What was this supposed to mean?
At first, Onigumo and Momonga did not understand, but they soon looked deeply moved.
In the distance,
the more than six thousand slaves aboard the five ships gathered at the sterns, then all dropped to their knees and bowed deeply toward the Thunder Eagle, refusing to rise.
"Vice Admiral, listen."
They were simply too far apart. Their voices, mixed with the sobbing sea wind, could not be heard clearly.
"Goodbye, Vice Admiral Noah..."
"Your... great kindness... we will always remember..."
"Thank you..."
Some wailed loudly, some desperately waved goodbye, and some, hidden in unseen corners, slammed their heads against the deck dozens of times before finally rising with tears streaming down their faces.
Noah did not look up. He merely listened quietly for a while, then smiled and sighed softly before whispering a few words to the communications officer beside him.
A moment later,
the Thunder Eagle slowly turned around and sailed toward Marineford.
Before turning back, white sails fluttered as signal flags were raised.
"Fair winds."
Bang!
A fist slammed heavily onto the desk, sending documents flying everywhere. In the gaps between them, Vail's face was livid.
"A bunch of trash! Trash!"
The veins at his temples throbbed as he roared at the vice admirals reporting before him, "Ten warships! Five vice admirals! Over ten thousand Marines!"
"That would have been more than enough to wipe out the rebels of an entire nation! Yet you let several thousand slaves escape?! You failed even such a simple mission—what use is the Navy keeping you around! What will those people above think of our Marine Headquarters now!"
The vice admirals lowered their heads slightly and remained silent, though each wore a different expression.
Hōshōyama had a cigar in his mouth and a mocking smile