Chapter 13: Heading to Navy Headquarters

Ten days had passed since Wood bid farewell to the people of Red Leaf Island, and he had spent this time aboard the Navy warship.

The idea that it takes a hundred days to heal broken bones clearly doesn't apply in this world. Whether it was Wood's exceptional physical condition or the ship's doctor's remarkable skills, in just ten days, Wood was able to get out of bed and move around.

During these ten days, the fleet had traveled through most of the first half of the Grand Line.

Perhaps because Zephyr was satisfied with finding Wood, he became less picky about the rest of the recruitment process. Before returning to Navy Headquarters, they barely met the minimum recruitment standards, much to the relief of Rear Admiral Kadaru.

Now that he could move again, Wood chose not to receive any special treatment and requested to leave his private cabin.

However, the rumors that had spread among the crew over the past few days made it clear that the new recruits had begun to ostracize Wood. Wood didn't seem to care much about this, nor did he bother to explain himself.

Thanks to the special route through the Gates of Justice, the return journey to Navy Headquarters, "Marineford," didn't take long.

At the massive port, warships followed instructions and docked at designated spots.

Marineford, like other islands, was an island, but it had been fully developed into the Navy's main stronghold.

As Wood and the other fresh recruits disembarked from the warship, they were immediately captivated by the massive building before them.

Thick, square walls surrounded a multi-tiered tower structure, with large "Navy" characters and a seagull holding scales emblazoned on the huge walls.

While there are many nations in the Grand Line, few can rival the scale of the Navy Headquarters' architecture.

And it wasn't just the grandeur of the buildings—everywhere you looked, there were thick cannon barrels protruding from the walls, and guards posted every few steps, indicating that this sea fortress was not just for show.

Steel, uniforms, and artillery—these are the things that stir excitement in most men. Seeing the imposing Navy Headquarters and the soldiers in training, many of the new recruits couldn't help but feel a surge of enthusiasm.

Most of these recruits had joined the Navy initially just to earn a living.

But now, seeing the elite Navy soldiers and the officers commanding them, many began to dream of becoming one of them someday.

Just as Zephyr and his group disembarked, another warship docked nearby. A tall, muscular man with a dog-headed hat and a white Navy uniform spotted Zephyr from a distance and walked over with a hearty laugh.

The man seemed to be about the same age as Zephyr and, like him, wore a military vest under his uniform with a "Justice" cloak draped over his back, marking him as a "general-level" officer.

"So this is why the port is busier than usual today! You're back with the new recruits, huh, you old geezer?

Look at these cannons, all polished and shiny—they haven't been used in ages, but they're all out today.

Last time, Sengoku was complaining to me about the Navy's budget shortage, but it looks like they spared no expense for this military exercise just to impress these recruits."

As the man approached, he kept stuffing senbei into his mouth with one hand while holding a bag in the other, casually exposing the Navy's secrets, much to the chagrin of the accompanying officers.

Normally, Marineford is heavily guarded, but only relatively speaking. After all, this is Marineford, where the Navy's top forces, including Admirals and the Fleet Admiral, are stationed. It's not like any pirate would be bold enough to attack the Navy Headquarters directly.

So the military displays and exercises that Wood and the other recruits were witnessing were clearly specially arranged.

Those familiar with the Navy's internal workings, like Zephyr and the others, didn't have to guess who was behind these arrangements.

They also understood that the purpose of such displays wasn't just to showcase the Navy's power but also to instill a sense of awe and belonging in the new recruits.

But understanding it doesn't mean they would openly acknowledge it.

It was clear that because of this man's loose lips, the intended effect of the Navy Headquarters' grand display would be significantly diminished.

The cost in manpower aside, the expenditure on ammunition for the military exercises wasn't insignificant. And now that the expected results wouldn't be achieved, a certain Admiral would likely have a word with this loudmouthed fellow soon.

"Karp, if you keep running your mouth like this, Sengoku will be on your case soon enough."

Seeing the man approaching, a rare smile appeared on Zephyr's stern face.

And from the way Zephyr addressed him, the new recruits realized that this seemingly unremarkable man with the dog-headed hat was none other than the legendary Navy hero, Garp!

Among the Navy's senior officers, Zephyr was undoubtedly the most well-liked, as most of the officers had been his students, and Zephyr had always been dedicated to their training.

But when it came to fame, it wasn't Zephyr or even the Fleet Admiral, but the Navy hero, Monkey D. Garp, who stood out.

Garp wasn't just a hero within the Navy; he was also well-known among ordinary people outside the Navy, primarily because he was the one who had repeatedly cornered the Pirate King.

"Yeah, yeah, I probably shouldn't have said that… But since it's already out there, there's no helping it.

To avoid Sengoku's wrath, let's just pretend you didn't hear what I said, hahaha!"

Garp only now seemed to realize that he had once again "accidentally" undermined his old buddy Sengoku. But admitting fault was out of the question—Garp had his pride—so all he could do was laugh it off and hope the recruits would forget what they'd heard.

"You've been in the Navy for decades and hold a high position. Can't you ever think about the consequences of your actions?"

Zephyr sighed, exasperated, as he watched Garp laugh without a hint of guilt. Despite being older than Zephyr by a few years, Garp still acted like a child, often reckless and impulsive…

As Zephyr chided Garp, Kadaru, the Rear Admiral standing nearby, could only look on with a pained expression. He wanted to say, "Compared to Garp's antics, Zephyr isn't much better…"