hope to compare himself to.

This, Gerson knew perfectly well.

Building good relations early could only bring him benefit, no harm at all.

"You were able to single-handedly, relying on your own power alone, take down the great pirate Clown Buggy, who carries a bounty of twelve million Berries."

"Such strength is truly admirable."

"Moreover, you are only four years old!"

"I'm very curious…"

"Exactly what method did you use to take down Clown Buggy? As far as I know, Clown Buggy is extremely cunning and treacherous—taking him down is no simple matter."

"In the past, I attempted to capture Clown Buggy more than once or twice. But in the end, every attempt ended in failure."

"By comparison, the fact that you took down Clown Buggy through your own power alone truly leaves me utterly ashamed."

Gerson sighed with deep feeling as he spoke...

"What method did I use to take down Clown Buggy?"

Lu En's expression turned odd.

He thought for a moment,

He said, "Capturing Clown Buggy — isn't that a very simple matter? I didn't feel any difficulty at all. The whole time I only threw a single punch, and I beat him half-crippled on the spot."

"Then…"

"I brought him straight to your Marine branch."

The words fell.

The whole venue fell deathly silent!

The smile on Gerson's face stiffened, the corner of his mouth twitching violently.

Good heavens!

This little brat, only four years old…

…didn't seem to be an ordinary monster!

Something even he himself couldn't do, yet in this little brat's mouth it had become the simplest thing imaginable?

By contrast,

Gerson suddenly had an illusion.

He himself — was afraid he was nothing but a useless sack?

He himself, a distinguished Marine Headquarters colonel, feared he was nothing but a waste?

"One punch, and he took down Clown Buggy?!"

"Back in my day I wasted nine oxen and two tigers' worth of effort laying out an encirclement net, and still let Clown Buggy escape."

"This is just too much of a blow!"

Gerson wanted to cry but had no tears.

He never dreamed,

that one day,

he would be utterly, thoroughly crushed by a child only four years old.

Crushed until he couldn't lift his head,

his face full of unbearable shame.

Off to one side,

Lilith and another young Marine were also standing rooted to the spot, utterly dumbfounded.

They stared blankly at Lu En, the words Lu En had just spoken still lingering in their ears.

Then,

the gazes of the two of them, as if by prior agreement, both turned toward Gerson.

"Does this count as slapping Colonel Gerson's face right in front of him?"

That was what they were thinking.