Heading to Marine Headquarters

"System, help me analyze this."

"Okay, please wait..." Less than 30 seconds.

"Beep, based on the analysis of 136 situations, the highest probability is that the Major General took a liking to your talent and reported it to Marine Headquarters. However, judging from the Major General's micro-expressions, he is still somewhat wary of you. The system believes this is due to the significant changes in you over the past year. There's no need to worry."

"I'm desperate too. I transmigrated here at 14, my parents were dead, and I lived off the real estate they left behind. That was the previous owner's doing. Why do I have to take the blame?"

"What are you so proud of! If it weren't for this system master forcing you to train every day, you would definitely have chosen the same path as him and become a Salted Fish! So why aren't you thanking your system master quickly!..."

The system's complaining mode activated, five bursts per second.

"·ε·" Rono squinted, whistling, pretending not to hear.

Listening to the system's continuous ranting, Rono arrived at the Arena. A group of Marines had formed a circle, and inside, two people were wrestling, occasionally adding some basic combat moves.

"Move aside, let me in. Why didn't you wait for me? I'm on an 11-win streak, you won't deny that, right?"

Rono pushed through the crowd and stood at the innermost spot.

At this moment, a victor was decided. The muscular guy on the left flexed his muscles and slammed the other person to the ground. The surrounding crowd erupted in cheers.

"Brat, although you have 11 wins, you've only fought rookies. You can't compare to Ivan," a nearby Marine said with a smile, unbothered by being pushed aside.

"Then I'll try!" Rono jumped forward before his voice even faded. "Rookie Rono, please guide me!"

"Ivan," the muscular guy grunted.

"3, 2, 1!" The referee waved his hand, signaling the start.

Rono's smiling face instantly vanished. He delivered a whip kick towards Ivan's forehead. Ivan remained silent, quickly extending his right arm to block. His left arm swung towards Rono's stomach. The angle was extremely tricky, making it difficult for Rono to exert force. Although he blocked the punch with his hand, his body still retreated. Rono wasn't one to be trifled with either. He casually performed a backflip, creating distance. Ivan then threw a straight punch. Rono squatted down and unleashed a sweeping leg kick, hitting Ivan's calf as he was off-balance and trying to press his advantage. Then, the moment Ivan fell, Rono used his sweeping leg as a pivot and drove his other leg straight into Ivan's chest. "Knee Cannon!" Rono even shouted the skill name in a chuunibyou fashion.

A dull thud was heard, and Ivan was sent flying, crashing to the ground. The onlookers gasped. Was it starting? No, it was over.

"Cough, cough..." Ivan struggled to get up from the ground. "I lost. Thank you for holding back." Ivan clearly felt that Rono had held back his strength at the end. Otherwise, it wouldn't have just been a couple of coughs; he would have been hospitalized for at least a month.

However, what he didn't know was that if this had been a fight to the death, that Knee Cannon would have hit him in the face. In that case, he wouldn't need hospitalization; he'd be ordering a coffin.

"Ahaha, you're pretty strong too," Rono said, scratching his head.

"No sincerity at all!" the crowd complained with squinted eyes.

"Huh? Really?" Rono looked around, then slapped his head. "Don't forget the agreement, a meal!"

"Ah, tired, tired. Got it. Honestly, you big spender still wants us to treat you!"

A Marine named Ibaka walked forward, helped Ivan up, and said, "Let's go, to the restaurant!"

"Oh!"

The group walked towards the restaurant in a grand procession.

After eating and drinking their fill, everyone lay on chairs to rest.

"Hey, everyone, I have something to say." Ivan stood up, his voice a little low.

Everyone seemed to know something. They stopped what they were doing, and the restaurant fell silent for a moment. (It had been booked out.)

As for Rono, he was already lying on the ground, his belly full, recovering.

"I have to report to Marine Headquarters tomorrow... Thank you all for taking care of me all these years, I... I will remember everyone!" Ivan bowed to everyone, and a drop of liquid slid down Ivan's lowered face.

"Huh? You're going to Marine Headquarters too? What a coincidence, me too!" Rono, who was lying on the ground nearby, said excitedly upon hearing this.

...The sad atmosphere was instantly dispelled, and everyone looked at Rono in unison.

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Rono looked at the Marines with a bewildered expression.

"Ah, tired, tired. What are you all doing? Isn't it good to not have such a sad atmosphere? Besides, didn't we all know Ivan was leaving? Let this gathering be Ivan's farewell party! Oh, and for you too, little Rono." Ibaka shrugged as he said this.

"Ah! You bunch of jerks! So you already knew, and I kept it a secret for days! Fine, you want to see me make a fool of myself, don't you?" Ivan laughed and cursed, then put his arm around a Marine's neck.

"Ahhh, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, Brother Ivan, let go of me quickly. It was Brother Ibaka who overheard!"

The restaurant immediately became noisy again...

Everyone was initially stunned that Rono was also going to Marine Headquarters, but then they felt it was natural. With such combat power at such a young age, it was only a matter of time before he joined Marine Headquarters. However, to go to Headquarters after only two days was quite fast.

After Rono took a shower, he lay on the comfortable bed and let out a comfortable groan. He opened the system's character panel, which he could do once a day. (It seemed to be the only thing.)

Character Panel
Body Strength: 32 (↑1)
Bone Strength: 41 (↑2)

The rest remained unchanged. Rono was a little surprised. "System, why is my bone strength increasing so quickly?"

"Ding, bone reinforcement not only increases strength but also improves potential. Moreover, the Host is currently in the growth stage, so the increase is rapid. A male's bones will solidify at the age of 22, after which bone strength will basically stop increasing."

"Huh! There's a limit? What about the body?"

"In this world, there is theoretically no upper limit."

"System, who do you think is stronger, me or Beast Kaido?"

"I advise the Host not to court death. Given that the Host has eaten a Devil Fruit, if your bones are broken and thrown into the sea, you'll be done for. There's no comparison."

"Sigh! So eating the fruit was a mistake? My Bone Planting Armor is also very strong!"

"Theoretically, yes. It depends on the Host's fruit development intensity. Whitebeard is also a Devil Fruit user."

"Oh, I get it. I'll step up my fruit development then."

"Beep. Friendly Reminder: The body is the foundation of revolution. Whitebeard's physical strength is also very high, so please, Host, do not masturbate."

"..."

Rono knew that after a Friendly Reminder, there would usually be a "reward." As expected.

"Beep. Congratulations to the Host for obtaining Hell Training (2)."

"Congratulations my ass! I don't want it! Can't you stop beeping, or you'll die?"

"×2."

Rono was petrified. "Uh, System Grandpa, just pretend I didn't say that. Let it go?"

"×3."

"Hey, please, for the love of all that is holy, don't continue. An idiot like me shouldn't be alive in this world. I apologize for the trouble I've caused you." orz

"Beep. Given the Host's sincere apology, it shall be twice!"

"Hey! You were proud just now, weren't you! Are you really the System? What happened to being rigid, indifferent, and having a loli voice!"

Of course, Rono only dared to think these words in his heart, not speak them aloud.

"Sleep, sleep."

Rono closed his eyes.

"Data compilation. Gene and Devil Fruit compatibility: 53%. Recorded in file. Evaluation: Trend towards further compatibility..."

Rono slept soundly, completely unaware of the eerie electronic sound of the System.