Chapter 182
After arriving at the training ground, the three released Mock, who wore a long face.
Whether Mock wanted this or not, none of them cared.
Zephyr fell silent as he looked at Mock, who had collapsed after just one punch. He blinked in confusion and turned to Garp, who had somehow produced snacks and was eating them. "Is Mock really that weak? Didn’t you say he escaped from you?"
This is ridiculous! How could someone like this have a 1.5 billion berry bounty? Even crossing the hundred million mark meant the World Government took someone seriously.
Thinking of something, Zephyr looked at him suspiciously. "You’re not tricking Sengoku, are you?"
"No, I’m not tricking anyone! Bwahaha" Garp shook his head with a laugh, snacking as he spoke. "I personally let him go. That counts as escaping from me, doesn’t it?"
Zephyr looked at the shameless old man in exasperation.
Of course, he knew Dante might have concealed some information, but right now...
He frowned and thought for a moment. "How exactly should we train him?"
The plan he originally devised had to be completely abandoned.
The reality was far different from what he expected.
Regardless, this was Dante’s plan, and as a teacher, he needed to properly train Mock.
"We should start with evasion training," Mihawk spoke up. "For this kid right now, running is more important than fighting."
"You mean..."
"Exactly." Mihawk didn’t deny it. He nodded. "We can try awakening his Observation Haki."
’Do you even know what you’re saying?’ Zephyr, with his extensive teaching experience, smiled as he looked at Mihawk. "You think he can awaken Observation Haki in his current state?"
"Don’t underestimate anyone’s potential." Mihawk said with faint smile. "We can try."
"And how do you propose we do that?"
"By making him run, of course. Only through crisis can one develop their potential!" Mihawk said it as if it were obvious. Paying no attention to the confusion on Zephyr and Garp’s faces, he drew a toy-like crucifix knife that hung from his neck. A smile appeared on his face. "Run! If you can dodge all my slashes, I’ll let you go to Romance Dawn!"
He swung the knife as he spoke.
However.
*Whoosh*
Under everyone’s silent gaze, Mock, who had been lying dejectedly on the ground, bolted upright in one fluid motion. He looked at Mihawk. "You said it!"
He smoothly dodged Mihawk’s slash, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"I dodged it! I can go now, right? Dracula, I treated you to a spa before. You can’t go back on your word!"
"..."
The three of them stared at Mock, realizing he wasn’t just full of empty talk after all.
"I, Mihawk, never go back on my word!" Mihawk said coolly. "But I said you need to dodge all my slashes, not just this one!"
Mock froze, then frowned and scratched his head. "How many is all?"
How would I know?
But seeing the look in the kid’s eyes, Mihawk knew Mock wouldn’t train seriously without an answer.
He calculated internally. "Half an hour."
"Just half an hour? Wahaha! Maybe I’m not much at other things, but don’t underestimate my ability to run away!" Mock patted his chest and placed his hands on his hips, laughing. "Come on! After half an hour, you can’t stop me from going to Romance Dawn!"
’Is that something to be proud of?’ Mihawk paused, hung the small knife back around his neck, and drew the black blade from his back. "In that case, I won’t hold back!"
Before the bewildered Mock could react, Mihawk swung the massive sword.
Mock snapped back to reality in fright and immediately turned to flee, shouting, "Wait, aren’t you supposed to use the small knife?"
But Mihawk ignored his words completely, continuing to swing the long blade.
Of course, even though he drew the Black Blade Yoru, he used the same force as the small knife. He wasn’t deceiving him.
Still...
"Mock looks pretty dense." Even Zephyr was surprised. "But he sure can run!"
"Bwahaha, this kid’s actually pretty capable!" Garp nodded as he snacked, grinning. "And he’s already learned Tekkai, one of the Rokushiki!"
"He’s already learned Tekkai?" Zephyr was surprised, then nodded. "Then I did underestimate him! I have a question..."
He paused. "Is this guy really the Pirate King’s son?"
Garp, who had been laughing, fell silent. He scratched his head with some distress, then after a moment of hesitation, said, "I don’t think so, but..." He paused, then added with a smirk, "Sengoku says he is now!"
Meanwhile.
Dante received the message from Zephyr.
Marine Chief Instructor, the Hero of the Marines, and the World’s Strongest Swordsman personally teaching...
Honestly, hearing about this teaching staff, he was stunned!
He had only asked Zephyr to give some proper instruction. How did those two end up tagging along? But still, Mock was lucky! He was the only person on the seas receiving instruction from all three.
Out of curiosity, Dante decided to see how they were training him.
But...
After watching, Dante could only sigh.
It was brutal!
He almost couldn’t bear to watch.
So, ignoring Mock, who was clinging to his leg and crying for help, he turned and ran.
Of course, as the boss, he left the healing liquid he had obtained from the Tontatta princess with Zephyr. It would definitely help Mock.
Sweat more in training, bleed less in battle!
Mock had to return to the New World after the New Year, so proper training was necessary.
And with these three teachers, Mock’s strength would surely improve significantly.
Zephyr and Garp were top-tier martial artists on the seas. One was "Black Arm" Zephyr, the other "Iron Fist" Garp. Learning even a little from them would help Mock survive in the New World.
Who knows, maybe there’d be an "Iron Arm" Mock in the future!
So Dante didn’t need to worry about Mock. After taking a look, he left.
Dante rubbed his temples and looked at Viola. "The people from the various islands should be arriving soon, right?"
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