Outside the island, the arrival of the Dog-headed Battleship had already been noticed by Rear Admiral Avène, who then used Moonwalk to come and pay his respects to Vice Admiral Garp.
At that moment, he was standing beside Rear Admiral Bogard, listening in astonishment as the latter explained the situation regarding Dragon. Suddenly, he looked up at the sky above the island.
"Has the power of the Hurricane Fruit awakened?"
"My goodness, didn't he just awaken Conqueror's Haki recently?"
It was amusing that, despite being of the same rank as Rear Admiral Bogard, Avène's Observation Haki couldn't sense Sabac City at all, while the latter seemed to do so effortlessly.
"Yes, although I've heard that the awakening of a Devil Fruit's power has nothing to do with strength and is entirely a matter of so-called chance, it's truly astonishing that Rear Admiral Dragon awakened his power in just over a year."
Even the usually taciturn Bogard couldn't help but marvel at the situation. He then turned his gaze to Garp in front of him and said with a smile, "Shouldn't we say, as expected of your son?"
Garp, however, shook his head and replied, "The awakening of the Devil Fruit is indeed unexpected, but that's not the key point. With this, he still can't defeat that 'Slave King.'"
"What do you mean?" Avène asked, puzzled.
"The key is that the boy's heart is undergoing a transformation!"
Garp crossed his arms, sensing the changes in Dragon's Haki as he continued.
"Previously, because of those Celestial Dragon scum and all the darkness, his heart was filled with anguish, anger, resentment, hesitation, and struggle. On top of that, his plan to defect was intercepted on the spot."
"To be honest, if he continued like this, his Haki would grow weaker and weaker, and one day he might not even be able to use it anymore, because his heart was no longer firm."
"Haki is a power that originates from the heart, a power of will. Only with a sufficiently firm will can one master Haki. At the same time, the strength of one's will and the power of one's heart determine the strength of one's Haki."
Upon hearing the first sentence from this great figure, Avène's face turned pale. He was frantically thinking to himself, "What the hell? Who would dare to insult the Celestial Dragons so openly? Isn't this asking for death?" However, Rear Admiral Bogard beside him didn't seem to care at all. Instead, he lowered his chin and pondered, "So you're saying that Rear Admiral Dragon's heart is growing stronger in battle, and that's the fundamental reason he can always 'come back from the brink of death.'"
"No!"
Garp shook his head again and said, "The changes in his heart only make his Haki stronger, which is key to defeating powerful opponents, but that's not what has kept him going until now."
"Then what is it?" Bogard asked.
"The potential of his body."
Garp calmly uttered these five words.
"Although the power of Haki originates from the heart, in the end, it is the materialization of the heart. Power, fundamentally, is still a matter of substance—what we commonly call stamina and vitality."
"Dragon has been undergoing my 'Training of Love' since he was a child. By the time he was ten, he had turned Life Return into an instinct."
"Now, his control over his body far surpasses that of most Life Return practitioners. Even you, Bogard, combined with the vast reserves of vitality within him, is what has supported him in getting back up time and time again!"
After listening, Rear Admiral Bogard fell silent once more, raising his gaze to continue watching the clash between the hurricane and the sandstorm. Beside him, Rear Admiral Avène also seemed to have understood, his expression one of sudden realization.
"So it's his extraordinary stamina that allows his Haki to continuously improve. For Rear Admiral Dragon to defeat King Taklama, both are indispensable!"
Garp nodded with a smile, saying, "That's right. Whether it's Conqueror's Haki or awakening his abilities, these things may look grand and spectacular."
"Even if he becomes a Logia-type user, that kid's greatest strength ultimately lies in the martial arts I taught him since he was young. That's also what sets him apart from Sakazuki and the others."
Immediately after, the Navy hero grinned proudly and said, "Just wait and see. This battle will be decided in at most a day, maybe even half a day. Because Dragon can still hold on for two more days, but that 'Slave King' can't."
However, there were still words left unspoken in his heart.
This battle would become the most important one in Dragon's life. Defeating King Taklama, the 'Slave King,' with his own hands and saving hundreds of thousands of innocent slaves would be enough to clear the negative emotions in his heart and solidify his sense of justice.
In terms of strength, after this battle, he would be on par with Sakazuki and Borsalino, perhaps even slightly superior, though he still lagged behind Kuzan.
This made Garp consider whether he should recommend Dragon for the title of Admiral candidate.
But the moment this thought appeared, he dismissed it.
For one, there are only three Admiral positions, and he quite likes Kuzan. For another, he feels that Dragon, like himself, wouldn't want to become an Admiral, spending his time cleaning up after those Celestial Dragon trash.
Although he had heard that the Five Elders had ordered the Celestial Dragons not to leave Mary Geoise without permission, who could guarantee there wouldn't be an accident? Or what if the ban was lifted one day? "Hmm, it seems this brat will have to be a Vice Admiral for life, just like me~~"
At that moment, a Marine soldier quickly ran over, first saluting and then reporting loudly, "Vice Admiral Garp, the Fleet Admiral orders you to return to Marineford immediately. There is an important mission that requires your execution!"
"Oh?"
Garp turned around, raising an eyebrow, while Rear Admiral Bogard beside him pondered what the matter could be, as it was rare for the Fleet Admiral to issue orders personally.
Usually, it was Admiral Sengoku who would notify him through 'discussions' or 'shouting.'
The last mission he remembered was last year when they went to the South Blue to capture the Pirate King, Roger.
In the Grand Line, deep within the underwater prison, Impel Down, Magellan, currently the Vice Warden, was following Director Columbus through an unremarkable floor.
The reason it was called unremarkable was that this place had neither the sword-covered mountains of the Crimson Hell nor the extreme heat and cold of the Blazing Hell and Freezing Hell.
There was nothing here, just a very ordinary dim space.
However, there was a group of people who called themselves construction department staff, using tape measures to record the dimensions of various areas. It was said they planned to build some kind of research institute here.
"Between the fifth and sixth levels, there's actually such a large space, and we didn't know about it?" Magellan observed his surroundings in disbelief.
Director Columbus smiled wryly, "I never expected it either. If it weren't for Cipher Pol informing me, I probably wouldn't have known until the day I retired that there's something called Level 5.5 in Impel Down, where I've spent my entire life."
Not far away, Coulson, a senior executive from the administrative department, was accompanying a researcher in a white lab coat as they inspected the surroundings.
"Professor Frieze, after the reorganization of the Science Force, the Biochemical Research Institute will be established here. This will become the place for researching, experimenting, and storing all materials and products related to biochemistry."
"If human experimentation is required for research, you can apply to the director here for criminal subjects. Similarly, if there's a biochemical weapon leak, please seek their assistance immediately. I believe Deputy Director Magellan will handle it well. He's a Paramecia-type Venom-Venom Fruit user."
As Coulson spoke, he pointed in the direction of Magellan. Professor Frieze nodded excitedly, repeatedly saying, "Good, good, good."
In his eyes, this place was simply the best secret research base. He couldn't think of a safer, more concealed location with more human subjects available.
"Additionally, the primary task of the Biochemical Research Institute will be to develop an effective biochemical solution for Platinum Lead Disease. You'll have access to related materials shortly, and patients will be brought here once the facilities are completed."
"Master, what is Platinum Lead Disease?"
Just as Professor Frieze was about to speak, a boy who seemed overly excited approached and asked curiously.
The boy had a youthful face but stood nearly two meters tall, with thick shoulder-length hair and even a pair of goat horns on his head, making him appear somewhat non-human.
Professor Frieze looked helplessly at his fourteen-year-old student, but the boy's talent was truly exceptional, and he was quite fond of him.
"Be more composed, Caesar."