Law, Your Future's So Bright I Can Barely Look at It

Half an hour after the battle ended, the smell of disinfectant still lingered in the Medical Bay of the naval flagship.

Click--

The Ship's Doctor cut open Ron's coat at the waist with a pair of scissors, immediately revealing large patches of bruises.

The subcutaneous hematoma was very large, and the surrounding muscles were taut like a hard rock.

"Ouch! Gently, gently!"

"Rear Admiral, now you know what pain is?"

The Ship's Doctor softened his grip, but didn't mince words. "Don't you know what the Tremor-Tremor Fruit is? You actually dared to take a punch from Whitebeard- on!"

"I wasn't planning on answering it anyway!"

Ron hissed in pain, but still managed to retort, "That old man suddenly dropped the knife and slammed it into my waist. I couldn't just dislocate my waist on the spot, could I?"

"Stop talking nonsense and lie down!"

The Ship's Doctor reached out and pressed on the edge of the bruise.

"Hiss--!"

Ron nearly jumped out of bed.

Beside him, Borsalino leisurely sipped his teacup, seemingly enjoying the spectacle.

"Oh dear, how does it feel to get punched by the World's Strongest?"

"Uncle, don't just stand there watching the fun."

Kizaru didn't take it; he first glanced at the bruises on the Ship's Doctor's hand.

"I heard you almost fell into the sea after being punched by Newgate?"

Didn't I open the door and hide?

"Oh~"

He drew out the sound.

"That's amazing!"

Borsalino put down his teacup, his tone becoming more serious. "You can't skip any of the checks later, understand?"

Ron opened his mouth, but when he saw Kizaru's eyes, he closed it again.

At that moment, the hatch was pushed open, and Luo walked in carrying a stack of clean gauze.

"Master, the Doctor said this area is lacking..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the frightening bruise on Ron's waist and stopped abruptly.

Ron smiled at him, "Finished with work?"

Luo didn't answer, placing the gauze on the table, her eyes still fixed on the bruise. "Does it hurt?"

"Good."

The Ship's Doctor, without even looking up, added, "You could hear me shouting all over half the Medical Bay."

Ron: "..."

Luo pursed her lips and lowered her eyes. "Don't do that again next time."

Ron reached out and ruffled his hair. "Okay."

Luo tilted her head slightly to avoid it, but couldn't escape. She said in a muffled voice, "You always say that."

Kizaru then burst out laughing.

The Ship's Doctor flipped over the Examination Report again and solemnly instructed, "Also, you are not allowed to sneak out the door now!"

Do I look like that kind of person?

The other three people in the room all looked at him at the same time.

"... Fine, forget I asked."

After checking, Ron finally retrieved his mission files.

Ron was flipping through the pages when he suddenly chuckled and flicked a page, "Ron."

"What?"

"On his first voyage, he encountered the Whitebeard Pirates and performed exceptionally well in battlefield medical care."

Luo blinked. "... What's the problem?"

"A thirteen-year-old Recruit went on his first mission and encountered the World's Strongest opponent, and returned unscathed."

Ron patted the page. "This resume is so dazzling, even I can't open my eyes!"

"Who fought with him! I was saving people the whole time!"

"That counts as participating in the war, right?"

Borsalino leaned over for a look, "Wow! I never had this kind of luck back in the day."

"You two are in cahoots!"

Brub brub bru--

The Den Den Mushi on the table suddenly rang.

Ron looked down and his smile froze instantly.

Ron answered the phone, and before he could even say "hello" was the other end explode. "Where's Ron?!"

"Hey, keep your voice down—"

Let him answer!

Ron obediently handed over the Den Den Mushi.

"Corazon?"

"Luo! How are you? Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm just a little tired."

Have you taken your medication on time? Has the Doctor checked you?

"Everything has been checked, don't worry."

A long sigh of relief came from the other end of the phone, "That's good... that's good."

Two seconds of silence.

"Give the phone to your master."

Luo looked at Ron, a hint of sympathy suddenly appearing in his eyes.

Ron.

"Exist."

What promises did you make to me before you left?

"Take him to find a few groups of ordinary pirates to practice on..."

"Ordinary pirate?"

"Brother, listen to me first—"

"Whitebeard was just an ordinary pirate?!?!"

Ron held the Den Den Mushi an arm's length away, and even the Den Den Mushi's face was jerked into a grimace.

"An accident! Purely an accident!"

"I'll settle the score with you when we get back! Now, take good care of Luo!!"

Click.

Ron had just put the Den Den Mushi back on the table, and before he could even retract his hand, another one rang.

This Den Den Mushi has a fierce look, with its mouth taut and straight; it's clearly Sakazuki exclusive.

Ron saw it and wanted to stuff it into the drawer.

Borsalino reached out and picked up the Den Den Mushi, placing it directly in front of him.

"Go ahead and answer it, your dad."

Ron resignedly picked it up. "... Pops."

Ron.

"Exist!"

All five warships were damaged.

Ron remained silent.

"I remember that when you set sail, the ships were all in good condition."

"..."

"Say!"

We've run into Whitebeard.

"I know."

The voice on the other end suddenly rose in pitch. "I'm asking you, why did you leave the fleet there to fight?"

Ron glanced at the doorway; Ron was standing there.

"It was my oversight."

There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a couple of seconds, the voice became a little somber. "How's your injury?"

"He took a punch to the waist, but it wasn't a vital injury. The Ship's Doctor is examining him."

"After reviewing the report, hand it over to Sengoku; don't miss a single detail."

"Clear."

"When you get back, come find me at the training ground."

Ron instinctively rubbed his lower back. "... My injury hasn't healed yet."

I meant after I came back.

Click.

Ron held the Den Den Mushi for a long time without moving.

Luo, suppressing a laugh, leaned closer. "Master..."

"Shut up."

I haven't said anything yet.

"I know you're up to no good when you smile."

Law couldn't hold back any longer. "You weren't like this when you fought Whitebeard."

Ron glanced at the two Den Den Mushi on the table that had just quieted down and rolled his eyes.

"Nonsense!"

"Whitebeard only hit me once, but these two could beat me up for a whole day when we get back."

Borsalino picked up his teacup and this time genuinely laughed out loud.

At the nearby Marine Branch Port, five warships slowly entered the dock.

The repairman's face turned green when he saw the broken masts and wrecked hulls.

Ron didn't rush off the ship. He first called several captains and Ship's Doctor to the deck and discussed the nuclear losses of each ship one by one.

He asked more detailed questions than the repairman, such as who was seriously injured, who was slightly injured, and which mast was broken.

"Seriously damaged ships will be transferred to Branch hospital, while those with minor injuries will rest and recover on-site. The ships will be handed over to the maintenance department, and after repairs, qualified officers will lead the crew back to port."

Vergo held the document and took notes item by item, glancing up as he turned to the last page.

"Rear Admiral, you need to sign three copies of the repair order."

Ron didn't even look up. "Give it to me."

Only after all the wounded had been properly cared for and the ships had been handed over did Ron finally dial Sengoku's number.

"Old man, I request permission to continue short-term patrols."

"Continue sailing?!"

Sengoku nearly slammed his fist on the table. "All five ships are under repair, and you haven't had enough?!"

"Transfer to a smaller warship, bringing a regular Navigation Team, Communications Specialist, and Ship's Doctor. Luo will accompany the Medical Team, Vergo will manage operations."

What about your injury?

"It's been checked; as long as we don't have to fight any tough battles, it's fine."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line before Sengoku finally managed to squeeze out, through gritted teeth. "Branch coverage area, short-term. Regular reports."

"Don't you dare mess with someone of Whitebeard's caliber again—do you hear me?"

"Clear!"

"Return to headquarters immediately for a performance review upon your due date!"

"Receive!"

As soon as he hung up the phone, Ron turned and waved, "Vergo, pack your things, let's go!"

Vergo stared at him for two seconds. "Rear Admiral, are you deliberately delaying your return to headquarters?"

Ron paused. "Have you been talking a lot lately?"

Vergo glanced down at the documents in his arms and didn't reply.

A small warship carrying Marine, Ship's Doctor, and communications personnel slowly sailed out of the Port.

Luo leaned against the ship's railing, watching the repair dock disappear into the distance, and suddenly asked, "Master, we won't encounter the World's Strongest again this time, will we?"

Don't worry.

Ron waved his hand. "This time, let's honestly look for ordinary pirates."

Luo recalled that his master seemed to have said the same thing before they set sail.

He silently turned around and ran to check the first-aid kit.

Meanwhile, World Economy News Paper.

The editor placed a stack of photos on the table.

"President, the News Coo was tracking the Whitebeard Pirates has returned the photos!"

"Whitebeard withdrew, and the Navy withdrew too."

Big News Morgans didn't even look up. "Where are the photos?"

"Here."

Big News Morgans turned to the third page and suddenly stopped.

In the photo, the Whitebeard is carrying Murakumogiri, and his signature long, crescent-shaped beard is noticeably shorter!

"Haha! Big News Morgans!!"

"President, how should we write the title?"

Big News Morgans spread its wings and excitedly patted the table, feathers flying everywhere.

"A 19-year-old naval monster nearly chopped off the head of the World's Strongest man!"

The editor hesitated for a moment. "... President, isn't that a beard?"

"Do you even know what news is?!"

Big News Morgans slammed the photo back onto the table. "Print it! Print it right now!!"