Joining the Marines Today

"Excuse me, how do I get to Training Ground Six?"

The marine who was stopped was taken aback at first, and then quickly gave a military salute.

"Yes, sir!"

"Please walk three kilometers to the left, and the training ground on your right is the sixth training ground!"

"Yes, thank you."

"You're welcome, sir!"

After the young man in a suit, wearing the colonel's "Justice" coat, who had asked for directions, left, the marine frowned in confusion.

"That shouldn't be the case. I can recite every single officer at headquarters by heart..."

"You do not know?"

Another marine looked at his colleague.

"This is the famous 'Parachuting Colonel,' but judging from his appearance, he's probably never even stood at attention for a single day..."

"This guy can be a colonel? You must be kidding me."

"Otherwise what? Where do you think he got the title of 'Parachuting Colonel'? It must be related to some big shot..."

"Who has such influence? It can't be the Fleet Admiral Sengoku, can it?"

"Are you kidding me...?"

······

Young man, you've hit the nail on the head.

Roman, cloaked in the Justice Coat, shook his head with amusement. It seemed his reputation as a junior colonel had already made quite a splash throughout Marine Headquarters. But:

In this Marine Headquarters, the minimum rank required to independently command a warship is colonel! Unless Roman wants to be someone's errand boy—especially after Garp announced his retirement, Roman doesn't want someone else above him to be in charge.

"Alright, a naval life starting from scratch? Hopefully—"

?

Okay, let's not hope for it anymore.

Roman glanced at the sign for 'Sixth Training Ground' next to him, and at a group of crooked, slovenly-looking 'navies', and rubbed his temples.

You scoundrel from the Sengoku, you schemed against me!

"Hey, this 'Parachuting Colonel,' I don't recognize him."

A guy with an exaggeratedly blond fringe stood up from another marine. —This marine, well, several marines were lying on the ground as human 'chairs,' while the others looked like...

Brilliant, a whole bunch of 'junior officers'.

Did the Warring Sengoku send over a bunch of 'gilded' troublesome guys?

That makes sense. He so easily agreed to let Roman join the navy, and then so easily put Roman in command of a warship. Turns out he was just using him as a dumping ground. So:

"Attention, everyone!"

Faced with Roman's words, everyone in the training field was first taken aback, and then:

The audience burst into laughter!

Hahahaha~~~

Do you know where this place is?

"Haha, newbie here, who's your husband?"

"You want us to stand at attention? Fine, we'll make you stand at attention, guys!"

Roman chuckled as he looked at the several 'school officers' with their sleeves rolled up, exuding a certain martial prowess.

Very energetic!

I like.

······

"Stand at attention!"

Snap!

In the sixth training field, a group of... bruised and battered officers and marines stood tall and straight, heads held high, eyes fixed straight ahead, for the first time in their lives. The reason, of course, was:

"My dad is..."

Crackling sounds!

My grandfather is...

Crackling sounds!

"Have mercy, sir!!"

Crackling sounds!

???

"Sorry, I got carried away. — Get over there and stand at attention!"

"Ah... ah... yes, yes, I'll get out, I'll get out~~~"

OK, all done.

If reasoning doesn't work, then use your fists to make it work!

As for this guy having a powerful background? Ha! More powerful than Celestial Dragons? Surely Celestial Dragons wouldn't just join the Marines, would they?

"Very good, I have felt everyone's enthusiasm. I believe that under my leadership, our unit will surely be able to carry forward the naval spirit of not being afraid of difficulties and being willing to sacrifice... (500 words omitted here) in the great... (3000 words omitted here)"

!!!!!!!

As Roman rambled on, several guys in the front row, who clearly looked like rich kids, started trembling. Then:

Snap,

"Colonel! Someone has fainted."

"Don't panic," Roman said, waving his hand as a bucket of cold water appeared out of nowhere and poured over the blond man with bangs who had collapsed in less than half an hour.

"Ah!"

"Isn't that energetic? Continue—"

I·····

Forget it, a wise man doesn't fight a losing battle.

He got up and looked at Roman, whose fists were clenched so tightly they were cracking, and who had a malicious look on his face. The blond man decided, 'I'm a magnanimous man; I won't stoop to the level of this barbarian.' Just wait and see—

Just a colonel...

"Just a mere colonel,"

?

"Is that what you think?"

Roman patted the other person on the shoulder, looking 'kind and friendly'.

"I think you're all a bit too weak. How about this: stand for another hour, then I'll allow you to go home and 'rest' for fifteen minutes. You can do whatever you want, but:"

Roman's expression turned serious as he glanced at the group of eager second-generation rich kids.

"Those who leave here, come back and stand for another three hours!"

"What, aren't you going back to get reinforcements?"

Roman glanced at the blond man in surprise. This guy was probably one of the most powerful people in the group, but he had managed to stay for an hour without leaving.

"Hmph, do you think I'm stupid?"

The blond man, trembling as if struck by the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, scoffed, "Several people of similar status to me have already left. They can handle you without me needing to get involved. Besides:"

So confident and fearless, it seems... there's probably no hope of revenge.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before several dejected young officers returned and stood at attention without a word, drawing the attention of the rest of the officers.

This... this new colonel has quite an impressive background.

"You--"

Roman pointed to the blond man.

"What's your name?"

"Sir, Captain Borgin reporting for duty!"

"Very good, from today onwards you will be my adjutant."

Roman was too lazy to resort to any other tricks like "establishing authority" or "boosting morale." He just wanted the other party to help him manage the group of "Second-generation Marine" behind him.

"Everyone, you have half an hour of free time!"

Even if you've never seen a pig run, you've at least eaten pork. Anyway, Roman doesn't expect these guys to be of much use; he just hopes they don't hold him back.

"Borgin, go to headquarters and ask when our warships will be allocated."

??

"No way, boss?"

Having discovered that his opponent had powerful backing and formidable strength, Captain Borgin decided against further "challenge" him. However:

"We're all here to 'gild our resumes,' what would we need warships for?"

Roman gave the other person a strange look.

"Of course, we're going out in warships to capture pirates, otherwise what kind of navy would we be?"

"... Brother, if you want to die, don't drag it out..." But when he met Roman's gaze, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. The blond Borgin had no choice but to nod.

"Okay, I'll go ask..."

Just asking, don't expect anything—

"Hmm, not bad warship. But..."

Looking at the short-haired, orange-red girl disembarking from the ship, Roman glanced at her navy coat. Was she also a naval officer?

"Colonel Roman! Hello."

The female colonel gave a serious military salute. "I am Major Isca, sent by headquarters to monitor you. Nice to meet you."

... Uh... does it have to be this direct?

Roman sized up the serious-looking, brown-tinted glasses-wearing young colonel. To have risen to the rank of major at such a young age was undoubtedly genius. However:

"Major Isca... feeling unwell lately?"

Faced with Roman's words, Major Isca, the beautiful woman with red eyes, simply shook her head calmly.

"It's just witnessing a friend's death, nothing serious."

"All right,"

Regardless of who you are, Roman was genuinely and sincerely preparing to capture pirates. Because Garp was also busy suppressing pirates around, he could only teach Roman when he had some free time.

"Everyone, prepare to depart!"

?!

"Colonel Roman, is it appropriate for us to go to sea like this?"

Among these "second-generation naval officers," Borgin, who had the widest circle of friends, had no choice but to step forward.

"A while ago, there was an escape from Impel Down, followed by Whitebeard's death, which led to a large number of pirates rising up..." Roman with an air of righteous indignation, as if these things had nothing to do with him. "As members of the Marines, the sooner we bring those pirates to justice, the more ordinary people can live in peace!"

·······

You're the boss, so you make the decisions!

As the warship carrying Roman and a group of pampered soldiers set sail, in Sengoku's office at Marine Headquarters:

"Fleet Admiral, is this... is this appropriate...?"

Several Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral filled the office to the brim. After all, these experts were all muscular and burly, with three meters being the normal height, and six or seven meters being not uncommon.

"Even the Celestial Dragons dare to personally get involved. Is your son more cunning than Celestial Dragons?"

Faced with the impatient Sengoku, several generals waved their hands repeatedly.

"That's not what we meant. What we meant was... is this Roman reliable?"

Alas, even naval commanders are not immune to matters of the heart.

These people charge into battle with swords drawn, fighting desperately against pirates without batting an eye! But when it comes to their own sons, they all shamelessly come to him to inquire about information.

"Don't worry, everyone,"

Sengoku possessed all the intelligence the Straw Hat crew had gathered since they set sail.

"That Roman is much more reliable than you think."