Chapter 16

The Reserve Navy of the Elite Class can be roughly divided into three echelons. The first echelon consists of Zephyr's first batch of students: Sakazuki, Dragon, and Borsalino, the three monsters.

The second echelon is Kuzan, Gion, and Kaki.

Below them are the others.

The talents of Kuzan, Gion, and Kaki are not inferior to the three monsters, but they joined the camp later and are younger.

Kuzan is from the third batch, and Gion is from the fourth batch.

Zephyr's gaze swept across everyone in the classroom, and he noticed some people were missing.

Sakazuki, Kaki, and Gion were on missions and were not at the Naval Academy. In addition to them, Dragon and Kuzan were also absent.

"Dragon, Kuzan still haven't arrived?"

Just as Zephyr was asking everyone, footsteps could be heard from outside the door again.

Then, the classroom door was pushed open.

A guy wearing a dark green coat, with a red square tattoo on his left cheek, and a fierce expression without eyebrows walked in.

Dragon!

Monkey D. Dragon, Vice Admiral Garp's own son!

One of the three monsters of the Elite Class.

Dragon inherited Garp's excellent genes and is a naturally powerful warrior, whose strength is not inferior to either Sakazuki or Borsalino.

However, his personality is the complete opposite of Garp's. No one knows what he is thinking deep down.

He belongs to the type of person who is ruthless and speaks little.

"Kuzan is sleeping."

Dragon answered Zephyr's question.

A faint displeasure flashed in Zephyr's eyes. The thought of Kuzan's lazy nature gave him a headache. He was still sleeping at this hour?

However, considering that Kuzan should know about today's mission, Zephyr decided to put Kuzan aside for now.

"We'll talk about Kuzan later. Today is the welcome day, and as usual, the first lesson has been prepared for the newcomers!"

The Elite Class is different from the regular Reserve Camp. The Reserve Camp goes out to sea only once every three months, while the Elite Class only returns to Marineford once every three months.

Sea battles are practical assessments for the Reserve Camp.

Sea battles are daily training for the Elite Class.

According to Zephyr, the Elite Class are future Marine generals, and their talent is worlds apart from those in the Reserve Camp.

Ordinary soldiers have their training methods, and elites have their training methods.

The Elite Class cannot follow the same pace as the Reserve Camp.

The newcomers in the Reserve Camp undergo enhanced physical training.

The newcomers in the Elite Class, however, engage in sea battles!

This year's sea battle is arranged as a fixed-point patrol. They will sail back and forth once on a designated route aboard a warship, eliminating pirates encountered along the way and rescuing civilians.

The patrol is full of uncertainty and the unknown.

It's possible that nothing will happen the entire time, or they might encounter a powerful pirate group shortly after leaving the waters near Marine Headquarters.

For Morito, Doberman, and Kazan, this is their first real sea battle.

For the others in the Elite Class, it is just a very ordinary sea battle.

Zephyr added, "I've decided to divide you into three teams. Dragon, you will lead one team."

Dragon nodded in agreement.

Whenever the Elite Class conducts team-based sea battle training, it's usually him, Sakazuki, and Borsalino who each lead a team.

Zephyr then turned to Borsalino, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Zephyr disliked Borsalino not because of his lewd appearance, but because Borsalino focused too much on developing his Devil Fruit abilities and neglected physical training.

Zephyr believed that the body was the foundation of everything.

Whether it's swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, the Marine Six Styles, Haki, or Devil Fruit abilities, all require a powerful physique.

Borsalino, however, believed that the Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit's abilities were superior to everything else and poured a large amount of his energy into cultivating his Devil Fruit powers.

Only then did he focus on physical techniques, swordsmanship, and Haki.

Since Borsalino repeatedly refused to change his ways, Zephyr found him disagreeable.

Therefore, Zephyr and Borsalino were at odds.

But Borsalino's strength was undeniable, and Zephyr would not risk his students' lives just because he disliked Borsalino.

"Borsalino, you will lead a team."

"Yes!~ Teacher Zephyr."

Borsalino leisurely trimmed his fingernails, appearing as if even the sky falling would not disturb his nail-trimming.

Zephyr's face darkened. He let out a cold snort but didn't say anything else.

The others were already used to this scene.

In the entire Elite Class, only Borsalino dared to speak to Zephyr like that.

Strong individuals always had privileges, no matter where they were.

"Last team. Morito!"

Zephyr suddenly called out his name, and Morito was taken aback.

Everyone else looked over in unison.

"No way? Letting Ōtsutsuki Morito lead a team? He's just a new recruit! Today's lesson is specifically to accommodate the three new recruits!"

"Teacher Zephyr, you can't be serious, right?"

"I'm not convinced! Why should a new recruit get to lead a team!"

The classroom immediately descended into chaos, chattering like a marketplace.

Naturally, many people watched coldly from the sidelines.

Dragon knew Zephyr wouldn't act recklessly. He glanced at Morito with a hint of inquiry. Since returning to the Naval Academy, he had heard almost nothing but talk about Morito.

Lying dormant for nine years, then achieving fame in a single battle.

Just this mindset alone was enough to earn respect.

Moreover, he was able to inflict such a heavy loss on Onigumo, one of the top three in the Training Camp...

Morito was definitely not as harmless as he appeared on the surface.

A moment later.

Morito's expression returned to calm. He had just been surprised by Zephyr's sudden summons, which was why he had shown a hint of astonishment.

"All of you, shut up!"

Zephyr slammed his fist on the desk with a thump, and the lectern immediately shattered into pieces.

The entire classroom fell silent. The students, who had been chattering like ducks just moments before, choked mid-sentence and shrunk back into their seats like quails.

"When you leave this academy, you will be officers of Marine Headquarters, the future pillars of the Navy. Look at yourselves!"

"Are you shrewish women from the marketplace?"

"Making such a racket, what do you think this place is?!"

"*&^%$#@"

After a thorough scolding, Zephyr felt much better.

The students, however, were thoroughly berated. Each of them was unconvinced but dared not vent their anger aloud, only glaring fiercely at Morito.

It was all this guy's fault they were scolded!

Why him?

Was it because he was connected to Vice Admiral Garp? That's why Instructor Zephyr was giving him special treatment?

Zephyr's gaze fell back on Morito, and he asked with a serious tone, "If I were to let you lead a team on a patrol, could you do it?"

Hearing this, Morito found it somewhat amusing.

No one had ever asked him such a question before!

"The word 'can't' doesn't exist in my dictionary!"

"Then answer me directly, can you or can't you!"

Zephyr's roar interrupted Morito.

Their gazes collided in the air, faintly sparking like friction.

The eyes of the Reserve Navy students in the classroom swept back and forth between their faces, finally settling on Morito.