With the sails raised, the William Pirates officially left Loguetown’s port.
As the William Pirates departed, the Marine recruit abduction incident finally came to an end.
Led by Kahn, the rescued recruits returned to the Loguetown Marine base.
Originally, today was supposed to be the start of recruit training, but due to the William Pirates’ incident, Kahn gave the recruits a day off to recover and adjust their mental state. Formal teaching and training would begin the next day.
…
In the recruits’ dormitory.
Silence prevailed.
Each Marine recruit was lost in their thoughts, and Curls was no exception.
William’s sword strike had been too fast for him to dodge. If not for Major Kahn, he would have been a cold corpse by now.
Still too weak!
Even with a Devil Fruit ability, if not mastered and developed, facing strong pirates like William would be nearly impossible to win.
Get stronger!
Curls constantly reminded himself. William’s final words before leaving clearly indicated that he had been marked. If he didn’t quickly enhance his strength, the next encounter might be fatal.
After all, who could guarantee Major Kahn would always be there to protect him?
In this chaotic era of great pirates, the only way to ensure safety was to become stronger!
Lying on his bunk, hands behind his head, Curls stared at the wall, thinking about how to get stronger.
After summoning the shadow soldier Yadon, he felt he had reached his current capacity for summoning shadows. He could summon a maximum of ten shadow soldiers. To increase this number, he needed to improve his proficiency with the Shadow-Shadow Fruit…
Apart from the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, his own strength also had room for improvement, such as physical techniques and swordsmanship.
…
The next day.
Fifty-eight Marine recruits were seated in a white-washed classroom.
Although only twenty recruits, including Curls, had passed the recruitment screening this month, the Loguetown Marine base recruited new soldiers every month.
Due to numbers and timing, the Loguetown Marine base conducted training in three-month batches, so Kahn had to instruct fifty-eight recruits this time.
Not long after, Kahn, wearing his Marine coat, entered the classroom. He scanned the room before speaking:
“Some of you already know me, but for those who don’t, let me introduce myself. I am Major Kahn of the Loguetown Marine base and will be your instructor during your recruit training.
For the next three months, you must follow my commands, understand?”
“Yes, sir!”
Some recruits, still shaken by the previous day’s abduction, responded unevenly.
Kahn didn’t comment, simply opened a roster and began calling names.
“Tashigi.”
“Here.” A short-haired girl with glasses stood up.
Tashigi hadn’t been part of the abduction because she had spent extra time looking for her glasses, arriving at the base half an hour late and missing the pirates.
Curls, sitting at the back, was surprised to hear Tashigi’s name.
He hadn’t expected to be in the same batch as this future “clumsy girl.”
“Louis Yatt.”
“Here.”
…
“Charlotte Curls.”
“Here.”
When Kahn called his name, Curls responded loudly and confidently.
“Good, very spirited.”
Kahn gave Curls a nod of approval and then addressed the entire class.
“From the moment you donned the white uniform, you became Marines. The Loguetown Marine base welcomes you.
But you are not yet qualified Marines. You are new recruits. Only after three months of training will you become a true Marines.
Now, I will give you your first lesson!”
As Kahn spoke, the recruits perked up, eager to learn what their first lesson would be.
Kahn began by asking, “What do you think are the duties of a Marine?”
The recruits offered various answers.
“A Marine’s duty is to eliminate pirates!”
“Maintain order!”
“Follow orders!”
Different answers echoed in the classroom.
Kahn raised a hand for silence, then wrote two words on the blackboard:
“Protect!”
He began explaining to the recruits:
“Why is a Marine’s duty to protect? Because that is the original purpose of the Marines!
Eliminating pirates, and maintaining order—all these actions stem from the duty to protect. What do we protect? We protect civilians, the weak, and the innocent.
Kahn paused, letting the recruits digest this, before continuing passionately.
“Why does our Marine base constantly recruit new soldiers? Because in battles against pirates, Marines are injured and die every day.
I still remember my subordinate Vic, who was shot through the heart by a pirate while protecting a kidnapped seven-year-old child…
Lant, a young Marine, rushed into a burning building to save a family trapped by pirate arson. He was severely burned and now lies in a hospital bed…
There are many stories like these among the Marines. Some leave their names behind, others fade quietly, but they are all great, honorable, and worthy of praise.
As your recruits grow, I hope you will protect more innocent people.”
After Kahn finished, many recruits fell silent, reflecting on his words.
Then, a recruit who hadn’t been abducted the previous day raised a question.
“Instructor Kahn, I have a question.
Isn’t releasing the pirate Jeff a huge risk? If the William Pirates fight the Marines again, won’t more Marines die at Jeff’s hands?”
Kahn looked directly at the recruit and answered solemnly.
“Everyone may have a different answer to this. But as a Marine major, I couldn’t abandon the recruits and watch them die at the hands of pirates.
As for what Jeff might do in the future, I can’t predict. I can only protect what I can in the present…”
At that moment, a gentle sea breeze blew in through the window, bringing a sense of tranquility.
The warm light filtering in added a solemn atmosphere to Instructor Kahn and the blackboard.
“Because a Marine’s duty is to protect, not to force others to sacrifice.”
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