A group of naval leaders immediately reacted. The so-called "Whitebeard attacking the Navy Headquarters" was just a mix-up. However, among this group of informed individuals, one particularly clear-minded reaction stood out as refreshingly unique.

"Whitebeard III?!"

Kapu stared wide-eyed in shock, his jaw nearly hitting the ground. "That guy Newgate actually has a grandson now? Zefa! Did you kill Newgate's grandson?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Sengoku covered his face, Aokiji rubbed his forehead, and Kizaru smirked. Even the composed Crane couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

Stomm quietly glanced at Zefa beside him. Just moments ago, Zefa's face was as dark as "Armament Haki." Now it looked more like "Conqueror's Haki"—black with hints of red, and red with shades of purple.

Before Zefa could respond, Sengoku executed a "Strongman Lock." The commander's arm hooked around the vice admiral's neck, his muscular biceps pressing firmly against the latter's throat, manually "silencing" him. "Sengoku—stop me—grandson—"

Sengoku took Karp away, and the other naval leaders began to leave as well. The Navy Headquarters had many matters to attend to. If it weren't for the shocking news of "Whitebeard appearing at the Navy Headquarters," so many naval leaders wouldn’t have gathered at the training ground all at once.

Now that things had settled, everyone naturally went back to their own homes and resumed their own business. The only one still lingering at the training ground was Zefa, who currently held a nominal position.

“Can’t distinguish between good and evil! Disguising as a pirate! Spreading rumors! Undermining morale!” Zefa reprimanded, his voice firing off like a barrage of bullets.

“How could you pretend to be Whitebeard in front of so many naval colleagues?! Stomm, you’re simply out of control!”

Seeing Zefa so angry, the peacock, who had just reported him, couldn’t help but stick out her tongue. “Instructor, teacher, well, actually, Stomm and I were just messing around...”

“Messing around?” Zefa sneered, his sharp gaze immediately locking onto the peacock. “The sea is not a game or a playhouse! If you like to mess around, then I’ll play with you! Rest in place for half an hour! Then let me see how much progress you two have made recently!”

After dropping this statement, Zefa left Stomm and the peacock behind and began to walk around the vast training ground.

“Your forehand is poor!” “Your backhand is weak!” “Your footwork is sloppy!” “Your reaction is slow!” “None of you are even decent!”

Zefa continued to pace around the training ground. Every time he passed by a navy officer, he couldn’t help but give a few words of instruction, followed by some hands-on demonstrations.

Stomm and the peacock watched from a distance as Zefa entered his "teaching state," exchanging glances. “Does Zefa-sensei mean that he’s going to ‘fight’ us later?” “Fight? You think too highly of yourself, peacock, and you’re overestimating me a bit too.”

Stomm shook his head, not waiting for the peacock to respond, and sat down cross-legged to rest. Seeing this, the peacock rubbed her still slightly aching abdomen and sat down cross-legged as well.

The “battle” with Zefa was no joke! Stomm immersed himself in the 【Grand Trophy】, silently calling forth the silver trophy he had just received. Ordinary star trophies could be used to make wishes or to level up, either option being available.

The silver trophy was a three-star trophy. This meant Stomm could use this trophy to upgrade any of his attributes or abilities to three stars. If used to make a wish, Stomm could also gain a three-star ability or item through this silver trophy.

Having formally obtained a trophy for the first time, along with the “battle” that was about to take place, Stomm thought for a moment and decided to use this silver trophy to enhance his own abilities. Aside from the basic attributes of 【Physique】 and 【Haki】, Stomm had several other abilities with star ratings—

【Shave: ★★★】

【Iron Block: ★★☆】

【Paper Drawing: ★★☆】

【Moonwalk: ★★】

【Storm Leg: ★★】

【Finger Gun: ★☆】

【Swordsmanship: ★☆】

【Spear Technique: ★】

Gun shooting, swordsmanship, Six Powers. These were all skills Stomm learned at the naval academy and the new recruit training camp. Additionally, he had just obtained the 【Clay Fruit: ☆】.

Stomm rubbed the 【Devil's Ring】 on his thumb. He had made a decision on which ability to enhance. “My strength relies entirely on effort, 【Grand Trophy】 upgrade!” Stomm smashed the silver trophy onto the 【Clay Fruit】!

Under his gaze, the stars behind the 【Clay Fruit】 fluctuated.

【Clay Fruit: ★★★】 “Is that it?”

Stomm closed his eyes to carefully sense it. However, he didn’t feel any "knowledge surging" or "enlightenment." “Ah, this...”

Stomm opened his eyes skeptically and raised his right hand to unleash his ability. A mass of white clay erupted from his palm.

In that instant, it felt as if Stomm was inspired, and endless ideas surged in his mind. Under his control, that mass of white clay quickly transformed, as if it suddenly "came to life."

The imposing dragon head, the carefully arranged dragon scales, the majestic dragon wings, the agile dragon tail... A vividly detailed, lifelike mini Blue-Eyes White Dragon proudly stood in the palm of Stomm’s hand.

If the earlier "Whitebeard III" was merely a shoddy clay figurine produced in a workshop, then the current "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" was a finely crafted clay model designed by an international illusion company.

Stomm's inspiration was overflowing, nearly spilling out!

However... "Is this what you call Whitebeard?"

Zefa swung his left fist and effortlessly smashed a giant clay figure of Whitebeard III. "Is this what you call White III?"

The mechanical arm "Crusher" swept through the area, and another clay figure of Whitebeard III was completely obliterated. "And Edward Teach?"

Zefa used his right arm's Crusher to slam the ground, causing the clay-covered earth to crack inch by inch. Several clay figures of Whitebeard III that surrounded him immediately flew into the air.

Zefa swung his left fist towards the sky, and invisible Armament Haki burst forth, forming a powerful storm. The clay figures flying in the air spun continuously in this storm, fragile as rag dolls, utterly destroyed. "Stomm!"

Zefa's feet stomped heavily on the ground as he flew toward Stomm. "You rely too much on your Devil Fruit ability!"

Bang! Zefa swung his massive, heavy mechanical arm "Crusher," obliterating the "Stomm" in front of him into dust.

The clay-covered ground trembled. In an open space not far away, white clay gathered together, taking shape as a disheveled Stomm appeared. "Huff... huff..."

Stomm leaned on his knees, his chest heaving violently. At his feet lay the peacock, already exhausted and unconscious.

The gap between Stomm and Zefa was like a chasm. This was something that a three-star 【Clay Fruit】 could not compensate for. Even if Stomm used the 【Devil's Ring】 to maximize the "output power" of the 【Clay Fruit】, it was still no match for Zefa.

On the contrary, Stomm could only keep fleeing from Zefa's attacks. He had managed to hold on this long solely because of the 【Clay Fruit】's ability to turn his body to clay!

Even so, after this "battle," Stomm was covered in wounds, while Zefa remained unscathed. "I'm sorry, Zefa-sensei, for not being able to make you go all out..."

Stomm panted for a while, but he didn’t wait for Zefa's next round of attack. His eyes were fixed on Zefa, who simply stood still. “Zefa-sensei?”

“Today's battle ends here.”

Zefa looked towards the horizon; the twilight was dimming, and his lesson had lasted almost an entire day. “Stomm, you have great talent in developing your Devil Fruit. With the level you just displayed, I doubt there are many pirates at the Paradise stage who could be your match.”

Stomm's earlier performance made Zefa unconsciously think of someone. The highest masterpiece of the Charlotte family—Charlotte Katakuri. Stomm's 【Clay Fruit】 was a "Special Paramecia." And Katakuri's 【Mochi Mochi Fruit】 was also a "Special Paramecia."

Zefa hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided not to use Charlotte Katakuri's example to motivate Stomm. Although he thought that Katakuri was relatively good among a group of scum... “Stomm, don’t waste your talent.”

Zefa dispelled his distractions and said solemnly. “But don’t forget one thing. On this sea, only physical strength is the foundation!”

Stomm straightened his back and replied loudly. “Yes! Zefa-sensei!”

A satisfied look briefly flashed across Zefa's face. After finishing his last lesson, he turned and waved his hand. “Pengele Stomm, next time we meet, don’t expect me to go easy on you... cough cough.”

Stomm saw Zefa's figure sway slightly, but he still walked firmly toward the setting sun. Stomm lowered his head to look at the peacock at his feet. “A blade in the darkness...”

On the first day of obtaining the 【Clay Fruit】, Stomm had fought with Zefa for almost an entire day, bringing the practical level of the 【Clay Fruit】 up to three-star data.

On the second day of obtaining the 【Clay Fruit】, Stomm trained on his own, molding flowers, trees, wolves, insects, tigers, leopards, rare birds, strange beasts, pirates, and navy.

On the third day of obtaining the 【Clay Fruit】, Stomm wanted to mold a big thunder. Unfortunately, an urgent order from the headquarters was suddenly issued. Stomm could only give up exploring the origins of life.

He went to the headquarters building to receive his assignment order and retrieve his customized weapon.

Immediately after, Stomm hurried to the headquarters dock, boarded the prison warship, rode the triangular sea current, and entered the World Government's dedicated shipping route.

Destination: the Doldrums. Impel Down.