One Piece: Son-in-Law King, That's My Destiny!

Lunchtime.

Loya hunched over, ferociously tearing into a chunk of meat on the bone. His morning training had left his stomach completely emptied, urgently needing to refuel.

After devouring his food for a while, the hunger-induced dizziness began to fade, and Loya slowed his pace.

"Today feels a bit easier!"

Loya flexed his muscles, sensing their slight tremors.

If yesterday his muscles felt like they were brutally destroyed, today they were merely sulking, softly whining, "Why me?"

He hadn't hit his limit yet.

Thanks to the "World" ability healing his fatigue and injuries, Loya didn't need to worry about his physical limits. As long as he kept his caloric and nutrient intake high, he could push himself to his limits.

Heh heh heh...

"Sorry, muscles!" Loya chuckled mischievously.

Suddenly, someone stood next to him.

"You're Loya, right?"

"Huh?"

Loya looked up, examining the newcomer.

It was another recruit.

The man appeared to be in his twenties, with rare pink hair, a slightly smug face, and a lean, wiry frame. His dark skin gave him a unique appearance.

He looked like someone who could use a good punch.

Something about him seemed vaguely familiar.

The pink-haired man dramatically flicked his hair and introduced himself with a flourish. "My name is Fullbody. I'm your partner."

"Oh," Loya said, nodding as realization dawned.

The officer Monka had mentioned yesterday that recruits were usually paired up, with a senior guiding a junior to help them adapt to their duties. This guy must be the partner he was referring to.

A glint of light caught Loya's eye.

He squinted and focused on Fullbody's right hand, where a steel knuckle ring shone.

He remembered now!

"Iron Fist" Fullbody!

This guy appeared in the Baratie arc, where he tried to show off in front of a lady, only to get beaten up by Sanji. Later, he became one of Tashigi's subordinates.

Not particularly strong, but he'd climbed the ranks decently well.

"You've got some rough table manners," Fullbody sneered, looking at Loya's sloppy eating with disgust. Luckily, their partnership would only last a month. By the end of it, Fullbody would pass the divisional exam and become an official Marine.

To be fair, he was already acing the basic training, but the exams were scheduled, so all he could do was wait.

Time for work.

"Done eating?" Fullbody asked.

"Hold on, let me grab some more!" Loya ran to the buffet area, picked up two more chunks of meat, and finally returned with a satisfied grin.

No food, no strength to work!

"Let's go."

"...Seriously?"

Fullbody twitched as he glanced at the extra food. Is this guy a bottomless pit?

"Follow me!"

Their assigned area was the top floor of the defensive tower, including the rooftop and bathrooms, all of which needed to be spotless.

Fullbody expertly handed out cleaning supplies: brooms, mops, buckets, and rags.

"Alright, rookie, stick with me today and learn the process. Starting tomorrow, we'll divide the tasks."

"Got it," Loya said, grabbing a broom.

Heh, cleaning? Even a dog could handle that.

The corridor was their first target. Fullbody mopped the tiles vigorously, his dedication unexpectedly impressive. "Pay attention. Hallways are key areas. Make sure they're spotless!"

"Hmm?" Loya mumbled as he followed along.

This guy doesn't look like the hardworking type, but he's surprisingly serious. Guess you really can't judge a book by its cover.

The hallway was wide, and it took them nearly ten minutes to reach the end. When Loya glanced back, he was shocked.

His section looked clean, but Fullbody's side sparkled like glass, reflecting light like a mirror.

One side gleamed; the other looked dull. The contrast was striking.

Fullbody crouched down, wiped his finger across Loya's area, and showed the dusty residue on his fingertip. His face darkened instantly.

Grabbing Loya by the collar, Fullbody roared, "You little punk! Are you mocking the art of cleaning?!"

"Absolutely not!" Loya protested, shaking his head vigorously.

Is this guy a clean freak?

If memory served, Fullbody was indeed obsessed with cleanliness and his appearance when he first appeared in the series.

And he loved to show off.

Also, his grip was ridiculously strong.

After a moment of fuming, Fullbody released Loya's collar and growled, "Watch carefully! This hallway is a battlefield. Even the smallest mistake can lead to total defeat!"

"Yes, sir!" Loya gulped.

No wonder this guy became a Marine officer. Even cleaning is a competition to him. I've got to step up my game!

The spark of competition ignited in Loya.

"Scrub harder! Don't let the dust look down on us!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Rinse the mop thoroughly. Don't skimp on soap! Treat it like your lover!"

"Got it!"

"Don't leave spiderwebs in the corners!"

"On it!!"

5 PM. The Colonel's Office.

After finishing his work for the day, Colonel Rodo felt an old, familiar urge to use the bathroom.

As he stepped into the hallway, he froze.

The corridor was gleaming, spotless. It was so clean he hesitated to take a step, afraid to dirty it.

"Well done," Rodo muttered, genuinely impressed. He hadn't seen the fortress this clean in ages.

Even the lights had been polished to a shine.

"Impressive. Truly impressive."

When he reached the bathroom, he was even more astonished. The floor and walls sparkled, and even the yellow stains on the urinals, accumulated over years, had disappeared.

"Wow..."

Seeing his reflection in the polished urinal, Rodo instinctively adjusted his hair, as if looking into a mirror.

Nice.

Not only was the foul odor gone, but there was also a faint scent of soap.

"Ahhh…" Rodo closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Satisfying.

Such diligence deserved recognition.

He decided to commend the recruit responsible during the next meeting. With Marines like this, the future of the 153rd Branch was bright indeed.

But as Rodo opened a toilet stall, the dazzlingly clean porcelain was too much.

Ten minutes later, Rodo stormed out of the stall, his face red with frustration.

"Damn it, I couldn't do it!"

The toilet was so clean, sitting there felt like a crime.

"I'll have to find another one!"