The sky was just beginning to brighten.
Drawn by the constant commotion from the training grounds, officers of all ranks and Marine recruits quickly gathered, heading straight for the source of the noise.
The senior officers were the first to arrive. Initially thinking it was just the recruits getting an early start on their morning exercises, they were taken aback when they saw who was actually in the training field. Their curiosity piqued, some brought over small stools, others climbed onto the railings, and a few even scaled the nearby trees to secure the best vantage points.
In the center of the training ground, Ain rode a motorcycle alongside the Shichibukai and their subordinates. Behind her stood Xayuki, draped in his Fleet Admiral's coat, holding a breakfast tray brought by Noah. Like a devil, Xayuki shouted incessantly, "Pumpkins, your new life begins now! Start running, all of you! And remember, no Devil Fruit abilities allowed! If I catch anyone sneaking in some tricks, the first offense will cost you ten points. A second offense? Your score will be wiped clean, and you'll be sent straight to Impel Down!"
"Fleet Admiral, I have something to say!"
The moment Xayuki finished speaking, Perona, running alongside Gecko Moria with tears streaming down her face, slowed down. Planting her hands on her hips, she puffed up indignantly and complained, "Why does Marianne get to skip the run? Not only is she not participating, but she's also sitting in the middle of the training ground having a snack! This is so unfair—you're playing favorites!"
"Bold of you!"
Xayuki gave her a thumbs-up, commending her courage, before adding decisively, "Questioning my fairness? Moria's group, minus five points."
"You—!"
Perona nearly exploded on the spot. But before she could finish her sentence, Moria turned back, his voice trembling as he cried out, "Perona, please! Stop arguing with the Fleet Admiral! If you keep this up, we'll end up in Impel Down!"
Hearing this, Perona burst into tears on the spot. "Waaah! The Fleet Admiral is so biased! He's not cute at all!"
Despite her tears, Perona's legs were honest, and she reluctantly resumed running alongside Moria, her steps dragging.
As Perona picked up her pace, a small figure at the very back of the group caught Xayuki's attention.
The straggler was a petite girl who looked about ten years old. She wore a bear-shaped cape, a polka-dotted dress, and a short bob haircut. Adorably, she was munching on grapes skewered on all ten of her fingers.
Sugar.
A member of the Donquixote Family and the wielder of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit. Though her actual age was sixteen, her body had stopped aging at ten after she ate the fruit, leaving her forever in the form of a child.
"Huh?"
Noticing that she was falling behind, Sugar suddenly stopped and looked at Xayuki in alarm.
"Sugar, what do you think you're doing?"
Glaring at the girl who looked no older than ten, Xayuki's expression turned stern. "Don't think I don't know your file. You're already sixteen! Marianne gets a pass because she's actually ten!"
After a brief pause, Xayuki shifted his gaze to the second row, where Donquixote Doflamingo, clad in his signature pink feather coat, was running alongside Crocodile. "Doflamingo's group, minus ten points. If I catch anyone in your group using Devil Fruit powers again, you'll all be sent to Impel Down!"
"I... I didn't use my Devil Fruit, Fleet Admiral!"
Sugar looked up at Xayuki with teary eyes, her voice trembling. "After eating the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, my body just... stopped growing!"
"Oh, is that so?" Xayuki blinked, then immediately shifted his focus. "Doflamingo, your running posture is all wrong. Minus another five points!"
"!!!!!!!!"
Running with his usual hunched posture, which gave his gait a predatory edge, Doflamingo nearly lost it.
What was wrong with his posture?
This was the ultimate manly stride!
Look into my eyes! Tell me why? Baby why?!
Internally roaring in frustration, Doflamingo felt utterly wronged but dared not show it. Gritting his teeth, he straightened his back slightly and continued running.
Watching Doflamingo's reaction, Crocodile couldn't help but smirk. His lips twitched with barely contained amusement, and he silently thanked the cigar clenched between his teeth for masking his expression.
After all, if it weren't for the cigars he'd taken from Smoker back in Loguetown, he might have been next on Xayuki's list.
"Crocodile?"
"Smoking during training. Minus five points!"
"??????"
Crocodile's face froze. Turning to Xayuki, he protested, "I wasn't smoking!"
"Questioning my judgment? Minus another ten points!"
At the front of the pack, Dracule Mihawk, Jinbe, and Boa Hancock ran in silence, their expressions strained.
For men like Mihawk and Jinbe, each a renowned figure in the Grand Line, being dragged into a morning jog by Xayuki was already a blow to their dignity. The exercise itself was no challenge, but the real problem was Xayuki's relentless nitpicking.
One misstep could cost them all their points.
And once their points hit zero, the gates of Impel Down awaited.
Given Xayuki's current pace of deductions, it was almost certain that one of the groups—Moria's, Doflamingo's, or Crocodile's—would end up in Impel Down.
Fortunately, Mihawk's group had neither subordinates to drag them down nor any bad habits to exploit. They should be safe from Xayuki's scrutiny.
Or so they thought.
Just as the trio focused on their stride, a loud rumble approached from behind.
Before Mihawk and Jinbe could react, Hancock, running beside them, suddenly turned lovesick. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed adoringly at the figure catching up to them. "Xayuki, I've been so obedient!"
Xayuki nodded, smiling warmly. "Hancock, it seems you've forgotten that during training, you're not allowed to address me by name!"
"!!!!!!!!"
Jinbe and Mihawk's eyes widened in unison.
It was clear now—Xayuki had deliberately approached to find fault with them!
Sure enough, without hesitation, Xayuki announced, "Mihawk's group, minus five points!"
Before Mihawk and Jinbe could respond, Xayuki added, "Hancock, wearing a cheongsam during training? Mihawk's group, minus another five points."
What a disaster!
Mihawk and Jinbe simultaneously turned to glare at Hancock.
Hancock, however, didn't seem to care about the deductions. Instead, she was lost in her own romantic fantasies, her mind racing with imagined scenarios involving Xayuki.
Meanwhile, the training field was now surrounded by a dense crowd of Marines, soldiers, and officers. The scene was packed, with people standing shoulder to shoulder, eagerly watching the spectacle unfold.
Seeing the once-proud Shichibukai being thoroughly dominated by their Fleet Admiral, the spectators roared with laughter.
"Pfft, hahahaha! Who would've thought these high-and-mighty Shichibukai would end up like this? Only the Fleet Admiral could pull this off!"
"I don't know about you, but I'm loving this! Remember how arrogant they were during the last Shichibukai meeting? Some of them didn't even bother showing up!"
"Fleet Admiral Xayuki, the ultimate newbee!"
"Look at Doflamingo's running posture! It's like a dog paddle, hahahaha!"
As the crowd reveled in the chaos, Noah, standing within the training field, couldn't help but chuckle. But he didn't dare lose focus—his hands held the Fleet Admiral's personal Den Den Mushi, and he had to stay alert.
Suddenly—
The Den Den Mushi, silent for hours, began to ring.
A familiar voice came through. "Fleet Admiral Xayuki, this is Smoker!"
Huh?
Hearing Smoker's voice, Noah froze for a moment before responding, "Smoker, this is Noah. What's going on?"
"The G-5 base has been infiltrated by an unknown force! There are warships surrounding the base!"
As Smoker's voice echoed through the Den Den Mushi, the sound of cannon fire followed, loud and unmistakable.
"Damn it!"
Hearing the chaotic mix of explosions, battle cries, and screams, Noah didn't hesitate. He sprinted toward Xayuki, shouting, "Fleet Admiral, urgent military report!"
First update of the day. More to come!
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