Performance Review, an Excellent Superior!

Performance Review, an Excellent Superior!

The matter of the sea training assignment had been settled. Normally, Marine Academy cadets were sent to the Grand Line or the New World for their training cruises.

The officers leading them during their placements were usually rear admirals or vice admirals from Marine Headquarters. Sometimes, even former Admiral Zephyr personally led them out to sea for training.

However, there were two exceptions among this class of Marine cadets: Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Kyros.

Both had only recently joined the Marines, and their ranks were the lowest—Private Third Class.

Yet both possessed outstanding talent. Within three months of entering the Marine Academy, Kyros had already mastered Soru, one of the Marine Six Styles. Relying on the swordsmanship he had honed in the gladiator arena, Kyros could now fight Momonga to a standstill.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi's strength was even more terrifying. Despite his young age, he could likely defeat some vice admirals in a direct confrontation.

Their ranks were low, their strength great, and their potential immense, but neither had much experience at sea. Therefore, Marine Headquarters chose a more prudent method of training for them.

It was September, with clear skies stretching high overhead.

That day, the office of Marine Admiral Buddha Sengoku welcomed several old friends.

Riiip.

The office door was pushed open, and Garp, dressed in a black suit and draped in a "Justice" coat, strode inside.

Without even greeting Sengoku behind the desk, he entered the admiral's office as if it were his own home. He dropped onto a sofa to one side, poured himself a cup of tea, then somehow produced a bag of senbei. Tearing it open, he began eating by himself.

The crunching sounds made Sengoku, who was reviewing documents behind his desk, break out in black lines.

Sengoku set down his pen and looked up at Garp on the sofa. After staring for a moment, he could not help but sigh. Just as he was about to ignore Garp and resume working, Garp asked indistinctly,

"Hey, Sengoku, has the man from the branch arrived yet?!"

Hearing Garp's words, Sengoku paused. He immediately understood why Garp had come to see him today. Setting down his pen, he glanced at the clock on the wall and answered,

"Soon."

Garp smiled at that, leaned back against the sofa, and said casually, "Fine, then I'll wait here."

As soon as Garp finished speaking, both he and Sengoku seemed to sense something and looked toward the door. Shortly afterward, a purple-haired middle-aged Marine gave a token knock before pushing open the door and entering the office.

Seeing the newcomer, Garp broke into a bright smile and greeted him cheerfully.

"Yo, Zephyr."

"You're here too?! Hahahaha!"

"Want some senbei?"

After entering, Zephyr swept his gaze around the office. Seeing only Sengoku and Garp, he frowned slightly. Ignoring Garp, he asked Sengoku, "Has the man from the branch not arrived yet?"

Hearing Zephyr ask the same question as Garp, Sengoku shook his head. "Soon."

Zephyr nodded, walked to the sofa, and dropped down beside Garp. He poured himself a cup of tea, leaned back, and waited quietly with the cup in hand.

Sengoku glanced sideways at Zephyr and Garp on the sofa, ignored them, and continued reviewing documents.

For a time, Garp's chewing was the only sound echoing through the office.

After a long while, a knock suddenly sounded outside the office, accompanied by Sengoku's adjutant's voice. "Admiral Sengoku, Colonel Kane from Marine Branch 133 of West Blue has arrived. He is outside."

The moment those words fell, all three men in the office raised their heads and looked toward the door.

Sengoku also set down his pen and called out, "Let him in."

Not long afterward, a middle-aged Marine draped in a Justice coat slowly entered the office.

He was a burly man of around forty, wearing a fitted white suit beneath his "Justice" coat. Nearly three meters tall, he had a powerful build, his muscles stretching the suit taut.

He had a square face, a high nose bridge, thick brows, and large eyes filled with resolve.

His brows were faintly furrowed, and he carried an imposing air without showing anger. Time had lent even greater depth to his square, handsome features.

As he entered the office, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp all fixed their eyes on him, carefully sizing up the middle-aged man. Without realizing it, they developed a favorable impression of him.

A middle-aged Marine with thick brows and large eyes, calm and serious.

After observing him for a while, Zephyr nodded approvingly. After looking him over, Garp grinned broadly.

"Admiral Sengoku!"

"I am Colonel Kane of Marine Branch 133 of West Blue!"

"I am here to report!"

The man did not look at Zephyr or Garp on the sofa. He walked straight to Sengoku's desk, snapped into position, and saluted Sengoku.

Straight-backed and solemn.

Sengoku remained seated without speaking. After studying Kane for a while, he finally pressed a hand downward and said with a smile, "Relax."

"Hehe, Colonel Kane, I have heard of you."

"Pirates have run rampant in West Blue these past few years. Even quite a few major pirates in the New World originated from West Blue."

"Yet the area under Branch 133's jurisdiction has remained remarkably peaceful. The people live and work in peace and contentment. That is all thanks to you!"

"The main reason we summoned you back to headquarters for this performance review is one matter."

"Following discussions at a meeting of Marine upper management, it has been decided that you will be promoted."

Sengoku slowly rose to his feet, walked over to Kane, patted him on the shoulder, and spoke with a smile.

"This is my duty. Thank you to the headquarters leadership for your support!"

Kane's face remained as serious and rigid as ever. He snapped into position and saluted once more. He did not show much excitement at the prospect of promotion, and Sengoku could not help nodding slightly at his attitude.

"Colonel Kane, your abilities are recognized by your colleagues at headquarters."

"However, there will be a six-month rotation period before you are promoted from colonel to brigadier general. Only afterward will you be transferred to headquarters as a brigadier general."

"Kane, after you return from this performance review, hand over your current duties. Then recommend someone capable of replacing you. We will fully consider your opinion and decide as appropriate whether to assign a new colonel or promote someone from Branch 133."

Sengoku spoke with a genial smile, then returned behind his desk. He took a document from a drawer and handed it to Kane.

It was an official promotion document. Kane opened it and gave it a brief scan, then solemnly closed it and saluted Sengoku again.

Returning to his seat, Sengoku pointed at the two men on the sofa and said to Kane,

"These two are Vice Admiral Garp of Marine Headquarters."

"The other is former Marine Admiral Zephyr, now the chief instructor of Marine Headquarters. They will observe and bear witness to your performance review."

"Now, begin your report."

After briefly introducing Zephyr and Garp, Sengoku signaled for Kane to begin.

"Yes!"

"My name is Kane. I am forty-one years old. I was born in—"

"..."

Marine performance reviews were not all that formal. In truth, Sengoku alone could decide on a colonel's promotion. Garp and Zephyr had not come merely to listen to a colonel's report.

The two had other purposes.

After Kane finished his report and left, the three began talking.

"Zephyr, Garp, what do you think? Colonel Kane is quite good, isn't he?"

"I selected him carefully. Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Kyros should benefit greatly from training under him at Branch 133."

"Under Kane's leadership, Branch 133 is formidable. Although its jurisdiction is in West Blue, there are not many pirates there, and it is peaceful and tranquil."

"A place like that is perfect for putting their navigation knowledge into practice."

"If they leave the jurisdiction, West Blue is also a place where pirates run rampant, so there will be no shortage of real combat. With the officers and soldiers of Branch 133 there as well, there is no need to worry about safety."

As Sengoku spoke, Zephyr nodded in agreement. Garp, however, picked his nose and said casually, "If you ask me, training Yoriichi and Kyros is simple. They'd grow quickly after going out to sea with me a few times."

"But since you two both think this would be better, I don't have much of an objection."

"I'm leaving."

Garp stood, dusted off his backside, and left the office directly. Seeing Garp act like that, Sengoku shook his head in helplessness.

Seeing Garp leave, Zephyr also rose and said to Sengoku, "Sorry to trouble you with this, Sengoku."

"What are you saying? Leaving aside our relationship, this is just part of my job."

Compared to Garp, Zephyr was far more polite!

The next day, Branch 133's warship was preparing to set sail. Before Kane departed for his return journey, Admiral Sengoku handed him two recruits.

Sengoku did not say much. He merely told Kane that the two were newcomers who had just joined the Marines, assigned to Marine Branch 133 of West Blue, and instructed him to take them back.

Kane did not think much of it. After Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Kyros boarded, he casually arranged accommodations for the two Private Third Classes, then weighed anchor and raised the sails, preparing to depart.

After the warship slowly left the harbor, Zephyr appeared on the dock. He watched the departing warship in silence for a long time.

(End of Chapter)