As Leike stepped out of Dalmatiya's office, he felt a twinge of confusion. "There were clearly two cups of steaming tea on the desk, so Instructor Zephyr is probably still there… but why is he hiding from me? Even if I saw him, it wouldn't be a big deal."
Leike scanned the office the moment he entered. No one else was inside, but he did notice the two cups of hot tea on Dalmatiya's desk. If he wasn't mistaken, the second cup must have been for "Black Arm" Zephyr.
Yet he couldn't understand why Zephyr would hide if he really was there. Was it just to let Dalmatiya lecture him?
Leike mulled over the question, but no reasonable explanation came to mind. For now, he decided to set it aside. After all, there were still many things he didn't understand, and there was no need to dwell on this.
Stepping out of the youth training camp, Leike immediately spotted the little girl Tina, craning her neck eagerly to see him.
When she saw him come out unharmed, she rushed forward, surprised and relieved.
"Leike, are you okay?"
Leike patted her on the head, smiling. "Of course I'm fine."
"I thought Teacher Dalmatiya might punish you," Tina said, blushing slightly.
"No need to worry about that," Leike replied with a smile.
At that moment, a few others came rushing over.
"Leike, you're braver than I imagined! I never expected you to be so reckless!" Berry Good stopped in front of him, sizing him up as if he were a dangerous creature.
"I'm glad you're okay," Derek said with relief, following close behind.
Leike wasn't surprised that these two roommates waited for him, but he hadn't expected another Shun, his quiet and usually composed roommate was also there.
Shun nodded respectfully as Leike approached.
Leike nodded back and smiled. "Thanks for worrying about me, everyone. It's a holiday today. Let's go! Lunch is on me today, and I'll make it a good one!"
"I've been waiting to hear you say that!" Berry's face lit up with a grin.
"I'm not very familiar with the good restaurants in Marineford, so this is a great chance to explore," Derek agreed with a laugh.
As for little Tina, she continued to trail behind them like a loyal little sidekick, not objecting in the least.
"Shun, you're coming too. It's just a meal; won't take long," Leike said, noticing Shun hesitate.
"All right," Shun finally said, not refusing further.
With that, the group followed Leike enthusiastically.
The holiday passed quickly, and the youth training camp soon entered the second month of training and lessons.
Compared to the first month, the intensity of training had clearly increased.
Yet the students gradually adapted to the pace. Though exhausting, the effort was rewarding, and no one considered quitting.
Dalmatiya not only invited Zephyr to teach weekly but also brought in several Marine generals to give targeted special lessons to the young trainees.
For instance, the first swordsmanship lesson of this month's youth camp was taught by Dalmatiya's brother, Vice Admiral Oni Spider of the Marine Headquarters!
Like Dalmatiya, Oni Spider had once been Zephyr's student, but his swordsmanship far surpassed Dalmatiya's, who excelled more in close combat.
This was just one example. It was clear Dalmatiya poured immense effort into these young trainees.
Time passed especially quickly during training. In the blink of an eye, nearly six months of the youth camp had gone by, leaving only another six months until its conclusion.
That morning, Dalmatiya, as usual, blew the wake-up whistle.
The young trainees arrived at the training grounds quickly, all assembled in under two minutes for roll call.
Compared to when they first entered the camp, they had completely transformed.
Dalmatiya nodded with satisfaction and said, "From today on, you will no longer need to attend classes. At this stage, you have essentially learned and mastered what would normally take six months to teach. From now on, your focus must be on personal cultivation and effort. I cannot predict how far each of you will go."
His words immediately caused a stir. None of the students expected an announcement that all courses were finished, since the full youth camp cycle was officially one year.
Naturally, someone spoke up to ask.
Dalmatiya anticipated the question and explained, "The full cycle is indeed one year. Finishing all lessons now is not a sudden change of plans. It was arranged long before you joined."
"For the next six months, you will be assigned to various units and stationed as Marine recruits for six months. Afterward, if you return safely, I will personally assess your performance over these six months and award your rank based on your achievements."
"That's right. When you leave this youth camp, you will already be a proud Marine recruit. The rank you earn will depend entirely on your performance over the next six months!"
Hearing this, many students were thrilled.
All the hardship and exhaustion of the past six months were meant to prepare them for such an opportunity.
Now, having the chance to prove themselves so early was naturally exciting!
"Teacher, what exactly does this evaluation entail?" Leike asked suddenly.
Dalmatiya had anticipated this question and answered without hesitation, "Of course, it is a comprehensive assessment, considering many aspects: evaluations from unit leaders, your achievements during this period, and other factors."
"Does capturing bounty criminals count toward this?" Leike asked thoughtfully, stroking his chin.
"Absolutely," Dalmatiya confirmed. Then his eyes widened as he added, "However, I must warn you, bounty criminals are not to be taken lightly!"
"I know some of you are confident in your abilities, but capturing real bounty criminals is very different from your usual sparring. A single mistake could get you killed without mercy. I do not want any of you to act recklessly for glory, doing things beyond your capability. Understand?!"
As he finished, his gaze lingered on the most active members of the youth training camp.