Training Ground, Forced Sparring

The Marine captain returned to the warship's bridge and reported to his superior through a Den Den Mushi.

Roya remained standing between the two warships.

It was as though he did not care at all about the shocked stares around him.

A gentle smile rested on his face, making him seem like an exceptionally kind person.

Yet that was precisely what shocked them!

Someone who looked so gentle had casually slain a pirate worth a billion—something they had never expected!

The Marines acted swiftly.

After the Marine captain reported the matter through several channels, it quickly reached Sengoku.

Sengoku had only recently assumed the position of Fleet Admiral. This was the first major event he had personally arranged, and it was also his first show of authority in office.

His first move was to display the Marines' strength to the entire world!

Recently, a mysterious person had repeatedly snatched prey from the Marines and the World Government, destroyed a Buster Call with a single slash, and wreaked havoc in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. Each incident had disgraced the Marines.

Many people even believed that the Marines were strong only on the surface and weak within, on the verge of collapse!

To reverse that situation, Sengoku had organized this grand event for the Marines!

As long as one was strong enough, one could take up an important post.

Even an ordinary Marine recruit could potentially become an admiral directly!

When Sengoku heard that the heads included that of Avery, the pirate worth a billion, he was greatly surprised.

Back when he had been a Marine admiral, he had pursued Avery himself.

Sengoku knew that beneath Avery's terrifyingly powerful body lay a cunning personality.

Without overwhelming strength or a meticulous plan, it would have been impossible to kill Avery!

Thus, Sengoku had developed some interest in Roya.

So Sengoku agreed to let Roya use those heads as his registration fee for this promotion event.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku has approved your participation. Please board the warship so we can register your information!"

The Marine captain emerged from the bridge and spoke to Roya.

By then, his attitude toward Roya had changed completely.

The contempt in his eyes had long vanished, replaced only by respect and fear.

After all, Sengoku had personally contacted him through a Den Den Mushi. It was clear that Sengoku attached great importance to Roya!

Remembering how he had treated Roya earlier, the Marine captain felt deeply uneasy.

What he did not know was that Roya had never cared about him from the beginning.

After registering his information, Roya boarded the Marine captain's warship and set foot on Marineford!

The instant Roya stepped onto Marineford, the system's electronic voice rang out in his mind.

[ Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully checking in. Obtained: Peak Six Powers! The Six Powers are physical techniques that include Soru, Tekkai, Kami-e, Geppo, Rankyaku, and Shigan. These are martial arts that surpass the limits of human physical ability and possess immense power! ]

Hearing the system's voice, Roya's lips curled up slightly.

That smile immediately made the hearts of quite a few female soldiers watching him flutter.

"Wow, he's so handsome."

"That face looks so unfamiliar."

"But he really does seem so gentle."

Ignoring the murmurs around him, Roya followed the Marine captain to his temporary quarters.

"Sir, the promotion event officially begins tomorrow, and the matches will also start tomorrow. Please make do with this place for today. Once your position is determined, different accommodations will be arranged for you!"

After speaking, the Marine captain withdrew, leaving Roya alone in the room.

Walking to the window, Roya looked at the building standing in the center of Marineford and guessed inwardly, Sengoku's office should count as a fairly famous location too, right? When I get the chance, I'll see whether I can check in there for an extra reward!

At the same time, Sengoku was investigating Roya's background.

According to the information Roya had just provided, he had been born on Vermeyo Island, the island whose village Golden Lion had massacred.

He had been traveling outside at the time, so he had not been on Vermeyo Island.

After Golden Lion slaughtered the village, he had come to hate pirates intensely and had wanted to join the Marines.

By now, Vermeyo Village existed in name only. There was no proof either way, so Roya could say whatever he wanted.

Combined with the many pirates Roya had slain before, Sengoku did not suspect anything.

He merely looked forward to seeing what surprises Roya would bring him.

Naturally, Sengoku also had his own plans in this matter.

--

As dusk approached, Roya spent some time in his room before heading out.

As he walked through Marineford, Roya sensed an atmosphere completely different from that on the open sea.

Before he knew it, Roya had arrived at a training ground.

This training ground seemed different from those used by ordinary soldiers. Only a handful of people were training there.

The person who drew Roya's attention most was a blonde woman over five feet nine inches tall.

The blonde woman wore glasses and continuously practiced the Six Powers.

Roya had already mastered the Six Powers to their peak, so he could naturally tell the level of this girl's strength.

Roya's gaze clearly caught the girl's attention.

"You rude man, where is your uniform? Why aren't you wearing one in Marineford?!"

The girl slowly walked toward Roya. As she spoke, she pushed up her glasses with one hand.

When Roya heard the words "rude man," he became even more certain of her identity.

If nothing unexpected happened, this girl should be Kalifa, one of the future members of CP9!

A woman whose catchphrases were "That's harassment" and "You rude man."

"I came to participate in the promotion event. I only arrived at Marineford today."

Hearing Roya's words, Kalifa raised an eyebrow.

"As far as I know, the promotion event is not open to outsiders. So you're lying, aren't you!"

As Kalifa's words fell, her long leg shot straight toward Roya.

Looking at the high heel that was at least two inches tall, Roya's mouth twitched.

He had merely found her familiar. How had they started fighting just like that?!

Roya stretched out his hand, opened his palm, and effortlessly caught Kalifa's ankle, stopping her attack!

Kalifa's pretty face reddened. "Hey, let go of me! This is harassment!"

Roya shrugged. "As you wish."

As Roya's words fell...