Azure Dragon! [Please Read On!]

After receiving Whiteman's approval, Xia Luo did not delay. Early the next morning, he packed his things and prepared to leave.

Everyone saw him off at the harbor.

After declining Whiteman's offer to escort him back to Harlan Island, Xia Luo sailed away from the harbor alone in a small boat.

"Everyone, I'm off. Get back to work, no need to see me off. I'll be back."

Standing at the stern, Xia Luo waved goodbye to Colonel Whiteman and the others.

"Stay safe, Xia Luo."

"Take care!"

"Fair winds!"

Amid the farewells, Xia Luo steered his little boat farther and farther away.

"That brat. I offered to see him off, but he insisted on refusing, saying he didn't want to make a big fuss and waste manpower and resources. What nonsense. He clearly doesn't understand what it means to safeguard the future of the Marines!"

Watching the boat shrink into a black dot, Whiteman muttered under his breath, a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone.

Beside him, Lieutenant Colonel Kana's eyes crinkled with amusement as she teased, "Colonel, don't tell me... you can't bear to let Xia Luo go? Should we chase after him now? We can still catch up!"

Colonel Whiteman glared at her and snapped, "You're the one who can't bear to let him go. What nonsense are you talking about?"

"It's better that brat left. At least he won't be causing trouble here and there all day. I can't even sleep peacefully with him around!"

Colonel, your expression has already betrayed you. Your mouth sure is stubborn!

Kana quietly mocked him.

"Ahem. Besides, don't you know Xia Luo's personality? When he says no, he means no. What would catching up to him accomplish?" Whiteman's expression turned slightly awkward. He shook his head and said, "Let him go."

"True enough."

Kana agreed.

Several hours later.

While sailing his small boat through the vast sea, Xia Luo suddenly encountered a storm. Rain poured down in torrents, the wind howled, and the waves surged. His little boat was like a fallen leaf at sea, seawater flooding into the cabin as it threatened to capsize at any moment.

Xia Luo stood at the bow, facing the wind and rain. No matter how violently the boat rocked, his body remained as steady as a mountain.

"What a waste."

Looking at the cabin full of food everyone had prepared for him, Xia Luo sighed regretfully.

The next second,

With a splash,

He actually leaped into the raging ocean.

A resounding dragon roar rang out as Xia Luo transformed into his Azure Dragon Form and swam through the sea.

Judging by its size, the dragon body was nearly three hundred meters long—larger and more powerful than an ordinary medium-sized Sea King.

Over the past few years, as Xia Luo had grown taller and developed his Devil Fruit abilities, the size of his Azure Dragon Form had expanded dramatically. It had grown from a hundred meters to three hundred meters. With such an exaggerated size and the majesty of a dragon, he inspired fear even when doing nothing.

In the depths of the sea, countless creatures trembled wherever the Azure Dragon passed, scarcely daring to breathe for fear of angering it.

Some Sea Kings that sensed the Azure Dragon's aura retreated far away, unwilling to approach.

"Ha ha ha ha, this feels amazing!"

Transformed into an Azure Dragon, Xia Luo laughed heartily. He was completely at home in the water, moving with pure joy. A slight motion carried him hundreds of meters, his speed astonishing.

With a casual flick of his tail, an undersea rock was instantly reduced to powder.

Xia Luo swam all the way toward Ohara. Whether he encountered rocks, sea beasts, or any other obstacle, he simply rammed straight through without dodging, acting like a complete brute.

A powerful body like forged steel, bottomless stamina and vitality, and exceptional regenerative ability—those really did let someone do whatever they wanted. No wonder Kaido was so arrogant, trying to kill himself whenever he had nothing better to do.

That wasn't suicide at all. He was obviously just bored and looking for excitement!

If he truly wanted to die, why make things so complicated? He could just find any Devil Fruit and eat it, then ascend to heaven on the spot.

This showed that Kaido only wanted to court death, not actually die.

Still, Xia Luo had no intention of learning Teacher Kaido's reckless habits. Learning a few moves was one thing, but copying everything would only harm himself.

Half a day later.

Ohara, the sacred land of archaeology in the West Blue.

Looking at the familiar Tree of Knowledge, Xia Luo quietly went ashore and returned home without alerting anyone.

Over the past few years, whenever he returned to Ohara, he had always come quietly and left quietly. Aside from his family, no one knew his whereabouts, much less how much he had changed.

Several years had passed, and his presence had long faded from people's memories. They only vaguely remembered that the Nico family had an unruly child who had ignored his family's objections, rashly gone to sea, and then vanished without a trace.

Not many people even remembered Xia Luo's name, let alone what he looked like. Time diluted everything.

As expected, no one was home. Olvia was probably reading or researching history in the Tree of Knowledge library. As for Oran, he was most likely off playing somewhere again.

Returning to his long-missed home, Xia Luo relaxed for once. He glanced at the ingredients in the refrigerator and naturally began cooking.

Over the years, he had spent too little time with his family, and there would be even less in the future. Therefore, Xia Luo always wanted to make it up to them as much as he could. Cooking for them was one way he did so.

That evening, Olvia and Oran returned home one after another. The moment they opened the door and saw Xia Luo, both siblings were overjoyed.

Then the three siblings sat around the table, eating and chatting in a warm, harmonious atmosphere.

However, Olvia and Oran did most of the talking. Xia Luo listened quietly, a smile at the corners of his lips.

By the way, Oran did not know Xia Luo was now a Marine. Xia Luo and Olvia tacitly agreed not to tell him.

"Big brother, when are you taking me out to sea? I want to see the ocean too."

The moment Oran finished speaking, he received a sharp knock on the head and cried out.

"Oh, so even you want to go to sea now? What, did you brothers plan this together? Are you going to leave me alone at home?"

Olvia angrily rose to her feet, one hand on her hip and the other tugging Oran's ear. Her brows stood on end as her beautiful eyes turned toward Xia Luo with an unfriendly look.

Xia Luo immediately lowered his head, not daring to meet her gaze.

The oppression of bloodline hierarchy was terrifying indeed!

Just then, Oran muttered quietly, "What do you mean, alone? Aren't you dating someone?"

"Don't think I don't know. You secretly said I was a third wheel."

"Huh?"

Xia Luo abruptly raised his head in shock. "Sis, you have a boyfriend?!"

Olvia's face flushed bright red, and all her imposing manner vanished at once. "D-Don't listen to Oran's nonsense. He and I... we're just... just friends."

"Oh~ really~?" Xia Luo clearly did not believe her, his eyes full of teasing.

Oran curled his lips. "I'm not talking nonsense. I saw you holding hands!"

"Oh my, you've already held hands? When did that happen? I didn't hear anything about it the last time I came back." Xia Luo wore a thoroughly mischievous grin.

Then his expression suddenly turned serious. "Who is he? How did you meet? Is he from Ohara? What does he do? What's his personality like? What kind of family does he come from? He—"

Olvia's head was spinning from his questions, and she hurriedly stopped him. "Stop, stop, stop! What are you even asking? It's all over the place."

"These are things I need to know. I have to vet him for you, so you don't get tricked!" Xia Luo said sternly.

My dear sister, you're brilliant at studying, but you're an idiot when it comes to dating. There are plenty of scumbags out there these days!

Xia Luo clearly remembered that Robin's father had never appeared in the original story, nor had he been mentioned. He did not know whether the man had died long ago or whether Olvia had been abandoned after being used.