"What in the world..."
The female instructor with the pale-blue short hair stared at Aren, completely at a loss for words.
The ordinary marines around might not fully understand what had just happened, but the instructors certainly did. They all had a rough sense of the strength each trainee possessed.
Among this group, the strongest was a marine lieutenant commander from the Grand Line's 8th Base. His combat power was in no way inferior to that of some of the instructors themselves.
As for the others, every single one of them had been recommended here because of enough battlefield merit, solid strength, and outstanding potential.
In other words, these were the marines nurtured for the future of the organization.
Many of them were destined to become vice admiral level in the years to come.
Yet now...
How long had it been?
Ten seconds? Twenty?
All of them were already on the ground.
He was an overwhelming presence, someone whose strength completely crushed every trainee here. No wonder Zephyr-sensei recognized him as a special recruit.
However...
While shock was still written across everyone else's faces, Zephyr was already smiling as he looked at Aren.
The legendary instructor who had raised so many excellent marines recalled what Lockby had told him during their last conversation.
"Make him a special recruit. You will never regret it. As for why, you will understand the moment you meet him."
Lockby, you really sent me quite a good one.
Zephyr's heart was filled with delight and excitement as he watched Aren.
Aren, meanwhile, stepped past the trainees lying all over the ground and walked toward Zephyr.
When he neared the line of instructors, they all instinctively shifted aside to open a path for him.
"For regular trainees, as long as they manage to take my cloak within five minutes, the assessment is considered a success, correct?" Aren asked Zephyr bluntly.
"That is correct," Zephyr replied, meeting his gaze.
Getting his answer, Aren turned toward Jero and handed the folded cloak to him. Then he took out his pocket watch, glanced at the time, and said to Zephyr with complete seriousness, "It has only been fifty seconds since you announced the start. My cloak is now in Jero's hands, which means he has passed the first test, right?"
Aren's actions left not only Jero dumbfounded, but Zephyr and the other instructors as well.
Jero especially was completely flustered, his hands stiff as though he had no idea what he was supposed to do with the cloak.
"This..."
The blue-haired female instructor on the side wanted to step forward and say something, but Zephyr stopped her with a raised hand.
He looked straight at Aren and smiled. "That is correct. For the first test, Jero is the only one who passed. However, you have failed. The special recruit's assessments are completely different from those of regular trainees. Every single test determines whether you keep your special recruit status."
"What are you talking about, Instructor Zephyr?" Aren pushed his glasses up slightly. "You clearly said just now that this is only the first exam, which means there are more to come. As long as I earn perfect scores in the remaining tests, there is no problem. Besides, because of your rather willful decision, my personal time has already been delayed by one minute and forty-seven seconds. Since this is forced overtime, I want triple pay. Based on my salary, for one minute and forty-seven seconds of overtime, I am owed five hundred Berries. Please add those five hundred Berries to my pay for this month."
After saying that, Aren offered Zephyr a small, polite bow. "Then I will be taking my leave for today."
As he walked away yet again with that same unhurried attitude, the instructors all turned their eyes to Zephyr.
Zephyr, however, watched Aren's back with an unchanging smile, then slowly reached up to remove his own glasses. "In that case, we will now begin the second assessment for special recruit Aren."
Hearing this, Aren stopped in his tracks and looked back at him.
"A battle against me. Earn my acknowledgment, and that will count as your second assessment." Zephyr stared straight at Aren as he spoke, shrugging off his marine cloak and tossing it back. The blue-haired female instructor reached out and caught it.
"!"
The moment Zephyr said that, every instructor, Jero, and all the marines watching around them gasped in unison.
The former Marine Admiral known as Black Arm Zephyr was going to personally conduct the special recruit's assessment.
The instant they saw Zephyr's stance, all traces of casual amusement vanished from the faces of everyone present.
Those who had been busy with work put down what they were doing.
Those who had only been watching for fun immediately began contacting their comrades.
Even the Headquarters vice admirals who had just arrived and had not cared what was happening here before now stopped walking and turned to watch Zephyr and Aren.
For one simple reason.
The legendary old man was about to make a move.
"If I do not participate, failing two assessments means my chances of being kicked out become very high. If I do participate, I will have to work overtime again..."
Aren looked at Zephyr and murmured quietly to himself. His expression remained as composed and indifferent as ever, as though the nature of the exam meant absolutely nothing to him.
Yet as he spoke, he began rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt.
After carefully folding both sleeves to the same height, Aren looked at Zephyr, took off his glasses, and slipped them into his trouser pocket. "Since this is compulsory overtime, I still want triple pay."
"Hmph. Arrogant brat." Zephyr flexed his fists, the joints cracking faintly. "That depends on whether you can pass the assessment at all."