Chapter 5: The Test

Tom, please take Vell and the others around for a while," Garp instructed. He needed to greet Sengoku and decided to let Vell enter the advanced training camp, as the basic training camp was no longer helpful to him.

"Understood, Vice Admiral Garp!" Tom, a trusted Lieutenant, nodded quickly. He led Vell, Koby, and Helmeppo to the new recruits' training camp, which was a mandatory checkpoint for joining the marines. Lieutenant Tom never considered the basic training camp to be Vell's starting point; rather, it was the advanced training camp.

"Hmm? Who are these three people? Why are they following Lieutenant Tom?"

"Could they also be joining our marine assessment?"

"Is it Lieutenant Tom's family? Do they want to join the training camp by relying on their power?"

As they walked past the fortress square, many people noticed the three of them. The only reason was that Garp's reputation as a Marine hero was immense. Tom, his confidant, was also recognized by many people.

Faced with the discussions of the crowd, Koby and Helmeppo looked at them in surprise. It was indeed the main base! So many people had come to participate in the training camp!

Vell appeared somewhat indifferent and bored. His Golden Finger could allow him to pick up the attributes dropped by stronger opponents, but there was a prerequisite. Vell's opponents had to be stronger than him in order for his "golden finger" to pick up their dropped attributes. Otherwise, he would mostly end up with bronze-level attributes that had values of 0.01 or 0.02, which Vell had no interest in picking up.

"Lieutenant Tom, is today a special day?" Koby asked in confusion. Not all of the people in front of them were wearing the marine's standard uniforms for new recruits. "Don't you know? Today is the day for recruiting new recruits for the main base's training camp," Tom explained, and Vell and the others immediately understood.

The Marines recruits new recruits four times a year, and today is the last day of the review. To join the junior training camp, one needs to have a Doriki value of at least 10 points. While most people in the pirate world have strong physiques, ordinary individuals can only reach about five or six points at most.

Reaching ten points is already considered a high level of physical fitness, which includes evaluations in various aspects such as weapon usage, strength, speed, stamina, and more.

Upon hearing this, Vell became interested and asked, "Can I sign up to participate?" Tom was taken aback and said, "Uh, I think it should be possible?"

Vice Admiral Garp had brought three children to the Marine Headquarters, most likely to participate in the assessment. However, jumping straight to advanced training camps was something Tom didn't even dare to think about! No one who had been able to do that had ever appeared before.

but those who had appeared before had once stood at the pinnacle of the marine. How terrifying!

Even though Tom knew that Vell was a family member of Vice Admiral Garp, he couldn't imagine a seven or eight year old child like Vell being able to enter an advanced training camp.

After receiving an answer, Vell did not hesitate and immediately went to the recruitment registration office to sign up.

Would he have to quietly wait for his number to be called after number 101? Koby and Helmeppo were also eager to try and went to fill out their registration forms. They separately received their number cards and waited with Vell.

"Vlad, Doriki value 8, failed!"

"Femira, Doriki value 11, passed!"

"Kariana, Doriki value 6, failed!"

"..."

A series of people came forward to be tested, but only a few were able to pass. Out of a hundred people, having three or four passes was already considered a good chance.

"Homer, with a Doriki value of 49, has passed!" A slightly surprised voice rang out on the testing field. 49? A value close to five times the passing score, currently the strongest among the new recruits!

Everyone's attention was drawn to a tall youth who was over two meters tall. His bulging muscles and fierce gaze were full of aloofness. He overwhelmed everyone and became the most dazzling presence on the entire field. This was exactly what Homer had expected.

"Such arrogance," some people muttered. Although a Doriki value of up to 49 was almost certainly the strongest in this year's junior new recruit training camp, why the disdainful gaze?

"Number 101, Vell."

It was at this moment that Vell's number was called. Vell confidently walked forward, passing by Homer. The indifferent look in his eyes made Homer somewhat dissatisfied. But then Homer looked at Vell's somewhat weak body and smiled faintly before walking away. This frail body was not even capable of passing the test. Why should I bother being concerned about someone who couldn't even pass the new recruit training camp?

He, Homer, was a man who was going to become a great admiral in this headquarters! Others also held a very negative opinion of Vell.

"At the age of seven or eight, coming to participate in the new recruit training camp in the headquarters, isn't that ridiculous?"

"Yeah, his physical fitness is simply not good enough. Coming here is just a waste of time."

"Is it now the case that anyone thinks they can join the marine?"

In the world of One Piece, age and strength were mostly unrelated.