Outside the barracks dormitory, a crowd had already gathered.
Gion's overwhelming victory over Kaji that morning had sparked speculation everywhere.
Many people assumed she was now coming to challenge the other newcomer labeled a "monster"—
Longinus—
so they dragged their friends over, excited not to miss the show.
Gion, however, frowned.
"These people… are they always this bored?
No wonder Sister Tsuru said the atmosphere in recent training-camp generations has been terrible.
I guess she had a point."
While she was thinking, fourteen people walked out together, faces resolute, expressions solemn—
as if marching to their deaths.
Gion blinked, stunned.
"…I'm just here to apologize.
Do you really need to look like you're heading to the execution grounds?"
The surrounding recruits were also shocked.
They hadn't expected the seemingly low-profile Longinus to have gathered such a formidable group around him.
Before Gion could speak, Gregory stepped forward, shouting,
"Gion! Don't go too far!
Beating Kaji wasn't enough?
Now you want to mess with our boss!?"
Gion froze, finally understanding the misunderstanding.
She didn't know whether she should laugh or sigh.
"I'm not—"
"We know!
Just because the boss isn't back yet doesn't mean we're afraid of you!
If you can't wait, we'll fight you instead!"
"I am not—"
"Not what?
Not interested in fighting weaklings like us?
Let me tell you something!
We followed the boss and captured tens of thousands of pirates.
We've been through battle after battle.
Our combat experience is nothing you greenhouse flowers can compare to!"
As she listened, Gion could only feel helpless admiration.
Just what kind of charisma does this Longinus have
that he inspires such loyalty?
Remembering the quotes she read earlier, she thought,
Perhaps he's not as strong as I am—
but his understanding of justice and his resolve…
might be far above mine.
Just looking at his subordinates,
it's clear he has extraordinary leadership.
When Gregory finally paused to breathe, Gion spoke calmly:
"You're misunderstanding.
I only came to apologize to him."
"…Apologize?"
Gregory and the others exchanged confused looks.
They'd never heard of the boss having any connection to the beautiful swordmaster.
Gion nodded lightly.
"Since Longinus isn't here, I'll come back another time."
She turned and walked away—swiftly, neatly, without hesitation.
Gregory, the G2 boys, and even the surrounding spectators all froze.
"This… is the plot twist we get?"
"We were ready for a duel!
You can't just show us this after we've mentally prepared!"
"Should we go after her?" Abraham nudged the dazed Gregory.
Gregory's expression suddenly shifted into something… obscene.
"Heh heh heh…
I've figured out her goal."
"Her… goal?" Penyon asked, staring blankly.
"Didn't Swordmaster Gion just say she wanted to apologize?"
Gregory patted his shoulder pityingly.
"That's what she claims.
But it's obvious—
she wants to deliberately create debt between her and the boss!
Once the boss 'owes' her something,
she'll have endless reasons to get closer to him.
And then…
she'll reveal her true intention—
to covet the boss's beauty!"
"What!?
Should we warn Longinus to be careful!?"
Penyon turned pale.
Gregory and the others just sighed deeply.
The Deep Sea — Silent, Lightless, Eternal
In the pitch-black depths, there was no light, no sound.
The crushing isolation and unknowable dangers were enough to drive most people mad.
But Longinus floated quietly, even suppressing his Observation Haki,
relying solely on instinct to feel the movement of the water.
A silence like death.
Darkness eternal.
Suddenly—
the water stirred.
Longinus's skin reacted first, tiny hairs shifting with the change in current.
He moved instantly, gliding through the sea with fluid grace—
more agile than a fish.
The water was no longer resistance but propulsion as he drove himself forward like a fired cannon shell.
His fist smashed into the unseen creature in the dark.
Blood spread through the water.
Longinus was ready to draw the Seven-Star Sword to finish it,
but another presence—powerful—appeared at the sea's edge.
He paused.
Then grabbed the creature's corpse and swam upward.
Someone else is training in the deep sea?
A martial expert from HQ?
He felt curious—
but not worried.
He hadn't used his abilities, so nothing could betray him.
Breaking the surface, Longinus shook his body at an incredibly rapid frequency—
heat radiating off him like a furnace—
drying his clothes almost instantly.
A moment later, another figure emerged from the water.
"Vice Admiral Dragon!"
Longinus saluted, eyes composed—
even as he thought,
So at this time… he hasn't eaten the fruit yet?
Dragon's hard, stern face only gave a faint nod.
After a long moment, he finally spoke:
"You also train in the deep sea?"
He didn't detect me.
So he suppresses his Observation Haki the same way I do?
Longinus answered calmly,
"The sea is a blessing of the world.
One of the best places to temper body and will."
"To uphold justice, one must possess a strong body…
and an unyielding spirit."
Though Dragon's words carried recognition,
his expression was so stern and cold
that no one could feel comfort from it.
After another long silence, Dragon added:
"If my father asks you to become his student—
don't go.
Teacher Zephyr is… more reliable."
Even Dragon's stern face twitched with the memory.
It was clear how deeply Garp had scarred him.
Longinus blinked.
Garp wants to take me as a student?
He asked aloud,
"Vice Admiral Dragon, you know me?"
"I'm an instructor at the training camp," Dragon replied simply.
Ah… that makes sense.
Longinus thought.
And judging from the future Dragon's ability to raise Sabo into the Revolutionary Army's number two, his teaching capability must be top-tier.
Seeing Dragon was not the talkative type, Longinus also stayed quiet.
Silence accompanied them all the way.
Any normal person would've been suffocating from the awkwardness long ago.
But Longinus, who could calmly endure the silence of the deep sea, barely noticed.
When they neared the town outskirts, Dragon suddenly stopped.
His voice was low:
"I've read your records.
I want to ask—
what is justice?"
Longinus stopped walking.
Then answered calmly,
"I don't know."
Dragon didn't react—
waiting for the continuation.
"What is justice?
Is survival of the fittest justice?
Most people would say no.
But just like wolves eating sheep,
'the strong devouring the weak'
is the law of nature.
Can we truly say the world is wrong?"
"In my view,
the world cannot be divided purely into right or wrong."
"That's why what I value is not abstract ideals—
but what justice achieves."
"Justice is whatever makes the world…
a better place."
Dragon's cold, stern face finally cracked—
revealing a stiff, almost twisted smile.
"Interesting.
Very interesting.
I believe you will become…
no—
you already are
an excellent Marine."
Without another word, he turned and left.
Longinus watched him go, then quietly walked back.
"So he approached me because of my interpretation of justice?
It seems my reputation has uses beyond climbing the ranks."
"And this Dragon…
at this point in time,
he's still lost."
"Well then.
This role of 'Marine Hero'…
I'll just have to play it even better."
"Dragon… Revolutionary Army…"
Longinus exhaled softly.
"That dazzling future…
really is something worth looking forward to."
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