End

"Wh-What is this? Is this the colonel's true strength?"

Having likewise sensed that something was wrong, the gathered personnel of Marine Branch 16 raised their heads in disbelief and looked toward the distant scene.

The sea had entered the night. Other than where the lights shone, everything before them was pitch-black. They could not even clearly see Colonel Xia Che's battle with the other person, yet they seemed able to feel...

The sea!

Not the sea they usually saw... No, it was the sea. Even standing some distance away, they still felt as though they were in the ocean itself, sensing its surging vastness...

"This is terrifying! As expected of Colonel Xia Che! Are all the people from Headquarters monsters? But who exactly is it? Who could fight such a terrifying colonel for so long?"

He could alter the weather and change the air currents!

They had originally planned to help. As the colonel's Marines, if that person was the colonel's enemy, then that person was also their enemy.

However.

Before leaving, the colonel had forbidden them from getting involved. He told them to stay put and keep watch over the pirates they had recruited not long ago, making sure those guys did not take the chance to escape amid the chaos.

All they had to do was guard Marine Branch 16 and the Konomi Islands.

Udo, who had also received Xia Che's orders, was there as well. Though he too was curious about the identity of this sudden enemy, he still strictly carried out the colonel's commands, keeping the Marines in line and watching over those pirates. If he discovered any pirate causing trouble, he dealt with them on the spot!

Udo glanced at several people beside him who required special attention, especially Captain Kuro, the former captain of the Black Cat Pirates, who was supposed to be dead. He had always remembered Colonel Xia Che's orders.

Although this fellow had agreed to stay and teach his self-created Silent Step, Udo knew full well that this sly man would not behave so obediently. The moment they found an opportunity to regain their freedom, these pirates would never let it slip away.

So they had to be watched closely.

However.

What Udo did not know was...

Run my ass!

Captain Kuro also watched that scene with a dark expression. Compared to those Marines, as an East Blue pirate worth sixteen million Berries who wore glasses, he could see far more clearly than they could—and he understood exactly what kind of monster that was.

How could there be a monster like this in the East Blue?

That guy... was actually a Marine Colonel from an East Blue branch?

You've got to be kidding!

Had Marine Headquarters become so powerful that even monsters like that could only serve as Marine Colonels?

That was right. When he had learned that Marine Branch 16 was under attack, he really had planned to escape amid the chaos.

He was a pirate, after all. How could he possibly be trapped by some mere East Blue Marine Colonel?

But now...

Forget it. He should just stay put!

In any case, he wanted to quit being a pirate and live a stable, peaceful life. Being an instructor for the Marines was not bad either. At least the food was good, and he had heard that after becoming permanent staff, he would even receive a salary.

Forget it, forget it. He had had no choice before, but now he truly no longer wanted to be a pirate.

The sea... was too terrifying!

After comforting himself like that, he took the opportunity to viciously curse that damned East Blue Overlord.

He had thought that bastard was putting on an act back then. Now, he was even more certain!

That damned East Blue Overlord had screwed over every pirate in the East Blue!

Captain Kuro thought about how he had already decided to live the life of a wealthy man in Syrup Village. Why had he failed to think things through and gone to that East Blue pirate gathering?

It was all a trap!

And that guy... that Marine Colonel was clearly so strong, so why was he still staying in the East Blue?

He had not even spared a pirate worth sixteen million Berries like him. Wasn't that just bullying people?

Just as Captain Kuro was sighing to himself.

Suddenly.

"Rumble—"

A thunderous sound rang out, drawing everyone's attention once more. They raised their heads and continued looking upward.

Frozen!

It was still frozen!

A chilling aura still permeated the sea, freezing this stretch of ocean, yet he... had indeed heard the sound of waves rolling and surging.

Like thunder!

Like an army of thousands charging forward!

Kuzan frowned as he looked at Xia Che, who stood with one hand gripping the hilt of his blade.

It was as though he could see the sea within the frozen ocean!

A trace of vexation appeared on Kuzan's originally cold face. "Oh dear~, looks like I got a little carried away!"

Was this guy a monster too?

Then why, if he was such a monster, had he obediently stayed here in the East Blue, playing house?

Of course~

Now was not the time to think about that.

The sword aura, originally as gentle and unceasing as a river, seemed to transform into a raging sea at this moment.

And he... stood amid those turbulent waves.

Water Breathing · Eleventh Form · Sea... Boundless.

This was Xia Che's self-created ultimate technique.

Water Breathing was supposed to have only ten forms, but someone had created an Eleventh Form that belonged solely to himself.

And after receiving the benefits of becoming a full employee, Xia Che had also learned Eleventh Form: Calm.

Eleventh Form: Calm: The user entered a state of tranquil water. Upon activation, it formed an inviolable domain around the user, nullifying all techniques that entered the attack range of their blade.

It could be said to be incredibly powerful!

Once mastered, one could be considered a rare swordsman even upon entering the Grand Line.

But this was the sea, with power and swordsmanship unique to the sea!

Eleventh Form: Calm was powerful, but it was still not enough, nor did it belong to him.

So, over the years, while studying Water Breathing, he had also created his own Eleventh Form. Using his Haki and the characteristics of Water Breathing, he stirred the once tranquil river, expanded its feeble current, simulated the undulations of the sea, and even... drew upon the sea itself!

It had ultimately become Water Breathing · Eleventh Form · Sea... Boundless.

Xia Che stood amid the sea, his face utterly expressionless, without the slightest ripple. His entire being seemed to have entered a state of tranquil water.

"Rumble~"

Roaring colossal waves seemed to rise around him, as if bellowing in fury. They swept up thousands of layers of spray like countless soaring dragons, carrying an irresistible and majestic force as they churned around him and crashed against the freezing world that radiated cold.

The waves surged, vast and boundless!

In only a moment...

Horror appeared in Kuzan's grave eyes as he stared directly at Xia Che. Though there was no actual sea before him, he truly felt the sea's immensity.

Water... had become an endless ocean!

He could even sense it... beneath his feet, beneath the sea he had frozen. The originally calm waters seemed to have been stirred and were truly beginning to surge, as though they wanted to break free from the shackles of ice.

Kuzan looked at Xia Che, standing before him with black hair and a face as calm as the sea, utterly unlike the raging turbulence beneath his feet. An involuntary note of admiration entered his cold expression. "What terrifying sword aura!"

As his words fell.

At once.

The vast sword aura, as boundless as the sea, instantly spread toward him. In the blink of an eye, it invaded his frozen world—and it was not over yet...

"Crack~"

A terrifying sound of breaking rang out.

The frozen sea... suddenly split apart. The cold could no longer seal this sea away. The raging waters directly shattered through the ice, raising a terrifying, horrifying giant wave.

Nami and the other two stared at the scene in shock, but then they seemed to recall something.

"Did he win? Did he win? Did he finally win?" Nami excitedly hugged Robin, who wore a faint smile. "I told you he'd win! Since he said he'd protect you, he definitely would! Now you don't have to go out to sea and become a pirate."

"Mm~"

Robin nodded firmly. An elegant smile, carrying the maturity and intellectual beauty of a woman, appeared on her face. Her gaze remained fixed on the figure gripping the hilt of his sword, her eyes filled with tension, anticipation, and an indescribable emotion. The fear, conflict, and hesitation from before were gone, and her eyes gradually blurred. "BOSS said he would win!"

And he would not let her be taken away either!

"Is this Senior Brother's true strength?" Guina also stared intently at that figure, her hand tightly gripping Wado Ichimonji. A trace of longing appeared in her eyes. "He's simply too strong, but I won't give up either!"

However.

The moment the three finished speaking.

Then.

The giant wave subsided into stillness, and the previous sensation of surging turbulence seemed to vanish as well.

Suddenly.

Cold!

That icy presence appeared once more!

The three immediately raised their heads, staring at the sea again with disbelief and horror in their eyes.

"No way! After such a terrifying sword technique, that guy couldn't possibly..."

Before the incredulous Nami could finish speaking.

Sure enough.

The biting cold once again filled the surroundings.

The sea before them...

froze over once more!

And a massive block of ice, triangular in shape and enclosing them from three sides, split apart.

There, before their eyes...

stood that figure again.

Marine Admiral—Kuzan!

"Good grief." Kuzan looked at the three of them, that lazy smile returning to his face. "It must be quite a surprise that I'm not dead!"

At that moment, everyone fell silent once again.

Nami began trembling again.

Even that hadn't been enough? Did they really have to set sail?

However, amid the silence, Robin—who should have been terrified at Kuzan's reappearance—showed no fear at all. For the first time, she could truly look Kuzan directly in the eye.

Yet unexpectedly, just as Nami wondered whether she should start preparing to leave by sea, "I really didn't expect this..." Kuzan let out a soft sigh, then gave Robin a deep look as well. "Nico Robin, have you finally found a place where you belong?"

As Kuzan's words fell, the tears glistening in Nico Robin's eyes finally could no longer be held back, pouring out like a breached dam. Yet she wore a smile, and even her tear-filled eyes curved like crescents. Faced with Kuzan's words, Robin no longer felt the fear she once had. She nodded firmly at him. "Mm!"

Then, without the slightest fear, she said directly, "After all, he's my dear BOSS!"

"..."

For some reason, seeing Robin's tearful smile made Kuzan's eyelid twitch involuntarily.

Xieche, standing there with Sandai Kitetsu in hand, also let out a sigh of relief when he saw the scene before him.

Was it finally over?

Had this Marine Admiral really only been testing him, without any ulterior motives?

Forget it. He had already secured the qualification to renew the contract anyway, so there was no need to dwell on it anymore.

Sure enough.

At that moment, after giving Robin one deep look, Kuzan turned back around. His expression was blank as he looked at Xieche, his eyes seeming to grow profound, while an approving smile rested on his face.

This guy's swordsmanship was more terrifying than he had imagined!

Though Kuzan appeared to have no other injuries, he knew his own condition. He hadn't even used his true strength—and the sly bastard opposite him hadn't either!

"I admit, I underestimated you somewhat! But for colluding with pirates and sheltering a criminal, you are now under arrest! Dander Xieche!"

"???"

This guy wasn't following the script!

Wasn't this about Robin?

And hadn't it already ended?

Why was he still coming after him?

"Hey, hey, hey, wait, wait! I really can't keep fighting! How about I treat you to Red Romance? Don't worry, it's on me!"

"Shut up!"

The biting cold erupted once more. Xieche even felt that this bone-deep chill was somewhat different from before—yet it made him shiver even harder.

Before he could say anything else, the sea... froze over once again!

Then, Kuzan's righteous voice rang out. "As a Marine who upholds justice, do you think I'm so easily bought off?"

I'm entering the trial recommendation tomorrow. Before I knew it, I've written a hundred thousand words already. Sigh, this book hasn't been doing very well, so I hope everyone can give me some votes and keep reading this week to support Xianyu.

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