Chapter 60

"Zefa, what is it?"

The voice of Kantō came through the Den Den Mushi, still relatively mild.

"I want you to send troops to garrison an island."

"What happened?"

Zefa told Kantō the entire story.

After listening, Kantō fell silent for a moment, then said:

"This is indeed our Navy's negligence, but since the pirates have already been captured, there's no need to send more troops."

"No need? Such a grave failure by the Navy has completely destroyed their trust—shouldn't we promptly make amends and restore these oppressed people's faith in justice?"

Zefa snapped angrily.

Kantō's voice grew low:

"Zefa, our Navy doesn't have many troops left. If we station forces on every remote little island like this, how can we uphold justice and suppress the growing number of pirates across the entire sea?"

"Kantō, I know there are still plenty of surplus Navy troops stationed in Mary Geoise..."

Before Zefa could finish, Kantō's icy voice rang out through the Den Den Mushi.

"Zefa! No more talk. Troops stationed with the World Government are absolutely not to be moved. Your internship is over—return with your men."

Beep-beep-beep.

"Kantō... have your eyes lost all sight of civilians, and now see only the World Government?"

Zefa, gritting his teeth, slammed a fist into the table's corner, shattering it instantly.

On that small island, the words of the black-haired boy echoed again in his mind.

"I did see the pirates' evil—but I also saw the Navy's incompetence."

52, Sudden Malice, Seven Warlords of the Sea (5/5)

The following days passed.

The warship returned to Marineford along another route.

They passed three islands in succession.

After Luo En signed in at each one.

His blood qi finally broke through the 700-point threshold.

He successfully used Moon Step for the first time.

In addition,

Luo En now possessed a silver revolver, an extra reward from a sign-in—system-made, with infinite bullets.

Though he greatly favored it, he temporarily kept it stored in his system space.

Inside the system space, besides vast quantities of treasures and Qian Cai, were various clothes, furs, and fine wines.

Luo En hadn't yet dared to drink the bottles Maqinuo had given him.

"Thank goodness the system space is large enough—otherwise, storing and carrying all this would be impossible."

Luo En, leaning on the railing, withdrew his mind from the system space, opened his eyes, and saw nothing but an endless expanse of blue ocean.

Gazing at the sea before him,

Feeling the sea breeze gently brush his hair,

Arms resting on the railing, a rare flicker of loneliness passed through Luo En's eyes.

I wonder how Ma Ersi, Old Man Harris, Aunt Mary, and Uncle Brian are doing...

How are Maqinuo, Ace, and Luffy doing...

Has Guina grown stronger yet...

"What are you thinking about?"

A melodious female voice sounded beside Luo En.

Luo En turned his head.

Aiyin, with blue curls and a black cloak, walked toward him.

"Nothing."

He turned his gaze away.

Aiyin stepped beside him, resting her arm on the railing, gazing at him:

"Liar—I could tell you were thinking about something just now."

"Could it be you're thinking of a little girlfriend back home?"

"Not at all."

The two stood together.

Yet Luo En's head barely reached her shoulders.

"Last time, thank you for helping me."

Aiyin gazed at the sea ahead.

"I didn't really help you—I was just in a bad mood and wanted to chop something."

"Giggling," Aiyin smiled softly: "That's such a capricious reason."

"If that guy you chopped knew, he'd probably be furious to death."

Luo En sneered: "It's already a mercy I didn't cut him in half."

"True enough."

Aiyin rested her chin on her arm atop the railing and turned her head to look nearly level at Luo En: "Where did you learn swordsmanship?"

"A kendo hall called Isshin Dojo, on a small island in the East Sea."

……

Just as Luo En and Ain were chatting.

Shuuji and a companion went to the place where the members of the Ghost-Hand Pirate Crew were being held, to carry out a routine inspection, in case there were any oversights.

Just as the two passed by the cage holding Ghost-Hand.

Ghost-Hand, whose arms had been severed and whose body was bound with iron chains, stared at the two and let out a sinister, cackling laugh: "Hehehehehe! You actually dare to capture me — do you know whose subordinate I am?"

"The one you've ruined, is that lord's grand plan."

"That lord?"

Shuuji's brows knit, and he looked at Ghost-Hand in the cage and said: "So you're saying there's someone above you?! Who is that person?"

"Hehehehehe, you'll find out soon enough."

"Hehehehehe."

Feeling uneasy, Shuuji immediately went to find Zephyr to report the matter!

"The person above the Ghost-Hand Pirate Crew."

Zephyr's eyes narrowed.

He then recalled two pieces of information he had previously learned from the civilians on that island.

The Ghost-Hand Pirate Crew hadn't left the island for four whole years!

They had ordered the island's residents to mine a certain kind of iron ore!

Combining these two pieces of information.

Zephyr made a judgment in an instant!

The Ghost-Hand Pirate Crew must have been acting on orders from the person above them, which was why they had stayed on this island for four years, blocking all messages in and out — their purpose was to make the people on this island mine that certain iron ore for them!

That person above was the true mastermind behind all of this!

Zephyr had an ominous premonition in his heart.

He looked at Shuuji and said:

"Shuuji, notify everyone immediately — increase speed, return to Marineford at full speed."

"Yes!"

The warship accelerated toward Marineford.

What the people on the warship didn't know at this moment.

In the air several hundred li behind the warship.

A figure flew at high speed through the clouds, chasing after the warship.