Transmigrating into One Piece: The Peerless King

……

"Not bad! As expected of products from a big city, they're definitely different from those from other places, tsk tsk."

After finishing the last sip of soup, Zhao Hai praised it with satisfaction.

"Honorable sir, is there anything else I can help you with?"

The waiter, seeing that Zhao Hai had paid the bill but hadn't left and was looking at him with a troubled expression, politely asked him what was wrong.

"Oh, I wanted to go to the Naval Headquarters' reporting office, but I don't know where it is."

Zhao Hai had been waiting for the waiter to say that, and seeing the opportunity, he immediately looked at the waiter with a serious and sincere expression and told him about his troubles.

Zhao Hai's meaning was also very clear: I hope you can take me to the Naval Headquarters reporting office.

"Naval Headquarters Press Office?"

"You want to join the Navy? Isn't the Naval Academy at Naval Headquarters selecting its new recruits the day after tomorrow?"

Upon hearing Zhao Hai's words, the waiter asked with some confusion.

"joke!"

"I have the recommendation of Vice Admiral Garp, the hero of the Navy, why would I need to participate in the selection process!"

"Vice Admiral Garp is the best answer sheet for me to enter the Navy. Who dares to block my way? Who dares to hold up any selection process to stop me?"

Zhao Hai listened to the waiter's words and inwardly curled his lip in disdain.

Of course, Zhao Hai didn't directly mention that he had Vice Admiral Garp's recommendation, since that would likely be met with disdain.

Vice Admiral Garp enjoys considerable prestige throughout the Navy and is a universally praised naval hero. If Zhao Hai were to reveal that he knows Garp at this moment, he would likely be met with many disdainful glances.

Most people would think Zhao Hai was bragging, so Zhao Hai didn't say anything more.

In the end, the waiter couldn't resist Zhao Hai's money offensive, and Zhao Hai bought the waiter's time for 10,000 Berries.

……

The press office of the Navy Headquarters.

It wasn't very luxurious; it consisted of only a huge building with the word "Navy" written on it, rows of buildings, and a parade ground surrounded by walls. There was nothing else there.

Although the buildings weren't anything special, the playground was enormous; Zhao Hai couldn't see the other end of the playground at all.

"I'll wait for you here. Go there yourself!"

When they arrived at the entrance of the Navy's reporting office, the waiter refused to move forward, saying that it was a restricted area for the Navy and that they couldn't go there. He also advised Zhao Hai not to cause trouble.

"make trouble?"

"Do I look like the kind of person who would cause trouble?"

"Does this young master have powerful backers?"

Hearing the waiter's words, Zhao Hai got angry. He originally wanted the waiter to come along and witness him showing off his backing, and to let the waiter see the obsequious expressions of the navy around him.

But the kid didn't understand, so Zhao Hai had no choice but to walk over alone.

Zhao Hai stood with his hands behind his back, walking towards the naval reporting area not far away with an arrogant air.

The waiter who hadn't left yet was terrified for a while, thinking to himself, "If the Navy investigates, I'll just say I don't know this kid, I just happened to be passing by."

"Besides, I don't even know him. Two people who don't even know each other's names claiming to know each other? I doubt these navy people would believe it!"

Thinking about this, the waiter calmed down a bit and his emotions settled.

"Hey, hey, hey... wake up, this young master is here to report for duty."

As soon as Zhao Hai entered the naval reporting area, he saw the naval officer on duty dozing off and called out to him with some displeasure.

Zhao Hai thought that he was recommended by Vice Admiral Garp, so he didn't take this Marine seriously. Even if the other party was unhappy, as long as he pulled out Garp as his trump card, the other party would immediately stand up with a smile and fawn over him.

Zhao Hai had indeed accurately predicted the beginning.

The naval soldier did indeed stand up.

However, the result was completely contrary to Zhao Hai's prediction.

The naval officer on duty stood up from his desk and chair with a displeased expression, glaring fiercely at Zhao Hai as if he harbored some deep-seated grudge.

"It seems it's time for me to bring out my powerful backer and awe everyone."

Seeing the increasingly grim expression on the duty officer's face, Zhao Hai didn't care at all. In the Navy Headquarters, there were almost no issues that Vice Admiral Garp couldn't resolve, no matter what Zhao Hai thought.

However, the naval officer on duty did not play by Zhao Hai's rules at all. Zhao Hai was calmly and confidently preparing to slowly reveal his powerful and influential backer.

"Kid! Today isn't registration day, tomorrow morning is. Get out of here, you lieutenant!"

The angry roar from the duty naval officer instantly made Zhao Hai, who was originally extremely confident, feel a deep sense of unease. However, Zhao Hai quickly recovered.

He said calmly, "I'm not one of those people who come to apply for naval academy selections. I'm Vice Admiral Ka... Pu..."

"bump!"

Before Zhao Hai could finish speaking, the naval lieutenant on duty slammed the door shut, causing Zhao Hai's smiling face to freeze instantly, and his words were abruptly cut off halfway through.

"Damn! You have no manners at all! I'm a future naval supernova, a future admiral, a future fleet admiral! How dare you, a mere ensign, give me attitude? Damn it, once I join the navy, I'll teach you a lesson in no time!"

Once he snapped out of his daze, Zhao Hai immediately launched into a tirade of curses at the door.

"Damn it! You just wait, I, the lieutenant, will come out and teach you a lesson right away!"

Upon hearing Zhao Hai's shouts and curses, the naval lieutenant inside was instantly enraged and made as if to open the door and leave.

"Alright! I'll wait outside!"

Zhao Hai wasn't one to back down from trouble. Besides, there was only one naval officer on duty here, and he was a lowly lieutenant whom Zhao Hai didn't trust at all. Zhao Hai was very confident that he could take down this piece of trash in no time.

Perhaps they thought that since this was the naval headquarters, no one would dare to cause trouble here, so there were no naval guards around.

The waiter, who had just walked a few steps away, was so startled by the commotion that he stumbled and almost fell to the ground.

"If this kid gets into a fight with this naval lieutenant and blows this up, won't the Navy Headquarters investigate this matter thoroughly? They'll definitely find out that I brought this kid here."

"No way! I absolutely can't let them fight. I can't let the Navy record this just because of this little bit of money. Otherwise, I'll miss out on the Navy's next generation selection the day after tomorrow!"

The waiter's mind raced, and he made a decision in an instant.

The waiter ran to Zhao Hai's side at lightning speed, grabbed Zhao Hai's arm, and started running.

It's hard to imagine that a seemingly gentle and refined waiter could suddenly unleash such power, dragging a grown man like Zhao Hai and running at such a fast speed.

As for Zhao Hai, he was originally looking smug, waiting for that rude naval lieutenant to come out and give him a good beating. After all, he had already beaten up a rear admiral from the Navy Headquarters, so why would he care about a mere naval lieutenant?

Just as Zhao Hai was feeling smug, he suddenly felt his body tilt. When he came to his senses, he found himself being pulled back at high speed by the waiter, and in an instant, he arrived at a small alley.

However, the furious roar of the naval lieutenant behind them could still be heard.

"Cough cough cough... Hey buddy, please put me down."

Feeling his whole body go numb from the waiter's grip, Zhao Hai coughed a few times, signaling the waiter to let go of his hand.

"Oh……"

Upon hearing Zhao Hai's voice, the waiter finally stopped, released his grip on Zhao Hai's arm, and sat down on the ground, panting.

Only then did Zhao Hai begin to seriously examine the waiter who had left him somewhat speechless.

Short black hair, a pair of big, bright black eyes, a youthful and slightly immature oval face, and a slightly worn but clean black dress.

Overall, Zhao Hai was quite satisfied with this seemingly dull young man.

"Hey kid, what's your name? And why did you pull me away just now?"

Although Zhao Hai didn't dislike the waiter, he was still a little annoyed at being dragged away earlier.

He also wanted to teach that rude naval lieutenant a lesson, but that was just a side effect. Zhao Hai's real purpose was to lure in the high command of the Navy Headquarters and then reveal that he was recommended by Vice Admiral Garp.

This was the fastest way Zhao Hai could think of to join the navy, but this kid ruined it.

“My name is… Gary. As for why I pulled you just now, it was to save you and myself. This is Marine Headquarters. If you cause trouble and they find out that I was with you, I will be implicated and can forget about joining the Marines for the rest of my life!”

The waiter, Gary, said breathlessly, while looking at Zhao Hai with a reproachful expression.

In the eyes of waiter Gary, it was Zhao Hai who almost ruined his dream—to become an outstanding naval officer.

"Gary? I've never heard of that name before. He must be some nobody in the Marines in the One Piece world?"

Zhao Hai ignored Gary's resentful gaze and kept repeating the name "Gary" in his mind, but ultimately came up empty-handed.

Chapter Thirty-One: Gary's Past

Finally, Gary was defeated by Zhao Hai's money offensive and brought Zhao Hai to stay at his home.

Zhao Hai had originally planned to stay in a luxury hotel, since he wasn't short of money.

But as soon as Zhao Hai took a step, he found himself in the bustling city, yet his mind wandered aimlessly, unsure of where to go next.

Finally, Zhao Hai was too lazy to look for someone to guide him anymore, and besides, wasn't Gary also going to participate in the naval academy's freshman selection the day after tomorrow?

It can be said that the two are completely like-minded. After all, Zhao Hai's Plan A has been completely declared bankrupt, and the selection the day after tomorrow is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the Navy Headquarters, so Zhao Hai would never let it go.

Zhao Hai decided to make the sacrifice and gave some money to Gary, the waiter, to let him stay with him for two days.

……

Follow Gary through alleyways and around winding roads.

Zhao Hai and his group finally arrived at their destination.

Zhao Hai surveyed his surroundings. The densely packed residential buildings left little space for people to move around.

Zhao Hai then followed Gary into one of the houses on the very edge of the area.

Gary told me that this was a house left by his parents, so Gary's house wasn't very big, but it wasn't too small either. It was more than enough for Zhao Hai and Gary to live in.

"Ah, finally I have a comfortable bed to lie down in and get a good night's sleep!"

As soon as Gary led Zhao Hai into the room, Zhao Hai eagerly jumped onto the bed, completely ignoring Gary's face, which twitched violently.

Zhao Hai was probably really tired, because he closed his eyes without realizing it and fell into a dream.

"What a strange person! How could he so confidently fall asleep at the home of someone he just met?"

Gary shook his head as he looked at Zhao Hai, who was fast asleep, and walked out.