At Garp's subtle nod, Wood turned around, confusion evident in his eyes.
What he saw explained why Garp had spoken the way he did earlier.
Behind Garp, a group of individuals stood, many of whom were Navy officers who had accompanied Zephyr on this mission.
Among them, Rear Admiral Kadaru held the highest rank and had been the closest to Wood during the test.
As a Rear Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, Kadaru was no match for Garp in terms of strength, but he had a certain level of competence.
If it came to a fight, Kadaru would stand no chance, but when it came to withstanding Garp's aura, he appeared unaffected, standing there with an untroubled expression.
However, the other officers weren't as fortunate as Kadaru.
Even though Garp hadn't been serious, he was still the Navy hero who had cornered the Pirate King multiple times. His reputation wasn't just for show.
The commanders at the rank of major or lieutenant could barely manage to stay on their feet, though their breathing was clearly labored. It was evident that resisting such killing intent was no easy task for them.
As for the captains, they were in a similar state to Wood, all of them collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath.
When Wood turned his head to look at them, one captain, determined not to lose face in front of the recruits, tried to stand.
But as soon as he barely straightened up, his legs gave out, and he fell back to the ground.
If the captains were in such a state, the sergeants and regular soldiers fared even worse.
However, they didn't know whether they had lost face or not because they were all unconscious.
Seeing the contrast, Wood understood why Garp was satisfied with his performance.
Wood was still just a green recruit, but in terms of willpower, he was already comparable to a Navy captain—and, due to his proximity to Garp, he had even outperformed some of them.
If that wasn't impressive, it would be an insult to the other officers.
Thanks to Garp's actions, this year's Navy recruit induction ceremony was anything but ordinary.
And the young man who had hoped to keep a low profile found himself unwittingly becoming the most prominent figure among the new recruits.
Gold shines no matter where it is, and when someone stands out too much, it's the same.
After receiving his standard-issue uniform from the supply department, Wood headed to the room assigned to him.
New recruits from various regions wouldn't be assigned to active duty immediately. First, they would undergo several years of systematic training together.
Wood was given three sets of uniforms, all white with blue trim, identical to those of regular Navy personnel.
As a proud new member of the Navy, these three uniforms would be his companions for the next few years.
Since he was still a nobody, he had no right to wear anything special. The white-and-blue uniform was standard issue, and the academy's regulations stated that unless it was a day off, all recruits must wear this uniform for both daily activities and training.
When Wood asked how three uniforms were supposed to last for years, the supply officer explained that if the uniforms got damaged, recruits could buy replacements out of their own pocket.
But when Wood heard the price, he realized it was far from cheap. Based on their stipend as recruits, they could barely afford one uniform a month.
Looking at the standard-issue uniforms in his hands, Wood couldn't figure out why they were so expensive.
"Don't let the plain appearance fool you," the supply officer began, noticing the disdain on Wood's face. "These uniforms were specially designed by a renowned designer from the Grand Line at the behest of the Fleet Admiral himself."
He continued, "The simplicity of the design belies its grandeur. The fabric was carefully chosen to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, and the artistic value alone is worth several stories high..."
Wood couldn't help but be impressed by the officer's pitch. He figured that if this guy were back in his old world, he'd be a top sales champion anywhere.
In fact, after listening to the officer's spiel, Wood started to wonder if he had underestimated the uniform. Maybe it wasn't as ordinary as he had thought, so he decided to buy an extra set.
The supply officer quickly accepted Wood's payment and handed him a brand-new "standard-issue" uniform, with a satisfied smile that seemed to say, "There's hope for you yet."
But after fiddling with the uniform and finding nothing special about it, Wood decided to go back and question the officer. However, he found the officer delivering the same pitch to another recruit.
This time, the recruit was so convinced that he spent all his money on ten sets of uniforms.
"Excellent," the supply officer praised, beaming. "Your sharp eye for quality and your dedication to the Navy are evident in how many uniforms you've purchased. I see a bright future for you—maybe in ten years, you'll be the next Navy Admiral."
The officer sent the eager recruit off with a smile, but when he saw Wood returning, his expression fell.
"These uniforms are custom-made and non-refundable!" he declared before Wood could say a word.
The Navy Academy had been around for a long time—Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr had all been students here.
Most Navy recruits were just ordinary people when they first joined, and the Navy Headquarters couldn't send them straight into battle against vicious pirates.
If the Navy performed poorly in combat, it would damage its reputation and embolden the pirates.
Moreover, untrained Navy recruits would be no match for seasoned pirates, making them easy targets and unable to uphold justice.
High casualties wouldn't just harm the Navy's prestige; they'd also make the general public view it as a dangerous job, deterring future recruits.
After retiring from the front lines, Zephyr took on the role of head instructor at the Navy Academy.
Admirals like Akainu and Kizaru were among Zephyr's first students, while Aokiji was part of the third class.
Wood was now part of the fifth class.
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 36 at patreon.com/Betek.