The Despicable Marines

The Hunting Knife Pirates pressed toward the Training Ship under fierce cannon fire, their vessel already on the verge of collapse.

"Despicable Marines! Are you too scared to fight us in a boarding battle?"

Zacur glared furiously at the incoming cannonballs. If he knew Geppo, he would have charged straight onto the Training Ship, but unfortunately, he did not.

More terrifying still, as a swordsman, he had not yet reached the level where he could casually unleash flying slashes.

So, faced with the Training Ship's bombardment, he could only lead his first mate and the more capable crewmen at the bow, cutting apart cannonballs to reduce the damage to the ship as much as possible.

"Can't you go any faster? If I don't slaughter these despicable Marines today, then I, Zacur, am not a man!"

"Captain, if we go any faster, we won't be able to stop in time! We'll crash into the Warship!"

A vicious glint flashed through Zacur's eyes as he roared, "Then crash into it! At worst, we lose the ship! In any case, these Marines won't be taking us easily!"

On the Training Ship.

Ain watched the rapidly approaching "suicide ship" with concern, then turned to Carl. "They seem to be accelerating again. At this rate, their ship will crash straight into ours."

"Hehe, naive. Did they really think I wouldn't see through such a petty trick?"

Carl immediately began issuing orders. The Training Ship swiftly circled the pirate vessel while pouring down cannon fire, bullying them with the superior speed and performance of the Training Ship.

Zephyr, watching from the side, nodded repeatedly. Carl truly deserved her ten years of service. She was highly skilled in naval combat and carried herself like a famous general.

Before long, he would likely see Carl rise through the ranks step by step. Becoming an Admiral was only a matter of time.

Zephyr even felt that, with Carl's abilities, Fleet Admiral was her ultimate destiny. After all, Holy Light, which could directly enhance strength and heal injuries, was far more practical than Sengoku shouting himself hoarse while feeding people empty encouragement.

"Carl, are we really going to defeat them with cannon fire alone? Isn't this a little...?"

If Ainz had been from Blue Star, he would surely have said that beating pirates this way had no soul. But he was not; he just felt that something was missing.

After all, Holy Light had already blessed them, yet they were just standing on the ship and firing cannons?

"Yeah, Carl! How about letting us fight those pirates? They made us search for them for so long!"

The recruits watched the Hunting Knife Pirates' resistance grow weaker and weaker, their hearts itching like cats' claws. They desperately wanted to rush over and have a proper fight with the pirates.

Rather than blasting the enemy ship apart and then fishing pirates out of the sea one by one.

"Are you serious?"

Carl was stunned. They could defeat the pirates easily and comfortably, yet these people wanted to risk their lives fighting them face-to-face. Did they have a system, or did she?

"Mhm! Please, Carl, just this once! Let us try! This is our only practical training mission!"

Are you telling me how to do my job?

Carl frowned deeply, somewhat displeased. These recruits seemed to be getting a little carried away. Even though she also felt these pirates posed no real threat and that letting them fight would not cause any major problems, such a mindset was not a good sign.

Especially since no one knew when Weevil might suddenly appear. If they still had this mindset then, they would definitely suffer a huge loss.

At that moment, Zephyr walked over with his hands behind his back and a cold look in his eyes. He had seen everything that had just happened, and his blood pressure was rising rapidly.

"What are you doing? Carl is the commander. Are you questioning her orders?"

"There are pirates all over the world. Go kill them, then! Do you have the ability? I think every one of you has gotten so full of yourselves that your asses are practically in the sky!"

"...Carl's approach is the correct one. The rational one. It is what a commander should do."

After scolding the recruits until they lowered their heads, Zephyr suddenly pointed at Carl. Carl's eyes widened. How did I get dragged into this? Seriously?

"You all know Carl's strength. She alone could wipe out this entire pirate crew. So why can she restrain her urge to act and let you face the pirates together?"

"Isn't this also her only practical training mission?"

Zephyr's words left the recruits speechless. They hung their heads in dejection, and some even began to resent Carl slightly. But then they thought again.

Instructor Zephyr was right! Carl could clearly have wiped out every pirate herself, yet she chose to buff them and leave everything to them, giving them such a strong sense of participation. She really... it was enough to make them cry.

She had sacrificed her own mission experience to fulfill them, people weaker than her. What kind of spirit was this?

Self-sacrifice for others! That was probably exactly what Carl embodied!

Once the recruits came to their senses, their gazes toward Carl immediately became touched. The more emotional ones even had tears glistening in their eyes.

Carl: What happened?

Their looks felt strange, as if she had done something incredible, but the more she thought about it, the more impossible it seemed.

She had coasted through this practical training mission from beginning to end. She had spent more time going to the bathroom than fighting pirates. How could she possibly have moved these recruits?

"Hmph. It's good that you understand!"

Only after seeing that the recruits had finally understood the sacrifices Carl had made for this mission did Zephyr nod. He walked to Carl's side and said, "Grant their wish. These pirates have already lost their will to fight."

Zephyr still understood the principle of giving a sweet date after a slap.

The purpose was to pave the way for Carl. Just look at the recruits' eyes! When Carl competed for Vice Admiral, or even Admiral, in the future, would they not become her supporters?

Carl also understood Zephyr's intentions at that moment. His image in her heart instantly became tall and majestic.

"All hands! Prepare for boarding combat!"

The recruits froze for a moment, then erupted into fanatical cheers!

"Ooooooh! Long live Carl!" "Long live Carl!!!"

"Bang, bang, bang~"

Grappling hooks bit firmly into the battered hull of the Hunting Knife Pirates' ship, and the Marines charged toward it along sturdy ropes.

"Die, pirates!" "Victory to the Marines!"

The Hunting Knife Pirates' ship instantly descended into chaos. Having long since been beaten into submission by Carl, the Hunting Knife Pirates retreated again and again. Some died, some were injured, and some surrendered. The battle would likely end very soon.

Zephyr and Carl stood side by side on the Training Ship, their arms folded as they observed the battle.

"Hehehe~ These youngsters really are full of energy!"

Carl shook her head helplessly. "The Hunting Knife Pirates' captain only has a bounty of a little over twenty million. They would be nothing special even in the Four Blues, let alone the Grand Line."

"That's true, but this is only a practical training mission. I can't exactly have you hunt pirate crews with bounties over a hundred million, can I?"

"Instructor Zephyr, do you think we're students from the first Training Camp?"

Zephyr paused, then exchanged a smile with Carl. Everything was understood without words.