On Kizaru's Ship [1/4]

"Noah—!"

At that moment, a grief-stricken roar suddenly rang out across the training grounds in the middle of the night.

Ashamed, Noah approached the ragged, half-naked man and gave him a deep bow.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Brandon! I thought there'd be no one at the training grounds in the middle of the night. I really didn't see you..."

"So if nobody's around, you can just throw sword slashes wherever you want? Huh?"

Brandon trembled with rage as he shakily raised a finger and pointed at the training grounds, which had been leveled all around them.

"I got thirsty in the middle of the night and came out to get some water. The moment I stepped outside, I saw you doing this..."

"This isn't the Marine Headquarters Elite Training Camp, kid! You wrecked someone else's place like this. How am I supposed to explain it to G2, to Kizaru?"

"It's fine, Instructor."

Noah scratched his head and gave an innocent grin. "Mr. Kizaru and I get along quite well. He won't blame me over something this minor."

"Really?" Brandon gave him a suspicious look.

"Why would I lie to you?"

Noah glanced at the dormitory building beside them, where lights were gradually coming on. It seemed quite a few people had been startled awake by the commotion from his sword strike.

"A lot of people are watching, Instructor. Why don't we go somewhere else to talk?"

"What, feeling guilty now?"

Brandon shot him a sidelong look and snorted. "No need! They're all soldiers from G2 Branch. Let them see exactly what the culprit who destroyed their training grounds looks like!"

"That's not what I meant, Instructor..."

"Liar! I've been an instructor for so many years. I know exactly what boys your age are thinking!"

Noah fell silent for a moment. "You