Chapter 42: Wood is Recruited Back to Headquarters

Marine Headquarters, Port of Marinford

This was Wood's second time returning to the Marine Headquarters since he first arrived from Red Leaf Island. In the past six months, not much had changed at the headquarters, except for the noticeable increase in naval personnel at the port.

Wood had been living quite comfortably in Impel Down, establishing good relationships with several members of the management and doing well in the city. However, just yesterday, while he was training prisoners on the fourth floor with Little Sadie, he suddenly received a call from his squad leader, instructing him to return to the naval headquarters.

At first, Wood was confused by the order, but he quickly realized what it meant. The squad leader, a naval captain, had previously mentioned that he would commend Wood's outstanding contributions to the higher-ups. Wood had assumed it was just talk, but now it seemed the captain truly had no intention of messing with him!

Although Wood had enjoyed using the prisoners to train himself in Impel Down, he always felt it was too dangerous to stay there, especially with the possibility of the Golden Lion's prison break looming. So, he had been trying to find a way out. When he heard that he was being called back to the Navy Headquarters, and that it was Marshal Sengoku who ordered it, Wood was thrilled. This clearly meant a promotion was on the horizon!

Today, a warship arrived in Impel Down to escort prisoners, and Wood left on it.

As the naval warship moved further and further away, some of the naval team stationed in Impel Down were visibly unhappy.

"Captain, did you really praise that guy Wood to the higher-ups? Why? He's only been in Push City for a short time, and I've been here for two years. If there's an opportunity for promotion and a transfer out of here, you should consider us first!"

It wasn't just one person who felt this way; several people shared the sentiment. While the work in the city was easy, it was also tedious and boring. Impel Down was surrounded by calm belts and sea kings, with no entertainment on the island, just prisoners and monstrous jailer beasts.

For the navy stationed there, it felt like a prison of their own, the only difference being that they weren't punished daily or locked in iron cages. Unlike Wood, who lived harmoniously with the inhuman jailer beasts and even found joy in sparring with the prisoners daily, most others found life in Impel Down extremely numbing and dull.

"Shut up. If it weren't for Wood's name being mentioned, I would have forgotten he was even here. If I could leave this damn place by getting some compliments from my superiors, I would have done it myself long ago. Do you think I want to stay in this godforsaken place?"

Hearing the squad leader's words, the other navy officers stationed in Impel Down were left puzzled. The question now was, if Wood wasn't commended by the squad leader, why did he suddenly receive a transfer order from the Navy Headquarters?

If they remembered correctly, Wood was just a private, at best a higher-level foot soldier. For someone of his rank, would the Navy Admiral even remember his name and go so far as to transfer him back to the headquarters?

"Maybe he's got connections in high places, or maybe he's secretly a big shot. Damn it, if I'd known Wood had such a complex background, I would've gotten closer to him. Maybe I'd be getting promoted and leaving with him now."

The navy in Impel Down assumed Wood was about to be promoted and transferred, and even Wood himself thought so. However, when Wood realized that the navy officer leading him wasn't taking him to the Admiral's office but to the residential area of senior generals, he started to feel something was off.

"Brother, wasn't it Marshal Sengoku who transferred me to the Navy Headquarters? Why are we heading to the admirals' residence instead of the office area of the Navy Headquarters?"

The island of Marinford was large, with markets and towns to support the daily needs of the navy. In addition to the prominent tower and city wall of the Navy Headquarters in the center, there were many residential areas where senior generals and their families lived.

The navy officer leading the way, who held the same rank as Wood, didn't take him to the majestic tower but instead led him to the residential area, prompting Wood's question.

"Marshal Sengoku transferred you back to the Navy Headquarters because our colonel requested it. So, the person we're meeting is our colonel, not Marshal Sengoku."

"Colonel?" Wood thought, puzzled. Although he had been a navy officer for two or three years and had spent two years at the naval headquarters, he knew very few naval generals. Excluding Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Zephyr, the only colonel he remembered was the one who taught basic courses during his training.

Did that colonel ask Marshal Sengoku to bring him back to the headquarters? Could a naval colonel even make such a request to Marshal Sengoku? Besides, Wood remembered that his instructor colonel didn't think much of him back then.

Full of doubts, Wood was finally brought to a rather ordinary-looking house. The navy officer who led him reported that the person had arrived, then saluted and left. Just as Wood hesitated whether to report and enter the house to see who had called him, a tall figure slowly emerged from the entrance.

Since it was not duty time, the person wasn't wearing a navy uniform but a woolen jumpsuit. The loose clothing couldn't hide her proud curves, and her long legs, as dazzling as ivory, were fully exposed.

"It's you! Only half a year has passed, and you've already become a captain in the Navy Headquarters!"

Half a year is neither long nor short, but it wasn't enough to significantly change someone's appearance. So when the figure appeared, Wood recognized her as Gion, whom he hadn't seen in six months.

He had been wondering why the Marine Headquarters suddenly remembered a small figure like him after he had been idle in Impel Down for half a year. As it turned out, it was Gion's doing.