Chapter 280

"We're almost there, Marineford!"

"We're back! We've finally returned!"

"Life at sea is so boring—I miss Marineford already."

"That's not all…"

A group of marines all revealed their inner excitement.

At this moment.

Even Lu En, known as the training demon, unusually did not enter his daily grueling training today; instead, he arrived early at the wooden railing on the warship's deck.

Standing beside the railing,

Lu En quietly observed the endless sea ahead of the warship.

"Are we about to reach our destination?"

"Marineford… the Marine Headquarters…"

His eyes brimmed with anticipation.

This was the sacred ground of the Marines!

The Marine Headquarters!

For this place, he had longed for days.

Finally—

Under Lu En's gaze,

Not long after,

He clearly saw a massive island standing and floating ahead in the endless sea.

It was an enormous island!

Even from afar, Lu En still felt the oppressive presence of this island.

The name of this island was…

Marineford!

Also the location of the Marine Headquarters.

The entire harbor coastline of the island was blocked by structures like massive walls, built from extremely hard materials.

These walls, of course, were meant to repel pirate attacks.

Of course,

Few pirates dared attack the Marine Headquarters.

But to be safe, as the Marine Headquarters, it naturally had to be built with grander architecture and more complete defenses.

Better safe than sorry.

The Marine Headquarters symbolized the entire Marine organization's dignity—it had to be majestic and imposing.

Around the island of Marineford, the surrounding seas were utterly empty.

Few ships dared sail through this region.

As for pirate ships?

That goes without saying.

Unless…

The pirates wanted to die!

To date, only one pirate had dared openly attack the Marine Headquarters.

That was…

The legendary old-era powerhouse, Shih Ji, the Golden Lion!

In the end,

The Golden Lion was defeated and imprisoned in Impel Down.

Later, he severed his own legs and escaped from Impel Down, becoming the first pirate ever to escape from it.

From this, it's clear.

Even a powerhouse like the old-era legend Shih Ji, who dared attack the Marine Headquarters, ended up defeated and imprisoned in Impel Down.

Not to mention other pirates.

The legendary great pirate Shih Ji was beaten and locked up.

How could any other pirate have the nerve to sail through this sea?

"Is this the Marine Headquarters?"

"Truly majestic!"

Lu En squinted slightly; even from afar, he could vaguely make out the overall appearance of the Marine Headquarters.

No wonder it was the Marine Headquarters.

The towering buildings rising into the clouds revealed the full might of the Marine Headquarters.

And massive, unreachable walls tightly enclosed the entire Marine Headquarters.

Anyone wishing to enter Marineford must pass through that enormous stone gate.

There is no other option.

"Full speed ahead!"

"Entering Marineford!"

Captain Kapu roared.

The entire warship surged forward at full speed, drawing ever closer to the Marine Headquarters ahead.

At close range,

Lu En could feel it even more.

The terrifying aura emanating from the Navy Headquarters.

The closer they drew, the stronger the pressure became.

If they were pirates…

They might be terrified into wetting themselves before even approaching.

Few pirates could withstand the terrifying pressure of the Navy Headquarters.

Soon after,

The warship drew nearer to Marineford.

Arriving before the gate.

It was an enormous stone gate.

When they clearly saw Captain Kapu's figure,

The stone gate was opened from within by the Navy.

Boom—

As the stone gate opened, a thunderous sound reverberated.

Like Lei Ming roaring.

Immediately after,

Splash—

The stone gate opened, stirring the previously calm sea into ripples; waves surged wildly, crashing in all directions.

Under the control of several helmsmen, the warship slowly sailed toward and into the gate.

Finally—

The warship successfully passed through the gate.

And Lu En, who had been standing on the deck, finally saw the full interior of Marineford.

Grand and majestic,

Immensely solemn,

Heavily guarded,

Everywhere was clean and tidy, permeated by a profound stillness.