Chapter 58

Moreover, they will have the right to transfer to the main Headquarters of the Marines after a short period of time.

This path had both advantages and disadvantages, according to what Bill heard from his mother and Miss Angie.

Having finished with this, Aramaki dismissed the two and instructed them to spend the next week at home with their families. For a long time, they would only communicate through Snails.

When they left, Aramaki sat down at his desk and looked at Bill.

"Son, sit down."

Replying with "Yes, sir," Bill did as he was told.

Looking somewhat sympathetic, Aramaki spoke to Bill for the first time since the final trial.

"I must say, son, you handled this trial excellently! The way you dealt with the tiger cages was so quick that I didn't even see how you damaged the lock on the third cage! You skillfully climbed the tree and handled Barney!"

So… how did you fall?

When you turned, you had perfect balance, but you just stumbled on flat ground…"

Hearing this question, Bill honestly replied, "I don't know how it happened. I was confident I would manage…" "I just crossed this place… it felt like the Earth itself shifted… but I don't know."

Shaking his head, the large man said:

"Are you sure this is what you want? The sea is unpredictable, and you're not like the others. You could live a good life here. Heck, we could send you to your mother's kingdom and get you a position in the administration!"

After Bill confirmed that this is indeed what he wanted, they talked for a long time.

Several hours later, a knock came at Aramaki's door.

Waving a hand to send the lieutenant away, Aramaki finally said:

"Remember, the agreement was that I would train you and your friends, but in return, you'll go wherever I send you without objections."

Seeing Bill nod, Aramaki continued:

"Then sign here and here."

He was handed two sheets of paper: the first was a standard enrollment form. The second stated:

[Officer Candidate School: Scientific Division]

Somewhere at sea, Bill stood on the deck of a Marines warship. As he gazed into the distance, he noticed a flock of News Coo and, upon calling them over, received the latest issue of the Southern Blues Times.

What he read shocked him.

[Massacre on Panhandle Island!]

Approximately two weeks ago, the Southern Naval Command lost contact with base SB-PH. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the island was attacked by a previously unknown group calling themselves the Kid Pirates. Local authorities are assessing the situation. According to a confidential source, the entire base of 80 Marines, including their families, perished in the brutal attack. Further updates are expected.

Below that article was another recurring story about roving gangs of children committing petty crimes, mainly thefts. This phenomenon was occurring on several islands but, oddly enough, never on two islands simultaneously.

Shaking his head at this news, he rolled up the newspaper in one hand and leaned against the ship's railing.

By this time, Bill was already on his way to the Headquarters of the Scientific Division in Marineford. He had tried to keep this a secret, but after persistent questioning from his mother, Bill admitted where his father was sending him for officer training.

This led to one of the few arguments Bill had ever witnessed between his parents. Even Miss Angie got involved and criticized his father.

The issue was that although the Scientific Division was part of the Marines organization, its command structure was separate.

This meant that, aside from an admiral or higher, no one from outside had the authority to interfere with what happened there.

This was particularly problematic for Bill because even if he completed school without the intervention of an officer of very high rank, at best he would be transferred as a lieutenant. If he failed, he would become a mere junior officer.

But the most troubling aspect, as his mother pointed out, was that due to the separate command structure, Bill might never be "discharged" from the cadet academy and could be sent to guard some insignificant outpost, receiving the same pay and benefits as a recruit for an indefinite period.

In essence, his father had sent him into a situation where he might never actually join the Marines!

Considering the influence Aramaki had, it wasn't entirely far-fetched to think that he could have struck a deal with Doc Vegapunk as a favor!

And so the argument at home that day was shocking.

It was only after his mother, now officially recognized as healthy, threatened to rejoin the Marines that Aramaki relented and promised he would do everything possible to ensure Bill wouldn't remain in the Scientific Division for the entire six-year contract.

But what's done is done—even Aramaki couldn't pull Bill out of the contract, and there he was, standing on the ship's deck for the first time.

"Well, it's not so bad," Bill thought.

The main advantage of enrolling in the cadet program of the Scientific Division was that he was formally under the aegis of the Marines Headquarters.

Moreover, Aramaki presented Bill with a final gift in the form of a booklet detailing how to use the Moon Step. What made this special was that Bill wasn't forced to sign an additional service contract. How Aramaki obtained this permission, Bill did not know.

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