Chapter 14: Naval Competition

As time passed, there was a commotion among the recruits.

"Look, it’s the Admirals! And Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Are they all here to see us?"

"Hiss~ The Lieutenant Generals are here too! Why does it feel different from what Master Zefa said? How can I not be nervous?"

Akainu, Aokiji, Huang Yuan—the Navy’s top combat power was all here!

The Lieutenant Generals also arrived at the scene one after another, sat in their exclusive seats, and whispered to discuss the quality of this batch of recruits.

The Admirals could choose the strongest recruits and didn't need to compete with these Lieutenant Generals at all, and they couldn't compete anyway, so they could only compete with others who were also Lieutenant Generals.

It was common for them to argue until their faces were red for a recruit of medium-to-high aptitude.

"Whoa, I didn't expect Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Admiral Kuzan to come too! How about it, are there any recruits you Move Move Like in this batch?"

Aokiji scratched his fluffy curly hair and said in a lazy tone: "I don't care. Why, hearing you say that, it seems you are very interested in a certain recruit?"

"That’s right! I am very interested in a recruit named Karl. Don't compete with me later, you two!"

Aokiji shrugged helplessly and said indifferently: "Whatever you want, oh ah~ Today’s sunshine is really comfortable..."

After speaking, Aokiji pulled down his eye mask and began to sleep openly, calling it recharging his energy for the next mission.

Akainu on the side seemed very dissatisfied with Aokiji’s attitude, snorted coldly, and said in a cold tone.

"Don't worry, Borsalino, I naturally won't compete with you for people."

Actually, Akainu didn't have much hope to begin with. He came every year, but returned disappointed every year. Naval talent was withering!

So when Huang Yuan suggested not to compete with him for people, he agreed without hesitation. In his view, this year would be no exception; it would still be some mediocre recruits.

"Mom, eh! All the famous Navy people are here!"

Looking at the naval high-level officials sitting in rows, Karl couldn't help but click his tongue. He didn't know many of them; he was most familiar with the three Admirals. As for the Lieutenant Generals, there were Momousagi, Mole, and Onigumo.

"Eh! Smoker and Hina are actually here too. What are they doing here? Joining the fun?"

Smoker was still in the outfit Karl was familiar with, with three cigars in his mouth. Beside him was Hina, wearing a dark red suit and sunglasses. The two standing together actually had quite a CP feel.

Smoker blew smoke rings and complained to Hina: "Why do you think Master Zefa called us both here? Could it be that we also have the opportunity to choose a few as subordinates?"

"Hina doesn't know, but if you hadn't contradicted your superior two months ago, you should have had a chance."

Smoker sneered disdainfully, just wanting to refute, but thought about it and didn't say anything.

Time reached eight o'clock. Zefa walked to the stage, took the microphone, and officially announced the start of the test.

"First match, Mallory versus Joyce!"

The two people pointed out by Shuzo were happy, their eyes full of fighting spirit. After going on stage, following Shuzo’s order, they rushed at each other, howling.

Since it was a test, the purpose was naturally not to decide the winner; otherwise, if they met an evenly matched opponent, they might fight until the dark, and the Dao would be wiped out.

So a battle was limited to 15 minutes. Within 15 minutes, regardless of whether the winner was decided, the competition would automatically end, and the next group would be changed.

After all, there was nothing good to see in the pecking of chickens. Within these 15 minutes, showing all one’s strength was enough for the officers present to see.

"This guy named Mallory is not bad. Although his physique is a bit lacking, he is very proficient in the Six Powers. He is a talent to be molded!"

"Hmm, what you said makes sense, but this Joyce is also okay. He fights very smartly!"

The Lieutenant Generals’ discussion was very enthusiastic. On the contrary, the three Admirals basically had no communication. Aokiji was sleeping, Akainu had a dark face, and Huang Yuan was slowly cutting his nails with a nail clipper.

Soon, the first battle ended. The two looked at each other, panting. Although the winner was not decided, after looking at the officers’ expressions, they walked off the stage happily.

"Second match, Ain versus Binz!"

Karl, who was drinking fat house water, was stunned. Ain fighting Binz? Then who was he fighting? It wouldn't really be a bullying game, would it?

He looked at Zefa with confused eyes. Zefa happened to be looking at him too, as if he had expected him to be surprised, and nodded slightly at him, signaling him to be calm.

Just kidding, Karl was taught by him hand in hand. No one knew Karl’s strength better than him. Ain and Binz together might not be able to beat Karl.

If only talking about martial arts, Karl could already wrestle with Hina and Smoker who had already graduated. It was a pity that Karl had not awakened dual-color Haki, so he could only help him find a way during the "internship period" after the test ended.

As Ain and Binz went on stage, the Lieutenant Generals’ discussion became lively instantly.

"Eh, these two are both ability users, right!"

"Yes, I heard about it long ago. Both are Paramecia types, one is a Return-Return Fruit ability user, and the other is a Growth-Growth Fruit ability user."

"Battle begins!"

Binz looked at Ain cautiously. No one knew Ain’s strength better than him. That kind of power to return, once touched, he would definitely lose.

"Growth~ Growth~"

Binz scattered a handful of plant seeds extremely quickly, and then began to dance. Following his dance, the seeds sprouted rapidly, and dozens of thick vines appeared on the ground, launching a sweep under Binz’s control.

"Shave!"

Ain disappeared from the spot, dodged the vine sweep, and then slapped the vine.

The huge green vine shrank rapidly, turning back into seeds, one after another, leaving a ground full of seeds.

Binz had long expected this situation and was not panicked at all. The seeds he brought today were a full few hundred G!

Then one could see such a picture: Binz summoned plants, Ain beat them back to their original form, and then began to cycle.

Karl was stunned. These two guys were going back and forth; were they brushing each other here?!

Finally, Zefa couldn't stand it and coughed. The two gave up the competition of abilities and used martial arts to compete, but the result was still a draw.

What else could be done? Next group!

There were 63 recruits in the training camp. They fought from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon. More and more people were watching, but Karl couldn't get on the field for a long time. Excluding meal time, Karl successfully slacked off for 6 hours as an audience.

It made Karl once believe that his name was definitely not written on Shuzo’s battle roster.

"Huang Yuan, it’s almost over. Has the recruit you Move Move Like not played yet?"

Huang Yuan said indifferently: "Whatever, anyway, Karl is my future adjutant."

Aokiji took off his eye mask, looked at the sky with sleepy eyes, and muttered that he had overslept again.

"Last match! Karl versus Major Smoker!"

"Hmm?"

Akainu put down his crossed legs and leaned forward slightly. This was a sign of seriousness.

If he hadn't misread it, after that rookie favored by Huang Yuan used his ability just now, his strength suddenly rose by a large margin?

Could this be the reason why Huang Yuan favored him? Akainu couldn't help but look at Huang Yuan suspiciously.

"Sakazuki, you promised not to compete with me. You are a dignified Admiral; you wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

"Hmph! I have always kept my word, but you must tell me truthfully what ability that kid named Karl has!"

Huang Yuan smiled and looked at Sengoku not far away, and found that he didn't express anything, so he smiled even more happily.

"Whoa~ Sakazuki, don't underestimate the young people now! The Devil Fruit Karl ate is called the Holy Light Fruit."

"Holy Light Fruit? Paramecia?" Aokiji suddenly interjected.

"That’s right, you all saw the Holy Light he released just now. That kind of power has the effect of strengthening physique and healing, and it can be used on others." ===== CHAPTER 25 =====