[Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1517, March 22nd]…
Day three of my transmigration.
I found a job at a bar in town.
The pay is a bit low, but at least my food and clothing problems are solved.
I’ve also learned that this world full of pirates is actually quite interesting.
……
[Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1517, April 18th]
I’ve completely adapted to life in this world.
However, I heard the Marines are starting to draft recruits.
I looked into it a bit, and it sounds like a pretty good job as long as you don’t die.
It’s stable and long-term, and the salary and benefits are much better than what I have now.
It feels like a good choice.
……
[Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1517, April 19th]
I told the tavern owner that I was going to become a Marine.
He looked at me and said that if I joined the Marines, I had to make sure I survived.
The others in the tavern laughed, saying that a refined-looking guy like me would definitely get into trouble if I went.
Some kind-hearted people even tried to persuade me to drop the idea.
……
[Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1517, April 20th]
I discovered that there are massive fish in the oceans of this world.
Although I only saw them leaping from the surface in the distance, they looked beautiful.
I miss my old, leisurely life of raising fish every day.
When I get the chance, I should catch a few and keep them.
……
[Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1517, April 21st]
I heard that Marine Vice Admirals enjoy a high degree of autonomy.
That means as long as they don’t cross the bottom line, they can do whatever they want, especially after becoming a base commander.
Plus, the salary isn’t low, and the living conditions aren’t bad either.
Marine Admirals seem to be a level higher.
After thinking long and hard about my future plans and retirement, I decided that being a Marine would be the easiest path, so I signed up for the draft.
……
[Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1517, April 22nd]
Becoming a Marine was surprisingly easy.
I thought there would be a lot of tests.
However, since we have to head to the Marine base for training, I’ll be leaving tomorrow.
Tonight, I said goodbye to everyone who has taken care of me over the past month or so.
I’ll come back after I become a Vice Admiral or an Admiral.
It’ll be like returning home in glory.
After all, this is my first home since I transmigrated.
…
April 23rd, early morning.
In his room, Elliot tidied up his slightly curly, ear-length black hair.
He put on his glasses and boarded the conscription warship, departing right on time.
“Hmph, next time I come back, I’ll be a Headquarters Vice Admiral!”
On the deck, besides Elliot, there was another young man from the town who had volunteered to join the Marines in this draft.
He was the one who had just spoken—a young man with exceptionally pronounced muscles named Andrew.
Compared to Elliot’s calm demeanor, Andrew appeared particularly excited.
Especially after saying those words, his face filled with anticipation for his future, and he clenched his fists tightly.
“What about you, Elliot?” Andrew looked over at him.
“If the salary is good, I’d like to be a Vice Admiral too.” Elliot didn’t hide his goal, quickly adding, “Of course, if an Admiral’s benefits—like housing and living conditions—are good, and if the pay and future retirement packages are great, I wouldn’t mind being an Admiral.
I just don’t know if promotions in this world require networking and political connections…
I don’t have money for bribes.”
“…” Hearing Elliot’s words, Andrew was momentarily left speechless, but he quickly retorted, “Are you crazy, or do you just have no idea what kind of existence an Admiral is?”
“I’ve heard a bit from the people in the tavern,” Elliot replied.
Andrew immediately shot him a helpless look before saying with utmost seriousness, “You know the era we’re in right now is called the [Great Pirate Era], right?”
Elliot nodded.
Andrew continued, “Because of that, there are incredibly strong monsters among the pirates.
Although I’ve never been out there myself, here in the East Blue, Krieg, the boss of the strongest pirate crew—the Krieg Pirates—still hasn’t been caught by the Marines.
Instead, he’s killed a lot of them, and wherever he goes, he leaves utter devastation in his wake.
“And that’s just our East Blue.
I heard that on the Grand Line, pirates even stronger than him are a dime a dozen!!
“Marine Admirals are existences who stand at the very pinnacle of the entire Marine force in terms of strength, having fought those terrifyingly powerful pirates countless times and captured innumerable outlaws.
I’m not mocking your dream, because honestly, being a Vice Admiral is incredibly hard too.
Me saying I’m going to be a Vice Admiral was just me bragging, but…
“I just want to tell you that it’s too difficult!!
Every Marine has that dream, but right now, there are only three Admirals!
That’s how hard it is to become one.
And whatever you do, don’t tell anyone else, or you’ll be laughed at.”
“Only those with strength can talk about dreams?” Elliot asked, looking at Andrew.
“Duh!” Andrew shot back immediately.
Elliot pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose.
Maintaining his indifferent expression, he told Andrew, “When it comes to fighting, I’m actually pretty good.”
“…”
Hearing Elliot’s claim, Andrew rolled his eyes.
If anyone else had said that, he might have actually believed them.
But Elliot…
He was thin and scrawny.
Although he was quite good-looking, Andrew had heard the townsfolk say that if Elliot put on women’s clothes, absolutely no one would think he was a guy.
And with a build like that, he claimed to be good at fighting…
“You…”
But just as Andrew was about to speak…
“You two recruits over there!!
All new recruits have to start as chore boys.
You two, clean the deck immediately!!” a veteran Marine shouted loudly from behind them.
His words were accompanied by the clatter of mops and buckets being dropped onto the floor!
“Yes, sir!!”
Elliot and Andrew looked back and immediately responded.
Though in reality, Andrew was the one who replied loudly, while Elliot only spoke softly.
However, after acknowledging the order, the two immediately picked up the mops and buckets from the floor and got to work.
They were completely unaware that by the window of the warship’s second-floor cabin, Marine Captain Morton was watching them while listening to a subordinate’s report.
He looked at Andrew, then at Elliot.
Although he didn’t say much out loud, looking at Elliot’s frail body, his pale complexion, and the gentle vibe his glasses gave off…
In truth, the Captain was somewhat dissatisfied with Elliot.
He hadn’t even planned to accept Elliot in the first place because the boy looked far too skinny.
But considering the conscription quota assigned from above, he had decided to take him in anyway.
In his heart, however, he had already decided that once they reached the base, he would see if he could get Elliot a clerical job.
He had seen far too many Marines die at the hands of pirates, and he didn’t want to see another young man he had personally recruited lose his life.
“That concludes the full report on the conscription from other areas,” a Marine standing behind Morton said.
“One thousand seven hundred and sixty-two men?
I suppose that meets the quota.
Report this to the base later.” Morton turned around and returned to his seat behind the desk.
“Yes, sir!” The Marine immediately saluted, then continued, “Aside from that, there’s a matter regarding the Krieg Pirates.”
“Hm?” Hearing that name, Morton immediately looked up at his subordinate.
“Recently, the Krieg Pirates have been continuously pillaging small islands and passing merchant ships, especially sparsely populated towns far from Marine bases, like Riverside Town, which we just left.” The Marine reported while looking at Morton.
Reaching this point, he added, “Also, regarding that pirate named Ace who caused a huge uproar in Loguetown earlier…”
“Captain!!”
But right at that moment, another Marine burst directly into the cabin.
“Reporting to Captain Morton, the wreckage of a merchant ship has been spotted outside!”
“!!” Hearing this, Morton instantly stood up and strode out of the cabin, heading straight for the deck to look out at the sea ahead!
At this time, all the Marines on deck were staring out at the ocean, Elliot and Andrew included.
Right in front of them, a massive, slowly sinking ship was clearly visible.
Raging flames were burning fiercely across its hull.
Furthermore, the surface of the sea was littered with floating debris—splintered wood, wooden barrels, and other wreckage.
The closer they got to the merchant ship’s remains, the more debris there was, with several corpses mixed in among the wreckage.
“All personnel, return to your posts immediately!!” Morton ordered at once, taking in the sight of the corpses and the clear marks of cannon fire on the distant merchant ship!
Instantly!
Aside from the boarding combat squad, all the Marines responsible for maneuvering the warship and manning the firearms rushed back to their stations and readied themselves.
Thick smoke billowed into the air!
From a distance, it hadn’t been entirely clear, but as they drew closer, the plumes of black smoke filling the air became increasingly distinct.
“That’s the merchant ship that frequently visits our town,” Andrew recognized it at a glance.
Beside him, Elliot recognized it too.
On that merchant ship, he saw the person from the tavern who had tried to talk him out of becoming a Marine and who had done business with him.
Hearing Andrew’s words, Morton turned his head, intending to ask something…
Suddenly, the Marine lookout stationed on the mast shouted, “It’s the Krieg Pirates!!!
Captain Morton!!
The ones sailing ahead are the Krieg Pirates!
On the deck…
it’s…
it’s Krieg!!
It’s Don Krieg himself!!”