After the meeting ended, Lorne walked onto the deck.
All fifty Marines had assembled.
The sea breeze swept past, lifting the hems of their clothes.
Although these Marines wore no justice capes, their stances remained straight, their eyes as keen as hawks'.
"Brothers!"
Lorne shouted, his voice echoing across the deck.
Every Marine snapped to attention, their eyes turning toward Lorne in unison.
"We've been expelled from the Marines. Now, we're just a group of free men."
Lorne looked at them.
"But do you regret following me here?"
"No regrets!"
Fifty men roared in unison, their voices deafening.
"Louder! I can't hear you!"
Lorne shouted.
"We'll follow you to the death, sir! We'll crush the New World!"
The Marines shouted at the top of their lungs, unleashing a thunderous roar.
"Good."
Lorne nodded in satisfaction.
"At the entrance to the New World, the Beasts and Big Mom fleets are waiting for us."
"They have two fleets and thousands of men."
"And we have just one ship and fifty men."
"Are you afraid?"
"No!"
"Haha! Good!"
Lorne laughed arrogantly.
"So what if they outnumber us?"
"In the New World, only the weak rely on numbers to bolster their courage."
"The strong need only a pair of fists!"
"Today, I'll lead you in tearing their blockade to shreds!"
"Tear them apart! Tear them apart!"
The Marines were fired up, their morale reaching its peak in that instant.
"Ryan, raise the flag!"
Lorne waved a hand.
Ryan immediately walked over to the mast and pulled the rope.
A brand-new flag rose, snapping in the wind.
It was neither the Marines' rising-sun battle flag nor an ordinary pirate flag, but a black flag bearing a huge golden fist!
"This is the flag of our Independent Suppression Force."
Lorne gazed at the flag bearing the