# Chapter 354: Fighting Spirit
Kyle's words were an even greater blow to Borsalino and Sakazuki beside him.
As Monsters, their hearts were extremely proud.
However, there was no sense of frustration.
Kyle had made it very clear; it wasn't that they couldn't compare to the other party, but simply that their growth environments were different.
After joining the Marines and being valued by North Blue Governor Davis, their Strength improved significantly faster under Davis's guidance than before.
As for whether there was any issue with Kyle's words, they didn't doubt it.
Firstly, this was just a guess, and secondly, Kyle wasn't that kind of person.
However, this further ignited the fighting spirit within them.
They were growing, and Dragon was also growing.
That's why Kyle said it would take at least ten years for their Strength to catch up to Dragon's.
Seeing the fire in their eyes, Zephyr in front was very satisfied.
If they didn't have a strong inner heart, how could they become true Strongmen?
Zephyr had seen many people with great Potential, but how many could truly convert their Potential into Strength?
In the Marines, there were also many talents who wasted away or were content with the status quo.
Sakazuki and Borsalino joining the Marines was actually just the right time.
At that time, the Marines' focus was on the Four Seas.
If they had joined the Marines earlier, it would have been a painful thing instead.
During that period, the Rocks Pirates were rampant.
The entire Marines faced terrifying stress.
At that time, Sakazuki and Borsalino's reputation wasn't prominent, and they might have died as cannon fodder without any chance to grow up.
There were too many such people in the Marines.
So, Zephyr still felt somewhat fortunate in his heart.
That era was truly too dark.
These young Marines might know how vicious and terrifying the Rocks Pirates were.
But they didn't know how difficult things were for the Marines.
The reason they could still possess their current Strength was even thanks to the Army.
Seeing that some of the other Cadets' confidence had been somewhat shaken, Zephyr took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.
"Dragon is very powerful, but you must know that there are always people stronger than you, and there are always realms beyond your own.
In this World, there are even more terrifying Monsters."
"Can we yield?
This World needs us, it needs someone to uphold Justice."
Zephyr's gaze fixed on everyone, observing their expressions.
What he hadn't said was this:
If anyone gave up just because of this, they would have no value for further cultivation.
With so many Monsters in the New World, if they couldn't even pass this threshold, how could they resist those terrifying Pirates?
This was a cruel reality, whether it was the Rocks Era or the current era.
The Marines were always at a disadvantage when facing Pirates.
The numerous Monsters entrenched in the New World, the Monsters who were constantly growing, were like great mountains.
Every Marine should have that kind of determination.
However, he also thought that what he said might have been too severe, too early for these young Marine elites.
Zephyr lightly coughed, his tone softening slightly.
"You don't need to be too nervous.
Being able to come here already proves your Talent and Effort."
"Don't forget your purpose for coming here, and my Mission is to teach you to become Strongmen who can stand on their own."
"Next, someone will specifically take you to the dormitories and let you get acquainted with Marine Headquarters, giving you one day to rest."
"Tomorrow morning at five o'clock, everyone will gather here.
You will undergo some tests, and then specific Training Plans will be formulated for you."
"Please be prepared."
"Dismissed!"
Walking towards the dormitories, Dragon was also among them.
Coincidentally, Dragon was right beside Sakazuki and the others.
"As expected of Vice Admiral Garp's Son, no one in this Training Camp will be your opponent."
Borsalino praised, but with his peculiar tone, it carried a hint of sarcasm.
Sakazuki was already used to it, but it made Dragon a bit awkward.
"Cough cough!
Actually, I'm still far from it!
I hope to make progress under Admiral Zephyr."
Sakazuki, who hadn't spoken much, adjusted his military cap and looked at Dragon seriously.
Facing Dragon, he indeed felt that he was somewhat unfathomable.
"No need to be humble.
Being able to grow up by Vice Admiral Garp's side, your Strength must be very powerful.
I hope to have a chance to spar with you later."
Not far away, Kyle listened to their conversation.
He was still very curious about Dragon.
He came to the Marines with this identity to see the Great Sea.
Before leaving the Kronos Kingdom, his Father Hades had told him about the Marines, and he had always remembered it.
After spending some time together, Borsalino's approach was unclear.
He showed no mercy towards Pirates, seeming to fluctuate between Neutral and the Hawk Faction.
This was also considering that Borsalino wasn't yet Marine High Command, hadn't seen the darkness of the World Government, and also his connections with Sakazuki.
Perhaps Borsalino would join the Hawk Faction with Sakazuki.
As for Sakazuki, there was no need to say anything.
So what about Dragon?
Which Faction did he belong to?
Whose side did he stand on?
What was his approach like?
However, Kyle guessed he was Neutral.
What if he were further subdivided?
Joining the Marines and judging these things was also a special interest for Kyle.
Fleet Admiral's Office.
A file was delivered here.
"This Student named Kyle, should there be any problems?"
Zephyr was called over by Kong.
He roughly knew what it was about.
After arriving, he found that Advisor Tsuru was also there.
But he wasn't surprised.
As a Marine Staff Officer, Tsuru herself was in charge of the Intelligence Force.
After Kyle said those words that day, Zephyr reported the matter, requesting Headquarters to investigate Kyle's origin.
It couldn't be as simple as just an ordinary Noble from the North Blue.
"How is his performance in the Training Camp?"
Kong didn't answer the question first but counter-asked.
"He is proficient in Body Technique, Swordsmanship, has awakened Observation Haki, and possesses a Devil Fruit Ability.
It's hard to find an opponent among those of the same age."
Speaking of Kyle, Zephyr couldn't help but praise him.
Kyle, who was deliberately targeted by Zephyr, couldn't even hide his Strength.
"He must have received elite-style perfect cultivation, starting from a very young age.
His personality is also very gentle, and he gets along well with the other Students in the Training Camp."
"In terms of Potential, I gave him an A-Rank rating.
It's just that his Devil Fruit Ability doesn't have very strong lethality, which feels a bit regrettable."
An A-Rank rating was given to only about twenty-odd people in the entire Training Camp.
If further subdivided, Kyle was still ranked among the foremost in this batch of Cadets.
Of course, time was still short now, and the level division wasn't determined that quickly.
Looking at Zephyr's evaluation, it was still very good.
Kong cupped his chin with his hands, seemingly thinking, seemingly hesitating.
Seeing his appearance, Zephyr couldn't help but frown.
Could there really be something wrong?
"You tell him, Tsuru."
Tsuru was prepared; she had guessed it would be like this.
"I have investigated.
This young man named Kyle was directly 'parachuted' in when he joined the Marines, skipping quite a few procedures, but he lacked nothing that should have been there."
Seeing that Zephyr seemed to realize.
"That is to say, he has a Government Background.
We also asked the World Government side, but they said 'No comment'."
"This is actually not a big problem, so we need to see what you think, Zephyr."
A Government Background, this was indeed not a problem.
After all, it was already exposed in the open.
If it was in the open, what was there to fear?
"Phew."
Zephyr let out a breath.
"Then there's no problem."
He was very satisfied with Kyle.
At Headquarters, there were also some Government Factions, those who specifically stood on the World Government's side, inserted by the World Government, both hidden and exposed.
There were even those who actively leaned towards the World Government in order to gain more power.
Just among the eight Instructors around Zephyr, two were clearly Government Factions, and they also possessed considerable ability.
(end of chapter)