Kenji looked at the words in his vision, feeling a little surprise at this new mission to maintain public order in Loguetown.
"My earlier guess was correct. The system missions are indeed following my past Marine career progression." Kenji confirmed his previous speculation, but felt even more depressed.
"Sure enough, this broken system should have awakened fifty years ago when I first entered Marine School!"
Fifty years of system loading meant Kenji missed a lot, but he wasn't entirely empty-handed.
At least the sweat he poured out for his dream wasn't in vain. Even with ordinary talent, he carved out his own path through sheer effort.
Kenji reached out and pressed his temples, dismissing his nostalgic thoughts, and his gaze returned to the system mission in his vision.
"However, the specific details of this mission are very different from back then." Kenji looked at the mission's prerequisite description and found it somewhat amusing.
"To be immediately promoted to Marine Captain is quite something. Heh, the system's appointments are much bolder than Marineford's back then."
Back then, Kenji had indeed been dispatched to Loguetown by Marineford right after graduating from Marine School.
It was just that his rank at the time was a regular Ensign, and his position was merely a regular Master Sergeant.
Compared to the Captain rank and the supreme commander position in Loguetown appointed by the system, the gap between the two wasn't that far—perhaps only as far as the Red Line.
It must be said that the system was indeed generous. If it had awakened earlier, Kenji would probably have had the title of Admiral decades ago—a title given by the system.
"The system's mission progression has a pattern. Perhaps the direct appointment to Captain is due to an overly impressive performance in previous missions?"
"If someone is the strongest graduate of Marine School, being exceptionally appointed as a Marine Captain wouldn't be strange."
Kenji's heart stirred as he recalled the genius among his classmates back then—Kong!
Kong's talent was unmatched in that cohort. After graduation, he was directly appointed as a Lieutenant Commander by Marineford, and then promoted to Captain just two months later.
After that, he was transferred by Marineford to a more dangerous Marine branch base in the New World...
From the current situation, the system seems to have a tendency to advance missions along Kong's original promotion trajectory.
This is also the standard career path for 'monster' cadets.
"If the system really proceeds with missions according to Kong's career path later..." Kenji's brows quickly relaxed, revealing a smug smile.
"Good thing I was prepared."
The glowing text faded from his vision, and the system interface retracted. Kenji continued to drink tea and read the news.
Just as he finished a cup of black tea, a knock on the door sounded at just the right moment.
It was Anna, who seemed to have deliberately waited for Kenji to finish his tea before knocking on the door.
"Oh? You've come at a good time." Kenji's eyes lit up, and he waved repeatedly at Anna, "Give me a round of traditional massage!"
This time, Anna merely wrinkled her nose at his words, then straightened her face and reported seriously, "We just encountered a warship, Shirojishi Admiral!"
"Hmm?" Kenji didn't find it strange to suddenly encounter a warship and waited for Anna to continue her report.
"This warship is led by a Marineford Rear Admiral, and they brought a message." At this, Anna's expression gradually became tense, and her voice wavered.
"The Roger Pirates are approaching us!"
"..."
Kenji put down his teacup, stood up, and led Anna, preparing to meet those impolite fellows who interrupted his afternoon tea.
...
On the deck.
Kenji did not see any trace of the Roger Pirates.
Due to the changing weather, the fog in the nearby area was quite dense, and anything beyond ten meters was obscured.
The warship that suddenly arrived was docked next to Kenji's warship, having accidentally contacted Anna via a special Den Den Mushi.
Kenji knew the commander on the other warship. In fact, most people in the Marine, even if Kenji didn't recognize them, they recognized Kenji.
Being well-liked meant he could get by on his reputation.
"So, it's you." Kenji came to the bow and greeted the commander of the opposing warship.
Standing at the bow of the opposite warship was a short female Rear Admiral with a bowl-cut hairstyle and fluffy twin pigtails.
At this moment, her face was filled with anxiety.
Upon seeing Kenji, she didn't even have time for a polite response, urgently reminding him, "Prepare for battle quickly! Shirojishi Admiral!"
"The Roger Pirates will catch up soon..."
Her words were simple and clear, briefly explaining the situation.
Days ago, she had gone to the New World under Kong's orders to monitor the Roger Pirates and personally witnessed the great battle between the Roger Pirates and the Flying Pirates.
However, two days ago, as the war between the two Legendary Pirate crews was about to end, the Roger Pirates suddenly changed course and quickly broke away from surveillance.
By the time she led her warship to rediscover the Roger Pirates' tracks, she found that they had already arrived in this relatively desolate sea area in the New World.
After that, they encountered the special New World fog. Fortunately, during this time, she contacted Anna and relayed the latest intelligence to Marineford.
After listening to her concise explanation, Kenji immediately understood.
'I was wondering why a Legendary Pirate would have the leisure to travel to this desolate sea area... So you brought the enemy here, kid?'
However, since they had already arrived, anything else was superfluous.
Kenji immediately began to issue orders.
He first looked at the female Rear Admiral on the opposite warship, ordering unequivocally.
"Gather all personnel on your warship, immediately!"
Then, Kenji turned to Anna and instructed, "You take people to throw away everything that can be thrown overboard, and have all of Rear Admiral's troops board our warship."
Because the warship was loaded with a large amount of treasure, its waterline was very deep, so it certainly could not carry all the personnel from Rear Admiral Brugurasu's warship.
Some unnecessary heavy items had to be discarded.
Soon, on the opposite warship, Rear Admiral Brugurasu had already assembled her troops, and all personnel, following orders, came to the side of the ship, preparing to board Kenji's warship.
And Anna steadfastly carried out Kenji's orders, throwing heavier items into the sea, including cannons and other weapons, as well as cannonballs.
In fact, most of the Marines on board knew that in battles between Admirals and Legendary Pirate-level figures, weapons like cannons usually didn't play much of a role.
It's just that after discarding the cannons, the bare warship did look a bit unsightly.
After a series of dull 'plunk, plunk' sounds of falling into the water, Rear Admiral Brugurasu and her subordinates began to transfer.
Before long, the opposite warship was empty.
"Leave this empty warship behind. Don't worry about anything else." Kenji's next order stunned many.