The following day.
The warship carrying the Elite Training Camp arrived at Marine Headquarters.
"Hmm, why are there so few people at the port?" Zephyr frowned as they docked.
It wasn't that there were no Marines on duty, but the number of personnel seemed to be less than half of what it usually was. This was highly unusual.
"Chief Instructor Zephyr, welcome back to Headquarters!"
"Tell me, why are there so few Marines at the harbor today?"
"About that..."
"What? You can't say?"
"No, it's just... the people from CP9 have come to challenge the Marines! Aside from essential personnel, everyone has flocked to the main training ground to watch!"
As the Marine spoke, a look of envy crossed his face. If he could, he would have loved to go watch as well. After all, an intelligence organization coming to Marine Headquarters to challenge them was not something one saw every day. Furthermore, he had heard that the challenger was the strongest member CP9 had seen in eight hundred years.
He wanted to see it so badly!
Once he understood the reason, Zephyr was momentarily stunned. Since when did CP9 have the nerve to come to Marine territory and start a challenge?
"Do you know who the challenger is?" Sean asked, walking over.
"I heard it's Rob Lucci!"
"If it's him, there really might not be anyone in the same generation of Marines who is his match," Sean said with a nod.
The Marine's expression changed instantly. Surely that couldn't be right? No matter how strong the opponent was, they were just an intelligence organization. How could it be that no one of the same generation in the Marines could defeat him?
Zephyr, however, completely agreed with Sean. Unless the Marine shamelessly sent in a Vice Admiral or even an Admiral, let alone those of the same generation—even the Commodores and Rear Admirals would likely be no match for him.
After all, there had been rumors recently that Lucci's Doriki had already exceeded 2,500. His mastery of the Six Powers had reached an incredible depth; he had even completely mastered the ultimate techniques of the Six Powers.
The Marine Headquarters truly had no one in their early twenties with that level of strength.
"Sean, let's go take a look. If the worst happens, you'll be the one to uphold the honor of the Marines!"
"No problem!"
Zephyr quickly led Sean toward the main training ground, with Ain and the other instructors and students following close behind.
Only after everyone had disappeared from sight did the Marine on duty finally snap out of it.
'Chief Instructor Zephyr just said that if the worst happens, that kid will be the one to maintain the Marines' dignity?'
'He looks fifteen or sixteen at most, right?'
'Damn it... why did I have to be on duty today? I want to go watch so bad!'
'''
Marine Headquarters.
The Main Training Ground.
At this moment, ten thousand Marines were gathered around a vast open space in the center of the crowd.
Lucci stood in the middle, expressionless. Before him, a Marine Commodore who looked to be nearly thirty years old lay unconscious on the ground.
Yesterday, after Sengoku had contacted Spandine, the latter had been dismissive. He claimed that the CP organization could, based on mission requirements and without Sengoku's consent, draft any Marine below the rank of Commodore to assist in their missions. He stated that this was a special privilege granted to the CP by the Five Elders, and as long as the number of personnel being drafted wasn't excessive, Sengoku had no right to block it.
However, Sengoku knew very well that once Nezumi was taken away, he would likely be silenced immediately. As for the explanation? A simple claim that he died during the mission would suffice. As for the content of the mission, even Sengoku had no right to question it.
Still, Sengoku had not agreed to Spandine's request and had even subtly hinted at certain things to warn Spandine not to push his luck. Neither side would budge, until finally, Spandine proposed a suggestion.
He proposed that Lucci spar with the younger generation of the Marine—specifically those under the age of thirty. If no Marine could defeat Lucci, then Lucci would take Nezumi and the soldiers of the 16th Branch. Conversely, if Lucci lost, Spandine would cancel the order.
Sengoku had been very hesitant about this proposal because he had heard the rumors about Lucci. It truly would be difficult to find a Marine under thirty who could match him.
"What's the matter? Is the Marine's strength this pathetic? Are you actually inferior to our intelligence department?"
"If this is the case, I think it's necessary to mention to the Five Elders that instead of giving so much funding to useless waste, they might as well give it to us!"
...
After a barrage of such mockery, how could they possibly accept this? Thus, the situation at the training ground today came to be.
At this moment, Sengoku's face was dark. This was already the seventh match, and not a single Marine had been able to defeat Lucci. In fact, most had been defeated effortlessly; they hadn't even served as a proper warm-up for Lucci.
Had the younger generation of Marines become this weak?
"Fleet Admiral, let me go!" Smoker stepped forward, approaching Sengoku.
Sengoku's eyes lit up. Right, there was still Smoker. He was currently twenty-nine, which placed him perfectly within the age limit, and he was a Logia Devil Fruit user. His strength was quite formidable.
If Smoker hadn't been so straightforward, Sengoku wouldn't have sent him to the East Blue for tempering; instead, he would have groomed him directly as a future pillar of the Marine. Furthermore, Lucci likely hadn't awakened Armament Haki yet, so...
"I agree. Go!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
Just as Smoker walked toward the center of the field, Zephyr and Sean arrived.
"Sengoku!"
"Zephyr, Sean, you're back?"
"Yeah. Now, what on earth is going on here?"
"CP is using a special mission as a pretext to demand that we hand over Nezumi and all the soldiers of the 16th Branch!"
"Bastards. What 'special mission'? It's obvious they have a guilty conscience!" Zephyr immediately understood the CP's ulterior motive and was instantly enraged.
"I know, but CP does have the authority, so it's difficult for me to block them. That's why I made a bet with Spandine: Lucci would spar with the younger generation of the Marine."
"If no one can defeat Lucci, he takes Nezumi and the others. But if the Marine wins, they stay!"
Zephyr nodded, finally understanding the situation. While it was frustrating, there didn't seem to be a better way. The CP did have that authority, no matter how irrational the entire situation seemed.
"However, since Smoker is stepping up, there shouldn't be much of a problem. Lucci doesn't seem to have mastered Armament Haki," Zephyr noted.
"Exactly. As long as Smoker wins, we can preserve both the honor of the Marines and the safety of Nezumi and his men!"
Sengoku wholeheartedly agreed. No matter how you looked at it, Smoker was a Logia user.
As long as the opponent lacked Armament Haki, he was naturally invincible.
Sean, however, didn't see it that way.
"I'm telling you, old man Sengoku, old man Zephyr—you're both being far too optimistic!"
"As far as I know, Senior Smoker's physical combat isn't that strong. Once his elementalization is neutralized, he could be one-shotted in an instant!"
"After all, Armament Haki isn't the only thing that can counter a Logia. Or do you actually think the CP wouldn't have Seastone?"
The expressions on their faces shifted instantly.
The CP didn't have Seastone?
That was obviously impossible!
As for Smoker's physical combat...
Well, in Zephyr's mind, Smoker and Kizaru were essentially two of a kind—the type who relied far too heavily on their Devil Fruit abilities while neglecting their physical conditioning and martial arts.
Now, their only hope was that the opponent hadn't brought any Seastone weapons along...
But shortly after...
"A Logia user of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, Smoker, is it?"
"Since it's you..."
As he spoke, Lucci pulled a pair of glove-like objects from his pocket and slipped them on.
There was almost no need for confirmation. From Lucci's words alone, Sengoku and Zephyr could already tell exactly what those gloves were.
Seastone gloves!!