Chapter 469

As expected!

As Captain Kapu's voice fell silent.

Kong, Senzui, and He arrived at the scene simultaneously.

"General Kongs, General Senzui."

Including Akainu, Aokiji and Huang Yuan quickly spoke up.

"Hmm."

Kong nodded.

A group of Navy high-ranking officers silently scrutinized Lu En and the other trainees.

Unknowingly,

0.....

It added unprecedented pressure upon Smoker and the other trainees.

Even the General has come!

This was something they had never imagined.

You have to know.

Today, the people gathered in Training Ground One already included over eighty percent of the Navy's top brass!

The General, the Admirals, the Heroes, and the Vice Admirals were all here!

In short.

These fewer than ten people today could decide the future direction and development of the Navy!

They represented the Navy's decision-making power!

"All the top brass are here."

"Are they insane?"

"What's going on?"

"Master Zefa, hasn't he arrived yet?"

A group of trainees were flustered, under immense pressure.

Even Smoker could not help but break into a sweat, revealing his extreme tension.

"They…"

"They must have come for Lu En, that monster!"

He thought to himself.

A quick glance,

seeing Lu En's calm, unflappable expression from start to finish, Smoker felt even more defeated.

"Is the mental gap really this wide?"

He was helpless.

Facing the gaze of a group of Navy high-ranking officers…

It seemed,

among all the trainees present, only Lu En could maintain his usual composure.

Ultimately—

Master Zefa arrived at the scene.

He first glanced toward the direction where Kong and Captain Kapu stood.

He did not greet them, but walked straight to the center of the training ground.

Dozens of curious and anxious eyes met him head-on…

Master Zefa's steps gradually came to a halt.

He stood before the seventy-one trainees.

After a long pause,

under the watchful eyes of all,

he lifted his head,

looked directly at the trainees before him, and his lips twitched slightly: "Do you want to know why I asked you to arrive punctually at Training Ground One today? Now, I will reveal the answer."

"In fact,"

"our training camp has always maintained a tradition!"

"That is…"

"Before each trainee graduates, every single one must face me in combat!"

"This has been the training camp's long-standing tradition, never removed by me."

"This is a duel between teacher and student!"

"Are you ready?"

"T-teacher-student duel…"

Most trainees, who had been confused, suddenly understood—and immediately displayed expressions of shock.

With Master Zefa's explanation,

they finally understood.

Why he had demanded they all gather at Training Ground One at nine in the morning.

Apparently!

The graduation trial still had one final stage.

That is...

A duel against Master Zefa!

"My god!"

"Are we really going to duel Master Zefa?"

"But..."

"Master Zefa is a Marine Fleet Admiral!"

"Are we really supposed to be Master Zefa's opponents? Are we mistaken?"

A group of trainees stood frozen, their minds in turmoil.

They did not believe it.

They could become opponents to Admiral Zefa.

"Don't misunderstand."

"Do you really think you can defeat Master Zefa?"

"This is a duel, and also an opportunity to test your own strength. Master Zefa proposed this duel primarily to measure how much your power has improved over the past year and a half."

"And exactly how much."

A few trainees who had already known about today's event spoke up one after another to explain.

Hearing this,

the trainees' tense emotions eased slightly. "023"

They looked at Master Zefa with anxiety, anticipation, and nervousness.

"Who goes first?"

Under the gaze of everyone, Master Zefa spoke.

The group of trainees hesitated...

exchanged glances,

each looking at the others.

No one stepped forward first.

"Let me go!"

A voice rang out from the crowd.

It was Smoker!