Chapter 14 - Fellow North Blue Countrymen

As long as you perform excellently in the new recruit selection, you have the chance to be promoted.

You could potentially jump six ranks straight to Lieutenant?

Hearing this, Rosha couldn't help but breathe heavily.

Moreover, he suddenly realized a key point.

He had officially joined the Navy as a Third-Class Soldier under Akainu's approval.

This meant his rank standards might be based on the Navy Headquarters.

In other words, a Third-Class Soldier from the Headquarters.

Everyone knows that the rank levels between Headquarters and Branch differ by three ranks, which is essentially an entire major grade.

A Captain or lieutenant from Headquarters would be equivalent to a Colonel or major in the Four Seas Branches, essentially the highest-ranking officers in the branches.

This explained why the Branch Lieutenant guiding them was so respectful to Doss.

Because Doss held the rank of Lieutenant Commander from the Navy Headquarters.

Such an officer in the Four Seas Branch was like an overwhelming presence.

However, this doesn't mean that a Third-Class Soldier from Headquarters is equivalent to a Branch Lieutenant.

That's purely wishful thinking.

Anyone below the rank of Sergeant is just a recruit, no matter where they are.

However, what made Rosha curious was that Adilla, the head of Branch 177, held a rank that didn't match the highest rank of Branch Colonel.

Because on the ship, little Hibari had mentioned that Adilla was a Rear Admiral, and not just any Rear Admiral, but one from the Headquarters!

A true powerhouse with significant authority in the Navy Headquarters, and he was once Akainu's adjutant!

Getting back on track.

Rosha wondered if, if he participated in the new recruit selection and achieved excellent results, his promotion would be according to Branch standards or Headquarters standards.

"Am I being too greedy? Even jumping three ranks to become a Sergeant would be great.

Moreover, with so many people coming to the recruitment, who knows if there might be powerful new recruits among them?

This is the world of pirates, where new monsters are born frequently."

"But Doss is right. If you don't seize the opportunity, would you rather slog through low ranks for a decade or two? Koby went from joining Garp to becoming a Marine Commander, equivalent to a Colonel, in just under two and a half years.

"And in the World Conscription of 1521, Fujitora and Green Bull, who were monsters in terms of strength, were chosen as new Admirals despite having no prior rank.

"This explains why this branch recruitment includes exceptional selection rules.

"Justice must be backed by strong power."

"Brother Rosha, Doss is right. This is your chance. You can kill a pirate with a bounty of 16 million Berries, winning in the recruit selection should be no problem. Go for it!"

Hibari cheered him on.

"Killed a pirate with a bounty of 16 million Berries? Did I hear that right?" The Branch Lieutenant leading them widened his eyes in shock, looking at Rosha with renewed interest.

A Third-Class recruit killing a pirate with a bounty of 16 million Berries?

In the North Blue, pirates with such bounties have strengths comparable to Branch officers, typically higher than a Lieutenant.

The strongest pirate he had dealt with so far had a bounty of only 8 million Berries.

This made the Branch Lieutenant recall a phrase often heard from his superiors.

"Never underestimate anyone from the Headquarters, because Headquarters doesn't raise useless people."

"Lieutenant, do you think I can participate in the Branch selection here?"

Rosha asked with a smile, addressing the now cautious Lieutenant.

"Well… I can't make that decision, but I can ask my superiors for you."

The Branch Lieutenant spoke very politely.

Rosha nodded understandingly, "Oh, thank you. By the way, I'm from the North Blue too, from Maple Leaf Village in the Kingdom of Lubnir. My name is Rosha."

Saying this, Rosha extended his hand in a friendly gesture.

The young lieutenant in his early thirties was momentarily stunned, then he reacted with a smile, nodding, "So you're a fellow from the North Blue, no wonder your accent sounds familiar. I'm Richard, a Lieutenant of the 177th Branch, from Minion Island."

"Minion Island?" Rosha blinked.

This island sounded familiar.

"Wait, isn't Minion Island the place where Law obtained the Ope Ope no Mi in the manga? Now it's the year 1515 of the Sea Calendar, Law should have already defected from the Donquixote Family, right? I wonder if he's still in the North Blue?"

"Since we're fellow North Blue countrymen, I can't let this good opportunity slip by. Brother Rosha, wait here. I'll be right back."

Richard smiled at Rosha before quickly heading towards where Rear Admiral Adilla was.

Rosha let out a long breath, feeling a bit sentimental, "Just saying we're from the North Blue works this well."

"Of course," Doss chuckled, "That's just in the North Blue. When you get to Headquarters, you'll see how much those from the same place stick together. For example…"

Doss leaned in close to Rosha, speaking quietly, "For example, Admiral Akainu and Admiral Kizaru. They get along well because they both come from the North Blue and are from the same monster generation in the Navy."

Hibari huffed, "I heard that. I'm going to tell Dad."

"My little princess Hibari, I was wrong…"

Doss pleaded with a pained expression, offering the half-eaten cotton candy to Hibari, "Here, have some cotton candy. Just don't tell Admiral Sakazuki."

"Yuck! You already ate it, that's gross." Hibari covered her mouth, looking disgusted.

"Hmm?" Doss's eyes twinkled as he quickly grabbed Rosha, snatching the cotton candy he was about to eat, and handed it to Hibari.

"Then how about you have Rosha's half-eaten cotton candy?"

"Uh?"

Hibari was stunned.

She glanced at Rosha, who scratched his head with a wry smile.

Her chubby cheeks flushed slightly, and she silently took Rosha's half-eaten cotton candy and took a small bite.

"This girl is so biased. Am I less attractive than you, you freakish kid, Rosha?"

Doss's face twitched as he slung an arm around Rosha's shoulders, "Does having white hair really boost your charm? Maybe I should consider dyeing my hair too."

"No, I think if someone with glasses and white hair, it's more likely to lead down a dark path, so…"

"You brat, I'm a staunch defender of absolute justice and a loyal fan of Admiral Sakazuki. No way I'm turning evil."

While they were bickering.

On the other side, as Rear Admiral Adilla was about to enter the branch office building, he listened to Richard's stammered report, glanced at Rosha, and then looked at Akainu beside him.

"Brother Sakazuki, this new recruit is?"

"A new recruit I picked up on the way." Akainu was as succinct as ever.

"Oh? A recruit picked by you, Brother?"

Rear Admiral Adilla was a bit surprised.

He knew his brother very well.

When Akainu returned to the North Blue to serve as Admiral of the North Blue, Adilla was Akainu's adjutant.

He understood Akainu's character.

Regardless of the reason, any soldier that Akainu took a liking to and brought under his command, barring those who fell midway, was never a waste.

Thinking of this, Adilla couldn't help but become interested in this young man from Maple Leaf Village named Rosha.

"No problem, let him join the recruit selection. I'd like to see what Brother Sakazuki saw in him."

Adilla smiled.

But in the next second, his smile turned into shock and surprise.

Because Akainu suddenly said.

"Let all the new recruits being tested today join."

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