Recalled to Headquarters

At the port of Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

This was the second time he had returned to Marine Headquarters since he last came from Maple Leaf Island.

In the past six months, Marine Headquarters had not changed much. If anything, the number of Marines at the port had increased significantly.

Wood had a rather pleasant time living in Impel Down. Having a good relationship with some of the management of Impel Down, Wood was doing quite well there.

However, just yesterday, while he was still in the fourth level "disciplining" prisoners with Sadi, he suddenly received a contact from his squad leader, asking him to return to Marine Headquarters.

When Wood first heard the order, his expression was clearly bewildered. However, he quickly reacted and looked excitedly at the squad leader, who was a Marine Captain.

He had previously thought that the other party was just saying it when they mentioned recommending Wood's outstanding contributions to their superiors, but he didn't expect them to be serious!

Although staying in Impel Down and continuously using prisoners to train himself was good, Wood always felt it was too dangerous to stay there during Shiki's escape, so he had been trying to find a way to leave.

He heard that Marshal Sengoku had ordered his recall to Marine Headquarters, which clearly meant a promotion!

Today, the warship escorting prisoners arrived at Impel Down again, and Wood left on this very ship.

As the Marine warship gradually sailed away, some of the Marines stationed in Impel Down were quite displeased.

"Captain, you actually recommended that guy Wood to the higher-ups? Why? How long has he been in Impel Down? I've been here for two years. If there's a chance for promotion and to leave this place, shouldn't they consider us first!"

He wasn't the only one dissatisfied; several others felt the same.

Although the work in Impel Down was easy, it was also extremely dull and boring.

Impel Down was surrounded by the Calm Belt, with Sea Kings lurking around the island. There were no other entertainment venues on the island, and the only inhabitants were prisoners and monstrous Jailers.

For the Marines stationed here, this place was no different from their own prison. The only difference between them and the prisoners was that they didn't have to endure punishments daily and weren't locked in cages.

Not everyone could get along harmoniously with the inhuman Jailers like Wood, or find joy in sparring with prisoners every day.

Wood had a very fulfilling life in Impel Down every day, but for others, life in Impel Down was numb and boring.

"Shut up. If it weren't for the higher-ups mentioning Wood's name, I would have forgotten we even had someone like him here. If a few words of praise to the higher-ups could get me out of this hellhole, I would have done it myself long ago. Do you think I want to stay in this godforsaken place?"

Hearing the squad leader's words, the other Marines stationed in Impel Down were also stunned. So, the question now was, if Wood wasn't being praised by the squad leader, why did he suddenly receive a transfer order from Marine Headquarters?

If they remembered correctly, Wood was just a Private Third Class. In terms of rank, he was at most cannon fodder.

Would Fleet Admiral Sengoku remember the name of such a minor figure, let alone specifically transfer him back to Marine Headquarters?

"Maybe he's a hidden big shot, or maybe he has connections in Marine Headquarters. Damn it, if I had known Wood had such a strong background, I should have gotten closer to him. Maybe I would have been promoted and left with him."

The Marines in Impel Down all thought that Wood was about to be promoted and leave, and even Wood himself thought so.

However, when Wood realized that the Marine escorting him was not leading him towards Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, but towards the senior officers' residential area, he felt a bit strange.

"Brother, wasn't it Marshal Sengoku who ordered my transfer to Marine Headquarters? Why are we going to the officers' residential area instead of the Marine Headquarters' office area?"

Marineford was a large island. To maintain the daily needs of the Marines on the island, it also had markets and towns.

Besides the most conspicuous Marine Headquarters' tall tower and city walls standing in the center, the island actually had quite a few residential areas.

The senior officers of Marine Headquarters and their families resided on this island.

The escorting Marine, who was of the same rank as Wood, did not lead him to the majestic tower building but towards the residential area, which was why Wood had this question.

"Marshal Sengoku ordering your return to Marine Headquarters was also because our Captain requested it. So, the person we are going to see is naturally our Captain, not Marshal Sengoku."

Captain? Hearing the other party's address to his superior, Wood once again showed a questioning look.

Although he had been a Marine for two to three years, and had even spent two years in Marine Headquarters, Wood knew very few Marine officers. Excluding Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Zephyr, the Marine Captains he knew seemed to be only the Captain officer who taught them basic courses back then.

So, was it this person who requested Marshal Sengoku to summon him back to Marine Headquarters?

Putting aside whether a Marine Captain had enough influence to ask Marshal Sengoku for help, Wood remembered that the Captain instructor back then did not think highly of him.

With a face full of questions, Wood was finally led to a house that looked quite ordinary. The escorting Marine reported to someone inside that the person had arrived and then saluted and left.

However, just as Wood hesitated whether he should also report before entering the house to see the person's true face, a tall figure slowly walked out from inside the house at the entrance.

Since it was not her duty hours, she was not wearing a Marine uniform but a knitted sweater.

The extremely loose clothing could not hide her proud curves, and her long legs, which were dazzling, were like ivory, exposed directly to the air.

"It's you! In just half a year, you've become a Captain in Marine Headquarters!"

Half a year was not long, nor was it short, but it was clearly not enough to cause significant changes in a person's appearance.

So, the moment the person appeared, Wood recognized her as Gion, whom he had not seen for half a year.

He had been wondering why Marine Headquarters suddenly remembered a small fry like him after he had been slacking off in Impel Down for half a year. It turned out that this was all Gion's doing!