Delivering Supplies

Not to mention those great pirates with bounties in the tens of millions.

Even novice pirate crews just setting out to sea with bounties of only a few million would rather turn the ship around to face terrifying Sea Kings the moment they heard ahead lay the patrol zone of the G-8 branch, not daring to take a single step further!

[Current Level: Level 45.]

[EXP needed for next level: 750/2500]

Just five more levels, and he would reach General Level combat power.

Rochi glanced at the system panel in the corner of his vision that had not pulsed even slightly for days, his brows locked deeply into a tight frown.

"No prey... no blood... This peaceful life like a nursing home is simply enough to drive a person crazy."

Rochi picked up a cup of steaming black tea from the desk and drained it in one gulp as if it were water.

The total extinction of pirates had brought extreme peace to the patrol zone, but to Rochi, a madman who viewed EXP as his life, this was the cruelest torture.

"Creak."

Right at that moment, a cold wind blew open the poorly latched window blinds, whipping up a few withered, yellow fallen leaves that landed on Rochi's wide cape of justice.

"It's winter already..."

Feeling the plunging temperature in the air, a rare ripple actually stirred within Rochi's pitch-black, stagnant-pool-like eyes.

Even though he was a transmigrator who had taken over this body, even though his soul had been completely reshaped by slaughter and the system.

Yet whenever this bone-chilling season arrived.

In his mind, scenes from three years ago in the barren and dilapidated Locke Village in the East Blue would uncontrollably emerge.

His mother Mary's hands, full of calluses yet sewing clothes for him desperately under the dim yellow kerosene lamp.

His elder sister Roski's slender back, always brimming with a sense of mystery, yet stuffing the only piece of dried meat into his mouth.

Actually, over these past three years.

Whether following Red Dog in wild slaughter across the ocean or now commanding the G-8 branch, Rochi had never severed contact with "home."

Every month, he would mail back large amounts of Beli and supplies.

And every quarter, he would also punctually receive a reply letter reporting safety, written in that familiar, clumsy handwriting.

Even just a month ago, he had received a winter sweater knitted by his sister's own hands, the pattern on that sweater identical to the technique in his memories.

"Since winter is coming, the things that ought to be sent still must be sent."

Rochi shook the stray thoughts from his mind and casually pressed the desktop call bell.

"Clack."

The office door was pushed open immediately.

Impeccably tailored, her hot figure perfectly outlined, Lieutenant Commander Lace, the adjutant, pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose, marched briskly to the desk in crisp military boots, and snapped a salute.

"Colonel! Do you have any orders?"

Through these past few months of getting along, Lace's feelings toward Rochi were no longer just fear, but heartfelt reverence.

This eighteen-year-old youthful superior officer, although cruel in methods like an Asura.

Yet he had truly brought unprecedented clarity and peace to this branch!

"Sit down and talk."

Rochi pointed to the chair opposite, unusually softening his tone:

"Lace, the branch doesn't have any combat missions lately, right?"

Lace immediately straightened her back, her tone brimming with deep pride:

"Reporting to the commander! Currently, within a radius of five hundred nautical miles, the crime rate is zero! Not only are there no combat missions, but the soldiers are even so idle they can only clear floating garbage off the sea surface every day!"

"Very good."

Rochi nodded, took a document filled with a list of supplies out of a drawer, and casually pushed it across to Lace:

"Since you're idle, go run a private errand for me."

Lace picked up the list and scanned it.

[Twenty sets of high-end cold-weather cotton garments.]

[Ten boxes of special Grand Line tonic medicines.]

[Fifty tons of top-grade smokeless warm coal.]

[Highest-grade nutritional ingredients...]

Looking at these luxury winter supplies enough to equip a platoon, Lace was slightly stunned: "Commander, are these to aid some impoverished island pillaged by pirates?"

"No, send them to my hometown, Locke Village in the East Blue."

Rochi crossed his hands, his gaze as calm as unrippled water:

"Winter is coming soon, send some things to my mother and sister. Remember, transport them using the highest-grade assault ship; I want to ensure these items are handed over to them safe and sound."

Hearing these words, Lace's heart beat violently for a moment.

She raised her head, looking through her lenses at the "murderous demon" who struck terror into the hearts of people across the ocean before her.

At this moment, in Lace's somewhat sentimental thinking, Rochi's image was instantly elevated and dimensionalized infinitely.

So even someone as cold and iron-blooded as the commander still hides such delicate, heavy tenderness and attachment toward his family deep in his heart?

A trace of emotion flashed across the depths of Lace's eyes.

Although she was very puzzled as to why the commander possessed such great authority yet did not directly bring his family to the safe Grand Line to enjoy life, her absolute code of conduct as a subordinate made her push this question deep into the bottom of her heart.

Perhaps it was because the commander had too many enemies and feared implicating his family!

Lace silently helped Rochi patch together a perfect and noble reason in her mind.

"Please rest assured, Colonel!"

Lace abruptly snapped a military salute, her eyes filled with determination:

"This subordinate will personally escort the supplies and guarantee they are handed directly into your family's hands!"

Not only that, Lace even felt a bit secretly pleased in her heart.

Right now the entire patrol zone lacked even the shadow of a pirate, and she stayed at the base every day just processing boring paperwork.

Making a trip to East Blue this time could be considered a paid vacation!

By the way, she could also take a good look at the elders of her commander's hometown on his behalf—this simply couldn't be a more perfect chore.

"Go, set off once you're ready, and make it quick."

Rochi waved his hand, casting his gaze back toward the sea chart as he pondered where else he could squeeze out some EXP.

"Understood!"

Lace turned around cheerfully, stepping with light paces as she left the office.

That afternoon, G-8 branch port.

A medium-sized headquarters assault ship, boasting the fastest speed and top-tier firepower, laden with a massive quantity of luxury supplies prepared by Rochi, slowly departed the port under Lace's command.

Lace stood on the bridge, facing the brisk yet bracing sea wind, in high spirits.

"East Blue, huh. I hear it's called the weakest sea; the scenery there must be quite nice, right?"

Lace stretched, her perfect curves faintly visible beneath her military uniform. When I meet the colonel's mother, I must definitely brag properly to them about his current world-shaking might!