NOVEL NEXT Chapter 310: Arrangements and Patience
The sea was vast, and for the strongest of the strong, Admiral-level combat power was merely the starting point for stepping onto the true high-level battlefield.
Even within the World Government's elite organizations—CP0 and the God's Knights—Daren was certain there were many who had already reached that level.
Yet, even so, Admiral-level strength remained an unreachable dream for the overwhelming majority.
To reach that tier meant establishing a solid foothold in this world, gaining the strength to stand on one's own.
From Daren's perspective, Momonga now possessed that potential. As long as he followed a steady path of development and training, it was only a matter of time before he broke through.
And once he did, so long as he didn't get surrounded by multiple enemies of equal rank or go head-to-head with legendary-level opponents, the speed and aerial dominance granted by the Goro Goro no Mi would keep him virtually untouchable.
That alone gave Daren a great deal of peace of mind.
He had far too much on his plate when it came to opposing the World Government. It was impossible for him to stay with the North Blue Fleet constantly—overseeing training, directing operations, or even protecting the fleet.
Most of the time, Daren would be out in the world, fighting on the front lines, while Momonga, as fleet commander, would handle all internal affairs—military and administrative alike—to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Beyond Momonga's role in powering the fleet, this setup was also a safer, more strategic approach.
The more chaotic things got outside, and the further Daren was from the fleet, the safer the airborne North Blue Fleet became.
And the reverse was also true.
The more hidden and elusive the fleet remained, the more it could act as a looming threat. Just the fear that it might strike at any moment would be enough to keep the World Government and other forces in check.
That kind of deterrence would give Daren the freedom to be even more aggressive.
For this to work, Daren and the fleet needed to remain as separate as possible. That was the ideal scenario.
But it came with risks.
The North Blue Fleet was designed to serve as a weapon of mass destruction, not to defend itself against individuals. If its position were exposed, even a single Admiral-level opponent could wreak havoc on it with ease.
That had always been Daren's biggest concern.
But now, things were different.
If Momonga reached the strength of an Admiral, then with the Goro Goro no Mi's high-altitude superiority, there would be very few in this world capable of stopping him.
And at that point, Daren could finally breathe easy, with nothing left to worry about.
"Only a lunatic like you would come up with something like this."
Momonga chuckled and shook his head, his tone tinged with awe.
"To think the Celestial Dragons—those gods feared across the world—are nothing more than a sharpening stone for your ambition."
"You don't have a shred of respect for authority or institutions… Daren, sometimes it feels like you're not even from this world."
Daren glanced at him and smiled.
"I just don't like being stepped on."
"Free will… will always exist."
Hearing that, Momonga's expression shifted slightly, as if remembering something. His gaze turned odd.
"Besides me, out of the entire 20,000 in the North Blue Fleet, only around 70 officers have awakened Conqueror's Haki."
Daren frowned and muttered to himself,
"Not even one percent… Looks like people with the potential for Conqueror's Haki really are one in a million."
The North Blue Fleet's recruitment process was even stricter than Marine Headquarters. Every soldier had gone through layer upon layer of screening and had endured elite training at the 321st Branch before earning their place aboard the flying fleet.
Each of them was a top-tier candidate.
Yet even among such an exceptional group, despite the emotional shock and mental jolt of slaying Celestial Dragons, fewer than a hundred had awakened Conqueror's Haki.
That kind of ratio... was undeniably rare.
Momonga, hearing the faint note of disdain in Daren's voice, replied irritably,
"That's already pretty damn impressive, alright? Awakening Conqueror's Haki is one-in-a-million."
Daren chuckled.
"Sure, but for something supposedly 'one-in-a-million,' the New World is crawling with Conqueror's Haki users like fish in a river."
"…"
"I've already placed those who awakened it into key positions and provided them with enough resources to train properly."
Daren nodded.
"Good. Then all that's left is time. We'll just have to be patient."
Cultivating talent wasn't something that happened overnight. To raise someone to the point where they could carry the weight of leadership on their own could take anywhere from three to five years—or even ten to twenty. That was the norm.
In this world, under ordinary circumstances, most strong individuals wouldn't reach the peak of their power until their thirties or forties. If nothing went wrong—no illness, no accidents—they could maintain that strength steadily into old age.
Roger, Whitebeard, Shiki… even Marine legends like Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp had all followed this pattern.
Of course, freaks like the Sun God Nika—who hit the top after just two and a half years of training—were a different story altogether.
"By the way, while you were in Pangaea Castle… did you find any weaknesses or opportunities?"
Daren suddenly remembered something. His expression turned serious.
Momonga's gaze sharpened instantly, his tone turning grim.
"In the deepest part of Pangaea Castle... I sensed something."
Just remembering that moment made his skin crawl—a chilling pressure, like being watched by a cold and merciless god. Sweat broke out on his forehead.
"There's something down there… something with a power I've never felt before."
Daren's eyes narrowed.
"So you attacked?"
Momonga nodded solemnly.
"I used my strongest move. But it didn't work."
"It didn't?" Daren frowned.
Momonga nodded again.
"Fleet Admiral Kong intercepted it. Just one casual punch, and not only did he completely nullify my attack, he also left me injured."
Daren was briefly stunned. His gaze flickered as if something had clicked, and he exhaled slowly.
"So that's how it is... Looks like we owe that old man a favor."
Momonga gave a small nod. He didn't deny it.
He knew full well—if Kong hadn't intervened and knocked him back in time, whatever that presence was deep in Pangaea Castle... it would've killed him without hesitation.
Even with the Goro Goro no Mi and his unmatched mobility, Momonga couldn't shake the instinctive certainty.
If that thing had acted, he'd be dead for sure.