One Piece: Marine's Justice

The Marine Academy was massive, second only to the town of Marineford and the Marine Headquarters fortress. It boasted over a dozen dormitories and academic buildings, multiple training grounds, and was completely enclosed by high walls and wire fences. It might as well have been a town of its own.

From Shuzo, Cross learned that the Marine Academy had more than 1,300 trainee marines and over a hundred retired and active-duty officers serving as instructors. It was arguably the largest academy in the world.

The Navy and World Government had poured a wealth of resources into the institution—food, medicine, weapons, equipment, everything imaginable. It had more than enough supplies to sustain an entire G-branch base.

On the way to Building 4, Shuzo gave Cross a rundown of the academy's structure, then handed him a folded piece of parchment.

"Here. Take this!"

"Huh? What is it?"

"A map of the Marine Academy!"

"Oh, thanks!"

Cross looked down at the parchment in surprise. For a moment, Shuzo seemed far more agreeable than usual.

Unfolding the map, Cross glanced over it as they walked.

The Marine Academy consisted of 16 buildings, numbered from 1 to 16.

Building 1 was the administration building, where Zephyr's office was located, as well as the staff offices for all six grades of instructors.

Buildings 2 through 11 were dormitories. Each was a standard six-story structure with ten rooms per floor, totaling 60 rooms per building.

Buildings 2 and 3 housed the instructors in single-occupancy rooms.

Building 4 was the elite class dormitory, also single-occupancy rooms.

Buildings 5 to 11 were for general students, with each student getting their own room.

Buildings 12 and 13 were classrooms for theoretical subjects like navigation, sailing techniques, Marine history, and command studies.

Buildings 14 and 15 served as indoor training halls, warehouses, and logistical centers, each with four floors.

Building 16 housed the cafeteria and baths, three floors for dining, and two upper floors for bathing facilities.

Finally, there were the open-air training grounds, covering physical training, melee combat, firearms, and heavy weaponry.

In short, the map in Cross's hands was comprehensive, detailing every area of the academy.

"All right, we're here!"

Shuzo suddenly stopped and pointed toward a towering structure ahead.

Cross looked up, momentarily dazed. The tall building loomed above them, its white exterior adorned with blue stripes, and a large number "4" prominently displayed in the center.

The building's height was no exaggeration, each floor stood over five meters tall, pushing the total height beyond thirty meters. Clearly, the structure was designed to accommodate some rather tall students.

"Shuzo, isn't that your little brother?"

Suddenly, an irritating voice called out behind them.

Both Cross and Shuzo frowned and turned around, annoyed, only to see a man and woman approaching.

The man had short silver hair, a cigar clenched between his teeth, and wore a white Marine sailor uniform, deep blue trousers, and brown military boots.

The woman walked beside him with a cool, striking presence. She had long, sleek, light pink hair parted down the middle, sharp eyes, and a cigarette of her own perched at the corner of her lips. Her attire matched the man's, though she wore glossy black shoes with rounded toes.

"Smoker, are you so nicotine-addled that you're hallucinating now? Which eye of yours says he looks like a Longarm Tribe member?" Shuzo snapped coldly.

"Hahaha! Don't be so serious. I'm just messing around. Right, Hina?" Smoker chuckled maliciously, waggling his brows at the woman beside him.

"Hina sees no resemblance," she replied with an icy tone, casting a glance at Smoker. "Hina knows you said it just to get under Shuzo's skin."

"Hey, hey! What are you saying?!" Smoker's face darkened, and he raised his voice in protest.

Ignoring Smoker's frustration, Hina stepped forward, stopping in front of Cross. She looked him over, then said in a firm, unquestioning voice, "Outsiders are not allowed inside the Marine Academy, especially not unsupervised. Even a minor isn't an exception. Which means, you must be a Marine."

"Huh?!"

Smoker stepped up as well, blinking in surprise. He gave Cross a once-over before muttering, "I thought he was just some kid wearing a Marine uniform to fool around, maybe he was related to you or something."

"Hina-san, you're not only beautiful but incredibly sharp!" Cross said with mock admiration, grinning. "Now that you've deduced I'm a Marine, what else can you figure out?"

"Hmph…"

Hina removed her cigarette, slowly exhaled a trail of smoke, and began analyzing aloud:

"The Elite Class selection just wrapped up a few days ago. Forty-nine people made the cut, one short of the expected number. That surprised both students and instructors. And now today… you arrive, and Shuzo personally escorts you to Building 4…"

She paused for a moment, her tone turning speculative.

"…Shuzo is Zephyr-sensei's temporary assistant. If he brought you here… then that must mean… you're the final member of this year's Elite Class?!"

Cross clapped with a broad smile. "Bravo, Hina-san! I'm impressed! You're absolutely right. I'm Amphitrite Cross, the final entrant to this year's Elite Class. I look forward to learning with you all over the next year!"

"You... you're kidding, right?!"

Smoker gawked at Shuzo in disbelief, yelling, "Shuzo! Tell me this kid is your secret love child or something! There's no way a minor like him could join the 16th Elite Class!"

Shuzo's face darkened in fury. "Smoker! What the hell are you babbling about?!"

But Smoker wouldn't back down. He barked right back, "Don't give me that! He's just a kid, hasn't even been enrolled in any proper Marine Academy courses! He didn't participate in the selection trials either. And now you're telling me he's suddenly in the Elite Class? Even if it's true, I smell something fishy!"

"Hmph."

Shuzo abruptly calmed, scoffing disdainfully. "This was Zephyr-sensei's decision, along with approval from Marine Headquarters. If you've got a problem with it, take it up with Zephyr-sensei or report it directly to the Fleet Admiral."

"Zephyr-sensei and HQ signed off on this?!"

Smoker looked bewildered. He glanced over at Cross again, scratching the back of his head in confusion.

"Zephyr-sensei said Cross took part in a special live-combat assessment. With the top brass's approval, he didn't need to participate in the standard selection trials," Shuzo explained, then glanced over at Cross.

"But Zephyr-sensei also said, if anyone at the academy has a problem with it, they're free to challenge him anytime. If they can beat him, they can take his place in the Elite Class."

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