The next day.
It was still dark.
Hermes woke up in an inn and shrank to five millimeters as he approached the naval base, carefully navigating through the grass until he reached a huge parade ground.
There were many cultivation tools around.
For example, barbells, stone blocks, and other training equipment.
Perhaps it was too early, because the entire playground was deserted.
Hermes stood still for a moment and looked at a building in the distance.
He wanted to check Bastan Yuger's office or living quarters.
If he was lucky, he might find some information about the Six Styles.
Hermes was undeniably bold and imaginative.
If Captain Bastan Yuger unexpectedly possessed Observation Haki, Hermes might lose more than he gained.
The idea itself was unusual.
No one knew whether the Six Styles would be recorded on paper like a martial arts manual.
Even if they were, Bastan might not have them.
He might not even know the Six Forms.
There were simply too many variables.
The journey was smooth and unexpectedly successful.
Since Bastan's office was on the first floor, and the view from the window directly overlooked the training ground, it was likely that he spent a lot of time supervising naval soldiers while working.
Hermes could see the large captain's office from afar.
On the door were the words:
"Bastan Yuger."
Slipping through the crack in the door, Hermes returned to his normal size.
The office was quite ordinary.
There was a desk, a bookshelf, and plenty of books and papers.
As a transmigrator, Hermes didn't have a cheat code like a system.
But since he was a transmigrator, he still possessed some basic cheats.
For example, he naturally understood the world's languages and writing systems.
At the same time, his physical condition and mental state had undergone great changes.
This was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
Otherwise, as a transmigrator, he would be too pathetic.
Hermes first searched the desk.
Most of it contained government documents and occasionally a few newspapers.
He also checked the drawers.
But he found nothing he was looking for.
Then he moved to the bookshelf.
There were mostly books, newspapers, government documents, and bounty notices for pirates, bandits, and organized crime.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed.
But it wasn't completely useless either.
These bounty notices would become stepping stones for his training and an important source of income.
Soon, noises came from outside.
Naval soldiers woke up, washed up, and gathered on the parade ground for morning exercises.
Hermes shrank again to five millimeters and found a place with a wide view.
As the sun rose higher, Hermes became increasingly disappointed.
These naval soldiers were only performing routine physical training.
Push-ups.
Sit-ups.
Weightlifting.
Running.
The instructor was only a second lieutenant.
However, Hermes also saw Bastan Yuger.
A burly, muscular man who looked extremely intimidating.
He was sitting in his office chair, engrossed in paperwork.
The contrast was striking.
Hermes also confirmed something important.
The man did not possess Observation Haki.
Hermes decided to check the living quarters.
Clinging to his last hope, he searched for a long time before finally reaching Bastan's room.
The room looked ordinary and normal.
However, several photo albums under the bed caught his attention.
Half an hour later, Hermes' expression became grim.
His last glimmer of hope had vanished.
Oh shit.
After all, Bastan was a captain guarding an entire region.
Possibly even a captain from Navy Headquarters.
Surely he knew the Six Styles.
At the very least, he should have left behind a diary or training notes.
Something that future generations could learn from.
But there was nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Apart from several baskets of photo albums.
Grass!!!
Cursing in frustration, Hermes shrank again to five millimeters.
He returned to the playground and found a slightly secluded spot.
Then he began performing various basic physical training exercises.
He planned to wait a little longer.
If he still couldn't find what he wanted, he would execute Plan B.
Plan A was simple.
Try his luck at the naval base and see if he could learn the Six Powers or Haki.
Plan B was to travel to the capital of the Kingdom of Prodens.
The royal family must control many valuable resources.
Hermes also set his sights on Elizabeth II's King Punch.
It was said that after one hour of warm-up, a single punch could kill a Yonko.
Whether that was bragging or not didn't matter.
Right now, Hermes desperately needed powerful combat methods.
Even flawed ones were acceptable.
After all, Hermes had very few fighting techniques.
His ultimate move relied on the Mini-Fruit.
He would shrink his body, enter the enemy's body, and attack from the inside.
However, this move had obvious weaknesses.
If he wasn't agile enough, the enemy might swat him like a fly.
And that would be a gruesome death.
One day passed.
Then ten days.
Then one month.
Hermes was devastated.
He spent the entire month inside the naval base.
When he was hungry, he went to the kitchen.
When he was tired, he slept in the storeroom.
And every day he squatted on the parade ground, performing physical training while observing the marines.
No one ever noticed him.
The shrinking ability was simply too convenient.
The only people who noticed something strange were the cooks.
The kitchen often lost large amounts of food.
They tried to set traps and stakeouts.
But Hermes was always one step ahead.
They never caught him.
Now Hermes knew the entire naval base inside and out.
Every corner.
Every hallway.
Every room.
"Damn it."
"I'll stay here one more day."
Hermes did gain something during this month.
Even the most basic physical training had many hidden details.
Naval training was systematic and refined.
Even the smallest movements had been improved through generations of powerful naval soldiers.
This was the difference between aristocratic martial systems and commoner methods.
By copying their training, Hermes could build a solid foundation.
This would make learning other combat techniques easier in the future.
He decided to stay one more day.
Tomorrow he would leave for the capital.
He couldn't keep wasting time.
The day seemed as boring as usual.
Hermes continued cursing under his breath.
Just when he had given up all hope, something strange happened.
The marines who normally gathered on the field didn't appear.
Hermes felt confused.
Then he began to pray.
About ten minutes later, seven people appeared on the playground.
Five second lieutenants.
Two first lieutenants.
Together with Captain Bastan Yuger, they formed the core leadership of the entire base.
If these people were eliminated, the base would become leaderless.
Hermes recognized all seven of them.
Some were responsible for training.
Some handled patrols.
Others fought pirates and bandits.
For an entire month, Hermes had never seen them train.
But judging from the current situation, they were about to begin.
Hermes' intuition told him something.
An opportunity had arrived.
Soon the seven began basic training.
Afterward, they started one-on-one sparring.
The battles were dazzling.
Hermes became extremely excited.
This level of combat was completely different from ordinary marines.
It was like the difference between a novice and an expert.
Those who could become officers were not ordinary people.
Connections aside.
Unfortunately, neither side was fighting seriously.
It was only friendly sparring.
Not a real battle.
Otherwise, the combat style would look completely different.
Even so, it was like watching a blockbuster movie.
No.
It was even better than a movie.
Because Hermes was watching from close range.
Every punch struck with force.
The wind roared with power.
Weapons clashed and sparks flew everywhere.
This damn charm of battle.
This romance of combat.
This was the passion men longed for.
Hermes absorbed everything like a sponge.
Just watching made his blood boil.
This was only a duel between lieutenants.
He couldn't even imagine what battles between the top experts of the world looked like.
Damn it.
Damn it!!!
This romance...
This charm...