One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine Chapter 129: Volume 2 – - 31: The Hot-Blooded Youth Kuzan

Golden sunlight poured down from the sky as ivy on the speckled wall rustled softly, lush and vibrant.

Bathed in the light, the stone tablet gave off a sense of solemnity and grandeur, calming the heart.

"I heard... we're the last class of the elite Officer Training Camp."

Tokikake had more or less recovered by now. He stubbed out his cigar and looked at the words engraved deeply into the stone in front of him as he spoke slowly.

"Zephyr-sensei has already submitted a proposal to Headquarters. After our class graduates, the Navy will establish an official academy to expand recruitnt and better train mid-level officers for Marine Headquarters."

Daren also put out his cigar.

Though he wasn't soone who usually cared much for rules, so things went beyond rules.

"That's a good idea."

During his stay at the military hospital, Daren hadn't just been playing silly gas with Doctor Maria. He'd been handling business, too.

From casual chats with doctors and nurses, combined with the intel he'd gathered back in North Blue, he'd pieced together a rough understanding of Headquarters' current military and political structure.

Unlike the tiline from the original story, by the end of Sea Circle Calendar 1492, the "Golden Generation" of Marine Headquarters hadn't risen yet.

Vice Admiral Garp, wanting the freedom to chase Roger across the seas, had repeatedly refused promotion to Admiral.

Zephyr, disillusioned with the Marines after losing his wife and child, had stepped away from the front lines and devoted himself to educating the next generation.

Sakazuki, Dragon, and Borsalino were still in their early twenties, at the peak of their growth, but not yet among the true top-tier forces of the sea.

And the future core of Marine Headquarters—the elite Vice Admirals like Yamakaji and others—were still in training camps, stuck in the lower ranks, or hadn't even joined the Marines yet.

It was a period when the Marines were at their weakest. The five existing Vice Admirals, aside from Garp and Tsuru, had essentially risen through years of service and seniority rather than exceptional combat ability. Few among them could truly stand alone.

As the Chief Instructor of the Marines, Zephyr had clearly sensed the flaws in Headquarters. That's why he pushed to found a full naval academy and expand the training system.

And Daren, knowing the story, understood perfectly—Zephyr's decision was absolutely spot-on.

It was thanks to that decision that he raised the most brilliant "Golden Generation" in Marine history, ushering in a golden age that elevated the Marines to global dominance.

Of course, it was also that sa generation that ultimately dug his grave and buried him.

The world, as always, was full of irony.

...

"Ahhh... I've been waiting so long, and finally... it's ti."

A lazy voice suddenly drifted out from behind the stone tablet.

Tokikake's expression shifted. He glanced warily at the tall figure slowly stepping out from behind the monunt.

Soone was hiding there—so close—and he hadn't noticed at all!?

"Who are you?"

He instinctively looked toward Daren, only to find that the man's expression hadn't changed at all. Clearly, he'd already noticed the stranger.

The newcor had black, curly hair and wore a loose white shirt. There was an unexplainable air of laziness about him.

"Excuse , are you Rogers Daren from the North Blue? The 'King of the North Blue' who fought alongside Vice Admiral Garp and clashed head-on with the Great Pirate Gol D. Roger?"

The black-haired young man didn't spare Tokikake a second glance—his eyes were locked on Daren.

Daren smiled.

"That's what they say. And yeah, I'm Rogers Daren."

The mont the words left his mouth, the young man's laid-back expression vanished, replaced instantly by visible excitent.

"Hahahaha! I knew it was you!"

"You took down Byrnndi World and went head-to-head with Roger... That's incredible, Daren!"

He rushed forward like a fan eting his idol, eyes burning with admiration.

"Oh! Almost forgot to introduce myself—Kuzan, from the South Blue. I'm about to enter the third Officer Training Camp. My short-term goal is to graduate as the top trainee! As for the long term..."

He clenched a fist and swung it through the air proudly.

"My dream is to beco an Admiral! A hero, like Vice Admiral Garp!"

His voice rang with certainty.

Silence fell.

Caw, caw, caw...

A few crows flapped overhead.

Tokikake's mouth twitched violently.

This guy... is he an idiot?

He couldn't help but complain in his head.

Daren looked at the bursting-with-energy newcor and rubbed his temples, a few black lines forming on his forehead.

Yeah, he recognized this uninvited guest at a glance.

The future Marine Admiral. The guy who would later champion "Lazy Justice"... Kuzan.

He'd known that, at this point in ti, Kuzan still clung to "Burning Justice" and had joined the training camp in the sa year as him—but he hadn't expected Kuzan to be this... fired up.

"Nice to et you, Kuzan," Daren said flatly.

"Hey there, Kuzan! I'm Tokikake, a well-known genius at Marine Headquarters."

Tokikake had also recognized who Kuzan was. As a future classmate, he stepped forward and offered a friendly hand.

"I'm sure you've heard of , right? I also fought Byrnndi World and Gol D. Roger—and made it out alive. I—huh?"

The smile on his face froze.

Kuzan didn't even acknowledge him. He walked right past, slung an arm around Daren's neck, and bead with curiosity and excitent.

"So, Daren! Is it true you caught Roger off guard?"

Daren's eye twitched slightly, clearly not used to such enthusiasm. He casually slipped out of Kuzan's grip and replied,

"Kind of."

Tokikake sheepishly withdrew his still-outstretched hand and muttered bitterly,

"...he just pulled Roger's pants down, that's all."

Kuzan's eyes lit up like stars.

"Seriously!? You actually pulled Roger's pants down? That's..."

"That's amazing!"

Tokikake: ...

Daren: ...

...

(50 Chapters Ahead)

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