"This pirate crew hasn't entered the Grand Line yet?"
Roya stood up, rubbed his chin, and asked casually as he walked toward the door.
Although he asked that question, what Roya was actually thinking was that it did not matter why the Gecko Pirate Crew was still lingering in the West Blue instead of going to the Grand Line. In Roya's eyes, this pirate crew already represented ten thousand points of combat merit.
If a few more pirate crews like this showed up, he would soon be able to exchange those merits at Marine Headquarters for a Supreme Grade Blade. That would be quite comfortable.
"We all thought they had already entered the Grand Line, but we just received intelligence that they've appeared in nearby waters. We also find it strange."
When the Captain saw Roya leave the room, he immediately followed behind, speaking with a grave expression. There was even a trace of fear in his eyes.
It was always pirates avoiding the Marines—no one ever heard of Marines avoiding pirates. Even if a pirate crew was strong, this Gecko Pirate Crew was different.
The Gecko Pirate Crew was the one that had defeated the former base commander head-on and killed him.
Because of that, all the Marines at the First Branch Base felt a sense of fear deep down.
"Rear Admiral Roya, what should we do? Should we request support from nearby bases and launch a joint encirclement, or…"
Roya glanced at the Captain and said, "Even the closest Second Branch Base would take a long time to reach our jurisdiction. Besides, do you really want people from other bases to come and support us?"
"This…"
The Captain hesitated. If they requested support, they would inevitably be mocked by other bases. The dignified First Branch Base of the West Blue being unable to deal with a single pirate crew from the West Blue—what reason would it have to exist?
Roya could see through the Captain's thoughts. He smiled and said, "So there's no need to make things complicated. We depart now."
Hearing this, the Captain was shocked. "Mr. Roya, this Gecko Pirate Crew is no small matter. You mustn't underestimate them. The former base commander was—"
He paused, fear appearing on his face. "And Rear Admiral Tika is not currently at the base. It would be better to wait for Rear Admiral Tika to return and act together with you."
At that, Roya stopped and looked at the Captain.
Just as the Captain thought Roya had accepted his suggestion, Roya suddenly smiled.
"Aren't you eager to restore the reputation of the First Branch Base? If you're this cautious, lacking even courage, how are you going to restore that reputation? Besides, with me here, there's no need to worry."
"This…"
The Captain's expression changed repeatedly after hearing Roya's words. By the time he came to his senses, Roya had already walked far ahead.
After hesitating for a moment, the Captain clenched his teeth and followed.
Roya was the base commander. He had no authority to oppose Roya's decision. Moreover, as a Captain of the First Branch Base, he also desperately wanted to restore its reputation.
And the best way to restore that reputation was undoubtedly to defeat the Gecko Pirate Crew.
Previously, he had heard Marines from the warship that brought Roya to the base say that Roya's strength was extremely formidable and could not be judged by his age. Since that was the case, he chose to believe.
---
A warship carrying Roya and three Captains sailed out of the First Branch Base.
The enemy was the Gecko Pirate Crew, which had defeated the former base commander. That Roya's orders could be carried out smoothly and that enough personnel could be assembled to go to sea and suppress the Gecko Pirate Crew was already an impressive feat. At the very least, everyone aboard the warship was a courageous Marine.
The atmosphere on the warship was filled with a sense of tragic resolve. Many Marines were gritting their teeth, looking as though they had already made up their minds to fight the Gecko Pirate Crew to the end.
This atmosphere made Roya chuckle softly.
Roya said nothing more. At the very least, these Marines had courage. He stood quietly at the bow of the deck, while the Captains and Commanders aboard the warship analyzed the intelligence and locked onto the Gecko Pirate Crew's position. All of them had already resolved to pursue the Gecko Pirate Crew.
---
On the sea.
A large pirate ship was slowly advancing.
"The last matter has finally been dealt with…"
The captain of the Gecko Pirate Crew, with a sinister and terrifying face, stood there, baring his teeth in a chilling grin.
"Captain, are we finally going to the Grand Line?!"
"Hehehe, I'm going to let the entire Grand Line know my name."
The rest of the crew revealed ferocious and excited expressions. The West Blue held no reason for them to stay any longer. The Grand Line was where countless powerful figures gathered.
And at that moment—
A pirate suddenly ran over and shouted to the officers present.
"Captain, a Marine warship has been spotted ahead!"
"Oh?"
The captain of the Gecko Pirate Crew stood up, gripping his shark-toothed greatsword. After a brief moment of surprise, a savage grin appeared on his face.
"So there are still blind Marines who dare come looking for trouble with me. Perfect. Before heading to the Grand Line, I'll let those guys witness my power once more!"
"Hehehehe!"
The other officers aboard the pirate ship also grinned viciously as they picked up their weapons. There was not the slightest hint of fear—only cruelty and bloodlust in their eyes.
Ahead of the Gecko Pirate Crew,
a medium-sized Marine warship was sailing straight toward them. It was the warship of the First Branch Base.
On the warship,
a Marine Captain looked tense and confused as he stared at Roya standing at the very front of the deck. He spoke anxiously, "Rear Admiral Roya, the enemy has already entered artillery range. Are we not opening fire yet?!"
When a warship faces a pirate ship, its greatest advantage lies in artillery. No matter how good a pirate ship is, it is very difficult to compete with a warship in firepower.
According to Marine combat principles and convention, once the enemy vessel enters artillery range, immediately opening fire is critical, as it can inflict a certain degree of damage.
After that, depending on the enemy's firepower, one decides whether to continue a long-range artillery duel or proceed to a boarding battle.
However—
This time, with Roya leading the operation, even after the enemy ship entered artillery range, Roya did not issue the order to fire. And the highest commanding officer on this warship was Roya himself.
Without Roya's order, even though the three Captains were watching the optimal window for artillery strike slip away and were extremely anxious, they did not dare issue the order on their own.
"Rear Admiral Roya, please authorize the artillery strike!"
Cold sweat covered the foreheads of the three Captains. They had never expected that Roya, the base commander, would act completely outside convention—directly pursuing the Gecko Pirate Crew without any battle plan, and now even delaying the firing order.
Could it be that Roya was simply too young and had never presided over a naval battle before?!
At that thought, the Captains broke out in even more cold sweat. Watching the best opportunity for bombardment disappear, their hearts gradually sank. They could not help but feel that they had ended up with a fake Rear Admiral serving as base commander.