The Youth Favored by a Marine Admiral

Opening his eyes, Wood was greeted by the familiar ceiling. He tried to sit up, but as soon as he moved, a sharp pain shot through the left side of his body.

It was still his room, still his bed, but now his left arm and left leg were wrapped in bandages, swollen like giant radishes.

Seeming to notice the movement beside her, Aine, who had been dozing off by the bed, blinked awake. When she saw Wood conscious, her face lit up with surprise and joy as she cried out.

"Thank goodness, Brother Wood, you're finally awake! You've been asleep for a whole day and night. Don't get up yet—I'll go tell Mom and the others, and bring you something to eat."

Wood wanted to ask the little girl what had happened after he passed out, but before he could speak, Aine had already run out of the room, beaming.

"Oh well, judging by Aine's expression, nothing too serious must have happened afterward. I've been lying down all day, and I am hungry. Once I've eaten and drunk my fill, I can ask for the details."

Aine had barely been gone a moment when her mother, Stia, entered Wood's room with a similarly delighted expression, carrying a tray of steaming food.

And this time, besides the familiar mother-daughter pair of Aine and Stia, there was also a tall, resolute-looking man with purple hair. He wore a purple suit and a white coat emblazoned with the word "Justice" draped over his back.

Judging by his attire alone, it was easy to tell he was a Marine—and one with a rank high enough to earn that coat. The Marine Justice coat was only issued to those of a certain rank; ordinary Small Fry, sergeants, and even warrant officers didn't get one.

Too many Marine figures had appeared, and the current timeline was over a decade off from what Wood knew. So, staring at the purple-haired man before him, Wood had no recollection of him. Still, he could be fairly certain this guy wasn't one of those oddly colored animals.

"Brother Wood, did you know? After you beat that big guy, the Marines showed up! This Marine uncle punched all those bad guys away, one by one! And he said the Marines are going to set up a branch on Maple Leaf Island from now on. With the Marines protecting us, those villains won't dare come back!"

Having a strong older brother made Aine proud, but seeing Wood so badly injured this time had also frightened her. She was afraid that, after losing her father, the brother who spoiled and protected her might die too. But when she heard from this Marine uncle that a base would be built here, she felt happy again. With the Marines around, her Brother Wood wouldn't have to get hurt protecting everyone on the island.

Patting Aine's head, Wood turned his gaze to the purple-haired man and recalled the results of his previous Simulated Life. During the simulation, the system had indeed mentioned that right after he left Maple Leaf Island, the Marines, valuing the island's resources, had dispatched a warship shortly afterward. But this time, Wood hadn't missed the Marine ship like in his first simulation—he'd run into them here instead.

"Kid, from what the islanders say, you were the one protecting everyone here before the Marines arrived? With the strength to take down a pirate with a 20-million-Berry bounty, you clearly had the ability to leave this place of trouble. So why didn't you choose to do that?"

Zefa stared at the boy before him, asking the question weighing on his mind with a serious expression. Though Wood's actions had already earned his approval, he still wanted to hear the answer from the boy's own lips.

Meeting the Marine's earnest, sincere gaze, Wood felt a strong urge to brag and say he'd dreamed of being a champion of justice since he was a kid. But the words stuck in his throat. For one thing, the man in front of him—Zefa—gave Wood the impression he was no simple figure, and any clumsy lie would likely be seen through. For another, even facing the islanders who had risked their lives to help him in the final moments, Wood couldn't bring himself to tell such a lie.

"Mr. Zefa, while you may be a Marine Admiral, the question you just asked was extremely rude. Wood is still a child. Staying on the island is obviously to protect his home and the people in it. If you still think this boy has ulterior motives, then don't blame Maple Leaf Island for not welcoming you."

Wood was about to answer Zefa's question when Stia, who had been standing nearby, spoke up. Usually gentle in temperament, she was now uncharacteristically angry. Little Aine didn't fully grasp what Zefa meant, but seeing her mother's expression, she puffed out her cheeks and stood defiantly in front of Wood, shouting at Zefa: "Hmph! If you bully Brother Wood, Aine and everyone on the island won't welcome you!"

"Sorry, sorry, that was indeed rude of me. It's just that this child is so exceptional—even the determination and look in his eyes at that final moment moved me. It made me forget that he's still just a boy of ten or so."

Facing the hostile glares of Stia and her daughter, Zefa quickly raised his hands in surrender. But what he didn't know was that when Stia addressed him by name, Wood froze. Marine Headquarters Admiral... Zefa... That Black Arm Zefa?

"Then let me change the subject. Kid, would you like to join us and become a fine Marine? I see tremendous potential in you. In terms of both strength and character, you're one of the finest young people I've encountered in years. And what's rarer, beyond your ability and mindset, you have a heart set on upholding justice! If you accept my training, with your talent and potential, you'll become a pillar of the Marines in no time."

Looking at the seriously injured black-haired boy in the bed, Zefa's praise was exceptionally high. Strength and talent were only one aspect; in his years of teaching, Zefa had seen plenty of promising Marine recruits. But what he valued more was what he believed to be Wood's absolute heart for justice! Words could deceive, but eyes and actions could not. Even on the verge of death, Wood had still tried to save other residents of Maple Leaf Island. For that alone, Zefa believed the justice Wood possessed was stronger than that of most current Marine officers! At that moment, Wood also reminded Zefa of his younger self.