Logue Town's new recruit training camp buzzed with activity.
More than two hundred fresh-faced marines were split into squads, their boots pounding the training field as they went through their paces. Roya watched, a wave of memories washing over him.
I remember doing this.
"Tweet-tweet!"
The piercing whistle sliced through the air.
"Assemble!"
The instructors barked, and the recruits, their curiosity piqued, hustled to the center of the field. Days here usually blurred together, a constant stream of drills and exercises. This was a welcome change.
Soon, neat rows of twenty formed, all eyes drawn to Roya, who stood tall and prominent on the platform.
Curiosity, confusion, even a hint of envy flickered in their expressions.
Roya's young face, coupled with the Major's insignia gleaming on his shoulder, sent a ripple of surprise through the ranks.
Who is this guy?
Whispers rippled through the crowd. He was a new face.
Probably someone with connections.
The new recruits grumbled inwardly. They were all roughly the same age, so how had he already become a Major while they were just starting out?
Lucky bastard!
Roya grabbed the megaphone, his voice booming across the field. "I am Major Roya, and from now on, I will be your chief instructor, guiding your training."
Chief Instructor!
The recruits were stunned into silence.
A Major, personally guiding them?
Typically, their instructors were seasoned, non-commissioned officers, or maybe a few junior officers. The training itself was pretty basic, focusing on building up their strength and stamina.
Officers of Major rank or higher were a rare sight, especially here. They were valuable assets.
Having someone like that train them felt like overkill, like using a cannon to swat a fly.
It 's just basic training, right? How different can it be?
"Wait a minute… Roya? That name sounds familiar!"
One of the recruits perked up.
Could it be "Black Hair" Roya? The rising star of the Marine?
Rumor had it that he'd single-handedly taken down two major pirate crews in the past year alone, rocketing up from a lowly Second Class Soldier to a Major.
A real superstar!
A buzz of excitement rippled through the crowd.
Roya's story was like something out of a legend, a dream they all shared.
In the world of pirates, rookies with bounties over 100 million Berries were known as Supernovas, celebrated and admired. The Marine had its own versions, figures who inspired awe.
Roya, with his incredible achievements, was undoubtedly a Supernova in the East Blue Marine, the brightest star in recent memory.
He was an idol to many of them!
"Quiet!"
The regular instructors snapped, and the recruits instantly straightened, chests puffed out, eager to make a good impression.
"Not bad!"
Roya thought to himself, impressed.
These guys have fire in their eyes.
Logue Town was a wealthy and prosperous place, a stronghold of justice. Most of these recruits had grown up hearing the tales of Roger's execution, filled with a burning desire to fight evil.
They 're a good bunch.
Roya hopped down from the platform, his footsteps steady as he scanned the rows, his sharp gaze assessing each recruit.
At each squad he passed, chests instinctively swelled!
The more he looked, the more pleased he became.
In the East Blue, where the quality of marines could be… lacking, these recruits were exceptional. With the right training, they could become elite soldiers.
"Huh?"
Roya's gaze paused at the last squad.
Twenty or so recruits, all women!
Roya sighed inwardly. Back in the 153rd Branch, I would've considered a pig attractive.
"Continue training!"
The training regime was standard, varying only in intensity. He didn't have any fancy new methods.
Running laps, push-ups, rope climbing.
Besides the basics, some of the faster learners got to move on to close-combat and swordsmanship.
Roya didn't jump in to teach. Instead, he wandered around the field, watching the recruits while the other instructors filled him in on who showed the most promise.
After his walk-around, he had a good feel for the group.
The training volume was roughly twice what he was used to in the 153rd. Many of the recruits had a solid foundation before joining, making the exercises look almost easy.
They can definitely handle more.
Passing by the women's squad again, Roya stopped, his eyes fixed on one particular recruit: a short-haired woman with glasses practicing her swordsmanship.
She wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but her movements were sharp and precise, her wooden sword cutting through the air with surprising force.
Roya could tell at a glance that she had talent, a natural aptitude for swords.
"What's the name of that short-haired girl with the glasses?"
"That's Tashigi."
The vice instructor's face clouded with pity.
"Tashigi's got talent, no doubt, but… she's just a girl. Her weak body will hold her back."
"Tashigi…"
Roya's eyes widened slightly.
Could this be Smoker 's future subordinate?
Short black hair, glasses, swordsmanship… It seemed very likely.
I need to get Zoro to see her. I remember he thought she looked just like Kuina. Their faces must be similar.
As evening approached, the training wound down.
The new recruits, buzzing with excitement, swarmed Roya and the other two instructors, bombarding them with questions.
"Instructor, you're the legendary 'Black Hair', right?"
"Hey, it's 'Schemer' Roya!"
"And Mr. 'Iron Fist Gauntlet'!"
They chattered like excited fans, thrilled to be so close to their idol.
Roya grinned, holding up a hand for silence. "Ahem, if 'Black Hair and Schemer' refers to the guy who took down the Buggy Pirates and the Black Cat Pirates…"
"Then you guessed right. It's me!"
Low profile? Not a chance!
"Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!!!"
The recruits erupted into cheers.
"Instructor, you're so cool!"
"Tell us about fighting Clown Buggy!"
"Can you sign my name?"
The training field was buzzing.
But not everyone was caught up in the star-struck frenzy.
Tashigi glanced at the noisy crowd, politely declined her roommate's invitation to join in, and quietly headed for the mess hall.
And she wasn't alone.
This was a military camp. While seeing Roya was exciting, they knew they'd have to prove themselves through hard work.
Roya understood this too.
If he wanted to earn their respect, he couldn't rely on his fame alone.
I have an idea.
Early the next morning, the recruits gathered on the training field, ready for another day of drills. As usual, they started with running laps.
"Eh?"
The recruits looked confused as they saw Roya and the other two instructors standing at the front, wearing the same recruit training camp uniforms.
What's going on?
"Tweet-tweet!"
The whistles blew, and the formation started to move. The three leaders took off running.
The new recruits realized that Instructor Roya was going to train with them.
This instructor was different!