Chapter 16: I Am Already on the Right Path
Five days later.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"Hey! Far, what have you heard?"
Far, who was training with two dumbbells, heard Hans's voice.
He turned his head and saw Hans excitedly approaching him, holding a cup of coffee.
"Keep your voice down!"
Far lowered his voice and pointed not far away: "Boss just rushed back from Mast Port yesterday, and he's currently catching up on sleep—you know, if he's disturbed..."
"So what if he's disturbed?"
After hearing this, Hans snorted: "That Loy, relying on his abilities, acts recklessly. This time, he's going to complete the extra mission without bringing us along—according to me, we should join forces and take his position sooner or later."
Although he said this, his voice was still honestly low.
"..."
Far then gave the other party a helpless glance, thinking to himself: *Who was it that cried hysterically on the battleship when Loy proactively undertook that dangerous mission at Mast Port? And last night, when Loy returned to Marineford, who was the first to go greet him?*
"What is it, speak quickly."
However, Far didn't expose Hans; he just said impatiently.
"It's about that Nismal Kingdom matter. I've also investigated some information!"
Hans mumbled: "I heard that the guy who snatched the 'Treasure of the Sky' and left Vice Admiral Lan Li seriously injured and almost dead seems to be wearing our South Blue's unique 'Sea Beast Mask'."
His words were actually quite excited.
"This proves that guy might be from the South Blue."
"...This is nothing to be excited about."
But after hearing this, Far also became serious.
Indeed.
The most shocking event in the world recently was, of course, the incident on Alabasta Island.
Nismal Kingdom's 'Treasure of the Sky' this year, a treasure worth five billion, was snatched away.
The attacker directly destroyed the four Marine bases and one turret on Alabasta Island, and with overwhelming strength, squarely defeated Vice Admiral 'Lan Li,' who was lauded as a Marine Supernova.
There are many mysteries surrounding it.
For example, the attacker's identity is still unknown, and how they managed to move such a huge treasure in such a short period of time is also a mystery—after the attack, no suspicious ships were seen in the vicinity.
But one thing is certain—this matter has had an impact far beyond imagination.
After all, snatching the 'Treasure of the Sky' is equivalent to directly robbing the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.
"Also, speak a little quieter—didn't you hear? The higher-ups have already issued orders forbidding us from discussing related information privately."
Therefore, Far warned him at this moment.
"Afraid of what? What's the use of sealing it? The information has already been spread by the World Economic News Agency."
Hans was dismissive.
Therefore, Far could only helplessly shake his head.
But he also knew that on this matter, what Hans said was not wrong.
Although the government's high-level officials were already shocked and angry, and some even said that Fleet Admiral Sengoku was also reprimanded for this.
However, sealing the information was clearly impossible.
"I heard that the higher-ups of this headquarters are already discussing the bounty for that person. His first bounty might even exceed one hundred million... Such a dangerous fellow, it's a good thing we missed him back at Mast Port."
Hans sighed emotionally.
Upon hearing this, Far was also somewhat fearful.
That's right.
For them, members of the Detainment Unit who had just returned from Mast Port, this matter seemed even more terrifying.
Because it was not difficult to guess that the attacker on Alabasta Island and the person who attacked the G-51 Marine Branch were very likely the same individual, or at least from the same group.
If they encountered such a strong person, the consequences were too terrifying to even imagine.
"Hey, do you think Boss might know more information? He investigated for several days at Mast Port."
At this moment, Hans suddenly had a whimsical idea.
"..."
"What are you thinking?"
Far was even more speechless.
But Hans stubbornly argued: "Why not? With Boss's strength, he could definitely manage to escape in a sorry state from the opponent's hands, right?"
"Cough cough!"
And as the two were heatedly discussing, a light cough from behind interrupted them.
Therefore, the two of them stiffened and turned around, only to see Loy walking out of the room with a dark expression.
"Boss?!"
Hans immediately tensed up: "You're awake."
"Yes, my source of life is gone."
Loy said with a dark face: "I'm going to town to restock."
"Then, please go slowly!"
Hans, as if granted a great amnesty, hastily bowed and smiled apologetically.
"En."
Loy waved his hand, then walked away step by step.
But before Hans could relax, Loy's voice came to his ear: "By the way—the phrase 'escape in a sorry state' was poorly used. I don't like it."
"Tonight, come to the training ground. I want to see if your recent training has been diligent enough, and how you plan to take my position!"
Upon hearing this, Hans's face instantly crumpled.
Meanwhile, Loy, who had prepared sandbags for tonight, smoothly entered 'Peace Town,' the settlement on Marineford.
This was a town where Marine families lived.
And Loy, familiar with the way, arrived at a shop called 'Fresh Fresh Department Store'.
"Grandma Carla, I'm here to restock!"
Loy shouted loudly into the shop.
"Coming."
After a moment, a kind old woman walked out of the shop.
"Oh, it's Loy. Still three crates of cola?"
She looked at Loy and asked cheerfully.
"That's right."
Loy said with a serious face: "And please open a bottle of iced cola for me now. Thank you."
Not long after, Loy was already leaning on the counter, holding a bottle of cola and guzzling it down.
"Hah!"
After drinking one-third of a bottle, Loy comfortably exhaled a breath of carbon dioxide: "That's better."
"You are still as carefree as ever, Loy—Hina is very disappointed."
The voice from behind almost made Loy spit out the cola.
With this kind of iconic tone, even without looking back, Loy knew who it was.
"Hina?!"
He immediately turned his head and, sure enough, saw Lieutenant Colonel Hina with pink hair walking into the shop.
"Why are you here? Don't tell me!?"
Loy's expression instantly became wary, and he began to look around for some suspicious smoke-shrouded man.
But after seeing his reaction, Hina rolled her eyes at him: "Stop looking. Smoker is still in confinement—did you forget?"
"..."
Hearing this, Loy only then remembered, it seemed like this was the case.
But he still cautiously said: "I don't understand what you're saying. The incident regarding the headquarters' public grounds last time has nothing to do with me. Cough cough, I mean, I also heard about this matter."
And looking at Loy, who was flustered and guilty, Hina could only helplessly shake her head: "Hina is speechless."
As she spoke, she also walked to the counter: "Grandma Carla, a 'Source of Life' please—"
"I know, I know, Fielter brand lady's cigarettes. I'll get them right away."
Grandma Carla said with a smile after hearing this.
And after Grandma Carla left, Hina and Loy began to chat.
"Don't worry, Smoker has already given up on making you his subordinate—he has already chosen the girl from Bastille you recommended."
Hina said.
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Loy's expression brightened: "That's great news! That stubborn fellow actually came to his senses? I always said a single-minded person like him needs confinement for his brain to work properly, right?"
But after hearing Loy's words, Hina looked at him with a strange expression: "Hina is very surprised. It seems you still don't know?"
"...Know what?"
Upon hearing this, Loy also had a bewildered expression.
"It's nothing, I just heard—but if it's true, then Vice Admiral Bilos should inform you soon."
Hina shook her head and didn't continue to tangle with this matter.
She just looked at Loy seriously: "But when it comes to you, Hina thinks Smoker was right."
"People like you really shouldn't be in the Detainment Unit."
And Loy didn't seem surprised; he took another sip of cola: "Why do you say that?"
"This great sea is getting more and more chaotic, and it needs the power of Justice."
Hina said calmly: "This time the incident on Alabasta Island is proof."
Loy, as usual, gave his standard answer: "The Detainment Unit is also Justice."
"But Hina thinks, with your strength, you should want to change more things."
Hina said softly.
"For example, five years ago, if you hadn't joined the Detainment Unit but had entered the 35th Action Branch as originally planned, then Wenwen wouldn't have died."
At this moment, Loy was silent.
Wenwen Heath, a Marine of the same period as him and Hina, and also the son of this shop's owner, Grandma Carla.
He and Loy were originally assigned to the 35th Action Branch after graduating from training, but Loy actively joined the Detainment Unit.
And Wenwen died during a mission five years ago.
Of course, no one blamed Loy, and Hina didn't either.
Loy understood that Hina was just expressing her thoughts.
"Hina believes that those who have the ability and moral integrity should hold high positions so that they can change everything."
Hina said this when Grandma Carla happened to come out with the cigarettes.
"Let's have a chat sometime."
She didn't say anything more, but waved to Loy and paid the money, then took the cigarettes and left the shop.
And Loy watched Hina's retreating figure and silently drank another sip of cola.
But at this moment, his heart was not shaken at all.
Change the world? Change everything?
At least now, he didn't have such great ambition and desire.
He wanted to become stronger and free, and live the days he imagined freely.
He wanted to see the various exotic landscapes of the world he once yearned for, without restraint.
But without a doubt.
Whether it was the former or the latter, the right path he wanted to reach would not be the one Hina described.
"Join the Marines, sincerely arrest criminals, and contribute everything to your own justice?"
"Even if he smoothly rose to the highest position, becoming a Marine Admiral or Fleet Admiral—he would still be a dog of the World Government."
Promotion and salary increase were of course not bad; he didn't dislike it, but that would not be the root of his path.
Because he would not gain freedom, nor could he change anything.
Muttering to himself, Loy gulped down the last of his cola.
"I have my own path."
"And I am already on it."
(end of chapter)