"Tap—"
Hawke stepped forward.
"Salute!"
Hina and Smoker, leading the soldiers behind them, raised their hands in salute to Hawke.
Hawke lifted his hand and returned the salute.
"Buzz—"
At that moment, another medium-sized warship slowly entered the harbor and docked steadily at the pier.
The 16th Branch had arrived.
Dane, Zoro, Sanji, and the others disembarked, leading the squad Hawke knew best.
"Good. Everyone's here!"
Hawke gave the order to all,
"Everyone, to the training grounds."
...
Soon, on the training grounds of G-3 Branch—
Thousands of Marines stood in neat formations, separated by their respective affiliations.
On the left stood the old veterans who had remained at G-3.
Their expressions were solemn, their gazes filled with scrutiny and curiosity as they examined the young officer who had parachuted into their command.
On the right stood the units under Smoker and Hina.
They stood straight and tall, but their eyes always followed their former commanders.
At the very center stood Hawke's personal troops brought from the East Blue.
Their formation was the most precise of all, their ranks as sharp as if carved by blade and chisel.
Every man radiated fervent devotion and absolute loyalty.
Zoro and Sanji, dressed in Third-Class Seaman uniforms, stood within that formation.
"..."
At the very front of all the formations stood Hawke, with Dane, Hibari, and Kujaku positioned behind him.
His eyes swept over every man present, taking in every trace of doubt, scrutiny, defiance, and anticipation on their faces.
"I know many of you have questions in your hearts!"
Hawke's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly across the entire training ground.
"How can a Branch Commander from the East Blue leapfrog his way to become your supreme officer?"
"How can an unknown nobody be given such luxurious support by Headquarters?"
"How can a Commodore, who looks younger than many of you, be worthy to lead hardened elites of the Grand Line?"
His words fell like hammers, pounding heavily on the hearts of every soldier, stealing their breath.
These were exactly the questions they had most wanted to ask, yet dared not speak aloud.
Why?
Why was a Branch Commander from the East Blue able to leap ranks and become a Headquarters Commodore?
Why could a mere Commodore take command of G-3 Branch?
Why did Commodore Hawke command such a massive fleet?
These doubts had lingered in their hearts ever since the orders had arrived.
By the discipline expected of Grand Line elites, they suppressed their doubts and followed orders.
But that did not mean they truly accepted Hawke from the bottom of their hearts.
"Following me will be harsh."
Hawke continued, "Because my training is hell itself."
"My rules are endless."
"But."
"Following me will also be rewarding."
"Every Belly you earn will never be withheld."
"Compensation, salaries, bounties—I never skim or cheat!"
"Achievements, ranks—if you dare fight with your life, I dare reward you!"
"What I have, you too shall have!"
Hawke's gaze turned toward his own troops.
"Am I right?!"
The moment his words fell—
The training ground fell silent.
All eyes instinctively turned toward the unit from the East Blue.
"Swish—!"
Over a thousand soldiers, in perfect unison, clenched their right fists over their chests!
Then, they struck their chests hard!
"Boom—!"
The dull sound was like thunder, as if it struck not flesh, but the very hearts of all present.
A frenzy of devotion erupted skyward from their bodies.
"Our hearts are yours!"
"For Commodore Hawke, offer your heart!!"
"LOYALTY—!!!"
The roar, unified and furious, rose like a wave that shook the entire G-3 Branch to its core.
The soldiers in the left and right formations were overwhelmed, their scalps tingling under the crushing pressure of that insane fervor.
"This…"
The veterans of G-3, pupils contracting violently, were stunned.
They had seen ruthless pirates of the Grand Line, they had seen madmen unafraid of death.
But never had they seen such a unit.
That willingness—radiating from their very bones—to offer everything to their commander made them tremble from the soul.
What terrifying cohesion was this?!
What methods had this young Commodore used to forge such a force entirely his own?!
"..."
Hawke slowly raised his right hand, pressing it gently downward.
The training ground that had moments ago thundered with roars instantly fell into silence.
The thousand soldiers, their eyes still burning with fervor, no longer uttered a single sound.
Obedience to orders, as if they were his very limbs.
"Hmm…"
Hawke nodded inwardly at the display.
Then his gaze locked onto the figure standing at the front of the right formation.
"Of course, this alone is not enough."
"So…"
Hawke stepped forward, his aura shifting dramatically.
"Captain Smoker, step forward!"
"???"
Still dazed from the roaring chant, Smoker looked bewildered.
What did this have to do with him?
"Smoker."
Hina, seeing him frozen, nudged him subtly with her elbow.
"Step—"
Smoker was nudged forward, and he turned his eyes to Hawke.
"Smoker…"
"Back in the East Blue, you helped me once."
"But… business is business."
Hawke's tone sharpened.
"If I recall correctly, you still owe me five boxes of cigars, don't you?"
"..."
Smoker's face instantly darkened.
This brat, bringing that up in front of thousands of people?!
"How about this. If you can last three attacks under my fists—"
Hawke held up three fingers. "—the cigars are written off!"
"???"
"Three attacks?!"
Smoker's fury exploded, shooting straight to his skull!
You brat! Looking down on me?!
I, Smoker the "White Hunter," a Logia user, a Captain long famous in Headquarters—
And you're telling me to last three attacks?!
"Come, Hawke! Forget three, I'll last thirty!"
Smoker's jaw clenched tight, veins bulging on his neck.
"Thirty attacks, I'll show you I can take them all!"
Soon, the soldiers stepped back, leaving a vast open space in the center.
All eyes fixed on the two men within, blazing with excitement and anticipation.
This was the first clash between G-3's two strongest!
"White Snake—!"
Smoker struck first. His right arm turned into thick smoke, forming a snarling serpent of haze that roared forward, lunging straight for Hawke's face!
He knew Hawke was strong.
But with his Logia abilities, he was confident he could last thirty attacks.
"..."
Hawke stood unmoving.
He watched the smoke serpent rush toward him, his gaze calm.
With Intermediate Observation Haki, every motion of the smoke played out clearly in his mind.
Too slow.
Smoker's attack was full of flaws.
But to establish authority, the effect had to be absolute.
One strike.
Defeat Smoker in a single strike!
So he waited—
Waited for the largest opening.
As the serpent's head neared his nose tip—
"!!!"
Hawke moved!
His right fist clenched, coated in jet-black Armament Haki.
Then, he struck!
"Impact Fist—!"
No wasted movement. No flashy technique.
Only pure, ultimate force!
"BOOM!!!"
His fist collided with the smoke serpent.
In an instant, the serpent's head was torn apart by the sheer violence of the blow, scattering into chaotic smoke!
But it didn't stop there!
The force barreled onward, slamming ruthlessly into Smoker's chest as he desperately crossed his arms to block.
"BANG—"