Bullet wandered home in a daze.
He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling above, lost in thought.
Douglas Gray, the Captain of the Galzforce Unit, returned home.
He was a little surprised to see the training room unlit from outside the house.
After all, his adopted son was extremely self-disciplined—he should have been training at this hour.
He entered the house, turned on the light casually, and sat down on the sofa.
Thinking of the adopted son who had been well-behaved since childhood and had brought him immense benefits...
Gray's expression sank. Talent was a good thing, but watching Bullet grow stronger and stronger...
A certain indescribable feeling welled up inside Gray. He was growing too fast.
The accumulated military merits already showed signs of him becoming a national hero.
That was intolerable for someone in power at the prime of their life.
The sense of crisis in Gray's heart grew stronger. If this continued, one day it would threaten his own position...
If it really came to that, he would have no choice but to execute that plan... When the time comes, don't blame your father, Bullet.
Gray lit a cigar, the swirling smoke obscuring his unreadable expression.
Footsteps came from behind. Gray quickly adjusted his expression and turned to look at Bullet, flashing a smile:
"Bullet, what's wrong today?"
"You don't look too well."
Bullet looked at his father's face and shook his head.
"I was just thinking about something, Father."
He wasn't stupid. Over the past few years, he couldn't understand why his father had grown more and more distant, no longer showing the affection he had as a child.
That was one of the reasons Bullet became even more closed off. They were father and son, yet he couldn't figure out why he was being treated this way.
Unable to make sense of it—and after the betrayal of his companions—
He could only find a trace of meaning in existence through intense training, feeling his body grow stronger day by day.
Then, thinking of the Marine officer he met today, Bullet lay dazed at home all afternoon.
He finally recognized the desire in his heart. It turned out:
"I want to have comrades I can trust. I want to be redeemed. I want to protect something too..."
Having solidified that thought in his heart, when his father returned that night, Bullet walked over.
He sat down on the sofa beside his father and spoke a bit awkwardly:
"Father, I want to join the Navy."
Gray was momentarily stunned. The smile slowly faded from his face as he took a deep drag on his cigar.
"Why do you have this idea, Bullet?"
The cigar smoke shrouded Gray's face, making it unreadable.
But in his heart, Gray was thinking—what did Bullet mean by this?
Was he testing him? Had his nemesis told Bullet something? Or had he overheard something he shouldn't have?
Bullet lowered his head, silent for a moment, then raised it and said firmly:
"Father, I want to have comrades. I want to have reliable battle companions. I want to protect everything I hold dear."
Each word struck Gray's heart like a hammer. Looking at Bullet's still youthful face—
Gray suddenly snapped out of it. What had he been doing all these years…? He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
In the end, he spoke stiffly:
"Have you made up your mind?"
Bullet nodded solemnly. Seeing Bullet's determined expression, Gray suddenly smiled.
There was no longer any barrier in that smile. Maybe… I really was wrong all this time… but at least I didn't make a huge mistake.
The look in his eyes no longer carried hidden fear or suspicion. He nodded at Bullet in approval.
Then he walked into the bedroom and gently woke his sleeping wife, asking her to cook a hearty meal for the two of them.
After so many years, father and son finally returned to the feeling they had when Bullet was a child.
At the dinner table, Bullet felt his father's changed attitude and care. His usually cold face even showed a slight smile.
The next morning, Bullet had already packed his things, ready to head to the port.
He had heard that the Marines he met yesterday were staying on the island for one night.
Bullet got ready early and prepared to say goodbye to his parents. But standing at the door, his hand hesitated to knock.
He finally knocked, but there was no response. He gently pushed the door open—only to find his parents weren't in the room.
A flicker of disappointment passed through Bullet's eyes. He walked out quietly and pushed open the front door.
What greeted him was not the first light of dawn—
But his father in full dress uniform adorned with medals, and his mother, wiping tears from her red eyes.
Bullet beamed with joy and reached out to hold their hands.
The three of them walked together toward the port where Sakazuki's warship was anchored...
On the departing warship, Bullet looked reluctantly at the island he had lived on since birth.
Sakazuki and Karol stood on the deck, watching Bullet, surprised by this unexpected gift.
And at this point, Bullet hadn't even eaten a Devil Fruit yet.
With proper training, once he matured, his strength could rival the next Garp.
Thinking of Bullet's Haki capacity and intensity in the original timeline—
Sakazuki decided to train him personally.
That day, while Sakazuki was instructing Bullet on how to awaken Haki—
Brru brru! Brru brru!
The sound of a Den Den Mushi came from behind. Karol walked over with the Den Den Mushi and handed it to Sakazuki.
He picked it up. On the other end, Vice Admiral Ward Morris spoke with some concern in his tone.
After listening to what Vice Admiral Ward Morris had to say, Sakazuki frowned, then told Karol to fetch a sea chart and gave a few instructions.
Then he determined the direction, took the sea chart in hand, and his lower body turned into magma.
A violent explosion erupted, shaking the warship. Sakazuki shot into the sky.
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