Navy Recruit Smoker

The year is 1502 of the Sea Calendar.

Three years have passed since the execution of Gol D. Roger.

After living on Maple Leaf Island for over a year and another year at Marine Headquarters, Wood is now 18 years old.

According to the results of his second life simulation, in about a year and a half, he will be killed by the escaped Shiki the Golden Lion.

Compared to his simulated self, he has already mastered Soru and Geppo from the Six Powers and awakened Observation Haki. He is undeniably much stronger.

However, even so, Wood doesn't believe that he will be able to face a major figure like Shiki the Golden Lion and survive in one or two years.

Therefore, Wood must change the current situation to ultimately alter the course of the future.

At the Marine Academy, the instructor in charge of basic courses looked at the application Wood submitted and impassively stamped it with a "Rejected" seal.

"Instructor, why was it rejected! I just followed the normal procedure. With my performance at the Marine Academy this past year, I should be qualified to train with the elites!"

Looking at the rejected application, Wood couldn't understand why the Captain who had taught him basic courses for a year was giving him this news.

Having firmly decided to be a supporting character, Wood's grades weren't at the very bottom, but they had always hovered around the elimination line.

Under normal circumstances, he should have graduated from the Marine Academy like most other recruits and become an honorable new Marine recruit!

But now, with his mediocre grades, he was being told he had to stay at the Marine Academy for another year for advanced training for Marine officers.

Had the passing score been lowered this year? But he clearly saw the person who was ranked ahead of him, who had performed much better than him, still being sent to be cannon fodder.

"I am also following the normal procedure. According to the orders I received, recruit Wood must undergo another year of training.

If you have any objections, you can submit an application to other superiors.

But I advise you not to be ungrateful. Being allowed to stay for an extra year of training is something many people would wish for.

You should feel honored, as this is treatment only afforded to elite Marines. Believe me, staying here for another year will be tough, but what you learn will save you ten years of struggle later!"

The Captain believed Wood didn't understand the benefits of being kept, but he couldn't explicitly state them, so he could only hint at them.

How could Wood not understand this? The elite Marines who were kept were being trained as officers, which was indeed saving them ten years of struggle compared to ordinary Marine cannon fodder.

Ordinary low-ranking Marines, even if they achieved merits, would still have to work their way up, but these elite trainees were already starting ahead of the curve by being groomed as officers from the beginning.

Furthermore, ordinary cannon fodder Marines were not eligible to learn techniques like the Navy Six Forms. Without strong abilities, how could they achieve merits and promotions?

Wood just wanted to be a supporting character without attracting attention. He didn't care about being a low-ranking Marine, as he would have opportunities to get promoted later.

As for the Navy Six Forms, he had already obtained them from Kaji. The Marine officer training course held little appeal for Wood.

What he wanted now was to change the current situation, alter the future, and avoid dying at the hands of Shiki the Golden Lion in a year or two.

"I'm just following regulations. You were specifically ordered by a superior to stay for another year of training."

Seeing Wood's stubborn refusal to graduate and leave, the Marine Captain shrugged helplessly, indicating his inability to do anything.

However, upon hearing this, Wood froze. He began to secretly ponder who this "superior" might be.

The basic course instructor Wood had was already a Marine Captain at Headquarters. Anyone referred to as a superior could only be of General rank.

And Wood only knew two such individuals: Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Sengoku.

Garp wasn't particularly familiar with him, so the one who insisted on keeping him must be Admiral Sengoku.

But this didn't make sense either. Wood had only seen Admiral Sengoku a handful of times this past year. He had even thought the Admiral had forgotten about a minor figure like him. Why would he suddenly intervene at this crucial juncture?

Unable to fight against a stronger force, Wood could only dejectedly leave, planning to ask Admiral Sengoku for his reasons if they met again.

The Marine Captain who watched Wood leave was also quite puzzled. In the year they had known each other, Wood was indeed cunning, but beyond that, he had no other distinguishing features. Why would he receive the favor of both Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru?

Yes, you heard correctly. Not only did Admiral Sengoku intend to nurture Wood, but the foremost female Marine general, Vice Admiral Tsuru, had also spoken up for Wood.

If Wood knew this, he would undoubtedly be extremely surprised. While Admiral Sengoku's actions were understandable, he and Tsuru should have been strangers. Why would she know him and speak on his behalf?

In Wood's original dormitory, several extra recruit roommates who had lived with him were now packing their bags.

When they saw Wood enter, they assumed he was also packing and asked with interest which unit he had been assigned to.

"I can't leave. The Captain just informed me that I have to stay here for another year..."

Upon hearing Wood's words, his former roommates showed expressions of envy. They were also quite confused. Wood's academic performance was clearly mediocre, yet he was considered one of the elites?

After seeing off his roommates of the past year, Wood sat on his bed, lost in thought. At that moment, a somewhat timid, white-haired kid peeked into the room.

"Hello, senior. I am a new recruit reporting today, Smoker. Is this Dormitory 404?"

Looking at the young, white-haired boy before him and hearing his name, Wood was stunned. He blurted out, "Smoker? The big smoker, Smoker?"

"My name is indeed Smoker, but I don't smoke. Do you know someone else named Smoker, senior?"

The white-haired boy before him was polite, not very tall, and even a little shy. Wood really couldn't connect him with the gruff, chain-smoking figure from his memories.