If it had been anyone else saying they wanted to become tougher, it would probably mean strengthening their body, making it as hard as steel or even indestructible.
But coming from Tokikake, with that crazed, eager expression on his face, Daren was just left speechless.
"Been to the Pleasure District again?"
He asked irritably.
Tokikake laughed awkwardly, scratching his head.
"I've got a card..."
"Besides, it'd be a waste not to use it."
Daren: ...
No, seriously, even if you have a VIP card, that's not how you're supposed to use it!
Looking at Tokikake's shaky steps and the heavy dark circles under his eyes, Daren suddenly regretted giving him that black card.
"Doesn't Yamakaji have medicine for that?"
Daren asked again.
Tokikake's face immediately flushed, and he stammered,
"It helps... but maybe I used it too much. It's not as effective anymore."
Daren's mouth twitched hard.
Good grief, you've built up a tolerance already.
"Fine, fine. I'll be staying at headquarters for a while anyway."
He said grumpily, then turned and walked out the door.
Seeing Daren agree, Tokikake beamed with joy, but when he saw Daren walking away, he couldn't help but freeze and ask,
"Where are you going?"
Daren turned back.
"Didn't you say you were treating me to a late-night snack?"
Tokikake: ...
I was just saying that casually... You actually took it seriously?
...
The commercial district of Marineford.
The streets were brightly lit, the air filled with the lively scent of food and chatter.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Yamakaji!"
A group of officers sat in a barbecue tavern, smiling as they raised their glasses toward the young man with the scruffy beard.
Yamakaji scratched his head, a little embarrassed. The brand-new Marine cloak draped over his shoulders shimmered under the lights, the Rear Admiral insignia on his epaulettes gleaming brightly.
"It was just luck."
The others, long used to his modesty, laughed and joked around.
Among them were many familiar faces: the ever-serious Onigumo, the hard-edged Doberman, the already slightly tipsy Strawberry, and Dalmatian, still wearing his spotted dog mask...
They were all graduates of the third Marine Officer Training Camp.
Compared to the epic feats of a certain someone, these relatively ordinary officers had, like most others after graduation, taken up their posts—some guarding regions, others stationed at headquarters awaiting orders.
Step by step, they rose through the ranks with their talent and effort.
"But it's been a long time since we've seen that guy Daren, huh?"
After downing a glass of strong liquor, Yamakaji said with some emotion.
Onigumo raised an eyebrow and said coolly,
"According to the latest intelligence, Vice Admiral Daren fought a fierce battle against Roger on Fish-Man Island. The Roger Pirates were forced into retreat."
The moment he finished speaking, the entire group fell silent.
Their expressions varied, and the lively atmosphere dulled.
They had all graduated from the same third training camp, but Daren was already standing on the front lines, clashing with the greatest pirates of the seas alongside Vice Admiral Garp, while they were here celebrating Yamakaji's promotion to Rear Admiral after defeating a pirate crew with a bounty just over one hundred million.
Even though, by ordinary standards, their strength and speed of promotion were outstanding, compared to that monster…
The gap was like heaven and earth.
"You guys didn't even invite me to the late-night snack. That's not very loyal, you know."
At that moment, a familiar yet slightly unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone froze and turned their heads.
They saw Daren walking over with a smile on his lips, Tokikake trailing behind him.
"Daren!"
Yamakaji's eyes lit up, and he stood up excitedly.
"Sit down. You're the star today."
Daren casually pushed the bearded man back into his seat, found a spot for himself, poured a glass of wine, and without the slightest formality, grabbed a piece of grilled meat and stuffed it into his mouth.
Seeing him so relaxed, it was as if they were back in their military academy days, joking and fooling around.
For some reason, the uneasiness that had built up in everyone's hearts eased a little, and smiles started to appear on their faces.
"How'd you end up back here?"
Doberman asked curiously.
While handing out cigars to everyone like it was second nature, Daren replied casually,
"Got into a fight with Roger, nearly got myself killed. Came back to heal up."
He lit a cigar, letting the smoke curl lazily upward.
"Besides, it's been a while since we all got together, hasn't it?"
Everyone exchanged glances and caught the smiles in each other's eyes.
It really felt like nothing had changed.
After a few rounds of strong liquor, with the warmth spreading through their stomachs, the earlier sense of dullness faded away, replaced by a comfortable ease.
Looking at these familiar yet slightly more mature faces, Daren felt his heart lighten.
It had only been a few months, yet it somehow felt like a lifetime had passed.
He simply sat there quietly, listening to his old classmates swap stories about life at Marine Headquarters.
Who had taken down a pirate and gotten promoted, who had been transferred to command a branch base, how Garp had once again stolen half a box of Sengoku's senbei...
"By the way, I heard the fourth officer training camp is about to start. Zephyr-sensei seems to be planning some reforms, like hiring external instructors to teach."
Yamakaji brought up a new topic.
"I think that's right, but can those outside instructors really cut it?"
Dalmatian asked vaguely, gnawing on a chicken leg.
"Who knows. But the quality's bound to go down."
Onigumo sneered coldly.
"Yeah, after all, it won't be Zephyr-sensei teaching everything personally anymore," Tokikake chuckled.
"Hey, Daren, you're high up now. You must know who the special instructors are, right? Could it be Sakazuki and Borsalino?"
Yamakaji scratched his head.
The moment those two names were spoken, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Even the usually cold Onigumo couldn't stop his mouth from twitching.
One was cold and brutal, the other lazy and comical—just picturing them as instructors was absurd.
They couldn't help but imagine two ridiculous scenes:
"Learn Tekkai today. If you can't, then learn it in your next life." Sakazuki said coldly to a freshman, black smoke pouring from his right arm.
"What a scary talent... learned Tekkai in just three months." Borsalino said lazily, wearing a half-smile.
"...."
"It's me."
Daren said, shaking his head.
Everyone: ...
Already qualified to be an instructor!?
They sighed silently to themselves.
So, things had changed after all...
"Dahahahaha! Daren! I knew you'd be back!!"
Just then, a loud, fiery voice burst through the tavern's door.
Kuzan pointed dramatically at Daren, his eyes blazing with excitement.
"I heard you fought Roger! Damn it!! I should've gone on leave with Vice Admiral Garp!!"
He gritted his teeth and shouted,
"Today, let's spar and settle this once and for all!!"
Bang!
Daren suddenly kicked over a chair, slammed a foot onto the table, and grinned wildly, brimming with fighting spirit.
"Of course! Bring it on!"
...
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
Fist smashed scissors.
"Dahahaha!! I lost! As expected of my chosen rival, you even predicted my counter move!!"
Kuzan laughed heartily, grabbing a can of beer and chugging it down in one breath.
His cheeks flushed red, and hot steam puffed out of his nose.
"Again!"
Daren's eyes gleamed with a strange red light as he smiled and threw his fist again.
Watching the two of them playing rock-paper-scissors like maniacs, Yamakaji and the others couldn't help but clutch their foreheads.
But before long, they were all laughing too.
Yeah…
Nothing had changed at all.
...
The next morning.
Daren woke up feeling completely refreshed.
With his physique, things like hangovers were simply impossible.
Thinking back to the chaos from last night—how they all got dead drunk, snuck into Marineford's restricted military zone in the middle of the night, looted a ton of bombs and gunpowder from the armory, and then lit them all off at an abandoned military port like fireworks...
And then the image of an enraged Sengoku storming after them, cursing up a storm—
Daren couldn't help but smile at the memory.
As everyone got older, built their families, and their military duties piled up, chances to gather like that would only become rarer.
Shaking off the nostalgia, Daren quickly washed up, put on a brand-new military uniform, and stepped out the door.
He was actually looking forward to today's event.
After all, today marked the opening ceremony for the fourth session of the Officer Training Camp.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake