"Vice Admiral! We have a report!"
One marine hurried over to Rengoku.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"According to Galley-La Company's inspection, the damage to the keel is too severe. The ship must be dismantled!"
"…I see. A shame, but it can't be helped."
"Yes, sir!"
"Very well. As the officer in charge, I'll speak directly with Galley-La myself. You've done well."
Rengoku draped his Marine coat over his shoulders and set off.
The water city of Water Seven was a place full of sights, bustling canals, and lively commerce. But to Rengoku, it was nothing remarkable—he had seen stranger and more wondrous islands in the New World. He ignored the distractions around him and went straight to the Galley-La shipyards.
"Eh? A Marine officer?" one of the shipwrights muttered as Rengoku approached.
"Greetings. I'm the officer who requested the inspection of the damaged warship."
"Ah, you mean that patrol ship."
"That's right. I hear dismantling is unavoidable, so I came to discuss the details. Is Iceburg here?"
At the mention of the company president, the shipwright gave an apologetic smile.
"Mr. Iceburg is busy with his duties as mayor of Water Seven. The one who inspected your ship was our vice-president, Paulie."
"Is that so? Then I'd like to meet him."
"Of course. This way, sir."
Rengoku followed him inside the vast shipyard. Everywhere, shipwrights and laborers were hard at work dismantling, repairing, and constructing vessels of all shapes and sizes. At the far end, Rengoku spotted his own familiar Navy hull—stripped of weapons, reduced to a bare shell.
Around it, a crowd of shipwrights was gathered. Some stood out—one with a sharply angular nose, another with a pigeon perched calmly on his shoulder.
"Oi! Here he comes!"
A blond man with slicked-back hair called out as he noticed the Marine coat.
"Hmm, you must be Vice-President Paulie."
"That's me. You're the officer in charge of this wreck?"
"Indeed."
Paulie let out a sigh and slapped the side of the hull.
"Seriously, how'd you manage this? The keel's smashed to bits. This ship's done for."
Rengoku crossed his arms, his expression calm.
"An unforeseen incident during navigation. We struck something like a reef while trying to avoid sudden ice. The ship paid the price."
"Well, I suppose it's not like Marines go around sinking their own ships on purpose… Either way, it has to be dismantled. With the materials salvaged, we can reassemble something smaller… what was it called again?"
"Petit-Class Cutter, coo!" the pigeon interjected.
"Oh? Ventriloquism? You have an amusing hobby, sir." Rengoku chuckled at the larger man with the bird.
Paulie nodded. "Right. A Petit-Class Cutter. Once we tear out the ruined keel, the leftover timber and steel will only be enough for a small patrol craft. If you want a full rebuild, you'd need additional materials—but that's outside our authority."
Rengoku's eyes sharpened.
"Materials not verified through Marine channels, you mean."
"Exactly. Navy ships can only be built from officially approved stock."
"Then it's settled." Rengoku gave a firm nod.
"Dismantle her."
At Marine Headquarters, officers of field rank and above had the authority to decide whether a damaged warship should be reassembled or dismantled completely.
In most cases, the ship was dismantled. Reassembly took longer than simply requesting a replacement vessel from the Navy.
"Understood. If we start now, it'll take about half a day. Should we begin immediately?"
"Of course. Start at once! By the way—how does Galley-La Company handle the leftover wreckage?"
"Us? Depends on the condition. We burn the scrap or cut it down for other uses."
"I see. Very well. I leave the ship in your care. Do you need advance payment?"
The shipwright grinned.
"Advance payment? For the Marines? Hah! We only demand that from pirates. Though… a tip wouldn't hurt—"
Whack!
"Sorry about him. Lost money gambling again, lately. Fufufu!"
"Lucci, you bastard…"
Paulie and Lucci broke into another squabble—though in truth, it was just Paulie venting while Lucci remained calm and unbothered.
"Hahaha! What amusing craftsmen you are!"
Rengoku, relieved by the lively spirit of Galley-La Company, left the dismantling to the professionals and returned to his temporary lodging.
Waiting for him was a surprise message—from Zephyr.
"Oi, kid! Still in one piece?"
"Yes! And you, Master Zephyr? Are you well?"
"Of course I am. But tell me—are you planning on skipping the end of training altogether?"
He was referring to the three-thousand recruits being drilled in the underground training grounds.
Rengoku stiffened, realizing how late he had been.
"My apologies! As the chief instructor, I feel I've wronged not only you, but also every one of those three thousand trainees!"
"Bah, Sengoku already told me what happened. You hit a chunk of ice Kuzan conjured up out of nowhere. Couldn't be helped."
"Even so, the responsibility is mine alone! Your words only deepen my shame, Master Zephyr!"
"Gwahaha! Well, what about the brats here? Got anything to say to them?"
"If I can't say it to their faces, then I'll say nothing at all. Passing along empty words would only feel cold and heartless."
Rengoku recalled the faces of the cadets—youths who had endured months of grueling training without complaint.
"They withstood hardship, pain, and exhaustion for three months without faltering! I may not be able to speak to them directly, but I believe every one of them is a future Marine worthy of carrying justice forward! As for the graduation, I entrust it fully to you, Master Zephyr!"
"Gwahaha! Fine by me. Then I'll do it my way."
"Of course!"
"Ha! Listen up, you brats! You heard what your chief instructor said, didn't you?"
"Yes, sir!!!"
Through the Den-Den Mushi, the roar of thousands of young Marines echoed.
"I thought about giving a speech myself, but this kid already said it all. So just remember his words, etch them into your ears, and devote your strength to protecting justice! Understood?!"
"Yes, sir!!! We understand!!!"
"…Well?" Zephyr's voice came back to Rengoku.
The younger officer laughed warmly.
"Hahaha! As expected of you, Master Zephyr. Compared to you, I still have a long way to go."
"Brat! You won't catch up to me unless you pin on an admiral's stars!"
"I'll earn them soon enough! I won't let you down!"
"That's the spirit! Rest easy, Rengoku. I'll handle everything here."
"Yes, sir—Justice!"
"And you have my salute."
Click.
The line went dead.
Thus ended the secret training of three thousand Marines, overseen by Chief Instructor Rengoku.
Though he regretted not standing beside them at the graduation, Zephyr's clever "event" eased his heart and left him satisfied.
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