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In Loguetown, a week quickly passed.
Early this morning, Smoker had already informed Byakuya that the Marine Headquarters' ships would arrive around noon to pick them up.
Through Smoker, Byakuya learned that the Elite Training Camp was generally held once every three years, with around five hundred participants per session.
The Marine Headquarters itself occupied about three hundred slots, while the remaining two hundred slots were allocated by the Marines from the Four Blues.
On average, each Blue allocated fifty slots. The soldiers selected from the East Blue Marines to participate in the Elite Training Camp didn't even add up to forty.
Not even reaching the average, it was evident that the strength of the East Blue Marines was generally lacking.
But there was nothing to be done about it. With weak East Blue pirates, Marine soldiers couldn't undergo relatively good development.
Now, with Byakuya stirring up trouble in the East Blue, well, until Luffy sets sail, the East Blue Marines will probably be twiddling their thumbs in idleness.
At noon, Smoker led everyone participating in the Elite Training Camp to the port to wait.
Byakuya whispered, "Smoker, while I'm away, you must train diligently. Don't neglect your physical abilities and Devil Fruit development. "
"If after I graduate, your strength is still this pathetic, then you might as well retire in Loguetown."
Smoker nodded incessantly like a chick pecking at grains, repeatedly assuring, "Don't worry, I'll step up my training."
"You too, Tashigi." Hearing Byakuya's address, Tashigi blushed all over, shyly replying, "I will, Lord Byakuya."
"Then I'll feel relieved."
As the three conversed, they saw a ship sailing on the sea, its sails marked with a seagull holding a set of scales, symbolizing the maintenance of peace and order in the world, particularly conspicuous.
But even more conspicuous was the figurehead, a somewhat comical-looking bulldog holding a bone in its mouth.
This caught Byakuya by surprise. Wasn't someone from the Marine Headquarters supposed to come to pick them up? Why was it Garp?
Shouldn't this old man be chasing after the Red Hair Pirates? As the ship docked, Garp disembarked, surprising Smoker.
"Vice Admiral Garp, you're here to pick us up this time."
"Oh, so it's Smoker!"
Having graduated from the Elite Training Camp and being the top graduate of his class, Smoker was somewhat famous even at the Marine Headquarters, so Garp naturally recognized him.
"Why are you still a Captain in Loguetown?" Garp asked puzzledly.
"With the East Blue pirates being so weak, staying here is a complete waste of time."
Garp's words carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
After all, even if Smoker, being a user of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, might not be able to compete with the Admirals' Devil Fruits, but within Devil Fruits, he was considered relatively strong.
To stay as a mere Captain in the East Blue instead of shining in the New World? "No, after this trip back, I'll have Sengoku transfer you to the Grandline."
Faced with Garp's words, Smoker could only smile bitterly and nod. Garp's few words completely changed Smoker's future path.
No one would question the authenticity of Garp's words.
As a "Marine Hero," Garp's authority in the Marines was even greater than that of the Admirals, he just usually couldn't be bothered with administrative matters.
"Are these the Marines selected from the East Blue?"
Garp looked over each one, and almost every soldier who was looked at by Garp felt a sense of honor, adjusting to their best mental state.
This was a living legend! Whether it was chasing after Pirate King Roger or joining forces with Sengoku to imprison the Golden Lion Shiki in Impel Down.
Any of these feats would shock the entire sea. Such a legendary figure personally coming to pick them up, how could they not be excited?
Under Garp's gaze, although Byakuya remained unmoved, he felt a bit nervous inside. It was inevitable, just a few days ago he was planning to kill Garp's grandson.
Now that he met the real deal, he naturally had to keep a low profile to avoid attracting Garp's attention.
Garp praised, "Very good, truly the elite of the East Blue Marines."
"I hope that after you arrive at the Marine Headquarters, you will train hard and make contributions to protecting the people."
The thirty-seven Marine soldiers shouted, "For justice!"
Byakuya chimed in, subconsciously wanting to shout 'For freedom', but thankfully he reacted quickly and changed his words in time, otherwise it would have been awkward.
"All right, Smoker, I will go first. That old man Sengoku treats me like free labor and has arranged a bunch of tasks for me, I'm just too busy."
"Cough... cough!" Beside him, Bogard coughed to remind Garp that there were other soldiers present, he nearly coughed up his lungs.
"What's with the coughing? I'm already doing them a favor not cursing in front of the soldiers, isn't calling him an old man acceptable?"
Bogard could only smile helplessly, you can do whatever you want, as long as you're happy.
The surrounding soldiers were shocked to hear Garp's words. You called Fleet Admiral Sengoku an old man, and that's not considered cursing?
Then what would be considered cursing? Smoker and Tashigi stood on the shore, watching Garp's warship gradually sail away.
They exchanged a glance and both sighed in relief. They finally got rid of that guy.
Thinking back on the torture of these days, both Smoker and Tashigi regretted meeting Byakuya.
Smoker gritted his teeth, "He even said I have a masochistic tendency, but I think he's the one with a sadistic tendency!"
"Captain Smoker, when Lord Byakuya graduates, are we going to find him?"
Smoker hesitated for a long time, painfully saying, "Yes, we have to, he will comes looking for us, and we have no choice now, damn... thinking about it, I may regret it."
On the ship, Byakuya already missed Smoker and Tashigi.
With them gone, there would be two fewer people to collect World Source Energy, which was heartbreaking.
While still in Loguetown, Byakuya successfully "conquered" Tashigi, earning a reward of 1400 points of World Source Energy.
Compared to Smoker, it was a bit less, but it was still enough. Byakuya also figured out how to meet the conditions for followership.
Simply put, it involved brainwashing first, making others agree with your views and think you're right.
Secondly, it required leveraging your charisma to make others feel that only by following you could they achieve their ideals.
Achieving these two points was considered to meet the requirements for followership.
Additionally, over these past few days, Byakuya discovered another way to obtain World Source Energy.
When the follower's strength increased, he also received a small amount of World Source Energy as a reward.
So, during these days, he didn't skimp on training Smoker and Tashigi.
Even though the rewards were small, just 2 or 3 points, every little bit counts.
Byakuya opened his current attribute panel, feeling quite satisfied.
[Host: Byakuya]
[Template: One Punch Man - Saitama]
[Fusion Degree: 17%]
[World Source Energy: 3]
[Special Skill: King Engine]
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