Make the Best of It

As the massive steel gates symbolizing Absolute Justice slowly opened, an island completely different from what Rayne had imagined unfolded before his eyes.

In his expectations, Marine Headquarters Marineford should have been a gigantic military fortress under heavy guard, bristling with artillery and patrols everywhere.

But what met his gaze now was a vibrant, bustling city.

True, the outermost harbor and fortress district still looked like a war bastion of steel and gunpowder.

Dozens of colossal warships, like mountains, were docked in the harbor. Countless Marines moved about the piers in orderly supply operations and drills, while the dull boom of distant artillery practice could even be heard faintly.

But beyond that line of defense, the city itself was filled with an entirely different kind of everyday life.

On the broad, clean streets, there were not only uniformed Marines coming and going, but also young mothers pushing strollers, elderly couples walking hand in hand, and children laughing and playing.

There were residential districts for Marine families, markets alive with vendors' cries, restaurants, and taverns...

"It's practically a paradise perfectly protected from the outside world."

Standing on the deck and taking it all in, Rayne could not help but sigh inwardly. With Marine Headquarters right beside it, the public security here was unbelievably good. It could be called the most livable city for ordinary people on this chaotic sea.

"Hey, kid, quit standing around. Get ready to disembark!"

At some point, Garp had popped another rice cracker into his mouth. He urged Rayne along through a muffled mouthful, then led his subordinates off the ship first.

He casually pointed at a young Marine standing guard on the pier and shouted bluntly, "Hey! You! Take this new kid to the Elite Training Camp registration office!"

"Yes! Vice Admiral Garp!" The Marine jumped in surprise, hurriedly snapped to attention and saluted, then quickly ran to Rayne. "Please follow me."

Rayne nodded and followed behind him, setting foot on the soil of Marineford for the first time.

Out of that damned caution buried deep in the soul of a transmigrator, Rayne stirred his mind and carefully released his Observation Haki like an invisible radar, swiftly sweeping across the entire island.

Just one second later, he immediately withdrew his senses. Fine cold sweat had already begun to bead uncontrollably on his forehead.

There are quite a few strong people here...

This discovery only strengthened his resolve to honestly act like an "ordinary person" and keep his full strength hidden.

He immediately lowered his head and reined in every trace of emotion, making himself look like a young Marine who was nervous upon arriving at Headquarters for the first time.

Yet along the way, Rayne's exceptional height still drew plenty of sidelong glances from passing Marines.

"Look, is that one of the newest Elite Training Camp recruits? He looks so young."

"I heard there's an incredible Logia user in this batch..."

Hearing those whispers, Rayne remained expressionless, but he raised the priority of keeping a low profile another level in his mind.

"The building ahead is Headquarters' main administrative building," the Marine guiding him said, apparently noticing Rayne's nervousness. There was a hint of reverence in his tone.

"The Elite Training Camp registration office is there."

Rayne looked in the direction he pointed and nodded.

Just then, the young Marine's expression abruptly changed. He grabbed Rayne, pulled him to the roadside, then swiftly snapped to attention and gave an impeccably formal salute.

Ahead of them, a tall Marine officer draped in a justice coat was approaching with a group of subordinates. He had long, dark-purple curls tied into a high ponytail and wore sunglasses. His expression was as cold as an iceberg that had never melted.

"That's Rear Admiral Onigumo," the young Marine introduced in a lowered voice.

Rear Admiral Onigumo strode past them without even glancing their way, as though they were merely two stones by the roadside.

Only after he had gone far away did the young Marine let out a breath and wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Rayne said nothing, but his understanding of just how deep the waters here ran grew another layer.

Before long, they arrived at the registration office. Inside sat a somewhat slovenly Marine staff sergeant who was filing his nails.

"Reporting! A new Elite Training Camp recruit has arrived!" the young Marine said with a salute.

"Name." The staff sergeant did not even raise his eyelids as he asked casually.

"Corvo Rayne."

"Rayne?" The staff sergeant frowned and carefully searched the list in his hands from beginning to end, then searched it again. Finally, he slapped the list onto the desk impatiently. "There's no one by that name. Kid, did you come to the wrong place? The Elite Training Camp isn't somewhere just anyone can enter."

"Th-this..." The Marine guiding him immediately grew anxious and wanted to explain that Rayne had been personally brought here by Vice Admiral Garp.

Rayne, however, remained calm. He knew Vice Admiral Tsuru could not possibly make a mistake over something like this.

Sure enough, the staff sergeant seemed to remember something and muttered unconsciously, "Wait... I remember now. Vice Admiral Tsuru seemed to have added someone to the end of the list a few days ago..."

He hurriedly flipped to the final page and indeed found a handwritten name at the bottom. In the recommender column behind it, the name "Tsuru" was written clearly.

He quickly found the corresponding identity badge and key in a drawer, handed them over, and used an indifferent tone to hide his shock.

"Found you, Corvo Rayne. Your timing is perfect. The Elite Training Camp officially begins tomorrow."

He handed Rayne the key and identity badge, then added, "Gather at the central training grounds tomorrow morning at eight. Don't be late. Your dorm is Room 307 on the third floor. Your roommate should already be there."

Rayne accepted them and nodded. "Understood."

He said nothing else and turned to leave alone.

After completing his task, the young Marine who had guided him also quickly departed. Only the staff sergeant remained in the registration office, watching Rayne's retreating back. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and secretly felt grateful that he had not offended this mysterious, well-connected youth too badly.

As Rayne headed toward the dormitory, he rapidly laid out an incredibly clear roadmap for his growth over the coming year in the Elite Training Camp.

Marineford is full of strong people, but that also makes it the safest place. It's practically impossible for some blind pirate to come here and give me experience. That means the system's core function, [Sin Judgment], will be of little use for at least the next year.

In that case, I have to devote all my energy to improving myself.

His gaze became incomparably resolute.

My first goal is to completely master the [Marine Six Powers], then use them as a foundation to grasp their ultimate technique—[Life Return].

Second, I need to find a way to break through the bottleneck of my physique. Without nourishment from the system, I can only rely on the purest physical training and see if I can push my physique into the [Top-tier] realm within this year!

After roughly planning out the tasks for the next year, Rayne instead smiled in relief. His shoulders, which had been tense all this time, finally relaxed.

Since I'm already here, I might as well make good use of this year.