The morning sun warmed the Branch Training Field.
"Huh? Colonel Smoker?" a marine blurted out in surprise.
There, amidst the dusty training grounds, Smoker, the very picture of grim determination, was relentlessly pulling a massive tire. Lap after lap he ran, silent and focused, seemingly oblivious to the curious stares that followed his every move.
Sweat plastered his hair to his forehead and soaked his uniform.
The Marines exchanged confused glances.
What in the world has gotten into him? they wondered. They had never witnessed Colonel Smoker engage in such strenuous training. Could it be that the moment Colonel Roya returned, Smoker felt he had to prove something? Was he perhaps …motivated by his presence?
"Behehehe, you little shrimps, we can't fall behind either!" Bartolomeo cackled, jogging obnoxiously slowly past Smoker with his lackeys, even daring to throw mocking jeers his way.
During Roya's absence, Smoker, as their leader, had been a real pain, cracking down on military discipline and generally making their lives miserable.
Now, sweet revenge was at hand!
"Little shrimps, shush~~" Smoker growled, his face darkening, veins visibly throbbing on his forehead.
These damn bastards! he thought furiously.
Thankfully, Tashigi, ever observant, rushed to Smoker's aid, scolding Bartolomeo and his cronies. "You all need to train seriously!"
"Yes, Sergeant Tashigi," they mumbled, their taunting spirits momentarily subdued.
Bartolomeo pouted. He had no idea who this little vixen had learned from, but every time they messed up as a group, she singled him out for punishment.
So infuriating! If it weren't for the fact that she frequently visited his Granny, he would definitely teach this little busybody a lesson.
Hmph, he'd let her off the hook this time.
---
Inside the Base Chief's Office, Roya summoned Fullbody and Jango to get a feel for the recent happenings in Logue Town. He also broke the news that they would soon be venturing into the Grand Line.
"We still have two months until the end of the year. The transfer orders will be issued within that time. After the new year, we can set sail for the G-5 Branch."
"Colonel Roya, congratulations on your Promotion!" Fullbody exclaimed, practically bursting with excitement.
This transfer, though seemingly minor, was a monumental step up. Moving from a backwater Four Seas Branch to the notorious Grand Line was a huge leap.
Once they arrived at G-5, Roya would become a Headquarters Direct Colonel, a position of far greater significance than his current East Blue Branch Colonel title.
And those who followed Roya would essentially be promoted along with him. This outcome already surpassed the path his parents had laid out for him. After all, his parents were just low-ranking officers at Headquarters, wielding limited power.
"This is just the beginning. We can go even further in the future," Roya said, nodding with a smile.
In truth, being assigned to the Grand Line was a reward for his performance at the Training Camp, and also the primary way for officers from the Four Seas to reach Headquarters.
After the initial rush of excitement, Fullbody's face turned puzzled.
Jango, lacking Fullbody's understanding of the intricacies of military advancement, at least possessed a somewhat superior information network. He had long heard whispers about the G-5 Branch's infamous reputation, a place to be avoided at all costs.
"Colonel, why are we going to G-5?"
"Well, the G-5 Branch has something I need," Roya replied, narrowing his eyes.
His first-place score alone could have secured him a position at Marine Headquarters without any trouble, not to mention any other G-Series Branch.
The reason he was so set on going to the G-5 Branch, aside from its location in the New World offering ample opportunities to prove himself, was one particular individual.
Vergo!
Or rather, Vergo's position!
The number of Marine G-Series Branches was limited. Currently, there were only 13, with the G-14 Branch under construction.
Aside from the G-5, which had a terrible reputation, the Base Chief of every other G-Series Branch was a highly coveted position, with countless Headquarters Vice Admirals vying for it.
It was a position of genuine authority, second only to a Marine Admiral in terms of power and prestige!
Ordinary Headquarters Vice Admirals commanded only one dedicated Warship and a maximum of a thousand direct subordinates, even Vice Admiral Garp was no exception.
Of course, Garp's case was different because he actively avoided too many responsibilities. Otherwise, he would have easily become an Admiral.
However, the Base Chief of a G-Series Branch had at least five or more Warships under their command.
Take the G-5 Branch, for example. It boasted six massive Warships, corresponding to six units, meaning an authorized strength of 6,000, plus support personnel, exceeding 10,000.
Even then, the G-5 Branch was considered one of the worst among the G-Series Branches.
It was easy to imagine the power and status of an ordinary Headquarters Vice Admiral paled in comparison to a G-Series Base Chief; the difference was astronomical.
Furthermore, Vergo was the only G-Series Base Chief Roya knew he could potentially overthrow, because he knew the man's true identity: a spy planted by Doflamingo.
His plan was to first establish himself at the G-5 Branch, then secretly gather evidence of Vergo's treachery. After rising to the rank of Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral, he would then expose and eliminate Vergo.
At that point, he could leverage the merit of defeating Vergo to legitimately claim the coveted position of G-5 Branch Base Chief.
Other Vice Admirals would steer clear of that wretched place, the G-5 Branch, like the plague, unlikely to challenge him for the position.
The plan was absolutely flawless!
"Hahahaha~~"
His arrogant laughter echoed throughout the Base.
---
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside the Marshal's Office, a gathering of seasoned veterans drank tea and reminisced, while Garp squatted by the wall, hammering a wooden board to repair a hole he had accidentally made.
Garp picked his nose in frustration, muttering angrily, " It's all that brat's fault, making me get so excited! "
"It's your own fault, isn't it!" Sengoku said, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.
A Video Den Den Mushi sat on the tea table, replaying the recording of Roya's Duel with Peacock. Watching Peacock being whipped and bruised, they felt a pang of sympathy for her.
The hole in the wall was the damage Garp had inflicted when he couldn't contain his rage.
After all, they all treated Peacock like a granddaughter, even more so than her own Granny, Tsuru.
However, everyone present except Garp was reasonable, and no one blamed Roya for Peacock's suffering.
Neither did Garp, deep down.
In a fair Duel, defeat could only be attributed to one's own weakness. One should return, train harder, and wait for the opportunity to win back later.
The current problem was how to best arrange Roya's future.
As the top performer of the Training Camp, possessing such remarkable talent, he certainly couldn't be allowed to languish in the comfortable East Blue.
If Roya had joined the Headquarters New Recruit Camp, the decision would have been easier, but that stubborn kid had refused.
Both Sengoku and Zephyr believed Roya was too impatient, but they understood his desire to make a difference. Young people often felt this way, eager to achieve great things immediately.
But the kid still needed to mature!
Zephyr said with a smile, "Sengoku, I'm thinking of assigning Roya to the G-1 Branch, and letting Momonga keep an eye on him."
"G-1, hmm, not bad indeed," Sengoku replied, nodding thoughtfully.
G-1 was situated right next to Headquarters, located on the other side of the Red Line, co-guarding the Holy Land Mariejois alongside Marine Headquarters. Its military strength was second only to Headquarters.
Sending Roya to the G-1 Branch would provide them with a sense of reassurance.
They were all getting old, and in another five or six years, they would likely retire. Nurturing successors was more important to them than catching pirates.
Given Roya's potential and Zephyr's high regard for him, after Aokiji's generation retired in ten years or so, Roya could very well become one of the next generation of Admirals.
"Then it's settled!"
*
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[T/N:
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