"Excuse me, how do I get to the sixth training ground?"
The Marine who was stopped was first taken aback, then quickly saluted.
"Yes, sir!"
"Go left for three kilometers, the training ground on the right is the sixth training ground!"
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome, sir!"
After the young man in a Captain's 'Justice' coat and a suit left, the Marine frowned in confusion.
"That's strange, I thought I knew all the officers at headquarters..."
"You don't know?"
Another Marine looked at his colleague.
"That's the famous 'parachuted Captain'. Judging by his looks, he probably hasn't even stood in military posture for a day..."
"He can be a Captain? Are you kidding?"
"What else? How do you think he got the title 'parachuted Captain'? He must be connected to some big shot..."
"Who has that much influence? It can't be Fleet Admiral Sengoku, right?"
"Are you joking..."
...
Kid, you got it right.
Roman, wearing the Marine 'Justice' coat, shook his head with a smile. It seems his start as a Captain has already made waves throughout Marine headquarters. But:
To independently command a warship at Marine headquarters, the minimum rank required is Captain! Unless Roman wanted to be someone's errand boy, — especially after Garp said he was retiring, Roman didn't want anyone above him.
"Alright, starting from scratch in the Marines? Hopefully—"
?
Well, no need to hope.
Looking at the 'sixth training ground' sign and a group of sloppy, unruly 'Marines', Roman rubbed his temples.
Sengoku, you sly fox, you set me up!
"Hey, 'parachuted Captain', I don't recognize you."
A guy with exaggerated blond bangs stood up from another Marine. — This Marine, well, several Marines were lying on the ground as human 'chairs', and the others:
Wonderful, a whole bunch of 'officers'.
So Sengoku dumped a bunch of 'gold-plated' troublemakers here?
Makes sense, he agreed to let Roman join the Marines so easily, and then let Roman command a warship so easily. Turns out he was using me as a garbage disposal. So:
"Everyone, attention!"
Facing Roman's words, the people in the training ground were first stunned, then:
Burst into laughter!!
"Hahahaha~~~"
"Do you know where you are?"
"Hahaha, newbie, who's your old man?"
"Make us stand at attention? Sure, let's see you 'stand at attention'!"
Looking at a few 'officers' rolling up their sleeves, Roman chuckled.
Very spirited!
I like it.
...
"Attention!"
Snap!
In the sixth training ground, a group of officers and marines with bruised faces stood straight for the first time in their lives, the reason being:
"My dad is..."
Smack!
"My grandpa is..."
Smack!
"Spare me!"
Smack!
???
"Sorry, got carried away. — Now get back in line!"
"Ah... ah... yes, yes, I'm going, I'm going~~~"
OK, done.
When reasoning doesn't work, use fists to make it work!
As for their big backgrounds? Haha, can they be bigger than the Celestial Dragons? There's no way a Celestial Dragon would become a Marine, right~~
"Very good, I can feel everyone's enthusiasm. I believe that under my leadership, our unit will definitely carry forward the Marine spirit of not fearing difficulties and being brave to sacrifice..."
!!!!
As Roman rambled on, a few guys in the front row, who looked like rich kids, started trembling all over. Then:
Snap,
"Captain! Someone fainted."
"Don't panic," facing the blond guy who had 'collapsed' in less than half an hour, Roman waved his hand, and a bucket of cold water appeared out of nowhere and poured over him.
"Ah!"
"Isn't that refreshing? Continue—"
I...
Forget it, a wise man knows when to retreat.
Getting up, looking at Roman who was cracking his knuckles with a malicious look, the blond guy decided to 'be the bigger person and not stoop to the level of this brute'. Just wait—
Just a Captain...
"Just a Captain,"
?
"Is that what you're thinking?"
Roman patted his shoulder with a 'kind' smile.
"I think your bodies are too weak. How about this, stand for another hour, and I'll allow you to go home and 'rest' for fifteen minutes. Do whatever you want, but:"
His face turned serious, and he glanced at the eager group of second-generation marines, his expression turning cold.
"Anyone who leaves, when you come back, stand for another three hours!"
---
"So, you're not going to get reinforcements?"
Roman glanced at the blond guy in surprise. This guy should be one of the ones with the strongest backing among them, but he actually stood for an hour without leaving.
"Hmph, do you think I'm stupid?"
The blond guy, trembling all over as if he had eaten the Quake-Quake Fruit, sneered, "A few with similar backgrounds to mine have already gone out. If they can deal with you, I don't need to step in. Besides:"
So confident, it seems... revenge is unlikely.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before a few dejected young officers returned and stood silently at attention. The remaining ones looked at them in surprise.
This... this new Captain has quite a background.
"You—"
Roman pointed at the blond guy,
"What's your name?"
"Reporting, sir, Lieutenant Bolkin reporting!"
"Very good, from today on, you're my adjutant."
Roman didn't bother with other 'establishing authority' or 'motivational' tricks, as long as he could help manage the group of 'second-generation marines' behind him.
"Everyone, free time for half an hour!"
Even if they haven't seen a pig run, they've at least eaten pork. Roman didn't expect these guys to be of much use, just not to drag him down.
"Bolkin, go ask the headquarters when our warship will be assigned."
??
"...Seriously, boss?"
Having realized that Roman had both strong backing and strong fists, Lieutenant Bolkin no longer planned to 'challenge' him, but:
"We're here for 'gilding,' why do we need a warship?"
Roman glanced at the other person in confusion.
"Of course, to sail the warship and capture pirates. Otherwise, why call it the Marines?"
...Brother, if you want to die, don't drag us with you... But facing Roman's gaze, Bolkin couldn't refuse. He nodded reluctantly.
"Alright, I'll ask..."
Just asking, don't expect much—
"Hmm, nice warship. But..."
Seeing the orange-haired girl coming down from the ship, Roman noticed her Marine coat. She was also an officer?
"Captain Roman! Hello."
The girl captain saluted seriously, "I'm Lieutenant Commander Isuka, sent by headquarters to monitor you. Please take care of me."
...Uh, do you have to be so direct?
Roman looked at the serious girl captain with tea-colored glasses. She must be a genius to reach Lieutenant Commander at her age. But:
"Lieutenant Commander Isuka, are you feeling unwell recently?"
In response to Roman's words, the red-eyed Lieutenant Commander Isuka calmly shook her head.
"I just witnessed a friend's death, it's no big deal."
"Alright,"
No matter who you are, Roman was genuinely planning to capture pirates. Since Garp was busy suppressing pirates, he had to wait for free time to teach Roman.
"Everyone, get ready to set sail!"
?!
"Captain Roman, is it really okay to set sail like this?"
As the most sociable among the 'Marine second generation,' Bolkin had to speak up.
"Recently, there was a prison break at Impel Down, and Whitebeard's death led to a surge of pirates..." Roman looked righteous, as if these events had nothing to do with him, "As Marines, the sooner we bring those pirates to justice, the sooner ordinary people can live in peace!"
...
You're the boss, you decide!
As the warship carrying Roman and a group of young Marines set sail, in Marine headquarters, Sengoku's office:
"Fleet Admiral, is this really okay..."
Several Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals filled the office. These experts were all muscular giants, three meters tall was normal, six or seven meters wasn't unusual.
"If a Celestial Dragon dares to take action, are your sons more precious than a Celestial Dragon?"
Facing the impatient Sengoku, the officers waved their hands.
"That's not what we mean. We mean... is this Captain Roman reliable?"
Sigh, even Marine officers can't escape their feelings for their children.
These people charge into battle with pirates without a second thought! But when it comes to their sons, they shamelessly come to me to inquire about their whereabouts.
"Don't worry,"
Sengoku held all the information about the Straw Hat crew since they set sail.
"That Captain Roman... , is more reliable than you think."
—————— ----
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