The Marineford naval base was always busy and noisy. For Levi at this moment, every sound was amplified a myriad of times, pricking his sensitive nerves like tiny, sharp needles.
He shuffled to Pier 7 and immediately spotted the Vice Admiral's flagship, known as *The Rock*. It was larger and sturdier than most warships around it, with rigid hull lines that exuded a steady and resolute aura, truly living up to its name. Waiting by the gangplank was an old man who possessed a temperament identical to the ship.
Vice Admiral Ghoumil was not particularly tall, but his posture was as straight as a pine tree. His face was weathered by the elements, etched with the marks of time and stern lines. He wore the standard Marine cap, and beneath its brim, his gaze was sharp and steady, as if he could perceive any change in the winds and currents of the sea. Just by standing there, he exuded a naturally reassuring and reliable presence—of course, this did not alleviate Levi's annoyance in the slightest.
Levi slowly shuffled in front of him, giving a weak and crooked Marine salute. "...Captain Levi... reporting..."
Vice Admiral Ghoumil's gaze fell on Levi, scrutinizing him from head to toe. The crumpled uniform, the listless eyes, the messy hair, and the lazy aura that suggested he was about to lie down on the spot... all of it formed a stark contrast with the disciplined and spirited soldiers under his command. Even the experienced Ghoumil's eye twitched almost imperceptibly. He had already received a special notice from Sengoku, knowing this "special advisor" was extraordinary, but seeing him in person still had a significant impact.
"I am Ghoumil," the Vice Admiral's voice was low and steady, betraying no emotion. "This operation to subjugate the Giant Axe Pirate Crew will be under my full command. Captain Levi, your mission is to provide necessary 'special support,' with specific details to be determined by the battlefield. Understood?"
"...Mm..." Levi responded with what was almost a sigh. "Just... try not to make it too much trouble..."
Ghoumil paused for two seconds, then decided to skip the topic. "Board the ship. Your orderly is already waiting. We depart immediately."
Levi followed Ghoumil up the gangplank, feeling every step consume his precious life energy. As soon as he stepped onto the deck, he saw a young orderly who looked equally nervous and bewildered, carrying a huge bag of snacks that was clearly extra preparation.
"Private Potts," Ghoumil pointed to the young soldier. "During this mission, he will be responsible for your daily needs."
Levi looked at the snack bag, then at the respectful (and slightly scared) Potts, and his mood finally improved by a tiny fraction.
"...Where's... the room?" he asked impatiently, now in urgent need of a place to lie down and recover from the exhaustion of "socializing."
Potts quickly led the way. "P-please follow me, Captain Levi! Your cabin is ready!"
Ghoumil watched Levi almost float off the deck with the orderly, shook his head, and turned to the bridge, his booming voice ringing out, "All hands! Cast off! Set sail! Destination—Grand Line, waters near Whole Cake Island!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
The sailors' loud responses and busy footsteps filled the deck. *The Rock*'s massive hull slowly pulled away from the port, cutting through the waves towards the vast sea.
Levi's cabin was a standard officer's room. Though far less luxurious than his headquarters dormitory, it was clean and tidy, with a fixed bunk. He immediately threw himself onto the bed, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"...Finally... I can rest for a bit..."
Potts stood awkwardly by the door. "C-Captain Levi, do you need anything? Food, a drink..."
"...Close the door... the light... it's too bright..." Levi's voice came, muffled from the pillow. "It's fine... don't bother me... unless it's mealtime... or... the ship is about to sink..."
"…Yes, sir!" Potts carefully closed the door, standing guard outside, feeling that this mission was even stranger than he had imagined.
The journey was a long agony for Levi. The roar of the engine, the crashing of waves, the occasional training shouts... all of it made it difficult for him to fall into a deep sleep, leaving him in a half-awake, resentful state of drowsiness. He spent most of his time in his cabin, only woken by Potts precisely at mealtimes. Vice Admiral Ghoumil sent someone to invite him a few times to "discuss tactics," but Levi firmly declined, citing "seasickness." Ghoumil merely smiled helplessly and did not insist.
A few days later, *The Rock* sailed into the target waters. The lookout on the masthead sounded the alarm: "Report! Suspicious vessel spotted to port! Suspected pirate ship!"
Ghoumil immediately went to the bridge and raised his binoculars. On the distant horizon, a large pirate ship flew a ferocious giant axe flag.
"Target confirmed! It's the Giant Axe Pirate Crew!" Ghoumil's voice was steady and powerful. "All hands, battle stations! Full speed ahead! Pursue!"
The battle alarm blared throughout the ship. The loud noise naturally reached Levi's cabin.
"...So noisy..." He impatiently covered his ears with a pillow. "What now...? I thought the Grand Line was supposed to be peaceful..."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "C-Captain Levi! A pirate ship has been spotted! Vice Admiral Ghoumil requests you to be ready to provide support!"
Levi pressed the pillow tighter. "...Tell them... just blast them with cannons and sink them... chasing them down to fight... what a hassle..."
Potts was almost in tears. "B-but the Vice Admiral said the opponent is a Devil Fruit user, and a boarding action might be needed..."
"Boarding action?!" Levi's voice suddenly rose, filled with horror. "Jumping around? Clashing swords? Bleeding and getting injured? Cleaning the deck afterward?! Just thinking about it is an extreme hassle!"
A tremendous sense of annoyance and the anticipation of all the subsequent troubles made him suddenly sit up. A strong urge to "quickly eliminate all sources of trouble" began to swirl in his mind. He scratched his messy hair, reluctantly got out of bed, and slowly pulled open the cabin door.
Levi ignored the nervous Potts and, like a sleepwalker, slowly shuffled towards the deck, complaining in a voice only he could hear:
"...Giant Axe Pirate Crew..."
"...Orne the Mountain Splitter..."
"...Bounty of 188 million... sounds very tough... definitely going to take a lot of effort..."
"...So much trouble... really, so much trouble..."
"...Why can't they just lie down and sleep obediently...?"
When he slowly walked onto the deck, the sea breeze immediately messed up his hair. He saw the pirate ship getting closer, the Marine soldiers standing ready, and Vice Admiral Ghoumil at the command post on the bridge, his expression solemn. Ghoumil saw him and nodded, his eyes indicating: *The time has come for you to act.*
Levi sighed, his gaze lazily fixed on the noisy pirate ship. He raised a hand, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and then, with a voice full of weariness yet strangely penetrating the sea breeze, he spoke towards the distance:
"Hey..."
"You guys over there..."
"Yes, you... the noisy ones with the axes..."
"Don't you think... this whole chasing thing..."
"Is very boring..."
"And very... troublesome?"
"How about..."
"Everyone just stops..."
"And quietly..."
"Takes a nap... what do you say?"
[Declaration of the Lazy Person · Wide-Area Hypnosis] activated!
An invisible wave, accompanied by his lazy yet earnest suggestion, like calm ripples, silently swept across the sea, spreading towards the Giant Axe Pirate Crew.
The next second, a jaw-dropping scene unfolded.