Contacting the Newspaper · Publishing an Announcement

Yang Yunzhi followed Hina to the office. Perhaps because this world had people who were exceptionally tall, many buildings were generally built on a grand scale.

Take the office of Base 36's commander, for example. The door alone was three meters tall, while the entire room stood five meters high and measured thirty by forty meters.

Calling it an office was an understatement—it was practically a large classroom!

Yet there was not much inside: one enormous desk, a chair behind it, a cabinet beside it, and a row of seats in front for guests.

Hina went to the cabinet beside the desk and, after rummaging around, actually pulled out a Den Den Mushi.

Yang Yunzhi stared at the Den Den Mushi curiously. After being transported here for so long, this was still his first time seeing one.

Mainly because these things were quite rare, not something ordinary commoners got to see.

Its use seemed much like a telephone's: dial first, then it started ringing.

The call connected quickly.

"Is this West Blue Weekly? This is West Blue Base 36. I am the base commander, Marine Headquarters Major Hina!" Hina declared righteously.

"Ah, greetings, Major Hina. I'm Magic Box, an editor from the newspaper. Are you contacting us because you have some news to report?" Magic Box asked from the other end.

"No news. I need you to publish a recruitment advertisement in your paper!"

"A recruitment advertisement?" Magic Box froze, and his expression immediately turned unpleasant.

Don't ask how she could see his expression—the Den Den Mushi simulated it.

"Our newspaper charges for advertisements. How many words is your recruitment ad?"

"Hm?" Hina's brows shot up. "This is a public-service advertisement. Why would it cost money? You dare charge the Marines? Believe it or not, we'll shut down your newspaper!"

"Ah, well..." Magic Box froze before immediately apologizing. "My apologies, Major. We were in the wrong, but I'm only an editor. I can't make this decision myself. Shall I find the editor-in-chief for you?"

"Hurry up. Take the Den Den Mushi with you!"

"Yes!"

Soon, someone else took over on the other end of the Den Den Mushi. His face was covered in wrinkles, and his hair was sparse. He was probably quite old.

"Hello, this is the West Blue Weekly. I am Monas, the president of the paper. Major Hina, I wholeheartedly support your wish to place an advertisement with us. Just send over the announcement, and we will publish it in our next issue. How does that sound?"

"No problem!" Hina nodded. "I'll send the announcement over shortly!"

Yang Yunzhi put down the Den Den Mushi, and Hina looked at him in delight. "You really can do it, kid. They actually agreed to publish it!"

Yang Yunzhi nodded as if it were only natural. She was a Marine—who would dare openly defy a Marine order? Wouldn't that be asking to become a pirate?

To be fair, many Marines in the One Piece world truly underestimated the power they held.

There were over two hundred military bases across the world, and each base had at least three ships. That alone made six hundred warships.

Add in the large bases on the Grand Line and the warships stationed at Marine Headquarters, and the Marines might have had as many as a thousand warships!

And what about the other countries? Forget navies—even armies were not guaranteed. Most nations only had peace officers!

In terms of control, the Marines were even more outrageous than the U.S. military in his previous life!

Yet while the U.S. military could swagger around the world and make money through plunder, the Marines could only rely on the World Government to survive.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with following rules. Only an army like this had value to be brought under his control.

If it were truly a rotten army, though, it would be better not to touch it at all. It would need to be torn down and rebuilt from scratch.

"Can you write the announcement?" After praising Yang Yunzhi, Hina returned to her seat and picked up a pen.

But just as she did, she suddenly remembered, Didn't I recruit a clerk? Why am I holding a pen? This should be the clerk's job!

Yang Yunzhi nodded. "I can!"

"Then I'll leave it to you!" Hina moved aside as she spoke, then grabbed Yang Yunzhi and pulled him over. "You write it. Let me see how well you do."

Although Yang Yunzhi now had twenty Doriki, resisting Hina was still unrealistic. He could only obediently sit in her chair and look at the blank sheet of paper before him.

In his mind, he instructed, "Little Bean, help me draft an announcement. The issuer is Marine Base 36, and the date is July 21, Sea Circle Calendar 1510. The content should be: to combat pirates, we call on aspiring people to join the Marines. The age limit is eighteen to twenty-five, height must be above 1.80 meters, no tattoos, good health, and no bad habits. Add some content promoting justice as well."

In an instant, Little Bean gave him exactly what he wanted.

All Yang Yunzhi had to do was copy the contents in his mind onto the paper.

[Marine Base 36 Announcement]

July 21, Sea Circle Calendar 1510

[Justice Call to Arms]

"Piracy is against the law! Passionate young people who train both body and mind, join us in defending the 'righteous cause'!"

To combat the increasingly rampant pirate forces, Marine Base 36 is urgently recruiting outstanding young talents!

Can your fists be raised to protect the smiles of others?

Can your spine remain forever unbent before evil?

This is now the Great Pirate Era, an opportunity for all young people living on the Grand Line to become a "proof of justice"!

Recruitment Requirements

Join us and fight for the justice of the seas!

Age: 18 to 25

Height: Above 180 cm (You must possess a physique with a bearing no less broad than the sea!)

Physical Requirements:

No tattoos

Healthy body, pure spirit

Lifestyle: Smoking, drinking, and other bad habits are strictly prohibited!

Registration Method

Location: Marine Base 36 Enlistment Examination Grounds

Time: Applications accepted starting today

A Message from the Base Commander

"Pirates may indeed run rampant across these seas, but what awaits them ahead will surely be 'destruction' and 'regret.'

We Marines fight to establish 'order' upon these seas.

Your strength will become a shield that saves the lives of others.

If you have tempered your body and mind and wish to stake your youth on justice,

then come prove your 'dreams' and your 'pride'!"

Marine Base 36 Base Commander

Marine Headquarters Major

Hina

After finishing, Yang Yunzhi raised his head and asked, "Major, what do you think?"

"Not bad, not bad!" Hina nodded, looking extremely satisfied. She felt that even if she had written it herself, it would not have been any better!

"There's a Fax Den Den Mushi right beside us. Send it to West Blue Weekly. Oh, and here's their number!"

In the One Piece world, telephones and fax machines used the same number.

Yang Yunzhi had never used a Fax Den Den Mushi before, but he had been a top student with sound logical thinking. After briefly examining its appearance and structure, he understood roughly how it worked and sent the announcement over without any trouble.

"Now, we'll see what results it brings!" Hina said. "Our base is currently short two hundred and seventy people. If we can fill the ranks within two weeks, I'll promote you!"

After all, she had originally wanted to give Yang Yunzhi the rank of second lieutenant, yet he had only asked for the position of third-class private.

Promoting him later from second-class private to first-class private and then to second lieutenant was not something she could handle with a few words?

"Thank you for your support and guidance, Major!"

Hina smiled and patted Yang Yunzhi on the shoulder. "Hey, it isn't me guiding you. You're talented yourself, and the Marines are not a place that wastes talent!"

After patting Yang Yunzhi, however, Hina rubbed her chin.

This kid's physique was obviously so weak. Why were his muscles so firm?