I, Kizaru, only came to the chat group after I became invincible

Chapter 430 Admiral Kizaru!

“But you’re our partner!” Luffy said earnestly.

“Partners,” Borsalino repeated the word. “Yes, we really are partners.”

“Since we’re partners, there’s no need to overthink it!” Sanji declared.

“That’s right! We don’t care if you’re in the Navy or not!” Chopper joined in the persuasion.

“I appreciate everyone’s kindness,” Borsalino said gently. “But some things, we have to face reality.”

"Reality is the worst!" Luffy pouted.

Seeing Luffy's expression, Borsalino couldn't help but laugh.

“Alright, I’ll stay with you a little longer,” he conceded. “But one day, we’ll have to part ways.”

"We'll see when the time comes!" Luffy said happily. "We're still together right now!"

"That's right!" Everyone agreed with Luffy.

The Thousand Sunny continued sailing on the sea, the atmosphere on board very pleasant. The chase that had just taken place hadn't made anyone tense; instead, it had become an enjoyable experience.

"Speaking of which, where is our next destination?" Franky asked.

Nami unfolded the nautical chart and carefully studied the route.

"Based on the pointer's direction, the next island should be the Food Island!"

"A food island?" Luffy's eyes lit up instantly. "It sounds delicious!"

“It’s said to be an island famous for its cuisine,” Robin explained. “The island boasts rare ingredients from all over the world and unique culinary techniques.”

"Great!" Sanji exclaimed excitedly. "I must learn even more cooking skills!"

"How long will it take us to get there?" Chopper asked expectantly.

"At the current speed, it should take about two days to arrive," Nami calculated the travel time.

"Two days?" Luffy was already imagining what the food island would be like. "There will definitely be lots and lots of delicious meat!"

"Luffy, don't just think about meat!" Nami said helplessly. "Gourmet Island isn't just about meat."

"But the meat is the most important!" Luffy insisted.

Watching this familiar everyday conversation, Borsalino felt a warm feeling well up inside him. This simple and pure joy was something hard to experience at Marine Headquarters.

"Maybe it's good to relax once in a while," he thought to himself.

As night fell, the Thousand Sunny continued its voyage under the starlight. Everything that had happened today—from the celebrations in Florence to the naval pursuit—made this adventure all the more unforgettable.

"What a fulfilling day!" Nami said, looking at the starry sky.

"Yeah, I made new friends and experienced a thrilling escape." Sanji lit a cigarette.

"And people were cheering us on!" Usopp recalled the scene of the port town residents seeing us off.

"That feeling of being supported is really heartwarming," Brooke remarked.

"That's the meaning of adventure!" Luffy stretched. "Meeting all sorts of people and experiencing all sorts of things!"

“And this time Borsalino is also cooperating with the Navy.” Robin looked at Borsalino, who was leisurely strolling on the deck.

"It feels really good to work together," Zoro admitted. "Even though we're usually enemies."

"Hostile relationships are too complicated!" Luffy said casually. "I think Borsalino is a good person, and that's enough!"

"A good person." Borsalino felt a mix of emotions upon hearing this assessment. "Am I really a good person?"

Two days later, the Gourmet Island appeared on the horizon. Just as the legends said, the island exuded an enticing aroma, the fragrance of various foods wafting even from the sea.

"Wow! It smells so good!" Luffy stood excitedly at the bow of the ship, taking a deep breath. "I can already smell the roasted meat!"

"And the smell of seafood!" Sanji exclaimed excitedly. "This island truly lives up to its reputation!"

The Thousand Sunshine slowly sailed into the port of Food Island. The port was even more bustling than Florence Town, with ships loaded with all sorts of ingredients everywhere. The docks were filled with temporary food stalls, and vendors loudly hawked their various delicacies.

"Welcome to Food Island!" a port manager dressed in a chef's uniform greeted them warmly. "Here you'll find the most delicious food in the world!"

"Great!" Luffy couldn't wait to get ashore. "Let's go get something to eat!"

But while everyone was immersed in anticipation of the delicious food, Borsalino seemed preoccupied. He stood by the ship's railing, his brow furrowed, as if sensing something.

"Borsarino, what's wrong?" Nami noticed his unusual behavior. "You look unhappy."

“It’s nothing.” Borsalino waved his hand, but his tone was serious.

In fact, he had sensed a strong and dangerous aura two hours earlier. This aura originated from the northern waters of Gourmet Island, about a hundred nautical miles away.

That aura reminded him of the truly powerful figures he had encountered in the New World many years ago—that chilling sense of oppression, that imposing aura that only top-tier experts could exude.

“This feeling…” Borsalino thought to himself. “It’s at least on par with me, maybe even stronger.”

What bothered him even more was that his Observation Haki encountered an unprecedented resistance when sensing that aura. It was as if something was interfering with him, making it impossible to accurately judge the opponent's specific strength and intentions.

"My Observation Haki isn't strong enough." Borsalino realized a serious problem.

As a Marine Admiral, his Observation Haki had reached a very high level, but what he felt just now made him realize that there were beings stronger than him in this sea area.

"If I were to encounter an enemy of that level, I wouldn't be able to..." He clenched his fist involuntarily.

While he was deep in thought, the Straw Hat Pirates had already begun preparing to land.

"Everyone, come quick!" Luffy called out excitedly. "Let's go check out town!"

"Wait, Luffy," Borsalino suddenly spoke up.

Everyone turned to look at him.

“I think I should leave for now,” Borsalino said slowly.

"What?!" Everyone was shocked.

"Why are you leaving all of a sudden?" Nami asked, puzzled. "Didn't we agree to go on adventures together?"

“Yeah! Borsalino!” Luffy didn't understand either. “Why are you leaving?”

Borsalino looked at his concerned companions, a warm feeling welling up inside him. But precisely because of this, he couldn't involve them. "There are some things I must handle alone," he said, his tone turning serious. "These concern my own training."

"Training?" Zoro keenly sensed something. "What problem have you encountered?"

Borsalino was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I've realized my strength isn't enough," he admitted frankly. "Especially in Observation Haki; there's still a lot of room for improvement."

“Then we’ll go with you!” Sanji said. “Wouldn’t it be better if we all trained together?”

“No.” Borsalino shook his head. “This opponent is too dangerous. I can’t let you take that risk.”

“An opponent?” Robin keenly caught the key phrase. “You mean there’s an enemy nearby?”

“About a hundred nautical miles to the north,” Borsalino pointed north. “There’s a very powerful aura there.”

"How strong?" Franky asked curiously.

“At least on par with me, maybe even stronger,” Borsalino replied seriously.

Upon hearing this answer, everyone gasped. Just how terrifying must someone be to pose a threat even to Admiral Kizaru?
"In that case, we should go together!" Luffy said resolutely. "We're comrades!"

“Luffy.” Borsalino was moved, but still shook his head. “Not this time. This is my personal training, and the opponent is too dangerous.”

“But,” Chopper said worriedly, “what if you get in danger?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t force myself,” Borsalino reassured him. “If I find myself outmatched, I’ll retreat immediately.”

"Really?" Nami was still worried.

“Of course.” Borsalino nodded. “I don’t want to die in some unknown place.”

After some discussion, although everyone was reluctant, they ultimately respected Borsalino's decision.

"When will you be back?" Brooke asked.

“It’s hard to say,” Borsalino thought for a moment. “Maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks.”

“Shall we wait for you here?” Usopp asked.

“No need,” Borsalino waved his hand. “You can adventure at your own pace. I’ll come find you when my training is over.”

"How do we find it?" Nami asked worriedly.

“I will contact Naval Headquarters; they can track your location,” Borsalino explained.

"What if the Navy tries to capture us?" Luffy asked, somewhat worried.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Borsalino said with a smile.

And so, after saying goodbye, Borsalino left Gourmet Island alone and sailed towards the northern sea.

He used his light-transformation ability to move rapidly across the sea, much faster than any ship. As he drew closer to his target, the dangerous aura became increasingly clear.

"This feeling... is indeed very strong." Borsalino analyzed as he flew. "Moreover, the opponent's Observation Haki seems to be very strong as well; my detection is being greatly hampered."

About an hour later, he arrived near the source of the aura. On the distant sea, he saw a huge pirate ship.

It was a uniquely shaped warship, its hull a deep blue, decorated with ice crystal-like patterns. The entire ship exuded a chilling aura, and even the surrounding seawater began to freeze.

"An ice-type ability user?" Borsalino immediately realized something.

He carefully landed on a nearby island and observed the mysterious warship from a distance.

Through his binoculars, he saw about fifty crew members on board, each appearing highly trained. Standing at the bow was a tall figure, the source of that powerful aura.

He was a middle-aged man over three meters tall, with long, silver-white hair and wearing a dark blue robe. His skin was unnaturally pale, and his eyes were ice-blue, radiating a chilling aura.

“This person,” Borsalino tried to recall. “I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

Suddenly, he remembered. He had seen a wanted poster with an extremely high bounty in the Naval Headquarters' wanted poster archives.

“'Hyotei' Frost Wald!” Borsalino exclaimed in shock. “The legendary pirate with a bounty of 32 billion Berries!”

Frost Wald, the legendary "Ice Emperor," was a super pirate who was active in the New World thirty years ago. He was an awakened user of the Ice-Ice Fruit, possessing the terrifying power to freeze everything.

It is said that he once fought against "Pirate King" Gol D. Roger, and although he was defeated, he made Roger pay a heavy price. After Roger's death, he mysteriously disappeared, and many people thought he was dead.

"I didn't expect him to be alive," Borsalino thought, feeling both nervous and excited.

He was nervous because his opponent's strength was truly terrifying; a bounty of 32 billion Berries was no joke. He was excited because being able to fight someone of this caliber would be an invaluable opportunity for his cultivation.

“Especially the training of Observation Haki,” Borsalino thought. “Fighting against such top-tier fighters will greatly enhance my sensory abilities.”

Just as he was observing, the man known as "Hyotei" suddenly turned his head and looked straight in the direction where Borsalino was hiding.

"We've been discovered!" Borsalino was startled.

Even at such a distance, the other party's Observation Haki was able to accurately sense his location. This sensory ability was even stronger than he had imagined.

"Now that we've been discovered, let's face it head-on," Borsalino decided.

He transformed into a beam of light and instantly appeared above the pirate ship.

“Oh my!” he said in his signature tone. “I never thought the legendary ‘Hyotei’ was still alive.”

All the crew members on deck looked up at the light in the sky. When they saw Borsalino's figure, many of them showed expressions of shock.

"Admiral Kizaru!"

"Why is the general here?"

"Captain, we've been spotted by the navy!"

But Frost Wald himself appeared remarkably calm. He looked up at Borsalino in the air, a cold smile playing on his lips.

“Admiral Kizaru.” His voice was deep and authoritative. “I didn’t expect anyone would still remember this old man.”

“How could a legend be forgotten?” Borsalino slowly landed on the deck. “A bounty of 32 billion Berries is still a terrifying figure, even now.”

“32 billion?” Frost Wald chuckled. “That was the price thirty years ago. By today’s standards, it would be at least double.”

(End of this chapter)