One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Let the Bosses Handle It



Marine Admiral's Office

Sengoku and Garp had just finished another round of their perpetual battle over senbei snacks. The victor this time? The shameless old man, Garp!

"Huff…" Suppressing his growing frustration, Sengoku leaned back behind his desk, refusing to look at the old fool sprawled on the sofa, munching loudly on senbei. "Alright, you're heading back to the East Blue for your vacation this time, right? Nothing unexpected?"

"Peaceful as can be over the last two or three years. Not a single pirate with a bounty exceeding ten million. Tell me, is that new upstart bounty hunter really that strong?"

"Oh, he's strong, alright. At least top-tier Headquarters Captain level. With a little training, reaching Rear Admiral won't be difficult," Garp chuckled heartily, spraying crumbs everywhere.

"Swallow before you speak, you damned old fool!" Sengoku resisted the urge to explode again but hesitated as a thought struck him. "Wait a minute. A few days ago, you asked me to file a registration form for a Headquarters Ensign. And now you're so familiar with this bounty hunter's strength...

"Did you bring him to Headquarters? Did you even… spar with him? You didn't injure him, did you, you old codger?"

"Hmph! Injuring that brat is easier said than done!" Garp squinted as he took another bite of senbei. "Sengoku, this time I've struck gold. This kid's talent rivals those three 'monsters' from the New Recruit Training Camp back in the day."

"His name's Wright. Most of the basic information is already in our database: Devil Fruit ability, swordsmanship on the level of a Swordmaster. But what's not listed in detail is that he's already awakened both types of Haki!"

Sengoku's expression shifted to surprise. "He's awakened both Armament and Observation Haki? In the East Blue? Without ever stepping foot into the Grand Line? That's... unexpected."

"It gets better. His Devil Fruit is a rare Paramecia type. He controls an energy similar to light, which he calls Holy Light. It's not a Logia like Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit, so he can't become intangible. But its auxiliary capabilities are extraordinary—healing, shielding, and even offensive techniques. It's like that 'Phoenix' ability… but arguably stronger."

"Oh? I've heard rumors about a remarkable healing-type ability emerging in the East Blue. If it can also attack and defend, then it's indeed unique. Rare, but not incomprehensible," Sengoku remarked, his tone neutral. The world was filled with strange powers, after all.

"But for someone so young to awaken two types of Haki in the East Blue? That's nearly impossible without pressure from opponents of equal or greater strength. The waters of the East Blue may run deeper than we thought."

Garp nodded. "Not just that. His abilities seem to merge with his Haki. His Armament Haki turns golden, stronger than normal. His Observation Haki allows him to perceive good and evil. The specifics are unclear, but the kid's potential is staggering."

"But none of that is as important as his temperament," Garp added, his face darkening slightly. "He's from a noble background but shows no interest in politics or power. As a bounty hunter, he clearly understands the Marine system. And yet, when meeting me, a Vice Admiral, he had the audacity to call me 'old man'…"

"Pfft—!" Sengoku spat out his tea, laughing uncontrollably. "You, Garp, the hero of the Marines, getting disrespected by a rookie? That's gold! Hahahaha!"

"Damn it!" Garp growled, crunching his senbei with extra force. "I gave him a beating, of course. But afterward, the brat acted all respectful and polite, even asking for another chance to spar… Naturally, I found another excuse to give him a thrashing!"

Garp's tone grew serious. "I had Bogard collect intel on him. Over the past three years, he's shown a consistent and unwavering sense of justice, one he actively practices."

Sengoku tapped his desk thoughtfully. "Sakazuki's brand of justice is too extreme. Borsalino's too slippery, and Kuzan…"

"Back in the day, Kuzan followed 'Burning Justice.' But since Ohara, his approach has grown more… lackadaisical."

"The Marines need fresh perspectives. Wright, is it? Send him to the New Recruit Training Camp. He needs to learn Marine discipline and give us time to observe his version of 'justice.'"

Meanwhile, Wright

Completely unaware of the plans Sengoku and Garp had cooked up for him, Wright followed Bogard to complete his registration and couldn't resist asking for a tour of Marineford. His excuse? "At the very least, I should know where to get food, right?"

Normally, any Marine soldier could handle such a task. But given that Wright was personally brought in by Vice Admiral Garp, Bogard begrudgingly acted as his guide. It was a rare sight to see the perpetually stoic Bogard forced to introduce Wright to acquaintances along the way.

After a tour, Wright had a rough mental map of Marineford's key areas:

The Port: Where warships and supply vessels dock. The scale was nothing short of impressive, with built-in defensive structures for added protection.

The Military District: Headquarters for officers, hosting strategy meetings and war councils. The nerve center of Marine operations.

The Training Grounds: A massive area equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and arenas for training Marines of all ranks. Marineford's largest drill ground was located here, used for competitions and parades.

The Living Quarters: Housing for officers and soldiers, complete with mess halls, dormitories, hospitals, and recreational facilities.

The Inner District: Reserved for the families of Marines, heavily fortified and serving as a sanctuary for their loved ones.

After settling into his dormitory, Wright was approached by Bogard once more. This time, Bogard handed him his official enlistment papers and promotion to Ensign, along with an order to join the current session of the New Recruit Training Camp.

Wright, of course, knew the prestige of this program. Led by Admiral Zephyr the Black Arm, the camp had produced countless Marine elites, including the current "monster" Vice Admirals: Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan.

Though the current session had already begun, Wright's "backdoor" entry, courtesy of Garp, afforded him a chance to join halfway through. This was a significant advantage, offering direct exposure to the future backbone of the Marines.

If he'd climbed the ranks alone, his strength would have sufficed. But skipping the camp altogether would mark him as an outsider, potentially hindering his future promotions.

"Get some food and rest well tonight. Report to the camp on time tomorrow," Bogard instructed with his usual stoic demeanor. "Take this transfer order. Mid-term entries into the camp are rare, and those who qualify are all elites.

"Don't waste this opportunity. Both Vice Admiral Garp and… others expect great things from you."

Wright grinned, knowing the unspoken "others" referred to Sengoku. "Relax. I've always been reliable. Just watch—I'll dominate the whole camp!"

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