Chapter 35: Request for Early Assessment
By the time the trainees noticed that Axel and Ian had clashed, it was already too late.
Axel had already made his move.
Looking at Ian lying on the ground, Ain's face filled with worry.
"Axel, that was too impulsive. The rules do say that, in theory, defeating a teacher does not count as a violation, but that only applies if you file for permission first. If you fight a teacher before submitting the request, it is still considered breaking school regulations. You'll be punished for this."
Axel did not look the least bit concerned.
"He was the one looking for trouble. Whatever happens, happens."
He truly did not care.
At worst, the punishment would be expulsion.
And to him, being expelled from this place would not be much of a loss.
Binz stepped in as well.
"It usually won't be anything serious. That's how naval academies are. As long as the student has enough value, the school generally won't make a big issue out of this kind of thing. At most, it'll be a symbolic punishment. And with Vice Admiral Garp behind you, it should be fine."
Ain nodded, though her expression remained troubled.
"Even so, this might still affect your reputation."
Her concern was not unreasonable.
No matter what the circumstances were, Axel had injured a teacher without official approval. A symbolic punishment was almost unavoidable. And in a place as disciplined as Marine Headquarters, striking a teacher was never going to leave a good impression.
Axel merely shrugged.
"It's fine."
Would a bad reputation really matter?
To Axel, those things were just empty decorations. Truly powerful people never relied on pretty reputations to stand tall. Garp himself was the best example. He acted however he pleased, and no one could do anything about it.
In another corner of the Marine Headquarters fortress, Rear Admiral Sicily knocked on the Fleet Admiral's office door and stepped inside with a stack of documents in hand.
Sengoku sat behind his desk, reviewing paperwork.
Seeing that familiar figure buried under mountains of reports, Sicily instinctively straightened and saluted.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is the report on Marine casualties over the past few months, along with the movement patterns of pirate forces in the latter half of the Grand Line."
"Mm."
Sengoku accepted the documents and immediately began reading.
But the further he read, the deeper his brow furrowed.
The papers in his hand were thin. The weight they carried was anything but.
After a while, Sengoku closed his eyes and set the report down on the desk.
"The four dominant pirate forces in the latter half of the Grand Line have mostly stabilized. They may still test each other from time to time, but the overall balance is already taking shape. That is not good news for the Marines."
He opened his eyes again, his gaze turning sharp.
"We need to prepare. Rear Admiral Sicily, I want a deeper investigation. I need more detailed intelligence on their movements, alliances, and areas of control. Report directly to me."
"Yes, sir!"
Sengoku paused, then added in a lower voice,
"And arrange another round of compensation for the families of the fallen."
Sicily hesitated.
"Another one? We already issued pensions."
Sengoku's gaze dropped slightly.
"I know. But this is the most I can do for them now. It will not bring back their fathers, sons, husbands, or daughters. But it is still a responsibility I owe them. I'll speak with the higher ups myself. You handle the process."
"Yes, sir."
This time, Sicily's voice carried even more respect than before.
It was precisely because men like Sengoku existed that so many Marines were willing to entrust their lives to justice.
"All right. Get moving."
Sengoku waved him off, ready to return to work.
But Sicily did not leave immediately.
After a brief pause, he reached into his coat and pulled out an envelope.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, there's also this. I hope you'll take a look."
"A letter?"
Sengoku sounded mildly surprised, but because it had come from Sicily, he accepted it without question.
"I'll read it after I'm done here. You can go."
Sicily did not press the matter further. He saluted once more, then withdrew from the room.
Sengoku set the letter aside and returned to the pile of official reports.
Ever since the latter half of the Grand Line had begun settling into what pirates were now openly calling the Four Emperors, the pressure on the Marines had grown heavier by the day.
Marine forces stationed in the New World were being harassed constantly.
Casualties rose.
Losses mounted.
And for every name crossed out on a report, there was a family somewhere waiting for someone who would never return.
Fortunately, the Marines still had the three Admirals, Garp, and the rest of Headquarters' top forces to hold the balance in place.
For now.
But Sengoku understood this better than anyone.
In the era of the Great Pirate Age, the flow of pirates would never stop. Sooner or later, that balance would break.
"Sigh..."
He let out a long breath and forced himself back to work.
By the time the day finally came to an end, Sengoku stood from behind his desk and stretched his back. Even with a body as sturdy as his, an entire day buried in paperwork still left a dull ache in his muscles.
"Sometimes I really miss the days of fighting at sea."
The words slipped out almost unconsciously.
Then, as if struck by the thought, his eyes shifted toward the letter Sicily had left behind.
Knowing Sicily's rigid personality, Sengoku was certain of one thing. Sicily would never mix personal feelings with official duty without a very good reason.
That alone was enough to pique his interest.
"What exactly did you bring me?"
He picked up the envelope and opened it.
The handwriting inside was not beautiful, but it was neat and careful. That alone was enough to show sincerity.
His eyes moved down the page.
> Dear Fleet Admiral Sengoku,
I am Lieutenant Alvis, a Marine who takes pride in justice and one who has always admired you. I am writing to submit a request.
Among the students in my class, there are individuals whose talent is exceptional. Though they are still children, their abilities are already no less than mine.
I am well aware of my own limits. Because of that, I do not wish to let the most important years of their growth be wasted under my guidance alone.
Therefore, I request permission for them to undergo an early assessment, so that they may have the chance to participate in Admiral Zephyr's examination.
Only someone like Admiral Zephyr is qualified to properly shape talents of this level. Whether they pass or fail should be left to him.
This is a request I make both as a teacher and as a Marine.
All for justice.
When Sengoku finished reading, he did not immediately put the letter down.
Instead, he looked up.
On the wall behind his desk hung the words he saw every day.
Absolute Justice.
His eyes rested on them for a long moment.
"Justice..."
The word was simple.
But for men like them, it was something they had spent their youth bleeding for.
Seeing that same conviction still burning in younger Marines stirred something in Sengoku's chest.
Once, he too had thrown away his youth for the sake of justice.
Once, he too had believed that as long as justice stood firm, every sacrifice was worth it.
And when he thought of the countless civilians whose peaceful smiles had only existed because Marines had stood between them and pirates, he still believed it.
Without regret.
Everything... for justice.
His fingers brushed the envelope lightly.
"Zephyr, huh..."
A faint smile appeared on Sengoku's face.
"Even after retirement, there are still people who remember that old rascal. Good."
Then, almost humorously, he muttered to himself,
"When I retire, maybe I should do the same and go teach students too."
He folded the letter carefully, set it aside, and made his decision without hesitation.
The Den Den Mushi on his desk was pulled closer.
Sengoku reached out and dialed.
When the line connected, he spoke in a calm, steady voice.
"Hello, Zephyr…"
.....
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