Early morning.
The 104th Branch of the West Blue, Training Camp.
The sun was bright, and an occasional sea breeze blew through.
On the Training Camp, Marine soldiers formed squares and drilled, while various weapons were placed on weapon racks nearby.
After half an hour of inspection, Gion and Colonel Kaji were surprised to find that the physical quality of these Marine soldiers was generally strong.
Can Allen really train soldiers like this?
"This… they're not much worse than the soldiers from headquarters, are they?"
Colonel Kaji took out a cigar and lit it. Gion recognized it at a glance as the kind Allen smoked, and she immediately became furious.
"You… you went to see Allen again yesterday?"
Colonel Kaji shivered in fear, looking at Gion's increasingly dark and grim face, his voice trembling slightly as he said:
"G-Gion, you know me. How would I dare to do such a thing behind your back…"
"Then how do you explain this?" Gion looked at the smoking cigar.
Colonel Kaji broke out in a cold sweat, his small eyes darting rapidly from side to side…
He couldn't possibly say that he had accepted Allen's small token of appreciation, could he?
"This isn't… Allen gave it to me in the meeting hall yesterday…"
"Besides… didn't Fleet Admiral Sengoku tell us to learn from Allen?"
Gion: …
"So, this is how you learn?"
Learning to smoke, drink, and sleep with women?
Colonel Kaji's wavering attitude made Gion even more annoyed.
"Damn it! I will never tolerate such scoundrels in the Marine!
The pure justice of the Marine must not be defiled!"
Looking at those elite soldiers, she knew Fleet Admiral Sengoku hadn't lied to her; without some real skill, one truly couldn't train soldiers like this.
Gion clenched her fists.
Damn it, how can he be so capable, yet willingly degenerate and trample on the Marine's dignity!
"I must change all of Allen's bad habits! I'll make him a righteous and good Marine!"
Looking at the determined Gion in front of him, Colonel Kaji muttered under his breath, a little unconvinced:
"…Even if one smokes, drinks, and sleeps with women, one can still be a righteous and good Marine…"
"What did you say?"
Colonel Kaji looked terrified:
"I, I said you're right! I will definitely support you…"
Just as the two were talking…
Allen arrived at the Training Camp, yawning, and greeted the two in front of him:
"Oh, isn't this Colonel Gion and Colonel Kaji? What a coincidence."
Upon seeing Allen, Gion simply snorted and turned her head away.
Allen looked at the angry young woman and shrugged helplessly.
It seemed… what happened yesterday was still hard for her to accept.
Colonel Kaji, on the other hand, greeted him very enthusiastically.
"Colonel Allen, I only realized today, after coming to your Training Camp, that your West Blue is full of hidden talents…"
He walked up to Allen unceremoniously and slung an arm over his shoulder, as if they were long-lost brothers.
Who would have known that Colonel Kaji's change in attitude was entirely due to Allen's small token of appreciation.
"Not at all, not at all, it's just that we eat a little better."
Gion gave Colonel Kaji a look, and Colonel Kaji immediately understood.
"Colonel Allen! I heard you're the strongest Marine in the West Blue. How about… we spar a few moves?"
Allen glanced at Gion and instantly understood…
So, they couldn't deal with him, and now they wanted to beat him up to vent their anger…
Allen's lips curved upwards.
Goodness, he didn't expect them to deliver themselves to him…
"Hmm, of course."
"Both of you are geniuses from headquarters. If we really spar, please go easy on me…"
Colonel Kaji immediately put his hands on his hips and laughed loudly:
"Haha, don't worry… For the sake of the 'cigars,' I'll definitely control my strength."
Upon seeing the laughing Colonel Kaji, Allen's eyes went dark.
Is that what I meant?
I was just being polite…
"Then… please…" Allen decided not to say anything.
After all, some things they would only understand by experiencing them themselves.
Dust flew everywhere.
The Marine soldiers nearby crowded the Training Camp, blocking it completely, as no one had dared to challenge Allen for half a year.
Today, they finally had the rare opportunity to witness such a battle.
"Lieutenant Commander Wester, can Colonel Allen defeat the two Colonels from headquarters?"
A soldier looked at Vist and asked the doubt in his heart.
Vist merely smiled.
Although it was widely known that the strength of headquarters > Grand Line branches > Four Seas branches, it was generally impossible for officers of corresponding ranks to be stronger than those from headquarters.
However, he had personally witnessed Allen's growth.
That guy… he's as strong as a monster!
The two Colonels from headquarters… they might be in for a rough time.
…
In the Training Camp, Allen also observed the two's health bars.
Gion:
Health: 3710 / 3710
Constitution: 121.22
Strength: 150.17
Agility: 164.98
Kaji:
Health: 4410 / 4410
Constitution: 151.22
Strength: 157.17
Agility: 132.10
"Then I'll go first!" Colonel Kaji stepped forward, rubbing his fists together.
Since you gave me a tiny token of appreciation, and two large boxes of high-grade cigars…
General Kizaru, I'll go a little easy on you later…
Allen, on the other hand, nodded politely.
"Then, Colonel Kaji, please!!"
Colonel Kaji sank his knees, and his entire body's muscles visibly tensed up.
Bang!!
A tremendous force instantly erupted, and a large pit appeared in the ground beneath his feet. Stones flew everywhere, and dust billowed. Colonel Kaji's body was directly propelled by the terrifying explosive force, and he shot out like a cannonball, heading straight for Allen.
Allen clearly noticed Colonel Kaji's movements. Although the instantaneous burst of speed was fast, it was merely based on his physical capabilities.
The Marine soldiers watching in the Training Camp only saw stones flying, followed by a cloud of dust. When the dust cleared, there was no one left at the original spot… only a large pit!
They couldn't help but gasp.
Of course, Vist managed to see all the movements with great difficulty and also exclaimed:
"As expected of elite Marine from headquarters, but…"
But they would still be the ones to lose.
The next second, Colonel Kaji, who had disappeared from his original spot, had already appeared in front of Allen!
The muscles on his arm were taut, veins bulging, and his fist swiftly swung towards Allen's chest.
There were no superfluous movements; he simply wanted to see Allen's physical capabilities.
If he was truly just for show, then this one blow would end the battle!
Looking at Allen, who stood motionless in front of him, as if he hadn't reacted at all…
Colonel Kaji couldn't help but be overjoyed.
It looks like I pulled it off! And I taught the person she hates a lesson in front of Gion. She'll definitely fall into my arms, and next time I confess, she'll definitely say yes.
He had already imagined Allen being defeated by his single move, and the subsequent SVIP settlement screen.
He looked at Allen with some apology, sorry…
Although you gave me a gift and I held back, if you can't take this, it's not my fault!
Bang!!