"Uh…"
The Marine turned to glance at his companion behind him, then gave Cross a strange look and asked, "How old are you?"
"Fifteen!" Cross answered honestly.
"Sorry, we don't take kids. Come back when you're seventeen and legally an adult," the Marine said with a shake of his head, firmly rejecting him.
At the same time, he looked up at Cross, who was actually a head taller than him, and silently wondered, Are kids these days being raised on growth hormones or something? He's taller than I am! …Wait, what even is a hormone?
Cross didn't respond. He took a step back, his expression calm, and slowly drew the sword at his waist—Kagehide.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
The two Marines guarding the gate and another stationed in the watchtower immediately raised their rifles, going on full alert.
Cross ignored the tense atmosphere. Instead, he turned around and pointed with his blade toward a large rock protruding from the ground about ten meters away. "See that boulder over there?"
The moment his words landed, he raised Kagehide high overhead and swung it down in a clean, decisive slash.
Shhhk—
A sharp, invisible blade of air sliced out, cleaving the boulder clean in half from a distance. The upper half of the rock tilted and slid off with a smooth, almost surgical precision. The cut surface was so clean it gleamed under the sun, not a single jagged edge in sight.
The three Marines at the gate stared, slack-jawed. Their mouths hung open so wide it looked like their jaws might dislocate.
"I said," Cross sheathed Kagehide with a satisfied expression, "I want to join the Marines."
"Come in! Please, this way!"
"I'll go inform Captain Moore!"
"…"
Snapping out of their stupor, the three Marines hurried to open the heavy iron gate, bowing their heads in respect as they gestured for Cross to enter.
"Thanks for the trouble."
Cross gave a cheerful, cupped-hand salute and followed one of the Marines inside the base without any hesitation.
Ordinarily, the Marines only recruited adults aged seventeen and older. Minors and children weren't accepted into the ranks.
However, there were always exceptions, especially for gifted individuals, orphans with no other path, or those recommended by high-ranking officers. In such cases, the rules could be bent.
Take the former Marine Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr, for instance. He joined the Marines at age fourteen, dreaming of becoming a hero. He entered the academy alongside Garp (eighteen), Sengoku (nineteen), and Tsuru (seventeen), all as members of the same class.
Or consider Koby, who enlisted at sixteen and quickly rose under Garp's tutelage, becoming the youngest Captain in the Marines within two years.
So, the "no minors" rule? Not exactly set in stone.
Inside the stone walls, Marine Branch 201 was basic and spacious. Apart from the port area, which included a warehouse and dock, the rest was an open training ground.
A paved cobblestone road, about a hundred meters long, stretched from the main gate to a stone fortress built into the slope ahead, dividing the open area in two and segmenting it into several training fields.
Cross saw Marines practicing in formation drills, sword techniques, and rifle marksmanship on different fields on either side of the road.
As for buildings, there was only one main structure: the massive stone fortress perched atop the slope. It appeared to serve as a multi-functional facility: defense, storage, barracks, and mess hall, all rolled into one.
Before long, guided by the gate Marine, Cross arrived in front of the fortress.
From a distance, it hadn't looked like much, but up close, the fortress was quite imposing, nearly twenty meters tall and divided into four levels. Each floor was lined with square windows, and some had dark cannon barrels protruding from them.
Viewed at night, the whole structure probably looked like a giant stone beast looming over the coast.
"Why'd you bring a kid here?" asked a guard at the fortress gate.
"He's here to enlist," the Marine replied.
"Hah? Enlist?"
"Move aside, I'm taking him to see Captain Moore."
"…"
The guards gave Cross's youthful face a few skeptical glances. But since he was escorted by a fellow Marine, they didn't stop him and simply let the two pass.
And so, Cross made it inside the fortress without a hitch. Eyes wide with curiosity, he looked around, soaking in the surroundings.
Contrary to its cold, stone exterior, the fortress interior was spacious, well-lit, and surprisingly clean. The corridors were wide, lamps glowed steadily along the walls, and the Marines they passed were well-groomed and full of energy.
The Marine leading him, cheerful and easygoing, noticed Cross glancing around and mistook it for nerves. He smiled and said, "Relax. With that kind of skill, Captain Moore will definitely let you in. By the way, I'm Dom, soon to be your comrade!"
"Thanks! I'm Amphitrite Cross," Cross replied, happily matching Dom's tone.
"As for why I'm joining the Marines at this age… it's because I want to get stronger. I don't want to rot away in some tiny kingdom, waiting for death. That'd be way too boring."
"You're something else!" Dom laughed. "What, you already beat up everyone in your kingdom or something?"
"Oh? So you've heard of me, then? That's the only way you'd know I've got no worthy opponents left." Cross spread his hands in mock exasperation, flashing a grin.
"Hahahaha! Man, that's awesome!"
Dom didn't take the claim seriously, of course, but he was happy to joke along. Cross, who had actually been telling the truth, didn't correct him, he preferred to let others think he was just joking. No need to brag.
The two chatted happily all the way to the fourth floor, stopping in front of a large office door.
Knock knock knock—
Dom raised his hand and knocked firmly. "Reporting in!"
"Come in," came a calm, magnetic voice from inside.
Dom pushed the door open, and Cross followed him in.
The office was spacious, carpeted in deep brown and tastefully decorated with a fireplace, sofas, a coffee table, bookshelves, coat rack, flower vases, and oil paintings.
Behind a large desk sat a tall, lean man with black hair, a cigar in his mouth, and a Justice-emblazoned Marine coat draped over his shoulders. He held a quill pen in one hand, busily writing, likely reviewing official documents.
"Seaman Apprentice Dom reporting! A new recruit wishes to join Branch 201. Due to special circumstances, requesting Captain Moore's decision!" Dom saluted crisply and spoke with firm clarity.
"Hmm?"
Captain Moore paused mid-writing and looked up, locking eyes with Cross.
He looked mild-mannered, his gaze calm and composed. But the X-shaped scar on his forehead added a hint of menace to his otherwise scholarly appearance.
"My name is Amphitrite Cross. I'm from the Tobias Kingdom, and I'm fifteen years old," Cross stepped forward and declared, his voice steady and clear.
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