The formal review began the next morning under clear weather.
Soren met the group outside the guest quarters shortly after sunrise. He wore the same practical uniform as the day before and carried nothing except a small notebook for any notes they might request.
"I suggest we start with the harbor and work inward," he said. "Docks, market, school, clinic, then the main militia grounds. We can adjust the order if you prefer."
Garp stretched his arms over his head until his shoulders cracked. "Harbor first is fine. I already like the docks. Let us see if the rest of the place holds up. BWAHAHAHA!"
Tokikake smoothed his coat. "Lead the way, Commodore. I am curious how a post this size maintains such order."
Gion simply nodded. Bogard took his usual place half a step behind Garp and said nothing.
They began at the main pier. Soren walked them along the length of it while the morning crews worked. He answered Gion's questions about average berthing times for merchant vessels, the structure of the docking fees, and the signal relay system that linked the outer islands. His replies stayed short and factual. When Tokikake asked whether the local shipwrights could handle larger Marine vessels, Soren pointed out the reinforced section of the dry dock and the current inventory of materials.
Garp spent most of the time watching the workers rather than listening to the numbers. At one point he accepted a piece of dried fish from a passing crewman and ate it with open approval.
"These people are not scared of their own shadows," he said. "That is rarer than good numbers."
From the harbor they moved into the market. Stalls were already open. The air smelled of fresh bread, fruit, and grilled fish. Civilians glanced at the high ranking coats, then returned to their business without the usual stiff silence that followed most Marine inspections.
Tokikake sampled a skewer of grilled meat and looked pleasantly surprised. "The local cuisine is better than expected. I may need to revise my opinion of East Blue cooking."
Gion asked a stall owner about price stability over the last year. The woman answered without hesitation, citing the mediation council that handled disputes between vendors. Soren stood a little to the side and let her speak.
At the school the children were in the middle of a reading lesson. The head teacher continued without interrupting the class. A few of the older students glanced at Garp with wide eyes, but no one stopped working. Gion observed the literacy materials and the small herb garden outside the windows. Soren explained the adjusted curriculum in three calm sentences when she asked.
The clinic came next. The floors were clean and the shelves were organized. A single doctor on duty who reported low seasonal illness rates and steady supply levels. Garp peered into a storage room, nodded once, and declared that any medical post that still had bandages left at the end of the month was doing something right.
By the time they reached the main militia grounds the sun was high. The local forces were running a standard rotation drill. Footwork was clean. Formations held without shouting. When the drill ended the captain approached, saluted, and gave a short status report. Soren added nothing extra.
Garp watched the men disperse with a thoughtful expression.
"They are not the strongest I have seen," he said. "But they move like people who train because they want to, not because someone is yelling at them. That matters."
Tokikake folded his arms. "Discipline without the usual theatrics. Interesting approach."
Gion's gaze lingered on Soren. "How much of the training schedule do you set personally?"
"The framework," Soren answered. "The captains handle the daily adjustments. I review results every week."
She accepted the answer with a small nod and made no further comment.
They returned to the administrative building in the early afternoon. Soren provided the full set of recent records for their review and then stepped back.
"I will be in the next room if you need anything. The evening meal is still scheduled as planned."
Garp already had another senbei in hand. "Good. I am going to read some of these numbers and then eat until I regret it. BWAHAHAHA!"
Tokikake took a seat near the window. "I will begin with the trade logs. The atmosphere here is almost relaxing enough to make me forget this is work."
Gion opened the first folder without looking up. Bogard remained standing near the door, silent as ever.
Soren left them to it.
Only after the door closed behind him did he walk the short distance to his own residence. He sat at the desk, opened the diary, and wrote while the afternoon light was still strong.
[Day thirty two.]
[Full surface tour complete. We covered the harbor, the market, the school, the clinic, and the main militia grounds. There were no disasters. Thankfully Garp didn't give his Fist of Love to anyone.]
[Garp spent half the morning eating and the other half judging people by how scared they looked. He seems to approve of the fact that the civilians did not freeze when they saw him. That is high praise from a man who once punched a mountain for fun.]
[Tokikake sampled the food, complimented the architecture, and generally acted like he was touring a private resort that somehow had a Marine presence. He is still simping over Gion on every occasion. I don't know how he didn't get punched in the face. Even I had the urge to smack that guy a few times.]
[Gion asked the real questions about berthing times, price stability, and the training frameworks. She is peeling the place apart with polite inquiries and I can feel it.]
[Bogard said nothing again. I am starting to believe he communicates exclusively through judgmental silence and the occasional nod. It is a little creepy can he calm the f**k down with his millennial gaze.]
[The systems held. That is the important part. Tomorrow they will dig into the records. Tonight I am going to eat, sleep, and pretend my shoulders do not still remember Garp's friendly greeting from yesterday.]
Soren closed the book and leaned back in the chair.
Outside, the archipelago continued its usual rhythm. The visitors were still watching. The real test had only started.