One Piece: Trying 200 times harder, but being too overbearing.

At noon, the 153rd branch held a celebration banquet. The restaurant tables were filled with all kinds of food, and drinks were unlimited.

Rod raised his glass.

"cheers!"

"cheers!!!"

The marines happily raised their glasses and drank together.

In this world, whether they are marines, ordinary people, or pirates, their favorite thing is definitely drinking.

However, drinking is prohibited inside naval bases, and one can only drink to one's heart's content at victory celebrations.

In the center of the restaurant, excited marines surrounded Loya.

"Loya, I salute you!"

"Senior Loya, you're amazing!"

"Hey kid, let's have a drink!"

His fellow marines, veterans who trained with him, instructors and junior officers, and even new recruits all came to drink with Loya.

This is a special treatment for meritorious individuals!

Loya was surrounded by people in the center, drinking one glass after another without stopping. He was soon dizzy and furious.

"Damn it, I want to eat meat!"

He's still hungry!

For three whole hours, the branch celebrated their victory. As the drinking progressed, Loya, in a daze, started dancing on the dining table.

Spin and jump!

"Loya! Loya! Loya!"

The cheers echoing in his ears made Loya so happy that he lost his bearings and slipped, falling off the dining table.

Burp~ I really drank too much.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the restaurant finally quieted down. The marines lay drunkenly on the floor, snoring louder than thunder.

"Loya, wake up!"

Loya was forcibly shaken awake, and sat up, rubbing his throbbing forehead. He looked at the impatient Finbuddy in front of him, somewhat confused.

"what happened?"

"Colonel Rhodes wants us to go to the conference room in the tower!"

A smile spread across Finnbdi's face.

"It's a good thing!"

"Good thing?"

Loya perked up, roughly guessing why the colonel had come to see him. He quickly got up from the ground, and was mostly sober.

"go!"

Soon, the two arrived at the conference room. They weren't the only ones in the room; most of the officers who had participated in the battle against Kro were also there.

Upon seeing the two arrive, everyone's eyes turned to Loya, their eyes filled with undisguised envy.

“Loya, Fombody, come to me.”

Colonel Rhodes stood on the inside of the room, beckoning to the two men. Behind him was a long table piled with brand-new marine uniforms and epaulets.

The two men quickly went to the colonel.

"Your appointment notices have arrived!"

Colonel Rhodes was all smiles. After handing over Crow in the morning, the review of the job changes was quickly approved, and all the marines and petty officers who participated in this battle were promoted.

Colonel Rhodes faced Finbdy.

"Finbuddy!"

"To!"

Finbdy stood at attention and saluted Colonel Rhodes.

"Ah."

With a serious expression, Rhodes handed a stack of brand-new marine uniforms to Finbdy, with the epaulettes representing "sergeant" on top.

"Keep up the good work!"

"Yes!"

Holding the uniform and epaulets, Finbdy was overjoyed. From private to sergeant, he had been promoted three ranks.

Under normal circumstances, if marines want to get promoted and receive a raise, the only way is to accumulate seniority or make meritorious contributions, and capturing pirates is the most direct way to do so.

High risk, high reward!

Colonel Rhodes faced Roya.

"Loya!"

"To!"

Loya straightened his back, saluted Colonel Rhodes, and was filled with anticipation.

Colonel Rhodes's smile blossomed.

"After learning of your outstanding performance in the campaign against Kro, headquarters was quite surprised. After discussion, we have decided to award you the rank of Second Lieutenant and the Medal of Valor!"

"Thank you, Colonel!"

Loya happily accepted the uniform and second lieutenant's shoulder insignia, not only receiving a six-level promotion but also a brocade box containing medals.

As he had expected, becoming a warrant officer would have been quite an achievement, since the campaign against Kuro was accomplished through the desperate struggle of everyone in the 153rd branch, not just by him.

The Tulip Pirates' achievements should have earned him a lot of credit.

"There's one more thing for you."

Colonel Rhodes turned around and picked up a cloak with the word "Justice" written on it from the long table. He personally draped it over Loya and became more and more satisfied with it.

"Not bad, quite handsome!"

"."

Loya touched the cloak he was wearing, and could clearly feel its heavy weight and the will it carried.

"Hu~~"

Loya took a deep breath, his eyes much more determined than before.

From the beginning, he did not regard the Navy's justice as a creed; he joined the Navy simply because it was the easiest way to get ahead.

He knew very well that the Navy was an organization under the World Government, one of the tools used by the Celestial Dragons to rule the world, and that so-called justice was nothing more than a means to better rule the world.

But his six months in the navy made him gradually realize that "for justice" is not just an empty phrase; it carries too much effort and sacrifice.

Perhaps he should seek his own justice.

Colonel Rhodes keenly noticed Loya's change.

Under the influence of the external environment, every marine goes through a similar psychological process, both good and bad.

He was pleased that the overall atmosphere of Branch 153 was quite good, which should have a positive influence on the young man.

"You have a month-long vacation coming up, go home and visit your family, have a good rest."

"Yes, thank you, Colonel!"

-

As evening fell, Loya, dressed in his brand-new lieutenant uniform and wearing a cloak of justice, walked out of the base gate.

Returning home in glory!

It was still dark, and the streets were bustling with people, the liveliest time of day, as every household was preparing dinner.

"Hey, look!"

Loya quickly attracted the attention of the residents.

The Justice Cloak is very cool; after all, there are only a handful of people in the entire 153rd branch who are qualified to wear it.

To the residents of Shells, anyone who can wear the cloak of justice is a big shot!

"That's...Loya?"

Some regulars at the tavern recognized Loya and were speechless with shock. No one could have imagined that the down-on-his-luck boy who worked odd jobs at the tavern just six months ago had transformed into a high-ranking naval figure.

It's only been half a year!

Night falls, at the Food tavern.

After a busy day, the tavern's customers left one after another, and Lily took a rag and cleaned the messy tables.

"Hey, ma'am, give me a cappuccino!"

"Hold on--"