Southeast of Hell Island, inside a cave.
Torches still remained on the dim cave walls, while traces of campfires covered the ground. Several bags of flour and cooking utensils were piled in the corner. Clearly, the Marines had used this place to rest and resupply before.
"All recruits, assemble!"
At the command, Ron and the others, who had just disembarked, had no time to inspect their surroundings before lining up in front of Momonga.
"You have arrived at Hell Island. From this moment on, the test has begun!"
Momonga's expression was incomparably stern as he strode past the gathered recruits.
"Always remember three things. First, survive! Second, survive! Third, survive the hell out of it!"
"We will provide you with no assistance whatsoever. No food, no medicine, no information about the island—nothing!"
"You are nothing but refugees stranded on a deserted island!"
"I don't care whether you stick together for warmth or train alone. Anyone still standing before me in three months will become an officer of Marine Headquarters!"
"Do you understand?!"
"Yes!!"
Nothing he said mattered as much as that final sentence. For ordinary people to become Marine officers, even merely a Second Lieutenant, they needed to accumulate a great deal of military merit and slowly build up their seniority. But these recruits only needed to pass this test, and they would start at the rank of Major!
A Headquarters Major at that—the status was worlds apart!
It was a shortcut to success, a path straight to the heavens!
It would be bitter and difficult, but worth it!
"Very good!"
Momonga nodded in satisfaction at the group of high-spirited recruits before him.
To be honest, after being tempered by all kinds of Sea Kings in the Calm Belt, these fellows had already received enough training. Their courage and bearing