Chapter 182: Do They Take Me For Fool?

"I didn't expect there to be so many people here! The scale of Impel Down's conscription this time is much larger than any previous Marine global conscription."

Because of such an important matter, Zephyr and the others also rushed back, and they were also a little moved when they saw the densely packed ships stationed outside Impel Down.

Since Shirahoshi is here, and a small part of Shirahoshi's power has been awakened by Luo Ning, the surrounding Sea Kings obey Shirahoshi, and naturally they will not attack the ships stationed here.

"This is the first time this old man has seen such a grand event!"

Fujitora, who had regained his eyesight, was also a little emotional. He reported directly to Luo Ning, and his current position is under Zephyr, managing the combat troops alongside him. However, Fujitora doesn't hold a high position in his heart; he pursues his own justice.

That's why he joined the Marines only after the world conscription, instead of joining in the early stage. Otherwise, with his strength, his status would have already jumped to the top if he had joined earlier.

"Who said it wasn't? But now that Impel Down is a popular place on the sea, it's not surprising that these people want to join!"

Watching Impel Down continue to grow, Magellan is also very happy. After all, as the director of Impel Down, he is naturally pleased to see that these criminals receive their due punishment. Most of the jailers here, including him, Magellan, are hostile to the existence of these pirates.

"How did you arrange the test this time?"

This time the recruits are divided into two parts: one for the jailers and the other for the army following Zephyr. However, none of these things are Zephyr's responsibility.

"The selection process will begin with a written test and a strength assessment. The written test will cover a variety of topics, and the strength assessment will rank recruits based on their power, abilities, and Haki proficiency.

"However, before you can participate in these assessments, you must first pass Miss Viola's test."

Magellan admitted that he was completely bewildered by the questions provided by Luo Ning. In fact, they were designed to assess a candidate's mental state. For example, some questions mirrored those used to identify perverts in martial arts stories, which left Magellan quite confused.

However, the test proved to be surprisingly effective. When administered to criminals, it became clear that ordinary people struggled to answer many questions correctly. Of course, some, like Sadi-chan with her sadistic tendencies towards prisoners, fell outside the norm. Interestingly, Sadi-chan became quite meek around Luo Ning, a transformation that greatly surprised Magellan.

While Sadi-chan's sadism was a bit unusual, it wasn't as extreme as Shiryu's. Magellan presented the test to Shiryu in the hope that a passing score might lead to his release. However, Shiryu's results revealed him to be a deeply disturbed individual with a violent mindset. This outcome solidified Magellan's belief in the test's effectiveness.

The test has now been incorporated into the recruitment process. Viola is currently distributing assessment numbers, and anyone who can pass her scrutiny will be eligible to proceed.

"How's it going?"

Luo Ning arrived at the scene and looked at the crowd, asking.

"It's going well. At least, passing Viola's test guarantees there won't be any problems!"

When Magellan and the others saw Luo Ning approaching with a group of girls, they greeted him and shared the update.

"Really?"

Luo Ning looked towards the crowd. A long queue had formed, waiting to pass Viola's checkpoint. Those who passed received a numbered plate, while those who failed could pack up and leave.

The crowd was divided into two groups, but soon Luo Ning spotted a familiar figure.

'That should be Tashigi.'

He clearly remembered Tashigi, the girl with glasses. He didn't expect her to be here, and what surprised him most was that she had passed Viola's test.

This confused Luo Ning. He tried to read Tashigi's mind, imagining he had that ability, but found she wasn't from the Marines.

'Wrong!'

Luo Ning quickly realized something was amiss. He then focused his ability and finally saw Tashigi's true thoughts. He also glimpsed the Marines' plan.

"These Marines... using every trick in the book."

Luo Ning couldn't help but sigh. Tashigi and the others' goal this time was simple: become jailers and slowly gain Luo Ning's trust, eventually finding a weakness to exploit.

Luo Ning was speechless. Tashigi and the others' objective was straightforward: become jailers and slowly ingratiate themselves with him to uncover his weaknesses. They believed everyone has weaknesses, they just haven't found his yet.

They assumed those close to him would know his vulnerabilities. In fact, their idea held merit, but they were wrong about Luo Ning's inner circle.

None of the girls around him knew the specifics of his abilities or flaws. Even if they were curious, they wouldn't pry, fearing they'd be a burden. Consequently, their understanding of his abilities was limited to guesses, and they were completely unaware of any weaknesses.

Anyone who dared to probe Luo Ning's abilities would likely be targeted by these girls.

As for the Marines exploiting his supposed weakness for women, Luo Ning scoffed. He admitted to appreciating beauty, of course, including some beauties from the original work, but not every kind. However, he never expected the Marines' new army to send these women as undercover agents.

In this regard, Luo Ning felt the Marines were underestimating him. Naturally, he didn't dismiss them outright.

Since this woman had been sent to his side, and with the war likely starting soon, the Marines would likely be directly absorbed into the Revolutionary Army. Eliminating the Marines entirely would create a massive management burden for the Revolutionaries in the future.

While the Marines were subordinate to the World Government, complete eradication wasn't ideal. After all, the Marines held a unique position. They just needed reform, not total destruction and rebuilding. In the end, they would be on the same side, and the World Government's downfall was inevitable.