Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Sorry, Watching One Piece Gives You Carte Blanche
"Are you planning to invite him onboard?" Zephyr asked Lin Yan, having observed his behavior over the past two days.
"Did you notice?" Lin Yan responded with a smile.
"You used the same trick on me, didn't you?" Zephyr replied, sitting down and drinking tea. Indeed, when inviting Zephyr onboard, Lin Yan kept visiting him repeatedly. Now that Zephyr mentioned it, the approach did seem familiar.
"From what I've observed, Issho is quite different," Zephyr continued. "In terms of demeanor and ability, he hides his skills well. It seems he prefers the Navy. Are you confident?"
Zephyr had been observing Issho closely and analyzed the situation rationally. However, he was frustrated that even he couldn't read the blind man's intentions.
"How will I know if I don't try?" Lin Yan said. In the end, it had to be attempted.
When the moment seemed right, Lin Yan approached Issho, saying, "Care to chat?"
"Sure!" Issho responded. After a few days of acquaintance, Issho had sensed Lin Yan's intentions. In fact, Issho was quite curious. He didn't know how Lin Yan had discovered him. Before this, Issho believed he had maintained the appearance of an ordinary blind man, no different from a regular person. Yet, Lin Yan seemed to know everything.
"I hear you want to join the Navy?" Lin Yan asked. He had learned that Issho was considering joining the Navy.
"You want to invite me to join the 17th Division, don't you?" Issho inquired.
"That's right," Lin Yan admitted.
"Before we proceed, may I ask a question?" Issho asked.
"Go ahead," Lin Yan encouraged.
"How did you know about my past and want to invite me onboard? I'm curious!" Issho was puzzled. Lin Yan, being famous, wouldn't invite just anyone onboard for no reason. And more importantly, he was blind. The invited person should have exceptional abilities, but Issho had never demonstrated any.
"That's a good question!" Lin Yan said. "Do you think 'a good impression' counts as a reason?"
Issho's smile froze. This question had been bothering him for days, yet the answer was just a good impression? Why?
"Is it really that simple?" Issho asked incredulously.
"It really is that simple," Lin Yan answered with a smile.
The room fell silent. After a while, Lin Yan broke the silence. "Issho, your dream is to join the Navy and protect the people. But what rank do you need to achieve to fulfill your ideal?" Issho thought for a while and shook his head. "I don't know. What do you think?"
"Admiral!" Lin Yan lifted his head slowly. "To have a voice in the Navy, only an Admiral can do that!"
An Admiral is the highest rank in the Navy besides the Fleet Admiral, representing the Navy's top combat power. They are chosen from among millions of Navy soldiers, the most formidable warriors, admired and revered by many, standing alongside the New World Four Emperors.
"Five years. Do you think you can become an Admiral in five years, Issho?" Lin Yan held up five fingers.
"This..." Issho hesitated. He was confident in making a contribution to the Navy, but becoming an Admiral was challenging. There are only three Admiral positions, and currently, Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji are all in their prime and at their peak strength.
Moreover, Issho's purpose in joining the Navy was clear. Having seen the harsh realities of the pirate world, his desire to abolish the Shichibukai system had grown stronger.
"You've seen how difficult the Navy path is!" Lin Yan said seriously. "To become an Admiral could take five or even ten years. How many decades do you have to waste?"
Seeing Issho's increasing hesitation, Lin Yan knew he had achieved his goal. Since he chose to intervene, he might as well go all the way. He depicted this path as extremely difficult. In truth, Issho was a diamond in the rough. Even if he joined the Navy, he would shine brightly in a matter of months, if not weeks.
What amused Lin Yan was that Issho had no idea what the future held; he couldn't foresee that within a few months of joining the Navy, he would become an Admiral.
"Fujitora, I believe you can see that I want to invite you aboard. Join our Seventeenth Division. I will fulfill all your dreams, including abolishing the Shichibukai system. I guarantee this as the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' Seventeenth Division!"
"You know, do you know how I lost my sight?" Fujitora suddenly spoke deeply, his face full of sorrow.
Lin Yan scratched his head. "What kind of question is this? Were you tired of seeing the world's filth and chose to blind yourself?"
Fujitora paused and then marveled at Lin Yan, "You're right! That's also why I have a grudge against pirates!"
"However," Lin Yan said seriously, "you can't generalize all pirates. Let's discuss the matter objectively. What kind of pirate do you think I am?"
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