Marine Headquarters, on the road back from the coast to Marineford Town, the battered new recruits all stared blankly ahead, their arms hanging limp before them and swaying with every step like virus-infected zombies.
Among them, Rice, with his mohawk, sidled up to the stern-faced Doberman and said, "Your performance today was rather strange."
"What are you trying to say?" Doberman's hands were equally sore and weak, yet his expression remained severe and solemn.
"On your first day here, you and Herbert got thrown into confinement for beating someone up. By rights, troublemakers like you should have jumped out today to oppose Senior Longinus's instruction, shouldn't you?"
"Idiot!" Doberman spat out the two words coldly before turning a blazing gaze toward the figure at the front of the group. "To suppress the Impel Down riot, he could kill thousands of escaped pirates without batting an eye. To eliminate the fallout from the incident, he could ruthlessly and decisively kill the world's most beautiful woman. Having a true Marine like Captain Longinus instruct us is exactly what I've been hoping for!"
Rice froze, then said speechlessly after a while, "I never expected you to be a loyal admirer of Captain Longinus too, just like me. I was originally planning to show off in front of Senior Longinus when you started nitpicking."
"Unlike a shallow man like you, what I admire is true Justice. If the captain's actions ever run counter to the ideals of Justice, I will step forward to oppose him without hesitation!" Doberman said coldly.
"Haha! You'll never see that day. After all, Senior Longinus is a hero, just like Vice Admiral Garp!"
"A hero? I'd really like to test the measure of his spirit!" A hoarse voice sounded beside them, startling even Rice.
When he turned around, he