It seed Jim had his speech prepared. After Loya's questions, he smiled knowingly.
"Whoa, slow down. Let explain one by one." He walked to the front of the Wave-Breaker and stroked its newly painted hull. "Even though Dr. Vegapunk designed the ship, he's been obsessed with his Pacifista research for years. The entire Science Division follows his lead. I was the one who handled all the subsequent refinents and finalized the blueprints. To , this ship is like my own child."
"But," Jim's face turned slightly wistful, "because I poured so much energy into it, by the ti I finished the assembly, I realized I'd fallen behind on the Science Division's other projects. That's why I was relegated to maintenance duty here. It's funny, isn't it?"
Despite his situation, Jim didn't look bitter. "It's my honor to work under Vegapunk, but I just couldn't walk away from this ship. Designing a vessel that can truly conquer the ocean... that's my dream." He looked at the ship with genuine affection. "I know every bolt, every wire, every gear. I wouldn't trust anyone else to maintain her."
Loya fought the urge to roll his eyes at the man's intense, almost obsessive affection for a piece of machinery. Still, the practical problem remained. "That's all well and good, but you still haven't explained why you aren't coming with us. Wouldn't you get a better sense of her performance in real seas? Besides, we're all muscle-headed soldiers. If sothing breaks, we'll be totally lost."
Jim laughed. "True, I wouldn't trust you lot with a wrench. But there's really no choice." He scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed. "The thing is... I get seasick."
Loya: "..."
"Actually... so do I," Loya admitted.
Jim's eyes widened, and he suddenly lunged forward, throwing his arms open. "A comrade!"
"A kindred spirit!"
The two n embraced, tears in their eyes, as the surrounding Marines quickly stepped aside to avoid being caught in the bizarre display of affection. A scientist who dread of building the ultimate ship and a Marine who dread of being the world's strongest had found their people.
Why can't a Marine get seasick? It's perfectly natural!
After the emotional breakthrough, Jim clutched Loya's hands. "Brother Loya, please take good care of her!"
Loya patted his chest. "Don't worry, brother Jim. No matter how much I seasick, I'll be sure to aim for the water!"
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.
Sengoku sat at his desk, staring at the list Zephyr had just handed him. "Zephyr, are you really planning to do this?"
Zephyr lit a cigar and took a deep drag. "Of course. As I told that brat, there is no progress without pressure. This target is well within their capacity."
"But that's a pirate with a 200 million berry bounty! If Loya didn't get seasick, it might be fine, but in his current state? If they run into that guy, he'll be killed instantly!" The speaker was Vice Admiral Momonga.
Usually, the Elite Camp's mission targets were chosen from a list provided by the resident Vice Admirals. Because of Loya's… condition, Zephyr had bypassed the standard protocol and hand-picked the target himself.
"Zephyr-sensei, please reconsider!" Momonga urged.
"Hmph," Zephyr scoffed. "A re 200 million? When we graduated, we took down a pirate with a 300 million bounty!"
"Yes, yes," Sengoku interrupted from his desk, dismantling the story. "And then you and Garp were left in critical condition and unconscious for two months."
Zephyr choked on a puff of smoke, coughing violently.
Momonga sighed, spreading his hands. "But sir..."
Zephyr slamd his palm on the table. "Enough! Do you think I don't care about my own students? It's decided!"
Sengoku sighed, stamped the docunt, and slid it back. "You get more stubborn with age. Fine, if you're confident, I'll leave it to you."
Zephyr grinned around his cigar. "Heh! Don't underestimate Loya. I have a lot of confidence in him."
If you're happy... Sengoku thought. Between Garp's depression over his son and Zephyr's current streak of radicalism, being Fleet Admiral was becoming exhausting.
Elite Camp, Loya's Room.
Since Loya had no idea how the mission worked, he'd called for Aldo to explain. But Aldo's massive fra couldn't fit through the door, so he settled for Minde. Soon, Tony arrived, and then a giant head popped in through the window. The room was packed.
After the recent brawl, Minde was on his best behavior, explaining the process with serious, disciplined tones.
"That's the general flow," Minde concluded. "But my advice: prioritize lethal force. If we choose to capture them, we have to transport them to Impel Down, which keeps us at sea for days longer. I assu that for you, Loya, that's a non-starter?"
Aldo and Tony nodded solemnly. "Yeah, he'd die of misery!"
Loya shuddered. The thought of lingering on a ship for an extra week was genuinely horrifying. Though, he thought, my Molding Magic is stronger now. If I use it to freeze the ocean surface like Kuzan, I might be able to travel that way.
He'd decide when the ti ca. If he could, dragging the target to Impel Down would certainly bolster the Navy's prestige, but his personal comfort was a priority he wouldn't easily sacrifice.
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