All eyes turned to Leonardo, who raised his hand to speak.
- What? Am I not right? Pirates will not talk to you about justice. Of course, they rely on their fists and knives in their hands... - he said, slightly spreading his arms.
Silence hung in the air. Although his words were true, he shouldn't have said it so bluntly. They had passed the academy, right?
"Although it sounds harsh, it is true. If you want to uphold justice with your fists and weapons, you must first improve your strength. You are outstanding talents selected from all over the world. You must understand that the foundation of strong strength lies in a strong body. You do not have much time to study, as you will be sent abroad for training in your second year. Therefore, in the remaining nine months of this year, I will systematically and effectively improve everyone's physical fitness. Those who meet the requirements will be able to learn the Six Styles of the Marines. Students, your future is in your hands! The pirates at sea are not as weak as you think. For your lives, for the justice in your hearts! Everything depends on your diligence in these nine months!"
Zephyr looked at Leonardo with surprise. He had not expected his elder brother's son to be so straightforward. However, he did not deny his words, but continued his fiery speech, which inspired the newcomers to feats. It seemed that they were already ready to go to sea to fight Whitebeard himself or to strike the Golden Lion. Zephyr motioned to Aubrey, who was standing behind him.
- Of course, the former admiral. His eloquence seems to add to the fighting spirit. Kuzan, if you want to become a boss in the Navy, it is not enough to just fight. You have to work harder... - Leonardo whispered to Kuzan, who was almost falling asleep.
Judging by the mood of their classmates, they were ready to rush into battle, even if Whitebeard himself appeared in front of them.
The current Naval Academy is not as strict as it will be in the future. There are more and more pirates at sea
After learning the history of Vice Admiral Curry's family from her older sister, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Gion, Leonardo's neighbor, was not surprised.
The first two generations of old Vice-Admiral Curry were exactly like that. If this Leonardo been different, it would have raised doubts about his origin.
- Okay, I'll take you to the next lesson. Everyone go to the equipped room, take your weights and come back here, - Zephyr said, and then left.
After Zephyr left, Aubrey intervened in their discussion.
The main person in charge of the practical training was Aubrey, a Marine rear admiral who mostly oversaw their training. Zephyr, the lead instructor, was busy with many tasks. Not only was he developing the training programs for the newbies, but he was also supervising the sophomores who had gone on field training the previous year. He didn't have time to come in every day, so he only showed up when everyone had mastered the six Marine styles, and then handed them over to Aubrey.
The first day of practical training was devoted to training with weights. As Zephyr said, this is necessary for strengthening the body. After all, no strong person suffers from weakness...
All day long, on a new, large sports field, the students, dressed in uniform, carried weights twice their own weight and ran in the blazing sun without stopping. They were sweating, breathing heavily, and irritated, not even remembering how long they had been running. However, seeing that Aubrey, who was walking in front, was also carrying the same weight and did not stop, they gritted their teeth and kept moving.
Despite being only a rear admiral, Aubrey was able to become Zephyr's adjutant, and then followed him to the naval academy to become his assistant. His own strength was considerable. He had a memorable past with the Celestial Dragons. This fact was recorded in a small book by one of the Celestial Dragons, making it difficult for him to advance. If he were to become a rear admiral, the Marine Marshal could sign it. However, becoming a vice admiral required the approval of the World Government. After all, the Marine Corps' funding was provided by the World Government. Even the previous Marine Admirals wanted to get rid of their influence, but none of them were able to achieve this.
The wealth accumulated by the World Government over hundreds of years was enormous. The wealth of one Heavenly Dragon was enough to feed the entire Marine Corps for half a year. This was a huge figure, and even Zephyr, who wanted to promote Aubrey, was powerless.
To be recorded in the book of the Celestial Dragon and to remain free is already the limit.