"Nail Hand" Isca

A new day dawned, sunny and fair.

The 153rd Branch's warship sailed slowly across the sea.

"What a nice day, right, Fullbody?"

"Exactly. The temperature's just right, the humidity's perfect too. It's so comfortable I feel like dancing, right, Jango?"

On the warship's deck, Jango and Fullbody faced the sea breeze and talked about how they felt. Before they knew it, the two had started dancing.

Spin~ jump~~

"Bam! Bam!"

Fists slammed down hard on both their heads.

"Get back to work!"

Luo Ya snapped at them irritably, his head already starting to ache.

Other officers' aides were either exceptionally strong or pretty enough to please the eye. Even the stern, inscrutable types looked impressive.

Why did his two top subordinates act like a pair of idiots? The slightest bit of happiness, and they could not stop themselves from dancing.

They were going to ruin the atmosphere aboard the ship.

Maybe he should find a songstress to be the lead singer and put together a Navy band!

"Hmm, Uta as the lead singer?"

Luo Ya pondered it. He had recently noticed that Fullbody and Jango often listened to Uta's songs, and they claimed she was the greatest singer in the world.

He did not know whether she was the Red Hair's daughter from his memories. If she was, he could try recruiting her when the chance arose.

During his brief thoughts, Linus ran up to Luo Ya. "Reporting, Second Lieutenant Luo Ya, we are about to arrive at Syrup Village."

"Got it."

Luo Ya was greatly looking forward to it.

A surprise!

Half an hour later, at the bay on the southern side of the island, the Syrup Family dockyard.

Luo Ya stared at the warship before him for quite a while before coming back to his senses.

A brand new medium-sized warship!

It was equipped with twenty-four cannons along both sides, along with two heavy cannons at the bow. Its firepower was even stronger than that of a branch warship.

He could finally stand at the bow and look cool!

This was a fucking surprise!

Luo Ya took out a Den Den Mushi and confirmed with Colonel Rhode, "Colonel, this new warship is really for me?"

"That's right. Surprised?"

"More than surprised!"

"Hahaha, good. As long as you're happy with it."

Colonel Rhode laughed heartily, very satisfied with Luo Ya's reaction.

The branch had limited funds and was equipped with only one old, aging warship, which made everything inconvenient.

He had long wanted to add another warship. The last time he had come to Syrup Village to see Mr. Syrup had been for the warship.

But buying a warship required money.

The branch lacked achievements, so they could not get the funding approved. Then they captured Kuro, and only then did their superiors approve the request to purchase a warship.

The branch had money now!

And for this joint mission with the 32nd Branch, the 153rd Branch would take the lead. Naturally, they had to use the 153rd Branch's warship, and using a new warship would bring honor to the 153rd Branch.

"Work hard. From now on, this warship will be exclusively for your use."

"Yes, thank you, Colonel!"

"Click~~"

The Den Den Mushi hung up.

Luo Ya was still somewhat excited.

This was a new warship, and it was specifically for him. In his previous life, it would have been comparable to the most advanced patrol vessel.

A total upgrade.

After resting on the island for the night, Luo Ya prepared to return early the next morning. The Captain from the 32nd Branch had already arrived at the branch.

Mr. and Mrs. Syrup came with Kaya to see him off, and they had prepared quite a fine gift.

Kaya held a gift box over a meter long and happily handed it to Luo Ya. "We never properly thanked you for last time. My parents specially had this famous blade custom-made. It was forged by an incredibly skilled swordsmith."

"Thank you."

Luo Ya did not refuse.

They were practically family. Why be so polite?

"A sword?"

He opened the gift box. Inside lay a brand new long sword, approximately 1.2 meters long. Its scabbard was black, with a row of Magatama patterns printed across the surface.

"Huh."

Luo Ya was somewhat surprised.

In this world, Magatama were not a common design. This was also the first time he had seen a swordsmith who would use such a pattern.

"It was forged by a swordsmith from Shimotsuki Village, wasn't it?"

"Ah, how did you know?"

Kaya's eyes widened. She had not expected Luo Ya to guess the sword's origin. "That person does live in Shimotsuki Village. He is Father's friend, and supposedly Father helped him in the past."

"I'll visit him if I get the chance."

Luo Ya smiled and closed the gift box, unable to stop himself from sighing inwardly.

Whether it was personal strength, status, or wealth, as long as one of them kept improving, the people and environment around you would rise along with it.

Back when he was just a Marine, he would never have received such attention.

"I still have a mission, so I'll head back first. I'll come see you again when I have time."

After patting the little girl's head, Luo Ya jumped onto the new warship.

"Return voyage!"

The two warships sailed into the sea one behind the other.

Elsewhere, at the 153rd Branch.

Colonel's Office.

The girl in a Justice Cloak, with orange-red short hair, gave a sharp salute. "Lieutenant Isca of the 32nd Branch, reporting for duty!"

"Hello, Lieutenant Isca."

Colonel Rhode smiled and nodded, studying the girl before him.

She looked about the same age as Luo Ya. Her gaze was sharp and her presence formidable. She probably was not the sort who had risen through Connections.

"Nail Hand."

Rhode flipped through the girl's information supplied by the 32nd Branch. Her nickname was "Nail Hand," and she possessed superb swordsmanship.

Impressive!

"Colonel Rhode."

Isca had no intention of exchanging pleasantries and asked directly, "May I ask where my partner is?"

"Second Lieutenant Luo Ya is carrying out a mission. He should return around noon."

Rhode calculated the timing. Leaving from Syrup Village, if Luo Ya did not rush, he should be able to return to the branch before noon.

"Understood."

Isca nodded in understanding. It was normal for him to be on a mission, and she was not in a hurry. It just so happened that she had a few things she wanted to do.

"May I take a look around the branch?"

"Of course."

Colonel Rhode narrowed his eyes.

This visitor had come with ill intent.

The branches were in competition with one another. The 153rd Branch had made quite a name for itself this time, so it was only natural for the other branches to have some thoughts about it.

"Follow me."

After Colonel Rhode took Isca on a brief tour of the branch, he brought her to the Training ground at her request.

The Branch Marines were undergoing Physical Training.

"Is this all?"

Isca observed silently, and a trace of disdain inevitably appeared in her eyes.

It was not that she looked down on the 153rd Branch. Rather, everything she had seen along the way—from the branch's overall atmosphere to the Marines' Training motivation—was far inferior to the 32nd Branch.

The difference in strength was obvious at a glance.

And she was actually quite dissatisfied with assisting Luo Ya in this mission, because in her eyes, only the stronger person was qualified to serve as commander.

Fighting spirit rose in Isca's eyes.

"Colonel Rhode, I wish to challenge a Warrior from the 153rd Branch!"

"..."

Rhode frowned deeply.

It was normal for branches to spar with each other, so he had no reason to refuse. Besides, she probably wanted to establish her authority, naturally intending to seize the lead in the upcoming operation.

He could not refuse. After all, she was only a Branch Lieutenant, and this was their home turf. It concerned the 153rd Branch's honor.

But the problem was that he had no confidence.

Unless he stepped in himself, the other Marines in the branch might not be a match for the girl. But he was the Base Commander. What kind of thing would it be for him to bully a junior?

Rhode summoned Morgue.

"Lieutenant Morgue, spar with Lieutenant Isca!"

He played his trump card!