While the group continued their bickering, another group approached from the stern.
"Alright, so what if Luffy got beaten up by Nami? Haven't you gotten used to it by now?" Reiju, the oldest and the team leader, sighed helplessly.
"Don't forget, we're the emergency rescue team."
"Captain Reiju, it can't be helped..." Zoro shrugged. "After all, until we reach our destination, this is the only way to kill time."
"Hey! Zoro! How dare you say something like 'just killing time' to Big Sis Reiju!" Kuina jabbed Zoro in the back with the hilt of Wado Ichimonji.
"Even if we haven't arrived yet, you should maintain the proper attitude! Looks like I'll have to correct your attitude again!"
"Ouch! You hit hard, Kuina! What gives you the right to lecture me like this!"
"You've been getting lectured like this for years now," Tashigi chimed in from the side. "Besides, we've trained in Wano and even uncovered your backgrounds... Strictly speaking, Kuina is your cousin."
"Hahaha! I knew it! All green-haired guys are a bit slow!" Sanji sidled up to Zoro, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and said sarcastically.
"About to get schooled by your big sister, huh?"
"As if you haven't been schooled before!" Zoro immediately flipped Sanji the double bird. "Just the other day, someone got hung up on the flagpole by Big Sis Reiju!"
"What did you say!? Moss-head!"
"You heard me, curly-brow!"
Watching the two of them square off like fighting bulls, Trafalgar Law let out a sigh.
"Lami, is being assigned to this group really a good thing?"
"Don't worry, brother. Everyone might be noisy, but they all get along well!"
"That's exactly what worries me," Law said with a wry smile. "At this rate, we'll catch their stupidity before we know it!"
...
After the brief commotion ended, everyone gathered in the cockpit.
The Seraphim Ship's cockpit was spacious to begin with, and even with over a dozen people sitting or standing around, it didn't feel crowded.
"Nami, how much longer until we reach our destination?"
"Big Sis Reiju, we'll definitely arrive within thirty minutes."
"Try to speed up if possible. This is an emergency after all... Murlak Island is just too small, with only one lieutenant stationed there." Reiju rubbed her temples.
"And according to his distress report, there are over a hundred pirates attacking."
At Reiju's words, everyone's expressions grew more serious.
"Shouldn't this kind of job be handled by Admiral Kizaru or Vice Admiral Enel? They're way faster than the Seraphim Ship," Zoro muttered.
"No choice. All the Angel Alliance's top fighters are stuck in the New World because of the World Government and Celestial Dragons, preventing those government dogs from escaping..." Reiju sighed, then looked around.
"If it weren't for the pirate alliance led by Blackbeard roaming around Paradise and the Four Blues, everyone here would be fighting in the New World too."
"Tch, just mentioning that Blackbeard pisses me off," Ace clicked his tongue loudly. "Last time we had him cornered! But then out of nowhere, that guy showed up... what was his name again?"
"'Cavendish the White Hunter', also known as the 'Pirate Prince' and 'The Kamaitachi of Rommel'..." Sabo added at the right moment, "He's also one of the pirates who withdrew from the New World after the Angel Alliance began confronting the World Government... Back then, he was still one of the Supernovas. After all, it's rare for someone to enter the New World and immediately get a bounty of 280 million berries."
"Whatever he was, isn't he just counting ants in Impel Down now?" Ace curled his lip. "If it weren't for his second personality... Blackbeard wouldn't have had enough time to escape!"
"That's exactly why we're staying in Paradise and the Four Seas as emergency responders—to ensure stability in the rear and eliminate Blackbeard's roaming forces as quickly as possible." Reiju nodded.
"Our mission is extremely important."
"But, Reiju..." Law spoke up, "From the current situation, Blackbeard himself hasn't shown his face in a long time. Even last time, Ace was only chasing Blackbeard's flagship without seeing the man himself. Is he really... still in Paradise or the Four Seas?"
"He probably doesn't have the death wish to go to the New World yet, does he?" Nami answered while steering the ship.
"What's the state of the New World right now? Don't you all know very well? If Blackbeard wants to stir up trouble there, how is that any different from suicide? Let's not brainstorm ideas for him... We should focus on the current mission instead..."
"Nami's right." Reiju nodded. "This time, the main forces will still be Law and Lami... Cleaning up pirates is simple, but rescuing and aiding injured civilians is the top priority."
"Yes, Reiju-san!"
...
"Tsk tsk tsk, you really didn't hold back at all."
Imu followed behind Michael as they stepped out through the tightly shut gates of the small town.
Outside the gates lay hundreds of corpses scattered haphazardly.
Without exception, all had fallen to Michael's Holy Light and Holy Flame.
"Showing mercy at a time like this would just make me a complete fool, wouldn't it?" Michael chuckled softly.
"But are you really okay with this?"
"Are you underestimating me...? Though I'm the queen overseeing the grand scheme, I've also fought on the battlefield before. A good commander can't just hide in the rear giving orders forever..." Imu pouted.
"Now that I think about it, aren't you being a little too protective of me? Still saying you don't like me?"
"Ahahaha, you're overthinking it."
Michael laughed awkwardly.
He couldn't very well say that, over eight hundred years ago, every arrangement he made for Imu had been an attempt to slow her descent into darkness...
Of course, all of that had turned out to be nothing but wasted effort.
Michael sighed inwardly.
A trace of melancholy flickered across his brow...
It seemed that only by meeting the current Kozuki Toki could the truth about the present Imu of the World Government be unveiled.
"Hey! Michael! That warship heading toward us—it's one of ours, right?"
"Huh? Why would you think that?"
"Because I'm not blind."
Imu pointed wordlessly toward the sea.
Michael turned and saw the Seraphim Ship...
And the flag fluttering atop it...
"What the—!? Are they insane!? Who the hell thought using my face as their flag was a good idea!?"
"If it's a man, I swear I'll flick his dick ten thousand times!"
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