At the break of dawn the next day, just as the sky began to brighten, Rayfa arrived unhurriedly at the designated location of the youth training camp.
From a distance, the place looked like a U-shaped instructional complex. Three connected buildings formed an open rectangular structure, with a wide training field in the center.
By the time Rayfa arrived, many children were already present.
According to the rules of the youth training camp, everyone had to arrive before seven o'clock. Anyone who was late would immediately lose their qualification to participate. It was about six thirty now, and most of the participants had already gathered.
"Rayfa! Over here!"
Hina's voice rang out from afar.
It had to be said that the little girl had incredibly sharp eyes. Rayfa had not noticed her at all, yet she had spotted him the moment he arrived.
"Good morning, Hina," Rayfa replied with a smile, raising his hand to wave.
"You finally made it!" Hina said with mild frustration. "I thought you might have overslept."
"With something this important, how could I possibly oversleep?" Rayfa laughed, shaking his head. "You really underestimate me, you little troublemaker."
"Hmph! I'm not a troublemaker. I'm not talking to you anymore," Hina said, puffing out her cheeks.
"Alright, alright. My fault. I shouldn't have said that," Rayfa conceded quickly. "Anyway, thanks again for helping me sign up. After training ends, I'll treat you to a big meal."
"You said it yourself. No backing out," Hina replied instantly.
"Don't worry. When have you ever seen me break a promise?"
"Fine. Then I forgive you," Hina said, her serious expression instantly melting into a bright smile.
Rayfa gently patted her head, shaking his own with indulgent amusement.
Not long after Rayfa arrived, a formation of Marine soldiers suddenly rushed out of the teaching building and blocked the entrance to the compound.
"What's going on? Why are they blocking the entrance?"
"Are they not letting people in? Not everyone has arrived yet."
"Why block it now? There are still ten minutes before seven."
The sudden development stirred quiet chatter among the children gathered on the field. Some even pulled out pocket watches to double-check the time, confirming that it was not yet seven.
"Rayfa?" Hina looked at him with confusion.
"Don't worry. We'll find out soon," Rayfa replied, frowning slightly. He did not understand the situation either.
Just as he had said, the answer quickly became clear.
From the distance, Marine officers continued to arrive, each bringing a child with them. With the entrance blocked, conflict was inevitable.
Soon enough, several officers hurried over with their children. When they reached the entrance and found it sealed off, a lieutenant colonel immediately shouted at the soldiers.
"What are you doing blocking the entrance? Move aside!"
"Sir, reporting," the apparent commanding officer saluted. "The youth training camp has completed assembly. No further entry is permitted. Please understand."
"Assembly complete? That's ridiculous!" the lieutenant colonel snapped. "The final assembly time is seven o'clock. There are still ten minutes left. Do you not own a watch?"
As he spoke, he even pulled out his pocket watch and shoved it forward for emphasis.
"Sir, I have already reported. These are orders from above. Please return," the unit commander replied. His tone was respectful, but his stance was firm, leaving no room for compromise.
"What nonsense is this? Are you deliberately making trouble?" another officer, a major with a fiery temper, exploded when he saw how unyielding the soldiers were.
The lieutenant colonel said nothing, but his expression was clearly displeased.
At that moment, a voice sounded from behind them.
"What's going on here?"
Several people turned around and saw a Marine rear admiral approaching with a child beside him. Seeing a crowd gathered at the entrance instead of entering, he looked puzzled.
"Good morning, Rear Admiral Morris," several officers greeted him upon recognizing his rank.
There were not many general-grade officers in the Marines, especially at headquarters. It was impossible for subordinates not to recognize them. Marineford was large, but encounters were inevitable.
"Jim, what happened?" Rear Admiral Morris asked the lieutenant colonel who had spoken earlier.
"Here's the situation, sir," Jim replied quickly, summarizing everything that had occurred.
"Nonsense," Morris muttered with displeasure. He then turned to the soldiers' commander. "If the agreed assembly time is before seven, then it is not seven yet. Why are you blocking entry? This is absurd."
"But sir," the commander began. Faced with Morris, his tone softened slightly, though he still tried to explain.
"Enough," Morris interrupted sharply. "Move aside."
The commander hesitated, his expression conflicted. He did not dare disobey a rear admiral. After a long pause, he finally prepared to signal his men to withdraw.
Just then, a lazy voice rang out.
"Don't move."
"Did you not understand my previous instructions? No matter who shows up, send them back. Assembly is complete. Anyone else arriving now is too late."
The moment that languid voice sounded, the soldiers' commander stiffened and immediately abandoned the idea of retreating.
The situation became awkward for Rear Admiral Morris. However, when he saw who had spoken, his expression changed, and he suppressed his anger.
The speaker was also a rear admiral, and a notoriously difficult one at that. He feared no one. Even several vice admirals had suffered humiliation at his hands. More importantly, his strength was unquestionable.
If Morris lost his temper here, the one embarrassed in the end would be himself.
Suppressing his irritation, he asked in a low voice, "Dalmatian, even if you refuse entry, you should at least provide a reasonable explanation. You cannot act on a whim."
Rear Admiral Dalmatian stood wrapped in a black-and-white mottled scarf, a Marine justice cloak draped over his back. Stretching lazily, he strolled forward with a bored expression.
Hearing Morris's question, he slowly opened his mouth.
"An explanation?"
He casually picked at his ear and replied indifferently, "Why should I explain anything? Headquarters put the youth training camp under my control. That means I am responsible for it. If I say assembly is complete, then it is complete."
"Tell me loudly," Dalmatian continued, his voice rising with each word, "why exactly do I have to explain myself to you?"
By the end, Rear Admiral Dalmatian was practically roaring.