World Traveler - Chapter 15

Grand line Sea.

A navy warship was sailing slowly towards the HQ. The ambiance inside the ship was at its max, cheery and merry.

The recruits that just passed the yearly ȧssessment were celebrating having a banquet, even Z joined the fun. They danced, singed, feasted and drink liquor.

Aizen stood at the deck of the ship while watching the blue sea in front of him.

From time to time, he would take a look towards the recruits and sigh helplessly.

He didn’t know if they were idiot or simply didn’t care, but a large part of them, even some seniors still thought that they really fight a dangerous death match against the pirates.

Of course, not everyone was that moronic. The whole ordeal was for them to gain confidence in their power and experience through an artificial death like situation.

Aizen was approached by Smoker who didn’t say anything, and only enjoyed the sea breeze beside him.

“Aizen brat, I think I’m gonna apply for a graduation.” Said Smoker.

He was also someone that passed a lot of years in the Elite camp. Such ‘fake operations’ weren’t new for him.In his earlier times, he was also tricked, later he suspected, but now, he was sure.

He felt that the only thing that was valuable in the camp was trashing by Aizen, maybe, embarking to the real world is the answer.

He didn’t blame Z, rather he respected him more for protecting his disciples, but, he wanted to face the real world by himself, not with Z behind protecting him.

Aizen saw the maturity and determination inside Smoker eyes, and couldn’t help but tease him.

“Ho, Smoker kun finally grow up to Smoker san! I’m proud of you Smokey, Trashing you wasn’t for vain after all sniff sniff” Aizen started feigning proudness and ecstasy while crying tears of joy.

Drake in the distance, Shu and Hina also seems to think about the whole experience. Everyone had their own thoughts.

The moment they heard about smoker intention to graduate, they were a little bit surprised.

“Hina Confused!” Said Hina by the side. She didn’t have any informations about the graduation process.

The other two were the same, they knew that the lowly rank a graduate can have was a captain. but that only after having breaking through the 1000 mark.

Under Aizen trashing, everyone of them improved by leap and bounds. The fact that their pride and confidence shattered again and again, put them in no place to show off, so the whole year was passed in training and sparring.

Even Hina wasn’t spared from Aizen, he always believed in equality.

“Let me explain that for you!” Said Z from the side with tipsy tone.

The attention of the recruits focused on Z, as he continued.

“Why do you think Elite Camp is called ‘Elite’? The camps are there to estimate and ȧssess an individual talent. and only a talent that show some characteristics could be promoted.

Common camp recruits that graduate without making it to the elite camp, are already counted as somehow talented people, so their lowest start point would be Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander and may promote to captain due to a large accumulation of merits or ‘seniority’.

Elite camp batch are different, you can graduate the moment you achieve the 1000 mark, but that’s not all, Elite camp recruits can stay in the camp for years if they want. Ain per example, do you know why?”

The recruits were also confused,’yes why?’

“It’s because Elite camp recruit had a special prerogative, the more you grow in strength, the better your rank turn to be.

Aizen per example if he graduate now, he would end up with up with Commodore Rank, only under Rear Admiral, which is by the way the max you can achieve. To promote to Vice Admiral, you need merits and commendation.” Explained Z to the surprise of everyone.

“What is the process of graduation Z sensei?” Asked Aizen, he was now a little bit interested. He always had trouble thinking of how he would accumulate merits from a captain to Vice Admiral, but now with this privilege shown in front of his eyes, it would be a lie if he wasn’t tempted.

“The graduation is divided into two steps (three)

– Fitness Test, and that’s the easiest one.

– Defeating or securing a draw with the Marine Rank you apply to. (Captain – Commodore – Rear Admiral)

– Hunting a Pirate with bounty of 40 Million Berry for Commodore, and 60-100 Million Berry for Rear Admiral. Captains are exempted from this test, and that’s why a lot of people choose to only take the easy road, and amass feats slowly to promote.” Said Z, while he continued sipping his liquor with a happy face.

“Sensei, I still insist on taking the graduation test!”Repeated Smoker.

“As stubborn as always brat! fine, when we come back, I’ll help you apply for it!”Z sighed, he really couldn’t think of any thing to convince him against it.

What a shame! he was supposed to have a potential of an Admiral, sadly not all Logia that impressive.

“Z sensei, I think, I would apply for that too!” Added Aizen too from the side. There is no way he would waste his years in the Headquarters under watch.

“I think you should wait until your power reached the Rear Admiral, you are only 12 years old after all!” Z refused letting this gem waste such a chance.

“And why do you think that I’m not at that level yet?” Aizen smirked with a dubious look, taking Z by surprise.

Aizen already conciliate with the excess of power inside him, he can at least attain the Rear Admiral Level without any control troubles.

The other recruits gave Aizen an envious look. To think that he was only 12 years old, but he was that strong.

Talent only deepened the inequality between individuals.

Hina, Drake and Shu also showed a slight dismay, but soon, they steeled their determination. They won’t give up!

“Hahahaha! I didn’t think you were that secretive brat!” Z smiled happily. He wasn’t that shocked, but still amazed at the progress of the boy.

The feast continued, while Smoker and Aizen were both promoted to ‘honor guests’, where the recruits done their best to lick their boots.

It was one of those calming and soothing situations which Aizen liked the most.

It didn’t take much of days to the warship to return to the headquarters. There were already people waiting for them to congratulate them!

“Aizen Sama, Please look this way!!” Shouted a cute maiden, as her eyes darted out to form a heart shape.

“Aizen Sama, congratulations! I love you!”

“Welcome back little hero!”

Under the maidens confessions and the males malicious eyes, Aizen smiled warmly while greeting everyone. He was already promoted to the marine mascot boy.

Z already told him that he got some hardcore fan bases all around the sea. Aizen felt like cavendish, only, he was sėxy and manly while the other one was beautiful and girlish.

‘Heavenly Yaksha! What is he doing here?!’ All the recruits were trembling in fear at the presence of this man.

Smoker was sweating hard while clenching his fist, he could feel his body tremble under the mere glance of the man. The others weren’t doing any well, it wasn’t that the man was pressuring them, it’s only his unrestrained regal aura. some of the recruits already arced their back to bow in front of the man, their eyes tremble at the thought of meeting his eyes.

A light blond-haired, pair of curved, thin white sunglasses with red-purple lenses. He was very lean and muscular man with tan skin, dresses in flamboyant flamingo animal theme type clothes. his clothes are brightly colored, with his light pink feather coat most distinctly of all.

He walks with an odd, bow-legged waddle towards the bunch of recruits with a nefarious smile on his face.

“Fufufufu, ‘Black Arm’ Zephyr, Former Admiral! glad meeting you!” Said Doflamingo while totally ignoring the trembling recruits.

“What are you doing here Doflamingo?!” Asked Z with a tense tone. he already have some doubts, but he choose not to believe in them.

“Fufufufu, It seems that you lost more than your family -” Doflamingo was immediately interrupted by a man with a black mohawk and a mustache.

He wears the standard marine uniform, consisting of a purple and white pinstripe suit with a coat draped over his shoulders, along with a flower-shaped katana in his right hip.

“Shut your filthy mouth, Doflamingo!!” Shouted Momonga in rage.

Momonga Vice Admiral was really started to get pissed off, he didn’t know the reason why the W.G would made this kind of dangerous person as warlord, but there must be some deep intentions that he wasn’t informed about. But, that’s is it, the pirate didn’t seems to care about their marine at all.

He could feel a despising and degrading look from him although his eyes were covered, even so, he didn’t mind, but to actually talk with this manner to Z a former Admiral. He couldn’t ignore him anymore.

“Fufufufu, And you must be the famed little ‘hero’?” Doflamingo totally ignored Momonga sudden outburst, as he trailed his sight towards the calm person within a bunch of scared rabbits

His tone was as if he was talking about some joke.

“I’m surprised you know about me Mr?” Aizen answered with a calm innocent look, while questioning the identity of the clown looking man.

Doflamingo forehead bulged as vein after vein started appearing, but soon, he calmed himself.

“Fufufufufu, It seems you aren’t a joke after all, I’m Donquixote Doflamingo, a current warlord better remember it in the future!” He thought about skinning the boy, but he didn’t want to offend the marine any more. He shouldn’t push his luck anymore.

“Nice to meet you Doflmaingo Sama, I’ll remember you!” Answered Aizen with a polite smile on his face.

Doflamingo finally understand why would Monet and Sugar keep his portrait. He was Damn handsome to the point that Doflamingo feel troubled. (Gay Doflamingo? shiver)

Doflamingo passed by the recruits group, and left towards the harbor accompanied by some Vice Admirals that escorted him.

Z face was black, he hurriedly left the group, Aizen suspected that he must be looking for Sengoku.

Aizen knew that it was the time Doflamingo would make his move on the Tenryubito Heavenly tribute, but he didn’t expect to met him this early.

Aizen found him as an interesting character. by this time, he already started to concoct and devise his great plan.

One of the characters that knew a lot about the one piece world, and the most scheming bastard of them all, hard to deal with with due to his multiple layers of protection.

He must have already start executing his plan.

First overthrowing the royalty in Dressrosa and hailed as a ‘hero’.

Aizen suspected that the reason ‘he’ find the whole ‘hero’ thing as a joke, was because of his plan.

Second, expanding his underground business, relations, and influence under the protection and the help of the W.G, he was unstoppable.

Z soon returned to the training grounds with an ashen face, he was day by day losing a portion of his trust in the justice that he always believed in.

Other than that, he already bring some good news, Smoker and Aizen requests were approved, and they would start their graduation process two days from now.