Koala

The first half of the Grand Line, Casland Island;

A group of pirates who had not been on the island for long was fleeing frantically.

"Run! It's the Marine of the G2 branch!"

"It was the Vice Admiral himself who led the team!"

"You're lying, right? The bounty on our entire crew is less than 100 million, and to capture a small pirate like us, you need to send out a battle force at the level of a vice admiral?"

Their fearful vice-admiral did not strike, just stood at the edge of the battlefield and watched quietly.

"Longinus-senpai, we do not make a move?" The blind uncle in the battlefield "huffing and puffing" shivered noodles, "whether it is your Haoshoku or my gravity, should be able to quickly end this battle."

"You might as well call me sir." Longinus sighed slightly; it was still a little weird being called senpai by someone who was around older than himself.

"Okay, Longinus-senpai."

"... Forget it, do as you please." Longinus sighed, "We don't have the means to keep watch over these soldiers all the time, and it's best to let them grow enough in battle."

"And the meaning of our existence is to avoid accidents." Longinus said, with a Shigan to kill the second mate of the pirates who secretly hide their strength to storm up and hurt people directly.

"So? It seems that my way of thinking has really not been transformed." Issho bit off his noodles and nodded slightly, "When I was a ronin in the past, one was alone and did not have to go against one's own heart, but now that I have become a soldier, I still need to think for my men and fellow soldiers."

"One man cannot change the world even if he is strong." Longinus said with a nod, "The foundation stone of a strong Marine is precisely these soldiers who keep growing."

Issho nodded thoughtfully, then smiled and said, "This group of pirates is indeed unlucky enough to be on our return route."

"It is indeed a bit of a bully." Longinus is also lamented that when the two join forces, not many pirate groups in the New World can escape.

But think about it another way. If this group of pirates with a total bounty of 80 million berries know that the one who went out to capture them is an admiral battle power plus a near admiral battle power, it is estimated that it will move them to tears!

The battle didn't take long to end.

"Marine-sama, thank you!"

"It's a good thing you guys are here!"

The inhabitants of this island were looking relieved; when the marine forces had not yet arrived, they already had several people died at the hands of pirates.

"Catching pirates is supposed to be our duty, so there's no need for you to say thanks."

"That ... is fine." The mayor hesitated for a moment and pushed out a little girl with unkempt hair from the crowd, "Marine-sama, can I trouble you to send this child back to her hometown?"

"Her name is Koala, she escaped from that slave liberation movement three years ago, but the child's hometown is too far from Casland Island to send her back with our navigation skills."

"So, she hasn't been home for at least three years?" Longinus knelt and put his right hand on her head, "What a poor dear."

"Mayor, where is her home?"

"It's on the island of Foolshout."

"Foolshout Island, it seems that it is not far ..." Issho said halfway, then understood that this distance is indeed not far for the Marine, but for these townspeople who have not to go to sea a few times, it can almost be called a heavenly rift.

"Well then, we'll take care of this little one." Longinus stood up and headed for the coast, with the rest of the Marine quickly following.

"Marine-sama, thank you!"

In response to the shouts coming from behind him, Longinus paused for a moment, waved his hand, and then continued on his way.

On the warship;

Issho stood on the deck at the bow of the ship, feeling the sea breeze blowing in the face, "I have learned about the slave riots and subsequent events in Mariejois."

"You really can't be bothered."

"One has to know more about the outside world."

"So, what do you think of me?" Longinus asked Issho, "Is it failure or weakness in this case?"

"Haha! Is that how Longinus-senpai actually sees himself?" The corner of Issho's mouth rose slightly, "Really, if I were to say so, it would be brave!"

"That evaluation was somewhat unexpected."

"That thing is wrong no matter how you do it. The best thing to do, instead, is to take yourself out of it."

"As long as you can't find him, the subsequent development has nothing to do with you. With your intelligence, there is no way you can't think of this."

After a moment's pause, Issho said, "But you did not do so, not only did not hide, but also took the initiative to find that Tiger-san."

"This kind of will, I think, is bravery!"

Longinus shook his head and laughed, "You're the one who thinks too well of me!"

"Perhaps." Issho said blandly, "At least, no matter how I embellish it, I can't face up to the existence of the World Government."

"... such words, it is better not to say in the future."

Ta-da! Ta-da! Ta-da!

After cleaning, the little girl, who looked much more refreshed, ran over on her short legs, "Marine-sama, thank you."

"Didn't I say you don't have to thank me?" Longinus said helplessly.

"Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" The little girl reflexively kneeled and took out the rag she carried to wipe on the deck, "Please don't kill me, I'll do my job."

"It's very serious mental trauma." Issho sighed.

"Get up, Koala." Longinus pulled the little girl up and soothed her with a gentle voice, "If you're still dwelling on that nightmare, cry out loud, then sleep, and when you wake up you'll be back home."

"Go home ..." Koala drifted off for a moment, finally coming to her senses again, "Thank you, Marine-sama."

Seeing that Longinus was about to speak, Koala hurriedly said, "I am this time because of what happened three years ago."

"Three years ago?"

"Hmm!" Koala nodded heavily, "It was you who ordered the marines not to intercept three years ago, and we slaves were able to escape."

"So I ... really appreciate and thank you!"

"If you really appreciate me so much, just have a big cry!" Longinus smiled, "Forget all the nightmares of the past and start your life anew."

"I, I ..." Koala bit her lips tightly, crystal tears welling up in her eyes.

Just then, Den Den Mushi's voice rang out.

Longinus did not hesitate to open the small Den Den Mushi at his wrist.

"What do you want from me at this time, Admiral Sengoku?"

" Vice Admiral Longinus, in the waters of Paroda, there was an island that was cut in half and fell from the sky."

"Longinus, is that the name of Marine-sama?" Koala secretly noted in his mind, completely ignoring the island's bizarre event falling from the sky.

"An island falling from the sky?" Longinus mused in mock shock, "The first possibility is that the legendary Skypeia lost its supporting power, and another possibility is that it is Fuwa Fuwa no Mi!"

"Since Admiral Sengoku approached me, I guess it must be because of the second possibility!"

"It is indeed much easier to talk to you, Vice Admiral Longinus." Sengoku said gratefully, "I had someone send back images with Den Den Mushi to examine, and the cut in that floating island was definitely the result of top-notch swordsmanship."

"The floating island, coupled with the top of swordsmanship ..." Longinus said with a grave face, "then the possibility of Shiki is very high!"

"That's exactly what I was worried about."

"And what does Admiral Sengoku need me to do?"

"If it's really Shiki, then his base must be hidden in the sky, but since Geppo is unable to stay in the air for a long time, we can only rely on your griffin to conduct the search."

"I know what to do."

"Pay attention, be careful. Shiki is the man who was once most closely compared to the Pirate King!"

"Don't worry, Admiral Sengoku, Commander Issho is right next to me!"

"Commander Issho is also here, so indeed there is nothing to worry about, then, good luck to you."

PS: What is this latest round of self-censorship? The most important thing is that the author of this book is shivering (๑ŏ﹏ŏ๑).

Published in Qidian, July 21, 2019