Lara's POV;
After ditching the Marine woman I decided to take a look at the city that was also on the island. The anime only covered that place sparsely. I mean, if this spider guy managed to go inside, without much fighting, then why didn't the White Beard pirates used that weakness to attack the Marines from the side?
Turns out it wouldn't or is it won't? Anyway, it was not useful. The front side was already open for them, they just have to attack the main force of the Marines. And the sides, well, they were the farthest away from Ace. The city is located on both sides of the scaffold, as far away as possible.
The White Beard pirates did not want to destroy the Marines, they wanted to reach Ace before he gets executed. Fun thing is, they only have the chance of doing that because the Marines look weak if they execute Ace before their stated time. That they were ready to do it anyway speaks volumes about their irrational fear of Gold D. Roger.
I mean, what did stop them from just saying fuck it and killing Ace the moment they spot the armada of ships? Nothing but only their own pride and image, something that often needs high payment to hold high.
Anyway, the city was more a neat little village than a real city and houses normally the many working officers of the World Government. As well as the academy for the future officers. People like Koby, Olsy and Helmeppo.
And exactly that academy was now right in front of me, it also looks as if it was still running. Seems like the students weren't spared any free time. The war will be in three days and they are still holding lessons.
I sneaked past the entrance guards with my super sneaky ninja skills, which I really have, and gained entrance into one of the main training centres of the World Government. Then I waited in one of the women's bathrooms and knocked out the first girl that looked to be my size.
Poor girl did not even see me when she sat down on the toilet. She got literally caught with her pants down. I stole her clothes and made sure that she won't be found while I am here, might become embarrassing for her once she is found.
Anyway, my acute ears helped me to find a lecture hall. I knocked on the door and opened after hearing the 'yes'.
A Marine officer was standing in front of a classroom. The room was designed like a lecture hall in most universities, nothing that I don't know.
He looked at me for a moment and I gave him a sharp salute. “Sir, my commanding officer tasked me to take part in today's lesson. He wishes for me to see the day to day living of a regular trainee.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, gave my ears a long stare and then asked, “I see, who is your commanding officer and what is your name and rank?”
I haven't lowered my salute and answered quickly and with a steady tone while looking him in the eyes. “Sir, my name is Clair and my commanding officer is Commodore Smoker, he has taken me and Ensign Tashigi as his direct students. My rank is of a Chief Petty Officer, I was given these students clothes to better fit in.”
He studied me for a moment, trying to spot the lie and asked, “I see, haven't spoken to him in years, how is the old cancer stick?”
“Still smoking without pause and grousing about Ensign Tashigi's antics,” I answered with a small smile. He nodded, presumably knowing about the clumsiness of Tashigi, before looking over the classroom.
I did so too for the first time and saw a lot of trainees. Thirty in total and all of them were looking at me. Three of whom were looking wide-eyed and with open mouths. Must be my lucky day, Olsy, Helmeppo and Koby were in this class as well. Thankfully they weren't doing anything to call me out, might be the shock.
“Very well, sit down next to Ensign Koby, he will lead you around for today's lessons.” Koby stood up, saluted and then sat down again. I lowered my own salute and marched the lines up until I stood next to Koby. I gave him a grin and sat down.
“What are you doing here?” Hissed Koby the moment I sat, he was worriedly glancing between me and his teacher.
“Sightseeing, now hush, the teacher is speaking,” I replied and pointed at the glaring teacher. Koby shrunk into himself and stayed silent.
“Where were we? Ah yes, the Seven Warlords and their uses. Who are the currently named Seven Warlords? Anyone?”
Someone on the lower rows raised his arm and got taken. He stood up and answered loud and clear. “Sir, the current Warlords are 'Pirate Empress' Boa Hancock, 'Joker' Donquixote Doflamingo, ' Hawk-Eyes' Dracule Mihawk, 'Tyrant' Bartholomew Kuma, 'Knight of the Sea' Jibe, 'Blackbeard' Marshall D. Teach and 'Below King' Gekko Moriah.”
“Accurate, if it were a month ago. But no, there have been changes. Many of you will remember that the former Warlord Crocodile was imprisoned for his crimes against the country of Alabasta. Former Captain Smoker arrested him and earned the rank of a Commodore for his work,” he glanced at me and I made a sour expression. Smoker wasn't happy with his promotion, if this guy knows him then he might too.
He gave a tiny nod and continued. “And like him was Jibe, 'Knight of the Sea'. He refused to support the World Government in the coming war against the White Beard pirates and was stripped of his rank.”
“Is already known who'll be the new Warlord?” Asked someone from behind me. The instructor glared at the speaker for asking without being allowed to but answered anyway.
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“You might have already heard, if not now then you will have at the end of the day, anyway. The new Warlord is Slicer Lara, she has a bounty of 450 Million.” The classroom murmured loudly and three pairs of eyes stared at me in surprise. The teacher simply spoke over the low murmurs. “She was mentioned as one of the Supernovas, one of the current generation of the up and coming pirates. Can someone restate what we know about her?”
“Please not Ensign Olsy, we all know how she saved his life, we don't need to hear it again.” Requested one of the trainees in a mocking tone. The classroom chuckled and Olsy, who sat a line below went beet red from embarrassed. This time probably harder because he knew I was present.
The teacher glared at the one who has disturbed him and shouted, “Quiet! Chief Petty Officer Walter, you've said you know what Ensign Olsy have told us, tell us in your own words.”
This Walter guy stood up and answered. “Sir, Slicer Lara is a pirate out of East Blue, she was first seen on Conomi Islands, where she killed a Marine Captain and then stole a Marine ship. She and her sister have since then roamed the sea and destroyed numerous Marine battleships, as well as killed many Marines. She is a rarity under the pirates for there are no known records about her killing civilians or attacking unprovoked.
She was spotted in Alabasta right before Crocodile got arrested. She then gained her status as one of the more important pirates soon after by attacking a Marine base and severely wounding Vice Admiral Momonga.
A few months later she was reported to be one of the major fighting participants in the Enies Lobby incident, where she and 'Straw Hat' Luffy attacked Enies Lobby to free 'Devil Child' Nico Robin.
She was also fighting in the yearly tournament of the Haribo Kingdom, where she won the first place.” He then sat down and looked at Olsy with a smug grin.
“Right, Chief Petty Officer, you forgot to tell us anything about her crew, her Devil Fruit, her strength and presumed weakness, as well as about her appearance.
If I remember correctly then Commodore Smoker has had a few run-ins with Slicer Lara, isn't that right Chief Petty Officer Clair?” The teacher was looking at me, as were the rest of the class.
I stood up and answered, having first-hand experience is sure to be good now. “Yes sir, Commodore Smoker first met Slicer Lara in Loguetown, where she and her sister handed in a local pirate captain. Then she was still unknown and introduced herself as a bounty hunter.
He then briefly fought her sister True Shot Lia in the same town, before he took pursuit of 'Straw Hat' Luffy. Commodore Smoker engaged her, Crocodile and Slicer Lara again in Alabasta, where they fought briefly. Crocodile was deemed the bigger threat and took precedence, that's how they managed to escape.
The last time we encountered the Kage Pirates was after the Haribo tournament, where Slicer Lara managed to wound Commodore Smoker, before escaping again.
Walter forgot to tell us about her heritage as a long-ear human, her Devil Fruit that allows her to let things vibrate and her strength with the sword or dagger. Crew members are her sister 'True Shot' Lia, 'Pressure Point' Mengele, 'Rapid Fire' Nojiko, 'Quick Draw' Jonny, 'Big Cleaver' Yosaku, 'The Hammer' Noa Franklin and 'Hell Fire Fiara T. Sprocket.” I excluded Mrs Chicken Wing and Inari, the first was often seen as only our pet and the second was too new. Mrs Chicken Wing is not our pet, she is the most stubborn and hard to kill emergency ration in the world.
“Correct, she will be present in the coming war as well. I recommend for you to take a look at her bounty poster before the war starts. You may meet her and fighting her is not something you will survive,” he was about to say more, but a bell started to ring loudly. “Seems as if the lesson ends here.” with that said he turned around and walked out of the classroom.
Koby was about to question me, but he was pushed aside by a group of girls who all began to chatter in on me.
“Is Commodore Smoker really as sexy as his pictures make him look?” Asked one of them.
“I heard Ensign Tashigi is really good with the sword, does she train you as well?” Asked another.
“You ears are so long, are you also of the long-ear human tribe?” Came from a third.
I simply raised my hands in a gesture for them to stop. They needed a few moments to do so but were allowing me to answer. “He stinks of smoke and is gruff, but fair. She tries to, sometimes. And yes I am.”
“How did you come to be under his orders?” Asked a boy from a few seats away. He wasn't looking at me suspiciously. These Marines are so stupid, well, it worked for Luffy and the Straw Hats as well, twice even.
“Pirates have killed my family and were planning to sell me in Sabaody, he freed me and I had nowhere to go, so he took me in as his personal student,” I lied swiftly. The girls were saying their condolence for my loss, while the boys were smiling proudly about the heroic acts of a fellow Marine.
“It must be cool to be on the Grand Line and being able to fight pirates and slavers, all we ever do is train and study.” Complained one of the girls, others agreed with her.
“It often is hard and dangerous, there are many dangers on the Grand Line, not just pirates,” I said.
“Tell us, what else is there? Do you mean Sea Kings?”
I had the whole classroom listening to my every word, I smiled lightly, if only they knew. “Well, there are also slavers. People of my kind, I mean other long-ear humans, are often hunted. I imagine that this was what Slicer Lara and True Shot Lia forced into piracy. They were attacked and defended themselves.”
“But wouldn't they have been bounty hunters if they only defend themselves against pirates?”
“With luck yes, but the world is not a lucky place. There were some nobles that tried to buy me off of Smoker, none of them got more than a disgusted look from him, but imagine what happens if he was not present. If there were no Marines with high morals? I would have been sold and I often think that this happened to some of the pirates. That they defended themselves and got in trouble for that.” They looked thoughtful and some nodded in agreement.
I was just about to continue and sow more seeds of doubt when Koby suddenly butted in. “That's all nice and good, but now we have to leave. I need to show Clair where we train. She also will need sports clothes.” Before anyone could protest he grabbed me and yanked me out of the group of noisy people and the classroom. Olsy and Helmeppo followed quickly.
“What are you doing here?” Asked Koby the moment we were alone, he looked panicked and just short of a breakdown.
“Looking around, seeing this and that, why?” I answered nonchalantly.
“Looking around, I see..., no I don't, Lara you are one of the most known pirates of our generation, you can't just walk into the Marine HQ and play students for the officer career,” argued Koby uselessly. I mean I already have done, why was it impossible if I already did?
“Chill Koby, it's nothing big. I already signed the Warlord contract. They won't attack me and I had no intention of attacking any Marine,” I said instead.
“You can't pretend to be a student, people will find out,” he tried again.
“I can, they will at some point and I don't care, now do your duty and lead me to your gym.” I did not wait for him to do as I have ordered, I simply began to walk away.
“The gym is in the other direction,” helped Olsy along. I made a 180° turn, nodded at Olsy in thanks and walked down the corridor. From behind, I could hear how Koby was questioning Olsy why he helped me before they hastily tried to catch up with me.
Hehe, today's gonna be fun.