The Training Center was finally complete.
It had quickly become the favorite place for every Marine stationed at the 157th Branch.
Unfortunately, space was limited, and it couldn't accommodate all the marines at once.
So…
Luo Lan established a rule.
Naturally, the eight private training rooms inside were exempt from this rule.
Currently, only four people in the entire 157th Branch had access to a private room: Luo Lan, Ian, Ace, and Hina.
The other four rooms? Still unclaimed.
Originally, Luo Lan had considered giving them to Nojiko and Nami.
But both refused.
Nojiko said she was just a regular marine and didn't want special treatment.
As for Nami…
She said if she had time to train, she'd rather spend it guarding the supply room — to prevent Luo Lan from "borrowing" the funds again.
Well then, if they don't want the rooms, they'll just stay empty.
Sooner or later, someone will need them.
---
2,177…
2,178…
Under eight times gravity, Luo Lan pushed through his push-ups.
It wasn't that he couldn't handle a higher gravity setting — it was just that eight times was the most effective for his training. Anything beyond that would only reduce efficiency.
Ten minutes later…
3,000 push-ups. Warm-up complete.
Luo Lan stood up and began practicing Soru — the high-speed movement technique.
"Soru!"
A rapid burst of explosive stomps echoed through the chamber.
Yet…
Luo Lan's body barely moved.
The heavy gravity had significantly slowed down his stepping speed.
Even within the standard 0.36 seconds, he couldn't complete ten steps.
Worse still, each stomp required enormous force — another consequence of the intense gravity.
But this was all within expectations.
Luo Lan didn't stop.
He repeated the movements, again and again, tirelessly training.
He believed that if he could master Soru in such an environment, then in normal conditions, his speed and control would leap to a whole new level.
Before he realized it, night had fallen.
---
After a shower at home, Luo Lan made his way to the branch headquarters.
Next to the branch commander's office, in a small conference room, Luo Lan, Ian, Nami, Seras, and Barton all arrived and took their seats.
Just as Luo Lan was about to speak—
Bang.
The door swung open.
Hina stepped inside.
"Sister Hina, we're in a meeting here."
"I know," she replied calmly. "That's why I came — to listen in. Problem?"
Uh…
Luo Lan was momentarily speechless.
You're asking me if it's okay?
"Well… sure, you can listen in. But are you sure?"
"What, you worried that if I listen in, I'll never leave your little 157th Branch?"
"Exactly."
And then—
A suffocating pressure filled the room.
Killing intent.
It was the first time since meeting Hina that Luo Lan had ever felt such bloodlust from her.
It lasted a full three minutes — long enough for even Nami to start trembling — before Hina retracted her aura.
"You want me to stay?" she said flatly. "Then prove it with strength. Whether I sit in today or not changes nothing."
"Last time was my mistake. But next time…"
"Will you still have a chance?"
Without waiting for a response, Hina calmly sat beside Luo Lan.
And to be fair, Luo Lan agreed.
Last time, he had relied on Hina's misunderstanding — that his Doriki was only 5, and that outside of marksmanship, he wasn't much of a fighter.
Because of that, she hadn't used her Devil Fruit abilities and only tapped into about 30–40% of her martial strength.
Add in the unexpected turn of events at the end, and he'd caught her off-guard just long enough to win.
Otherwise? Unless it was a life-or-death duel, he wouldn't have stood a chance.
It wasn't like he could use live rounds… or Sea-Prism bullets, right?
He sighed lightly.
Then shrugged.
Fine. Sooner or later, she'll be part of the 157th. Let her familiarize herself with her future role.
Besides, he might not beat her now, but a month from now? Who knows.
"Alright, usual order. Nami, you're first."
"Huh? Me?"
Nami blinked in surprise.
This was her first time attending one of these meetings, and she had no clue where to start.
"Yes, you. Just give us the current financial status of the branch."
Oh. That, she could talk about for days.
"Our financial situation is terrible. We've got only 8 million Berries in the treasury, and once this month's salaries go out, we'll be broke!"
"So I'm proposing a new rule: Anyone who wants to withdraw funds must first submit a report and get my approval!"
She nearly spat the last part out through clenched teeth.
But—
"Rejected."
"Seras, your turn."
No hesitation. Luo Lan shut her down on the spot.
Nami immediately exploded.
"Rejected? Luoan, what authority do you have to reject that?!"
"I'll say it straight — the 'certain someone' I mentioned earlier? That's YOU!"
She pointed straight at him and fired off in his face.
But unsurprisingly, it didn't help.
"Nami," Luo Lan said calmly, "you've toured the Research Facility, right?"
"I did. Still have no idea how you even built something like that!"
She nodded, eyes filled with disbelief.
That honeycomb-like underground complex was beyond anything she'd ever imagined.
Sometimes, she still wondered if she'd hallucinated the whole thing.
Because building something like that? It seemed impossible.
"Then listen—"
"We're currently starting another major project in the southern part of the island."
Another one? Of the same scale?
Nami's eyes instantly turned into Berry signs, spinning wildly as her brain worked overtime to calculate the cost.
He returned two hundred million to the treasury, yes, but this new project would easily cost…
Forget 200 million. Even 20 billion might not be enough!
"Fine… I give up," Nami said, defeated. "But at least tell me the next time you withdraw funds. Deal?"
Luo Lan smirked.
"Seras, you're up."
"Yes, Captain!"
---
A/N: I'll be updating 2 more chapters today.