"Alright, now that you've got it back, you should be happy. Don't dwell on those unhappy things. Cheer up, our journey is about to begin!"
Seeing that she seemed to be saddened and tearful as she recalled the past, Luo Chen quickly stepped forward, patted her shoulder, and comforted her.
"Um... I'm fine, thank you, Luo Chen!!"
Thank you for helping me fulfill my father's last wish. I will follow you until you achieve your own dream, so please don't look down on me!
Catherine nodded to indicate that she was fine, and then wiped away her tears and said to him playfully.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't look down on such good crew members. And please don't look down on me, the captain! Alright, wipe away your tears, it's time to set sail!"
Luo Chen responded to her with a smile, then looked towards the endless sea in the distance and spoke in a bold tone.
"Hmm... I'll go prepare right away!!"
Catherine nodded excitedly as she watched his retreating figure, then turned and walked into the control room.
"Hmm... what's this?! Such a strong aura, is it an enemy? No, no pirate in this area has ever dared to trespass here. Could it be the Navy? But who could it be?!"
Suddenly, just as Catherine turned to leave, Luo Chen trembled. His Observation Haki seemed to have sensed some powerful enemy, causing him to frown in confusion.
"... What's wrong? Did you find something? Why do you have that expression?!"
Catherine, who had turned around, heard Luo Chen's puzzled voice and quickly turned back to look at his confused expression, asking him a question.
"Hmm... someone is approaching us, and it's very likely a ship sent by the navy..."
Luo Chen continued to frown as he replied to her.
"Navy?! I don't see any of them. Are you mistaken?!"
Upon hearing that the navy was approaching, Catherine hurriedly scanned her surroundings, but saw no one, let alone the navy.
She spoke with a hint of doubt.
"Heh, I wish my gut feeling was wrong, but unfortunately, no matter how much I investigate, I can still sense their presence, and they're getting closer and closer..."
Luo Chen also saw the questioning look on Catherine's face, but he shook his head and sensed a faint gaze locking onto the two of them, so he smiled wryly and said.
"But... I didn't see them... You're overthinking it!!"
Catherine scanned her surroundings again, quite certain that she did not see any navy personnel. She was convinced that Luo Chen's perception was faulty.
"Believe it or not, you'll find out soon enough. He's coming. No matter how hard we try to escape, it's useless. That guy has already locked onto our location using Observation Haki. Just wait, the answer will be revealed soon!!"
Luo Chen spoke to Catherine with a mysterious expression. He had given up on letting her start the Isel and escape, and was now ready to stand there and wait for the person to arrive.
"Who could it be? In the waters of Marineford, besides Sengoku Garp, it seems only those three possess such immense and astonishing power. Let's see who will personally arrest us!!"
Luo Chen remained frowning, mentally selecting potential candidates who might appear before him.
" Admiral Sakazuki, we have searched the area and found no trace of the two men. Shall we turn back immediately and return to Marineford?"
On the sea slightly in front of Luo Chen and his group, the adjutant approached Akainu and reported the results of the search.
"Go back? No, keep going! The enemy is waiting for us ahead!"
Akainu turned to look at him, seemingly displeased by his question, and said in a cold tone.
"Ahead?! Have you found them already?"
Hearing Akainu's cold words, the lieutenant asked in surprise.
"Hmm... good, they're up ahead, waiting for us to get there!"
Akainu continued to look at the sea directly ahead, seemingly seeing Luo Chen gazing at him from afar.
"Yes, I will arrange for them to continue driving up immediately."
Seeing Akainu's resolute and indifferent attitude, the lieutenant saluted him and replied through gritted teeth.
After saying that, he turned around without pausing and gave Akainu his orders.
Although all the marines on board were exhausted after completing their mission and then searching the area for several hours without stopping,
However, he dared not disobey Akainu's orders. As his second-in-command, he knew his superior's personality very well.
At this moment, if you dare to say no to him, Akainu will not hesitate to give you a taste of magma.
This might be incomprehensible to others, but for him, who believed in Absolute Justice, it was perfectly normal. Therefore, the adjutant dared not utter a single complaint and respectfully carried out his orders.
"Hmm... it's here!!"
After a while, Luo Chen opened his eyes, which had been closed to rest, and reminded Catherine beside him.
"... They've arrived? Let me see... Is this the Navy? It really is the Navy, just as you said. They've really come."
After receiving Luo Chen's tip, Catherine hurriedly stepped forward, took out her binoculars, and saw that it was indeed a naval warship approaching them.
"What should I do, Luo Chen? What do you need me to do now?"
Catherine put away her binoculars and turned back to ask.
"No need. Just stay there and watch. When an opportunity arises, seize it and escape in this ship."
Luo Chen pulled out the Rain Burial sword, a slight smile playing on his lips, and gazed at the distant warship as he replied.
" Admiral Sakazuki, I see it! It's the Isel, the ship that was hijacked by pirates in Saint Orange. Shall we fire at them?"
On the opposite side, in the lookout tower atop the mast, a marine used binoculars to confirm Luo Chen and his group's identities before reporting to Akainu below.
"Fire..."
Akainu replied coldly.
"Yes!!"
After receiving his instructions, several gunners went to the gun emplacement, adjusted the angle, aimed the cannon at them, and finally lit the fuse.
sieve...
Bang...
Bang...
Bang...
The fuse was quickly lit, and with a whoosh, nearly ten shells were fired from the cannon barrel and blasted towards Luo Chen.
"Hmph, he opened fire without even trying to persuade them to surrender. That's so typical of him, Admiral Akainu of the Marine Headquarters..."
Luo Chen saw a very familiar figure on the ship and guessed his identity. Then he saw that the man issue the attack order without hesitation, which finally confirmed his identity as the naval commander on the other side.
Clang...
"Swordsmanship - Blood Blade Slash!!"
He remained calm despite the dozen or so shells hurtling towards him, and in an instant, he raised his sword and swung it in a slash.
Bang...
Bang...
Bang...
A crescent-shaped, dark red slash streaked across the sky, instantly cutting the cannonballs in half before they detonated in mid-air. The shockwaves from the explosions rippled across the Isel.
The strong airflow made his long Wind Dance, and the dazzling light shone on him. Coupled with the aura he exuded, he stood like a war god, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at his glory.