Lorne stood at the bow, studying the nautical chart.
Ethan came over to report.
"Rear Admiral, if we follow the usual route, we'll need to go around to Loguetown and enter the Grand Line through Reverse Mountain."
"But that would take at least half a month."
"Go straight through the Calm Belt."
Lorne gave the order without turning around.
"The Calm Belt?"
Kuina, standing nearby, was startled.
"Sir, I've heard the Calm Belt is a nesting ground for Sea Kings, and there isn't any wind. Ordinary ships that go in are doomed."
Ethan explained with a laugh.
"Haha, Kuina, there's something you don't know."
"This is a specially built warship from Marine Headquarters."
"A specially built warship?"
Kuina looked puzzled.
"That's right."
Ethan pointed below the deck.
"The bottom of this ship is embedded with large amounts of Seastone."
"It gives off the same energy fluctuations as the sea, making those enormous Sea Kings mistake us for part of the seawater, so we avoid being attacked."
"And our ship has a Paddle-Wheel Propulsion System, so it can sail without wind."
Kuina was a little stunned by what she heard.
"Technology like that actually exists... The World Government's power really is hard to imagine."
"This is merely the power of technology."
Lorne spoke flatly.
Someone truly strong could punch his way through the Calm Belt even without Seastone."
Kuina looked at Lorne's back, the image of him smashing a warship apart with a single punch flashing through her mind. Her desire for strength grew even stronger.
"Sir, did I really pass in that fight just now?"
Kuina stepped forward and asked a little apprehensively.
"Your movements are still too elaborate."
Lorne turned to look at her.
"Against scum like that, you took three moves just to finish off one leader."
"If