"Heh, that's rather unusual! Gangs actually helping the country fight pirates; it seems the ocean is vast and all kinds of fish can be found here!"
Vic didn't believe such a gang existed. The reason gangs were called gangs was because what they did was the opposite of what ordinary people did; otherwise, they wouldn't be gangsters but heroes. Vic sensed something familiar. Wasn't this Crocodile's modus operandi? Vic thought to himself.
This is different from Mantis's fight against pirates. Mantis didn't care about the reward at all, and even grew his own food, day in and day out for twenty years!
Mantis is more like a retired pirate, only he retired a bit too early; his original intention was never to be a pirate.
He was also driven from his home by pirates, and later, fate led him to become a member of the Rocks, which is somewhat similar to Whitebeard's experience. This is why the two got along well when they were in the Rocks Pirates.
However, the reason these gangs are still called gangs must be because they've done something they can't clear their name for. Even Crocodile later earned the title of Alabasta Hero, which shows that these guys are really not as good as Crocodile.
Perhaps their goals aren't as grand as Crocodile's. Stealing from a nation is a villainous act disguised as loyalty; they don't need such a noble persona. They might just be after money.
Whether that's true or not, we'll have to wait and see after we land on the island. Vic doesn't judge people with prejudice; he focuses on the truth and the essence of things. If gangsters are preying on civilians, he, as a Marine, will definitely take action.
Zephyr glanced at Vic, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating for a long time before remaining silent. He decided that he wouldn't go to the island this time and would just sleep on the warship. Whatever happened, it was up to Vic's sense of justice. Gangs weren't under the Navy's jurisdiction; the Navy's primary duty was to capture pirates.
The world government has always dealt with the gangs under the jurisdiction of the army's military and police, but the country on the next island is not Affiliated Nation, so the World Government will not pay attention to the gangs on the island.
To put it simply, it has nothing to do with them. Just treat it as an ordinary island, have some fun, eat some food, and then leave.
The World Government wouldn't want them meddling in other people's business either. After all, the Navy's funding comes from the World Government. This country isn't even paying its own benefactor, so why are you meddling in their affairs? Isn't that like eating in your own home while doing someone else's work? Are you just bored and looking for trouble?
So Zephyr decided to stay on the warship and pretend he knew nothing about what was happening on the island.
Vic was also aware of the nature of gangs. Just like Capone Bege, when he was running a gang in the West Blue, no one cared about him, but after becoming a pirate and coming to the Grand Line, he had a bounty on his head and was hunted down.
Each department has its own responsibilities, but he is still relatively free for now. He's just a new recruit intern. If something really doesn't stand for him, he'll definitely intervene. He's not the kind of ordinary, rule-abiding marine; he already has his own values.
Lunch ended with everyone lost in their own thoughts. Vic had assumed the next island would be the same as before, requiring only ordinary treatment. However, what happened on the island completely disrupted his subsequent journey to the Elite Camp!
" Wendy, look at that island, it's so beautiful! I really want to go up there right now!" Rebecca said to Wendy beside her, and then glanced back at Vic was sitting cross-legged in meditation.
"Yes, it really does look like a place where love blossomed!" Wendy answered Rebecca's question, but her mood was clearly not very high.
Not long after lunch, Vic was awakened by Rebecca's shouts. He stood up and looked in the direction Rebecca was looking, and an island that seemed to be enveloped in a pink and blue halo appeared before him.
The warships are still some distance from the island, which looks like a cake, exuding a sweet aroma.
" Vic, this island looks really beautiful! Let's go up to the island together later!"
Seeing Vic stand up, Rebecca immediately ran over. She had heard Barnett say that this was a sacred place for lovers to pledge their love, and she wanted to see if it was true and whether she and Vic would pledge their love.
Ain stood up, looked at Vic with some concern, then turned to look at Rebecca, and then looked down at her small body.
She had listened carefully to what Barnett said, and she didn't think she, at her current age, had that kind of opportunity, but Rebecca still had a good chance.
She hadn't expected Rebecca to have her eye on Vic before even arriving on the island, and she was worried that Vic would fall into Rebecca's trap on the island.
" Rebecca, you are my lifelong enemy! I will not let you have Vic. Vic belongs to me!" Ain thought to herself.
At that moment, Rebecca was focused on Vic and didn't notice that the little people next to her were looking at her strangely.
If she had known this child would ruin her plans, Rebecca would have knocked her unconscious when she arrived on the island. Her thinking was completely off, and she couldn't be treated like an ordinary child.
"Isn't it said that the food above is irresistible? I want to try it too."
Vic was only interested in the food on the island; if the scenery was nice, he'd just glance at it along the way. As for the so-called "place where they pledged their love," he didn't really believe it—it was just a big advertisement.
Can a person's feelings change because of a place? Of course not, it's just a matter of timing. Advertising gives people more courage to come here, and those with a foundation of feelings can naturally come together.
After hearing Vic's words, Rebecca pouted. What a straight man, so incredibly straight.
However, this also made Rebecca somewhat relieved. If Vic hadn't been so straightforward, he might already be with Rear Admiral Gion.
Rear Admiral Gion has everything she could want; her figure is so stunning that even Viktor drools over her. She's incredibly competitive, and she's made it so obvious, yet Vic remains completely unmoved.
However, this also greatly increased the difficulty of her task, causing her great distress; she both loved and hated it.
Ain was delighted to see Vic's reaction; he clearly didn't care about the place where they had fallen in love, his focus was entirely on the food.
"You guys are free to do whatever you want once you get to the island, you don't all need to stay together."
Vic said to the people around him that since there was no threat of pirates on this island, there should be no problem with safety. It would be better for them to see the world for themselves, and maybe they would encounter some interesting things.
"Then I'll go with you, hehe!" Rebecca raised her hand immediately after Vic finished speaking.
"I want to go with Vic too!" This time it was Ain who spoke; she had always wanted to go with Vic.
"Then I'll stay with Rebecca!" Wendy said, glancing at Barnett and then at Vic.