The Marines Arrives

Marina and Hiraka, who had finished their explorations, were heading towards the orphanage as the sun was about to set.

Marina walked calmly with her usual deadpan expression. Hiraka, however, still felt wronged and was pouting.

He hasn't said anything since they left the weapon shop, probably thinking that if he ignored Marina, she would apologize or something, which she didn't do.

In fact, Marina was glad he was silent. She had a lot to think about, and It was hard to think when you had a grumpy, noisy child by your side most of the day.

She could have him kicked out anytime she wanted, but using violence against a child who has done nothing but be a child is something she would never do, not even in her previous life.

The two walked for an hour, until they saw a relatively large two-story house. It was an ordinary house made of bricks and wood.

The big house was rectangular in shape, full of windows and had a large chimney on the right side. On the left side of the house, there was a small corral where there were some pigs lying in the mud. On the right side, there was a vegetable garden. And behind the house was a chicken coop full of chickens.

All over the place around the house could be seen several children playing, with some nuns and other adults helping.

The house and the small farm were not owned by the church, but by the city hall, which made the place available for free to house the orphans since the town church wasn't big at all.

There weren't many citizens in the city, but for some reason, sailors, pirates and others ended up in this village and abandoned their babies at the church door. The same happened to Marina, not that she cares about it.

The day Marina found out that the city hall had made all this land and house available for free for the orphanage to use, she couldn't help but be scared by such kindness. She has never seen such a generous government.

In her previous mindset, governments are always those who seek only profit and control no matter what, but that was not the case with this city.

Not only the government, but everyone in the city were also kind and good people.

Coming close to the house, some children saw them and shouted excitedly, ''It's Maririn and Babu!''

The children ran towards the two, more specifically, almost all of them ran towards Hiraka, while only one girl ran towards Marina with a smile.

The girl arrived in front of Marina panting, but with a smile. ''Maririn! I was waiting for you!''

She then hugs Marina, who stiffens. Marina was never one for hugs, and this child always hugged her.

The girl, a little smaller than Marina, was called Ruri. She is a girl who can only be called as cute as a pet, and is two years younger than Marina. She has medium brown hair and honey-colored eyes. Whenever she sees Marina, Riru she gets as happy as a puppy to see its owner.

Marina then, still a little stiff, hugs Ruri gently while stroking her little head, ''Yes...I'm back, Ruri. Did you behave well while I was out?''

Ruri lifts her head and stares at Marina with bright eyes, ''Yes! I was a good girl! I studied as you told me to do, and I also helped the sisters in their work!''

''Is that so? What a good girl you are. I'll play with you a lot since you were such a dedicated girl.'' Marina said with a giggle and a gentle smile.

The nuns and other adults looked at this scene with a warm smile. In everyone's mind, it was as if Marina was Ruri's older sister. Even Marina saw Ruri as a little sister.

Like Hiraka, who was the only boy who interacted with Marina, Ruri was the only girl in the orphanage who interacted with Marina. It wasn't out of malice or envy, it was simply because when Marina was invited to play with them, Marina always refused, and in the end they gave up, leaving Marina alone.

''Listen! Listen! Tomorrow, some marines are going to visit the island for inspection! isn't that cool? I've never seen a marines!'' Ruri said excitedly, snapping Marina out of her thoughts.

'Marines, huh?' Marina thought, her gaze narrowed at the news.

The marines came from time to time to inspect the island where they lived. Sometimes it took months, and sometimes years, it was a completely sloppy schedule.

During her seven years, she not only learned a lot about the world from books, but she also learned a lot from other people. In this world, there is a supreme governmental power, called the world government, and they are the patrons of the marines, at least that's what they said. The only forces that went against the marines and world government were the pirates.

Everywhere it was said that the world government was all the good there was, and the pirates were all the bad there was, but Marina, as an ex-yakuza in her past life, she know better. There were no such things as supreme evil and supreme good, there was only power, and whoever had power, did whatever they wanted.

That goes for everyone, marines, pirates, and even common people.

This is also one of the reasons she trains, it wasn't just because she was addicted to the feeling of getting stronger. The world was not good, on the contrary, it was evil, cruel, and it will devour the weak when they least expect it.

For Marina, good and bad is subjective, each one thinks in a different way. For some, killing is bad, but for others it's just a day-to-day job. What rules everything is strength, the only sin that exists, for her, was stay weak.

''All right. Let's go in and play. Tomorrow I'll take you to see the marines.'' Marina said.

''Really?! Maririn, I love you!'' Ruri replied and hugged her again. With a sigh, Marina enters the house with Ruri grasped to her body like a koala.

\\

The next day, in the early morning, a large ship could be seen moored in the city's harbor. The town where Marina lived, was called Toranga Village, it was a thriving tropical village that was located on the island of Kamiri, which was in South Blue.

In front of the harbor was the mayor and some other important figures of the town, waiting to welcome the marines. Several citizens came to see the marines who arrived and that also includes Marine, Ruri, and Hiraka, who are in the small crowd.

As Ruri was very small, she was being carried on Marina's shoulders, and Hiraka was beside them waiting excitedly to see the marines.

When the marines got off the ship, people started whispering and some even cheering, as if they were some kind of heroes.

They wore white sailor uniforms with blue accents identical to each other, they all carried rifles on their shoulders.

In the middle, leading the marines, was a stiff-looking but clean man. He had short black hair and a trimmed beard, he looks to be in his thirties. Instead of wearing the uniform that the soldiers behind him wore, he wore a white and red dress shirt with yellow military shoulder pads and black pants.

Marina knew he was a officer because of the military shoulder pads, but also, with just one look, she knew the man was leagues stronger than the soldiers behind him.

The officer, with the soldiers behind him, meets the mayor with a sincere smile on his face. The mayor also smiled.

The officer without warning hugs the mayor and laughs aloud, ''Hahaha! Long time no see, my friend! How is business in the village? No problems, I hope!

''Yes, it's been a long time, Korobe! And don't worry, thanks to the attention you give the island, rarely a pirate dares to show up here.'' The mayor responds.

Seeing their interaction, Marina understood why the island she lives on is so peaceful. Both the officer and the mayor appeared to be about the same age, and seeing how they behave casually and friendly towards each other, it is easy to conclude that they were longtime friends.

The officer, most likely, was also born on this same island, and after gaining a rank among the marines, he must have returned to protect his home from pirates and traffickers.

'Both the Mayor and the Officer are both good men. I would like to have them as my subordinates, if I were Kiryu, that is.' Marina thought.

The officer released his friend from the hug and turned to the troops, ''Attention, soldiers! While I'm talking to the mayor, you're going to be patrolling the city, was I clear?''

''Sir, yes sir!'' The troops responded in unison with a salute.

With that, the officer followed the mayor to the town hall building, and the soldiers fanned out to patrol the city. In the same way, people started to disperse as it was all over.

''Well, that was...boring. I expected fireworks or something like that.'' Ruri said disappointed. ''Maririn, let's go home, I'm hungry!''

Marina nodded, ''All right. Let's go back.''

This encounter with the marines was very fruitful for Marina. As someone who was once strong, she knows how to identify someone strong, it's like an intuition she's gained throughout her life. When she saw the officer, she was sure that even if it was her past self, she would be defeated easily.

'He was strong, and he appeared to be just a low-ranking officer. I need to train more.' She thought resolutely as she turned to leave with Ruri.

But then she was stopped by Hiraka.

''Wait! Let's talk to a marine! Don't just look! I want to hear stories about the sea and battles against pirates!'' He said as he stood in front of Marina.

Marina was silent, and then sighed.

''All right. You can go talk to a marine if he wants to talk to you, that is. But don't stray too far from me.'' Marina replied.

''Seriously?! Yes! Let's go!'' Hiraka celebrate and ran towards a random marine.

Ruri nudged Marina and she raised her head, ''Are you sure, Maririn? Babu may be the same age as you, but he's a goof. What if he gets us in trouble?''

Marina gave a comforting smile, ''Don't worry, I'm responsible for both of you. Besides, he'll probably want to go home after five minutes. He's quite easy to give up.''

''Hm...However, when it comes to you, Maririn, that isn't the case.''

Marina looked at Ruri in surprise ,''...You're quite the smart cookie, aren't you?"

''Hehehe!'' Ruri laughed sweetly.

''Let's go after him before he gets lost.'' Marina then, along with Ruri, followed Hiraka close behind.

Marina, however, had no idea that the decision she made at that moment would take her back to her old Yazuka days.