Captain

Being led around the base by the officer Clair had to admit it was quite advanced for people who still use wooden ships. It was a weird trait that the anime in her last world liked to mix advanced technology with technology that would have no place in a society that can harness electricity. Frankly, it was a boon for Clair. A backward society with medieval customs made this world a playground for her.

After a lengthy tour, Haruki told Clair that she would need to report to the captain when he returns to the base. Sad story or no he was still uneasy about Clair and wanted to push the decision of her joining on his captain. It was better not to stick his neck out for a person he has only met today.

Though that did not stop him from helping her find a house she could rent. How could he a respected officer in the marines not help out such a beauty? What if somebody tried to cheat her? It had nothing to do with the fact that he has been single for nine years. Helping her pay for the first couple of months was the least he could do. If he put his ear to the ground he might have heard the faint wails of people screaming SIMP!

Leaving her to her own devices he went back to patrolling the area. Not realizing he did not get the whole story from Clair. He subconsciously filled in the missing parts from what she told him so far. A tale of a lonely girl surviving on a desolate island filled his head.

After several days of waiting and getting used to living in a town again, Clair was called back to the base. Brought into the captain's office his old and scared appearance intrigued Clair. While you could see that he was well past his prime for some reason he was still jacked. His face was more in line with several hip replacements, not somebody who could bench a car over their head.

Only after silently doing his paperwork for 10 minutes did he finally speak. "So you want to be a Marine?" Looking over at the girl sitting in front of him, Captain Bluetree was bewildered when he returned to his base. He leaves to go and find the pirates he chased into a storm to find this situation. Some young girl and her beast walk into his town and all she wants is to become a Marine?

If he was not at the prime age of 67 he might have been ecstatic that such a beautiful girl had shown up at his base. Young girls love heroic figures like him. In his hay day, all it would take was a few stories of his heroic deeds and panties would drop like crazy. Now that the cigarettes and alcohol have taken his libido the girl was just another annoying bint who will probably quit after a few months.

"Yes sir, ever since my parents were killed I..."

Waving his hand to stop Clair," I have heard your story." Itching his head he was tired and felt like dealing with this was annoying. " I'm sure you will make a good Marine, just tell me your capability and we can be done with this."

Keeping her face neutral inwardly she was furious. Nobody likes to be interrupted especially, Clair. He gained a spot on her shitlist (Not the Amber Heard one). Regardless she still responded, "I believe myself to be quite strong. Also, I might have a superpower up my sleeve." Clair wanted to let her devil fruit be out in the open from the start. Not that she would tell him the whole truth about it.

Raising his eyebrow the captain was curious about this "superpower." There were plenty of weird things in this world and having abilities was not uncommon. Especially from what he has seen when he was just a grunt in the more dangerous oceans.

Sadly being put in one of the calmest seas did not stop devil fruit users from popping up. On more than one occasion he had to deal with them. Like the time he had to confront some asshole who was able to turn into a jacket. He felt stupid the whole time fighting that guy who constantly changed into a jacket to avoid his strikes. Needless to say most of the people who ate the fruits were dicks with overconfidence. "What would this superpower be?" Lighting a cigarette he was interested but not enough to sing the girl's praises.

"I'm able to change into a massive fox." Using her actual form as a devil fruit was why she was so confident in revealing that she had a devil fruit. It would be absurd for a giant fox to gain enlightenment and decide to live with humans. More believable is that she ate a devil's fruit and can change into a giant fox.

Thinking about the list of devil fruits he had to report to the higher-ups this was not one of them. It was left to his discretion as to how he will deal with her. He was honestly confused why one of the top fruits he needs to report is some paramecia rubber fruit. Even this girl's fruit sounded more appealing than becoming a rubber person. Nonetheless, this did help Clair's island story in his mind. A young girl survives an island with huge beasts on it, hard to believe. A devil fruit user who survives on an island with massive beasts is more believable.

"Better than I expected Ms. Clair. HARUKI" Shouting for his officer he wanted to get her out of his office. Even with a devil fruit if she can not survive for a few months it's not even worth his time to pay attention to this girl. Might as well get back to enjoying his saki until another problem pops up.

Knocking before entering Haruki was hoping his captain did not find any fault in how he treated Clair. While he can recruit people to the marines Clair was a special case. Not only the big tiger but the fact that she has such a mysterious background. Most of the recruits they get on the island are people born here. It's not much work to recruit some bright-eyed boy or girl they can verify was born on the island. "Sir!" Saluting he waited for his captain's orders.

"Get this lady outfitted with a uniform and have her trained up in a few months enough to start working. " Before Haruki could start doing as he was told the captain stopped him." Wait, before I forget make sure she can do the devil fruit thing. If she can not turn into a giant fox as she says throw her in a cell." He was sure she could do as she said but why not make sure? It would be better if she was lying less work.

Hearing him threaten to throw her in jailed irked Clair more than she already was. It was hard to adapt to human conversation again. Dealing with the pirates was easy because she was in an authoritative position with them. And beside them the only other people or person Clair could talk to was Yuno. Not that she was complaining Yuno has been a great companion in some of her most riveting conversations. Like every time she would tell Yuno one of her escapades back on earth she would get back attentive nods. But now that Clair has to play nice with a normal human she is struggling. Not with speaking, she can still be a convincing conversationalist. It was her anger. These people were pests in her eyes. Something that needs to disappear for her world to turn happy again. It felt like she had a cockroach crawling up her arm. She wanted to grab ahold of it and squeeze it until it pops.

"Ms.Clair" shaking Clair's shoulders Haruki was urging her to come with him. "We need to go." Right after the captain gave his orders Clair was lost in her thoughts. It was momentary but enough for Haruki to feel embarrassed with his captain staring at the girl dumbfounded. "Right my bad let's go." Getting up and walking through the door Clair followed Haruki.

Doing as his captain ordered Haruki first led Clair to a Courtyard where Yuno was waiting. Asking to see her transform he was awed at the sight of Clair's fox form. To him it was amazing watching her change back in forth he did not have the experiences his captain had.

After asking her to change back in forth almost 8 times he explained what Clair had to do in the upcoming weeks. She would have to follow an introductory course on what a Marine is expected to be able to perform. Not all of it was geared towards combat either. Clair noted the map reading and cloud formation classes as a welcome addition to what she needed to know. That and a litany of sailing classes geared towards running a ship successfully. It was funny to Clair that so much training in the marines only amounted to getting bitch slapped by some dumb-ass pirate.

Haruki noted that though they were introductory a marine could further his schooling on his time off. You were expected to attend as well, even if you did not want to. Somebody who shows no ambition to reach further heights gets placed in the worst jobs. Getting guard duty looks like heaven compared to cleaning all the toilets on base every day. Not to mention that your exercise routine would double in intensity.

Not that the threat was needed most people rushed to get to those classes. They offered people fighting techniques, and more opportunities to advance in rank. To get promoted as a fighter was hard in the One Piece world. Being a passable cook though was very possible. Most ships need a good cook like they need a good navigator both are very important.

It came as no surprise to Clair that this system was in place. She could not remember there being any higher learning in the One Piece world. The marines had to be getting these well-trained soldiers from somewhere and being in-house made sense. Hell if she did not have a "thirst for Justice" she would be taking more practical focused classes after the introductory classes.