The Marineford Military Academy had evolved significantly from its origins as the Officer Training Camp. What had once been a modest program for promising officers had grown into a full-scale military institution with two distinct operational tracks.
The first track focused on advanced training, identifying outstanding officer candidates from across the entire Marine hierarchy and bringing them to Headquarters for intensive development. Finn and his peers had gone through this program.
The second track built officers from the ground up, taking raw recruits and molding them into competent leaders through years of rigorous instruction. Smoker belonged to this second category.
By the time Finn and Gion reached the academy, Momonga and the others had already dispersed to handle their own assignments. The two of them walked through the familiar corridors toward Zephyr's office, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors.
"Come to think of it," Finn mused, "if we hadn't sent Lucci away, he could've been a candidate for the Warlords."
"Plans never survive contact with reality," Gion said with a slight smile. "You taught me that."
"True enough." Finn's expression turned thoughtful. "How's he doing with the Whitebeard Pirates, anyway? I didn't see him before..."
In fact, Whitebeard's entire Second Division hadn't been present during that encounter. Even Teach had been absent.
Gion shook her head. "I don't know. I know he joined and was assigned to the Second Division, but we haven't been in contact since then."
She paused, a flicker of concern crossing her face. "Do you think Lucci might... betray us?"
"No," Finn said immediately, his voice firm.
Then he grinned. "I don't have proof, but I trust him. Call it instinct."
"As long as you're confident," Gion replied, her smile returning.
"It's normal for him to go dark," Finn continued. "He's just a rookie right now. We need to give him time to establish himself. Besides, I'm not expecting intelligence on the Whitebeard Pirates from him. That's not his mission. All he needs to do is keep an eye on Teach and wait for the right moment."
Gion didn't press further. As they turned the corner, they spotted a young woman standing outside Zephyr's office. She couldn't have been more than fifteen or sixteen, with long pink hair and delicate features that immediately caught the eye.
Oddly, she was holding a pack of cigarettes, though she wasn't smoking.
"My, my," Finn said with an amused smile. "Gion, you might have competition. Give her two more years and she could challenge your title as the most beautiful woman in the Marines."
Gion's expression didn't shift. "The ones prettier than me can't fight as well, and the ones who fight better aren't as pretty. Do you really think I care about titles?"
The young woman noticed their approach and immediately straightened, snapping off a crisp salute. "Vice Admiral Finn! Rear Admiral Gion!"
Finn stopped in front of her, his smile easy and approachable. "You're a student here?"
"Yes, sir! Hina, from the Class of 1501!" Her voice carried a mix of excitement and nerves.
"Hina," Finn repeated. "That's a lovely name."
It was indeed Hina, Smoker's notorious partner-in-crime and closest friend at the academy.
"What are you doing standing out here?" Gion asked, her tone curious rather than accusatory.
Hina's expression turned sheepish. "My friend Smoker seems to have angered the Instructor. He was called in for a reprimand, and Hina... well, Hina waiting to make sure he's okay."
"Hahaha, I see." Finn chuckled. "When do you graduate?"
"Hina?" Hina blinked, then brightened. "Next year, sir. The academy runs a three-year program. I'll graduate in 1504."
"Has Instructor Zephyr discussed your post-graduation assignment yet?" Finn asked, his tone casual. "And how are your grades?"
Gion glanced at Finn with mild curiosity but said nothing. She knew him well enough to recognize that this wasn't just idle conversation. If Finn were the type to recruit people based solely on appearance, she would've succeeded in catching his attention years ago.
No, Finn was thinking strategically. Doberman and the others wouldn't stay under his direct command forever. They'd need their own postings eventually, and that meant cultivating new subordinates. A talented officer who also happened to be presentable? That was a bonus, not the deciding factor.
And from what Finn had heard, Hina had both talent and drive.
"The Instructor hasn't made any arrangements yet," Hina said, her voice gaining confidence. "As for Hina performance, Hina currently ranked first in Hina class."
"First?" Finn raised an eyebrow. "And where does Smoker rank?"
"Smoker's a year ahead of Hina, from the Class of 1500," Hina explained. "He joined the program late, but he worked his way to the top of his class through sheer effort."
"A late entry who made first place," Gion remarked with a knowing smile. "Just like you were, Finn."
"Exactly," Finn agreed. He turned his attention back to Hina. "Keep working hard. Maintain that top position. When you graduate next year, I'll speak with Instructor Zephyr about transferring you to my command."
Hina's eyes went wide. Her face flushed with excitement.
Working under Vice Admiral Finn? The man was a legend among the younger Marines. Powerful, strategic, and with a list of achievements that read like fiction. Roger, Shiki, the Red Earl, any one of those would have been career-defining. Finn had all three.
Of course, most junior Marines didn't have access to the full story. They only knew what the official reports said, and those reports painted Finn in the most heroic light possible.
To be personally selected by someone like that? To be trained under his command? That was a golden ticket to a brilliant future.
"Yes, sir! Thank you, Vice Admiral Finn! Hina will work twice as hard!" She saluted again, barely containing her enthusiasm.
Without further preamble, Finn knocked on Zephyr's door. A gruff voice called from inside, and he and Gion pushed the door open.
Hina managed to steal a quick glance inside before the door closed. She caught sight of Smoker standing rigidly in front of Zephyr's desk, clearly in the middle of a thorough dressing-down.
Then the door clicked shut.
"Hina hope Vice Admiral Finn notices Smoker too," Hina thought, her hands clasped together in silent prayer.
If only she knew.
Smoker had already been noticed.
The moment Finn stepped inside, he took in the scene. Smoker stood at attention, though his posture radiated defiance. He looked about seventeen, with messy white hair and a sharp, angular face that was handsome in a rough sort of way. He wore a Marine vest with the word "Justice" emblazoned across the back, and a cigar was tucked behind his ear.
If it weren't for the vest, he'd look more like a street thug than a Marine officer.
Hearing footsteps behind him, Smoker turned, his expression still sour. Then he froze, surprise and unmistakable admiration flashing across his face. He straightened immediately. "Vice Admiral Finn!"
He didn't acknowledge Gion at all.
Smoker genuinely admired Finn. He'd been in the crowd at Loguetown, had seen Roger's final moments, and had witnessed Finn's counter-broadcast that steadied the world. That moment had defined Smoker's path. Finn had become his role model, the standard he aspired to reach.
"Smoker," Finn said warmly, taking a seat on the sofa beside Gion. "I've heard Instructor Zephyr mention you often."
Smoker's expression brightened. "Thank you, sir!"
Finn nodded, then glanced at Zephyr. "Instructor, have you told him yet?"
"Not yet," Zephyr replied, waving one hand dismissively. "I'm still in the middle of chewing him out. This brat causes trouble every other day."
Smoker was sharp enough to pick up on the subtext. If Vice Admiral Finn was here specifically for him, it had to mean something important. Maybe an early graduation? Maybe a field assignment?
He was set to graduate later this year, part of the Class of 1500. It was only early spring now, so technically he still had months left. But if Finn wanted him...
Excitement surged through him.
"Then expel him," Finn said without hesitation.
Zephyr nodded gravely. "I was thinking the same thing. Teach him a lesson and kick him out of the Marines. I'm tired of looking at his face."
Smoker's excitement died instantly. His mind went blank.
"What? No! Instructor, I haven't caused any trouble recently!" he protested, his voice rising with panic.
"Last week you got into a fight," Zephyr said coldly. "Two students ended up in the infirmary because of you."
"I was punished for that! I apologized! You said it was over!" Smoker shot back desperately.
Zephyr opened his mouth, then closed it again. Smoker had a point. The matter had technically been settled. But Zephyr wasn't shameless enough to push past that fact the way Finn could.
Finn, however, had no such reservations.
"Smoker," he said, his tone deceptively calm. "When you came into this office just now, did you step in with your left foot or your right foot?"
Smoker blinked, thrown off-balance. "Uh... left foot? I think?"
Who the hell remembers something like that?
"Left foot?" Finn's expression shifted instantly, his face darkening with exaggerated fury. He slammed his hand against the coffee table, making Gion flinch beside him. "You dare step into Instructor Zephyr's office with your left foot first? That's an unforgivable sign of disrespect! The Marines don't need scum like you! You're expelled, effective immediately!"
Smoker stared, completely stunned.
Are you serious right now?
Zephyr's excuse had at least been based on reality. But this? This was absurd. This was clearly targeting him for no reason.
"Even if you're a Vice Admiral," Smoker said, his voice shaking with anger, "you can't expel me over something this ridiculous!"
His stubborn, rebellious nature finally exploded.
Even if Finn was his idol, this was too much. Disappointment surged through him, hot and bitter.
"You," Finn said slowly, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone, "are you questioning me?"
He released a fraction of his aura, just enough to fill the room with pressure.
Smoker's body reacted instinctively. White smoke began pouring from his skin, his Devil Fruit ability activating defensively. His heart hammered in his chest, but he forced himself to stay still, to meet Finn's gaze head-on.
After a long, tense breath, he spoke. "Yes. I am."
"Interesting." Finn rose from the sofa and took two slow, deliberate steps forward. The pressure intensified, forcing Smoker to take two steps back despite himself.
But even retreating, Smoker kept his eyes locked on Finn's.
"Not fearing authority," Finn said quietly. "Is that your justice?"
"Yes," Smoker said without hesitation.
"Even if it means your death?" Finn pressed. "Will you uphold your justice?"
"From the moment I came to Marineford," Smoker replied, his voice steady and fierce, "I never planned to give up."
They stared at each other for a long moment, the room thick with tension.
Then Finn smiled.
The oppressive aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He turned to Zephyr with a relaxed grin. "Just as you said, Instructor. His sense of justice won't waver."
He looked back at Smoker, whose confusion was written plainly across his face.
"You passed, Smoker."
Smoker blinked. "Passed what?"
"I have a confidential mission," Finn said, his tone shifting to something serious and deliberate. "One that requires a Marine with an unshakable sense of justice and the resolve to see it through, no matter the cost. If you accept this mission, I'll promote you to Rear Admiral under my own authority." He paused, letting the weight of the words settle. "A seventeen-year-old Rear Admiral. Quite the accomplishment."
Smoker's mouth opened, then closed.
He had no idea what to say.
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