Marineford Military Academy, auditorium.
Zephyr stood ramrod straight on the podium.
Below the podium, aside from the academy's faculty seated in the front row, were over two hundred cadets.
Zephyr's gaze swept over the cadets' youthful, spirited faces before he spoke in a sonorous, forceful voice:
"Today is the day you officially graduate from the Military Academy..."
In Class One's section, Tokikake, Sephiroth, and the others huddled together, whispering among themselves.
Listening to the impassioned speech from the podium, Smoker wore a slightly surprised expression.
"I never expected Instructor Zephyr to be so eloquent. He can make a speech sound so stirring that I can feel my blood starting to boil...
Usually, he either calls himself 'this old man' or curses up a storm... It's unbelievable!"
At that, Tokikake immediately flashed a lecherous grin. He draped his left arm over Smoker's shoulder and pulled Sephiroth closer with his right, speaking furtively.
"Hehehe!... Then you don't know this, do you?
Instructor Zephyr used this same script and these same lines for the previous class, the class before that, and even seven or eight classes before them..."
Smoker: "..."
The corner of Sephiroth's eye twitched slightly as he said helplessly:
"That old geezer... He really milks one trick for all it's worth!"
"By the way, where are you planning to apply for after graduation?
I'm planning to apply for the Marines' G-2 Branch in the New World..."
Tokikake looked curiously at the two beside him.
"I'm planning to request a transfer back to my hometown, Loguetown..."
"The East Blue?"
Tokikake was immediately taken aback and hurriedly tried to persuade him.
"You'd better think this through... Once you apply to go to one of the Four Seas, your future prospects will be bleak!
You might work yourself to death without ever rising to