Assessment

Kami-e was probably the technique best suited to Louis's training at this stage. Of all the Six Powers, Kami-e undoubtedly placed the greatest demands on the user's ability to control their body. Setting aside the other techniques that only controlled parts of the body to varying degrees, even Tekkai, which also manipulated the entire body, could not compare to it.

Tekkai hardened the muscles, while Kami-e softened the body, allowing it to evade attacks with the flow of air. This was probably the technique closest to Life Return.

Having learned Life Return, Louis naturally did not struggle as much as ordinary beginners of Kami-e. Even after grasping the special methods needed to stimulate the body into reacting, most people still could not get started. For Louis, however, once he understood the method and applied Life Return's control, his progress advanced by leaps and bounds. After all, when it came to controlling the body, Life Return was naturally far more authoritative.

Through Kami-e, Louis's Life Return could now roughly regulate his muscles and even his bones, just like this.

"This is interesting."

Standing before the mirror, Louis looked at the unfamiliar face reflected within it. A smile curled onto his lips as he touched and pinched it. It was incredibly soft, deforming at the slightest touch, yet his appearance had truly changed.

It had been one week since he began training in Kami-e, and he had already preliminarily completed its cultivation. Such speed could only be described as terrifying. If the Instructors knew about this, they would never again doubt that Louis had trained himself in Life Return. While the others were still struggling to feel their way forward, Louis had already finished his training. The difference was plain as day.

After preliminarily mastering Kami-e, Louis discovered that Life Return and Kami-e truly were a perfect combination.

The essence of Kami-e was to stimulate the body through special methods, softening the physique and gaining control over it. But with Life Return added to the mix, that control was greatly enhanced. Even before using Life Return to gain complete control over his muscles and bones, Louis could use Kami-e to manipulate his body, altering his build and changing his appearance. These were the skills an agent ought to possess.

After preliminarily mastering Kami-e, Louis did not stop training. Training in the Six Powers was a long-term endeavor; completing the basic techniques was only the first step.

Speed of use, control, and the parts of the body involved—there was still considerable room for improvement in all of these areas.

Kami-e had another benefit. In the Kami-e state, his control over his body reached unprecedented heights. Training Life Return's bodily control at such times noticeably accelerated his progress as well. Louis once again felt that he had made the right choice.

While training Kami-e, he had not stopped working on controlling his digestive system. With Kami-e's assistance, he had already conquered more than half of his spleen. Next came the intestines. Complete mastery was not far away.

A month slowly passed amid Louis's grueling training.

Life at the CP9 Training Camp was harsh. They got up at five every morning, starting the day by running thirty laps around the camp. After breakfast came academic classes, which lasted the entire morning and taught the various skills required of spies. Compared with the South Sea Training Camp, the courses here were more advanced and specialized. CP9 agents were all high-level spies; they did not need to learn many unnecessary things, but what they did need to learn had to be studied in far greater depth.

Without question, every official CP9 member was highly educated. The gap between them and the mostly illiterate pirates was enormous.

Training classes began in the afternoon. Physical conditioning came first, with the most professional trainers teaching Louis and the others how to forge the strongest, most efficient bodies and unleash their physical potential to the fullest. Then came combat training. Fighting techniques from different schools were also things an agent needed to master. To avoid exposing their identities, they would inevitably need to use other techniques as cover when forced to fight. Swords, firearms, unarmed combat, and even all manner of strange weapons were included in the curriculum.

Then came free training time, the longest class of all. From five in the afternoon until night, everyone had a training hall of their own, stocked with every kind of training equipment. No one supervised them; it all depended on self-discipline. Louis finally understood why this place was so large.

Another month passed like this. Louis's digestive-system control project had progressed to the small intestine. In a few more days, it would be completely finished. Only then would his digestion and absorption efficiency reach its limit.

No conflicts broke out. Private fights were absolutely forbidden here. Even Yerika, with her explosive temper and twisted personality, behaved herself, only trying to glare people to death.

Then, at last, the time for the assessment arrived. The first day was the written test.

Though it was called a written test, there was not much to write on paper. Most of it concerned local customs, etiquette, cultural habits, basic skills, and the like. More of it consisted of practical exercises in the form of scenarios: interrogation and counter-interrogation, infiltration and assassination, and so on. To a spy, these things were, in some ways, far more important than martial strength.

"Ah, it's over, it's over, Meow!"

The moment he left the examination room, Xiluo began complaining loudly. "I missed a detail just now. They'll definitely deduct points, Meow. I'm doomed, I'm doomed. I'm definitely getting eliminated this time, Meow."

Louis offered no comment. This guy had always been like this. He was probably what people in his previous life called a humblebragger.

The second day finally brought the practical assessment. The format was simple: contestants were paired off to fight, with the losers continuing onward until the final loser was determined. Those who won in the first round received full marks, and points were deducted in sequence after that. It was actually quite lenient. The only exception was the last-place contestant, who received zero points.

"Wah! Gods, bless me! Gods, bless me, Meow!"

Standing beside Louis, Xiluo muttered, "Please don't let it be Brother Louis, please don't let it be Brother Louis, Meow."

To be honest, Louis did not want to face Xiluo either. This man was the only trainee he could not see through. Even Stuart, whose Doriki Value exceeded a thousand and who was said to have learned three of the Six Powers, did not compare to him. This guy was probably a Devil Fruit user.

The opponents were decided by drawing lots. There were nineteen people, so naturally one person would receive a bye. The person receiving the bye was not fortunate, however, because even if they won their first match, it would count as a second-round victory.

After the person receiving the bye was determined, nine people randomly wrote down their names, while the other nine drew lots. Anyone who drew another person's name became that person's opponent.

"John, your opponent is Xiluo."

The Instructor glanced at the slip of paper in John's pale hand and spoke casually.

Xiluo's face lit up. "Ha, so lucky! It wasn't Brother Louis who drew me, Meow!"

His opponent was John, from the East Sea Training Camp. John's Doriki Value was less than half of his. Xiluo could not imagine any reason he would lose.

"Louis."

The Instructor called Louis's name.

Louis stepped forward and picked up a slip of paper. Written on it was—

"Oh? Yerika, Meow!"

Though he was some distance away, Xiluo still saw it and shouted, "Brother Louis, isn't this a guaranteed win, Meow? How could Yerika possibly be your opponent, Meow?"

The moment Xiluo's words fell, Louis felt an icy gaze.

That woman was staring at him viciously.

Heh.