"The first path is also the safest."
"Effective immediately, you will officially graduate from Recruit Camp, and Marine Headquarters will directly award you the rank of Headquarters Major."
"You will be assigned to an elite unit, following experienced commanders to learn how to command in battle and familiarize yourself with the Grand Line's navigation rules and the distribution of pirate forces."
"You will have a steady supply of resources, guidance from the highest-level instructors, and the clearest path to promotion."
Sengoku gazed at Lorne.
"With your talent, you could become a Headquarters Vice Admiral in five years at most. Within ten years, you might even have a chance to reach the threshold of Admiral."
"This is a broad, open road paved with flowers and glory."
Major!
For any recruit, that was the honor of soaring to the top in a single step.
An ordinary soldier might spend a lifetime working and still be only a junior officer.
Yet Lorne could become a Headquarters Major directly while still in his teens. What an extraordinary honor.
If word got out, it would be enough to shake the entire sea.
Looking into Lorne's utterly unruffled golden beast eyes, Sengoku knew this option had failed to move him.
He sighed inwardly and continued, "Of course, there is a second path."
"This path is full of uncertainty and danger."
Sengoku leaned forward slightly, his tone growing low.
"The Marines can provide you with a standard-issue warship and a full complement of troops, including a navigator, a ship's doctor, and the necessary support personnel."
"Then you will head out to sea on your own as an Ensign."
"Ensign?"
Lorne finally spoke, a hint of amusement in his voice.
From a Major, a meteoric rise, to an Ensign, the lowest rank-the disparity was rather too great.
Sengoku nodded and explained, "That's right, Ensign. This is merely a temporary status that allows you to command the warship and personnel."
"Your final rank will no longer be determined by Marine Headquarters."
He raised a finger and pointed at the boundless sea outside the window.
"Your rank will be determined by the pirates you capture."
"The combined bounties of the pirates you capture will be your merit. The greater your merit, the higher your rank."
"One hundred million Beli will earn you promotion to Major; five hundred million Beli will be enough to make you a Headquarters Colonel. If you reach one billion, or even two billion... then when you return, you will be awarded the rank of Vice Admiral directly!"
"This path has no ceiling, and no guarantees."
"You might perish at sea along with your ship in some battle, or you might return with illustrious achievements and become the fastest-promoted legend in Marine history."
Having finished, Sengoku watched Lorne quietly.
"Now, tell me your choice."
The instant Sengoku finished speaking, Garp suddenly stopped eating rice crackers on the sofa.
He began frantically winking and making faces at Lorne.
He squeezed one eye shut, opened the other wide, and exaggeratedly mouthed words.
His meaning could not have been clearer-Pick the second one! Hurry, pick the second one!
Tsuru shook her head at the sight, lifted her teacup, and blew on the steam, as though saying, "I can't bear to watch."
The veins on Sengoku's forehead throbbed.
"Garp! Keep causing trouble and get the hell out!"
Garp immediately resumed his lazy demeanor, lay back down, and stuffed a handful of rice crackers into his mouth as though nothing had happened.
Watching this, Lorne almost laughed aloud.
In truth, he had not needed Garp's reminder at all.
The moment he heard the second path, the beast inside him had already begun to roar.
Stay at Marineford as a Major?
Handle paperwork every day, attend meetings, and be bound by all sorts of rules?
That would be worse than killing him.
More importantly, he knew the rules of this world well.
True powerhouses were never born in offices.
Whether refining Armament Haki or achieving a breakthrough in Observation Haki, both required insight and tempering through one life-and-death battle after another.
Fighting powerful pirates and squeezing out his potential in battles that pushed him to his limits-that was the fastest way to grow stronger!
He also wanted to know whether he had the aptitude for Conqueror's Haki.
And besides...
As someone who had transmigrated, he had no desire to miss those sweeping events on the sea.
At that thought, Lorne grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, his smile wild and confident.
"Fleet Admiral, sir."
He stepped forward, his voice carrying clearly throughout the office.
"I choose the second path."
Hearing his answer, Sengoku showed no surprise whatsoever.
He merely let out a deep sigh.
Rubbing between his brows, he leaned wearily against the back of his chair.
"I knew it..."
He murmured to himself.
From the first time he met this boy, from those untamed golden beast eyes, Sengoku had understood.
A greenhouse could not contain a true beast.
Rather than force him to stay at Headquarters and let him turn the place upside down, it was better to throw him into the sea, that vastest of fighting arenas.
Let him fight those most vicious beasts.
Whether he became an even stronger king of beasts or was torn to pieces would depend on his own fate.
"Very well."
Sengoku sat upright again, his gaze regaining a Fleet Admiral's authority and decisiveness.
"Since you have made your choice, I approve."
He took a blank Sailing Order from a drawer, picked up a pen, signed his name in bold, sweeping strokes, and then affixed Marine Headquarters' highest seal.
Thump!
The seal came down, and the matter was settled.
"The warship is already docked at Port Number Seven. It's the latest standard model, with reinforced firepower and defenses."
Sengoku pushed the Sailing Order toward Lorne.
"Your troops have also assembled. They're all elite personnel transferred from various branches, five hundred in total."
"Also," Sengoku looked at Tsuru, "Tsuru, where is the candidate you recommended?"
Tsuru set down her teacup and smiled. "He's already waiting outside the office."
"Send him in."
The office door opened, and a middle-aged man with an upright bearing and a resolute face walked in.
He wore a neat Marine Lieutenant Commander uniform with two stars on his shoulders, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's.
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral! Headquarters Lieutenant Commander Ethan, reporting for duty!"
Sengoku pointed at Lorne.
"Ethan, starting today, you will serve as Ensign Lorne's adjutant and assist him in carrying out his missions."
"Yes, sir!" Without the slightest hesitation, Ethan turned and gave Lorne a textbook military salute. "Ensign Lorne, I look forward to serving with you!"
Sengoku finally looked at Lorne and said gravely, "Ethan is one of Headquarters' finest staff officers. He has over ten years of experience navigating the Grand Line and knows the intelligence on the major pirate crews inside out. You should listen to his advice."
Lorne sized up this seemingly meticulous adjutant and raised a hand to scratch his beast ears.
"As long as he doesn't get in the way of my fights."
Sengoku's temples began to ache again.
He waved a hand as though shooing away flies.
"Get out."
"Go to your ship now and leave Marineford immediately!"
"I don't want to see that face of yours again anytime soon!"
Lorne picked up the Sailing Order from the desk and grinned.
"As you command, Fleet Admiral, sir."
He turned and strode out.
Garp sprang up from the sofa as well and followed him out, laughing loudly as he went.
"Marines! We're off to catch pirates! Wahahahaha!"
Watching their departing backs, Sengoku finally lost control and slammed his fist onto the desk.
"Garp! You bastard! Don't you dare board his ship!"
His only answer was Garp's laughter growing ever more distant.
Only Tsuru and Sengoku remained in the office.
Holding her tea, Tsuru said softly, "A true tiger has been released into a sea full of sheep."
"Who knows what he'll turn this sea into?"
Sengoku remained silent for a long while.
"Better he wreak havoc on the pirates than tear Marine Headquarters apart."
Before you continue