Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

This naval officer, known for his toughness and sternness, looked at Kai with a complex emotion in his eyes.

“Calm down,” Smoker’s voice was still deep, but seemed to have lost some of its previous sharpness. “Thank you for your help this time.”

If it weren't for you, that cunning fellow would probably have escaped again.

This was the first time he had explicitly expressed his gratitude to Kai.

Kai simply nodded slightly without saying a word.

Smoker paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, before continuing, "I've seen your file (there might be some basic records about bounty hunters within the Navy), and I've also heard some rumors about you."

You are very strong, and... your style of doing things seems to be different from those other bounty hunters who only care about money.

"

His gaze deepened: "Someone like you, who stays outside the system, is not a long-term solution."

The dangers of the second half of the Grand Line are far greater than you can imagine.

Without a strong organization to rely on, an individual's strength can easily be swallowed up.

"

He paused, as if making up his mind, and said in a suggestive tone, "If you are willing... the doors of the Navy may... be open for you."

With your strength and ability, as long as you undergo some necessary review and training, you may very well become an important force in upholding justice in the future.

"

This could almost be considered a recruitment signal! Although it wasn't a formal invitation, coming from a promising and upright naval officer like Smoker, it carried considerable weight! It might also represent a test by certain factions within the Navy (such as the more pragmatic or talent-loving ones) of Kai, a powerful "gray figure" whose stance wasn't explicitly hostile.

Faced with this unexpected "olive branch," Kai remained completely unmoved.

Joining the Navy? The thought only flashed through his mind before he completely rejected it.

Putting aside his complex feelings and inner turmoil towards the Navy, his hidden identity (former Straw Hat crew member) and the oath he bears alone doom him to never truly integrate into the Navy system.

Moreover, what he yearns for is freedom and the power to control his own destiny; the discipline and constraints of the navy are unacceptable to him.

"Thank you for your kindness."

"Kay's tone was calm and distant, directly rejecting the suggestion, "But I'm used to being alone."

The rules of the navy probably don't suit me.

"

20. Smoker seemed unsurprised by Kai's answer.

He simply gave Kai a deep look and nodded: "Everyone has their own ambitions, I won't force you."

However, I still want to remind you not to go down the wrong path.

Your power is great, but if you use it in the wrong place, it will only bring disaster.

"

"I will remember this."

"Kay responded calmly."

"Then, take care."

Smoker said one last thing before turning and leaving.

Kai didn't linger any longer. He shouldered his simple bag, gripped his "Tranquility" cane knife, stepped off the naval patrol boat, and returned to solid ground.

This brief encounter with the navy came to an end.

Ultimately, he and they went down different paths.

He needed to find a place to rest properly, not only to recover the physical and mental strength depleted from drifting at sea and previous battles, but also to... reassess his strength and plan his next training path.

Steelbone Island, an island known for its arms trade and heavy industry, is equally chaotic, but this also means that it is easier to find suitable training grounds (such as abandoned factories or mines) and to obtain resources to improve one's "hard power" (such as special training equipment or having someone forge weapon parts that are more suitable for oneself).

Kai found a remote but relatively safe abandoned warehouse to settle down temporarily.

Then, he began to engage in deep self-reflection and an assessment of his abilities.

His experiences on Enies Lobby, especially Luffy's earth-shattering duel with Lucci and the terrifying power of Admiral Aokiji's casual display of freezing the sea, served as a constant reminder of the vast gap between himself and the world's truly top-tier fighters.

His current strength is probably enough to rank him among the top hunters in the first half of the Grand Line, and he might even be able to contend with some pirate captains with bounties of over 100 million.

However, if this strength is applied to the latter half of the new world, to those battlefields overrun by monsters, it is probably... far from enough!

His Observation Haki, under the guidance of his senior Fujitora, has reached an extremely high level, enabling him to foresee the short-term future and perceive the aura and emotions of all things.

However, when facing opponents with extreme speed (such as those who have mastered the essence of "Shave" or Devil Fruit users with high-speed movement abilities), the time difference he anticipates may not be enough for him to make a perfect evasion.

Moreover, the defensive effect of Observation Haki is relatively limited against certain attacks that can cover a wide area or have special penetrating power.

Although his physical skills and swordsmanship have become unpredictable due to the integration of his sensory abilities, they still have obvious shortcomings in terms of the "hardness" of pure strength, speed, and technique compared to those who have undergone rigorous training from childhood or possess top-tier talent.

While his attacks were precise and deadly, they lacked the decisive, explosive power to directly destroy a powerful enemy.

His defense relies on dodging and parrying, but he lacks the absolute defensive power to withstand powerful impacts.

Chapter 69 Hunting the Straw Hat Crew! Using the Straw Hats' heads as a sacrifice!!!

His newly developed Armament Haki is currently his biggest weakness! Although it can barely cover weapons or the body for short-term offense and defense, its hardness, range, and endurance are far from meeting the requirements of actual combat.

Against an opponent who is truly proficient in Armament Haki, his attacks may not be able to break through his defenses, while the opponent's attacks can easily penetrate his defenses and cause fatal damage to him!

No! This can't go on!

Kai was filled with a strong sense of crisis and urgency! He desperately needed to become stronger! Stronger in every way!

The mastery of Observation Haki needs further refinement to improve the accuracy and timing of predictions, and to enhance the ability to perceive and analyze more complex environments and stronger auras.

In both physical combat and swordsmanship, he needs to significantly increase his strength, speed, and the power of his techniques while maintaining unpredictable footwork and precise strikes! He needs to develop truly unique and powerful techniques capable of delivering a decisive blow!

Become stronger! Become stronger! Become stronger! This thought burned fiercely in his heart like a flame! He felt as if he had returned to that state of being abandoned on a deserted island, frantically cultivating to survive! No! He craved power even more than then! Because he knew that this time, he was no longer facing ordinary beasts and thugs, but rather terrifying beings he might encounter in the future, beings capable of truly shaking the world!

Kai immediately sprang into action.

With the remaining bounty, he purchased some special, extremely heavy weighted equipment on the black market of Steelbone Island (made from scraps of seastone mixed with ordinary metals, which could both train strength and simulate the feeling of fighting against ability users to some extent).

He also found a huge, abandoned mine that went deep underground as his new training ground.

The environment there is harsh, the air is thin, and it is filled with all kinds of dangerous gas and unstable rock formations, but it is secluded enough that you will not be disturbed.

He decided to conduct another... breakthrough closed-door training session here, specifically targeting Armament Haki!

Kai sat cross-legged deep in the dark, damp mine, surrounded by deathly silence, with only the occasional sound of water dripping from the cracks in the rocks and the steady, powerful beating of his own heart.

He cleared his mind of all distractions, focused intently, and began to break through the barrier that was preventing him from mastering Armament Haki.

He recalled Fujitora's teachings—"the combination of intention and spirit," "coverage and penetration," "from the part to the whole"...

He recalled the feeling of touching Fujitora-senpai's imposing hand and cane-sword—the hardness that transcended matter, the immense and profound energy, the willpower that felt almost tangible…

He recalled the ways the powerful figures he had sensed using Armament Haki on Enies Lobby—Lucci's "iron block" as hard as steel, the invisible sharpness clinging to Zoro's blade when he slashed, and even the strong energy that subtly flowed across Luffy's body when he activated Gear Second...

He tried his best to mobilize the "spirit" within him, that indomitable will and unyielding belief that had supported him all the way and never been extinguished! He imagined guiding this willpower out and gathering it, as if he were putting an invisible armor on his fist!

Once...twice...ten times...a hundred times...

Failure, failure, and more failure!

He could feel the concentration of willpower, the fluctuations of energy on the surface of his fist, and even a faint, unusual "hardness".

But this feeling is always fleeting and can never be stabilized, let alone achieve that solid, steel-like hardening!

Why?! What exactly is the difference?!

Kai was filled with anxiety and confusion.

Could it be that his blindness prevented him from directly "seeing" and "confirming" the domineering aura, thus affecting the concentration and solidification of his willpower?

No! We absolutely cannot attribute the cause to this! Fujitora-senpai was also blind, yet he mastered Armament Haki to perfection! If he could do it, so can I!

Kai gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes (and heart)! He decided to use a more extreme and painful method to squeeze out his potential and forcefully break through this barrier!

He extended his right index finger, which exuded a faint aura of dominance, and then... without hesitation, he stabbed it hard into the solid rock wall beside him!

puff!

A sickeningly soft crack! Accompanied by excruciating pain!

His fingers were easily broken and twisted by the hard rock, as if he were poking at tofu! Blood gushed out instantly!

"Ughhhh!" Kai let out a painful groan, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

But he didn't stop! He endured the excruciating pain, focusing all his willpower even more frantically on his injured fingertips! He wanted to use this most direct and painful method to experience the extreme contrast between "hardness" and "fragility"! To stimulate his dormant instinctive desire for "coverage" and "defense"!

He wanted his body to remember this feeling! To remember this feeling of needing to be protected, of needing to become stronger!

Then, he mustered his willpower again and tried to “cover” the broken, excruciatingly painful finger!

This time, it seems a little different!

Driven by the intense pain and strong willpower, Kai felt that the faint aura of dominance at his fingertips seemed to have become... more condensed? Although it was still unstable, the feeling of "hardness" seemed to last a little longer?

It works! This method works!

A glint of madness flashed in Kai's eyes (and mind)! He had found the way! Though painful, it was effective!