"Come on, Sensei! I just got back! I've only just been promoted to Rear Admiral at Headquarters! A criminal with a bounty of 200 million Berries—do I really need to step in? Headquarters has more than enough forces to handle that, right?"
On the sofa, Roldy sat face-to-face with Zephyr, grumbling nonstop.
He had only just been promoted to Rear Admiral at Marine Headquarters and was planning to properly relax for once. He had already applied for half a month of paid leave. The Pleasure District in the New World—he had long been curious about it. People said it was paradise for men.
He didn't quite believe it.
Could it really have the best meat in the world? Or the largest number of human traffickers he could beat down?
"The Pleasure District always satisfies its customers."
That was the reputation it had cultivated over the years—and the principle it supposedly upheld. As far as Roldy was concerned, it was worth seeing at least once.
But who would've thought—just when the Fleet Admiral had already given a tacit approval for his leave—his old man suddenly showed up.
Apparently, a large batch of promising Marine rookies would soon be arriving at Headquarters. The plan was for Roldy, the rising star of the Marines, to lead these "greenhorns" in a team-building exercise.
And that exercise?
Hunting down a pirate with a bounty exceeding 200 million Berries—and his crew.
"Brat, don't be ungrateful!" Zephyr barked, a cigar clenched between his teeth, looking every bit like a veteran boss from the underworld. "I'll tell you the truth—this exercise is mainly for you to make an appearance in front of those recruits and show off your strength."
"These rookies are the first class of cadets entering Headquarters' Officer Training Camp. As my most prized disciple—and the Deputy Chief Instructor of the training camp—you naturally need to show your face first!"
Truth be told, the matter wasn't urgent at all. Zephyr had no real objection to Roldy taking some time off.
But the moment Sengoku casually mentioned that Roldy, under Gion's instigation—no, wait, under Gion? No—under Tokikake's encouragement, was planning to visit the Pleasure District, Zephyr immediately changed his mind.
"You're only fifteen! What kind of leave are you taking at your age? Only someone like Garp—who contributes nothing to society—has the time to slack off! A pillar of Marine Headquarters like you—how can you take leave?"
Rest was acceptable.
Degeneracy was not.
Zephyr glared fiercely, mustache bristling. Roldy twitched at the sight.
"Wait, what? The Officer Training Camp needs me to lead them? Those guys manage entire Marine branches—even some who've served as Commodores in the Four Blues. They're in my dad's generation! And you want me to be some Deputy Chief Instructor? That's ridiculous!"
Young as he was, Roldy didn't realize that everything Zephyr was doing now was paving the road for his future.
Zephyr's expectations for him went far beyond becoming a mere Vice Admiral at Headquarters.
This boy was destined to stand on equal footing with him—or even surpass him.
The Officer Training Camp's first class consisted of hardened figures from the Four Blues. Anyone with half a brain could tell that these men would become the backbone of the Marines in the future.
Originally, Roldy himself had been one of the candidates for the first class.
But his growth had been too rapid. Zephyr had already taught him everything he could. He had even learned more than half of Garp's fist techniques.
What Roldy lacked now wasn't knowledge—it was growth.
His body hadn't yet reached its peak. Ten years. Just ten years. Once he reached full physical maturity, he would naturally become a top-tier powerhouse.
"No matter what you say, I'm not going!"
Roldy was famously stubborn. Zephyr knew forcing him would be useless.
Fortunately, he had prepared a backup plan.
"The mission budget is 10 million Berries. And since the mission cuts into your vacation time, the pirate's bounty will go entirely to you."
Zephyr spoke casually.
Sure enough, the moment he finished—
Roldy shot up from the sofa.
"The funds and bounty don't matter! Everything is for justice!"
He snapped a sharp Marine salute, then turned and strode out the door.
"That brat…"
Zephyr couldn't help but laugh.
Headquarters placed great importance on this first Officer Training Camp and had approved a generous budget. As Chief Instructor, everything was under Zephyr's authority.
The truth was, his training plans didn't require that much funding.
If someone was going to benefit from it—
It might as well be his restless disciple.
…
"Tokikake! Tokikake!"
Roldy headed to the residential quarters—to Tokikake's house.
Before he even stepped through the door, he was already shouting at the top of his lungs.
By now, he and Tokikake were quite close. The guy had even acknowledged him as his big brother. Naturally, this was due to Roldy's overwhelming personal charisma.
It definitely had nothing to do with the fact that he'd caught Tokikake more than once hiding under his blanket, doing… unspeakable things.
"Tokikake! Huh? Gion, you're here too?"
"Mm. This idiot got his leg broken. I was worried he'd starve to death, so I brought him some food."
Roldy looked at Gion, who was clearly holding back laughter, then at Tokikake lying in bed, wrapped head to toe in layers upon layers of bandages.
Without a shred of loyalty, he burst into laughter.
"You've got some nerve laughing! If you hadn't run your mouth about going to the Pleasure District and let Admiral Zephyr hear about it, would I have gotten beaten like this?!"
Tokikake looked utterly miserable.
As a genuine Marine brat who had grown up at Headquarters, he'd rarely seen the outside world as a child. Like a bird trapped in a cage, he had an intense curiosity about what lay beyond.
To put it simply—he wanted excitement.
Now promoted to Major at Marine Headquarters, he served under Admiral Sengoku. But with Sengoku's strict discipline and his own reckless spending habits, he barely had enough money left to treat himself.
In everyone's stories, the mysterious Pleasure District had become the place he longed for most.
He was even working hard toward the dream of one day living there full-time.
At the very least, he figured he'd need to become a Vice Admiral at Headquarters before he'd have the confidence to eat and drink there on someone else's tab.
Unfortunately for him—
The moment he finished speaking, Gion's expression darkened at a visible speed.
Meanwhile, Roldy continued laughing carelessly.
"I was planning to take you along during my vacation. But judging from your injuries, forget it. Looks like I'll have to enjoy that wonderful Pleasure District all by myself!"
Yes.
This heartless bastard had come purely to show off.
Seeing Tokikake's face turn as gray as if the world had lost all color filled him with indescribable joy.
Little did he know—
Tokikake wasn't despairing because of Roldy's bragging.
Glancing at Gion—
It was as if a demonic aura had risen behind her.
Tokikake swallowed hard.
"So… you encouraged a fifteen-year-old future pillar of the Marines to go to that kind of place?"
Gion had already drawn her sword.
"Huh? Wait—listen to my explanation—!"
"Save it. You can explain yourself in heaven!"
…
Moments later—
A bloodcurdling scream echoed from inside the room.
Strangely enough, it overlapped perfectly with the cheerful tune Roldy was humming outside.
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