Idle Level-Up in One Piece Chapter 194 194: Afraid of Your Brother Suffering, But Also Afraid of Him Pulling Up in a Luxury Ride!

Boom!

One pebble unleashed endless ripples!!

Oharden's announcement left over ten thousand Marines totally dumbfounded in unison.

Reporters recovered from their astonishment right away, scribbling madly with their quill pens.

Enormous scoop!

Naturally, some journalists stayed rooted, utterly stupefied.

In the plaza—

Garp's eyes almost bulged from his head while his mouth hung open.

"The one getting promoted to Marine Admiral is my brother!?"

"Before I've even graduated, my brother's already become an Admiral!?"

What the— !@##$$%%^^&···

This…

This hit way too abruptly. Accepting it was proving impossible!!

Garp's huge heart thundered fiercely—thump-thump-thump—as if ready to burst from his throat.

"..."

Garp's exclamation twisted Sengoku's expression into a chaotic swirl.

That remark—far too piercing!!

Sengoku's eyes expanded wide.

"That… that was way too fast. Couldn't he have waited ten years or so?"

"I've been working hard these past three years, so why does it feel like the gap's only grown wider!?"

How could he handle this?

Dressed in his Marine Academy uniform, he watched his fellow student Klein get elevated to Marine Admiral before tens of thousands of Marines.

That sensation… that atmosphere...

Numbness overwhelmed him!

Sengoku lifted a hand to his cap's edge, emotions churning violently inside.

"What kind of sick joke is this? How'd he climb all the way to Admiral so easily!?"

"Admiral… That's the ultimate dream and goal that so many strive for!!"

His heart seemed on the verge of shattering. Despite his iron will, fragility gripped him now.

Sengoku had no issue with Klein thriving. The man possessed strength and wealth—no tough existence for him.

Yet coming back after merely three years as an Admiral?

Fairness? Hardly.

Pain stabbed deep!

Reactions to joy and grief vary wildly among people.

Zephyr threw his arms up, yelling in delight:

"This is amazing!! My brother became a Marine Admiral!!"

"I knew it. I always knew he'd become an Admiral. And one day..."

"One day, I, Zephyr, will become a Marine Admiral too!!"

So boisterous.

Waves of noise battered Sengoku. Defeat soaked his voice:

"Zephyr, if you want to become an Admiral, how many years do you think it'll take? By then, what kind of position will Klein hold?"

"Eh—"

Zephyr stiffened, pondering deeply.

"You're… probably right..."

Uncertain of the years needed for Admiral status—perhaps never achievable.

Even so...

Klein achieved it young. Future peaks awaited him.

Zephyr's face broke into a wide grin:

"The future's still far off. What matters now is that my brother became an Admiral, and that's something to celebrate!"

"Besides, he's our examiner. Big Bro Klein will definitely go easy on me."

"...."

Sengoku's expression soured.

Highlighting the sorest spot.

Same class.

One now Admiral, set to examine them.

Picturing Klein before them, smugly teaching…

Sengoku yearned to burrow into the earth and vanish.

Garp then recovered.

"Right! Big Bro's our examiner this year! He's already an Admiral, and the gap between us is massive..."

"How's he gonna grade us!?"

He scratched his head's crown.

That prickly feel—

It evoked the frequent target of the "Fist of Love."

"No idea... but I have a feeling if Klein personally gets involved, we're all getting our asses kicked."

Sengoku's look screamed utter despair.

Burn everything!

Same class.

Graduation pending, Klein already Marine Admiral.

Sengoku couldn't endure it.

Complete breakdown!

Three years back, the divide was known.

Then, he trailed in Klein's wake.

Today?

Gone forever.

No trailing fumes left to inhale.

Nearby, Tsuru's eyes whirled like a mad dial.

"It really is him. Becoming Admiral in just three years..."

"That's several years faster than I estimated!"

She figured Klein's talent meant five to ten years for Admiral.

Reality...

Three years!

Blazing speed, pre-graduation even.

Tsuru eyed the surging cadet crowd, sighing within:

"This guy's seriously a demon lord..."

Crescent Bay Port erupted in fervor.

"Klein!? The guy who opened a bathhouse on campus and had a statue made? The one who beat Kong three years ago!?"

"No way! He was just a cadet three years ago, and now he's a Marine Admiral? How'd he pull that off?"

"Klein—the Marine hailed as the greatest genius in history. Sure, he's a genius, but this is ridiculous—he's already an Admiral!?"

"So jealous. If only I could be the one becoming an Admiral…"

"······"

Plaza's fringe—

Kaido perched on Loki's shoulder, surveying from high.

"Wow—so many Marines! If they got into a massive fight with pirates, that'd be so thrilling!"

Kaido's gaze ignited, fists balled tight.

Kingdom of Vodka, his birthplace, ravaged by endless war.

Battle's core etched deep in his marrow.

Loki flashed a broad smile:

"Following Ohyaji, we'll never run out of battles. Not to mention Gloriosa and Shakky—there'll always be fools trying to steal them."

"I've done plenty of fighting these past three years."

Ancient giant blood coursed in Loki, marking him a natural fighter.

His frame hungered for strife!

Thus, he meshed perfectly with Kaido—birds of a feather.

Sharing the same brew.

Beside Loki stood giant-race Marine Vice Admirals.

Knowing his lineage, they showed profound reverence—not like Elbaf's "cursed prince" scorn.

Finally, Loki tasted respect beyond curse stigma.

"Whew—"

Shakky's slim fingers shook faintly around her cigarette.

"What a grand occasion. Over ten thousand Marines, so many newspaper agencies... I wouldn't be surprised if news of Klein-sama's promotion spreads across the world in a matter of days."

She observed reporters, many jotting feverishly in notebooks.

Intense focus, sweat dripping—it mimicked their private war.

"Heehee—"

Linlin batted her large round eyes, beaming joyfully at surroundings. All felt novel and thrilling. Dreamily, she whispered:

"When I marry Klein in the future, our wedding has to be even more grand than this."

Mischief gleamed in her eyes:

"Maybe we should invite some unique races—like Fishmen, or Minks... That would really spice things up!"

"..."

Newgate stood mute. Under breath:

"Linlin really loves Big Bro Klein. Most of the time, she's thinking about marriage or having kids."

A devoted romantic through and through.

Gloriosa soothed her uneasy pet snake.

Nearby potent presences had rattled it badly.

"It's no wonder—it's a Marine Admiral after all. Counting Klein, there are only two of them in the entire organization right now."

"That's the highest honor in the Marines!"

"I'm sure Klein-sama's heart is racing too."