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[TIOP] Chapter : 14
🕑 Added 2025-02-02 20:59:28 +0000 UTCFaced with Captain Stalin's question, Jack nodded and responded in a calm yet confident tone: “Yes, sir. Given my strength, I felt that continuing the standard training alongside everyone else wouldn’t be very effective. So, I requested to train independently. The instructor agreed but said I needed to prove my strength first. He allowed me to skip the physical training if I managed to defeat him.”
Captain Stalin nodded thoughtfully, appreciating Jack’s logical approach. Still, the situation presented him with a dilemma.
“While I understand your reasoning, the navy operates under strict rules,” Captain Stalin said, furrowing his brow. “Breaking those rules—even with good intentions—can lead to problems.”
Jack frowned slightly, a trace of dissatisfaction showing in his expression. “What do you mean by that, Captain?” he asked, his tone restrained but tinged with frustration.
The situation felt contradictory to him. The instructor had explicitly permitted him to skip the training after their duel. Yet now, here was Captain Stalin suggesting otherwise. Although the captain’s tone carried an air of authority and fairness, Jack couldn’t help but feel that the situation was unfair.
Captain Stalin, however, smiled and said firmly, “You’ll rejoin the training. I’ll personally design a physical training program specifically for you.”
To Stalin, this was a significant gesture. For a captain of the navy headquarters to oversee and tailor a recruit’s training program was a rare privilege, one he expected Jack to view as an honor.
"Alright, I accept the captain's proposal," Jack replied with a smile. "But before that, I think we should spar. This way, you can better assess my strength and tailor an appropriate training plan for me!"
Jack’s expression was cheerful, but internally, he was thrilled. A system message had just appeared:
"Side Mission Accepted: Defeat Captain Stalin of the Headquarters! Rewards: 500 Diamonds, 1,000 Experience, 200,000 Money."
Stalin raised an eyebrow at Jack’s enthusiasm. He chuckled and said, "Alright, since you insist, let's begin!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Jack activated his movement technique, darting towards Stalin with remarkable speed.
"Impressive speed!" Stalin exclaimed as he met Jack's assault head-on, countering with swift, powerful strikes of his own.
The two exchanged dozens of moves in quick succession before separating. Both were slightly out of breath, though Stalin's composure hinted at years of battlefield experience.
"As expected of a captain at Navy Headquarters," Jack thought, his gaze fixed on the captain.
"Hah... You’re impressive, kid. I’ll admit, I underestimated you," Stalin said, taking a moment to steady his breathing. Then, his eyes sharpened. "But let me make one thing clear: a seasoned veteran like me, who’s seen countless battles, won’t be bested so easily by a recruit. This time, I’ll fight at full strength!"
With those words, the Captain unsheathed the weapon hanging at his waist, ready to unleash his full power against Jack.
"We'll see about that," Jack replied with a faint smile. Despite the intensity of the skirmish, he had not revealed his full strength. His physical skills and chakra had only been partially utilized.
Three minutes later, Captain Stalin's weapon was sent flying, and the captain himself was down on one knee, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.
"Well then, Captain," Jack said with a calm smile, stabilizing his chakra, "can I arrange my schedule freely starting tomorrow?"
During the final exchange, Jack had harnessed his chakra to enhance his speed, disarming Captain Stalin in a decisive blow.
"Today's recruits are truly terrifying," Captain Stalin muttered with a wry smile, shaking his head in disbelief. "While rank and position hold importance in the navy, strength is just as critical. Since I’ve been defeated by you, I won’t presume to guide your training any further. As for tomorrow’s physical training, I’ll report the situation to my superiors."
Jack nodded politely, his smile widening. Without hesitation, he turned and headed toward the cafeteria, his mood as light as his step.
While Jack appreciated the captain’s acknowledgment, he wasn’t about to slack off entirely. Physical strength remained essential, particularly since he had yet to level up his Intermediate strength training. However, his current priority was improving his chakra quantity and control, which demanded an astonishing 7,000 proficiency points just to complete the first level—a daunting goal that required his full focus.
Based on recent events, Jack speculated that the next navy officer sent his way might also assign him a mission. Now stationed at Navy Headquarters, with no bounty criminals to capture, missions had become his primary source of diamonds. Naturally, the more assignments he could secure, the better.
However, before Captain Stalin had the chance to report to his superior, word of their duel outside the recruits' dormitory spread through Marineford like wildfire.
“Garp, is this kid someone you brought back?” Fleet Admiral Sengoku asked, glancing at the report on his desk while eyeing Garp, who was casually munching on senbei nearby.
“What? When did I bring someone back?” Garp replied, looking genuinely perplexed, clearly unable to recall anything about Jack.
Sengoku sighed, already feeling the familiar headache that came with dealing with Garp’s carefree nature. He studied the photo on the intelligence report—a picture of Jack in his navy recruit uniform—and sank into contemplation.
“Oh, you mean Jack? That kid just beat a captain, right? What’s so strange about that? The marines under my command were so tormented by him they didn’t even want to fight him anymore!” Garp suddenly chimed in, appearing behind Sengoku without warning. He peered over Sengoku’s shoulder at Jack’s photo, a look of realization dawning on his face.
Several tick marks of frustration seemed to appear on Sengoku's forehead.
“So, what do you propose we do with him?” Sengoku asked, suppressing his growing irritation as he turned to Garp.
“Why not let him immerse himself more in the atmosphere of the navy?” Garp suggested with a grin, though there was an undertone of mischief in his words. “Otherwise, I’m afraid he might get disappointed when he’s promoted too quickly.”
Sengoku fell silent for a moment, considering Garp's cryptic remark. Without another word, he fed Jack’s information to the goat standing nearby.
The goat bleated happily before chomping down on the paper, devouring it as if it were a delicacy.
Meanwhile, Jack, eating quietly in the cafeteria, couldn’t help but notice the attention he was drawing. The gazes of the surrounding recruits were unmistakable—his recent exploits had clearly spread, making him somewhat of a celebrity.
After finishing his meal, Jack returned to the dormitory. The moment he opened the door, the lively chatter inside abruptly ceased. His roommates, who had been noisily talking moments before, went silent, casting awkward glances at him.
“Uh… Did I interrupt your conversation?” Jack asked, tilting his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"No, not at all! We were just talking about how you defeated Captain Stalin. Jack, how strong are you really? Do you think you could take on a Commodore?" one of Jack's closer roommates asked hesitantly, his curiosity evident.
Jack chuckled as he walked toward his bed. "That’s hard to say. The strength of the Commodores varies, and I wouldn’t know unless I fought one. As for my current level of strength... I honestly can’t be sure," he replied casually.
"Then why are you still in the recruit camp? With your strength, you could probably become a captain already, right?" the roommate exclaimed, almost as if he himself were envisioning Jack’s rise through the ranks.
Jack smiled knowingly. "Becoming a captain isn’t just about raw strength," he explained.
The truth was, after spending time at Navy Headquarters, Jack had a clearer understanding of his abilities. He felt confident that he could hold his own against anyone ranked Captain. After all, he’d faced Smoker back in Loguetown, and Smoker held that rank. But Smoker wasn’t an ordinary captain—he was trained at the elite Naval Academy for future admirals under the legendary former Admiral, "Black Arm" Zephyr.
So while Jack believed he could outmatch an average captain, going up against higher-ranking officers was an entirely different matter—one he wasn’t yet certain about.
At the same time, the instructors at the Navy Headquarters' recruit camp gathered to deliberate and finalize Jack's new arrangements.
The next day, during morning exercises, Jack joined the group as usual. However, today felt different—every pair of eyes seemed fixed on him. Word of his victory over Captain Stalin at the dormitory entrance had spread, and many had witnessed the scene firsthand. Naturally, curiosity about Jack had reached a peak.
"Alright, settle down, everyone. I have an important announcement to make. Recruit Jack, step forward!" The recruits' chief instructor stood on the stage, his commanding voice silencing the crowd.
"Sir!" Jack responded promptly, stepping out of the line and trotting forward.
"In recognition of your strength, all the instructors in the recruit camp have reached a unanimous decision. As of today, you will officially graduate from the recruit camp. After morning exercises, report to the Administration office to collect your new uniform and identification card," the chief instructor declared with a smile.
Jack was taken aback. This outcome was far from what he had expected—he thought someone might lecture him, and he could earn some extra diamonds in the process!
"Understood, sir. Thank you, Chief Instructor!" Jack saluted respectfully before preparing to return to the queue.
"With your strength, once you officially join the Navy, you’re bound to rise through the ranks quickly. I hope you remain grounded, make it your mission to protect civilians, and embody the justice within your heart," the chief instructor said, patting Jack on the shoulder with a satisfied expression.
Jack, however, looked bewildered. While daily naval training included ideological lessons designed to instill loyalty and a sense of justice, Jack, who had lived through the age of the Earth’s information revolution, was immune to such attempts at indoctrination. In fact, he often used those sessions as an opportunity to meditate and refine his chakra.
For Jack, the concept of "justice" as defined by the Navy held little significance. Back on Earth, he had watched anime depicting the Navy committing acts far worse than pirates under the banner of so-called justice, which had only deepened his disdain.
But for now, none of that mattered. His primary focus was on strengthening himself. As for whether he’d remain loyal to the Navy or forge his own path in the future? That was a decision for another day.
After completing the morning exercises, Jack headed to the Administrative Department. Once his paperwork was processed, he was assigned to Commodore Brannew. However, Jack didn’t give it much thought and promptly submitted a request to be deployed to the seas. The staff member handling his application advised him to return to his dormitory and wait for updates. Left with no choice, Jack followed another staff member to the new accommodations the Navy had prepared for him.
The new dormitory was a significant upgrade compared to the one at the recruit camp. It was designed for two people, but since Jack’s roommate was absent, he decided to make the most of the solitude by continuing his training.
