Chapter 463: The Final Trial! Facing Off Against the Admiral! [5/10 Request Subscription]

The four-day voyage went smoothly.

From Angel Island, it took four days to return to Marineford.

All of this was expected.

The reason the journey from Marineford to Angel Island previously took about a week was naturally due to the mess left behind by Whitebeard II, Webull.

It took several days to hand over duties to the personnel dispatched by the Navy Headquarters.

In fact,

if traveling back and forth between the two locations, four days would be more than sufficient.

No unexpected incidents occurred on the return journey, so after four days, the warship could already see Marineford in the distance.

Warship.

On the deck.

Lu En stood beside the wooden railing, gazing at the massive island rising in the distant sea.

Around the entire island, enormous walls had been built as fortifications to defend against any attackers for the Navy Headquarters.

To enter the interior of Marineford,

one must pass through the giant stone gate in the wall, undergo Navy inspection, and be confirmed harmless before being allowed to proceed into the Navy Headquarters.

This prevents many malicious individuals from infiltrating Marineford.

Of course.

Such people are exceedingly rare.

As the safest place on the seas, Marineford is an absolute taboo in the hearts of all pirates.

"Finally back in Marineford."

"After a week of sailing, this graduation trial has ended."

"Next…"

"Once the official assignment arrives, we'll have to leave Marineford and be posted to various locations."

"For now, I feel a bit reluctant."

Students far away gazed at Marineford, murmuring sentiments of nostalgia.

The end of the graduation trial meant most of them would soon leave Marineford to guard Navy branches across the seas.

Those who remained at the Navy Headquarters would be the elite among elites.

Smoker, Including Tina, and others had a good chance.

The rest of the students had slim odds; most would likely be assigned to Navy branches in the Four Seas.

What about Lu En?

He certainly wouldn't be sent to guard a Navy branch.

With his current formidable combat power, assigning him to a Navy branch would be a complete waste of Navy talent.

Send a top-tier Vice Admiral-level fighter to guard a Navy branch?

Isn't that using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

He personally captured a pirate with a bounty of hundreds of millions of Berries!

A fighter of this caliber…

Even within the Navy Headquarters, he would be considered top-tier combat power.

How could he possibly be sent to a Navy branch?

Taken together,

Lu En's chances of being retained at the Navy Headquarters are high.

Leaving aside his combat strength,

simply by virtue of being the grandson of the hero Captain Kapu, the Navy high command would never lightly assign Lu En to guard a Navy branch.

"Four days have given my strength a slight boost."

"Though the current hellish training barely improves my power, as long as I accumulate small gains, the overall effect remains significant."

Lu En slightly narrowed his eyes, watching Marineford draw nearer.

During the four-day voyage, he certainly did not waste time.

Therefore,

over these four days, every student aboard the warship came to admire Lu En's extraordinary self-discipline.

Gradually,

the warship reached the giant gate of Marineford's wall.

Once Master Zefa's figure came into view, the massive stone gate slowly opened.

Splash!

As the giant stone gate opened, it disturbed the previously calm sea, stirring up ripples and waves, spreading concentric ripples with crisp, melodious sounds of flowing water.

Under the control of several helmsmen,

the warship sailed through the stone gate and proceeded to Marineford's harbor shore.

Here, many soldiers and officers in Navy uniforms could be seen.

Finally—

the warship slowly came to a stop,

dropped anchor,

moored.

Lu En and the other students leapt down from the warship one by one and landed on the harbor.

"Tomorrow at nine a. m., be punctual at Training Field One."

"Don't be late."

Before the trainees had even left, Master Zefa gave them a truly solemn warning.

"Yes, Master Zefa."

The trainees nodded hastily.

Having just returned to Marineford, their hearts were filled with extraordinary excitement and anticipation, eager to wait for the moment of their assignments to be announced.

"I wonder how long I'll still be able to stay in Marineford..."

"In a few days, once the assignments are issued, we'll each go our separate ways."

"Comrades, I hope we'll meet again in the future."

"Don't be too sentimental."

One by one, the trainees dispersed.

Just as Lu En took his first step, preparing to leave the port and return to his quarters,

footsteps sounded behind him.

It was Smoker and Including Tina.

"What is it?"

Seeing Smoker and Including Tina's figures, Lu En was slightly surprised.

"Do you know why Master Zefa asked us to go to Training Field One at nine tomorrow?"

Smoker said bluntly.

"Do you know?"

Lu En's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked with a smile.

"It's a long-standing tradition of the Navy!"

"Exactly..."

"The final trial of the training camp!"

"Of course, you could call it a trial—or a meaningful duel."

Smoker replied.

"Wasn't the trial already over?"

"What do you mean?"

Lu En asked.

"This training camp was founded personally by Master Zefa, and this tradition has been preserved for years!"

"Just before the trainees near graduation..."

"This tradition is always held at the very end."

Smoker thought for a moment and explained in detail, "I learned from some senior officers that the core of this tradition is challenging Master Zefa!"

"In short,"

"the final trial is really a duel between teacher and student!"

"It's a way for Master Zefa to assess our current strength before our final parting."

With that said,

Lu En understood.

So that's how it is.

After hearing Smoker's explanation, a faint sense of anticipation began to rise in him.

Originally,

he had not been particularly interested in tomorrow's gathering at Training Field One.

But now,

knowing the truth, he suddenly could not wait for tomorrow to arrive.

"¨‖Facing off against a Navy Admiral?"

"How thrilling!"