64: Chapter 64 Farewell! From Departure to DriftingNo!Koby clenched his fist tightly!
Mr.Luffy gave him a chance in this way, and he can no longer back down!
To everyone's astonishment, Koby, his face bruised and swollen, suddenly scrambled to his feet!
He stood ramrod straight, ignoring the pain and dishevelment on his face, and with all his might shouted at the naval lieutenant commander, his voice trembling with excitement, yet incredibly clear and firm:
"Please let me—!Please let me join the Navy—!"
He bowed deeply, almost at a ninety-degree angle: "Even if it's just odd jobs.I'd be happy to do them!As long as I can become a navy officer.as long as I can realize my dream—!"
He raised his head, and despite the injuries on his face, his eyes shone with an astonishing light, filled with an unprecedented, unwavering determination and pleading.
The naval soldiers looked at each other, stunned by the sudden turn of events and the fire in the boy's eyes.
The lieutenant colonel looked at Koby with a complicated expression, as if he was weighing something.
At that moment, a naval officer who appeared to be of higher rank walked up behind the lieutenant colonel, leaned close to his ear, and whispered clearly, "Lieutenant Colonel.I object!"
Although the naval officer's voice was lowered, it was still clearly audible in the quiet restaurant:
"Lieutenant Colonel!I object!We can't fully trust this kid yet!There have been cases of pirates posing as spies in the Navy before!We must thoroughly investigate his background before making a decision!"
These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the flame of hope that had just ignited in Koby's eyes.His face turned pale again, and his body trembled slightly.
However, Koby took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the panic in his heart.
He abruptly straightened his bowed body, his thin but incredibly stubborn spine rising, using all his strength…
He delivered a deafening declaration to the naval lieutenant commander who was facing him and still pondering:
"I—am going to be a naval officer—!"
His voice carried a do-or-die determination, and his eyes burned with an undeniable flame!
This wasn't a plea, it was a declaration!He was going to use this determination to gamble on an opportunity!
The naval lieutenant commander walked silently behind Coby, his hands behind his back.
The restaurant was so quiet that only Kobi's heavy breathing and the tense heartbeats of everyone else could be heard.
The lieutenant colonel stopped in his tracks, but did not turn around.His deep, authoritative voice sounded behind Koby:
"The number of comrades who have been hurt or deceived by pirates is countless!Don't underestimate the Marines, kid!"
Koby's heart sank to the bottom, and despair surged up like an icy tide.
But in the very next second—
The lieutenant colonel slowly turned around.His usually stern face now held a look of.disdain as he gazed at Koby.
It was as if I saw the sharpness of a rough gem, and a hint of barely perceptible agreement!
He looked into Koby's eyes, which still shone with pure faith despite the fear and beatings he had endured, and said, word by word:
".Then.I approve your enlistment!"
boom--!
A tremendous surprise exploded in Koby's mind like a thunderclap!
He suddenly looked up at the lieutenant colonel in disbelief, overwhelmed with joy so much that he almost lost his balance!
Tears instantly blurred his vision, but he tried to keep his eyes wide open to prevent the tears from falling!
He took a deep breath, and with all his might, gave the lieutenant colonel a salute that, though not perfect, was incredibly solemn.His voice was choked with emotion, yet exceptionally loud:
"Yes, sir!Lieutenant Colonel!"
————————
port.
Zoro stood beside the pitifully simple little boat, watching Luffy clumsily untie the anchor, and couldn't help but complain:
"Hey!Your acting was absolutely terrible!That level.it wouldn't be surprising if you slipped up!Except."
He recalled Luffy's sudden transformation into the pirate "Alvida," and the strange makeup, clothes, and weapons that appeared out of nowhere couldn't be explained by the Gum-Gum Fruit.
'Never mind, the captain will tell me when necessary.'
Luffy, however, patted his chest confidently and grinned, "It's okay!Coby will definitely figure out a way to handle this!"
When pushed to the brink.Koby will definitely unleash his potential!
He seemed to remember something, and a look of lingering fear appeared on his face."This is what my grandfather.told me when he was training me."
Zoro raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on his face: "Grandpa?So you come from a pirate family?That's certainly.very pirate-like."
He had begun to accept the fact that his background as a captain might be extremely extraordinary and troublesome.
As Luffy hauled the heavy anchor onto the ship, he laughed and said dismissively, "More or less!Hahaha!"
Just then, a breathless yet incredibly excited voice came from the port's pier: "Mr.Luffy—!"
Luffy and Zoro turned around and looked.They saw Coby standing on the boardwalk, wearing an ill-fitting uniform that looked like it had been hastily put together for a recruit.His face, bruised and swollen, radiated an unprecedented light and determination!
He gave Luffy another solemn military salute and shouted, "Thank you—!I will never forget this kindness—!"
Looking at this scene, Zoro couldn't help but sigh softly, "Tsk.I've never heard of a pirate being thanked by the Navy before." This experience is truly unique.
Luffy then revealed an incredibly bright smile.Without further delay, he quickly lowered the small sail.
The small boat slowly sailed away from the harbor.Luffy stood at the stern, raising his hands and waving vigorously: "See you next time—Coby—!"
"Goodbye—big brothers—!" Little girl LiXiang also squeezed into the crowd seeing them off, waving her little hand vigorously.
The naval lieutenant commander, who was in charge, looked at the small boat carrying two "strange" pirates with a complicated expression.
He took a deep breath, straightened up abruptly, and, facing the departing ship, shouted at the top of his lungs, "All—salute—!"
"Whoosh—!"
On the boardwalk, all the naval soldiers in formation, whether officers or recruits, raised their right hands and gave a standard and solemn naval salute to the small ship that represented "pirates"!
This is a tribute to the saviors, a salute to courage, and a testament to an absurd yet incredibly sincere farewell!
Under the silent salute of the marines and the grateful and blessing gazes of the townspeople, the Straw Hat Pirates officially set sail for the unknown sea!
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