Nico Robin [Sorry, I'm Useless]

The 329th Branch had been ravaged by the brutal battle.

In the reception room, Captain Bako, the base's commanding officer, welcomed the two Rear Admirals with tears nearly spilling from his eyes. He seized Noah's right hand and shook it vigorously.

"You're incredibly strong, Rear Admiral Noah!"

"I saw everything that happened out there. If it weren't for you, the 329th Branch... If the pirates had taken the base, I can't imagine what would have happened!"

His gratitude was utterly sincere. His voice even cracked with emotion.

It took Noah considerable effort to shake him off. He stared at the liquid on his hand, unsure whether it was snot or tears, and his eye twitched. Beside him, Momousagi struggled not to laugh.

"We're all Marines. Coming to your aid was part of our duty. There's no need to thank me like this."

Suppressing the urge to kick him, Noah sat down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and looked at Bako with a slight shake of his head.

"Besides, Captain Bako did me a small favor once. You could say I was returning it while I had the chance."

A small favor?

When? Have we ever met?

Captain Bako stared at Noah in confusion. All he knew was that this Rear Admiral had recently been transferred from Marine Headquarters to serve as deputy commander of the First Branch Base. They shouldn't have had any dealings at all...

"The first time you met me was the same time you met him," Momousagi said mildly, sipping her tea.

"Huh?"

Bako froze.

When did I first meet Momousagi?

Of course he remembered. It had been more than half a year ago. The entire 329th Branch Base had been abuzz over the arrival of that famously unattainable beauty from Marine Headquarters.

He had been