The group looked at Elliot, once again revealing expressions of sheer astonishment.
Hibari in particular stared at him with her eyebrows furrowed into a deep frown.
*He’s doing it again.*
Beside her, Kujaku let out a sigh and smiled wryly.
“Special admission cadets sure have it easy.
To think you’re still worrying about that at a time like this.
This field mission is tied to our evaluations, you know, Little Elliot.”
Grus crossed his arms over his chest and glanced down at the battleship that had already sailed out of the port.
“Although I don’t know what your evaluation system entails, it should be much stricter than ours.
Our scores determine when we graduate from the academy and where we’ll be deployed for service.”
As he spoke, Prince Grus could be seen gripping his own arm, clearly nervous.
“I wonder if those wild beasts are strong…” Hibari bit her lower lip lightly, her face full of worry.
But right after saying that, she looked at Elliot and quickly clarified, “I don’t mean anything else by that.
I’m not trying to rely on you again, Elliot.”
Elliot pushed up his glasses and replied, “It’s not that I’m taking it easy.
After all, the tasks for this business trip are part of my job description, and I will give my all when it comes to work.
Furthermore, my status as a special admission cadet is directly tied to my promotion and salary increase after graduation.
It wouldn’t look good if my score was too low.”
“…”
Listening to Elliot’s reasoning, Hibari and the other two stared at him, completely at a loss for words.
“You say you want a good score, yet you just walked out on us before,” Kujaku said helplessly.
Hibari, Kujaku, and Grus had only managed to become familiar with Elliot because they were assigned to the same group, which gave them more time to interact with him.
Over the past few days, whether it was the other cadets or the three of them, everyone had grown accustomed to Elliot’s eccentricities.
But being used to it was one thing…
It didn’t stop them from being completely clueless about what went on inside Elliot’s head.
Just like right now…
Looking at Elliot, Kujaku smiled wryly as she recalled the first time they were grouped together.
When the groups were first formed, the three of them had been assigned to Elliot’s team.
They had been thrilled at the prospect of sparring with this overwhelmingly powerful ‘monster special admission cadet’ again.
But right at that moment, the clock struck twelve.
And then…
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Elliot simply raised his hand, declared his surrender, announced that it was time to clock out, and walked straight off.
Before leaving, he even turned to the three of them and asked, “Aren’t you guys going?”
Leaving Hibari and the others utterly dumbfounded.
Hearing Kujaku’s words, Elliot naturally knew she was referring to their first group assignment.
But just as he was about to speak, he couldn’t help but turn his head…
Only to see those massive gates opening once again.
And as the gates swung open, the expressions of the naval academy cadets on board grew solemn.
Because…
They were heading into the [New World]!
The [New World], where the most heinous and vicious pirates gathered!
Even Kujaku, who had been chatting and laughing just moments ago, now wore a grave expression.
“Attention everyone, this is the intelligence regarding the island.
To make the grading process easier, we have classified the wild beasts on the island into four threat levels: A, B, C, and D.
You will be awarded points based on the level of the beasts you eliminate.”
Ain stood on the deck as several naval academy Marines beside her distributed the documents.
When a copy was handed to Elliot, he saw the words [Early Summer Island] written on it, along with a note indicating it was located near the [Dressrosa] Kingdom.
…
As Marines, they naturally didn’t need to take the extremely dangerous Fish-Man Island route.
The World Government had a dedicated passage built specifically for the Marines, allowing them to easily travel from the first half of the Grand Line into the New World.
Thus, they crossed the Red Line with ease.
The reason for this mission to eliminate the beasts on Early Summer Island was that a new trade route had been established between the Dressrosa Kingdom and the Ampesa Kingdom.
Since both were allied nations of the World Government, they had requested the Marines’ assistance in clearing out the island’s wild beasts so they could build a transit town there.
However, after crossing the Red Line, Elliot and the others’ battleship didn’t detour to either country; instead, it sailed straight toward Early Summer Island.
Standing on the deck, Elliot enjoyed the sea breeze.
Around him, the naval academy cadets were constantly training, either swinging their swords or doing squats.
After several consecutive days of sailing, they were getting closer and closer to Early Summer Island.
Elliot, however, remained indifferent to it all.
But the closer they got, the more tense the others became—especially after learning that the reason the beasts on Early Summer Island were classified by threat levels was because ‘Kings’ had been born among them.
And the strength of these Beast Kings was in no way inferior to those who possessed Haki.
One could easily imagine how difficult it would be for the cadets to earn a high score on this mission.
And because of that…
Everyone was working so incredibly hard right now.
“According to our intelligence, there are at least nineteen A-rank Beast Kings on the island.
Your mission is to capture at least fifteen of them as quickly as possible,” Momonga said, having walked up beside Elliot at some point.
“But you don’t seem anxious in the slightest.”
Special admission cadets had their own separate evaluation system.
Elliot’s mission wasn’t to kill those beasts, but to capture them alive!
As Zephyr had put it: *’With your strength, killing those beasts would be far too easy.
So just capture them all and bring them back.
They’ll be sent to a prison afterward.’*
Elliot pulled out his pocket watch, checked the time, and then looked at Momonga.
“I…”
But just as he spoke…
“Wreckage!” A Marine on lookout duty atop the mast leaned out with his binoculars and shouted down to the deck.
“Ship wreckage spotted ahead at eleven o’clock!
Pirate ship spotted at twelve o’clock, currently approaching!”
Hearing this, Momonga’s expression immediately stiffened, and he narrowed his eyes at the horizon.
All the cadets on board instantly turned to look in the direction the Marine had indicated.
But there was no need for anyone to issue orders.
Even though they were called cadets, they were, after all, elites recommended from various Marine bases.
So in an instant, everyone readied themselves.
The Marines manning the artillery and firing positions across the battleship swiftly took up combat-ready stances.
“A shootout between pirates?” Momonga muttered as he peered through the binoculars a Marine had just handed him.
“Have you confirmed their identities?” Zephyr walked up beside Momonga, sporting a new mechanical arm on his right side.
As he spoke, everyone could already see a massive amount of ship wreckage floating on the surface of the sea, including a torn pirate flag.
But before Momonga could say anything…
The Marine on the mast shouted, “It’s the Beast Pirates!
Mr.
Zephyr, Vice Admiral Momonga!
The ship sailing ahead belongs to the Beast Pirates!
And standing on the deck…
it’s Jack!
[Drought] Jack!”
Momonga was already observing the massive ship through his binoculars.
And…
He also saw the colossal figure standing on the deck, staring right back at them.
That man was currently watching them as well.
With a wave of the man’s hand, the enormous pirate ship immediately changed course to face them.
“!”
But just as Momonga’s brows locked in a tight frown, he spotted another massive figure.
“Hanafuda?!”