The Young Comedic Flying Squirrel and Hoshigaki

At 4:00 AM in Marine Headquarters, Marineford, a figure was running at a steady pace around the massive training grounds behind the Fortress of Justice.

The figure wore a black athletic vest that clung tightly, highlighting the perfect lines of his muscles, paired with slightly loose cargo pants and black leather boots. To be honest, it wasn't exactly workout attire, but it did give off a stronger sense of power.

Aside from that, the figure also carried a warhammer that looked incredibly heavy. Without a doubt, this person was Ortolan.

4:00 AM was already quite early, but clearly, the elite of the Marines weren't lacking in this kind of early-morning training spirit.

Young Momonga, fastening weights around his waist, walked into the training grounds and immediately spotted the running figure. Normally, he and Hoshigaki were the first to arrive for training here—who could be earlier than them today?

Before Momonga could make out who it was, a puff of smoke drifted into his face. He waved his hand in mild annoyance, dispersing the smoke as he said, "I've told you, don't start smoking your cigar this early in the morning!"

Sure enough, the smoke came from Hoshigaki's mouth nearby. Hoshigaki wore a warm, gentle smile, a freshly lit cigar clamped between his teeth, and chuckled, "Don't you think it's cool?"

"Not cool at all!" Momonga shot back at Hoshigaki, then asked, "Who's that guy? I feel like I've never seen him before."

"I haven't either." Hoshigaki shook his head, then added, "But I think I heard something. Yesterday at noon, Mr. Garp brought back a new recruit, personally recommended to join the Marines. He's supposed to be placed under Admiral Zephyr. If nothing's off, that's him."

"A new recruit? Personally trained by Admiral Zephyr?" Momonga repeated in surprise, then, as if it clicked, said even more astonished, "If Admiral Zephyr is training him personally, doesn't that basically mean he's going straight into the Officer Training Camp program in half a month?"

"Probably. He was brought back by Mr. Garp himself, so he was always meant to be groomed as an officer. Why are you so surprised?" Hoshigaki said calmly.

"I just can't help feeling bitter. Think about it—we've been in the Marines for so long, giving it our all, just to earn the rank of Rear Admiral and get a chance to join this Officer Training Camp and become Admiral Zephyr's disciples... And this new guy gets the same treatment from the start. I know that if he's getting this treatment, it means he's at least on the same level as monsters like Kuzan. But still, I'm jealous, Hoshigaki!" Momonga said, his face full of envy.

"You're jealous of him, but look at it from another angle—who knows how many people are jealous of us? Becoming part of the first Officer Training Camp, becoming Admiral Zephyr's disciples... There are countless Rear Admirals at Marine Headquarters, but how many get in?" Hoshigaki comforted him.

That was true. Momonga and Hoshigaki, while they might never have the strength or qualifications to become Marine Admirals, were certainly capable of serving as elite Vice Admirals. What did that position represent?

It meant that they, along with Kuzan, Sakazuki, Borsalino, Gion, Tokikake, and other top Marine fighters, were the core backbone of the Marines!

They could take on important roles in various situations and would be active in major incidents!

Given the scale of the Marines, that was far beyond one in ten thousand—they were the elite of the elite!

While Momonga and Hoshigaki were curious about Ortolan, Ortolan had also noticed them. Soon, after finishing most of a lap, he gradually slowed down and eventually stopped right in front of them, smiling and waving a hand as a greeting.

Though they were a bit envious of Ortolan's high starting point, it was just normal envy. Both Momonga and Hoshigaki were genuinely good and upright people.

They wouldn't try to trip him up or give him a hard time because of that.

Seeing Ortolan's greeting, Momonga raised his hand and waved back, then took the initiative to speak: "I'm Momonga, and this guy's Hoshigaki. We're both Rear Admirals at Headquarters. Haven't seen you before, but I heard yesterday that Mr. Garp brought back a new guy. Is that you?"

Ortolan took the towel hanging around his neck, wiped the sweat off his face, and said, "That's me. I'm Ortolan, Bane Ortolan, eighteen years old... Yeah, I'm a new recruit, but technically, I haven't officially enlisted yet. That'll be in half a month..."

"Just as I thought!" Momonga cut him off, his face full of envy. "Just as I thought—you're a specially recruited monster, just like Kuzan, Sakazuki, and the others! You're joining Admiral Zephyr's new Officer Training Camp in half a month, right? And you'll be promoted straight to Rear Admiral after graduation, right? Damn, I'm so jealous!"

In Ortolan's memory, Momonga was usually pretty aloof later on, but he never expected the younger version to be like this. Still, he didn't know how to respond to that, so he just smiled kindly in reply.

Right, yesterday he'd gone with Garp to meet the Marine big shot, Admiral Zephyr. Ortolan could tell right away that Zephyr and Garp were pretty close. Plus, it seemed Zephyr was just about to start a military academy and act as its principal.

As soon as Garp spoke up, Zephyr agreed without a second thought, planning to use a special recruitment method to get Ortolan into the Officer Training Camp, which would officially open in Marineford in half a month. Once he graduated with full marks, anyone below Rear Admiral would be promoted to Rear Admiral immediately, and anyone already at Rear Admiral would be promoted to Vice Admiral.

As for those above Rear Admiral? No. That rank and above weren't part of this program—at least not for the first class.

Momonga kept chattering on and on, and it took Hoshigaki a while to find a chance to cut in. He chuckled and said, "Getting up this early shows you're both talented and hardworking. Hope we can improve together in the future!"

Ortolan smiled and nodded at Hoshigaki, then said, "Honestly, it's mostly jet lag. I rushed back from the New World with Mr. Garp, and my body clock hasn't adjusted yet. So around 3:00 AM, I couldn't sleep anymore..."

"So you haven't been running laps for long either?" Momonga asked curiously, then, before Ortolan could answer, added in confusion, "Then why are you already drenched in sweat? Someone like Sakazuki might run for two hours before he even considers that a warm-up."

"Probably because of the weight?" Ortolan said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Momonga laughed heartily, patted the metal weights strapped around his waist, and said loudly, "Don't joke around. It's just a warhammer. Look at this—special alloy, mixed with some rare Thousand-Ton Stone powder. Each piece weighs two hundred kilograms, and I've got four of them strapped on. Now that's weight!"

You had to admit, everyone in this world was a monster in their own right. In the original world, Momonga's strength alone would crush everyone else.

But now, Ortolan smiled a little "sheepishly," took off his warhammer, gently placed it in front of Momonga, and gestured for him to try it.

Momonga, being straightforward, didn't hesitate. He grabbed the handle with both hands and heaved upward... and it didn't budge!

Back then, even Cracker, who inherited Charlotte Linlin's bloodline and, while not born with superhuman strength, was still incredibly strong, had almost failed to lift this thing. Momonga, weaker than Cracker in strength, couldn't move it at all!

"What is this? Did you infuse it with a Devil Fruit ability or something? How can it be this heavy!?" Momonga stared at Ortolan in disbelief.

"Five pieces of Thousand-Ton Stone," Ortolan said calmly.

Hoshigaki, remembering how proudly Momonga had just said "mixed with some Thousand-Ton Stone powder," burst out laughing.

Momonga's face reddened a bit, but then he clapped Ortolan on the arm and said, "Respect, respect. Just for this, I fully accept your special recruitment status. As expected, all specially recruited guys are monsters!"