"What are your plans for the future, Bol?"
Tiger didn't share Bol's excitement; instead, he inquired about Bol's plans for the future.
"I may not know what lies ahead, but I want to follow you, Boss Tiger!"
Bol expressed with enthusiasm that for him, Tiger was the one who lifted him from hell to earth. The moment he escaped from Marie Joie, he had already decided to follow the man before him.
"I aspire to create a pirate crew. Initially, let's assist these liberated individuals in returning to their homes. Subsequently, we'll take a stand against the maritime slave trade!"
Before Bol could inquire, Tiger spoke with unwavering resolve.
The agonizing experiences of slavery in Tiger's past fueled a deep disdain for human trafficking. The assault on Marie Joie appeared to provide him with a new perspective on the path his life should take.
...
Marineford, recruit camp, Zephyr office.
"Zephyr-sensei, how have you been lately? Have you come up with any great talents?"
At that moment, only Zephyr, Shuzo, and Atlas were present in the office. Given the relatively confidential nature of the meeting, Atlas posed a half-joking question.
"Fortunately, even the most promising young talent can't quite match up to you..." Zephyr expressed satisfaction, glancing at the epaulettes on Atlas's justice cloak with a sense of relief. "I didn't anticipate your rapid promotion. It's about time for the Vice Admiral rank..."
Following the conclusion of the Mariejois incident, Atlas smoothly ascended to the position of Vice Admiral at the headquarters without any unexpected obstacles. However, the Five Elders kept a watchful eye on him, particularly due to his previous interception of Rayleigh.
Yet, Atlas refrained from any extraordinary actions, and the Marine had already been disillusioned once with Sengoku. Adding fuel to the fire with a mere Vice Admiral promotion seemed unnecessary, and it could even be counterproductive, fostering a rebellious mentality within the Marine ranks.
Shuzo, standing on the side, chimed in upon hearing this, "Mr. Zephyr has been using you as a role model in the recruitment camp. Now, in the eyes of those recruits, you have to surpass Akainu and the others as true powerhouses."
"Seems like they're getting tired of hearing my name then," Atlas teased, not anticipating that Zephyr held such a high opinion of him.
"Hahaha! Ignore this youngster's banter. Any plans in mind for your return to headquarters this time?"
"The Admiral Sengoku has arranged for me to be stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago."
Atlas didn't conceal anything from Zephyr, and these weren't major secrets. Even though Zephyr had stepped into the shadows, he still wielded the authority of a former Admiral. If he so wished, he could easily gather information about such minor details.
"Stationing at Sabaody? Logically, the base commander at Sabaody Archipelago holds the rank of Rear Admiral. Why would Sengoku assign you, a Vice Admiral, there?"
Zephyr appears visibly perplexed by Sengoku's decision. After all, he had disengaged from Marine affairs, paying little attention to the current state of the world.
"Ah~ Admiral Sengoku aims to prevent a flood of pirates into the New World and mitigate the strengthening of the three major pirate groups."
Atlas stretched his slightly stiff muscles, couldn't help but groan in comfort, and then proceeded to explain casually.
Observing this, Zephyr said nothing to intervene. The three of them lacked a hierarchical superior-subordinate relationship, creating a relatively relaxed atmosphere.
"By the way, when do you plan to take away the recruit I specifically trained for you? Coincidentally, you've attained the Vice Admiral rank now. It's about time to assemble your own fleet."
"Kyros?"
Atlas scratched his head in embarrassment. He seemed to have almost forgotten about Kyros. After inviting Kyros to the Marines a year ago, Atlas asked him to return to headquarters with the army and even called him personally. He requested Zephyr to arrange for him to come to the recruitment camp for special training.
Atlas held high expectations for Kyros; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to recruit him into the Marines.
"Zephyr-sensei, what are your thoughts on Kyros? His advancement seems to be quite promising. I hold high hopes for him!"
Strictly speaking, Kyros is not a Marine from a conventional recruitment camp. However, one should not underestimate the selection process here. Everyone undergoes rigorous identity and qualification examinations, and it's impossible for anyone to enter casually.
Kyros can be considered more of an auditor, exempt from the graduation examination that ordinary recruits undergo. Upon Atlas's command, he can directly board the ship, being recognized as a direct descendant of Truss.
"Compared to others from the same period, he stands out. His swordsmanship is exceptional, having mastered the Rokushiki proficiently. It will take some time for his physical fitness to reach the level of awakening Haki."
Zephyr provided a succinct and comprehensive assessment of the current Kyros. The most significant distinction between Kyros and Marines from the same period in the recruitment camp lies in combat experience. Hailing from the gladiatorial arena and having served in the defense of Dressrosa, he's well-versed in combat. His sensitivity and intuition surpass that of ordinary recruits.
"At this moment, the recruits should be undergoing training on the training grounds. Would you like to impart a lesson to the recruits? It's an opportune moment for them to meet you, the legendary senior known as a monster."
"Ok."
Observing Zephyr's slightly expectant gaze, Atlas readily agreed. After all, his schedule wasn't particularly hectic at the moment.
...
Recruit camp field.
The two figures engaged in a constant exchange of blows. The utilization of techniques like Shigan and Tekkai among the six postures was dazzling. Waves of air continuously surged between the two combatants.
"Shigan!"
"Tekkai!"
"Uh... poof!"
Finally, Tekkai added another defeat.
The instructor on the sidelines observed the scenario on the field and promptly declared, "Winner! Kyros."
Kyros, on the field, displayed a genuine look of excitement upon hearing this. It seemed as if he were born for gladiatorial combat, with every victory bringing him profound joy.
However, it has been a year since he joined the Marines, and so far, he hasn't caught a glimpse of that man's shadow. Kyros sometimes speculates that the guy might have forgotten about him in Marineford.
"How's he doing? Are you content with his progress?"
The trio, who had been present around the school field for a considerable time, had a panoramic view of the entire battle. Kyros's performance also left Zephyr very satisfied.
"Other than the Rankyaku and Geppo, which he hasn't mastered yet, he's highly proficient in using the other four moves. Additionally, this batch shouldn't be new to the camp, right?"
Atlas' discerning gaze quickly assessed Kyros's mastery of the six techniques almost at a glance.
"But he has met the qualifications to join my fleet!" Atlas added.
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Bonus chapter for reaching 30 power stone goal. Thank you for your support
Read 35 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari