Shells Town, harbor.
The 32nd Branch's warship raised its sails.
Fullbody and the other Marines covered their eyes with their arms, crying their hearts out as they reluctantly bid Isca farewell.
They had finally gotten a female companion, only to be separated so soon.
Sob T﹏T!
Isca stood before Luo Ya with a sweet smile. "Second Lieutenant Luo Ya, I've learned so much while working with you. I hope we'll have another chance to fight side by side in the future!"
"We will."
Luo Ya smiled and nodded.
The young woman's talent for swordsmanship was exceptional, and her future was bright. As long as they remained within the Marine system, they would meet again sooner or later.
Luo Ya offered his heartfelt blessing. "When we meet again, I hope it'll be at Marine Headquarters."
"Thank you!"
Isca's eyes curved into crescents.
As a Marine, anyone with even a little ambition wanted to go to Marine Headquarters. It was the Holy Land in every Marine's heart.
"I'm off!"
Isca boarded the warship.
Wails filled the shore.
"Goodbye, Isca-chan!"
"We'll miss you!"
"Waaah, adorable Isca!"
Fullbody and the other Marines completely broke down in tears, waving endlessly at the warship. It felt like they were saying, "Yanzi, how am I supposed to live without you?"
Luo Ya shook his head speechlessly.
Could they have a little more dignity?
A short while later, Food Tavern.
With the year drawing to a close, the tavern was much livelier than usual.
"Second Lieutenant Luo Ya is here!"
"Second Lieutenant Luo Ya caught so many pirates this time. He'll definitely get promoted, right?"
"Of course he will!"
When the patrons saw Luo Ya arrive, they warmly greeted him, their eyes full of admiration. A few of the more cheeky regulars even wiggled their eyebrows at Luo Ya and Lilyca behind the counter.
Heh, naked jealousy!
Luo Ya responded with a smile, then walked over to a table by the window. Sitting across from him was Zoro, freeloading on his meals.
Zoro hadn't caught any pirates this time, which meant he had no income. His pockets were so empty he couldn't scrape together a single coin, so he could only mooch food and drink off Luo Ya.
Seeing Luo Ya staring at him, Zoro awkwardly put down his bowl and chopsticks and spoke with feigned composure. "Don't worry. I'll pay you back."
"I'm not here to collect a debt."
Luo Ya grew serious.
"Have you thought it over? Do you want to train with me?"
"I..."
Zoro's face was full of struggle.
After arriving in Shells Town, he had taken the initiative to bid Luo Ya farewell. But penniless, he had nowhere to go, and there were no pirates to catch in the town.
At night, he lay outside the tavern to rest, drawing quite a bit of attention.
After hearing about it, Luo Ya came over, dragged him into the tavern for a big meal, and gave him money to stay at the inn next door.
Of course, he didn't want to owe anyone a favor. He considered the food and lodging borrowed money, and he would definitely repay Luo Ya someday.
After that, Luo Ya invited him to stay and train together.
Zoro was grateful. He could feel how highly Luo Ya regarded him, and he also knew Luo Ya wanted him to join the Marines.
He wasn't opposed to the Marines. Rather, no normal person would dislike them, since they protected these seas.
There was nothing wrong with becoming a Marine and catching pirates, but he was used to being alone and wasn't accustomed to the Marines' rules and regulations.
And if he joined the Marines, he wouldn't be able to search for that man.
Zoro hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice, "My dream is to become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"
"A very good dream."
Luo Ya raised an eyebrow. "Since you have such a lofty dream, you should cherish your time and focus on training. Working as a Pirate Hunter just to make ends meet will only take you farther and farther from your goal."
"I..."
Zoro couldn't find any reason to refute him.
During his time aboard Luo Ya's ship, he hadn't needed to think about anything. Every day, he immersed himself in intense training and could clearly feel himself improving.
During the half year before that, he had to first think about catching pirates for bounties and filling his stomach. He simply hadn't had much time to train.
As for growing stronger through battle.
He had indeed encountered a few somewhat capable opponents, but they were only somewhat capable. Those pirates weren't even as strong as Kuina.
At this rate, how was he supposed to become stronger?
"Don't overthink it. You're still young."
Luo Ya looked directly at Zoro and sincerely advised, "Right now, there's only one thing you need to do: train hard and make yourself stronger."
"Without strength, you don't even have the right to speak of dreams."
"Keep your eyes on what's in front of you."
"As for which path you'll take later, that's a matter for later. No one can force you, not even me."
Keep his eyes on what's in front of him!
Zoro raised his head, and flames seemed to burn in his eyes.
Luo Ya smiled and added, "By the way, there are countless swordsmen in the Marines, and more swordsmen capable of Cutting Steel than you can count. If you can't defeat even them, you have no right to challenge that man."
"Stronger than Isca?"
Zoro couldn't help asking. While on the warship, he had actually wanted to challenge Isca, but she was a woman.
Luo Ya shook a finger with an amused smile.
"A hundred times stronger than her!"
"...!"
Zoro sprang to his feet, astonishing fighting spirit radiating from his entire body. "Let me board your ship. But let me make this clear first: I have no plans to join the Marines for now. In return, I'll fight for you!"
"Good."
Luo Ya smiled and nodded.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
He wasn't in a hurry to recruit Zoro. There were still four years until Luffy set sail, plenty of time to build a friendship with Zoro.
For now, he just needed to keep Zoro by his side.
"Meet at the harbor tomorrow morning."
"No problem!"
"Wait, there is a problem!"
Luo Ya suddenly realized that if he let Zoro go to the harbor by himself, he might still be lost by nightfall.
"Come on, I'll take you to stay on the warship. You'll stay there tonight and go nowhere. Or do you want to sleep in a cell?"
"..."
Veins bulged on Zoro's forehead.
Who would get lost on such a short walk?!
Early the next morning, more than twenty Marines from the 153rd Branch assembled at the harbor. At the same time, Luo Ya's promotion order came through.
Rank: Major!
Promoted three ranks in a row!
Wiping out more than a dozen pirate crews had already earned him a great deal of Military Merit, and defeating the Buggy Pirates was an even greater achievement.
Catching pirates was the fastest shortcut to promotion.
But from then on, promotions would become ten times harder. For Marines in the East Blue, reaching officer rank was basically the ceiling.
At the harbor, the Marines stood in neat formation. When Luo Ya arrived, they seemed to have agreed beforehand and shouted at the top of their lungs.
"Major Luo Ya!"
The whole of Shells Town nearly got blasted away.
"Mm, good work."
Luo Ya nodded with a beaming smile.
Very good, full of spirit!
As expected of the men he had chosen!
"Set sail!"
Foosha Village.
The Dog-headed Warship slowly docked.
"Vice Admiral Garp is back!"
The villagers were overjoyed. Over the years, Foosha Village had remained peaceful thanks to Garp's deterrence. Even the pirates from Uncertainty Terminal dared not set their sights on Foosha Village.
Garp was Foosha Village's guardian deity!
News of Garp's return quickly spread throughout the village.
At Makino's tavern, Luffy and Ace were secretly drinking. They had hunted a huge wild boar and specially brought over half of it to thank Makino for taking care of them.
When the two heard Garp's name.
"Pfft~~"
They simultaneously sprayed their drinks into each other's faces.
Neither had time to wipe themselves off. Without a second thought, they rushed for the door, their survival instincts driving them to flee!
Bang!
The tavern door was violently shoved open.
A burly man appeared before them.
"Puhahaha! My adorable grandsons, Grandpa's come back to see you!"
"Grandpa!"
The two boys' eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
We're done for, we're going to die!
Before you continue