CP9?

Major General Kassel had been waiting at the port for a long time, with Rono and Ivan standing at attention beside him.

As soon as the ship docked, a middle-aged man in a suit and sunglasses was the first to disembark.

Kassel frowned upon seeing him. Shouldn't it be Vice Admiral Huo Shaoshan? This person... he doesn't look friendly.

As expected, the Sunglasses Man merely glanced at Kassel, his gaze sweeping over Rono and Ivan.

"Which one of you is Rono?"

"May I ask who you are?"

Kassel felt a bit annoyed but still asked politely.

"World Government."

The man's tone was somewhat cold. He took out a small booklet and waved it, then ignored Kassel. Just then, Huo Shaoshan also came down, his face looking extremely grim. Seeing Kassel's gaze, he nodded.

As I suspected... is the World Government here to poach people again?

"I am Rono. Is there something you need, Uncle?" Rono raised his hand.

"..."

The Sunglasses Man fell silent. Then, he exerted force with his thigh and attacked Rono.

"Hey! I don't know you. I just called you Uncle, is that reason enough for this!"

Rono's hair stood on end. With no time to retreat, he could only cross his arms in front of his chest to block the Sunglasses Man's heavy punch. His feet plowed two three-meter-long black marks into the ground.

"What do you think you're doing!" Kassel and Huo Shaoshan roared. Because it was a surprise attack, neither of them had time to intervene. Now, they took defensive stances, ready to fight the Sunglasses Man.

However, the Sunglasses Man stopped his attack.

"Good reaction and strength. You pass."

He still ignored the two of them and pulled out an order from inside his suit.

"Wolf Rono, you have been transferred to CP9. The transfer took effect yesterday. Do you have any objections?"

Marshal Buddha Sengoku's name was also written on it.

"What! How could Marshal..." Kassel couldn't believe it. Huo Shaoshan raised a hand to stop him.

"I understand." His voice was very steady. If not for his ashen face, Kassel would have thought they were in cahoots.

"Hey, Uncle, I never agreed to this!"

A white figure rushed forward. The Sunglasses Man raised his right hand. "Iron Body!" BOOM! The recoil made Rono feel a sharp pain. Iron Body? Rono thought.

The Sunglasses Man didn't care what Rono was thinking. He activated Shigan, piercing Rono's heart directly.

"Ah!" Rono screamed. The Berserker activated. He grabbed the Sunglasses Man's arm with his right hand, a giant bone spur jutted from his forehead, and he smashed his head fiercely towards the Sunglasses Man's forehead. "Haki!" The sensation was like smashing into Diamond, even sparks flew!

"Hey! Stop it! That's enough!" Kassel activated Armament Haki on his right hand and hammered towards the Sunglasses Man's raised right knee, but it was still a step too late.

Rono felt like he'd been hit by a 200 mph locomotive. He was sent flying backward at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, crashing through two houses before stopping.

Ivan was already stunned, standing there like a block of wood.

Kassel had already engaged the Sunglasses Man. Their powerful physical techniques were smashing the surrounding buildings to pieces.

However, Huo Shaoshan didn't move. He stood there, lost in thought.

Five minutes passed in the blink of an eye. All the Marines in the base were drawn by the sounds of battle, thinking pirates had attacked. When they arrived fully armed, they were stopped by Vice Admiral Huo Shaoshan.

"Hoo, hoo." Kassel panted, supporting himself on the ground with one hand, sweat dripping down his cheeks. On the other side, the Sunglasses Man was merely breathing heavily. Both of their clothes hung on them like rags, but the Sunglasses Man's glasses had fallen to the ground during the fight. The difference in their condition was clear.

"Do you want to keep fighting?" the Sunglasses Man asked coldly.

If Kassel wanted to continue, he wouldn't hold back.

"Damn it!" Just as Kassel was about to launch a new round of attacks, Huo Shaoshan spoke.

"Enough! That brat isn't dead yet. Do you want to be wanted by the World Government?"

The Sunglasses Man took off his damaged clothes and discarded them, revealing a torso covered in muscles and scars. He walked towards Rono's direction, completely ignoring Kassel's angry gaze.

Pushing aside the rubble, the Sunglasses Man directly grabbed Rono by the hair and lifted him up. He looked surprised, "This brat's self-healing ability is quite strong!"

Rono was unconscious, but his Self-Healing Factor was diligently repairing his wounds. If one didn't look at Rono's beggar-like clothes, they wouldn't imagine how severely injured he had just been.

The Sunglasses Man seemed even more satisfied. He slung Rono over his shoulder and boarded the warship, standing on the deck.

"I want an explanation from the Vice Admiral regarding what just happened."

The Sunglasses Man's Adjutant had prepared new clothes and stood by, waiting.

"Take him to rest."

After saying this, the Sunglasses Man threw Rono onto the deck, grabbed his clothes, and went back to his room to rest.

The Adjutant helped Rono up by one arm, found a room, and laid Rono down.

Kassel sat on the ground, looking dejected and silent. Huo Shaoshan also sat down beside him.

"I will go back and ask the Marshal about this matter. You should also prepare to be demoted. A soldier must obey orders, even if they are wrong."

"..." Major General Kassel remained silent, lost in thought.

Huo Shaoshan patted his shoulder and boarded the warship.

"You new recruit over there, aren't you coming?"

Ivan froze for a moment, realizing he was being called. He glanced back at Kassel, who remained silent. Kassel's Adjutant stepped forward and waved him over, signaling him to follow Huo Shaoshan. Ivan bowed to Kassel and also boarded the warship.

"Lari, did I do something wrong?" Kassel asked his Adjutant after the warship had departed.

Seeing the confusion in Kassel's eyes, Lari stood straight.

"No, you did nothing wrong. If it were me, I would have done the same," Lari replied earnestly. "You are a good superior and an excellent Marine!"

"Is that so..."

Night had fallen deep, but Rono couldn't sleep. Being utterly defeated was too painful, too humiliating.

"Host, there's no need to be dejected. After all, the opponent's strength is far superior to yours. He should possess Admiral-level strength. According to analysis, he should be from CP0."

"CP0..." Rono was silent for a moment. "System, I want to become stronger! No matter what!"

"Damn bastard, one day I'll hang you up and beat you."

"Host can enter Simulation Training. The system will simulate various opponents for the Host to battle."

"What are we waiting for? Let's start!" With that, Rono lay down on the bed, motionless, his consciousness already entering the simulation space.