Pirate: I'm an admiral now, what's wrong with taking a little extra money?

Kuzan dropped the wine glass in his hand and shattered it on the ground.

His face turned deathly pale in an instant, devoid of any color.

“Ze…Zefa…Teacher…”

It’s over.

Life has come to an end.

However, amidst this tense atmosphere, a series of system notifications, as melodious as heavenly music, rang in Kane's mind.

[Ding! Multiple violations detected against the host!]

[Leaving camp without permission (base score +80)!]

Visit the red-light district and engage in lavish activities (base score +100)!

[Corrupting the future core combat force of the Navy (Kuzan) (Base Score +200)!]

[Deceived a Marine Admiral (Base Score +250)!]

Total base score: 630 points!

[Triggered "Witness Factor"!]

[Witness: Zephyr (Admiral-class). Disciplinary Points gained x5!]

[Witnesses: Borsalino, Sakazuki (potential future Admiral level). Coefficient increased by 3!]

[Triggered the "Disruptive Factor"!]

[Description of Behavior: Distorting the worldview of a future admiral. This behavior severely impacts the Navy's traditional values ​​and overturns the established image of elite cadets!]

[Disruptiveness rating: x5!]

[Final settlement in progress... coefficients exploding due to accumulation...]

[Congratulations, host! You have gained a total of 47250 disciplinary points this time!!]

[Disciplinary Value Balance: 48192]

boom!!!

Looking at the glittering five-digit number on the retinal screen, Kane felt so happy he was about to faint!

It's out!

This time it really worked!

Before he could recover from his ecstasy, a roar like thunder shattered all the surrounding glasses.

"Kain!!!"

"Kuzan!!!"

"You two bastards!"

"Get out here!!!"

Chapter 7 That Night, Kuzan Lost His Dream

Half an hour later.

In the head instructor's office at the Navy Headquarters, elite training camp, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Beneath the horizontal plaque bearing the word "Justice" on the wall, Zefa sat behind his large desk. His imposing face was now as black as iron, and the veins on his forehead throbbed as if they might burst at any moment.

In the center of the office.

Kane and Kuzan stood side by side as punishment, their heads drooping so low they were almost buried in their chests.

Kuzan's two-meter-tall frame was trembling slightly, cold sweat dripping from his curly hair onto the floor. Only three words were endlessly repeating in his mind—

That's it! The egg is dead!

Not only did he leave the island without permission and go to a place like that, but he was also caught red-handed by Professor Zephyr! Is his naval career going to end before it even begins?

Compared to Kuzan's chaos and despair, Kane, standing beside him, also had his head down, and his shoulders were even trembling violently, looking as if he was filled with extreme remorse.

But in fact--

Kane was biting his cheek hard, using the pain to prevent himself from laughing out loud!

On his retina, the azure blue system screen was frantically scrolling.

[Discipline points settled!]

[Current disciplinary points balance: 48192!]

"I'm rich! This is enough to make me financially independent!"

"Should I save up 50,000 and go all in on the lottery for a rare beast? Or should I max out all six techniques and become a monster in physical combat? I'm so conflicted. Is this the dilemma of the rich?"

"Thump—!!!"

With a loud bang, Zefa's iron fist slammed into the solid wood desk, instantly cracking the hard surface and sending wood chips flying.

Kane's ecstasy was interrupted, but he immediately adjusted his micro-expressions, instantly switching to "heartbroken" mode.

"say!!!"

Zefa's roar made the glass windows vibrate.

"These are the future pillars I've been eyeing? These are the best newcomers of this year? Going to the red-light district? Drinking and carousing? Why don't you just become pirates?! Huh?!!"

Spit almost landed on their faces.

Kuzan's knees buckled, his face turned pale, and he opened his mouth to admit his mistake: "Teacher, I..."

However, another figure was faster than him!

"Pfft!"

A dull but resolute thud of a knee hitting the ground rang out.

Kane knelt down without warning, his back straight, his azure eyes staring directly at the enraged Zephyr.

"Reporting to Professor Zefa!"

"It's all...my fault! I did it all by myself! It has nothing to do with Kuzan!"

His voice was loud and clear, resounding and firm.

Kuzan turned his head sharply, looking at Kane beside him in disbelief.

What...what is he doing? We went together...why is he carrying this burden alone?!

"Why?!"

Zefa stared intently at him, his teeth grinding together.

"Give me a reason! Kane! Is this how you trample on the glory your father earned with his life?!"

"no!"

Kane's body jolted when his father was mentioned.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, and two lines of clear tears slid down his cheeks at just the right moment.

At this moment, I felt like I was possessed by an Oscar-winning actor.

"Teacher! It was precisely to live up to my father's honor and for the sake of the Navy's justice that I did such a despicable thing!"

Zefa was taken aback, his brows furrowed, and confusion showed in his eyes.

Kane's voice trembled slightly with excitement:

"Kuzan is too naive! He only sees black and white! He's like a blank sheet of paper, completely unaware of the filth in this world!"

"But teacher, you know better than anyone that this ocean isn't black and white! The new world we're going to is full of deceit, desire, and the most extreme evil!"

“I’m worried… I’m really worried that he will run into obstacles everywhere on the cruel sea because of this overly idealistic sense of justice, and even… take an extreme path!”

"so……"

He clenched his fist and pounded it heavily on his chest:

"That's why I wanted to use this most extreme method to let him see the filth of this world in advance!"

"I want him to understand how much helplessness is hidden beneath the peace we risk our lives to protect!"

Even if... even if it violates military discipline! Even if it stains my record! Even if I get discharged!

"As long as Kuzan can see the cruelty of this world beforehand, and his path to justice will be more stable... I, Kane, am willing to be punished! I will die without regret!!!"

After saying this, Kane slammed his head down again, his forehead hitting the floor with a crisp sound.

"Please, teacher, punish only me!"

The entire office was completely silent.

Kuzan was completely stunned. His worldview had collapsed for the second time tonight.

So... that's how it is?

In an instant, Kuzan's heart was overwhelmed by a complex emotion.

Zefa's chest heaved violently.

He looked at the boy kneeling on the ground, at his straight spine, and it was as if he saw the figure of his former comrade-in-arms.

'This kid... although his actions are absurd, his original intention was actually to protect his comrades?'

Zefa's heart, which had grown cold due to the tragic deaths of his family, was deeply touched.

"call……"

Zefa let out a long breath, the anger in his eyes dissipating considerably, replaced by a complex expression.

"What a fine example of 'no regrets even in death'!"

Zefa sat down again, his tone still stern, but the murderous intent was gone.

"Although your intentions are for the sake of your comrades, military discipline is military discipline!"

"Since you want to bear everything, then I'll grant your wish!"