Homecoming

East Blue, Raccoon Dog Island.

It was the depths of winter. Snow blanketed the island, and a few amber lights at the crossroads lent the town of barely twenty thousand people an even quieter, more peaceful air.

At the 16th Branch's naval harbor, the soldiers on duty stared in surprise at a white warship approaching from afar and slowly entering the civilian fishing port.

"Where did that warship come from?"

"That's strange," someone said. "Aren't all our branch's warships in port for repairs and maintenance? I haven't heard of any missions going out these past couple of days."

"No idea. Maybe it's from another branch... Hey, look at the marking on the side. Isn't that the Marine Headquarters insignia?"

"I think it is! What's going on? Why would Marine Headquarters send a warship here?"

"Maybe it's an emergency assignment... Should we notify Colonel Satsuma?"

While they were still chattering away, Noah had already led his subordinates off the ship and onto the docks of his hometown.

Snowflakes swirled through the howling wind. Everything in sight was white.

The group trudged through the deep snow, avoiding the busier streets as best they could and slipping quietly into town.

"With all due respect, Rear Admiral,"

one of the subordinates following him couldn't help saying, "aren't you here to visit your family? Why are we acting like... like..."

He trailed off. Noah glanced at him and chuckled. "Like thieves casing a place?"

"Pretty much." The subordinate scratched his head sheepishly.

"I don't have much choice but to keep a low profile..."

Noah rubbed Sadaharu's head beside him and sighed helplessly. "I just want to get home early and have a nice dinner with my family. If I cause a commotion and get stuck outside my own front door, I'll miss out on