Chapter 112: The Unwilling Recruit
Ian: "..."
Where did this stubborn tomboy come from?!
Judging from Doll's description, this had to be... the "scheming plot" of Fleet Admiral Sengoku!
During the meeting in Mary Geoise, Ian had personally rejected the assignment of new cadres. At that time, there was no way Sengoku could have arranged for Doll to join his team. So where did this "betrayal and disdain" come from? Thinking about it carefully, it could only be Sengoku's secret maneuvering!
He must have taken advantage of Doll's strong self-esteem and forcibly sent her to Ian. This was the first time Ian had encountered such a persistent superior. He had explicitly said he didn't want her, and yet Doll was still forced upon him? It was truly unreasonable, leaving Ian no room to refuse!
"Doll, let me ask you," Ian said, rubbing his temples, trying to maintain his composure. "Before you came here, did you receive any 'special orders' from Fleet Admiral Sengoku? For example, to record my daily activities, official arrangements, and so on?"
Compared to the old foxes at Headquarters, he was practically a novice who didn't even want to bask in the sunlight.
"Yeah, he did mention it, but I refused outright," Doll replied, a cigarette dangling from her lips, her tone full of pride. "Who would do such a boring task? What do you take me for?"
Everyone's eyes shifted to T-Bone: "..."
T-Bone raised his head even higher. "The weather is really nice today!"
Sure enough, it was just as Ian had suspected. But since Doll said she refused, Ian believed her. This kind of straightforward, reckless woman who didn't know how to be tactful had no intention of lying to him.
Now that Doll had been delivered to his doorstep, it would be unreasonable to send her back. Could he even return her? If he really found a reason to dismiss her, who knew what other meddler Sengoku would assign next? At least Doll was a promising candidate, on track to become a Vice Admiral. Her upright and domineering character made her easy to manage. As for trust within the team, that could be cultivated slowly.
The first step... was to teach her to respect her superiors!
"Doll, the reason I refused you isn't because I look down on you," Ian stated, his voice firm. "It's because, in my team, no one is allowed to be more arrogant than me. Since you're here, consider yourself an intern for now. Depending on your performance, we'll decide whether you pass the probation period. If you have the skills, prove it to me. If you can't, get out at any time!"
"Besides..." As he spoke, Ian walked closer to Doll. He plucked the cigarette from her mouth, bent down, and extinguished it on the deck. Then, he picked it up and handed it back to her. "Either keep smoking, or don't let me see you smoking again. Choose for yourself."
The awe-inspiring, domineering aura made Doll's heart tremble. The young Vice Admiral before her was every bit as intimidating as the rumors suggested.
Seeing Doll remain silent, Ian tossed the extinguished cigarette into the sea. "Peacock, Nami, teach this newcomer the rules of the ship. We'll be arriving at the first island soon. Let the newcomer show us what she's made of. I want to see just how confident you are to chase after me so arrogantly!"
With that, Ian turned and went back to lie down and rest. The waters of the New World were not as calm as those of the Sabaody Archipelago. The days to come would not be so comfortable.
It wasn't until Ian left that Doll's nervous heart gradually settled. "What's with this man...? For a moment there, he was actually a little scary."
Frowning, Doll approached Peacock and the others. Out of habit, she pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, but remembering Ian's words, she quickly put it back.
"Little Doll, you've turned down many team invitations before, haven't you? You prefer to be a free agent, leading your own squad," Peacock said, pulling Doll aside and questioning her openly. "Why did you come along this time? That's not like you at all!"
When they were at Headquarters, Doll, being a few years older than Peacock, had always gotten along well with her. Peacock thought she understood Doll's career path and personality quite well.
"I really don't like being controlled by others. I prefer to lead my own team," Doll explained, hands on her hips, her tone indignant. "But... but no one has ever refused me before! Why? Am I that incompetent? I want to see where I fall short! Even if he doesn't let me join, I'm still coming!"
Everyone was stunned once again.
Not far away, Ian listened to the conversation and felt a sense of resignation. Fleet Admiral Sengoku certainly knew how to use people! He had even managed to manipulate Doll's personality to his advantage.
As the conversation deepened, the atmosphere gradually thawed. Doll suddenly remembered something and asked, "Which island are we heading to next? What's the mission? I have to do something big and show Lieutenant General Ian! I'm not the incompetent person he thinks I am!"
Everyone exchanged glances. The more familiar Peacock lowered her voice and said, "We're going to Punk Hazard."
Doll nodded. "Punk Hazard? Then I must— Wait, where?"
"Punk Hazard!"
...
Two hours later, an island not recorded by any Log Pose appeared in everyone's sight. It wasn't far from Ian's ship, but its exact location was unknown. Nami only had a rough chart and no precise information, so they could only search by chance.
It had to be said that Nami had an excellent sense of direction at sea. An ordinary navigator might have taken a day or two to find an island not marked by a Log Pose. This was also a key reason why Caesar Clown had been able to use Punk Hazard in secret for so long without being discovered.
From a distance, the island ahead appeared to have high mountains and lush greenery. In the near future, the two Admirals, Akainu and Aokiji, would have a fierce battle on this island. Their ten-day-and-night duel, as Logia-type users, would completely alter the island's climate, turning it into a terrifying land of ice and fire!
Of course, that was all in the future. The Punk Hazard before them still had traces of poison gas, but the natural environment had begun to recover and was slowly returning to its former state.
"This position is about right. Don't get too close, or you'll be poisoned," Ian ordered. "Except for the officers, no one else is allowed to set foot on the island. Wait here for my orders."
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