Momonga and Tokikake, Crouching Dragon and Hidden Phoenix!

At first, when Momonga mentioned something about a class, Bane Ortolan subconsciously figured there would be a few dozen people. But by the time all the students seemed to have arrived and Admiral Zephyr was standing at the podium, Ortolan finally realized that the "class" he had in mind and the "class" Momonga and the others were talking about were two completely different concepts.

The "class" Momonga and the others referred to was only about a dozen people!

And basically, Ortolan could recognize all of them!

The trio went without saying, but the later arrivals included Onigumo, Doberman, Dalmatian, Stolobey, Stainless, and Kaisa—all members of Marine Headquarters.

Right after them came someone who wasn't from Marine Headquarters, and no one recognized him, but Ortolan did. The guy looked a bit sleazy, not just in appearance but also because he had a habit of hunching his shoulders and ducking his head. His whole demeanor came off as somewhat shady. His name was Tokikake.

Among this group of Marine Headquarters officers and commanders, Tokikake, a Marine Colonel from a branch base, was indeed quite unremarkable. But Ortolan knew that out of everyone here, Tokikake would later become the most outstanding. Not only would he become a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, but he would also become a Marine Admiral Candidate!

Earlier, when Ortolan heard the name "Colonel Kaisa," he thought it might be a woman and felt a little anticipation. But it turned out Kaisa was also a man, and surprisingly, he was a top-tier blonde handsome guy—the only one in this class who could threaten Ortolan's looks.

As things stood, the whole class was made up of men. Not a single woman!

On the podium, Admiral Zephyr cheerfully took off his sunglasses, looked at the crowd seated below, and said, "Is everyone here?"

After scanning the room, Zephyr raised an eyebrow. "Still one short."

At that, the Marine officers in the class were a bit surprised. Someone was still missing? Who was that cocky? Daring to be late?

Even Ortolan was taken aback. Showing up late at a time like this was usually the protagonist's move in stories. But wasn't I supposed to be the protagonist?

Someone actually outshowing me? My bad—I came too early!

Just then, as if on cue, the classroom door slid open. A female Marine in a pink women's suit, showing off long legs and a figure that was downright scandalous, leaned against the doorframe, panting heavily, her absolute justice bouncing as she said, "Sorry, sorry, Admiral Zephyr. I had urgent intelligence to report and got a bit late!"

The moment the female Marine finished speaking, before Admiral Zephyr could respond, Tokikake, sitting in the last row, acted like he'd taken the wrong pills. He stood up straight, bowed, and extended a hand toward the female Marine. "Nice to meet you. I'm Tokikake, a Colonel from Marine Base G-6. I don't even know your name yet, and this might be presumptuous, but I have to say—please go out with me!!!"

Ortolan recognized her instantly. This female Marine was the future Admiral Candidate, Momousagi, Gion!

But he still hadn't expected Tokikake to be such a bold madman. Did he not care about the occasion at all?

And then, after Tokikake said that, the Marine officers in the class seemed to snap out of it. One by one, they looked at Tokikake with admiration and disbelief, and some even had a hint of jealousy in their eyes... Yeah, that was Momonga.

"Dammit, I was first!" Momonga gritted his teeth.

"What are you talking about?" Ortolan asked quietly.

"A month ago, I got some important intel on the high seas and had the honor of personally visiting the Intelligence Staff Department. I got in touch with the beautiful Gion and got her Den Den Mushi number..." Momonga said through clenched teeth.

Hoshigaki, sitting nearby, cut in at the right moment. "It was the shared Den Den Mushi for Intelligence Section Two."

"What's the difference? Gion was the one answering it!" Momonga shot Hoshigaki a glare, then turned back to Ortolan. "I was thinking I'd ask her out for a meal when I got the chance, but... someone beat me to the confession!"

"You waited a whole month, and you're blaming someone else for going first?" Ortolan couldn't help but mock.

"Cough..." Momonga said, a bit embarrassed. "I was just under a lot of pressure, okay? Only some reckless guy from a branch base would be this direct."

"So Gion's really popular?" Ortolan asked.

"She's known as the number one beauty of Marine Headquarters, what do you think? The guys who want to chase her could line up from Marineford all the way to Mary Geoise. But so far, no one's succeeded." Momonga said without hesitation.

Just then, Gion seemed to snap out of her shock. She looked at Tokikake and politely shook her head. "Sorry, but you're not my type~"

The moment Gion refused, the male Marines in the class all lit up. Someone even clapped a couple of times. Ortolan followed the sound and saw it was Onigumo!

Wouldn't have guessed it. That guy had been putting on a cold, aloof face since he walked in, but underneath, he was that much of a closet pervert?

Tokikake seemed to have plenty of experience with rejection. Hearing Gion's answer, he straightened up with a look of regret, withdrew his hand, and said, "Even though you've rejected me now, it's definitely because we don't know each other yet. Once you truly understand me, you'll realize what an outstanding man I am. I believe that by then, you won't reject me again. That's right—I won't give up. Once, a hundred times, I'll keep confessing!!!"

In a setting like this, with a Marine Admiral standing on the podium, saying something like that—Ortolan couldn't help but want to give Tokikake a thumbs-up!

"When it comes to making things awkward with confessions, I, Bane Ortolan, hereby declare you the strongest, Brother Tokikake!"

On the podium, Zephyr thought to himself, I've been an Admiral for years. What scene haven't I seen? But right now, he really felt like saying, "I've never seen this scene before!"

Just as Gion was at a loss for how to respond to Tokikake, Admiral Zephyr spoke up at the right moment. "Alright, alright, that's enough fooling around. Since there was a reason, I'll forgive your lateness this time. Go find a seat and sit down!"

"Yes, Teacher Zephyr!" Gion took the cue and called him teacher, then looked around the classroom for a seat.

Tokikake, ever the troublemaker, stood up very gentlemanly and cleared the empty seat next to him, motioning for Gion to sit there.

Right. Since Tokikake was an outsider and didn't know anyone here, he was sitting in the last row. That also meant he was the only one with an empty seat beside him, so Gion could share a desk with him directly!

Ortolan's deskmate, Momonga, was practically green with envy. He gripped the table, his face twisted with jealousy, wishing he could switch places!

If Tokikake hadn't suddenly confessed and made things awkward earlier, Gion wouldn't have been rude enough to refuse. But now, she really didn't want to sit next to him and risk her studies. So she scanned the room, and as if spotting something, she quickly made her way to where Ortolan's trio was sitting.

Momonga saw his goddess approaching and was overjoyed. Could luck be falling into my lap?

He even glanced at Ortolan and nudged him with his elbow. "If Gion wants to sit here and be my deskmate, you'll have to move to the back, buddy!"

Ortolan shot Momonga, that ungrateful bastard, a look. "Then you owe me five rounds of drinks!"

"No problem, even fifty rounds!" Momonga agreed immediately.

Just then, Gion walked up to Momonga's side and greeted him with a bright smile. "Vice Admiral Momonga, long time no see~"

Momonga's heart raced. See that!? Gion remembers me!!!

He put on a very friendly smile. "Vice Admiral Gion, long time no see. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Like, helping you get rid of my deskmate? I know you're too polite to ask, but that's fine—I'd be happy to help!

Seeing how easygoing Momonga was, Gion nodded with pleasant surprise. "Yes, I was hoping you could switch seats with me. My eyesight isn't great, and I really don't want to sit in the back row. Is that okay?"

Is that okay???

Momonga's face twitched slightly. Not really okay!

But looking at Gion's expectant expression, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. He forced a smile. "Of course, no problem. My eyesight's great—I can see the board clearly from anywhere!"

After saying that, Momonga stood up with a hint of sorrow. Hoshigaki, sitting on his other side, couldn't hold it in anymore. He covered his mouth and pounded the table, nearly choking with laughter!

Even Ortolan almost laughed out loud. I thought Tokikake was the only big shot in this class, but I didn't expect you to be a master too!