Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, a hellish week had passed.
The sea breeze at Marineford still carried its salty, fishy scent, but the atmosphere in the elite training camp had undergone some subtle changes.
Tatsuki's performance in daily physical training, Rokushiki practice, and combat drills was nothing short of perfect.
In fact, in several subjects that purely tested strength and speed, he showed signs of surpassing the likes of Sakazuki and others.
When faced with the instructor's reprimands, he was even more humble and accepting, his attitude so sincere that no one could find the slightest fault.
In the eyes of the New Recruits, he was a powerful, reliable man who was always willing to help.
In Zephyr's eyes, although he sometimes had an excessive desire to show off, he had to admit he was a rare and promising talent.
However, only Tatsuki himself knew how agonizingly unbearable this past week had been for him.
Late at night, in the Marine dormitory.
Tatsuki lay sprawled on the hard bunk bed, staring at the blue light screen only he could see, his face looking even more sour than if he had eaten a lemon.
[Ding! Arrived one minute late for the training assembly. Violation Points +1]
[Ding! Took an extra scoop of braised pork in the cafeteria. Violation Points +2]
[Ding! Read an adult novel after lights out. Violation Points +2]
[Violation Points: 642]
'Are you kidding me?!'
Tatsuki irritably ruffled his blond hair, roaring furiously in his heart.
'How long will it take at this rate? By the time Luffy sets sail, I'll still be saving up for Conqueror's Haki.'
His current physique stat was at 55 points. To increase it by just 1 more point would require a whopping 700 Violation points.
Relying on these petty, sneaky little infractions was utterly futile, like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water.
'No, I have to pull off a big score.'
Tatsuki rolled over and sat up, his gaze dark and profound as he stared out the window into the pitch-black night.
A plan quietly took shape in Tatsuki's mind.
If one person breaks the rules, they get confined to quarters and pummeled by Zephyr. More seriously, they get discharged from the military and kicked out.
But what if I drag the future top combat power of the Marines, all of them, down into the mud with me?
As the saying goes, the law does not punish the masses.
As long as I drag the future Admirals and Fleet Admiral candidates down with me...
By that time, forget Zephyr, even if Fleet Admiral Kong himself showed up, what could he do, looking at this group of upright, promising future pillars of the force?
Punish just me? Wouldn't that make him seem unfair?
Punish everyone? Then what about the future of the Marines?
This situation is unsolvable.
Tatsuki excitedly rubbed his hands together and began scouting for his first victim... no, his first partner.
Sakazuki? Forget it, he is too single-minded. Trying to drag him down would be too difficult.
Borsalino? That old fox is too shrewd. My little tricks would probably just amuse him.
Then, there's only one answer left.
Tatsuki's gaze shifted to the bunk diagonally opposite, which was empty.
Kuzan.
The future "Aokiji," the current passionate idiot.
He was an uncut gem, just needing a little guidance from a "life mentor" like himself to shine with... a different kind of brilliance.
—
Late-night training ground, the sea wind howled.
"Hah! Hah!"
Kuzan, shirtless, sweat dripping down his defined muscles, was frantically punching a sandbag.
'Not enough... still not strong enough.'
'If I don't become stronger, how can I uphold my Burning Justice?'
Kuzan, only in his early twenties, was currently filled with the lines of a hot-blooded shonen protagonist.
Just then, a bottle of chilled sports drink pressed against his cheek.
"Who?!"
Kuzan whipped his head around and saw a face that appeared particularly saintly under the moonlight.
"Still training so late, Kuzan. You really are the most diligent among us."
Tatsuki held two towels in his hands, his smile warm.
"Oh, it's Tatsuki."
Kuzan relaxed his tense nerves and took the drink, gulping down a large mouthful.
"You're not asleep either?"
"I can't sleep."
Tatsuki sighed, his originally sunny expression instantly switching to a deep, concerned-for-the-nation-and-people mode.
He walked over and sat on the seawall at the edge of the training ground, gazing towards the direction of the brilliantly lit Sabaody Archipelago (though it was impossible to see), his back appearing utterly desolate.
"Kuzan, I've been thinking about a question."
"What question?" The simple-minded Kuzan immediately followed and sat down beside him.
Tatsuki turned his head, his sapphire-blue eyes fixed on Kuzan. "Why are we training so desperately? What is it all for?
"Of course it's for justice." Kuzan answered without hesitation. "To capture pirates and protect civilians."
"A perfect answer."
Tatsuki gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "But Kuzan, have you ever seen real civilians? Do you understand their true suffering?"
Kuzan was stunned. "This..."
"We stay here in Marineford. This is heaven, an ivory tower. The food, clothes, and supplies we use are all the best provided by the World Government."
Tatsuki stood up, his voice gradually becoming impassioned, carrying persuasiveness.
"The textbooks say justice is about eliminating pirates. But the textbooks don't tell us why civilians become pirates in the first place."
"Nor do they tell us what kind of degrading struggles for survival people endure in the corners where sunlight doesn't reach."
"If you've never seen darkness, how can you appreciate the value of light?"
"If you've never waded deep into the mire, how can you claim the right to pull people out of it?"
This series of questions completely dumbfounded the young Kuzan.
His mouth hung open, feeling as if his soul had undergone an unprecedented baptism.
Yes... he shouted about justice every day, but he hadn't even witnessed real "people's hardships." Wasn't that hypocrisy?
"Tatsuki..."
Kuzan's eyes changed, filled with a thirst for truth. "Then what should I do?"
Hooked!
Tatsuki was laughing inside, but on the surface, he reached out and placed a heavy hand on Kuzan's shoulder, his gaze as firm as iron.
"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."
"Tonight, I'll take you to a place. It's an abyss of desire, a testing ground for human nature, and the place where you can see the true essence of this world most clearly."
"Only by enduring the trials there can your justice mature from a 'boy' into a 'man'."
Kuzan, fired up by these words, clenched his fists. "You mean... we're leaving the base?"
"It's a necessary sacrifice." Tatsuki declared with righteous fervor.
"For the sake of true justice in our hearts, what does it matter if we break a few stale rules?"
"Zephyr-sensei will surely understand our good intentions if he finds out."
'He'll break your legs.'
After an intense internal struggle of about 0.5 seconds, the simple-minded Kuzan finally nodded with determined eyes.
"You're right, Tatsuki. My justice is too superficial. Take me there, I want to see the real world."
Success!
Future Admiral, recruited!
[Ding! Detected host's extremely malicious act of instigation!]
[Target: Kuzan (Future Marine Admiral)]
[Nature of Act: Luring a naive colleague to the 'Pleasure Town' in the name of 'justice.']
[Violation Points +100]
Hearing the system's pleasant notification, Tatsuki felt every pore in his body relax with satisfaction.
Tatsuki threw an arm around Kuzan's neck, lowered his voice, and revealed a strange smile of "men understand", which Kuzan mistook for a smile of revolutionary camaraderie.
"Go change into civilian clothes. Meet me at warehouse number three in the logistics zone in ten minutes."
"That's the place with the weakest defense on the whole island. We'll sneak out from there and take a smuggling ship to Sabaody Archipelago."
"Tonight, I will take you to observe the lives of the people."
Kuzan nodded heavily, his eyes shining with the light of sacrificing for justice. "Yeah. Observe the lives of the people."
Watching Kuzan's figure scurrying off to change clothes, Tatsuki stood in the shadows and finally couldn't hold back a low, sinister chuckle of "Heh heh heh."
'Kuzan, oh Kuzan, don't blame me.'
'Those onee-san in the Pleasure Town are very good at 'educating' people. After this night, your life experience will definitely be very rich.'
Tatsuki straightened his collar, looked at the pre-loaded reward notification on his system panel, and walked towards the darkness with immense satisfaction.
Justice?
Of course, that must be upheld.
But before that, let me exchange your integrity for some stat points first.