Familiar Faces

Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, Momousagi?!

It looked like it really was her.

However, judging by her uniform, Momousagi was still only a Rear Admiral.

"Since we have some new students, I'll introduce the situation. My name is Momousagi, and I'm your Vice Chief Instructor. Your Chief Instructor is the famous Mr. Zephyr. The old man is extremely busy, so I'll be responsible for your training and other daily activities."

[Black Arm] Zephyr's name was known by everyone. He had originally been a Marine Headquarters Admiral, but later stepped back from active duty and became the Marines' Chief Instructor. Most of the Marines' high-ranking General Officers, Field Officers, and other officials had been his students.

I never expected him to become my Chief Instructor today, Leiyin thought.

Momousagi: "Leiyin, fall in. Morning exercises are starting."

"Yes."

The Marine Headquarters was nothing like a local place such as Rogue Town. It was full of hidden experts and outstanding elites, so Leiyin did not dare be careless.

As Leiyin took his place in the formation, he saw a girl standing beside an empty spot.

Another beautiful girl.

She had alluring eyes, full red lips, and a head of pink hair. Her curvaceous figure was perfectly outlined by her Marine uniform. She would later become a Marine Headquarters colonel, then be promoted to Rear Admiral. For now, she was a Training Camp lieutenant cadet.

Could this be—

[Black Cage] Hina?!

Just as the old man had said, she was also in the Training Camp. Seeing her in person, Leiyin realized that she was even more alluring than people claimed.

While Leiyin was lost in thought, Hina suddenly stepped into the empty spot. She then gave Leiyin a disdainful look, clearly looking down on him as a mere Second-Class Seaman and telling him not to stand beside her.

Leiyin shook his head helplessly inwardly. I didn't expect her to be so aloof. Whatever. There's no point arguing with a woman.

"Come over here. There happens to be an empty spot."

A gentle voice came from nearby. Leiyin looked over and saw another girl.

Another beautiful girl.

She had long, wavy sea-blue hair and bright, spirited eyes. Her figure was no less impressive than Hina's. She had the air of an older sister, yet the temperament of a little girl. For now, she was a Training Camp Second Lieutenant cadet.

Could this be—

Ain, the former Marine Admiral Zephyr's most loyal student?!

Leiyin looked at her, said "Thank you," and stood beside her. Ain gave him a sweet smile.

After morning exercises ended, following Instructor Momousagi's orders, Leiyin and Beligood were punished with thirty laps around the training field.

Beligood had a mushroom-shaped afro, heavy dark circles under his eyes, and a treacherous smile that rarely left his face. Leiyin still remembered that he was a Paramecia user of the Bean Bean Fruit. Years later, he would become a Marine Headquarters colonel.

At first, the two ran separately. Before long, Beligood caught up to Leiyin's side.

As he ran, he looked at Leiyin with the same ill-intentioned grin. "Hey, new kid, what's your name?"

"Leiyin."

"Oh, whatever your name is, let me tell you something. Not only did you get me punished and make me run with you today, but I also saw you flirting with our campus beauty, Ain. You're really pissing me off."

Leiyin gave a contemptuous smile. "Oh, so you're interested in Ain."

"Cut the crap. Let me tell you, she's a Second Lieutenant cadet, the student Teacher Zephyr trusts most, and she's beautiful to boot. What are you, just a mere Second-Class Seaman? Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself, you nobody who knows where you came from?" Beligood spat venomously.

Hearing this, Leiyin was furious. He immediately threw a punch, but Beligood dispersed using the Bean Bean Fruit and easily dodged the attack.

Just as Leiyin was preparing to use a ninjutsu technique, Beligood returned to his original form and said, "Kid, don't show off here. If you've got the guts, fight me openly like a man. Do you dare?"

Hearing this, Leiyin abandoned his attack and looked at him. "Then tell me. How are we fighting?"

Beligood: "After afternoon training ends, we'll have a one-on-one fight in the open area beside Training Ground Six."

Leiyin: "Whoever doesn't show up is a coward."

"I'll beat you flat."

"Hmph."

Leiyin ignored him and continued running.

After returning from his punishment and joining the training, Leiyin discovered that many of his classmates would later become famous figures in the Marines.

Because Leiyin's rank was too low, many of them looked down on him. Ain, however, was gentle and kind by nature, and for some reason, she felt an instant sense of familiarity with Leiyin.

During physical training, the two sat together. Leiyin saw a man dressed casually, though somewhat strangely. Pointing at him, he asked Ain, "We're all wearing Marine uniforms. Why is he the only one wearing his own clothes?"

Ain said, "Oh, he's the strongest student in our Training Camp. He also has the highest rank and is the only Field Officer-level cadet."

Leiyin took a careful look. The man had an "X" marked on his chin and chest, a hooked nose, and an eyepatch over one eye. His hat resembled the kind worn by swordsmen in the Middle Ages. Overall, he looked like an American swordsman. An axe for four people hung at his right side, while a Western sword was worn on his left. He also had a black mask covering his face.

This was?!

Leiyin could not help widening his eyes.

Ain continued, "His name is X-Drake, the only Lieutenant Commander cadet in the Training Camp. The academy regulations state that cadets above the rank of Major may wear their own casual clothes, so he's the only one dressed like this in the entire Training Camp."

Leiyin naturally knew that Drake would later become a Marine Rear Admiral, then defect and become a pirate. When he was in the Sabaody Archipelago, he would be one of the Eleven Supernovas, with a bounty of 222 million Beli.

But that was a story for later.

Another cadet was doing pull-ups. He had short, silver hair, goggles hanging around his neck, and a Seastone jitte strapped to his back.

Leiyin recognized him at a glance.

This was?!

[White Hunter] Smoker?!

Following Leiyin's gaze, Ain said, "Oh, him? His name is Smoker. He's a Captain cadet and the only Logia Fruit user in the Training Camp—the Smoke-Smoke Fruit. He ranks among the top three in almost every Ranking Assessment, and his strength is formidable."

After hearing Ain's explanation, Leiyin asked, "Ranking Assessment?"

"That's right. You didn't know? In two months, the Ranking Tournament will be held. The cadets will advance through one-on-one elimination matches, and their ranks will be assigned according to the results. The more matches they win, the higher they rank and the higher the rank they receive. That also means greater room for promotion."

Although Leiyin's face remained calm after hearing this, his heart surged with excitement. This is an opportunity for me. I have to seize it.

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