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"Really?" At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku stared in shock at the various parts before him. "It can increase power and range several times over?"
"Absolutely true."
"Good, good, good!" Other words were insufficient to describe Sengoku's excitement at this moment. "With such a divine weapon, the sea will be more stable." The sea wasn't just home to the Four Emperors and other top-tier pirates; it was teeming with countless smaller pirates, and they were the ones truly endangering the populace. In contrast, the Marines weren't just comprised of Admirals and other top-tier powerhouses; they were millions of ordinary Marines. Small-time pirates and ordinary Marines weren't particularly strong, no different from common folk. Their combat power largely came from the weapons in their hands, their guns.
With this gun, it was equivalent to having an additional million soldiers.
"Sengoku, I took the liberty of awarding Law a First Class Merit."
"As long as it can be mass-produced, a First Class Merit isn't enough to demonstrate its value. A First Class Merit is too little," Sengoku shook his head. It was incredibly difficult for a Marine to earn a First Class Merit; the minimum requirement was to capture a notorious great pirate with a bounty of two or three hundred million or more. But this matter's contribution was far greater than capturing a great pirate.
"What else does Law need? The Marines can satisfy anything. Corazon truly brought a treasure to the Marines," Sengoku said excitedly.
"Military merits and ranks aren't of much use to Law right now. Let's record them temporarily and give them to him along with his graduation. What Law desires more now is an increase in strength, I imagine," Zephyr said. In fact, within the Marines, military merits and ranks were secondary; strength was the key.
"But he's already a Devil Fruit user. We can't give Law a powerful Devil Fruit, can we?" Sengoku was somewhat troubled. Such a great contribution couldn't be ignored, could it? Wouldn't it discourage others?
"I've decided to take Law as my disciple," Zephyr stated. "It's not because Law performed a great service, but because his performance has earned this old man's approval, making him worthy of being my disciple."
"Oh?" Sengoku's eyes lit up. "Excellent. With your guidance, Zephyr, Law will surely grow quickly. The recruit camp certainly won't hold him for long. Perhaps it won't be long before this old man truly sees a new star rise."
"Definitely." Zephyr affirmed, highly confident in Law.
...
"ROOM!" In the early morning, the generated circular space covered the entire small courtyard, reaching a diameter of over seven meters.
Whoosh!
Law's position within the ROOM space constantly shifted, stopping only after several movements, his breathing merely slightly disordered.
"In just two months, my strength has increased several times over." After a sweat-drenching training session, Law took a shower before heading towards the recruit camp. By then, the sky was just beginning to lighten. Entering the recruit camp training ground, the early bird recruits were gathered in small groups, chatting.
"Did you hear? Drake defeated Senior Recruit Pol. Pol's score was fifth in the recruit camp! Drake is too strong."
"Strange. Drake's strength is easily enough to be a senior recruit. Why hasn't he advanced? He's still in the junior recruit class."
"I heard it's to deal with Trafalgar Law. If he becomes a senior recruit, he can't challenge Trafalgar Law anymore. The recruit battle assessment is next month. Drake must be waiting for this moment, right?"
"Really? Drake still wants to deal with Law? Doesn't he know Law is highly valued by Admiral Zephyr? Although he hasn't been taken as a disciple yet, it'll probably happen soon."
Entering the recruit camp, the chatter abruptly ceased. Law coldly swept his gaze over Drake, who was training in the distance. The latter also shot a disdainful sneer back at Law.
Still want to target me? Law didn't care. If two months ago, during the practical assessment, Law could only overcome Drake's targeting through cunning means, then a month from now, Law didn't believe Drake would be strong.
"If you want to challenge me, it seems you still want to score zero. I'll grant you that." Law walked to the exercise equipment, took on a two-hundred-kilogram weight, and began training. Currently, Law's training goal was simple. Primarily to increase strength and improve physique, then to first learn the Devil Fruit abilities Law had developed in the original story. After all, having a precedent made development much easier. Once he became stronger and possessed the original abilities, he would then begin developing new ones. Law didn't believe the Op-Op Fruit's power was as simple as portrayed in the original story.
"Hoo-hoo-hoo." On the training ground, Law poured out sweat, training to his limit at every moment. Ordinary days were peaceful, and peaceful days allowed the world to return to calm. A month passed in the blink of an eye.
This day, the recruit camp was bustling. The recruits arrived early at the training ground.
"Today is the battle assessment. Recruits of the same period can challenge each other. Winners get three points, losers lose three points. Everyone starts with ten points. After the battles, rankings will be based on scores," the instructor explained the rules: "Junior recruits challenging senior recruits get ten points for winning, lose ten points for losing!"
Rumble.
In the arena, Drake, risking a slight injury, sent Shu, the Rust-Rust Fruit user, flying. Shu spat blood, falling outside the arena, severely injured and unable to fight further, and was carried off by medics.
"He actually defeated Shu? Shu is Admiral Zephyr's student, and has consistently been in the top three of the recruit camp. He was actually defeated."
"He's too ruthless. Shu is completely unable to fight today; his score is zero."
All the recruits looked at Drake, who was incredibly arrogant in the arena, with apprehension and fear. They dared not even make eye contact with him. Drake could challenge anyone now, but few in the entire recruit camp were his match.
"So strong. Hina, I don't think I'm his match either." Hina's strength was comparable to Shu's. At this moment, her face showed some apprehension. Only Smoker remained arrogant, for he possessed a Logia-type Devil Fruit; even if Drake's strength surpassed his, he couldn't defeat him.
"Trafalgar Law, get up here! I challenge you! As long as I don't kill anyone today, it's not against the rules. I'll make you lie in the hospital for half a year."