Elite Camp Mission

At that moment, on the beach of the island where the Elite Camp was based.

A Marine warship was moored by the shore. A Libra Seagull stood out brightly on its raised sail.

It was the end of September, but the midday sun was still blazing, mercilessly scorching the Marines on the beach.

Sweat began to trickle down their brows. Exhaustion showed on every Marine's face, and the itching that kept spreading across their bodies made them wish they could peel off their own skin.

But no one dared move a muscle. Zephyr stood before them with his arms crossed, watching them with a stern expression.

"You'd better think this through. This is a live-fire training exercise, and your opponents are vicious pirates!"

"Casualties are inevitable, so take your time and consider your decision carefully!"

Zephyr spoke slowly, as though he meant to make them stay under the sun a little longer.

"Since no one's speaking up, I'll take that to mean you're all volunteering!"

"Then..."

"I hereby declare the Elite Camp mission officially underway. I'll now explain the mission and its rewards!"

Zephyr nodded in satisfaction, took out a small booklet, and began to read.

"This mission's target is the Mafia in West Blue. All we have to do is wipe them out of West Blue, and the mission will be considered complete!"

"Once you complete the mission, you'll receive Military Merit. I don't need to explain what that's for, do I?"

As soon as Zephyr finished speaking, a gleam flashed in everyone's eyes. They knew all too well what Military Merit was good for!

That went especially for the Elite Camp trainees present. To join the Elite Camp, they had to pay a thousand points of Military Merit!

Marine Six Styles manuals, swordsmanship and boxing manuals, and even Haki training methods could all be exchanged for Military Merit!

The Marine Six Styles required five thousand points, while Haki required twenty thousand!

If they performed well on this mission, earning a thousand points of Military Merit would be easy!

As long as they survived a few live-fire missions, becoming full-fledged members would be practically guaranteed!

While everyone else focused on Military Merit, Luo Sa was thinking about the mission's target.

"The Mafia in West Blue?"

"If I remember right, one of the Supernovas ten years from now, the Gang Bege, will be one of the Mafia's bosses!"

"I wonder if Capone Bege has eaten the Castle-Castle Fruit yet. That's one fine Devil Fruit!"

Luo Sa looked toward the distant horizon and smiled faintly. If Capone Bege hadn't eaten the Castle-Castle Fruit yet, and he was still weak...

Then Luo Sa wouldn't mind nipping that future Supernova in the bud!

"Luo Sa, I'm counting on you this time."

On the warship's deck, Hina was chatting with Luo Sa.

"Sure. Don't worry."

Luo Sa smiled and nodded. He had always liked Hina.

"Hey, Hina, what use is this little rookie who just joined the Elite Camp?"

"You'd be better off asking me. Make me happy, and I guarantee you'll get into the Elite Camp!"

Just then, a veteran of the Elite Camp walked over and shot Luo Sa a disdainful look.

"Sok, I told you not to bother me. I'm never going to like you!" Hina said through gritted teeth.

"For this runt who's barely five feet tall?" Sok's face immediately darkened.

"That's right!"

Hina snorted, stepped forward, and linked her arm through Luo Sa's. With her back to him, she gave Luo Sa a pitiful look.

Luo Sa glanced at Hina, then at Sok, and could only sigh helplessly.

"Fine. Good luck to you both!"

Sok looked at Luo Sa, his gaze flickering for a moment, then turned and left.

"Phew. Sorry for getting you into trouble again!"

Hina watched Sok walk away and let out a relieved breath.

"It's fine!"

Luo Sa gave her a helpless smile.

He preferred to avoid trouble whenever he could, but Hina had already said all that. He couldn't very well contradict her outright.

West Blue lay beyond the second half of the Grand Line, on the other side of the New World. Without traveling through Fish-Man Island, there was no way to take a warship there.

So the Elite Camp's route for this mission was to pass through the Calm Belt into South Blue, then cross the Red Line and enter West Blue directly!

After several days at sea, the warship entered the Calm Belt. Thanks to Vegapunk's advanced technology, it sailed through the Calm Belt without a hitch.

Zephyr then led everyone up onto the Red Line. They marched at full speed and finally made it into West Blue a month later.

"Huff, huff! We've finally reached the target waters. That month-long forced march nearly killed me!"

Sakartam sprawled shamelessly across the deck of an ordinary passenger ship.

"Get a hold of yourself. The real fight is only just beginning!"

Smoker held a cigarette between his lips and took a deep drag.

"By the way, that freak mastered Soru in just a month, going from a beginner to an expert. It's terrifying!"

Drake looked toward Luo Sa, who was practicing Soru nonstop in the distance, his gaze flickering.

"Come on. The mission's about to begin, so we need to talk things over with him."

"After all, this is our first live-fire mission. We have to stick together!"

Sakartam stood up and brushed the dust off his back.

The Elite Camp's mission was to deal with the Mafia here. As a behemoth that had dominated an entire sea, its threat was no less than that posed by pirates with bounties in the tens of millions!

The Mafia operated almost entirely underground, like a slippery eel. The Marines had tried several times to wipe them out, but the Mafia had always managed to escape.

Only recently had the Marines finally located the Mafia's underground headquarters, after receiving an anonymous tip.

To avoid alerting the Mafia, the Marines had assigned the mission to eliminate them to the Elite Camp, bringing the unit all this way.

Based on the anonymous tip, the Marines had determined that the Mafia's stronghold was on an obscure island in West Blue.

It was the middle of the night.

An ordinary passenger ship sailed across the sea. Looking far ahead, the island's outline was already visible.

"Once we land, make sure you're all wearing your Marine insignia. Follow the map and move in to Snipe Shot the Mafia headquarters."

"If you encounter resistance, the ones obstructing you are bound to be Mafia members. You all know what to do."

"Bring back the heads of the Mafia's officers. That's the proof we need to record your Military Merit."

Zephyr stood at the very front of the passenger ship's deck, his expression stern as he began briefing them on the live-fire mission.

Although Zephyr would be stationed on shore, this was still a live-fire mission. Even he couldn't guarantee he would be able to protect everyone.

In other words, losing a few people on every live-fire mission was perfectly normal!

To become true warriors, they had to be tempered in blood!

This is the third chapter today. Please bookmark and recommend!