Preparing to Return to the Sorbet Kingdom

"Reporting, Colonel, Vice Admiral Karp has already set off..."

Huo Shaoshan had now become a member of Jin An's direct combat unit. For the time being, he served as the colonel's assistant, responsible for conveying and compiling all kinds of information.

"Got it..."

Jin An did not even raise his head, diligently handling the documents spread across his desk. Why did being an officer feel like being in prison? If he was not processing paperwork, he was on his way to process paperwork.

"What, is there something else?" Seeing that Huo Shaoshan seemed to have more to say, Jin An asked directly.

"Nothing particularly important, but when Vice Admiral Karp left, he took quite a lot of things with him..."

"That's no big deal. Karp rarely comes by, so I told him to pick out some things from the warehouse and take them with him."

Jin An did not think much of it. Karp was a vice admiral, after all, and hardly lacked good things. He probably would not take much. Jin An had always been generous with his own people. They were only material possessions.

"But the naval warehouse's stock has almost all been moved away by Vice Admiral Karp..."

Afraid that Jin An would not believe him, he continued, "A lot of people on the island saw it. Vice Admiral Karp's dog-headed ship was nearly too full to hold it all..."

In truth, the warehouse at this base had not contained much to begin with. The previous colonel had squandered nearly everything, and what remained had been little more than worthless scrap metal.

Everything Karp had taken was sent over by Bartholomew Kuma through Den Den Mushi at Jin An's request. It included every product Jin An had developed over the years, originally intended to help develop the island's economy.

"What?!" Jin An was stunned.

The island warehouse stored replacements for the base's old equipment, new office supplies, and goods meant for doing business with the wealthy people on the island.

Most importantly, it also held a great deal of food.

"The other things are fine. Only ten of each item were taken, but the food was almost completely cleared out..."

Huo Shaoshan was utterly baffled. He could understand taking the new desks and chairs; they really were useful. But why take the food too?

The marines needed to eat, too. With the warehouse emptied, they could only eat in town.

Jin An covered his face. "Damn it, that old man really didn't hold back..."

It seemed that the meals Jin An had made during this time had left Karp coveting those foods.

Jin An had exchanged for the seeds from the system shop and personally tried cultivating them in this world. There were still very few of them, so they could not yet be widely promoted.

"Forget it. I'll ask someone to send another batch over later."

It was only one warehouse. To Jin An, it was a trivial matter. Bartholomew Kuma would have a bit of trouble, though. With so many things, it would be quite troublesome for him to send them over.

Hearing that the food problem had been solved, Huo Shaoshan was overjoyed. It was not only Karp who liked that food; the soldiers loved it as well.

The entire base seemed to have turned into a group of foodies. While on duty, all they could think about was what dishes would be in the cafeteria after work.

"Oh, right, Huo Shaoshan. Is the ship for my return to the Sorbet Kingdom ready?"

Under his management during this period, the island had completely regained order and become even livelier than before. There was no need for him to remain here any longer.

Huo Shaoshan answered, "Colonel, the ship for you to leave the island is ready. It can depart at any time."

"Do you want to come with me when the time comes?"

Jin An valued his talent. Although Huo Shaoshan was still weak, Jin An valued his character. Anyone willing to stand up when people suffered deserved a place on his team.

Hearing Jin An's words, Huo Shaoshan's face lit up. "I do!"

Jin An fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. "No need to get so worked up... Pack your things. I'll take you with me when the time comes."

"Yes, sir. I'll go prepare immediately."

Unable to suppress his excitement, Huo Shaoshan finished speaking and ran off like a gust of wind.

"Young people these days, always so rash..." Jin An said with a smile.

Clearly, he had forgotten that he was only twenty-two himself.

Sorbet Kingdom

"Brother Kuma, why isn't my brother back yet?" Shanks looked uneasy, afraid that Jin An had encountered danger.

"He said he'd be back soon when he left, but it's already been over a month..."

He sniffed, sounding somewhat aggrieved. He had never been apart from Jin An for this long. Even with Bartholomew Kuma and Ginny keeping him company, he still was not used to it.

"Little Shanks, don't worry. Your brother is very strong, and haven't you two been talking all this time?" Ginny sighed and comforted him softly.

"But Brother hasn't talked to me for two hours..." Shanks's voice weakened.

Bartholomew Kuma and Ginny exchanged a glance, both wearing helpless smiles. Neither of them knew what to do about Shanks's extreme attachment to his brother.

They found it hard to imagine that Shanks, who acted like such a little adult in front of outsiders, became like an entirely different person whenever anything concerning his brother was involved.

Even the two of them, who were closest to Shanks, could do little to comfort him.

"Your brother was busy today. Earlier, he even asked me to send some things over to him." Bartholomew Kuma rubbed Shanks's head. "But he said he would be back soon."

"When the time comes, we'll go to the harbor with you to wait for him."

Shanks was somewhat doubtful, because Bartholomew Kuma had said the same thing half a month ago, but then...

Bartholomew Kuma awkwardly scratched his nose. Under Shanks's gaze, he remembered that incident as well, but he truly did not know how to comfort people.

Besides, he was still a child himself...

Ginny looked at Bartholomew Kuma's reddened face and found him somewhat adorable. "Shanks, Kuma is telling the truth."

"I heard it too when Jin An called through Den Den Mushi."

"So don't worry. He'll be back very soon."

Elsewhere.

On the ship headed for Marineford.

"Vice Admiral Karp, isn't this a little inappropriate...?"

Karp's adjutant looked at the food piled across the entire ship. The last scraps of conscience he had left toward Jin An made him feel uneasy.

"What, you don't like eating this stuff?" Karp did not care in the slightest, picking up a piece of fruit and taking a bite.

The adjutant hesitated for a moment, but ultimately surrendered before the delicious food.

"I believe everything Vice Admiral Karp does has its reasons."

"Don't eat it all by yourself. Share some with us too."

Watching Karp eat with such enjoyment, the marines' pathetic tears nearly flowed from the corners of their mouths.

Karp burst into laughter. "The food is all sitting right there. Do you expect me to feed you?"

"Long live Vice Admiral Karp!"

Peals of laughter drifted across the sea, while the sea fish trembled in fright, not daring to surface at all.