Are You Navy or CP?

"Vice Admiral! Vice Admiral Kuzan!"

"What?"

"It seems there's... it should be..."

"Why are you stammering and dragging this out? Just say it!"

"Vice Admiral Sauron escaped onto the island, and he's being shelled!"

Meanwhile, Mo Xingchen was staring at Sakazuki's command ship. William scratched his head and asked softly,

"Colonel, aren't we opening fire?"

"Mm. Just fire a few shots into the sea for show. The Buster Call is a team mission anyway; it won't matter if we're missing a few cannon shots. Don't tell me you actually want to kill a bunch of defenseless scholars?"

"Uh... should we stop Vice Admiral Sauron? He's already attacking the warships."

"Leave him alone. Kuzan will handle him! William, carrying out justice is one thing, but remember not to dirty your own hands. Don't worry, I'm standing in front of you!

"A general must remain calm even if the Red Line collapses before his eyes; one who remains unshaken even with thunder roaring in his chest may be appointed a great general... Damn it!"

William had been listening with great interest when he heard Mo Xingchen curse. Looking again, Mo Xingchen had already vanished from the deck. Tch! This was remaining calm? This was someone fit to be a great general? Bah!

William leaned over the railing and searched everywhere for Mo Xingchen. He found him in the air off the port side of an evacuation ship, just as he kicked away a cannonball.

Then he saw Mo Xingchen use Geppo to board Sakazuki's warship. His aura erupted as he declared, word by word,

"Whoever attacks the evacuation ship again, I'll kill them!"

The officers aboard Sakazuki's warship looked at one another in confusion, then all turned in unison to stare at their superior.

Sakazuki demanded,

"Mo Xingchen, what do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said."

"Do you know that if even one archaeologist sneaks onto that evacuation ship, this Navy operation will become a joke?"

"Heh, Sakazuki, don't try to flatter me! I'm not buying it! Let me ask you: what is the Navy here to do?"

"Carry out the Buster Call!"

"Then who sent the evacuation ships?"

"The World... Government."

"And who screened the civilians before letting them board?"

"Uh... CP9."

"So what the hell does it have to do with you whether there are archaeologists on those ships? What the hell does it have to do with the Navy? You love cleaning up CP's mess so much, should I recommend to Fleet Admiral Kong that you go work for CP?"

"You... you... What are you all standing around for?! Go carry out the Buster Call!"

Sakazuki was left speechless by the retort. He stammered for a long time without managing anything, then turned in embarrassment and rage to roar at the dazed soldiers.

Mo Xingchen spread out his spiritual sense to search for Kuzan. Robin was simply too small a target, while Kuzan and Sauron were much easier to find.

After searching for a while, he finally spotted them in the northwest and shot into the sky with Geppo.

Sakazuki watched Mo Xingchen leave and gave a heavy snort, but he did not issue another order to attack the evacuation ships. He had indeed been a little muddled just now. Even if something went wrong, that was CP's responsibility. What did it have to do with the Navy?

The moment Mo Xingchen arrived, he saw Kuzan fighting Sauron, with little Robin standing nearby and crying her eyes out. Half of Sauron's body had already been frozen, yet he was still comforting Robin.

"Run... Robin! Use my raft to escape into the sea! Remember, when you're sad, laugh like I taught you. Dereshishishi... cough, cough... Don't look back! Run!"

Seeing that Robin had finally turned and started running, Sauron shouted with his last bit of strength,

"Remember your mother's final wish! Live well, Robin!"

Mo Xingchen landed beside Kuzan at that moment. Looking at Sauron, who had been completely frozen, he teased,

"Hey, hey, hey. Isn't it a little inappropriate for you to bully a little girl like this?"

Kuzan immediately panicked and hurriedly explained,

"Don't talk nonsense! I didn't lay a hand on her, okay?"

"Tch. Then you might as well have just killed her. She's only a tiny child, yet right before her eyes, you tore apart her emotional pillar of support. Are you trying to become the nightmare of her entire life?"

"Huh? Then what should I do? I don't know!"

"Since you've decided to let her go, be gentler with her later. Don't keep that stiff face on. Explain things properly to the little girl. By the way, what are you planning to do with this big guy?"

"Sigh... I tried talking to him. The Giant race are all so stubborn; there's no talking sense into them! This is difficult. He's one of the few friends I have. Do you have any good ideas?"

Mo Xingchen thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

"I've got it. Control your power, find somewhere a little safer, freeze him for a day and a night, then leave him a message. When he wakes up, he can get his ass back to the Giants' homeland and stop wandering around outside."

"Was it Sakazuki's warship that attacked the evacuation ship just now?"

"Yeah. I stopped him and gave him a good scolding."

Kuzan placed his hand on Sauron and reinforced the ice, then said to Mo Xingchen somewhat awkwardly,

"Then I'll go check on that child first. Can you help me settle Sauron somewhere?"

"Go on, go on!"

Robin ran through the forest with her head lowered. Her legs felt as heavy as lead, but she could not stop. She could not let down her mother or the chance Sauron had won for her to escape. No matter how much it hurt, she had to endure it. She could only sob quietly, not daring to cry aloud for fear the pursuers would hear her.

She was finally about to reach the shore. The instant she looked up, Robin's heart nearly stopped!

The man who had frozen Sauron was sitting beside the raft.

"I've decided to let you go. I want to see just how far the seed Sauron tried so hard to preserve can grow.

"You're free to hate me, but you should count yourself lucky to have survived. From now on, live as inconspicuously as you can.

"I left two trails of ice across the sea. Just follow them, and you'll reach another landmass.

"And remember this! I am not your companion. If I find out you've done anything illegal, I'll be the first one to come arrest you!"

Kuzan stood and walked toward Robin.

"My mother is still on the island! And Sauron..."

"They can't be saved! If you truly feel that terrible and don't have the courage to escape, then do whatever you want!"

Kuzan cut off Robin's plea for help and walked away without looking back.

Little Robin numbly climbed onto the raft, curled up while hugging her knees, and looked back at burning Ohara. Fragments of memories kept flashing through her mind.

The first time the professor and everyone celebrated her birthday.

The day she became a scholar.

The first time the professor took her to read books.

The warmth of her mother's embrace.

The sight of Sauron shouting for her to live.

As she thought of them, little Robin's face became covered in tears, yet she smiled bravely.

"De... Dereshishishi..."