#226 - Zhao Zheng: Admiral? So-so

Smoker, the smoker, is now a commodore.

He is also the highest-ranking officer present.

Now that he has spoken, the recruitment conditions will definitely be changed!

Soon.

New recruitment conditions were released: Only "strong people" are accepted!

The standard for strong people here is not high, as long as you have extraordinary skills.

Whether it is great strength, fast speed, or a Devil Fruit ability user... all are acceptable.

As soon as these conditions came out, half of the people present were disqualified.

Although many people expressed dissatisfaction, Smoker chose to ignore them.

Letting these cannon fodder take the stage is just sending them to their deaths. He feels that he is doing this for their own good.

"Then, those who meet the conditions or have confidence in their strength can come and sign up."

The navy soldier in charge of recruitment said loudly.

Originally, it was thought that no one would be able to meet such requirements, but unexpectedly, quite a few people stood up.

Most of them are extraordinary people with remarkable appearances.

There are big fat people who are as fat as balls, little giants who are two or three meters tall, and some guys whose muscles are exaggerated to the point that they don't look like normal people.

Zhao Zheng and others are also among them.

Almost only they look relatively normal.

At this time, the first one to take the stage was a strong man over two and a half meters tall, who was demonstrating his strength.

He lifted a boulder weighing thousands of pounds and raised it directly over his head, eliciting a burst of exclamations.

"Good strength."

Zhang Chenggang commented indifferently.

His current strength must be stronger than this strong man.

"The teacher said that there are many humans in this world who are not normal people. It's true! A random passerby is over two and a half meters tall?"

"I heard that there are also many giants and sub-giants who are several meters tall..."

Jiang Hebin and others were discussing in low voices.

Zhao Zheng also watched with great interest.

At this time, Song Haitang suddenly approached him and asked in a low voice: "The sun in the sky... doesn't it have any effect on you?"

The Pirate World is now a sunny day with bright sunshine.

Hearing Song Haitang's reminder, Zhao Zheng was immediately shocked.

Only then did he remember that he had been basking in the sun for so long, but his attributes had not changed at all...

What's going on?

Subsequently, Zhao Zheng thought of the original setting of Superman:

All of Superman's superpowers come from sunlight, especially the light of the yellow sun. When he is exposed to yellow sunlight, he gains Superman's various abilities, including flight, superhuman strength, and speed, etc.

Conversely, if Superman is exposed to the light of a red sun, he will lose all his superpowers and become an ordinary person...

Thinking of this, Zhao Zheng frowned slightly.

Could it be that his Kryptonian bloodline also has to follow this setting?

Then what if he travels to a certain spiritual world in the future and encounters a red sun?

Like a vampire, find a place without sunlight to hide?

Whether it is correct or not, Zhao Zheng needs to verify it himself in the future.

Song Haitang nodded and said nothing more.

Soon.

It was their turn to test their strength.

Jiang Hebin was the first.

Before the test, this guy asked: "If I perform well, will there be any special treatment?"

The navy soldier in charge of recording heard this and did not dare to make a decision, so he looked towards Smoker.

Smoker then walked over with a cigar in his mouth.

He looked Jiang Hebin up and down, and then said: "Of course, if you really have outstanding strength, I can represent the Navy Headquarters and directly award you a rank, without starting from the lowest grunt."

Jiang Hebin's eyes lit up when he heard this.

Smoker reminded again: "However, my authority is limited, and I can only award the rank of Warrant Officer at most. A higher rank requires application to the Headquarters."

His words were spoken in a loud voice, not only to Jiang Hebin, but also to everyone.

Everyone showed excited expressions when they heard this.

...

The Navy Headquarters in this world has many ranks, which can be divided into six levels, a total of nineteen ranks!

First of all, there are the lowest-level soldiers, mainly including Grunts, Third Class Privates, Second Class Privates, and First Class Privates.

Secondly, there are Non-Commissioned Officer ranks, including Squad Leader, Sergeant, and Chief Petty Officer. Usually, reaching the Non-Commissioned Officer level can manage a small team!

Then, there are the Warrant Officer ranks, including the Warrant Officer that Smoker just mentioned, as well as the higher-level Ensign, Lieutenant, and Captain.

Reaching the Warrant Officer rank means belonging to an officer.

As for higher-level ranks, there are also Lieutenant Commander, Commander, and Captain, as well as Commodore, Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, and Admiral...

Before coming.

The teacher once told everyone to try to mix into high positions no matter which camp you join.

For example, the Navy camp.

If you become an officer in a short period of time and can lead a team, then on the battlefield, your military exploits will be counted for every pirate killed by the soldiers you command!

That is, battlefield contribution value.

Simply put.

The higher the rank, the greater the chance you have to obtain battlefield contribution value!

...

Thus.

Jiang Hebin roared and directly activated his werewolf form, becoming a werewolf over two meters three tall with an extremely strong physique!

His transformation scared many natives around him.

"What is this monster?"

"Is it a Devil Fruit ability user?"

Jiang Hebin ignored the surprised gazes around him and began to show himself.

Next, he showed amazing speed, strength, and destructive power!

With a charge, he came to a boulder in the blink of an eye, and then with a wave of his claws, the boulder was instantly divided into four pieces...

This scene made many navy soldiers feel chills all over their bodies.

In their eyes, Jiang Hebin's performance was too scary.

Even Smoker's deputy, "Tashigi", showed a surprised expression.

Tashigi is a woman who wears glasses and looks a little dull.

However, her eyesight is not low.

"Is it a Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability user?" She pushed her glasses and said in a low voice: "Why do I always feel that he has a dark aura on him?"

Her feeling is not wrong at all.

Werewolves are dark creatures...

Smoker next to him nodded without saying anything.

...

When Jiang Hebin finished his performance, Smoker said: "Based on the strength you have shown, I should give you the rank of Warrant Officer, but you have no military exploits... Start as a Sergeant first!"

Hearing this, Jiang Hebin's smile suddenly froze on his face.

He was, after all, a fourth-tier powerhouse. He originally thought his performance would at least earn him the rank of Warrant Officer, but he didn't expect Smoker to only give him the rank of "Sergeant"?

So stingy!

Unfortunately, the decision was in Smoker's hands, and he couldn't protest, so he could only accept it.

With Jiang Hebin's example.

Next.

Zhang Chenggang and others demonstrated extraordinary strength.

However, Smoker's personality was too rigorous, and he wouldn't easily grant high ranks, so most of them only managed to reach the "Sergeant" level.

While Zhang Chenggang and others were performing, Zhao Zheng reminded, "Wang Fei, don't show your abilities later. Just use your normal strength and speed."

Wang Fei was confused and couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

Because your ability is the same as the protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy!

And Monkey D. Luffy is Smoker's lifelong target!

Showing the Gum-Gum Fruit ability in front of Smoker, what would Smoker think? He might just treat you as Monkey D. Luffy and arrest you.

Zhao Zheng didn't explain these hidden reasons, he just said, "Just listen to me. Anyway, with me here, you just need to successfully join the Marine camp. It doesn't matter whether you have a rank or not."

If possible, Zhao Zheng even wanted the three of them to not join the Marine camp and just find a place to hide for three days.

Unfortunately, that wouldn't work!

Because the mission prompt clearly stated that they must join any camp to be eligible to participate in the war, and the eligibility to participate in the war also meant the eligibility to receive rewards.

If they didn't join a camp, even if Zhao Zheng overturned the entire battlefield, the three of them wouldn't receive any rewards!

"Okay, I understand."

Wang Fei said.

Although this kid was simple-minded, he was obedient, which was why Zhao Zheng chose him as a teammate.

He definitely didn't want stubborn, opinionated, or nitpicky people.

"Also, Haitang, when filling out your ability later, don't say you have the Flare-Flare Fruit ability," Zhao Zheng reminded again, "Because Portgas D. Ace, who is about to be executed, has the Flare-Flare Fruit ability."

Song Haitang nodded, "I understand."

In fact, Zhao Zheng didn't need to remind her of this, as Teacher Shen had warned her before they came.

Anyway, there are just too many guys in the pirate world who can use fire. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry can show off a couple of moves…

That's why they say: Even dogs don't eat the Flare-Flare Fruit!

Song Haitang could just say any Devil Fruit related to fire and get away with it.

"Next!"

A Marine soldier said loudly.

It was Chen Kai's turn.

This guy activated his metalization ability as soon as he entered, easily passed, and successfully joined the Marine camp.

Wang Fei and Song Haitang did the same.

Finally, it was Zhao Zheng's turn to appear.

When Zhao Zheng stepped forward, he fell into deep thought.

He was wondering what ability he should use?

He really had too many abilities…

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Seeing Zhao Zheng dazed, a Marine soldier reminded, "If you don't have any ability, go back! Don't waste time."

Zhao Zheng wasn't angry, he just smiled and said, "It's just that these methods of testing strength are too low-end to measure my true strength!"

Hearing this.

Many people were stunned.

From testing strength until now, this was definitely the most arrogant thing anyone had said.

It was rare to see such an arrogant person.

"Arrogant!" The Marine soldier in charge of the test shouted, "What strength do you have? How dare you say such big words?"

"What strength do I have?" Zhao Zheng thought for a while and said, "My strength is at least at the level of a Marine Admiral!"

Of course, he wasn't an arrogant person.

It's just that the main task this time was battlefield contribution.

Since a high rank might increase the mission progress, then he definitely had to move to a higher position.

And the mission time was so short, of course he had to be high-profile!

Zhao Zheng's idea was that it would be best to directly alarm Fleet Admiral Sengoku and promote him to the rank of General…

However.

His arrogant words angered many Marine soldiers.

In the eyes of the Marine soldiers, the three Marine Admirals were not only the highest combat power of the headquarters, but also the idols they admired!

Zhao Zheng comparing himself to a Marine Admiral was simply disrespectful to their idols!

"You are too presumptuous!"

"Despicable fellow…"

"General Smoker, let me teach him a lesson…"

A group of Marine soldiers glared at Zhao Zheng, full of condemnation.

Zhao Zheng smiled faintly and clenched his fists slightly.

The next moment!

Armament Haki activated.

"Buzz!"

His fists instantly turned black, like metal.

Scarlet lightning constantly appeared on his body, making lightning-like noises.

At the same time, the aura on Zhao Zheng's body also rapidly climbed to a terrifying level.

Just a second ago, he looked like an ordinary person (restraining his aura), but the next moment, his aura was fully unleashed, making him seem like a demon god descending!

Everyone around was stunned.

Even Jiang Hebin and others had an unbelievable look on their faces.

They never expected Zhao Zheng's aura to be so strong!

And this was still the effect of Zhao Zheng not activating Conqueror's Haki.

With his current grandmaster-level Conqueror's Haki, once activated, there would definitely be no more than five people standing in the field.

…

At this time.

All the Marine soldiers were stunned.

They might not recognize Armament Haki, but the terrifying aura on Zhao Zheng's body couldn't be faked.

At this moment, they seemed to feel that this kid in front of them was more imposing than Admiral Akainu…

Those generals who knew Armament Haki changed their expressions one after another.

Especially Smoker, the smoke man!

He was very familiar with Armament Haki, because he himself knew it.

However, his current Armament Haki was not very advanced.

It was too far behind what Zhao Zheng showed.

Looking at the scarlet lightning wrapped around Zhao Zheng, Smoker's face was unusually solemn.

This level of Armament Haki was even stronger than his mentor "Zephyr"!

Perhaps only the Marine hero "Garp" could compete with Zhao Zheng.

Who was Garp?

That was the legendary Marine who had pursued the "Pirate King" and was a well-established master.

And what about Zhao Zheng?

He was so young, yet he had mastered such a strong Armament Haki?

How did he do it?

…

"What? Are you scared by this level?"

Zhao Zheng smiled indifferently, his eyes suddenly looked at a distant island, and asked, "There shouldn't be anyone living on that island, right?"

Everyone didn't understand why Zhao Zheng suddenly asked this, and nodded subconsciously.

"That's a deserted island," a Marine soldier replied.

Zhao Zheng then said, "Then use that deserted island to test my strength!"

As soon as the voice fell.

Zhao Zheng soared into the sky, his whole person was like a lightning bolt, breaking through the void, and in the blink of an eye, he came to the sky above the island…