Rosinante's Resolve

The battles on the training ground had mostly ended, and now everyone's attention was fixed on the center of the field.

The fight between Rosinante and Smoker was still ongoing.

The situation was basically a nine-to-one split—Smoker knocked Rosinante down nine times within a minute.

But every time he was knocked down, Rosinante quickly scrambled back to his feet, even though his body had long since reached its limit.

Watching from outside the ring, Sengoku's heart clenched. He never expected that the kind, almost timid child he remembered could push himself this far...

In the ring, Smoker panted heavily as he watched Rosinante, who had been knocked down yet again and was once more getting up.

He definitely hadn't gone easy in this fight, but it was still just a training match—he couldn't bring himself to go all out against Rosinante.

What a headache...

Rosinante staggered toward Smoker, and Smoker finally made up his mind. After knocking Rosinante down yet again, yet again, yet again, he tossed aside his jitte and quickly moved in, locking his right arm tightly around Rosinante's neck.

Rosinante still hadn't given up, struggling violently.

"Enough, Rosinante!!!"

Smoker growled in a low voice. "I don't know what you're holding on for, but I believe everyone here today has already acknowledged your will."

"Stop here, Rosinante!"

"The future is still long..."

Severe suffocation made Rosinante's vision blur and darken. His hands finally fell limp.

In a daze, the figure of the man who had saved him from blood and fire appeared before his eyes.

"Father..."

"Did you see that..."

"I will definitely become a worthy Marine!"

A smile spread across Rosinante's face, and then he lost consciousness.

"Winner—Smoker!"

Leon watched Sengoku, who was clenching his fists tightly and struggling not to cry because Garp was right beside him, and couldn't help shaking his head.

Smoker, Smoker... What does being first in the training camp matter?

The gates of Loguetown are waving at you...

The three-month recruit training finally came to an end.

Marine Headquarters was incredibly efficient—within just half an hour, the venue for the closing ceremony was fully set up.

Leon sat at the back of the formation, next to Rosinante, who had been bandaged into the same mummy-style look as him.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku had changed clothes somewhere, now draped in the Coat of Justice, standing imposingly on the podium.

"Today, I am honored..."

Yeah! That's it! This feeling!

As soon as Sengoku spoke, Leon felt like he was back in his past life, listening to a leader's speech on the school playground.

Leon yawned involuntarily, while Rosinante looked proud and listened with great interest.

Good thing I'm injured, so I can sit.

Leon simply closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and drifted into a half-asleep state.

"Three months wasn't a complete waste..."

"My physical fitness is still growing—I wonder how I'd compare to Big Mom at the same age..."

"My body control has improved a lot too. I should be able to fully control the nuclear radiation inside me soon. Then I can start developing moves powered by Nuclear Energy."

"If only I could go to Mary Geoise again and absorb some more nuclear energy..."

"I wonder if the Five Elders were killed by the nuclear explosion—probably not, otherwise news would have gotten out..."

"And then there's Haki..."

As Sengoku's impassioned speech continued, Leon fell into a deep sleep.

"Leon... Leon! Wake up, stop sleeping!"

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Leon jolted awake and looked at Rosinante with a dazed expression.

Despite being covered in injuries, Rosinante was still full of energy.

"The ceremony's over! The two of us were selected for Admiral Zephyr's Elite Training Camp because of our outstanding performance!"

The two of us? Outstanding performance?

Leon raised his hand half-heartedly.

"Congratulations, congratulations."

After all, Zephyr was already bringing so many students—adding the foster son of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the disciple of Hero Garp wouldn't make a difference...

Not adding them would be the real problem...

Rosinante was deeply impressed that Leon could stay so calm after hearing this.

He knew that Admiral Zephyr's training camp was called the "Cradle of Marine Officers."

The current three Admiral candidates—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru—had all come from Zephyr's training camp.

Anyone who joined would at least become a Rear Admiral in the future!

Seeing that most people had left, Leon stood up and stretched his limbs.

"Nothing else should be going on. I'll head back first, Rosinante."

With the recruit training camp over, Leon and the others no longer had to live in the dorms.

Sengoku was already walking this way. This Fleet Admiral, known for his strategic mind, had always harbored suspicions about Leon's identity, so it was best to keep his distance.

Three months later, Leon returned to Garp's courtyard and saw his long-absent teacher again.

Having learned from last time, the moment Leon spotted Garp, he spoke up: "Long time no see, Teacher Garp!"