On the deck of the Marine warship.
Apart from a few seriously injured recruits, all the new recruits who had passed the Survival Trial had gathered together.
On the platform, Zephyr looked down at the marines, and a rare smile appeared on his face. These new recruits were the Navy's hope for the future!
When his gaze fell on Luo Sa, he paused, then slowly broke into a grin.
Luo Sa's performance this time had truly shocked Zephyr, especially his final battle against Drake.
Drake had been one of Zephyr's picks for the top three in the Ranking Tournament, yet he had lost to Luo Sa.
Looking at Luo Sa, Zephyr couldn't help thinking of himself when he was young.
He, too, had taken the Elite Camp Assessment before he was fourteen, and he, too, had swept through the entire New Recruit Camp during the competition.
Some of the Marine instructors nearby also watched Luo Sa with astonishment.
A Zoan Type Bird-Bird Fruit: Seagull Form user who had developed the power to wield wind. He had been unrivaled on Monster Island and had ultimately defeated Drake, the recruit they had all favored.
As long as Luo Sa didn't die young, it was only a matter of time before he surpassed them. He could at least become a Marine Vice Admiral, perhaps even an Admiral!
He was comparable to Zephyr in his youth, with the bearing of an Admiral!
That was the highest praise they could give Luo Sa!
"Even that transfer student passed the Survival Trial? I wonder if there was some kind of favoritism involved."
Unlike the astonishment in the Marine instructors' eyes, the recruits below all wore mocking expressions.
The higher-ups had suppressed news of Luo Sa's rampage and his battle against Drake, so the recruits had no idea what had happened.
If they knew Luo Sa had actually defeated Drake, who knew what their expressions would be?
After several days at sea, the warship packed with new recruits finally approached the harbor at Marine Headquarters.
Once the warship docked, the marines began disembarking in an orderly fashion and left the harbor under their instructors' guidance.
In half a month, they would take part in this year's Elite Camp Ranking Tournament!
"Phew, I suppose this is the best outcome I could've hoped for. Still, coming in first in the Ranking Tournament is going to be difficult!"
Luo Sa had just walked out of Marshal Sengoku's office. He let out a breath of relief, then gave a bitter smile.
The punishment and suspicion he'd expected never came. But as his punishment, Marshal Sengoku had ordered him to take first place in the Ranking Tournament before he would be allowed to enter the Elite Camp.
He'd risked his life to defeat Drake last time. If he had to face Drake again now, he didn't know whether he could beat him.
And he'd heard there was someone even more terrifying than Drake!
His path to joining the Navy really had been full of twists and turns!
"I've basically mastered all of Winged Gull's Flying Attribute skills. Next, I should start developing skills of other attributes!"
Luo Sa began planning the next steps in developing Winged Gull's abilities.
Aside from the strongest energies, Water Attribute and Flying Attribute, Winged Gull's third strongest was Ice Attribute, while the fourth was Normal Attribute!
He'd already demonstrated his ability to control wind, which was reasonable enough for a seagull that could fly on the wind.
But if he suddenly used an Ice Attribute ability, that would be difficult to explain!
So the only abilities he could develop next were Normal Attribute ones.
There were plenty of useful skills among Normal Attribute moves.
If he developed them well, first place in this Ranking Tournament would be all but guaranteed!
Luo Sa walked around a corner, head lowered as he thought.
"Ow!"
A startled cry rang out as someone suddenly crashed into his arms.
Luo Sa reflexively caught the figure in his arms. His childish face flushed red, and he didn't know what to do.
The figure sprang away like a startled rabbit.
"L-Luo Sa!"
Hina's face was bright red too. She lowered her head shyly, not daring to look at Luo Sa.
The moment turned unbearably awkward.
"Hina?"
Luo Sa's gaze shifted. Wasn't she the one who had saved him when he'd fallen off the cliff?
"What are you doing here?"
"I... Why can't I be here?"
Hina's face was still flushed, and she stumbled over her words.
But remembering why she'd come, she secretly worked up her courage.
"Hmph, I saved you last time. How are you going to repay me?"
Luo Sa opened his mouth, then remembered the circumstances of his first meeting with Hina. He couldn't help feeling awkward.
"Um... It's up to you. As long as it's not too much, I'll agree to anything!"
Luo Sa hated owing people favors, so he immediately decided to repay her.
"Good! Then come with me. I know a great barbecue place. We can eat and talk!"
Hina brightened and took Luo Sa by the hand, leading him toward the center of town.
This was Luo Sa's first time leaving Marine Headquarters to visit the nearby town.
Most of the people living in town were Marine families, and its proximity to Marine Headquarters made it especially prosperous.
After entering town, Hina and Luo Sa headed toward the barbecue restaurant at an unhurried pace.
Hina was still trying to figure out how to bring it up. It was embarrassing to talk about that kind of thing.
As Hina was lost in thought, she suddenly realized that Luo Sa, who had been following her, was gone!
She quickly turned around and saw Luo Sa staring thoughtfully at a wall.
"Oh? So this month's Bounty Posters are out! Let's see which dangerous characters have been wanted this time!"
Hina walked over and looked at the wall, which was covered in Bounty Posters.
"Hm? Anduin D. Luo Sa?"
Hina let out a surprised murmur. This pirate's name was the same as Luo Sa's, except for the surname.
"Yeah, this pirate's pretty interesting," Luo Sa said with a chuckle. "Celestial Dragon slave, Anduin D. Luo Sa. Paramecia Mud-Mud Fruit user. Bounty: 10 million Beli!"
Luo Sa found it pretty amusing to come across his own Bounty Poster. No one would ever guess that he, Portgas D. Luo Sa, a Bird-Bird Fruit user, was the person on that poster, would they?
"Seriously!"
"Luo Sa, you're so unlucky to have someone with the same name!"
"One's a Marine, the other's a pirate. I can't wait to see you two meet!"
Hina laughed. She didn't suspect Luo Sa's identity at all.
Luo Sa nodded and stopped looking at the wanted poster, then continued on his way.
"Hey, isn't that transfer student Luo Sa?"
"Luo Sa? Which Luo Sa? The Celestial Dragon's slave?"
"Well, well, isn't that something? A walking 10 million Beli!"
As they walked, Luo Sa's sharp ears picked up the whispers around them. He couldn't help frowning.
He could have changed his name. If he gave up the name Luo Sa, then no one would ever connect him with Anduin D. Luo Sa.
But if he had to choose again, he still wouldn't give up the name Luo Sa!
Because...
It was the only thing his grandfather had left behind in this world!
And it was his last memory of his grandfather.
Fourth update! Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone. May your families be happy and your homes be filled with joy.
Before you continue