"What you're saying puts me in a difficult position." Tokikake frowned slightly, a trace of helplessness showing. This was not something he could decide, and frankly, not something he wanted to handle.
"No need to worry about it," Novoa replied calmly. "Even without becoming a Marine, I could deal with that noble right now. There are countless nobles. If one dies quietly, it won't concern the Marines, and the allied nations won't even notice."
His confidence did not waver, even after openly stating such intentions in front of them.
He was right in a sense. The Marines did not interfere in the internal affairs of allied nations. If no one discovered the act, there would be no warrant, no pursuit.
Tokikake let out a quiet breath.
Better to leave this to headquarters.
For now, Novoa had only spoken casually. He had not clearly stated whether he intended to join the Marines. Everything was still undecided.
…
At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku had already received Tokikake's report.
A Logia-type Devil Fruit user was not something to ignore.
With a name and origin provided, intelligence verification was already underway. Given the Marines' capabilities, results would arrive within days.
The current situation left them no room to overlook talent.
Sengoku had even convened a small meeting. Many high-ranking officers were absent, deployed across the New World and the Golden Sea.
"Your thoughts?" Sengoku asked, looking around the room.
One Marine officer spoke first, his expression serious.
"This Novoa's background is not the issue. His attitude is. He treats the Marines as a tool, nothing more. Someone like that is difficult to control. He acts on impulse and has no concept of justice."
Another officer chuckled lightly.
"And since when has that been a rarity? The Marines are full of all kinds of people. Why not include one more? Better to keep him under watch than let him roam free and possibly become an enemy later."
He leaned back slightly, continuing in a relaxed tone.
"People join for all sorts of reasons. Some want stability, some want protection. As long as he can fight, he has value."
Sengoku nodded slowly.
That aligned with his own thinking.
If someone like Garp could be tolerated, then accommodating a reckless youth was hardly an issue.
As for Borsalino, Sengoku did not even bother commenting. That man followed his own pace regardless of anything.
"His file is still being verified," Sengoku said. "But the likelihood is high enough."
He paused briefly before making his decision.
"Invite him. Before that, have Tokikake test his strength."
The Marines needed manpower.
More than that, they needed power.
Sengoku was already considering a global conscription once the Golden Sea war concluded. The seas were too unstable. Without numbers, they could not maintain control.
…
Tokikake received the order not long after.
The result was not surprising.
Even with internal issues, accepting Novoa posed no real risk. He was young, and his personality could still be shaped over time.
More importantly, Tokikake was curious.
The Steam-Steam Fruit.
How would it compare to the Smoke-Smoke Fruit?
The warship was nearing an inhabited island. Novoa stood at the rail, preparing to leave.
For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty appeared in his mind.
Had he pushed too far?
Had the Marines decided to give up on him?
The thought irritated him. Given their current shortage, rejecting him would be absurd.
"Wait, Novoa."
Tokikake's voice cut through his thoughts, steady and clear.
Novoa turned, his expression composed.
"What is it? I was just about to leave."
"I would like to invite you to join the Marines."
Tokikake spoke formally now, representing Marine Headquarters.
They had only shared a single meal. There was no familiarity between them.
In truth, Tokikake had not expected acceptance.
Novoa seemed like the type who preferred freedom over structure.
"Oh, I accept."
The answer came instantly.
Even Tokikake was caught off guard.
Far away, at Marine Headquarters, Sengoku and the others watching through the Den Den Mushi were equally surprised.
"Why?" Tokikake asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
Novoa smiled.
"If I can stand on the moral high ground of justice and act, why wouldn't I?"
There was no disguise in his words.
To him, justice was merely a convenient outer layer.
A shield.
A tool.
Something to justify action.
The room at headquarters fell briefly silent.
Some frowned.
Others narrowed their eyes.
Sengoku, however, felt a subtle sense of relief.
Better someone honest about their intentions than someone hiding them.
Once inside the Marines, rules would still apply. A clever man would understand that.
Especially under the watch of the Inspector General's Office.
Even Vice Admirals were not exempt from Sakazuki's scrutiny.
"Novoa," Tokikake continued, "you will be treated as a special recruit. Your rank will be determined based on your strength. You will need to earn merits afterward to justify it."
This was a privilege.
A shortcut.
"Understood," Novoa replied, his tone serious. "Where do we fight?"
There was no arrogance in him.
He already knew Tokikake's reputation.
A near Vice Admiral in strength.
He had no illusions about winning.
But this was his chance.
Two years of training on Dark Night Island had forged his body and sharpened his instincts. He had not learned formal techniques like Rokushiki, only the fundamentals.
Now, he would prove himself.
"Move the ship out to open waters," Tokikake ordered.
Moments later, the warship sailed into a vast, empty stretch of sea.
Novoa hovered in the air.
Tokikake rose as well, stepping into the sky using Geppo.
Before the fight even began, pressure settled over Novoa.
Tokikake did not move.
He waited.
Novoa inhaled slowly, then acted.
Steam erupted from his body as he spiraled around Tokikake at high speed. In the next instant, he shot upward like a launched projectile.
The propulsion, the control, the speed.
Even Tokikake's eyes sharpened.
At high altitude, Novoa stopped.
He looked down.
His fist clenched.
Scorching steam gathered, compressing into a violent mass.
"Steam Punch!"
He drove his arm downward.
The air warped.
A massive, burning pressure surged toward Tokikake, large enough to engulf the entire warship below.
The watching Marines were stunned.
Fast.
Wide.
Destructive.
"Good!"
Tokikake did not retreat.
Armament Haki surged across his body, forming an invisible armor.
The attack struck.
A thunderous explosion followed as steam and heat collided with the sea. Water boiled instantly, white mist erupting outward in waves.
For a moment, everything was obscured.
Then, as the vapor began to thin, Tokikake remained standing in the air.
Unharmed.
Novoa had already moved.
He dove straight into the dissipating steam cloud, closing the distance.
No hesitation.
No retreat.
Tokikake raised a brow slightly.
Instead of maintaining range, Novoa chose close combat.
Bold.
Novoa's fist came first, propelled by explosive steam pressure.
Tokikake sidestepped effortlessly.
No counterattack.
Novoa adjusted midair, his direction shifting sharply through sheer control of his ability.
A kick followed, wrapped in scorching force.
This time, Tokikake blocked.
Even so, the impact pushed him back.
Novoa pressed forward relentlessly.
Punch after punch.
Kick after kick.
Each strike carried explosive force and searing heat.
His fundamentals were solid. His instincts were sharp. His transitions between long-range and close combat were seamless.
The watching officers at headquarters grew more attentive.
This was not raw talent alone.
This was experience.
After more than ten minutes, Tokikake raised a hand.
"That's enough."
His breathing was steady. His condition unchanged.
In contrast, Novoa's stamina had dropped significantly.
The gap was obvious.
But the test had served its purpose.
Back at headquarters, discussion resumed immediately.
"His current strength is around Commodore level," one officer judged. "But without Haki, he cannot be placed too high."
"Lieutenant Commander," another suggested. "It matches his potential and leaves room for growth."
Sengoku nodded.
"Agreed."
A pause followed before the next question arose.
"Where do we assign him?"
Normally, he would be sent to the Elite Training Camp.
But that was not possible.
Zephyr was still on the frontlines.
After a brief moment of thought, Sengoku made his decision.
"Assign him to Vice Admiral Prody for now."
A trusted veteran.
Experienced.
Reliable.
"He can train him and observe him closely," Sengoku added. "Let him gain merits in the field."
The decision was set.
A new piece had entered the board.