The four-day voyage back was smooth.
From Angel Island to Marineford, four days was exactly as expected.
The only reason the trip from Marineford to Angel Island had taken nearly a full week earlier was because of the mess left behind by Whitebeard's so-called son. The handoff with personnel dispatched from Headquarters had delayed them by several days.
Under normal circumstances, four days was more than enough for the round trip between the two places.
Since nothing unexpected happened on the return voyage, the warship was already close enough to see Marineford from afar by the fourth day.
On the deck of the ship, Kai stood by the wooden railing, gazing toward the massive island rising in the distance.
The outer perimeter of the island was lined with enormous defensive walls, built by Naval Headquarters to repel any attackers.
Anyone who wanted to enter Marineford had to pass through the giant stone gate in the wall and undergo a Marine inspection before being allowed inside.
That was how they kept suspicious people from sneaking into Headquarters.
Of course, very few would ever dare try.
As the safest place on the sea, Marineford was an absolute taboo in the hearts of all pirates.
"We're finally back…"
"The week-long voyage is over."
"Now…"
"once the appointments come down, we'll probably be leaving Marineford and taking up our posts elsewhere."
"It's strange. I'm already starting to feel a little reluctant to go."
The cadets looked toward Marineford in the distance, sighing one after another.
The end of the graduation trial also meant that most of them would soon be leaving Marineford and heading to Marine branches across the seas.
Only the very best of the best would remain at Headquarters.
Smoker and Tina had a real chance.
The rest of the cadets would most likely be assigned to branch posts across the Four Blues.
As for Kai?
There was no chance he would be sent out to guard some remote Marine branch.
With the strength he now possessed, assigning him to a small branch would be a complete waste of talent.
Sending a fighter at the upper Vice Admiral tier to a backwater outpost?
That would be like using a war cannon to swat flies.
He had already personally captured a pirate with combat power in the multi-hundred-million range.
A powerhouse of that level was already considered high-end combat strength even within Headquarters itself.
How could the Marines possibly send him off to a branch base?
Taking all of that into account, the odds were overwhelmingly in favor of Kai staying at Headquarters.
And that wasn't even considering his strength alone.
Just his status as the grandson of Hero Garp was enough to ensure that the upper brass would never casually assign him to some distant Marine outpost.
"In four days, my strength has improved a little again."
"Even if the gains from this kind of extreme training are tiny now, they still add up."
Kai narrowed his eyes slightly as Marineford drew closer and closer.
He naturally hadn't wasted those four days at sea.
Because of that, every cadet aboard the ship had once again been forced to acknowledge his terrifying discipline.
Soon, the warship reached the main gate in Marineford's defensive wall.
The moment the guards identified Zephyr, the massive stone gate slowly opened.
Rumble…
As the huge doors parted, the sea stirred and spread out in rippling waves.
Under the guidance of the helmsmen, the ship passed through the gate and headed into the port.
Before long—
the warship slowed to a stop.
Anchor down.
Ship secured.
Kai and the other cadets jumped down one after another and set foot on the harbor.
Before they could all disperse, Zephyr called out with a stern expression,
"Tomorrow morning, 9 AM sharp. Report to Training Ground Number One."
"Don't be late."
"Yes, Instructor Zephyr!"
The cadets answered at once.
Now that they were back in Marineford, their spirits were visibly lifted. Each of them was eagerly waiting for the official assignments to come down.
"And I wonder how much longer I'll actually stay here…"
"Once the appointments are issued in a few days, we'll all be going our separate ways."
"Everyone—let's hope we meet again someday."
"Don't get sentimental."
One by one, the cadets began to drift away.
Just as Kai was about to leave the harbor and head back to his residence, he heard footsteps behind him.
It was Smoker and Tina.
"What is it?"
Kai asked, glancing at them in mild surprise.
"Do you know why Instructor Zephyr specifically told us to gather at Training Ground Number One tomorrow at nine?"
Smoker asked directly.
"You know?"
Kai smiled faintly.
"This has been a tradition in the Navy for many years."
"It's also…"
"the final trial of the training camp."
"Though calling it a 'trial' isn't entirely accurate. It's more like a meaningful final match."
Smoker thought for a moment before continuing.
"I heard it from some of the seniors."
"Every year, before the cadets officially graduate, this tradition takes place."
"The main event is a challenge against Instructor Zephyr himself."
"In other words…"
"the final trial is basically a teacher-versus-students match."
"It's his way of personally measuring how strong we've actually become before we part ways."
Kai immediately understood.
So that was it.
And once he learned the truth, a flicker of genuine anticipation rose in his heart.
Before this, he had not particularly cared about tomorrow's gathering.
But now—
he found himself wanting tomorrow to come sooner.
"A clash with a Marine Admiral?"
"That really is worth looking forward to…"
His eyes gleamed.
There was no fear in him.
Only rising battle intent.
A chance to exchange blows with a Marine Admiral was something he definitely would not miss.
"Be careful."
"Even if Instructor Zephyr won't go all out, a Marine Admiral's strength is still not something we can casually hope to shake."
With that warning, Smoker left.
Tina, however, remained behind.
She looked a little hesitant.
"Kai… after graduation, where are you planning to go? A Marine branch? Or staying here at Headquarters?"
"Most likely Headquarters."
Kai answered honestly.
Even if he personally wanted to go to a branch, Headquarters would almost certainly never allow it.
A fighter at his current level belonged where his strength could be used to its fullest.
The Marines were still very short on top-tier fighters.
There was no way they would let him leave Headquarters.
"Headquarters…"
"I see."
"Then I'll apply to stay here too."
"That way… I can work with you."
Tina's face brightened as she turned and left.
Watching her go, Kai's expression turned a little strange.
Miss, aren't your intentions a little too obvious?
I'm still just a kid, you know.
And you're already aiming at me?
That's practically criminal.
Shaking his head, Kai pushed the thought aside.
Then he left the harbor and headed home, all while drawing curious glances from the surrounding Marines.
Before long, he arrived back at his residence.
After a full year away—
he had finally returned.
For the past year, he had practically never left the research institute.
So much so that even the little villa the Navy had originally assigned him now felt slightly unfamiliar.
At last—
after completing the graduation trial, he could finally return to the home he had not seen in so long.
"Tomorrow morning at nine…"
"I can't wait."
"A match with Instructor Zephyr…"
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