Hearing Elliot’s words, Sengoku on the other end of the Den Den Mushi was confused.
“Bene…
fits?”
Even Hood, who was standing to the side, looked at Elliot with a bewildered expression.
Elliot looked at the Den Den Mushi and asked bluntly, “Like salary, welfare, and all that.
Because I’m not sure if you’ll still pay me after I become a student at the Marine Academy.
I don’t have much money on me right now.
If I go to Headquarters to study and you stop paying me, I won’t be able to guarantee my livelihood.
These are the realistic problems I have to face, so I hope you can understand.”
Hood and Sengoku: “…”
They didn’t know what to say.
The Den Den Mushi mirrored Sengoku’s speechless expression from the other end.
“Hahahaha!” But at that moment, a loud laugh rang out as Garp looked at the Den Den Mushi.
“He’s a pretty interesting kid, isn’t he, Sengoku!”
Garp’s voice was incredibly loud, especially since there were no other major sounds in the base right now aside from the seagulls and the blowing sea breeze.
So all at once, the surrounding Marines who were paying attention to this side heard the name Sengoku.
One by one, they immediately dropped the work in their hands, their faces filled with shock.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku!
The Fleet Admiral who commanded the entire Marines, Sengoku!
Was that monster-like recruit actually talking to Fleet Admiral Sengoku right now!?
“During your time at the Marine Academy, your salary will be issued normally, and…” Sengoku spoke from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
“Although it hasn’t been decided through a formal meeting yet, considering you single-handedly destroyed and wiped out the Krieg Pirates, that is enough to promote you to the rank of Ensign.
Furthermore, an Ensign affiliated directly with Marine Headquarters.
You will be officially commissioned once you arrive at Headquarters.
For now, you are still a Marine Apprentice.”
Hood revealed a bitter smile upon hearing this, but he didn’t say a word.
Even though he was extremely reluctant to let such a massive treasure go, a man with Elliot’s strength was always meant to leave the East Blue and head to the front lines against pirates.
Elliot remained expressionless.
He reached up to push his glasses up his nose and began muttering as if talking to himself, “I remember the salary for Headquarters Marines is twice that of the Marines here in the East Blue.
Plus, I’m becoming an Ensign, so the pay is even higher.
And after studying, I should be able to get promoted again, which means even more money, and…”
Listening to Elliot’s words, Vice Admiral Hood looked completely dumbfounded.
How should he put it?
There were plenty of people with strong personalities in the Marines, each one weirder than the last—in other words, there were a lot of freaks, but…
This kid in front of him was absolutely the first of his kind!
Especially listening to this kid rambling on about salaries, buying a house, and retirement, Hood covered his forehead with one hand and couldn’t help but complain, “Just what exactly was your motive for joining the Marines, kid…?”
Elliot didn’t hide it at all.
“To have a stable job.”
Hood pursed his lips.
Garp had already walked over, grinning widely.
However, Sengoku asked uncharacteristically, “If it’s purely for money, it would be easier to get rich by becoming a pirate or a bounty hunter, wouldn’t it?”
Elliot’s expression faltered in surprise for a moment.
“Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I don’t want to be a bad guy, even if I’m poor.
As for bounty hunters, although I’ve heard of the profession before, I don’t want to travel all over the world looking for pirates while starving.
Therefore, a stable job as a Marine is my optimal choice.”
With that said, Elliot took out his pocket watch and glanced at it.
“I’ve already been forced to work sixteen minutes of overtime.
I’m off the clock.
Afterward, I will follow Vice Admiral Garp to Headquarters.”
After saying this, Elliot gave a military salute to Garp, Hood, and the Den Den Mushi, then turned around and jogged over toward Andrew.
“You’ve found me another person with a bizarre personality, haven’t you!” Sengoku sighed helplessly from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
Garp’s lips twitched into a smile as he watched Elliot lift a massive, shattered boulder with one hand to help clean up.
“But he’s a good kid, Sengoku!
If it weren’t for him just now, I would have smashed this base to pieces.
In his own words, if he had dodged my punch, a lot of people in this base would have gotten hurt.”
“You still have the nerve to say that!” Hearing this, Sengoku immediately roared!
Hood also glared fiercely at Garp.
Garp, on the other hand, just flashed a wide grin and scratched the back of his head, looking full of embarrassment.
But Hood also looked toward Elliot, who was currently bowing and apologizing to the injured Marines.
“The Krieg pirate ship, with the exception of Krieg himself, was completely wiped out!
That kid killed them all by himself.”
“Decisive and ruthless against pirates, yet he protects his own people…” Sengoku muttered over the Den Den Mushi.
But in the next moment, the snail’s expression suddenly turned serious.
“Have you made a judgment on his strength?”
The corners of Garp’s mouth curled up as he kept his eyes on Elliot in the distance.
“A monster.”
…
“Going to the Marine Academy at Headquarters?” Andrew stared at Elliot in sheer astonishment, holding a chunk of rubble in his arms as he looked at him in shock.
Elliot, however, seemed completely indifferent.
“Yeah, we might be heading out in a bit.
Even though I’m going to Headquarters earlier than I imagined, if I want to get promoted and get a raise, going to Headquarters is a matter of course.
After all, it’s me.”
Elliot kept his head down, continuing to help move the rubble.
Hearing this, Andrew twitched his lips, really wanting to smack Elliot!
Because was that even something a human would say?!
That was going to Headquarters!
Becoming a Marine at Headquarters was something Marines across all four seas dreamed of!
But…
Andrew stared blankly at Elliot.
He thought about when this guy first showed up in their village, about how out of everyone in the village, only he and Elliot had been selected, and the scene of the village chief and so many others seeing them off when they left.
Yet…
Even though they had started together, Elliot was already heading to Headquarters…
While he was still just a Marine Apprentice.
Andrew clenched his fists, his pupils trembling slightly as he looked at Elliot.
“Andrew?” Elliot looked over at him, his face as expressionless as ever.
Andrew’s expression froze for a second, but he quickly lowered his head.
“It’s nothing…”
But the next moment!
Andrew suddenly looked up at Elliot, his fists clenched tight.
“I…
I’ll work hard to get to Headquarters too!”
Elliot raised his eyes to look at Andrew.
“Hm?”
Andrew pledged solemnly, “I will definitely catch up to you!
We came from the same village, and I absolutely won’t allow you to secretly improve all by yourself!
Even if I’m not as strong as you, I’ll never let you leave me behind!”
Elliot blinked, then pushed up his glasses.
“Andrew, I don’t like boys.
Besides, don’t you think it’s a bit awkward to suddenly act like this?”
Andrew’s expression froze.
He subconsciously looked around, only to find that all the surrounding Marines were staring at him.
*Whoosh!*
Andrew’s face turned completely red, and he glared at Elliot.
“Shut up!
I wasn’t confessing my love to you!”
With that said, he turned around and went back to moving rocks.
Elliot, however, just looked at Andrew’s back.
“Yeah.”
Hearing that response, Andrew’s movements paused for a second, and then he looked at Elliot with a resolute expression.
Elliot continued, “However, I have a rough idea of the level of strength required to go to Headquarters.
I think it’ll be pretty hard for you to achieve, Andrew.
After all, you’re quite weak right now.”
Andrew immediately whipped his head back around.
“Shut up!
You sharp-tongued, narcissistic, four-eyed jerk!”