"Congratulations, Hina." On the cruise ship's deck, Luo Sa smiled at her.
"I really have to thank you this time, Luo Sa. When we get back, I'll be sure to show you my gratitude properly," Hina said earnestly as she looked at him.
"I might not be going back to Marine Headquarters just yet." Luo Sa's gaze shifted to the distant horizon, and his eyes flickered.
"You're not going back to Marine Headquarters?" Hina asked in surprise.
"Yeah, that's right. I feel like I still lack practical experience, so I'm planning to stay in West Blue and get some proper training." Luo Sa nodded.
His main reason for staying in West Blue, of course, was to find the Castle-Castle Fruit!
He had already checked the relevant maps during this time, but he still hadn't found the small island shown on the Castle-Castle Fruit map.
However, he believed that the uncharted island had to be somewhere in West Blue.
So he planned to stay in West Blue, building up his combat experience while searching for the Castle-Castle Fruit.
The Castle-Castle Fruit was a major part of his plans for the future. If he could get it, he absolutely wouldn't let the opportunity pass!
"I see. In that case, I'll stay too!" Hina took a deep breath and smiled at Luo Sa.
"Hm? Hina, you've only just become an official member of the Elite Camp. You should return to Marine Headquarters and receive proper instruction from Teacher Zephyr." Luo Sa furrowed his brow slightly.
"You don't know the whole story. The documents you gave me clearly detailed the Mafia's underground gray-market trading network. Teacher Zephyr is planning to leave some Elite Camp members behind to wipe it out!"
"And as the one who submitted those documents, I naturally have priority when it comes to taking on the mission!"
"Actually, I came to ask whether you wanted to stay, too. Since you already planned to stay, that's even better!"
"Besides, this mission comes with 5,000 Military Merit points!"
Hina's words surprised Luo Sa a little, but after thinking it over, he realized that this was a fantastic deal: he could stay openly and earn some Military Merit at the same time!
"Then count me in for this mission!" Luo Sa agreed with a nod.
"That's great! Next, I'll go ask Drake, Smoker, and Sakartam. We're all recruits from this year's Elite Camp class, so it'd be even better if we could complete the mission together!" Hina said happily.
"Sakartam?" Luo Sa frowned slightly. He had a feeling something was off about that man and didn't like him at all.
"Yeah. Sakartam's actually a decent person. He was a little arrogant back in the New Recruit Camp, but after he got over that, he turned out to be pretty good. He even saved my life on this mission," Hina said after a moment's hesitation.
She knew about the grudge between Luo Sa and Sakartam, and she had hoped this would help mend their relationship.
The next day, Luo Sa, Drake, Smoker, Hina, and Sakartam boarded a Marine Branch warship from West Blue that had come to reinforce the area. They had been ordered to garrison there for a month and dismantle the Mafia's underground gray-market trading network.
"Report! The Big Saber Pirates have been spotted ahead! Should we pursue?"
"No pursuit. Head straight for the base!"
"Yes, sir!"
The warship sailed across the vast sea. A pirate ship happened to appear ahead, but judging by the commanding officer's orders, he had no intention of engaging it.
But while the warship made no move against the pirate ship, the pirates charged straight at them. Once they were within firing range, cannonballs began flying toward the warship!
The pirates had actually dared to attack a Marine warship!
"Don't return fire! Don't return fire! They're just saying hello!" Seeing that the cannonballs hadn't hit the warship, the commander breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ordered his men to turn away.
"Hm? They're not even firing back?" Luo Sa and the others stared in disbelief. Sakartam stepped forward and began challenging the commander.
"What do you know? That's the Big Saber Pirates! Their captain, Lagdo, has a bounty of 50 million Beli. He's a Great Pirate we can't hope to stand up to!" the commander sneered.
"A pirate with a bounty of 50 million Beli?" Luo Sa wore a strange expression.
Going by the power scale he had devised, this pirate captain was only around the level of a Marine lieutenant commander.
Most members of the Elite Camp could put up a fight against him!
"His strength is barely worth mentioning, but what kind of look is it for Marines to be chased around by pirates? Looks like I'll have to step in." Luo Sa shook his head, exasperated.
"Hey, recruit, I warned you. If you die, that's not my problem!" The commander was getting angry.
In his eyes, these pampered recruits from Headquarters had come all the way here just to scrape together some Military Merit in backwater West Blue!
Luo Sa merely shrugged. As the commander watched in astonishment, he transformed into a Winged Gull and flew toward the distant Big Saber Pirates.
"Wait! What are you doing?!"
The commander was stunned by Luo Sa's sudden move. He was about to ask what Luo Sa was up to when he saw him charge alone toward the pirate ship!
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
It wasn't just the commander. Every Marine aboard the warship stared wide-eyed in disbelief, all convinced that Luo Sa was going to his death!
"A Devil Fruit User?" Lagdo's surprise flashed across his face as he watched the figure fly out from the warship.
But he considered himself a Great Pirate who was about to set foot on the Grand Line. He naturally had no reason to fear the puny Marines of West Blue!
Unless the head of the West Blue Marine Branch came after him, he was confident he could defeat anyone they sent!
"So what if he's a Devil Fruit User? Blast him out of the sky with cannonballs!" Lagdo said unconcernedly, making a foolish decision!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At Lagdo's command, countless cannonballs began hurtling toward Luo Sa.
As he watched the cannonballs fly toward him, Luo Sa suddenly stopped in midair. Violent winds began gathering all around him!
"Has that guy lost his mind? Move out of the way!" The commander grew anxious when he saw Luo Sa standing perfectly still.
"Hey, hey, could that be..."
"He's definitely about to do something reckless again. We're out at sea—an attack like that..."
"Damn it, why are you still standing there? Get moving!" Drake immediately shouted at the commander.
"Oh! Right!" the commander replied, issuing orders at once.
The Marines aboard the warship sprang into action. Some turned the rudder, others adjusted the sails, and the warship instantly surged forward at tremendous speed, pulling away from the battlefield.
Before you continue