Chapter 14: A Teacher and a Team
Ian's declaration of a "world without pirates" hung in the air, a grand, almost naive ideal that struck a chord deep within the assembly. This series of "moral justice" punches was disorienting; who could easily refute such pure, if ambitious, conviction?
The way the others in the room looked at him shifted palpably.
Galvanized by this "fire of justice," Garp suddenly slammed his hands on the table and stood, his chair scraping back. "Hey, Sengoku! I think that's enough," he boomed, his voice echoing in the chamber. "The kid saved fifty children. That's a merit that speaks for itself. How about I personally teach him the rules he needs to learn here at Headquarters? Hahahaha!"
His words landed like a cannonball, shocking the room into silence.
Especially Admiral Kuzan, whose expression became complex and unreadable. He remembered his own youth, doggedly pursuing Garp, begging for training, wearing the old hero down through sheer persistence before he'd relented. And now, Garp was offering himself to this newcomer? Was this Ian's raw talent so superior to what his own had been?
On the other side of the room, the Vice Admirals whispered.
"Gion," Tokikake murmured, leaning close, "have you heard Vice Admiral Garp volunteer to mentor a junior officer in recent years? He only defeated a Warlord's officer with a bounty of a few tens of millions. Why the special treatment?"
Gion kept her face an impassive mask. "Perhaps it isn't his ability Vice Admiral Garp values," she replied coolly. "It's his unshakable brand of justice. It resembles... that of a former naval hero." She paused, then added with a slight edge, "And... stay on your side of the chair."
The discussion sparked by Garp's offer was cut short as Sengoku considered it.
"Garp," Sengoku began, stroking his beard. "I didn't expect you to take the initiative to teach Ian Headquarters' protocols..." He then continued, the difficulty evident in his tone, "Aren't you the most rule-averse person in this entire Headquarters?"
Ian: "???"
Garp's domineering endorsement had nearly moved him, but Sengoku's retort was a direct hit to Garp's pride. The old hero's face flushed a bright red.
BOOM!
He clenched his fists, stomped over to Sengoku's desk, and slammed it with enough force to make the wood groan. "Sengoku, you old ghost! What are you talking about?" Garp roared. "Can't you save that for private? You have to say it in front of the new generation? What kind of Fleet Admiral shows up his own subordinates to flaunt his power? Believe it or not, I'll pluck out that ridiculous beard of yours right now!"
Sengoku shot to his feet, matching Garp's energy as he slammed his own palm on the desk. "Garp! I am your superior, and this is an official meeting! Watch your attitude!"
Garp leaned in, snarling, "Oh, you're so impressive! I'll break the rules today and let you try my Fist of Love!"
Sengoku shot back, "You see? Everyone, just look! Is what I said untrue?"
The other officers in the room could only lower their heads in unison, a collective sigh hanging in the air. "..."
The fact that no one intervened was a testament to how commonplace these clashes were. There was, however, one person present who could quell the storm.
"Between the two of you, you're over a century old. Even if this is an internal meeting, could you act with a modicum of decorum?" A voice, calm yet carrying immense authority, cut through the noise. Vice Admiral Tsuru rested her elbows on the table, her thin frame emanating a stern, awe-inspiring aura. "Do you intend to turn this meeting into a farce that lasts all afternoon? Shall we all join you in this nonsense?"
"Ahem!"
"Cough, cough!"
Sengoku and Garp coughed in tactical unison, quickly regaining their composure and retaking their seats as if nothing had happened.
"Jock Ian," Sengoku said, his voice returning to its official tone. "It is rare for Garp to recommend himself. From this moment on, you will follow him and learn what it means to be a proper Commodore of Headquarters. Do you have any objections?"
Being personally guided by Garp—and being asked for his opinion? Ian agreed wholeheartedly. Everyone knew that being related to Garp was a mixed blessing, but being his protégé was a shield of immense value. It meant having the unconditional, if occasionally destructive, support of a top-tier fighter. Where was the downside?
"Thank you, Vice Admiral Garp! I will strive to be worthy of your guidance!" Ian saluted, his eyes blazing with determination.
Sengoku gave a curt nod. "Good. Given the unusual circumstances, the promotion ceremony will be postponed for one hour. It will be held at Training Ground #1. Ian, stay with Garp from now on and train diligently. His Haki and physical combat skills are unmatched in these headquarters." He was explicitly pointing Ian toward his greatest area of potential growth. The battle report against Gladius had revealed a potent Haki user and physical brawler—a rare find that had clearly sparked Garp's interest.
Sengoku continued, his final pronouncement causing the remaining officers to stir. "Once your training reaches a satisfactory level, Headquarters will grant you the authority to form your own unit. With your own Marines under your command, I will assign you missions befitting your station. That is all for today's meeting. Ian, go and change into your new uniform. Tina will escort you to the first training ground. Meeting adjourned!"
Without allowing for further discussion, Sengoku stood and concluded the session. The officers rose, various looks of surprise and calculation exchanged between them. Ian, slightly bewildered by the sudden turn of events, followed Tina out of the room.
Once Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and Kuzan had departed, the remaining Vice Admirals broke into quiet discussion.
"It seems only Vice Admiral Garp is openly championing him," Gion mused, "but in reality, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's support is even greater, isn't it?"
"His own unit!" Tokikake exclaimed, his voice a hushed whisper. "Apart from Vice Admirals and a few exceptionally meritorious Rear Admirals, who gets to form their own unit while still a Commodore?"
Momonga adjusted his glasses. "An astonishing newcomer. What looked like a stern reprimand was merely the Fleet Admiral's way of publicly legitimizing him."
"Ha!" Momousagi chuckled. "Nothing wrong with the Navy having its own privileged 'supernova,' is there?"
Doberman crossed his arms, a grunt of reluctant admiration escaping him. "Tch. Vice Admiral Garp as a personal teacher, and the Fleet Admiral granting troop-building authority... Why do I suddenly feel a little envious?"
…
Unaware of the strategic favor he had just been granted, Ian's mind was still catching up to the implications of "forming his own unit." He didn't yet fully grasp the gulf between a standard officer and one entrusted with building his own command.
For now, he simply prepared to enjoy his high-level promotion ceremony. A total of thirty-six Captains and Commodores were in attendance, with over a thousand elite Marines forming an honor guard. The last time he had participated in a ceremony of this scale was his university graduation—a lifetime ago, in another world.
End of Chapter