At The Peak of One Piece

The night passed without incident. By dawn, all recruits had assembled at the harbor square—their departure day for the practical assessment. 

Andrew arrived early with his assistants, conducting a headcount as the crowd swelled. When Victor arrived with Rebecca, the square was already packed. 

After a final roll call, Andrew began his briefing: 

"Listen up! This field exercise is a recruit camp tradition. Three months of training demand real-world application—that's today's purpose." 

He paused, letting the words sink in. 

"A warship awaits you—unstaffed. No crew, no support. Survival and mission completion rest entirely on your shoulders. Ten evaluators and one captain will accompany you. They'll only intervene in life-threatening situations. Otherwise, you're on your own—including their meals and lodging." 

Murmurs rippled through the ranks. Among the recruits were seasoned veterans from other bases, unfazed by the challenge. But newcomers exchanged nervous glances—this baptism by fire separated true sailors from pretenders. 

"Every action earns points—except eating, sleeping, or bathroom breaks." 

Laughter erupted, Andrew joining in. 

"This isn't a pleasure cruise. Your mission: eradicate pirates and aid civilians." 

He unveiled the details: 

"Target: 'Peace Island,' a small outpost near the Calm Belt. Recently overrun by rookie pirates oppressing locals. Your objectives: liberate the island, then return safely. That's your exam." 

The announcement sparked fresh debates—concerns about pirate strength, navigational hazards, the Calm Belt's proximity. Yet none could refuse the assignment. 

Andrew scanned the square impatiently. The mystery captain's absence delayed their departure. 

'An admiral-level escort, surely,' Victor mused. 'Too many rookies to risk otherwise.' 

Ten minutes later, the answer arrived—in the form of a towering, familiar silhouette. 

Rear Admiral Gion. 

No admiral after all. With senior officers occupied, she'd volunteered—a decision HQ approved given her combat prowess and Victor's presence aboard. 

Gion's smirk as she locked eyes with Victor said everything: 'This was no coincidence.' 

She strode to the podium, Andrew saluting sharply. 

"Your captain: Rear Admiral Gion. Treat her with respect—and keep her well-fed." 

His pointed glance at Victor drew an eye-roll. 'This feels staged.' 

As recruits filed toward the ships, Gion lingered, zeroing in on Victor with predator's patience. 

When the square emptied, she pounced. 

"I have intel you 'can't' refuse." Her foxlike grin flashed white. "Daily meals—every single one—in exchange. Interested?" 

Victor's jaw tightened. This likely concerned his earlier request to Garp—leverage from Marine intelligence. 

Rebecca's pleading tugs at his sleeve sealed his defeat. 'When did she get recruited?' 

With a resigned sigh, he extended his hand. 

Gion's triumphant laugh preceded her producing a map from her cleavage. 

Victor held the map that still carried Gion's body warmth, feeling a strange sensation in his heart. 

He unfolded it and took a look—one of the islands was circled in red. 

It bore the same name as the one written on the note given by Shakky—Gia Island. 

However, when Victor's gaze shifted to other areas on the map, his eyes suddenly narrowed. 

Not far from Gia Island, in the nearby waters, lay their current destination—Peace Island. 

Victor didn't know whether this was a coincidence or deliberately arranged. With a puzzled expression, he looked at Gion, who was already aware of the situation. 

"This is quite a coincidence, actually," Gion explained. "When we first learned about Gia Island, I was going to tell you right away. But while selecting our mission assignment, we happened to receive a distress call from Peace Island. After noticing the two islands were close to each other, Vice Admiral Garp immediately decided on this location. If it weren't for the pirate incident on Peace Island, there's no way we would've been able to justify heading to those waters just for your personal matters. Hehe, Vice Admiral Garp really looks out for you—how enviable!" Gion chuckled as she glanced at Victor. 

'So, you had nothing to do with it, huh? Yet here you are, tagging along to eat and drink.' 

Victor rolled his eyes but felt an even deeper sense of gratitude toward the old man, Garp. 

This old man had always been considerate of him—a truly respectable elder. Victor resolved to repay his kindness properly in the future. 

Without another word to Gion, Victor turned and strode toward the warship. The crew was already waiting for them on board.