After they had walked a while, Hina looked at Wuli, who was completely unharmed, and felt as though a huge weight had lifted from her heart.
When word came from Shu, many had assumed Wuli was dead. After all, it was astonishing enough for a Navy Captain to hold out even briefly against the Blackbeard Pirates' Second Ship Captain.
Even the Vice Admirals had barely held their own against Blackbeard's captains by joining forces.
But Hina had never believed it. For some reason, she was certain Wuli would not die so easily, even against someone terrifyingly strong.
"So you're all right after all."
Hina also noticed that Wuli had changed. He was no longer wearing his Justice Coat; given that he had fought Shiryu of the Rain, it had probably been destroyed in the battle.
What surprised her was that Wuli had grown stronger. There was also a little girl at his side.
"Captain Wuli, after you disappeared, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki happened to be nearby and brought a warship to our rescue. The Blackbeard Pirates fled because of that. Afterward, we searched that stretch of sea for you.
"The civilians you saved helped with the search too, but we found nothing."
Shu filled Wuli in, curious as well about how he had survived.
"She saved me." Wuli pointed to the little girl behind him, whose face was a little pale.
Jewelry Bonney looked at the Marine insignia on the Marine Headquarters Base and followed close behind Wuli, her nerves showing.
This is Marine Headquarters, for crying out loud. At that moment, she thought she must have lost her mind. She was a pirate who had walked straight into the enemy's lair. Even Whitebeard, the strongest man alive, had fallen at Headquarters, though that had been at Marineford rather than here.