Thirty billion berries. It wasn't a small sum—enough to make even the Navy Headquarters greedy. The Navy's funding was always tight, squeezed between routine maintenance, dical costs, logistics, and the constant influx of casualties. Behind the facade of glory, the Navy lived quite frugally.
But the target was Beard, a pirate with a bounty of 230 million berries, backed by a ruthless band of rcenaries. Sending a standard branch unit would be suicide, and even the Headquarters had to tread carefully. Wanting to snatch this prize from the jaws of a lion was no small feat.
This was why Zephyr had proposed his plan. He would send Loya and his team to eliminate Beard. In Zephyr's eyes, Loya was already at the level of a Vice Admiral. If the situation escalated, Loya was one of the few who could hold his own.
To ensure the gold was recovered, Zephyr simultaneously dispatched Marine elites and Vice Admiral Onigumo, disguised as support staff, to follow at a distance and secure the gold once the fighting concluded. The nation was already effectively destroyed; the surviving citizens were few, and they couldn't possibly protect the gold. Better to have them hand it over as "protection money" in exchange for a safe relocation.
It was ruthless, but it was reality. This was the "Justice" of the Navy that Loya had once discussed with Momonga. Was it wrong? Perhaps. If the Navy didn't intervene, Beard would seize the wealth and expand his fleet, endangering more innocent lives. Was it right? Certainly not. It was a classic display of "might makes right"—the stronger party dictating terms. But this was the Grand Line, a world where strength reigned supre.
Loya closed his eyes, reflecting on the docunts. He noticed his briefing was more detailed than the others; only he and Zephyr knew the full scope of the Navy's ulterior motives. Whether it was a test of his judgnt or his power, it didn't matter. For soone like Beard, death was the only answer. As for the displaced citizens, as long as they survived, the rest was up to the higher-ups.
Loya was becoming more and more like a true Marine: learning to shift the "moral burden" to his superiors without batting an eye.
Suddenly, Loya opened his eyes and looked straight at Zephyr. "With the speed of the Wave-Breaker, how long until we reach Heathville?"
Zephyr exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Three days at full speed. It's close to the Calm Belt and not too far from Headquarters."
"Three days..." Loya calculated ntally. Beard would be rushing to extract the gold within fifteen days to avoid a direct confrontation with the Headquarters elites. Three days would give them the elent of surprise—a perfect use of the Wave-Breaker's speed, which had sacrificed armor and firepower for sheer velocity.
"But Loya, it's Beard! Even if we ignore the other pirates on the island, there are over three hundred rcenaries waiting for us, plus his high-ranking officers. Can we really win?" Aldo asked, filled with anxiety. "Maybe we should still request a Vice Admiral to accompany us! I rember Vice Admirals Onigumo and Momonga are still at Headquarters this month."
Tony looked at Loya with hopeful eyes. Loya bit his lip, considered the situation, and then grinned. "No need. I have the confidence to defeat Beard myself. As for the small fry... I'll show them what happens when the 'East Wind' sweeps the floor."
As he spoke, a chilling, dense killing intent radiated from him, causing the temperature in the room to drop sharply. Aldo shuddered and kept his mouth shut. He knew the power of the technique Loya fired from his mouth; if unleashed in quick succession, those rcenaries would be little more than cannon fodder.
"Right, Zephyr-sensei," Loya added. "Speaking of officers, do you have any intelligence on which ones Beard brought with him?"
Zephyr pondered for a mont. "None. But given Beard's greed, he wouldn't bring too many—probably one or two at most. As for his subordinate pirate fleets, they have been under our surveillance since yesterday. You don't have to worry about being flanked."
"That's a relief!" Loya slamd the bounty poster onto the table, and with a thud, he drove an ice-constructed blade through the paper and deep into the wood. "This head... is mine!"
Marine Headquarters.
The sky was clear and bright—perfect weather for setting sail. At the massive harbor in front of the fortress, the long, slender Wave-Breaker was docked. Marines were busy loading supplies, preparing for the upcoming voyage.
Jim Hubbard, clutching his blueprints, ran from the bow to the stern, checking every screw and gear for half the morning before stopping for a drink of water. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he gave Loya a thumbs-up: "Ready!"
Loya nodded and asked Minde, "How's Aldo doing with the supplies?"
Minde, busy recording resources with pen and paper, flipped his notebook. "We need two more barrels of water and... about a ton of food. We can't always count on catching Sea Kings; we have to be prepared." He shot a resentful look at Loya. It was specifically because of Loya and Aldo—who would likely be puking their guts out the whole ti—that they needed to haul so much extra weight.
Ignoring Minde's look, Loya waved a hand. "Fine, you handle it. I don't think I'll be able to eat much anyway, given the seasickness." He walked away, leaving Minde muttering, 'As if I believe that.'
On deck, Tony was taking roll call. It was his first ti serving as a ship's commander, and he was visibly trembling with excitent. But his experience running a dojo gave him a layer of composure that kept him from making a fool of himself.
"75 people total," Tony said, handing the list to Loya. "Including 5 navigators and helmsn, and 7 support staff—cooks and a dic. The rest are formal soldiers."
"Understood." Loya barely glanced at it. These soldiers were there to protect the ship; they wouldn't participate in the mission. If he had to drag them into the fray, his final evaluation would drop significantly.
"Hurry up! Let's get out to sea by noon! Understand?"
"Understood!"
Looking out at the sparkling sea and feeling the salt spray on his face, Loya couldn't help but sigh. "I've been in this world for so long, and this is only my third ti at sea... Seriously, why do I have to be seasick?"
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