Establishing Authority

"Sin Value?"

In this world, pirates, Marines, revolutionaries, bounty hunters—who among them had never killed anyone?

Teacher Zephyr, Hina, even Lin Qi himself—none of their Sin Values could possibly be low.

Racking up Sin Value was absurdly easy.

Lin Qi suddenly wondered how much Sin Value he would get for killing a Celestial Dragon.

Arriving at the Navy Cafeteria, Lin Qi got his food and opened the shop interface while eating.

There were only six items inside.

High-Precision Sniper Rifle. Price: 350 Points.

Four Times Body Tempering Scroll (One Week). Price: 500 Points.

Sky Dial Set. Price: 10 Points.

Beginner Ability Advancement Book. Price: 500 Points.

Delicious Bread ×100. Price: 10 Points.

Logia-Type Gas-Gas Fruit. Price: Points.

There was also a countdown in the upper-right corner: 16 hours, 24 minutes, 17 seconds.

It seemed the shop refreshed every day.

Judging by the time, it refreshed at midnight each day.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Qi bought the Four Times Body Tempering Scroll (One Week) and the Beginner Ability Advancement Book from the shop, spending exactly 1,000 Points.

The former increased the effects of body tempering fourfold. Training for one week was equivalent to training for a month.

The latter could raise a beginner-level ability to the elementary level.

He immediately used it on Shave, raising Shave from beginner to elementary.

All abilities had six levels: beginner, elementary, intermediate, advanced, peak, and perfection.

"Hey, Lin Qi, where did you go last night? We waited outside your dormitory all night and never saw you."

Before Lin Qi had even finished the food on his tray, several Burly Men from the Elite Camp surrounded him.

One buzz-cut man teased, "Don't tell me you were too scared to even return to your dormitory?"

Lin Qi put down his spoon indifferently and said flatly, "What do you want?"

There was naturally no need to tell this group where he had been last night.

Seeing Lin Qi get straight to the point, they stopped wasting words.

"We're challenging you! If you lose, stay away from Miss Hina from now on. You are never allowed to harass her again!" A green-haired man named Mosiri slammed his hands on the table and roared.

The commotion drew frequent glances from the other people in the cafeteria.

Lin Qi pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. What kind of muscle-brained chuunibyou idiots were these?

"So, you're Hina's simps?"

"What's a simp?" Mosiri glared at Lin Qi, feeling that it was probably not a good word.

"A simp is someone who loves another person enough to throw caution to the wind," Lin Qi said.

So that was what a simp meant!

The men nodded frantically. "That's right! We're Miss Hina's simps!"

Lin Qi pulled out a tissue and wiped his mouth. "The matter between Hina and me doesn't seem to be any of your concern, does it?"

"Bastard! What kind of thing is that to say? We're Miss Hina's simps!" Mosiri roared.

Yosef grabbed Lin Qi by the collar and snarled, "Kid, this is how the world works. Only the strong deserve goddesses. Unless you beat us, don't go near Hina again."

"Do you understand? Goddess Hina is inviolable."

The men were not fools. Private fights were forbidden within the Marines unless both sides agreed. They merely wanted an excuse to beat Lin Qi up and vent their anger.

They usually did not even dare look at Goddess Hina too much, yet this brat had dared to forcefully kiss Hina in public. Who could tolerate that?

"Let go." Lin Qi slapped away the hand gripping his collar and said coldly, "Time and place."

Whatever the reason, they were practically shitting on his neck. If he still did nothing, he would likely leave behind an image of someone weak and easy to bully within the Marines.

Taking this chance to establish his authority in the Elite Camp was not a bad choice either.

"Good, you said it. Whoever doesn't show is the other's son." Mosiri was delighted. "Training Camp 9, half an hour from now."

He planned to get more people to come watch during those thirty minutes. Ideally, word would reach Hina's ears. Maybe her favorability toward him would shoot straight up.

Half an hour later, Lin Qi arrived at Training Ground 9 and frowned at the crowd packed three layers deep inside and three layers outside.

What were they trying to do?

"Quick, quick, make way! The main character's here." Someone spotted Lin Qi, and the crowd hurriedly opened up a path for him.

Lin Qi silently walked toward the center.

"Not bad, Lin Qi. I didn't expect you to actually accept. You've got guts—you're a real man."

"Overestimating yourself. Don't forget your results in the last assessment."

"You can't use Geppo in a place like this. Just wait for your beating."

The noisy voices continued without end. Clearly, no one believed Lin Qi would win. They all looked eager to watch a good show.

The main figures from both sides gathered in the middle of the training ground.

On one side was Lin Qi, Dual Pistols at his waist. On the other were four men holding Navy Swords.

"You didn't run. At least you know what's good for you." Yosef was in a good mood. "Hurry up and choose one of the four of us as your opponent."

"One? You think far too highly of yourselves." Lin Qi crooked a finger at the four men. "Stop wasting time. All four of you, come at me together."

Lin Qi's words instantly enraged them. "Lin Qi, you arrogant bastard! Don't forget, you can't use Geppo in Training Ground 9!"

Training Ground 9 was an indoor training ground with a roof overhead. It was clear they had put some thought into choosing the location.

One of them looked ready to rush over and beat Lin Qi senseless, but Yosef stopped him and sneered, "Fine. Since you're looking to die, we'll grant your wish."

Yosef gave a meaningful look, and Mosiri understood. He shouted to the surrounding crowd, "Everyone heard him. We aren't bullying him—it was this guy's own request."

They might accidentally lose in a one-on-one fight, but if all four of them attacked together and still could not beat Lin Qi, they might as well go haul shit for a living.

"We get it. Hurry up and start already," the crowd urged.

"Pah. Four against one? They really have no shame."

"That's Lin Qi's own death wish."

At this moment, more than half the people in Training Ground 9 had been drawn over to watch the spectacle. No one noticed two rare visitors appearing at the entrance.

One was an exceptionally lecherous-looking man, only a little less so than Kizaru. Yet judging by his bearing, he seemed to be a very kind-hearted uncle.

The other was a beautiful female Marine with fair skin and long legs.

Her long hair was tied into a bun and cascaded freely down her back, exposing her smooth forehead. Her light purple eyeshadow lent her a seductive air.

The opening of her uniform at the chest was wide, revealing half of each soft, snow-white breast that seemed ready to burst free. Seeing their size, one could not help wondering whether the buttons would pop open at the next moment even if they were fastened.

Most eye-catching of all were her long legs, slender and shapely. The Vice Admiral Uniform she wore added several degrees of uniformed allure.