After carrying out the Buster Call, Victor and all the personnel of the Special Operations Unit were given a month of leave.
The personnel of the Special Operations Unit immediately headed for the Sabaody Archipelago.
They were human too, and needed to indulge themselves.
The Sabaody Archipelago was exactly the kind of place suited for having fun.
Before all the personnel of the Special Operations Unit set out, Victor paid out of his own pocket and produced 300 million Berries.
Those 300 million Berries were enough for everyone to enjoy a hearty feast.
Naturally, all the personnel were grateful for Victor's generosity.
As for Victor,
he had other things to do.
On the first day of his leave, Victor went to the Marine cemetery.
The Marine cemetery was located in the southwestern corner of Marineford Town.
The remains of Marines from Marine Headquarters were all buried there.
Victor had come to pay his respects at the graves of his parents in this life.
He came once every year.
It was not out of filial piety.
Rather, he wanted other people to see his 'filial piety.'
Victor brought the wine and desserts the Andersons had liked most during their lives as offerings.
Red-date wine and chestnut cakes.
Victor arranged the offerings, then quietly sat beside the gravestone.
He would sit there for an entire day.
During that time, Marines would always see him.
If someone wore a mask for their entire life, that mask would become their face.
Victor had maintained this habit for a full ten years.
Therefore, everyone in Marine Headquarters believed Victor was a filial child.
How bad could a filial child be?
Now, Victor was also putting on a show for the Gorosei.
Since it was all an act, the number of spectators did not matter. As an actor, he only needed to play his role well.
"You really are here."
At that moment, a woman's voice sounded behind Victor.
It was Tsuru.
Victor did not answer.
Tsuru came to Victor's side and offered her own flowers. "Every year, whenever you have leave, you come to keep them company."
Victor asked, "Aunt Tsuru, is something wrong?"
Tsuru said, "Zephyr heard you were on leave and wants you to go to the military academy to see him tomorrow."
"Mm, I understand." Victor nodded.
Tsuru raised her hand and gently patted Victor's head. "I know you won't forget your parents' deaths, and I can't persuade you to let go of your hatred. But whatever you do, don't do anything extreme."
Victor did not answer.
Tsuru sighed softly as she looked at the Andersons' gravestone.
In her view, Victor wanted to rise through the ranks and establish a faction precisely so he could 'take revenge.'
Victor wanted to 'purify the sea.'
That meant war!
Therefore, she judged that Victor was preparing for the 'war' in the future.
Unfortunately, Tsuru could not persuade Victor.
Although she could activate her Devil Fruit ability and purify Victor's heart,
she could not do that!
Marineford Town, Marine Military Academy.
The moment Victor entered the academy, he attracted attention.
During his time at the academy, Victor had been a campus star.
Moreover, Zephyr often mentioned Victor.
Even the current Marine Body Arts textbooks contained Victor's Rokushiki Derivative Techniques and Rokushiki Cultivation Insights.
Not only did every book bear Victor's name, it also contained his photograph.
He held the records for various academy rankings.
To this day, no one had surpassed them.
At that moment, Zephyr stood on the elevated platform at the training ground, watching Victor approach step by step.
Under the gazes of all the cadets, Victor walked up onto the platform.
"Teacher Zephyr."
Victor saluted Zephyr.
Zephyr patted Victor's shoulder in satisfaction and said, "You did well."
Victor remained expressionless.
At that moment, the cadets in the training ground were watching Victor.
Most of their eyes were filled with admiration.
Two years ago, Victor had graduated from this place. Now, he was the most dazzling rising star in Marine Headquarters.
The news of his defeat and capture of Count Red was already known throughout the world.
Among the crowd, a young man with a headscarf was looking at Victor.
"Kuzan!" Zephyr looked at the young man and called his name. "Come up here!"
Kuzan was very energetic at this age. He was not only talkative but also full of vigor.
He yearned for justice and looked forward to life after graduation.
He wanted to become an excellent Marine, punish evil and promote good, and stand up for the weak.
At the same time, Kuzan also admired Garp.
"Hello, senior." Kuzan was extremely curious about Victor.
At only twenty years old, Victor had become a Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters and had even captured Count Red.
Victor said expressionlessly, "From now on, learn to salute whenever you see a superior officer."
"Rear Admiral Victor." Kuzan straightened up and saluted again.
At that moment, Zephyr said to Victor, "I specifically invited you back today to give a speech. Talk to them properly about how to train their bodies."
Victor did not refuse.
He knew Zephyr was doing this to motivate the students as well.
He wanted the cadets to set Victor as their goal.
After all, not everyone possessed the talents of Victor, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan.
Victor, however, had both talent and a diligent work ethic.
"I've divided physical training into three sections: elementary, intermediate, and advanced. The elementary section covers health maintenance, strength training, and storing strength."
"Health maintenance means keeping your body full of energy through regular meals and sleep. Only with abundant energy can we maintain high-intensity training throughout the day."
"Strength training refers to your daily exercises. Teacher Zephyr has already taught you these, and he will also supervise you, making you stronger and increasing your strength and endurance."
"As for storing strength, that means keeping the strength you've developed within your body. As everyone knows, our bodies are containers. Every part of our bodies stores energy, and when we need it, we can mobilize it."
Victor began explaining the elementary section of physical training.
Every student present listened attentively.
Kuzan included.
Although Kuzan greatly admired Garp, he felt that the Body Arts training methods and Rokushiki Derivative Techniques Victor taught were far more ingenious, easier to understand, and more practical than what he had learned at the academy.
Of course, Kuzan did not think Zephyr was a poor teacher.
Victor simply had a completely different way of thinking from Zephyr.
"If you've read the Rokushiki Derivative Techniques, you should remember 'Life Return Inner Gates Formation of Opening.'"
"Originally, control over our bodies is governed by the brain. The left brain controls the right side of the body, while the right brain controls the left. However, Life Return allows us to freely control every part of the body, including our hair and pores."
"Therefore, I came up with a method to remove the brain's control and completely concentrate the body's energy. This allows me to unleash all my speed and strength in a short period."
Victor spoke with great seriousness. The students in the training ground were completely focused, afraid of missing even a single word.
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