Chapter 19: Selection Status

Although the Navy officer in front of them appeared to be around thirty years old, his rank symbolized his status. Dief, facing a Rear Admiral from the Navy Headquarters, naturally showed the utmost respect and dared not show any negligence.

At the same time, Qin Ge stood next to Nico Robin, deep in thought, as he watched the Navy Rear Admiral approaching the warship.

Although the officer appeared much younger than in the original story, Qin Ge instantly recognized him by his distinctive punk hairstyle and facial features.

"The future Vice Admiral of the Navy, huh? I didn't expect to encounter a familiar figure so soon!" Qin Ge remained composed on the surface but silently pondered in his heart.

This young Navy Rear Admiral was none other than the original story's Momonga, who would become a high-ranking Vice Admiral within the Navy Headquarters, second only to the Admirals and a select few. He was undoubtedly a key figure in the Navy's upper echelons.

"Colonel Dief, are these the outstanding talents recommended by your division? Let's proceed with the handover directly. There will be designated personnel to deal with further matters." With Dief's report, Momonga nodded casually and glanced at Qin Ge and Robin before swiftly giving instructions.

Momonga had no intention to linger or rest. Although Dief was somewhat surprised, he had no right to object to a Rear Admiral from the Navy Headquarters and obediently stepped aside.

Due to the incident at Ohara, Robin had no favorable impression of the Navy. If it weren't for Qin Ge informing her about the need to leverage the Navy's power to enhance their strength, she probably wouldn't even give them a good face.

Under the command of several Navy officers who accompanied Momonga , Qin Ge led the silent Robin onto the Navy warship. They also encountered numerous young boys and girls on the warship, just like Qin Ge and Robin. They were all exceptional talents recommended from various bases in the West Sea, preparing to participate in the selection for the Navy Academy. Naturally, they represented competitors to each other.

As soon as Qin Ge boarded the warship, he keenly felt the hostile and scrutinizing gazes from these young boys and girls. They already regarded him as an imaginary opponent.

However, Qin Ge didn't show any unusual reactions and remained calm, as if he hadn't noticed, as he and Robin were directed by the Navy soldiers on the warship to their assigned rooms.

Of course, this time Qin Ge couldn't share a room with Robin as before. They were allocated two separate rooms, which Robin was somewhat reluctant about.

Being in an unfamiliar environment naturally felt uncomfortable at first, but Robin was mature and wouldn't throw tantrums. She reluctantly glanced at Qin Ge before helplessly entering her assigned room.

"Young man, my name is Brian, and this is where you'll be staying. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime!" The Navy soldier, who had initially appeared stern, instantly eased his expression and wore a friendly smile as he accompanied Qin Ge into the room.

During the month and a half, Qin Ge had spent at the base, he had learned how to distinguish the ranks of the Navy, so he knew that Brian, the seaman, was a Private First Class.

Qin Ge was somewhat surprised by Brian's sudden friendliness, but he could guess the reason behind it. After all, everyone on board the ship was about to participate in the Navy Academy selection. Despite their young age, they were all considered potential talents by the higher-ups in the Navy, and their future development was not something ordinary Navy personnel could compare to or offend.

"No trouble at all. By the way, I wanted to ask, how much longer until we reach the Navy Headquarters?" Qin Ge replied with a smile, not adopting a condescending attitude.

Brian pondered for a moment and replied, "You should be among the last few groups. After this, we should be heading back to the Grand Line. If everything goes smoothly, it will take about a month to reach Marineford!"

"Another month?" Qin Ge contemplated silently.

The world of One Piece had not only peculiar geographical environments but also numerous bizarre weather conditions at sea. Even the strongest individuals couldn't ignore the natural disasters on the ocean. This made navigation extremely challenging.

Navy warships were considered top-of-the-line vessels, but reaching Marineford, which was located in the latter part of the first half of the Grand Line, still required a considerable amount of time.

Although Qin Ge didn't mind waiting another month to reach the Navy Headquarters, he was concerned about the assessment at the academy.

"By the way, if you don't mind, could you tell me more about the selection process for the academy? I'm not very familiar with it," Qin Ge asked Brian.

Brian nodded and said, "Sure, no problem. Besides, when you arrive at Marineford, someone will explain everything to you. Regarding the academy selection..."

Soon, Brian began explaining some details he knew, giving Qin Ge a more comprehensive understanding of the Navy Academy selection process.

Although candidates recommended by various Navy branches would go to the Marineford Headquarters Academy for selection, even those who passed the selection had to be the cream of the crop to stay at the main academy.

Apart from the main academy, there were also academies in the branch bases along the Grand Line, but their resources and foundations were far inferior to the main academy.

Even after passing the selection, there would be further screening. Only the most outstanding individuals could stay at the main academy, while those who didn't cut would be sent to the branch academies for secondary training.

As for the eliminated candidates, they would simply return to where they came from.

Having learned this information, Qin Ge fell into contemplation.

Although he wasn't sure about the specifics of the selection process, he could make some educated guesses. After all, even in a disciplined military organization, strength undoubtedly took precedence. Qin Ge was confident that he could pass the selection, considering his strength, even in a world like One Piece, where monstrous individuals abounded but were still rare for someone his age.

However, Qin Ge's goal was set in the main academy. This was not only because graduating from the main academy offered broader prospects, but also because the main academy had the richest training resources, providing better cultivation opportunities.

"It seems I can't slack off on the journey ahead!" Qin Ge murmured to himself.

...