Joining the Navy

Feeling the resolve in Xia Luo's words, Olvia looked up at her younger brother, who stood a head taller than her.

"You..."

Olvia suddenly realized that her brother seemed to have grown taller again. How hadn't I noticed? But why was the other twin brother so short? They were born from the same pregnancy—how could the difference be so huge? That shouldn't be possible.

That was right. Oran was only 1.5 meters tall this year. He was not considered short among children his age, but compared to Xia Luo...

"Sis, just agree. No matter what, I'm going."

Hearing that, Olvia felt both angry and helpless. Looking at Xia Luo's determined eyes, she sighed softly.

"You used to cling to me. You followed me everywhere, but after what happened last year, you changed. You became very independent, very sure of your own ideas."

"It was like you grew up overnight. You were no longer that child sheltered beneath your sister's wings. You had become a man..."

Xia Luo fell into thought, his gaze deepening.

"Yes. What happened last year made me fully understand that in this world, only strength can protect yourself and your family. So, I have to become stronger!"

Last year, several thugs had harassed Olvia. The original Xia Luo stepped forward to stop them, only to be slapped away. His head struck a rock, and he passed out on the spot.

Seeing blood, the thugs had feared causing too much trouble and left resentfully. By the time "Xia Luo" woke up again, his soul had already been replaced by someone else.

"So the first thing you did after becoming stronger was deal with those people..."

Olvia finally voiced the question that had been weighing on her heart for more than half a year.

Xia Luo shook his head.

"Sis, you've misunderstood. I didn't kill them."

I only tied their hands and feet, threw them into the sea, and wanted them to perform an extreme escape act.

They were just too useless to break free from the ropes. It had nothing to do with me.

"Really? Then why did they disappear?" Olvia asked again.

"Who knows? Maybe they were afraid of getting beaten and decided to 'put to sea.'"

Xia Luo's expression remained unchanged.

"All right, I believe you."

Olvia did not really care whether those pieces of trash lived or died. She simply could not believe that her brother would truly kill someone.

But now...

Although Xia Luo appeared calm and showed no sign of anything unusual, Olvia was no fool. She was certain that the scum who had harassed her last year were dead. Otherwise, they would not have suddenly vanished without a trace.

Forget it. Seeing through something without saying it aloud was how they remained good siblings. She would just pretend they had truly "put to sea." After all, plenty of scum like them went out to sea to become pirates every year.

"Let's not talk about that. Have you really decided to enlist next year?"

"Yes. I've decided."

"Sigh... all right. You have your own mind, and I know I can't stop you. But promise your sister that you'll stay safe and not make me worry, okay?"

Seeing that she could not persuade Xia Luo, Olvia stopped pressing him. She could only sigh helplessly, her face full of concern.

"Don't worry, Sis. Your little brother's tough. Nothing will happen to me." Xia Luo patted his chest and promised solemnly.

"If something happens to you, then I won't want to live either." Olvia spoke in anger, puffing out her cheeks like a pufferfish.

Xia Luo laughed. "Don't say that. Oran would be heartbroken if he heard you."

"Oran wouldn't. He'd be thrilled if no one was around to control him." Thinking of her other brother gave Olvia a headache.

Xia Luo widened his eyes and feigned anger. "How dare he! I'll break his legs!"

"Hehehe, you're the only one who can keep him in line." Olvia covered her mouth as she laughed, thoroughly amused.

"Sis, I'm not trying to criticize you, but don't be too gentle with Oran. When he needs a beating, you have to beat him. Otherwise, in the future..."

"All right, all right, I get it."

"Don't just say you get it. Every time I tell you this, you brush me off."

"Enough, you're so naggy!"

"Sigh..."

Xia Luo sighed. You refuse to stand up for your future daughter, so it looks like I'll have to do it as her uncle.

Autumn passed and spring arrived. In the blink of an eye, half a year had gone by.

February, 1485.

West Blue 15th Branch.

Training grounds.

"Are you people out for a stroll? Why are you moving so slowly?!"

"Run! Anyone who doesn't finish twenty laps today will be on cleaning duty and eat last!"

"Move, move, move! Run! Don't stop, unless you want a taste of my whip!"

"You're already gasping after just ten laps! You're the worst batch of recruits I've ever trained!"

On the training grounds, a middle-aged Navy officer in an instructor's uniform held a riding crop and bellowed at the recruits.

"Good grief, so every batch is the worst batch you've ever trained."

At the very front of the group, Xia Luo muttered under his breath.

"Oh? You still have the energy to talk? Do you think I can't hear you? Very good, Xia Luo. Twenty extra laps for you."

"Remember, you have the same amount of time as everyone else. When they finish, you must finish too. Otherwise, you won't be eating today!"

Sapp Whiteman was a Navy branch colonel, the person in charge of the West Blue 15th Branch, and also the recruits' instructor.

Though he was punishing Xia Luo now, his eyes were filled with appreciation when he looked at him. Over the past few days, he had already noticed that this batch of recruits contained a promising talent.

As he spoke, Colonel Whiteman's mind automatically recalled Xia Luo's file.

Xia Luo, male, eighteen years old. His full name was Xia Luo. He came from a remote village on Harlan Island. Ten days ago, the village had unfortunately been massacred by pirates. Xia Luo alone had managed to escape by jumping into the sea, after which he was rescued by a passing merchant ship.

He eventually made his way to the 15th Branch, just in time for the Navy's spring recruitment, and immediately enlisted.

It seemed like quite a coincidence, but it was not unusual. Similar cases happened every year, and Xia Luo's experience raised no suspicion.

Besides, a group of pirates really had landed on Harlan Island ten days ago. As for the village Xia Luo had mentioned, it had already been burned into a barren wasteland, with nothing left behind.

The only thing that puzzled Whiteman was that when he investigated that pirate group's movements, he discovered that they had vanished after leaving Harlan Island, as though they had disappeared from the face of the earth.

Perhaps they had run into a storm and ended up in the belly of a fish.

Whiteman did not dwell on it. He only knew that Xia Luo had considerable potential and was a promising recruit. He was also full of justice and deeply hated pirates, making him well worth cultivating.

That was why he had deliberately found an excuse to increase Xia Luo's training intensity. He wanted to see where Xia Luo's limits lay.

"Yes, Instructor!"

Xia Luo answered loudly.

He could vaguely guess what Colonel Whiteman was thinking, so he did not mind being "targeted," even though he was already strong enough to take down everyone here.

"Status Panel."

[Host: Nico Xia Luo]

[Age: 12]

[Height: 186 cm]

[Skills and Talents: Six Treasury Immortal Thief LV2 (20%), Zoan Mythical Beast Type: Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Form LV1 (50%)]

[Main Quest...]