chapter 74:Provoking the Tiger

Departing from Marine Headquarters to the primeval island located in the first half of the Grand Line—even with the Marine warship possessing Eternal Poses to the islands along the route and taking the shortcut through the Gate of Justice—it would take at least two months.

The officers aboard were all seasoned elites, and to them, a two-month voyage was merely a short journey.

But for Robin, ever since the training ship had left Marineford, these past few days had been nothing short of living in hell. Having always lived on an island and never experienced long-term sea travel, Robin vomited every single meal she had into the sea. As expected, the little girl, who had no sailing experience, suffered from severe seasickness.

"How are you feeling?" Lindemann crouched in front of the little girl with his signature gentle smile, holding a glass of lemon water in his right hand and a towel in his left.

Robin, looking pale and weak, took the cup from the colonel with little energy. She forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Colonel Lindemann. I feel much better these past few days."

Lindemann shot a sharp glare at a few lieutenant commanders who were standing by the railing watching the scene with amusement, signaling them to return to their posts and mind their own business. The foster daughter of his Vice Admiral was not for outsiders to mock.

The colonel then placed the towel directly on the little girl's head, speaking gently, "You'll get used to it after throwing up a few times. We all went through the same thing."

"Oh!" Lindemann suddenly remembered something. "The Vice Admiral wants you to help out on the warship, assisting these big brothers with some tasks and learning basic operational knowledge."

"Got it!" The girl, who had been looking weak and spiritless just moments ago, suddenly brightened up. Children are always curious about new things, and for Robin, who loves to study problems in depth, this was even more so.

"Robin, what we call navigation is essentially the skill of guiding a vessel along an ideal route, traveling safely and efficiently from one point to another," Sakazuki stood at the helm, personally controlling the ship's direction.

The girl wore a slightly oversized Marine cap on her head. She struggled to push up the brim, which was blocking her vision, while tightly holding a small Eternal Pose in her other hand.

The intense sunlight and ultraviolet rays at sea were no joke—getting sunburned was a real concern. For those who spent years at sea, failing to take proper sun protection measures meant their skin would develop a brown or bronze tone and become rough. A hat that provided shade and protection was undoubtedly a good choice.

Robin looked up in confusion. "Sakazuki, since the Marines have Eternal Poses recorded, why is everyone still extremely cautious when sailing in the Grand Line?"

"Unpredictable weather, complex ocean currents—the Grand Line isn't called the graveyard of adventurers for nothing," Sakazuki did not withhold any information, explaining everything he knew to his foster daughter.

"The most critical issue is that the navigation method commonly used in the Four Seas, latitude sailing, completely fails in the Grand Line."

This method, which involves positioning oneself on the same latitude as the destination and maintaining course, is extremely practical.

However, in the Grand Line, routes, weather, ocean currents—nothing follows common logic. Only the Eternal Pose pointing to the next island can serve as a reliable guide.

Just as the Vice Admiral finished speaking, the Marine ship's navigator keenly noticed a shift in the wind direction. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the officers on deck, "Tighten the mainsail sheets! We're in luck—riding this wind will save us a few hours of travel time!"

The officers moved swiftly upon hearing the order, grabbing ropes and scaling the main mast.

But someone was even faster.

The mainsail sheets were within Robin's line of sight. Before the Marine officers could climb halfway up, pale pink petals fluttered in the air as numerous small hands suddenly sprouted from the mast, swiftly untying the ropes. Then, working together, they pulled the heavy rigging tight—something that would normally require multiple people working in unison.

"!?"

"That seasick little kid did this?"

"Didn't think she had it in her. I thought she was just here for a free ride..."

"Not bad," Sakazuki nodded slightly. Robin's initiative in participating in the ship's daily operations was unexpected but welcome.

Not only did this help her quickly integrate with the officers on board, but it also shut up some of the more talkative individuals.

In the following days, little Robin became the busiest person on the warship.

Need help adjusting the sails and rigging? Call Robin.

Need someone to check the Eternal Pose and ensure the course? Robin's got it.

Need someone to fill in the navigation log? Robin's the best choice.

Within just a few days, the young girl had quickly blended into this cohesive group. Even the high-and-mighty Marine officers were happy to offer practical tips and tricks while she assisted them.

And as the only female on board, the men instinctively took on the more physically demanding tasks—scrubbing the deck, cleaning, and carrying heavy loads. As for those who lacked awareness, they were swiftly dragged into a dark cabin for a little "chat" by Lindemann, who had been observing from the sidelines.

"Enemy sighted!"

The lookout on duty quickly picked up a Den Den Mushi and reported the situation! With the loudspeaker amplifying the message, everyone on board was instantly aware.

Lindemann's face was expressionless as he stared toward the four o'clock direction. A pirate ship, flying a flag with a pink skull, was approaching.

Due to their small numbers, Sakazuki had deliberately chosen not a top-tier warship but a smaller reconnaissance vessel that required only a dozen people to operate.

"They're underestimating us," Lindemann sneered.

Ordinarily, pirates would flee the moment they spotted a Marine ship through their telescopes. But this time, seeing only a small Marine vessel, they had the audacity to take an aggressive stance.

"Perfect. My hands have been itching for some action," someone muttered.

For handling these small fry, there was no need for the highest-ranking officer to make a move.

Lindemann turned around with a smile and looked at the eager group. "Gentlemen, how about a little competition?"

"Who can kill the most? Count me in," responded a black-haired man with a ponytail.

"Sounds like fun," said a scar-faced major, grinning menacingly—he had recently been beaten up by Lindemann and was itching for a chance to redeem himself.

"And the rules?" A deep voice came from the captain's quarters on the upper deck.

Sakazuki emerged from the dimly lit room.

...If he joins, there's no game left for the rest of us!

"Uh? Vice Admiral? You're participating?" Lindemann stammered. How had he forgotten that among everyone on this ship, the one with the greatest thirst for blood was their commanding officer?

The highest-ranking officer stood with his hands clasped behind his back. "Since that's the case, I'll treat this as a training exercise to evaluate your abilities."

Sakazuki then brought his hands forward, gripping the wooden railing of the upper deck. A chilling smile spread across his face.

"Happy hunting!"

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