"So, you are Cavendish?"
Inside Wright's office, even someone as narcissistic as Cavendish felt an inexplicable pressure—Wright's popularity and prestige were practically a life goal in itself!
"Y-Yes, Vice Admiral Wright! I am Cavendish!"
"Hmm... and you wish to join the Marines?"
"Yes! Vice Admiral Wright, your radiant brilliance guides me like the sun! As a young man with a heart of justice who upholds the chivalric code, learning from you and joining the Marines is my greatest wish!"
Cavendish's eyes gleamed as he dramatically praised Wright in a near-operatic tone.
"…"
Kuina turned her head away as if disowning any association with him, while Wright, amused, activated his Observation Haki to gauge Cavendish's intentions.
Hmm… A sense of justice? Barely. But he does have a genuine chivalric spirit. As for his narcissism, there's no saving that.
Also, this guy is clearly troubled by his second persona. It seems he hasn't yet reached the stage where he enjoys the fame it brings him when it takes over.
If T Bone hadn't sent Kuina, any ordinary Marine would have been slaughtered, and Cavendish would have been forced into the life of a pirate.
At that point, he would have simply given in, indulging in the overwhelming popularity his second persona brought him.
Luckily, he still has a chance. And he's only daring to ask to join the Marines now because he hasn't stained his hands with blood.
"Are you certain, former prince, that you can abide by the discipline of the Marines?"
"Ah, for the sake of popularity, these things are trivial!"
Cavendish somehow produced a rose and struck a dramatic pose.
"Being by your side, Vice Admiral Wright, means being seen by the entire world! Just imagine the boost to my popularity—"
"You're too weak."
Kuina cut off his performance mercilessly, delivering a brutal reality check.
"Even if you doubled your strength by entering your second persona, you still wouldn't defeat me. As you are now, you wouldn't last five rounds against my blade."
"You have exceptional talent in swordsmanship, yet you've wasted it completely. What a disgrace to your potential!"
"And you think you can follow Senior Brother around like this? Keep dreaming!"
Compared to the straightforward Tashigi, Kuina had always been sharp-witted and, at times, downright cutting with her words.
Cavendish, someone who thrived on his own perceived popularity, took this verbal barrage as a near-fatal blow.
However, the mind of a narcissist works in mysterious ways.
"Hah! If I've reached this level without even trying, imagine what I could achieve if I trained seriously!"
Recovering instantly, Cavendish flipped his hair with confidence.
"Vice Admiral Wright! Please allow me to join the Marines! I must prove that when I put in the effort, my charm is simply irresistible!"
"Hmm… Your reasoning is… unusual. But having a motivation to improve isn't bad."
Wright nodded. "Sticking by my side isn't impossible, but you need the strength to match it."
"Set yourself a small goal first—catch up to Kuina. She is every bit as much a swordsmanship prodigy as you are. If you want to match her, you'll have to work hard."
"Oh, and one more thing…"
Wright recalled something. "Cavendish, if you enlist, your second persona will be a major problem. I don't want to wake up one night to find you've slaughtered the entire recruit barracks!"
"Ah~"
Cavendish sighed in frustration. "That's a problem for me too!"
"Come here. Let me take a look. Maybe I can fix it."
Cavendish blinked, then his face lit up as he recalled Wright's abilities.
"Vice Admiral Wright, please save me!"
"…"
Wright gestured for him to sit on the sofa. "Can you fall asleep?"
"Anytime!"
Before Wright even finished speaking, Cavendish was already snoring. Instantly, his expression twisted as his "White Horse" persona emerged—clearly, Cavendish had been restraining it for days, even chaining himself up at night to prevent any incidents.
"Smack!"
With a swift chop to the neck, Wright knocked "White Horse" unconscious—allowing him to study the condition more closely.
"Senior Brother, are you seriously letting this weirdo join the Marines?"
Kuina grimaced. Cavendish had undeniable talent, but was his personality really suited for the Marines?
"Wouldn't having another rival be good for you?"
Wright chuckled. "His swordsmanship potential is exceptional. If left unchecked, he could easily become a pirate. Given his narcissism, who knows what kind of chaos he'd stir up just to boost his own fame?"
"Hmm… That does make sense. And the Marines are no strangers to eccentric recruits."
Kuina nodded in agreement, curiously watching Wright examine Cavendish.
"Hmm… His mental state is definitely abnormal. He's been so consumed by his own fame that he unconsciously developed a second persona to eliminate anyone who might overshadow him?"
"This level of narcissism is truly something else…"
Wright sighed.
There was a solution. He could use the power of the Holy Light to purify Cavendish's second persona, transforming it into a controlled state of heightened awareness rather than a separate entity. This would actually improve Cavendish's combat potential.
Cavendish awoke feeling more rested than he had in years.
Before, even if he was well-rested mentally, his body always felt fatigued—courtesy of "White Horse" rampaging in his sleep.
But now, for the first time, he felt at peace. His second persona was no longer beyond his control. It was as if he could summon it at will!
"Ah…"
Blinking, Cavendish realized he was still in Vice Admiral Wright's office, lying on the sofa.
Bolting upright, he spotted Kuina nearby.
"Kuina-chan! What happened…? Where's Vice Admiral Wright?"
"Senior Brother had other matters to attend to. I'm here to escort you to finalize your enlistment paperwork. Then you'll report to Captain T. Bone."
Kuina scrutinized him.
"Senior Brother said your second persona won't take over anymore. Now it's just a state of heightened focus, which you should be able to control."
"However, the boost to your swordsmanship and speed is capped at 50%."
Realizing this was true, Cavendish beamed.
"Ah! Vice Admiral Wright is truly amazing! My only flaw has been erased!"
Instantly falling into self-admiration, he swooned.
"Perfect me! My popularity will soar!"
"...Keep dreaming."
Kuina shook her head and turned to leave Wright's office. "Hurry up. Once the paperwork is done, you still have to undergo military training!"
"And as for those seventy or so attendants of yours—figure out a way to dismiss them yourself. That horse… I don't know why Senior Brother allowed you to keep it, but you'd better take good care of it!"
"You actually installed a loudspeaker on your horse? Remove it immediately!"
Cavendish quickly got up and chased after her. "Kuina-chan, that's essential to my charm—"
"I'm your superior officer! If you ever surpass me in both strength and rank, then we can talk about your so-called charm!"
"…"
-------
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here: patreon.com / juanpiece
There are more than 100 advance chapters available for you!