Marine Headquarters Test

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

A fortress, vast as a mountain range, stood here. Two giant black characters, "Justice," were brushed onto its outer wall, exuding solemnity and grandeur. The wide plaza in front of the fortress could accommodate a gathering of a hundred thousand people. Ships came and went in the bay harbor, with warships lined up like a forest. The proudly flying Marine flags spoke of faith and strength!

This was Marine Headquarters, Marineford!

The behemoth that suppressed the seas!

Atop the white, magnificent fortress was the office of the Marines' supreme commander, the Fleet Admiral.

Inside the office sat an old man. His face, though not angry, commanded authority. He was tall and powerfully built, with calm, wise eyes that inspired deep fear at a single glance. The comical frog-like glasses and the seagull perched atop his head, its feathers neatly combed, didn't make him look particularly funny; rather, they made his thoughts inscrutable.

This was the supreme commander of Marine Headquarters, the current Fleet Admiral, the Intellectual General, Sengoku the Buddha!

The spacious office held only him. His companions were the goat and the seagull, who would never betray a secret. As Fleet Admiral, many things could not be known by his subordinates; he had to bear them alone.

At this moment, Sengoku seemed to sense something and looked out the window towards the harbor. The wrinkled old face suddenly broke into a joyous smile.

"You're finally back, Garp..."

"Iron Fist" Garp had gone to Hana on a secret mission. Although the mission hadn't gone smoothly, he had "picked up" a user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, who came from a clean background, on his way back, much to Sengoku's relief!

The power of a Logia was undoubtedly terrifying. Elementalization granted them formidable combat power in the early stages, placing them inherently in an invincible position! Awakening it later made them even more invincible, just like the current Three Admirals!

With a Logia user, and one who wielded the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, rumored to be the strongest Logia and lost for centuries, joining the Marines, Sengoku clapped his hands and stomped his feet in excitement.

Furthermore, Garp's report about Ron's efforts and talent during their month on the ship made Sengoku happy to have gained a new fledgling tiger for the Marines.

As for Garp's "small report" about Ron's personality flaws, such as his disrespect for authority and his tendency to talk back...

Sengoku felt it was inconsequential!

Compared to the current Three Admirals – one extreme, one lazy, and one indifferent – Ron was already quite perfect, wasn't he?!

As long as he was loyal to the Marines and followed orders, Sengoku could forgive Garp even if he had a stroke from anger... perhaps he would even clap and cheer, beating drums and gongs!

Now that the Doghead Warship had safely brought Ron back to Headquarters without incident, Sengoku breathed a sigh of relief.

However, he quickly suppressed his smile, regaining his dignified demeanor.

"No, I can't get happy too soon!"

Having been Fleet Admiral for so many years, Sengoku had seen too much. Talented prodigies, under focused training, either became arrogant and met their demise at sea, or stagnated and became ordinary.

Even a Logia user wasn't guaranteed to reach the top.

After a moment of thought, Sengoku took out a Den Den Mushi and said, "...Immediately notify Vice Admiral Tsuru, Vice Admiral Garp, and Instructor General Zephyr to come to my office for a meeting."

"Yes!"

Putting down the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku pondered silently.

"The situation at sea has been stable these past few years, giving us ample time to cultivate Ron... but before that, we must ensure his loyalty to the Marines."

After all, he was "picked up"... through miraculous means, Sengoku harbored some worries...

Whether power controls people or people control power was a philosophical debate for another time. What Sengoku saw in this matter was Ron's restless heart. He might join the Marines today for greater power, but who could guarantee he wouldn't abandon the Marines for even greater power?

Raw jade still needed to be carved, but if the exterior was gold and jade while the interior was rotten, it would be beyond saving. Sengoku did not wish for the Marines to pour all their effort into nurturing the next Dragon.

Ron had always thought Garp's "Mountain Mist" warship was already an enormous monster. But after disembarking, gazing at the majestic and grand towering building before him, Ron finally realized how ridiculous his previous thought was!

Compared to the magnificent and towering fortress of Marine Headquarters, Marineford, the Doghead Warship was minuscule, like a kitten beside an elephant... and they themselves were no more than fleas on that kitten.

Such a colossal structure, just a glance at it, would inspire fear and admiration!

Marine Headquarters, truly the strongest force on the seas!

As the soldiers disembarked in an orderly line, Garp noticed the astonishment on Ron's face and swaggered over, "What do you think? Stunned, aren't you? Impressive, huh?!"

Then, with a wave of his hand, he proudly introduced, "This! Is Marine Headquarters, Marineford, the force that suppresses the seas!"

"Uh... what are you so proud of?"

Ron snapped back to reality, curling his lip dismissively, "I'm stunned by this awe-inspiring, magnificent fortress, what does it have to do with you? Did you build it?"

Garp: "..."

Logically, it was indeed the case, but something felt off?

Traine, standing nearby, heard this and raised an eyebrow... then gave Ron a thumbs-up!

Well done, kid!

Take that, old grump!

As his adjutant, Traine often felt like spitting blood.

At this moment, an officer in a Justice cape approached, feet together, standing at attention. He gazed at Garp with worshipful, burning eyes, "Vice Admiral Garp! Fleet Admiral Sengoku has summoned you to his office for a meeting immediately!"

To most people, "Hero of the Marines" Garp was just a bit boisterous, with no other major flaws. But to those who knew him well, especially his peers among the old soldiers, Garp was simply a "scoundrel," completely unadulterated!

"Got it, I'll be right there..."

Garp was still pondering Ron's previous remark and waved his hand dismissively, walking forward while calling out, "Traine, I'll head over first. Take the thunder brat to the New Recruit Camp and be sure to bring me a copy of the test results."

"Understood!"

Watching Garp walk away, Ron rubbed his chin and asked curiously, "Rear Admiral Traine, what am I testing for? Aren't I supposed to go straight to the Naval Academy for classes?"

Ron had learned some relevant information on the ship and knew about the existence of both the "Naval Academy" and the "New Recruit Camp" within the Marines. The former Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr commanded the New Recruit Camp, while the Naval Academy was managed by a single Rear Admiral.

Due to incomplete information, he had assumed that the "New Recruit Camp" personally led by Zephyr was the legendary "Celestial Dragon School," and as a civilian newcomer, he could only enter the lower-level Naval Academy to study. The One Piece World was a semi-feudal society with "World Nobles" like the Celestial Dragons, and there was a vast difference between nobles and commoners.

Traine smiled slightly and explained.

"You've misunderstood, Ron... Although Marine Headquarters has two areas for training new recruits, only the New Recruit Camp is the official institution."

"The Naval Academy is where the young family members of Marines and children with good potential learn and train from a young age to build a foundation. After graduating from the academy at fifteen, they enter the New Recruit Camp, and after passing the training, they are assigned to different units based on their performance."

"Given your current age and strength, you don't need to build a foundation in the academy. You can directly enter the New Recruit Camp for training..."

After hearing the explanation, Ron suddenly understood.

I knew something felt off!

Kizaru joined the Marines in his thirties and went straight to the New Recruit Camp. Why would I go to the Naval Academy?

It's the disadvantage of being uneducated. I almost ended up in the advanced class of kindergarten as an older student.

As the strongest force in the One Piece World, the Marines not only had humans but also various races with extraordinary talents. There were the Longleg Tribe with their long legs, the Longarm Tribe with their bent arms having three joints, and even some animals that were too intelligent to be mere animals. They wore Marine uniforms and trained on the field, sweating profusely.

The mountain that walked past earlier was Vice Admiral Donald, one of the Marine's Giant Units. Half of his palm was longer than Ron's entire body!

Following Rear Admiral Traine, Ron admired the magical sights as they quickly arrived at a tall building inside the New Recruit Camp, located behind the fortress.

Traine stopped and verified their identities with the guards before saying to Ron, "Don't be nervous. Just act like you normally do during training! The test results are only to determine what you lack and what needs to be supplemented, making it easier for the instructors to organize and arrange your training curriculum."

This is what is meant by "comprehensive and targeted instruction," teaching according to aptitude!

Smoker, who also possessed a Logia-type Devil Fruit, would certainly not waste time learning swordsmanship in the New Recruit Camp. Instead, he would focus on the application and release of his abilities.

Instructors in the New Recruit Camp would create targeted training based on the test results, allowing every soldier to achieve maximum training and progress!

With nothing more to say, Ron's purpose for joining the Marines was to become stronger! Even if he wasn't allowed to participate in this test, he wouldn't miss it!

Immediately, his eyes gleamed, and he pushed open the door with full confidence.

"Don't worry! I never falter at crucial moments!"

When the new computer was delivered, I was at work and didn't pay much attention. When I got home, I saw it. Good heavens, it weighed a pure 15.7KG! Add a set of fitness toys, and it was dozens of pounds. Da Shu carried the computer on one shoulder and the canvas bag on the other all the way home. Then!!! The elevator was broken!!!! Da Shu had to climb 5 floors! Damn it, moving house really wore me out. That computer box was a meter tall and dozens of centimeters wide, and I could only grip the outermost clasps with two fingers. You can imagine the feeling.