Half an hour later.
In the Chief Instructor's office at the Marine Headquarters' Elite Training Camp, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt suffocating.
Beneath the horizontal plaque bearing the word "Justice" on the wall, Zephyr sat behind his massive desk. His authoritative face was dark as iron, veins throbbing violently at his temples as if they might burst at any moment.
In the center of the office.
Kane and Kuzan stood side by side in punishment, their heads bowed so low they nearly buried them in their chests.
Kuzan's two-meter-tall frame trembled slightly, cold sweat dripping from his curly hair onto the floor. Only three words cycled endlessly through his mind—
I'm finished!
Not only did we leave the island without permission and go to that kind of place, but Teacher Zephyr caught us red-handed! Is my Marine career ending before it even began?
Compared to Kuzan's chaos and despair, Kane—though also bowing his head beside him, his shoulders shaking violently as if overcome with remorse—was actually...
Kane was desperately biting the inside of his cheek, using the pain to stop himself from bursting into hysterical laughter!
Across his retina, a brilliant blue system interface was frantically scrolling.
[Violation Value settlement complete!]
[Current Violation Value balance: 48,192 points!]
"I'm rich! This round made me financially free!"
"Should I save up to 50,000 and go all-in on the lottery for a shot at a Mythical Zoan? Or should I just max out the Six Styles and become a martial arts monster? This is so hard to decide—is this what rich people worry about?"
"BAM—!!!"
A deafening crash erupted as Zephyr's iron fist slammed into the solid wood desk, instantly cracking the hard surface and sending wood splinters flying.
Kane's euphoria was interrupted, but he immediately adjusted his micro-expressions, instantly switching to "heartfelt remorse" mode.
"Explain yourselves!!!"
Zephyr's roar made the windowpanes vibrate.
"Is this the future pillars I saw in you? The most outstanding recruits of this class? Going to the Red-light District? Attending pleasure parties? Why don't you just become pirates instead?! Huh?!!"
Spittle nearly sprayed onto their faces.
Kuzan's knees weakened, his face pale as he opened his mouth to apologize: "Teacher, I—"
But someone moved faster than him!
"THUD!"
A heavy yet resolute sound of knees hitting the floor echoed.
Kane had dropped to his knees without warning, back ramrod straight, his sapphire-blue eyes meeting Zephyr's furious gaze.
"Reporting, Instructor Zephyr!"
"Everything... was my fault! I did it alone! It has nothing to do with Kuzan!"
His voice was loud and firm.
Kuzan whipped his head around, staring at Kane in disbelief.
What... what is he doing? We went together... Why is he taking all the blame?!
"Why?!"
Zephyr glared at him, teeth grinding audibly.
"Give me a reason! Kane! Is this how you trample on the honor your father bought with his life?!"
"No!"
At the mention of his father, Kane's body jolted violently.
He slowly raised his head, his eyes rimmed red, two clear trails of tears perfectly sliding down from the corners of his eyes.
In this moment, the spirit of an Oscar-winning actor possessed him.
"Teacher! It is precisely to not disgrace my father's honor, for the Justice of the Navy, that I committed such a disgraceful act!"
Zephyr was taken aback, his brow furrowed tightly, confusion flickering in his eyes.
Kane's voice trembled slightly with emotion:
"Kuzan is too naive! He only sees the world in black and white! He's like a blank sheet of paper, completely unaware of the world's filth!"
"But teacher, you understand better than anyone that this sea is not black and white! The New World we will go to in the future is filled with deceit, desire, and the most extreme evil!"
"I worry... I truly worry that in the future, because of this overly idealized sense of Justice, he will face setbacks everywhere on the cruel sea, and even... take an extreme path!"
"So..."
He clenched his fist and pounded it heavily against his own chest:
"That's why I wanted to use this most extreme method to let him see the filth of this world in advance!"
"I wanted him to understand how much helplessness lies hidden beneath the peace we risk our lives to protect!"
"Even if... even if it violates military discipline! Even if it stains my record! Even if I get expelled!"
"As long as it lets Kuzan see the cruelty of this world ahead of time, and makes his future path of Justice steadier... I, Kane, am willing to accept punishment! I would have no regrets even in death!!!"
After finishing his speech, Kane once again lowered his head and knocked it heavily against the floor, producing a crisp sound.
"Please, teacher, punish only me!"
The entire office fell into complete silence.
Kuzan was completely stunned. His worldview had collapsed for the second time tonight.
So... that's how it was?
In an instant, Kuzan's heart was flooded with a complex mix of emotions.
As for Zephyr, his chest heaved violently.
He looked at the young man kneeling on the ground, at that straight-backed posture, as if seeing the shadow of a former comrade-in-arms.
'This kid... although his actions are absurd, was his original intention actually to protect his comrade?'
Zephyr's heart, which had gradually grown cold after the tragic death of his family, was deeply stirred.
"Hah..."
Zephyr let out a long sigh. The anger in his eyes had mostly dissipated, replaced by a complex expression.
"What a 'no regrets even in death.'"
Zephyr sat back down. Although his tone remained stern, the killing intent was gone.
"Although your starting point was for the sake of a comrade, military discipline is military discipline!"
"Since you want to bear everything, I'll grant your wish!"
Zephyr waved his hand grandly:
"You two brats, go to the training ground now! Carry 2000 kilograms and run two hundred laps around Marineford! If you don't finish, no one sleeps tonight!"
"Yes, teacher! Thank you, teacher!"
Kane felt as if granted a great reprieve, wearing an expression of tearful gratitude. He knocked his head heavily once more, then grabbed the still dazed and moved Kuzan, turned, and rushed out of the office.
Watching their retreating figures, Zephyr wearily rubbed the space between his eyebrows, but the corner of his mouth lifted in an almost imperceptible curve.
"This batch of recruits... really gives me a headache. But... not bad."
...
5 AM, Marineford Training Ground.
The moonlight was cold, the sea wind biting.
Two figures, carrying hill-like specially made iron blocks, trudged arduously along the running track.
Every step landed with a heavy, muffled thud.
"Huff... huff..."
Kuzan felt like his lungs were about to explode.
The lingering effects of alcohol combined with the terrifying 2,000-kilogram weight made each step feel like torture.
"Kane... I'm sorry... I dragged you into this..." Kuzan gasped out an apology as he ran, his eyes filled with guilt.
Kane, running ahead of him, was equally drenched in sweat but his gaze remained firm.
"Save your breath, Kuzan! Save your energy for running! This is the price of growth!"
Yet inwardly, he was roaring madly:
"System! Add my points! All in! I'm going to become a beast!"
[Command received. Converting Violation Value...]
[Physical enhancement initiated!]
[Physique 55 → 56... 700 points consumed.]
[Physique 60 → 61... 1200 points consumed.]
Boom!
As Violation Value flowed away like water, a scalding heat surged through his limbs out of nowhere.
His aching muscle fibers instantly restructured and strengthened under this energy's nourishment.
The lead weights that felt as heavy as mountains suddenly became light.
The euphoria of breaking through his limits nearly made Kane moan aloud.
Incredible!
Is this the joy of cheating?!
While others grow more exhausted from running, I grow stronger!
[Current Physique: 65 (Human Limit)]
[Warning: Must master Armament Haki to break through physical limitations before further enhancement.]
[Haki initiation requirement: 100,000 Violation Value points.]
[Remaining Violation Value: 36,692]
A hundred thousand?
Kane clicked his tongue, his eyes turning more dangerous as he looked at his remaining balance.
It seems this level isn't enough yet...
I need to cause even bigger trouble!
Just then, a "thud" sounded from behind.
Kuzan had finally reached his limit. His eyes rolled back as he collapsed straight onto the track, falling unconscious.
"Kuzan!"
Kane stopped running.
He glanced at the figure watching from the office window in the distance, a faint smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.
If this was an act, he would see it through to the end.
"Since I said I'd bear everything..." Kane gritted his teeth, letting out a beast-like growl, "I'll carry it through to the finish!"
He walked over to Kuzan, grabbed the two-meter-tall man with one hand, and hoisted both him and the lead weights onto his own shoulders!
Four full tons! Plus an adult's body weight!
In the distance, Zephyr watched this scene, his teacup frozen mid-air, unable to lower it for a long time.
"Boom!"
Kane's legs slightly bent, cracking the ground beneath him. Bearing the weight of two people, he started running again!
And his speed... was even faster than before!
The unconscious Kuzan vaguely regained a sliver of awareness amid the jostling.
He felt himself lying against a broad, warm back, hearing Kane's heavy yet powerful heartbeat in his ear.
"Ka...ne..."
"Shut up and keep sleeping," Kane gasped, his voice hoarse but strong. "I'll run the rest of the way for you."
Tears welled in Kuzan's eyes.
Staring at the shaking ground before him, his mind echoed with Kane's words from earlier that night and the sight of his back as he desperately ran for his sake now.
Is this Justice?
Going to that kind of place, being punished for a comrade, running all night...
Though it's passionate, though it's moving.
But...
It's really... so exhausting.
Kuzan slowly closed his eyes. Before completely losing consciousness, a murmur escaped from the depths of his soul:
"Justice... is just too troublesome..."