Getting Distracted at a Meeting Gets You Hit

At the New Marine Recruit Camp parade ground, Wright, who had hurriedly cleaned himself up, changed into formal uniform, and rushed over, was pushed to the very front of the formation by Rosinante and Smoker.

He looked up in utter confusion and saw Zephyr entering through the parade ground entrance, with Shuzo following behind him. Instructor Gumir was nowhere to be seen—apparently, the branch really was short on manpower, and he had already headed to take up his post at G-2 Branch.

"Ten minutes until it begins. You're still fairly punctual." Zephyr looked at Wright, who had just taken his place. "It's not so easy to see you flustered these days, kid."

What did that mean? He deliberately hadn't notified me in advance because he wanted to see me make a fool of myself? Teacher Zephyr, you've changed. You used to spoil me!

Seeing Wright's dark expression, Zephyr seemed to realize that his stern persona was slipping. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly before he quickly put on a serious face. "All right, straighten up! Today, Fleet Admiral Kong, Admiral Sengoku, and all the vice admirals currently at headquarters will be here to observe and give speeches."

"The New Marine Recruit Camp exists to train the Marines' grassroots backbone. If you want to develop under a particular vice admiral afterward, today is the time to make your choice."

"You normally spend your time at Marineford, so you all know something about each vice admiral's reputation. Today, the vice admirals themselves will explain their leadership philosophies and answer your questions. And you will also face their selection! Make good use of this opportunity."

Zephyr checked the time. "All right, it's about time. The rest is up to you!"

"Thank you, Chief Instructor, for your guidance!"

Marine Fleet Admiral Kong stopped before the parade ground gates. Listening to the neat, unified shouts from within, he smiled with satisfaction. "Sengoku, Zephyr has trained another group of talents this time. The Marines are fortunate to have Zephyr. As Marine Admirals, the two of you have supported the situation these past few years, one within and one without. You've worked hard."

Admiral Sengoku, standing behind him, replied solemnly, "Zephyr has always held fast to his position as a Marine Admiral. He has always carried out his justice!"

"No one has worked harder than you... Zephyr is still waiting. Brother Kong, please go in!"

"Hehehe... all right!" Kong turned and opened the gates, striding into the parade ground. "Let's see what the future backbone of the Marines is truly made of!"

Inside the parade ground, Zephyr had just taken his place on the podium when the gates swung open. A robust old man with a sky-high hairstyle and a spiky beard—Marine Fleet Admiral Kong—walked in wearing a Justice Coat. Filing in behind him were—

Headquarters Admiral Buddha Sengoku, with his afro, braided beard, and frog glasses; Headquarters Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp, baring his large teeth with no dignity whatsoever; the short elderly woman vice admiral in a light purple suit and Justice Coat—Great Staff Officer Tsuru; and the younger generation of vice admirals—Sakazuki, Borsalino, Kuzan, Squirrel, Burning Mountain, and Dalmatian.

The big shots took their seats in the guest area. Chief Instructor Zephyr signaled for Shuzo to distribute the trainees' personal files to them, then nodded to Fleet Admiral Kong. "Brother Kong, let's begin."

Kong nodded and rose to stand before the podium. "Training Camp elites, today is an important day. It is the day you leave the Training Camp and take your first step toward officially becoming the backbone of the Marines!"

"In the Great Pirate Era, the days ahead will be even harder than they are now. Vast numbers of pirates are pouring into the Grand Line. As the Marines, charged with maintaining World Peace and justice, we bear increasingly arduous duties and missions! And you, as the elites of the new generation of Marines, your choices, your resolve, and your strength will all be cornerstones in the construction of justice!"

"Work hard, young people, in the name of justice!"

"In the name of justice!" the trainees roared in unison, their voices filled with resolve—at least at this very moment, the word "justice" shone so brilliantly.

What is my "justice"...? Wright watched Kong step down from the stage as Sengoku went up to speak. Admiral Sengoku follows "Justice that Reigns Over the World." After becoming Fleet Admiral, though, he had no choice but to change it to the "Absolute Justice" that represents the Marines, in order to maintain their authority...

The future Three Admirals probably already have fixed views of justice. But their "justice"... the difference only lies in how they, as Marines, should enforce justice. It seems they have never stepped outside the framework of the Marines to examine justice itself.

Heh. In this world, the Marines represent justice... that fundamental concept is wrong. The Marines are merely the face of the World Government, a violent tool used by the World Government to suppress the seas. Their role is more often one of "elimination"—eliminating things unfavorable to the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. Rather than performing the military's most fundamental duty—protection, protecting the fundamental safety and interests of the vast majority.

Wiping out pirates? Protecting civilians? Before the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, those things aren't worth mentioning. Tragedies caused by the Celestial Tribute are everywhere. Compared with that, the relationship between the World Government, civilians, pirates, and the Marines is simply that of landlords, tenant farmers, thieves, and hired thugs...

Thus, under a relationship where landlords exploit tenant farmers, whether the hired thugs wipe out every thief and don't care if tenant farmers die or get hurt in the process, or only fight thieves when they come knocking while sleeping the rest of the time and treating tenant farmers pleasantly, or merely guard the gate and act as dutiful employees, the essence is the same.

Their so-called "justice" only protects the interests of the "landlords"—the World Government and the Celestial Dragons!

That isn't true justice.

True justice protects the fundamental interests of the greatest number of people.

"Wright, you..."

But... to achieve true justice, I need strength, influence, and comrades...

"Wright!"

And the Marines—the current Marines—are...

"Wright! You little bastard!"

"!"

Wright's wandering thoughts were jolted back by an angry roar. The moment his pupils refocused, he saw an enormous fist coated in Armament Haki before his face, accompanied by Old Man Garp's long-missed bellow: "You actually dare ignore this old man!"

"Huh?"

Without any suspense, if Wright—distracted, without his Haki activated, and standing in the safe environment of a Marine parade ground—could have dodged Vice Admiral Garp's Iron Fist, then Garp could retire and go home to watch his grandchildren.

Bang!!

"Looks like it's been so long since we last met that you've forgotten what this old man's 'Fist of Love' feels like, Wright!"

Garp stood where Wright had been, hands on his hips as he laughed heartily. Wright... lay face-down in the massive crater Garp had punched into the ground, twitching faintly. For a moment, the sight was utterly bizarre.

"..."

The trainees stared dumbly, their jaws practically dislocated. Zephyr covered his forehead and pressed hard against his temples. Shuzo lowered his head to stare at the ground, as if ants were moving house beneath his feet. Sengoku's eye twitched furiously, his outstretched hand frozen in midair, as though he had tried to stop someone but failed. Vice Admiral Tsuru's lips curled up slightly, her eyes filled with wistful memories. The younger generation of vice admirals wore strange expressions, entirely unsurprised by Garp's behavior... they had all experienced it to some extent.

"Hahahaha..." Fleet Admiral Kong burst into laughter. "This is the top trainee of this year's Training Camp? Just as his file says... interesting!"