Do you wish to be selected as the vessel for the [Final Embers]? It can be separated within ten seconds.
The draw attempt has been consumed and cannot be returned.
...
The tiny seed of fire was golden, its burning form extremely twisted and unstable. Just looking at it gave one an intense feeling of madness.
This thing has a higher affinity with me than the Ten-Tails?
Griffin's thoughts raced.
Is it because of... my Mangekyo?
Judging by the description alone, this flame seemed like a replica of Amaterasu—an enhanced version, of course.
According to Griffin's senses, not only did it affect others... but it was also constantly searing his own spirit!
...
The Mangekyo's Pupil Techniques were a smelting of the physical body; this flame performed a smelting of the spirit.
According to the instructions, there was no possibility of taming it...
The only outcomes were losing control and being burned to death, or using up the flame seed until it disappeared.
Just as its name suggested—Final Embers.
...
Any normal person would refuse to accept something that seemed to have no good outcome.
But the fact that Griffin could draw this item meant he was no normal person.
——
——
——
Griffin realized why Huo Qiushan was afraid of him.
It came back to the essence of the Mangekyo.
A normally awakened Mangekyo usually required witnessing the death of one's closest and most beloved, transforming extreme love into extreme pain.
The power naturally carried an ominous aura that inspired fear.
The Mangekyo was both a blessing and a curse, a contradictory and twisted combination.
...
Therefore, the expert in Uchiha studies, the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, had determined that the Uchiha clan was a group of dangerous individuals. Any normal Uchiha who opened the Mangekyo would become a madman.
The production of their special Chakra would lock the Mangekyo user's emotions to the moment of awakening, making it difficult to ever break free.
Every single Mangekyo user in the ninja world was an ultimate paranoid fanatic until they were beaten into submission.
Thinking of it that way, some of his measures became understandable.
If a group of seemingly normal people lived next door to you, but you never knew when they might go crazy and start hacking people up, wouldn't you be scared?
It could only be said that his targeting and control of the Uchiha was him doing what his position required.
...
...
Griffin was different. He hadn't suffered any psychological trauma when he awakened his Mangekyo, and his overall mindset was still positive.
His sometimes extreme actions were due to his personality, not the influence of the Mangekyo.
So even after awakening the Mangekyo, his personality hadn't undergone a major change.
...
It's the aura...
The rooting of the Final Embers had given Griffin a hidden, extremely insane and paranoid aura.
Were Lucci and Doll just used to it from being around him all the time, so they couldn't feel it, or did they simply not care?
...
Rayleigh had sensed it.
He had been watching from afar the first time Griffin had potentially awakened his Mangekyo, and that cold, terrifying aura had left a deep impression on him.
Now it was even harder to explain.
The existence of the Final Embers filled the void of the Mangekyo's "innately evil" setting. In the eyes of some, Griffin had simply gone mad.
Thinking back now...
When he returned, Akainu had also asked about his mental state.
At the time, Griffin had just thought he was a middle-aged man with a generation gap, trying to make small talk with a younger person.
...
I'm perfectly normal. That thing hasn't affected me, I'm sure of it.
Griffin stroked his chin, thinking.
Still, I should pay attention to this aura.
From the perspective of someone like Garp, do I look like a demon, just like Imu and the Five Elders?
He had heard that Garp had returned to Headquarters from the G-3 Branch during this time and would be participating in the upcoming award ceremony and Shanks's public execution.
If they met...
That old guy had no class; he always aimed for the head.
As he thought this, eight cross-shaped ice flowers bloomed around the golden flame in the depths of his consciousness.
Threads of energy surged and intertwined between the ice and fire, forming a delicate balance.
...
Lucci's brow twitched.
He sensed a subtle change in Griffin's aura.
Before, there was a scent he was very familiar with, one belonging to dark justice. Now, it was gone.
...
It doesn't matter. Any way is fine.
His gaze shifted to the side, where Doll was curiously sizing up the attic's architecture.
Heh...
You dense woman, you know nothing.
So what if you followed Griffin first? You don't understand his heart at all!
...
"What are you staring at me for?"
Sensing Lucci's gaze, Doll turned and questioned him.
"It's nothing."
Lucci sneered inwardly, clasping his hands behind his back and standing by quietly.
...
...
With that inexplicable sense of pressure gone, Huo Qiushan relaxed considerably.
He turned to look at Chin Jao and the others...
Hmph... expecting this group of oafs to read the room is asking too much.
Rear Admiral Griffin was angry just now, wasn't he?
It must have been my humble attitude that worked, calming him down.
Sigh, what would the Happo Navy do without me...
...
Griffin sipped his pomegranate juice and took the ledger Huo Qiushan handed him.
"As agreed, eighty percent of the Happo Navy's profits over the years, after expenses, have been collected in the treasury beneath the Treasure Ice Mountain."
"Excluding what you've withdrawn previously..."
"Your share, converted to Berries, should be around 27.2 billion Berries."
...
...
Griffin listened to Huo Qiushan's report as he flipped through the ledger.
He closed the book.
"There are no problems, but convert the Berries in the treasury to gold or other rare minerals. It would be best to buy Famous Swords and Devil Fruits."
Huo Qiushan was smart enough not to ask why and simply nodded in agreement.
Someone less intelligent spoke up.
"What's the use of Devil Fruits and Famous Swords? Berries are great. You can buy whatever you want, whenever you want."
Chin Jao chewed on a piece of fruit and pouted, "I'm telling you, kid Griffin, it's not that I'm heartbroken over this treasure, but you're already a big shot on the seas. You should be pursuing a higher realm."
"I think your future achievements might even surpass Garp's. You should put more effort into your training."
...
"Well said. Next time, keep your mouth shut."
Griffin gave him a faint glance, the three comma-shaped jewels in his eyes spinning.
Chin Jao shuddered, a piercing sensation of being seen through and dominated washing over him.
The feeling vanished in an instant as Griffin deactivated his Sharingan.
He wasn't doing it to meaninglessly intimidate Chin Jao, but because...
"You've gotten weaker, Chin Jao."
...
He had thought that fixing Chin Jao's Drill Head three years ago would give him a second wind, but now it seemed...
The main factor in Chin Jao's declining strength was old age, not just his flattened head.
...
Chin Jao rubbed the back of his head and laughed nonchalantly. "It's normal for old people to get weaker. My stamina just can't keep up anymore."
"But don't you worry. Before I'm completely useless, I'll definitely train a worthy successor!"
...
"You can rest assured, I've never been assured by you." Griffin shook his head helplessly and chose to speak with Huo Qiushan instead.
"You'll have to work hard on the matters here..."
He turned to Sai and Bu Wu.
"You two, come with me. I will teach you the Eight Impacts Fist Secrets."
Chin Jao was too unreliable. He could be defeated and kicked out of the Seven Warlords of the Sea at any moment.
That would make him lose face. It was better to cultivate a few more keys to the treasury.
...
"Really?! That's great!!"
"Lord Griffin, we will definitely learn well and not disappoint you for this promotion!"
"I have a friend who also admires you greatly. Can he follow you too?"
Who in the Happo Navy didn't know that Griffin's Eight Impact Fist had already surpassed that of all previous leaders, reaching a higher level?
...
A long while later, Chin Jao stared at the empty hall, reaching out as if to grasp something, only for his hand to fall empty.
Wait a minute...
I'm the 12th leader of the Happo Navy, the inheritor of the Eight Impacts Fist Secrets!
Huo Qiushan patted his old friend's hand. "It's a good thing for Sai and the others to follow Lord Griffin. Haven't you noticed that the Pirates who have come to Sabaody for coating recently have been deliberately avoiding us?"
"Do you think it's your reputation that's deterring them? It's not..."
"It's because of the man standing behind us."
...
"Watch what you say next time you see him. He is already... an undisputed big shot!"
——
——
The next day.
Marine Headquarters—Marineford.
As the silver warship sailed into the port, the shore was already buzzing with a clamorous crowd.
The moment the gangway was lowered, Marines who had long been prepared lit the fuses.
Cannons, serving as a celebratory salute, roared like thunder.