"Lucas, you’re a Vice Admiral now! Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you just too excited?"
Koby’s face was full of excitement.
To him, nothing was more gratifying than seeing his former shipmate achieve such incredible success.
He also finally understood why Ain had been so determined to challenge Lucas again.
A rookie who had reported for duty on his very first day and was immediately promoted to Vice Admiral—
Aside from those who truly understood Lucas’s strength, very few people would be willing to accept that.
"Hmph! I think you’re just worried about tomorrow’s assessment."
Ain bit her lip, still clearly unwilling to concede.
"I’ll tell you this—the loudest opposition to your Admiral nomination came from Admiral Sakazuki."
"He’ll also be the one overseeing tomorrow’s assessment."
"So don’t expect it to be easy. It’ll probably be the toughest evaluation you’ve ever faced."
"Instructor Zephyr asked me to tell you not to overthink it. Let nature take its course."
"As long as your strength is sufficient, and the timing is right, you’ll become an Admiral sooner or later."
"Admiral Akainu?"
Helmeppo’s face immediately turned pale.
"He’s famous for being merciless... This is going to be rough."
Even before arriving at Marine Headquarters, they had already heard countless stories about Sakazuki’s fearsome reputation.
After arriving, most of the tales surrounding the Three Admirals revolved around him.
If Kizaru was known for slacking off...
And Aokiji preferred taking things at his own leisurely pace...
Then Akainu embodied uncompromising justice and ruthless resolve.
That was precisely why he was considered the most formidable of the Three Admirals.
Anyone singled out by him was unlikely to have a pleasant ending.
"So it’s Sakazuki."
Lucas glanced at the notice once more before adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses with a smile.
"Just as I expected."
"But Koby..."
"I’m more interested in knowing how much a Vice Admiral earns every month."
"I’m worried that if I work overtime next time, they might underpay my overtime wages."
Koby and Helmeppo froze.
The excitement and anxiety on their faces instantly disappeared.
A Vice Admiral’s monthly salary?
That wasn’t even remotely the same train of thought they were on.
"Lucas, you idiot!"
Ain was on the verge of exploding.
"Instructor Zephyr worried about you for nothing!"
"All you ever talk about is Berries!"
"You’re every bit as obsessed with money as that Admiral!"
After glaring at him fiercely, she turned to leave.
However, after taking only a few steps, she noticed Binz still standing awkwardly where he was.
"Binz?"
"Why aren’t you coming?"
"Leave?"
Binz hesitated before glancing at Koby and Helmeppo.
"They said that every time Lucas develops a new martial arts technique, he teaches it to them afterward."
"I’d like to stay and learn too."
"Vice Admiral Lucas..."
"You don’t mind, do you?"
As one of the survivors of that tragic incident years ago, Binz had never given up his pursuit of strength.
Now that he knew Lucas freely taught his techniques without holding anything back...
Who could resist that kind of temptation?
"Binz, Instructor Zephyr asked us to return together."
Ain suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"...Since you’re staying, then..."
"I’ll wait here too."
She immediately walked back to stand beside the others.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she shamelessly remained where she was.
After personally witnessing the martial arts ultimate technique that had sent Zephyr flying...
Compared to the chance of learning it—
Did pride really matter?
It really does smell sweet...
Lucas adjusted his glasses and took another sip of strong liquor.
He had no intention of refusing.
After all, everything he knew about martial arts came directly from the system.
Teaching others was effortless.
More importantly...
If Koby and the others became stronger...
Then slacking off at work would become much easier.
A nine-to-five schedule was every office worker’s dream.
Being able to slack off during work?
That was the ultimate lifestyle.
The stronger they became, the fewer troublesome tasks would end up on his own desk.
The Next Day
Marineford – Marine Headquarters
The plaza outside the headquarters building was already packed with Marines.
Yesterday’s incident—where Zephyr had been sent flying and the alarm was mistaken for an enemy attack—had already spread throughout the entire base.
Then came the shocking announcement that a new recruit had been exceptionally promoted to Vice Admiral and nominated as an Admiral Candidate.
The news had thrown all of Marine Headquarters into an uproar.
Ever since the current Three Admirals—Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji—had assumed office eighteen years ago...
The idea of appointing a fourth Admiral had been discussed before.
But never had someone been nominated on the very day they enlisted.
"I heard Admiral Sakazuki has already made his position clear."
"He absolutely won’t allow a rookie to become an Admiral."
"He says it’s to protect the reputation of Marine Headquarters from someone who’s overestimating himself."
"I heard the same thing."
"Admiral Sakazuki is personally overseeing today’s assessment."
"Hopefully that rookie knows when to quit."
"It’s already been almost an hour."
"That rookie still hasn’t shown up."
"Do you think he’s too scared of embarrassing himself and decided not to come?"
"Not show up? I doubt it."
"I heard Vice Admiral Garp say that the rookie named Lucas possesses one of the special qualities needed to become an Admiral."
"What’s that?"
"Being unbelievably unreliable."
"..."
The crowd erupted with laughter.
Standing among them, Koby and Helmeppo were sweating nervously.
They knew Lucas well enough to recognize this as his usual behavior.
Still...
This was an assessment personally conducted by Admiral Sakazuki.
They couldn’t help worrying that Lucas might actually skip it.
"I-It’s nine o’clock!"
Koby looked at his pocket watch and immediately panicked.
"Quick! See where Lucas is!"
The moment he spotted Lucas leisurely strolling toward them from the far end of the road, his heart tightened again.
After all...
The true obstacle awaiting him was Admiral Sakazuki’s assessment.
"So many people."
Lucas glanced at his old pocket watch.
"Perfect timing."
"Otherwise I’d have to waste time explaining why I was late."
He raised his head toward the office’s floor-to-ceiling windows.
Inside stood Sakazuki, Sengoku, and several other senior officers.
Clearly, it wasn’t only Sakazuki who was deeply invested in today’s assessment.
Even Sengoku and the others had gathered to watch.
"According to what Ain told me yesterday..."
Lucas adjusted his glasses and took another sip of his strong liquor.
Rather than worrying about the assessment...
His thoughts remained fixed on one thing.
His salary.
Ain had explained that a Vice Admiral’s pay depended on both seniority and military achievements.
Since Lucas had no distinguished military record yet, his salary would begin at the minimum—
One million Berries per month.
Now that the check-in system had upgraded from checking in across the Four Blues to checking in at Marine Headquarters, it had clearly evolved as well.
The newly unlocked Silver Treasure Chest required one million System Currency to redeem.
Which meant that, relying solely on his salary...
It would take at least an entire month to obtain one.
Looks like if he wanted that Silver Treasure Chest sooner...
He’d have to put in a bit more effort.
Ding! Congratulations, Host!
Your first check-in as a Vice Admiral is complete.
Reward obtained: Beginner Insight Talisman.