"Verdant—Verdant!"
Binz scattered a handful of seeds and immediately began his familiar, almost ritual-like motions.
Thick green vines burst from the deck, surging toward the still-resisting Zacker.
"An ability user?! Damn it—don't look down on me!"
Zacker gripped Umaru with both hands, gathered strength, and swung hard.
"Crescent Slash!"
The vines were cleaved cleanly in half, crashing helplessly onto the deck.
"Tch—this guy's swordsmanship is no joke!"
"Hah! This is the skill I live by! Die, Marine!"
"Shave."
Ain suddenly vanished—and reappeared right beside Zacker.
She casually patted him once.
Pop.
The faint sound marked the moment her ability took effect.
Zacker's body rapidly shrank, his physique regressing into that of a twenty-year-old youth.
"What… what did you do to me?!"
Pop.
She touched him again.
This time, Zacker shrank straight into a child, completely losing the ability to resist.
Umaru slipped from his grasp and clattered onto the deck.
With a sharp clang, the jet-black blade embedded itself smoothly into the wood.
"Eh?" Ain blinked. "This sword looks pretty good. Binz, don't you use blades too? What do you think?"
While controlling vines to bind another pirate, Binz turned and saw the sword.
His eyes instantly lit up.
"Let me see—whoa! This is Umaru, one of the Fifty Fine Blades! I can't believe a small-time pirate captain had a blade like this!"
Now reduced to a tied-up child, Zacker screamed furiously,
"Don't touch it! Umaru is my sword!!"
Ain gave him a cold smile. "Shut up, pirate."
She then glanced toward the training ship—toward Karl, standing beside Zephyr.
If I give it to Karl… would he like it?
She'd never really seen him use a sword, though.
"Uh, Ain… can I take a look?" Binz said sheepishly, pointing at Umaru.
"You know, I'm a swordsman too."
"No," Ain replied flatly.
"It's my trophy. Besides, I'm giving it to Karl. Are you trying to steal Karl's gift?"
Binz froze, then slumped.
"He doesn't even use swords… what a waste…"
Ten minutes later, a torch was tossed from the training ship onto the Hunter Blade Pirates' vessel.
Flames slowly engulfed the ruined ship as the Marine vessel pulled away.
"Zephyr-sensei! Hunter Blade Pirates—forty-seven total.
Seventeen killed in battle, thirty captured. No Marine casualties!"
Zephyr shook his head with a smile at the overly excited report.
"No. You should be reporting to your commander."
He pointed to Karl nearby.
Karl laughed brightly. "No need to report!"
"Zephyr-sensei and I were watching the entire time. You all did great."
That wasn't flattery.
From start to finish, the battle had lasted only thirty minutes.
He and Zephyr had spent more than twenty of those chatting while observing.
Watching while chatting still counted as watching.
"Karl! Thanks to you, none of us were hurt," Ain said earnestly.
"This is my spoils of war. On behalf of everyone, I want you to have it—your graduation gift."
She handed Umaru, still sheathed, to Karl. Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
The surrounding rookies immediately started cheering.
"OHHHH!"
"Take it, Karl!"
"Yeah! Ain's blushing—if you don't accept it, her face could fry eggs!"
Karl grinned and took the blade.
Shing!—he drew it slightly, admiring the edge.
The tightly bound, pint-sized Zacker glared at him with venom.
"That's my sword! It's mine!!"
No one paid him any attention.
"A fine blade! Thank you, Ain. Thank you, everyone!"
"After twenty-five days, we've achieved final victory. We're all the best!"
The rookies celebrated with arms slung over each other's shoulders.
Watching this scene, Zephyr felt deeply satisfied.
Young eagles, wings sharpened at last—ready to soar.
There was nothing that made a teacher happier.
"Karl's right," Zephyr said.
"These twenty-five days—you've all done well. Every one of you is an outstanding Marine recruit."
"I now formally announce: the 24th Marine Training Camp internship mission is complete!"
"WOOO!!"
Zephyr waited for the cheering to die down, a smile tugging at his lips.
Catching the subtle cue, Karl clapped his hands.
"Everyone, quiet down—Zephyr-sensei still has more to say!"
"This brat…" Zephyr muttered, then smiled openly.
"Next, we return to Marine Headquarters.
You'll be assigned under different officers—to learn, to grow, and to hunt vicious pirates."
"The 24th Training Camp will hereby disband.
Wherever you go, never forget—you are Marines, the embodiment of justice."
"Now—raise the sails!
Destination: Marineford!"
The rookies saluted in unison.
"Yes, Zephyr-sensei!"
Far out at sea, another vessel drifted quietly.
"Guuurrrr…"
A massive, ugly man with a crescent-shaped white mustache looked down at a short, dwarf-like woman.
"Mom… I'm hungry. I want food."
His bloated body sagged, snot running from his nose.
He carried a gigantic cleaver several meters long.
Miss Bakkin snapped impatiently,
"Eat, eat, eat—your head's full of nothing else! All my money goes into feeding you!"
"Waaah! I'm sorry, Mom! But my stomach really hurts!"
"One more day and we'll reach Autumn Island. Be good and endure it."
Weevil clutched his growling stomach, then suddenly spotted a Marine flag on the horizon.
His eyes lit up.
"Mom! Look! A big ship! There must be food on it!"
Bakkin squinted. "…A white ship?"
She hurried into the cabin, grabbed binoculars—and sneered.
"Tch. Just an internship ship. Scared me for nothing."
"My good boy, steer us closer. There's plenty to eat over there~"
Weevil snorted excitedly through his nose, rushed to the helm, and turned the ship toward the training vessel.
His eyes burned with raw hunger—
Not just for food.
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