Marine Headquarters, the Elite Camp courtyard.
"Six months?"
The news Kuzan had brought left the Elite Camp members speechless. For a long while, no one said a word.
Graduate in six months? Loa really thinks highly of us!
The Elite Camp's three-year term had been set after careful consideration of each class's talent and rate of growth.
No matter how often outsiders called the recruits who joined the Elite Camp "Monster," they still needed time and experience to grow, step by step.
Training could not be rushed. Hadn't even the Straw Hat, that child of destiny, trained for two years before returning?
"Arudo, the others in our class, and I should all be able to graduate in six months."
After thinking it over carefully, Mingde looked at Kuzan and said solemnly, "Sorry for the trouble, Admiral Aokiji, but please give Loa a message. Six months from now, we'll be standing in front of him!"
He was sick of being unable to control the situation. Ever since the incident with Minnie, he had been nothing more than a spectator. Whether he was there or not made no difference.
That had been especially true on Ian Island. It was good that no one had been left behind, but Loa had been right: the rest of them had been useless bystanders!
Luckily, the one who had detained them was Red-Haired Shanks, not some vicious band of Pirates. Otherwise, things might not have ended so well for them.
So Mingde made up his mind. Over the next six months, even if he died, he would die on the path to becoming stronger!
Unlike the veterans, however, Simon and Minnie exchanged bitter smiles, at a loss for words.
"He really thinks we're Monsters like him!"
Simon sighed.
Graduating from the Elite Camp required passing only