One Piece: Son-in-Law King, That's My Destiny!

Time flew by, and over two weeks had passed in a blur.

"The Black Cat Pirates have struck again!"

Early morning at Branch 153 was unusually tense.

The Black Cat Pirates had raided another village near the branch's jurisdiction, but there wasn't much the navy could do.

By the time Captain Rhoades and his squad arrived, the pirates had already vanished without a trace—not even a glimpse of their ship's stern. All that remained was a devastated town.

Fortunately, the villagers had spotted the pirates early and taken refuge in the nearby mountains.

Recruit Training Grounds.

Loya was running laps with remarkable ease, effortlessly overtaking his fellow recruits and quickly leaving them in the dust.

"Damn it, how many laps has he lapped us by now?"

"Two... no, three!"

"Does that guy ever get tired?"

"Forget it, let's just jog at our own pace."

In just over two weeks, Loya had not only adapted to the routine but was completing the basic training with ease, nearly catching up to the veteran soldiers.

"Does he really have to go so hard?"

The instructors' gaze had shifted from disappointment to disdain—reminiscent of the way parents looked at underperforming children.

It stung.

Not only were the new recruits feeling the pressure, but even the veterans were unnerved by being outshined by a rookie.

That afternoon, after finishing their chores, Loya and Fullbody retreated to the rooftop to relax, enjoying their most carefree moment of the day with a cigarette.

Fullbody stared at Loya, making him uncomfortable.

"What?"

"Kid, aren't you overdoing it a little?"

"Am I?" Loya blinked, confused.

He didn't think so.

Even if he counted the extra training he did in the "World," his total regimen was only double the standard. That was nowhere near his ultimate goal of 200 times the norm.

Coby had joined the navy at 16, risen to Petty Officer within six months, and mastered "Soru," one of the Six Powers—techniques far beyond ordinary human capability.

Not to mention the naturally gifted monsters out there. Even without systematic training, they were ten times stronger than him.

Able to take bullets with their bare bodies—how could you compete with that?

Loya didn't feel like he was pushing himself hard enough. With an ordinary body, his only option was relentless training.

Devil Fruits?

Unless he stumbled upon one by sheer luck, they were out of reach for someone like him.

Fullbody clapped him on the shoulder, speaking earnestly. "Loya, I'm just worried you'll break your body."

"Thanks, but don't worry. I've got this," Loya replied with a smile.

If not for the "World" as his safety net, his current training might indeed push him to the brink. But he understood the importance of balance—he didn't plan to burn out.

Time, however, waited for no one.

The "World" was his greatest asset, the only edge he had to surpass others. Not using it to its fullest would be a regret he couldn't afford.

The mood turned somber. Fullbody stood up, leaning over the low wall to gaze at the training grounds below.

"So, you're taking the recruit assessment at the end of the month?"

"Of course," Loya admitted without hesitation.

Becoming a full-fledged sailor sooner meant gaining access to more advanced training—martial arts, swordsmanship, marksmanship, and actual combat experience.

Physical training was just the foundation; real growth came through battle.

Fullbody sighed. In the weeks they'd spent together, he'd come to see Loya as a friend and could tell he was determined not to remain stuck in the mundane life of a branch outpost.

With Loya's effort, even if his talent was average, he was bound to succeed eventually—maybe even make it to Navy Headquarters one day.

But for now, the situation was dire.

"Loya, if I were you, I'd delay becoming an official sailor for as long as possible."

"You mean... because of the Black Cat Pirates?"

"Exactly."

Loya fell silent.

The Black Cat Pirates had entrenched themselves in the waters under Branch 153's jurisdiction. Their leader, Captain Kuro, had a bounty of 16 million berries—a staggering sum in the East Blue.

Few pirates in the East Blue had bounties over 15 million.

The branch wanted to take down Kuro, but they simply weren't capable. Even Captain Rhoades was no match for him.

Yet, the navy's duty compelled them to act against the pirates, even if it meant repeating past tragedies.

Once Loya became an official sailor, there was a high chance he'd be sent to face the Black Cat Pirates, and ordinary sailors had a grim survival rate against them.

Fullbody's point was clear: the longer Loya delayed, the lower his chances of encountering the pirates.

With time, the Black Cat Pirates might leave the area to claim bigger territories or even venture into the Grand Line.

Alternatively, as Kuro's bounty increased to around 20 million, the Navy Headquarters might finally send reinforcements.

Twenty million was the threshold for HQ to take notice.

"Big Bro Dee, I'm not stopping," Loya said, his gaze fierce.

Since arriving in this world, he'd been recalling everything he knew about the East Blue, and one detail stood out clearly:

Kuro wasn't leaving.

In two years, Kuro would ambush a navy warship, killing all its sailors single-handedly, sparing only Morgan to stage his retirement.

If Loya slacked off now and failed to surpass Kuro, he'd likely be one of the casualties.

Even if he survived, he'd face Morgan's reign of terror.

Running away wasn't an option.

As long as he was in Branch 153, this was a hurdle he couldn't avoid. His only chance at survival was to grow stronger—stronger than Kuro.

"Why don't you worry about yourself?" Loya suddenly asked, frowning. "Aren't you taking the same assessment? Aren't you scared?"

"I told you, I'm different."

Fullbody smirked, waving a finger smugly. "I've got connections. I'll be transferred to Navy HQ soon enough."

"..."

Damn it. This bastard!

Jealousy twisted Loya's expression.

He'd been training himself into the ground just to earn a shot at Navy HQ. Headquarters was the starting point for greatness—there was no future stuck in the East Blue.

And this guy? He didn't have to lift a finger.

Connections were the worst!

Feeling triumphant, Fullbody grinned, clearly enjoying Loya's frustration.

"Cheer up, kid. Hey, how about I teach you to dance?"

"Dance?"

Dark energy seemed to emanate from Loya.

"Oh, you smug bastard. Don't underestimate me—I'm not the same as I was two weeks ago!"

"Let's have a dance-off!"

"Loser washes the winner's underwear!"

"Today, I'll show you what real moves look like!"

Half an hour later.

Loya: Orz...