>4< Pushing Hard, Even at Work

Chapter 4: Pushing Hard, Even at Work

Lunchtime.

Reon was tearing into a large chunk of meat, gnawing at the bones with determination. The food in his stomach had been completely depleted during the morning's training, and he was desperate to replenish his energy.

He wolfed down the food for a while, and only after the jittery feeling from hunger began to subside did he slow his pace.

"Today seems a bit easier!"

Reon could feel his muscles trembling.

If yesterday his muscles had been screaming in agony after being pushed to their limits, today they were merely whimpering, like they were softly crying, "It hurts, but I can still go on."

He wasn't at his limit yet.

With the "World" healing his fatigue and injuries, he didn't need to worry about how much his body could take. As long as he kept his caloric and nutrient intake up, he could push himself as hard as he wanted.

Heh heh heh~~

Sorry, dear muscles!

Reon's smile grew increasingly mischievous.

Suddenly, someone approached him.

"You're Reon, right?"

"Hmm?"

Reon looked up and sized up the person.

Another recruit.

The man appeared to be in his early twenties, with uncommon pink hair, a slightly frivolous look, and a scrawny build. His skin was quite dark as well.

He had a face that just begged to be punched.

He also seemed somewhat familiar.

The pink-haired man playfully twirled his hair and introduced himself with a pretentious air, "My name is Fullbody. I'm your partner."

"Oh."

Reon nodded in realization.

Morgan had mentioned yesterday that chore duty was typically handled by two-man teams, pairing an experienced Marine with a newbie to help them get up to speed.

This must be what he was talking about.

A glint of metal caught Reon's eye.

He squinted, noticing the steel knuckle duster on Fullbody's right hand.

That's when it clicked.

"Iron Fist" Fullbody!

This guy would later show up in the Baratie arc, trying to show off in front of a lady only to get humiliated by Sanji. Afterward, he became a subordinate of Hina.

He wasn't particularly skilled, but he managed to climb the ranks.

"Pretty rough around the edges."

Fullbody looked down his nose at Reon's less-than-refined eating habits, his face full of disdain. Thankfully, they only had to work together for a month. By the end of it, Fullbody would pass the branch's assessment and become a full-fledged Marine.

In fact, he could already excel in the basic training, but since the assessment was scheduled at a fixed time, there was no rushing it.

It was time to get to work.

"Are you finished?"

"Hold on, I'm getting more!"

Reon quickly ran to the self-service area, grabbed two more large chunks of meat, and returned to Fullbody's side, now completely satisfied.

"How can you work on an empty stomach?"

"Let's go."

"..."

Fullbody's eye twitched.

Is this guy a bottomless pit?

"Follow me!"

The area they were assigned to clean was the top floor and rooftop of the defense tower, including the restrooms—everything had to be spotless.

Fullbody expertly grabbed a broom, cloth, bucket, and mop from the storage room.

"Hey, newbie, follow along with me for this first round to get familiar with the process. Starting tomorrow, we'll divide the tasks."

"Got it."

Reon took the broom with a grin.

Heh, cleaning? Even a dog could do it.

First sweep, then mop.

In the hallway, Fullbody worked the mop against the tiles with an unexpected level of dedication. "Listen up! The hallway is a priority area. It needs to be absolutely spotless!"

"Hmm?"

Reon was puzzled as he followed along with the mopping.

This guy didn't seem like the hardworking type at first glance, but here he was, taking the task seriously.

People really can't be judged by appearances!

The hallway was quite broad, and it took them nearly ten minutes to reach the end. When Reon looked back, he was shocked.

The area he had cleaned looked tidy enough, but the section Fullbody had mopped was gleaming, almost reflective, like a mirror.

One side was sparkling, the other was dull and gray.

The contrast was striking.

Fullbody knelt down, rubbed his finger across the section Reon had cleaned, and glared at the dust on his fingertip. His expression darkened immediately.

He suddenly grabbed Reon by the collar, bloodshot eyes glaring as he roared, "You damn newbie! Are you underestimating cleaning?"

"Absolutely not!"

Reon shook his head vigorously.

Does this guy have OCD?

If he remembered correctly, Fullbody did show up in the story as a bit of a clean freak, very particular about his appearance.

And he loved to show off.

Also, this guy had some serious strength!

After fuming for a while, Fullbody finally released Reon's collar and said coldly, "I'll demonstrate again. Pay attention—this is a battlefield. Even the slightest mistake can lead to complete failure."

"Understood!"

Reon swallowed nervously.

No wonder this guy could become a Navy officer. He even took cleaning to the next level. It seemed Reon still had a long way to go.

Damn, he suddenly felt fired up!

Work!

Work until the floor shines!

"Harder, push harder! Don't let the dust underestimate us!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Make sure the mop is clean! Don't be stingy—use plenty of soapy water. Treat it like you would a lover!"

"Got it!"

"Don't forget the cobwebs in the corners!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

.....

5:00 PM.

In the colonel's office, Colonel Rhodes finally felt the familiar urge to use the restroom after finishing his work.

When he opened the office door and saw the spotless, gleaming hallway, he froze for a moment.

"Well done."

It had been a long time since the fortress had been cleaned so thoroughly, to the point where he felt hesitant to even step on the floor, afraid of dirtying it.

Colonel Rhodes wiped his not-so-dirty shoes against the floor before leaving his office. Walking down the immaculate hallway, his previously tense mood lightened considerably.

Hmm, even the lights have been polished clean.

"Impressive, really impressive."

He nodded repeatedly, a smile gradually forming on his face. Whoever this new recruit was, they deserved to be commended. If the base were cleaned this well every day, overall morale would definitely improve!

When he arrived at the restroom, he was even more astonished. The floors and walls were so clean they sparkled, and the yellowed stains that had long plagued the urinals had vanished without a trace.

"Hiss—"

Seeing his reflection in the urinal wall, Colonel Rhodes instinctively ran a hand through his hair, as if looking into a mirror.

Nice!

What delighted him even more was the absence of the usual foul odor; instead, the restroom was filled with a faint scent of soap.

"Inhale—"

Colonel Rhodes closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Exhale—

So refreshing!

Commendation—there must be a commendation!

He'd have to commend this soldier in front of everyone! With such diligent soldiers, the future of the 153rd Branch looked bright!

"Ugh, I can't hold it any longer."

After admiring the restroom for a moment, Colonel Rhodes opened one of the stall doors. A blinding gleam hit his eyes, making him squint.

"What the…"

He stared at the toilet, which was so clean it seemed to sparkle, as if it had been polished to a high shine. It looked so pristine that he almost wanted to lick it to see how it tasted. Swallowing hard, Colonel Rhodes carefully lowered his trousers and sat down.

Time ticked by.

Ten minutes later.

Colonel Rhodes stood up, his face flushed red with frustration, gritting his teeth as he pulled up his pants.

"Damn it, I can't do it!"

Sitting on such a clean toilet felt too guilt-inducing!

He needed to find a different restroom!