A month later, at Marine Headquarters.
Perhaps sensing how eager everyone was to get home, Tam often caught favorable winds along the way. The return trip took far less time than the voyage out.
Watching the Warships file neatly into Port and dock, Zephyr smiled with satisfaction. At least until he learned about Tony, he would remain in a good mood.
Bang, bang, bang!
Bang, bang, bang!
Two volleys rang out in succession, announcing the Return of warriors from a hard-fought battle. At the sound, the soldiers working in the harbor stopped and turned respectful gazes toward Momonga and Loa.
When they saw the soldiers behind them, most wrapped in bandages, that respect grew even deeper.
They had no idea what mission the group had undertaken, but any assignment that called for two Headquarters Vice Admirals and still ended in heavy losses could hardly have been easy.
"We're back." Loa sighed as he took in the familiar scene.
After months at sea, he was sick of the view. All he wanted was to go back to his own bed and sleep.
Pipi Shrimp's back, after all, was no place for a good night's rest.
Through the crowd, he spotted Zephyr standing at the edge of the Plaza. That familiar splash of purple was as striking as ever. Loa promptly turned his head and pretended he hadn't seen him.
The tiny movement made Zephyr's eyelid twitch. He suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Salute!"
At the welcoming officer's shout, a crisp wave of salutes swept through Port.
Amid the cheers, the group disembarked from the Warships one by one.
And there stood Zephyr, staring at the Wavebreaker Warship and counting each person who came down.
"Debtor, Mingde, Arudo... Simon's here too."
Then no one else came off the Warship.
"Wait! There's one