Morning sunlight spilled warmly across the streets.
Longinus ate his noodles unhurriedly, savoring each bite.
Across from him, Penn's bowl was already empty.
He sat stiffly—like his chair had sprouted thorns—twisting anxiously and glancing toward the distant Marine camp every few seconds.
Longinus chuckled.
"No need to rush. We've got plenty of time."
Penn rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed.
"I-I'm not rushing… I'm just a little nervous."
Longinus shook his head.
After spending two days with Penn, he was certain—
among all the recruits joining G-2 in this round,
Penn's strength was easily top ten.
This world recruitment wasn't about ranking,
but someone like Penn was premium military material.
The Marines would have to be kicked by a donkey to reject him.
"All right. I'm finished." Longinus set down his chopsticks gracefully.
"Let's go."
Penn laughed twice—
a silly, awkward "ha-ha"—
which made his already terrifying face look downright demonic.
Several patrons trembled uncontrollably.
As the two approached the counter,
the noodle shop owner—still kneading dough—
nearly dropped to his knees.
He had already lost quite a few customers today
thanks to Penn's… intimidating presence,
but fear had long since swallowed any resentment.
"B-b-b-b-big brother… h-here!
This is today's entire morning earnings!
If you need more, I—I can go home and bring it!"
The middle-aged owner shoved a drawer full of bills toward Penn,
practically begging for mercy.
Longinus's mouth twitched.
Penn's intimidation factor really is… outrageous.
"Boss, you misunderstand. We're not—"
"W-wait!" the shop owner blurted, staring at Longinus.
"You're that boy!
The one who saved the little girl!
Then… then this gentleman must be the other hero?!"
Penn practically glowed.
He had been the first to jump in to protect the girl,
but standing beside Longinus was the only way anyone recognized him.
Part of it was that Longinus's words that day were more dramatic
and fit people's image of a "hero."
Penn's silent defense didn't match their fantasies.
And, of course… Penn's face.
The kind that looked straight out of a horror movie—
villain-coded by default.
But Penn held no resentment.
He only felt grateful—
if not for Longinus's recognizable face,
no one would have remembered him at all.
"Y-yeah!
That was me!
I'm not a bad guy!" he said excitedly.
"How could a hero praised by a Rear Admiral be a bad guy?"
The owner waved his hands frantically.
"No, no—if I took money from heroes like you,
my conscience would never let me sleep!"
After a long struggle of polite refusals on both sides,
Longinus and Penn finally threw down some bills and fled.
On the road to the Marine camp,
Penn grinned so wide he looked possessed.
Pedestrians shrieked and scattered.
By the time they arrived,
the sun had barely risen—
yet the training grounds were already filled with five long lines of recruits,
growing longer by the minute.
The two quickly joined a queue.
Instantly, half the people aiming for that line swerved away.
Even those who wanted to exploit the "shorter line"
kept careful distance from Penn.
It looked like the line snapped cleanly in the middle.
The effect was so dramatic that Longinus wondered
if Penn had secretly eaten the Ugly-Ugly Fruit…
or the Stink-Stink Fruit.
Recruitment procedures were simple.
Basic physical checks:
any major disabilities?
Any severe weaknesses?
Recruits mainly used rifles—
so the minimum was the ability to run long distances with gear.
Still, even this basic threshold was too much for many.
In this chaotic world,
plenty of commoners could barely afford yearly meals—
their bodies too malnourished to meet "normal adult" standards.
Because the process was fast,
Longinus soon reached the front.
Without looking up, the clerk droned,
"Name, age, origin.
Take the form to the back plaza for physical testing."
"Longinus. Twelve.
From Fallen Leaf Town on the Grand Line."
The clerk handed over the form—
Then froze.
His hand stopped mid-air.
Suddenly, he jerked his head up.
"You're Longinus?
The Longinus who defeated the Giant Rhino Pirate Arix?"
"…That's me."
"It's really you!
Excellent!
Captain Adkin told us repeatedly to wait for you—
quick, follow me!"
He grabbed Longinus excitedly, practically dragging him away.
Recruits stared, dumbfounded.
That… was some ridiculous special treatment.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Seriously? The Marines bowing to nobles now?"
"Did he bribe someone?"
"Ugh, disgusting…"
"Quiet!"
A Marine lieutenant in a Justice coat stepped forward.
As the plaza settled, he barked:
"Shut your pointless mouths.
If you want to be treated like Longinus—
then go out there, build achievements,
and kill pirates.
The Marines value merit and strength above all."
Most troublemakers were newcomers
who hadn't been here two days ago.
Anyone who'd witnessed the earlier incident
knew Longinus deserved every bit of respect he received.
He was simply in a different league.
Of course, not everyone had good intentions.
A sneering recruit approached Penn, saying,
"Hey, big guy.
Aren't you pissed?
You were the first one to stand up that day,
but all the glory goes to that pretentious little brat.
While yo—HEY! W-what are you doing, you ugly monster—?!"
Penn grabbed him with one hand and lifted him like a rag doll.
"You can insult me all you want," Penn growled,
"but keep your filthy mouth off my brother Longinus."
Penn might look simple and honest,
but someone who'd suffered discrimination all his life
could read people very well.
This guy's eyes were full of disgust—
his "sympathy" was fake from the start.
He dangled uselessly in Penn's grip,
dripping fear—and bodily fluids—onto the ground.
Even the Marines, who'd prepared to intervene, stopped.
They'd heard Penn's words.
They'd seen the instigator's deceit.
As real soldiers,
they respected Longinus
and naturally sided with Penn.
"Get lost."
Penn reined in his fury—
they were inside a Marine base, after all—
and flung the man like a discus.
He sailed several hundred meters away,
landing with a distant, miserable scream.
Even the Marines winced.
This man, who earlier curled up in fear like a hedgehog…
could actually brute-throw someone that far?!