Thank You So Much

He looked at Rosinante and the only pirate crew that had not been crossed out in red.

"They're in Area 45!"

"Not far from here."

Rosinante spoke.

Xia Le raised his head and sighed softly.

"Going after a pirate crew with some decency really does leave me with mixed feelings!"

T Bone looked at his superior and asked hesitantly, "Then, sir, are you going to...?"

"We could use a few apprentice marines to handle odd jobs aboard our ship, couldn't we?"

Xia Le answered with a question of his own.

T Bone: "???"

Rosinante, however, started laughing.

"Then I won't have to do chores anymore!"

Xia Le scoffed.

"Apprentice marines have to do an apprentice marine's work!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Rosinante."

PS: Thanks to Type-Moon Magician, Bookworm20220813075500553, Palm Out When Boobs Come, Bookworm160325142113065, Low Ether, and Yoona's Looks Fan ovo for the monthly tickets! Please recommend the book and keep up with the latest chapters! Keeping up with updates is so important during the new-book period! Please, guys, spare a few minutes each day to click on the latest chapters! Thank you all so much!

Well, thanks a lot

Sabaody Archipelago, Area 45.

This was a sightseeing and entertainment district, with souvenir shops lining both sides of the streets. Normally bustling with crowds of tourists, it now felt quiet and tense.

"Evens, they're sticking to us like glue."

The bald man with a sword at his waist spoke gravely.

"I see them. They're keeping their distance without attacking. They're probably waiting for stronger reinforcements."

"We don't have much time left!"

Evens spoke in a low voice, a rifle strapped to his back and goggles resting on his forehead.

His keen powers of observation let him quickly grasp the intentions of the marines following close behind them in a widely dispersed formation.

"What rotten luck. We only planned to stay here for a day before heading to the New World, and then this happened!"

A tall, powerfully built man with dark skin spoke.

"Those bastards from the Jones Pirates did it. They're notorious scum."

"I hear their captain's a lunatic."

Another man, this one chubby, chimed in.

The five hurried along, but no matter what they did, they could not shake the marines behind them.

Evens's expression grew grimmer and grimmer. Then, suddenly, he unslung his rifle and raised it.

"What is it?"

The fat man asked.

"The marines' reinforcements are here!"

Evens replied.

A young figure appeared clearly in his scope. Beside him, the major who had been tracking them was saluting respectfully.

Clearly, the younger-looking man was actually the major's superior.

Just then, his companions noticed something surprising: the marines tailing them were pulling back.

"They're retreating?"

"What's going on?"

The bald swordsman asked in bewilderment.

These marines had dogged their heels for most of the day, yet now they were suddenly withdrawing.

Evens's expression turned even graver. Through his scope, he saw the young officer suddenly raise his head and look in their direction.

"This guy!"

"He's dangerous!!!"

Almost instinctively, Evens felt his hair stand on end, a chill running down his spine.

"I just got word. The other four Supernova crews have all been captured or wiped out!"

The only woman in the group spoke in terror.

"What?"

The sudden news shocked the entire group.

"But they're all great pirates with bounties over a hundred million!"

The woman drew another breath. "Three of those crews fell to a single young flag officer."

Hearing this, Evens shifted his scope onto the man's shoulders.

He quickly recognized the insignia. It was a rear admiral's rank.

"Is he a rear admiral?"

The woman froze. "How did you know?"

Sweat was already beading on Evens's forehead.

In terms of sheer strength, they were not the strongest of the five Supernova crews. Three crews had fallen to this man; that could only mean he was terrifyingly powerful.

It also meant they were in trouble!

Meanwhile, Xia Le finished speaking with the major in charge of tracking them.

"Leave this to me. You can withdraw!"

He smiled faintly.

"Then we'll leave it in your hands, Rear Admiral Xia Le!"

The major did not hesitate. Relieved, he turned and left at once.

He knew very well just how outrageous the man's recent achievements had been.

Xia Le turned to look at Evens. To his surprise, the man still had not fired.

So he began walking toward them, step by step.

"He's coming, Evens!"

The woman shouted.

"I see him!"

Evens rested his right finger on the trigger, but never pulled it.

He seemed to sense that if he did, he and his companions would meet the most brutal of ends in the very next instant.

Pressure—terrifying pressure—swept over him for no apparent reason.

The young rear admiral had done nothing, yet Evens felt an unprecedented sense of oppression. He could not even pull the trigger, something that was normally effortless.

"Are we fighting, Evens?"

The bald man pressed his hand to the sword at his waist, his expression grim.

Evens did not answer.

Before long, the man drew closer and closer.

Suddenly, Evens saw a smile appear on the young rear admiral's face.

The next second, his hand trembled, and shock spread across his face.

"He—he disappeared?!"

He had never faced an opponent like this, someone who could vanish in an instant while locked in his sights.

Almost instantly, a gust of wind struck his face. A white cape flashed into view, and a figure stood beside him.

Evens froze. By the time he realized what had happened, his expression had changed drastically.

"Mina!!"

The bald man whipped out his sword and slashed at the marine before him with a shout.

Everything happened so quickly that the others had not even reacted.

Xia Le lifted the female navigator with one hand, paying no attention whatsoever to the bald man's attack from behind.

As the blade sliced through the air, his body suddenly tensed.

"Tekkai!"

The sword struck his back with a metallic clang.

Everyone's expression changed. Disbelief and horror welled up inside them.

"I'm not a patient man."

"One more swing, and I'll crush her neck."

Holding the woman aloft, Xia Le slowly turned around.

His gaze swept over the grim-faced Evens, the furious bald swordsman, and the other two, who were only just coming to their senses.

"You only get one chance."

"Surrender and stop resisting."

"Or she dies first, and you follow."

Evens's expression shifted. The bald man and the others looked desperate, but there was nothing they could do.

Finally, Evens sighed and lowered his rifle.

"You win!"

A smile appeared on Xia Le's face, and a trace of appreciation entered his eyes as he regarded them.

He released Mina, then said evenly.

"Come with me!"

The five exchanged glances. Four pairs of eyes settled on Evens, who shook his head, signaling them not to make any rash moves.

With Kong's assignment completed, Xia Le did not linger.

Evens and his four companions followed him without a word. Under the eyes of the many marines at the harbor, they were escorted aboard the warship.

"Rear Admiral Xia Le is incredible. He took care of four of the five Supernova crews all by himself!"

"He's strong enough to battle Dark King Rayleigh. If he had more seniority, he'd probably qualify for admiral with his strength!"

"I hear Rear Admiral Xia Le is Vice Admiral Garp's student, too!"

As those words reached Evens and his companions, their eyes flickered.

He had fought Dark King Rayleigh? He was a student of Garp, the Hero of the Navy?

This young marine actually had such a history and background.

A short while later, the five boarded the warship. Rosinante took the ship's wheel, and they soon sailed out of the harbor.

"You have two choices."

Only then did Xia Le speak again.