The First Day

Kuma bent down, reaching out and lifting the unlucky pirate from the ground as if grabbing a chicken, then throwing him into the meatball that popped out of Kizaru.

This pirate was already on his last breath. After coming into contact with the meatball, he couldn't even let out a scream before completely perishing. His corpse was directly swallowed by the darkness Gigue released.

The entire operation was executed with fluid grace, leaving the onlookers stunned.

When Kizaru saw the meatball disappear, he *swish*ed back to Gigue's side, praising him.

"This method is brilliant! I'll definitely have to catch more pirates and hand them over to you in the future!"

Gigue put away the Bible and said with a smile, "Oh? Catching pirates is hard work. Aren't you tired?"

"You understand me so well~ But with Kuma's ability, having more pirates around can't be a bad thing!"

The two exchanged a smile. Although Kizaru appeared unreliable, he wasn't petty. Losing was losing, and he wouldn't let this create any rift between him and Gigue. On the contrary, their relationship had actually improved.

What's more, after this battle, Gigue's performance had conquered everyone and earned him the recognition of both Kizaru and Akainu. Now, they truly acknowledged Gigue.

Don't look at how they seemed isolated by others at the Marine Academy; in a way, weren't they also isolating others?

When the gap between people is too large, it's hard to get along.

When Gigue and the others returned to the team, Akainu looked at Gigue with burning eyes and said excitedly, "Gigue, what you just did was incredible! This is how pirates should be dealt with! I'm definitely your friend now!"

Gigue was taken aback. He thought Akainu's fighting spirit had been ignited, but it turned out to be for this reason.

Thinking about Akainu's portrayal in the manga, this was indeed very much like him.

Gigue naturally wouldn't miss such an opportunity to gain favor. He immediately extended his hand to Akainu and said with a smile, "What are you talking about? Aren't we already friends?"

Akainu nodded vigorously. He unhesitatingly grasped Gigue's hand and said with utmost seriousness, "You're right, we are friends!"

Kizaru, standing nearby, suddenly raised his hand and shouted, "Hey, hey, hey! What about me? Sakazuki, did you forget about me? We've known each other for so long, why haven't you ever said that to me? What exactly is our relationship?"

Good heavens, that sounded a bit ambiguous. A drop of cold sweat trickled down Gigue's forehead.

Looking at Akainu, under Gigue's observation, his face gradually flushed red, and wisps of steam rose from it. Gigue suddenly wanted to pull his hand back because he felt his hand getting hot.

Some perceptive individuals around them had already consciously retreated, creating an open space for Gigue, Akainu, and Kizaru.

Just as Gigue was about to use Kamui, Akainu finally regained his composure. He let go of Gigue's hand, adjusted his Marine hat, and managed to say, "Borsalino, you are also my friend."

"That's more like it!"

Kizaru's lips curled up, and he contentedly rested his arms behind his head.

Zephyr watched the three of them, a look of relief on his face.

Gigue, Kizaru, and Akainu would undoubtedly become the Navy's top fighting force in the future. If they could also band together, he couldn't imagine any force on the seas that could contend with the Navy then.

So, he immediately made a decision and said, "The performance of the three newcomers has been excellent. Gigue, I'll assign you and Kuma a dormitory first. You two will be in the same dormitory as Sakazuki and the others; there are two spots left there."

Akainu certainly had no objections to Zephyr's arrangement. Even Kizaru, who always liked to go against Zephyr, nodded in agreement.

The two beds in their dormitory had been empty for a long time. It couldn't be helped; no one was willing to live with those two monsters...

Ginny was a girl, so she was naturally assigned to the girls' dormitory. Her cheerful and lively personality made her quite popular. Moreover, with her connection to Gigue and Kuma, no one would be foolish enough to cause trouble for her.

With all arrangements made, Zephyr saw that it was getting late and decided to end the day here, with formal training starting tomorrow.

He was in a particularly good mood today and planned to find Sengoku and Garp for a few drinks at a tavern tonight.

With that thought, he waved his hand, announcing the dispersal, and the trainees erupted in cheers. However, after a long while, not a single person left the training ground.

Most of the trainees were gathered around Gigue, hoping to get to know him better. Compared to Kizaru and Akainu, Gigue seemed much easier to approach.

There was no shortage of intelligent people present. Judging by Gigue's performance today, his future achievements would undoubtedly reach a point that commanded awe.

Even though they were all trainees now, this was the Navy. After graduation, it would be incredibly easy for individuals like Gigue, Kizaru, and Akainu to earn military merits, and their ranks would skyrocket.

Previously, Kizaru and Akainu's eccentric personalities made them unapproachable. But with Gigue's arrival, these two seemed much more normal. With Gigue as the link, they could at least exchange a few words.

So, it wasn't just around Gigue that things were lively; some people were also trying to strike up conversations with Kizaru and Akainu.

If they could latch onto one of these three big shots now and become their follower, life in the Navy would be much easier later on.

Moreover, the Navy was not a peaceful profession; the mortality rate was very high. Who knew when they might encounter a powerful pirate crew at sea and be wiped out.

Building good relationships with Gigue and the others might, at the very least, save their lives at a critical moment. This was definitely a move with no downsides.

Kizaru had one hand in his pocket, maintaining his usual nonchalant demeanor. He would casually chat with anyone who approached him.

Akainu, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed, exuding an aura of "do not approach." Yet, some brave souls still approached him. Two of them were people Gigue recognized: the future Marine Vice Admirals, Doberman and Onigumo.

Kuma's performance had also been outstanding, but he gave off a somewhat reserved impression. Despite his large physique, he seemed to have a weak presence, and the fewest people approached him.

Besides, everyone could see that Kuma was completely following Gigue's lead; going to look for Kuma was the same as going directly to Gigue.

Gigue, being the youngest and best-looking of the group, naturally had the highest popularity, and he was surrounded by the most female trainees.

Surrounded by a flock of admirers, even Gigue felt a bit overwhelmed, managing only an awkwardly polite smile.

Among the male trainees looking for Gigue were Momonga and Kashou. He made sure to say a few extra words to these two, and sensing Gigue's special attention, the two men felt a flutter of joy.

Just as Gigue and the others were surrounded and unable to move, Ginny finally pushed through the crowd and, without hesitation, threw herself into Gigue's arms, saying sweetly, "Brother Gigue, I'm hungry! Let's go eat!"