Chapter 271

"Naito is moving today, so we're here to celebrate."

Gion said.

Is that so?

Hina nodded slightly. Are Gion- senpai and Vice Admiral Naito that close? She's not a member of the Marine Guerrilla Unit, is she?

Immediately, Hina looked at her teacher.

"Professor Zephyr, it's been a long time!"

"Yes, I haven't seen you since you were transferred from headquarters, have I?"

It was clear that Professor Zephyr was very pleased. "Hina, Smoker, I've heard that you two received very high praise at G-8 Base."

"It's all thanks to Jonathan's help."

Hina said, "Otherwise, given Smoker's reckless behavior, he might already be a private."

"Shut up, Hina."

Smoker scoffed. "I have my own way of doing things, and I don't need others to tell me what to do."

"Don't say that to Hina, say it to the Navy's laws and regulations."

Hina no mercy whatsoever.

"Haha, looks like you guys are doing quite well under Jonathan!"

Zephyr nodded in satisfaction.

Smoker is still Smoker, and Hina is still Hina; they've both retained their original intentions, and that's wonderful.

"Then,"

Zephyr looked at the other two, "Drake, Grus, what brings you two here? You're already highly anticipated newcomers at headquarters, aren't you?"

"Because the Fleet Admiral Sengoku told me,"

Drake smiled and looked at Naito, who remained calm. "Vice Admiral Naito will be the new Marine Guerrilla Unit Admiral!"

"It might sound a bit presumptuous, but, Vice Admiral Naito,"

As Drake said this, he looked directly into Naito, "You are my target!"

Me too!

Prince Grus, nicknamed "The Prince," grinned. "I'd like to see just how big the gap is between me and Vice Admiral Naito!"

"Oh! They're all very ambitious!"

Zephyr smiled, but his feelings were inevitably complicated.

He would not look down on any of his disciples.

However, it must be acknowledged that there are always differences between people.

Drake and Grus were indeed very good; they were outstanding among the recruits of their respective classes.

However, their excellence paled in comparison to Naito's.

"Did you hear that, Naito? You're now a target for many marines!"

Zephyr looked at Naito.

"It seems I'm still not strong enough."

Naito frowned slightly. "They've even managed to give the impression that they might be chasing me."

"Oh?"

Smoker smirked. "There's such a saying?"

This Admiral Naito is much more arrogant than I imagined.

Drake and Grus were both taken aback.

Vice Admiral Naito is somewhat different from what was rumored.

Didn't the headquarters' propaganda all say that Vice Admiral Naito was an exceptionally outstanding naval soldier?

Strong, passionate, upholds justice, cares for colleagues...

"You little brat."

Zephyr shook his head helplessly. "Sometimes you don't have to be so arrogant."

What are you saying!

Some people completely disagreed with Zephyr's statement. Hancock, with her arm around Naito's, her eyes sparkling, exclaimed, "Confident Naito is the coolest!"

"Um?"

Hina finally got a good look at Hancock's face and was immediately stunned. "She's... the Pirate Empress?! Zephyr- sensei! Why is she here?"

And he was so close to Vice Admiral Naito.

"Regarding this matter,"

Zephyr coughed lightly, "Anyway, Sengoku has asked Naito to take care of the Pirate Empress."

The four people were slightly taken aback.

Why would a vice Marine Vice Admiral be assigned to take care of a Shichibukai?

And isn't this kind of care a bit too intimate?

"Alright, let's get down to business."

Zephyr clapped his hands. "Introduce yourselves to Naito first."

"Okay, Hina, you go first."

Hina nodded slightly and was the first to speak, "Hina's name is Hina, Lieutenant Commander of the Marine Headquarters, Paramecia Cage-Cage Devil Fruit User, Vice Admiral Naito. Please take care of me from now on."

Smoker,

Smoker stubbed out his cigar, his expression becoming slightly more composed. "Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Commander, Logia Smoke-Smoke Devil Fruit User."

"Logia?"

Binz, who had been listening quietly, couldn't help but interject with some surprise.

Logia Fruit users are quite rare on the high seas.

However, no one paid any attention to his exclamation. Drake straightened his coat and hat, his attitude being the most serious of all.

"Vice Admiral Naito, my name is X Drake, Marine Headquarters Colonel, Zoan - Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Zoan, Allosaurus Model user."

"Prince Grus, just call me Prince."

A man claiming to be Prince appeared. "Marine Headquarters Commander, Paramecia Clay-Clay Devil Fruit User."

"Everyone in the group is capable, and they are all young people with great potential."

Gion smiled gently and said, "Little Naito, it seems that Fleet Admiral Sengoku is really taking good care of you."

Ain wholeheartedly agreed.

Two Paramecia, one Ancient Zoan, and one Logia, and all four of them are very young.

No matter how you look at it, these people must be high-quality subordinates that are sought after by the Admiral.

But the title of Fleet Admiral Sengoku was given entirely to Naito!

The implications of this are self-evident.

However, Naito didn't seem to think so.

He simply glanced calmly at the group of guys and said, "Just don't hold us back."

"That's an outrageous argument. Hina wasn't transferred here to hold us back."

Hina said it very directly, showing no fear even when facing Naito, her direct superior.

"Indeed."

Drake nodded slightly. "Just wait and see, Vice Admiral Naito."

"I still have confidence in myself."

The Prince adjusted his hat brim. "Vice Admiral Naito, I shouldn't be a burden to you."

"That would be best."

Naito nodded noncommittally. "Your positions will be assigned later. Just set sail tomorrow."

Smoker clicked his tongue softly. This Vice Admiral Naito wasn't as easy to get along with as the rumors suggested.

"Alright, alright, that's enough of the small talk."

Zephyr smiled and said, "Have you guys eaten? Would you like to sit down and have something to eat together?"

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Smoker was really unceremonious; he went straight for the chairs.

"How rude of you, Smoker."

Hina frowned slightly. "This isn't the kind of attitude a guest should have."

Smoker snorted unhappily, "Professor Zephyr has already spoken, so what's with the pretense?"

"Alright, we're all family, no need to be so formal."

Zephyr smiled and said, "Please sit down."

So the four of them took their seats.

Although apart from Zephyr, the others weren't familiar with the four, the atmosphere wasn't awkward.

After all, they were going to be colleagues in the future, and they were also fellow students. Simon and the other senior members treated the four of them very gently.

Binz took the initiative to start a conversation, asking about the four's experiences, and occasionally interspersing his own adventures following Naito.

However, this meant nothing to Hancock and Ain, who continued to feed Naito as if it were a competition.

The four newcomers were completely dumbfounded.

What happened?

Wasn't the plan to have Vice Admiral Naito take care of the Pirate Empress? Isn't this the complete opposite?

I don't understand.

And so, in what could be described as a pleasant atmosphere, the banquet came to an end.

After agreeing to meet early the next morning, Zephyr and the others said their goodbyes.

Of course, not everyone left.

"I don't want to go back to the dorms! Sanji doesn't even have a dorm!"

Binz lay on the sofa and said matter-of-factly, "Naito, you have so many rooms here, why don't we just stay?"