He was telling the truth.
His previous voyages had mostly been smooth sailing, so this was a rare stumble, running into a fierce ocean storm. Faced with nature's terrifying fury, the Marine ship was as fragile as a piece of paper. Their only option was to temporarily avoid the brunt of it, taking a detour that delayed them by over ten days.
On the way, Nao's heart was uneasy, and he'd braced himself for Gion's wrath. Fortunately, it seemed his superior, and now his wife, was reacting much better than he'd expected.
"Good that you know how hard I've been working lately."
Gion lightly snorted. "Doing two people's jobs, my legs almost gave out… For this mission, I'll stay on the Marine ship and rest. You'll be in charge."
"No problem, just leave it to me."
Nao took on the responsibility without hesitation, then asked, "By the way, who are we dealing with this time?"
He had just arrived and was immediately pressed into service, still completely clueless about what was happening that required Gion to personally lead three Marine ships on an expedition.
"You'll understand once you read it yourself."
Gion took a document from the bedside files and tossed it over.
"White Dove Pirates, Explosion Pirates…"
Quickly scanning the relevant information, Nao's brows furrowed, and he also noticed something peculiar. "Two pirate crews who've already entered the Grand Line are suddenly returning to the West Blue at the same time to attack an unknown small branch?"
He'd only been to the West Blue once, and everything here was quite unfamiliar. Yet, he was surprisingly familiar with Branch 329, which was under attack.
That's right.
Branch 329's base was on Gull Island, the hometown of Chisio and Hina.
And Captain Bakko, the one who sent the distress signal, was that slippery, worldly guy he'd dealt with twice while in Gion's body.
In his impression, that branch had a total force of less than a thousand people at most, with hardly any decent standard Marine ships.
Captain Bakko's conduct was also quite lazy; he mostly just drifted through life. How could he suddenly provoke such powerful enemies?
"Most likely, they're seeking revenge."
Gion saw his confusion. She leaned back slightly, resting her feet on Nao's shoulders, stretching her graceful, lithe body. She said languidly, "You might not know much about Captain Bakko, but this guy has been making waves and building a reputation throughout the West Blue for the past six months."
"Oh? How so?"
Nao subconsciously sniffed, detecting no strange odors. It seemed Gion had just bathed and changed before setting off. He immediately relaxed and asked, puzzled, "My impression of him was that he's not cut out to be a good Marine officer."
Gion noticed Nao's subtle movement and playfully nudged his chest with her foot. As he chuckled sheepishly, she directly tossed another file from the bedside onto his face.
"Read it yourself."
"...Rear Admiral, I think a good man like me should be cherished like a treasure, not constantly wasted and abused like this by you."
Gion couldn't be bothered to respond. She lifted her two long, shapely, fair legs again and comfortably rested them on his shoulders.
Damn it.
A higher rank crushes people. I'll let you abuse and tease me all you want during the day…
But when night falls.
Heh heh, that'll be my turn to launch a counter-attack!
As a man, the accumulated fury of over ten days, once fully unleashed, can be quite terrifying! He fumed internally as he carefully searched through the dossier. It only took him a dozen seconds to find the records related to Captain Bakko.
"On July 31, 1511, Sea Calendar, Captain Bakko of Branch 329 Base encountered the Gale Pirates. He personally beheaded the captain, 'Gale Swordsman' Ross, with a bounty of 23,000,000 Berries. The Gale Pirates' morale collapsed, and they were easily defeated."
"On August 21, several fishing villages along Mous Island's coast, with over a thousand fishermen, were completely massacred by the Bacardi Pirates, leaving few survivors. Captain Bakko, upon hearing the news, rushed to the scene and was enraged. Just as the Bacardi Pirates were about to leave, he intercepted them and immediately killed their captain, 'Shadow Hunter' Bacardi, with a bounty of 34,000,000 Berries…"
"On September 23, the captain of the Porcupine Pirates, with a bounty of 30,000,000 Berries, and the captain of the Grass Carp Pirates, with a bounty of 32,000,000 Berries, were both slain by Captain Bakko's sword on the same day…"
"October 12…"
The subsequent entries were all similar.
Nao roughly calculated.
In just about half a year, this Captain Bakko had defeated over a dozen large pirate crews, and the captains of these crews were almost all pirates with bounties exceeding ten million Berries.
There were also six captains with bounties over thirty million Berries.
This is simply absurd… What does this even mean? If this were a Captain from Marine Headquarters in Marineford, or even a Captain from one of the G-Series branches in the Grand Line, Nao wouldn't be too surprised by such feats.
But this is Bakko!
Setting aside the bad impression he had left, this guy was, after all, just a Captain from a small branch in one of the Four Blues. If he were transferred back to Headquarters, he'd be demoted three ranks, effectively becoming just a Lieutenant!
When did he get this kind of strength?
It truly is a case of 'a scholar who has been away for three days should be looked at with new eyes'… No, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. In this world, the saying should be changed.
Hmm, how should I rephrase it?When you easily smash Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro with a single blow, the next time you meet, you should be prepared for them to pull a comeback and defeat you?
"No wonder you said he was making waves and his name spread throughout the West Blue."
Nao put down the dossier and looked up at Gion, clicking his tongue.
"To achieve such astonishing battle records, continuing to serve as a Captain in a small branch is probably no longer suitable, is it? With all these merits combined, he should at least be promoted one or two ranks."
"Of course."
Gion, whether intentionally or not, began playfully swirling her toes lightly on both sides of Nao's neck, making him itch.
"In fact, his name has already reached the high-ranking officials at Headquarters. According to them, by the end of this month at the latest, he will be promoted three ranks and transferred to our First Branch Base with the rank of Headquarters Captain."
"And before he's even transferred, his base is hit by a massive pirate attack and retaliation?"
Nao discreetly activated the effect of [Thorn Armor]. "If we go by your earlier suggestion, that he's being targeted for revenge."
"Hmm, that's almost certainly the reason; I only deduced it myself on the way here before we departed."
A faint itch emanated from her toes. Gion's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she glanced at Nao's neck, a hint of confusion in her mind, but she continued to explain:
"Among the pirate crews he defeated last month, there was an officer named Black Dove Arkin. He likely has a close blood relation with White Dove Durkin, the captain of the White Dove Pirates who are now launching this massive attack—most likely siblings or something else… I'm not sure, hiss…"
The itching was unbearable, and she finally gave up teasing Nao, retracting her legs.
"A reasonable deduction. Only this explains why these two pirate crews, who had already entered the Grand Line, suddenly turned back and returned without hesitation."
Nao observed the scene, then said calmly, "It's just that, clearly, they haven't thought through the consequences of daring to actively attack a Marine Branch Base."
His tone was calm.
As if he were talking about something insignificant.
White Dove Durkin, Bakushoujo (Explosion Woman)—one with a bounty of 66,000,000 Berries, the other 70,000,000 Berries.
Let alone in the West Blue, even in the first half of the Grand Line, they would definitely be considered formidable great pirates capable of holding their own territory. It was only natural that the rising star Captain Bakko couldn't handle them.
But unfortunately.
Precisely at this moment, he himself had arrived in the West Blue.
——————
Gull Island, where Branch 329 was located, wasn't far from the West Blue First Branch.
With the Marine ships sailing at full speed, just over ten hours later, Nao and Gion, standing at the bow, could vaguely discern the outline of Gull Island through the swirling snowflakes.
The shape of the coastline was so familiar and comforting. Nao inexplicably recalled the time he'd come to this island, in Gion's body, to Chisio's home, persuading her to return to Headquarters for her assignment.
Back then, he was just an ordinary rookie, yet to make his mark, insignificant in the presence of prominent figures like Gion and Aokiji, only able to look up in admiration.
But now.
Everything had changed.
About to step into his twenties, he was now the leader of the younger generation at Headquarters, the youngest Rear Admiral in Marine history, and the dignified Deputy Base Commander of the West Blue First Branch.
Even the once unapproachable Gion had been won over, becoming his lover.
Not what it used to be, indeed…
Nao mused, his gaze shifting from Gull Island's coastline to the Marine port on the north side. Sure enough, he spotted a large number of pirates fiercely attacking the branch base.
From the looks of the situation, the pirates clearly had the absolute upper hand.
The defensive gun emplacements outside the port had been completely destroyed, and the Marines, having lost their home turf's firepower advantage, were forced to retreat into the fortress, making a difficult last stand.
"If we'd been an hour or two later, the base would probably have been completely overrun."
Gion sighed softly, relieved that they had departed in time. After a glance at the distant scene, she turned and walked towards the cabin, leaving a faint remark:
"Let's stick to our earlier division of labor. I'm going back to rest. Dealing with those pirates is up to you."
"Go ahead."
Nao nodded slightly.
This scene, witnessed by the surrounding Marines, caused them to exchange bewildered glances, their hearts filled with uncertainty.
They were about to enter a battlefield, facing two pirate crews returning from the Grand Line, yet Rear Admiral Gion was, at this critical moment, completely delegating, dumping everything onto the newly arrived Deputy Base Commander Nao?
"Rear Admiral Gion's strength is obvious to everyone. If she makes a move, those two pirate crews will surely be defeated and surrender."
Someone couldn't help but murmur, "I just wonder how strong Rear Admiral Nao is, and if he can do the same…"
In terms of looks, Rear Admiral Nao was undeniably handsome, preventing them from holding any resentment towards this long-overdue Deputy Base Commander. But this was a battlefield; good looks don't fill stomachs…
It was quite clear.
Due to the relatively closed nature of information dissemination in this world, a significant portion of the people hadn't followed the great battle that took place in the Alabasta Kingdom a few months prior.
And even some who had read the reports back then didn't connect the Rear Admiral Nao standing before them with that major incident.
Otherwise, they would now be silently mourning for those unlucky pirates in their hearts, just like the direct subordinates who had followed Nao from Headquarters to report for duty…
"Rear Admiral, we're within firing range!"
At the bow, a Lieutenant Commander in charge of coordinating artillery fire suddenly turned his head and asked Nao somewhat eagerly:
"Please give the order, Rear Admiral! We'll immediately commence artillery fire to provide support to our brothers at Branch 329!"
"No need to open fire."
Nao estimated the distance, shook his head slightly, and said softly: "They're already in close-quarters combat over there. The landing point of cannonballs can't be precisely controlled. If we rashly launch a large-scale bombardment, it might actually help the pirates collapse the fortress defenses, having the opposite effect."
"Then… then what should we do, Rear Admiral?"
"Continue sailing at full speed. What you need to do later is to cordon off the perimeter of the Marine port and not let a single fish escape."
Nao stood at the bow with his hands clasped behind his back, his cloak of Justice fluttering in the wind. His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority:
"As for everything else, just leave it to me."
Eh?
Not just the Lieutenant Commander, but the surrounding Marines were all stunned by his words.
Before they could react, they felt the light before their eyes suddenly flicker.
And in the next moment, Nao's figure had already vanished from his spot, using Moonwalk, he soared into the air, shooting towards the distance!
Swish! Swish!
His speed was incredible. In what seemed like an instant, he traversed hundreds of meters of sea, getting further and further away in the eyes of the many Marines, heading straight for the Marine port several kilometers away.
What is Rear Admiral Nao going to do?
While astonished by Nao's mastery of Moonwalk, the marines of the West Blue First Branch Base also felt a wave of uncertainty rise in their hearts.
No way…
Recalling Nao's earlier instructions, many suddenly seemed to realize something and couldn't help but widen their eyes.
—Is Rear Admiral Nao planning to take out all the pirates on shore by himself, even before the Marine ships dock?Isn't that a bit too exaggerated?!
The enemies opposite weren't ordinary West Blue pirates; they were strong individuals confident enough to enter the Grand Line, with captains whose bounties collectively exceeded one hundred million Berries!
Meanwhile, on the other side.
The pirates, who were fiercely clashing with the defenders and growing more excited with each blow, also noticed the figure flying in the sky from the corner of their eyes, and the three white Marine ships approaching at full speed in the distance.
They paid little heed to this, instead, many pirates grinned, showing bloodthirsty, ferocious smiles.
We've been fighting for so long, have the Marine reinforcements finally arrived?