Captain Luna already knew everything she wanted to know. By deduction, she realized that the Navy this time, besides Staff Officer Tsuru—a Brigadier General who also holds the position of Grand Staff Officer—also brought a ship carrying over 700 elite soldiers. Although few in number, they were slightly more elite than the forces Luna had previously encountered.
However, in the end, I am only slightly stronger. It would only take a few seconds of my time; they are nothing to fear.
But this time, they also brought Sakazuki, known as the strongest of the three monstrous Admirals. This is a relatively important piece of information. After I leave, I will return to the entrance in the East Blue leading to Reverse Mountain and wait there for Captain Luna and her crew to arrive.
Deya, thinking this, looked at Staff Officer Tsuru, who was still attempting to pry into her background and recruit her into the Navy. Since the mission was complete, she found this person's constant talking truly annoying.
Deya decided to leave immediately. After all, Captain Luna and her crew were expected to arrive at that upstream entrance tomorrow morning.
No sooner said than done, Deya ignored Staff Officer Tsuru and, under the old woman's bewildered gaze, walked up to Crocus and bowed slightly in greeting. Naturally, this, including Deya's subsequent words, was all an act.
"Thank you, senior, for your care these past few days. I have stayed here long enough, and it is time for me to leave now. Please accept this Sea Kings meat as a token of my gratitude."
Having said that, Deya immediately retrieved a large amount of processed Sea Kings meat—killed during her training—from the spatial storage dimension she had created.
She also gave Crocus other food resources as a thank-you gift, or more accurately, payment for acting.
"Hahahaha, thank you, Little girl. With this much food and resources, I won't have to make a special trip to other towns for a long time." Crocus laughed heartily.
He hadn't expected to receive so many resources just by cooperating in such a small act. This was great; he wouldn't have to go to the nearby towns to buy supplies anymore.
He knew that he lacked many things here and had to buy them in nearby towns. As for where he got the money, it was accumulated over time, partly by robbing passing pirates over the years.
"Then I shall take my leave." Seeing Crocus satisfied, Deya prepared to depart. With a casual wave, she activated spatial energy, instantly summoning the small wooden boat she had hidden in the shadows and tossing it onto the nearby sea surface.
She was about to jump aboard, but Staff Officer Tsuru stopped her.
Staff Officer Tsuru immediately spoke, somewhat urgently.
"Wait a moment, Little girl, let's talk a little more properly. If you truly came from the West Blue and haven't caused any bloodshed or grievances with the Navy, then why not choose to join us?"
"Nowadays, pirates are rampant on the sea, causing misery for the people. Why not join the Navy, which represents justice on the sea? Do your part for this world."
After all, she truly could not let this promising talent just walk away like that.
If this young woman truly had no record of fighting or killing Navy personnel, then the Navy certainly couldn't easily let go of such a top-tier talent and young bloodline.
However, her words truly painted the Navy in a good light, which Crocus, standing nearby, merely scoffed at.
It was the same old routine, but the current situation no longer concerned him. He just watched from the side, remaining silent, not wanting to cause further trouble.
"Hmph, joining the Navy means losing freedom and dignity, and risking your life for those stupid pigs, the so-called Celestial Dragons. As for your Navy's 'Justice' and maintaining'security on the sea,' why should I care about your pretense of high moral principles? Being free and unrestrained on this sea by myself is far better than joining your Navy."
After Deya finished speaking, she jumped onto her small boat without looking back, leaving Staff Officer Tsuru and the other Marines stunned in place.
Perhaps hearing such disrespectful, mocking, and scornful words directed at their Navy left these self-proclaimed incarnations of justice completely bewildered.
Seeing Deya piloting her small boat some distance away, Staff Officer Tsuru remained silent for a long time.
"Is the Navy really that unattractive? Or has this young woman truly spilled a lot of Navy blood in the West Blue? Ah, forget it, let's talk about this later."
Staff Officer Tsuru smiled bitterly, feeling somewhat discouraged. However, she had not given up yet. This conversation had been too rushed, and the Marines she sent to investigate relevant information had not yet returned. Once the investigation was complete, the Navy would surely be able to find Deya's tracks.
Only then could they proceed with the next step of the plan, whether that meant continuing the recruitment attempt or moving to eliminate and arrest her.
One should not underestimate the Navy's intelligence capabilities and informants across the sea.
Fortunately, she had specifically instructed that Sakazuki in the ship's cabin not be informed of this matter, otherwise he would surely have come out and clashed with Deya.
Although Deya's strength was not equal to Sakazuki's, leaving would be easy by relying on her mastery of space.
But if such an incident occurred, Deya would certainly harbor resentment and dissatisfaction toward the Navy, making recruitment utterly hopeless.
Unless it could be confirmed that Deya already had a blood feud with the Navy, such a genius, whether recruited by other forces or acting independently, must be eliminated if she had already offended the Navy.
Hearing Staff Officer Tsuru say this, the surrounding Marines could only drop the matter, though they wondered if the Navy was really so inadequate that it couldn't attract such a genius.
They watched Deya pilot her small boat until she gradually vanished from the sea surface... But they didn't know that the moment Deya was out of their sight, she immediately used her spatial power, abandoned the small wooden boat beneath her, and performed a long-distance spatial shift. Following a flash of silver light, she instantly appeared on the red soil mountain body next to the upstream entrance of Reverse Mountain leading from the East Blue.
As for why, she had long ago used the power of the space gem to leave a mark here. Relying on this mark, she could teleport here regardless of the distance.
"Next, all I have to do is wait for Captain Luna and her crew to arrive here." Deya smiled and said. Time flew by quickly, and the appointed day—the day after next—was approaching, though there was still some time left until the specific moment.
Deya set up a tent on the mountain body and spent the night. As for cooking, she had learned a little from the man she followed in her previous life, but not much.
As for why she had recovered to look like she was 19, one must remember that she was already old and frail before she died. This was actually an adjustment made by the system. Therefore, in terms of wisdom, Deya was truly not inferior to Staff Officer Tsuru, and perhaps even stronger.
After all, how could wandering the sea compare to wandering the universe?
However, having to sleep in a tent outdoors for two consecutive nights right after arriving in the Pirate World was quite something.
"They should be coming soon." Eating the breakfast she cooked and looking at the distant sea, Deya thought, Captain Luna and her crew should be arriving soon.
But sometimes, things just happen when you think of them. Deya was pleasantly surprised to see a ship appear on the distant sea surface. She quickly pulled out the binoculars from her supplies.
Seeing the flag hanging on the ship, it was indeed a skull wearing a pink sun hat.
She smiled happily. They had finally arrived.
And that was indeed the case. The pirate ship sailing over the sea surface was Luna's. After nearly a day and a half, they had finally arrived here, mainly due to their increased sailing speed mid-journey.
That was because Shiro had developed two electric propeller devices, which had been installed beneath the stern of the pirate ship's hull. They could be started and even have their power adjusted via a button.
Their cruising speed increased because Luna was afraid they might be too late, so they had to speed up.
Because just yesterday, a big piece of news spread across the sea, which she received. The newspapers reported that Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai in Alabasta, had been defeated.
The one who sent him to prison was Navy Captain Smoker.
But she, who was familiar with the plot, knew that Crocodile was defeated by Luffy and his crew. To cover up the truth, the Navy and the World Government could not admit that one of their recognized Shichibukai had been defeated by pirates, so they handed all the credit and recognition to Smoker. They played a very dirty trick.
But that wasn't the main point. Although she didn't know the exact timeline—whether the Straw Hat Pirates had already left Alabasta after saying goodbye to Vivi, or were still resting at the Alabasta Royal Palace.
She had to speed up. She absolutely could not miss that thing south of Jaya Island.
Fortunately, she had Shiro start building these two contraptions beforehand. With this speed, she thought they should be able to make it in time.
But at the same time, this major extortion of the Navy and the subsequent major strike must naturally be arrived at on time.
That is why they have arrived here now.
"Captain, The Girls, you all see it, right? That's Reverse Mountain ahead. Once we go up and then down the other side, we can enter the Grand Line." Nojiko said happily. Relying on her Navigator skills, she had endured countless instances of foul weather, strong winds, heavy rain, and huge waves on the journey, but they had finally arrived safely.
"I didn't expect there really was a river flowing upstream."
"This is truly amazing."
"The current flowing upward on this mountain doesn't make any sense."
The other partners, The Girls, naturally saw Reverse Mountain, and they showed the same amazement and shock that Deya had shown earlier.
They faced the distant Reverse Mountain.
"Captain, on the mountain body to the right of the Reverse Mountain river in front of us, there is a blue-haired woman standing. She has a tent behind her and a cooking fire nearby. It looks like she spent the night there."
Shino Asada, currently serving as the lookout on the observation deck, had excellent eyesight, and with the eight-power scope on hécate, she naturally saw Deya clearly, standing far away on the right side of Reverse Mountain's slope.
She immediately reported the sighting.
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