Chapter 190

Naito.

"Um?"

Naito turned to look at his senior.

The usually gentle Vice Admiral Momousagi smiled, but tears welled in her eyes. "Thank you."

Not only for the soldiers at G-14 Base, but also because even in such a dangerous moment, you did not choose to abandon me, and you truly turned the tide of the battle.

"Now we have time to talk about this,"

Naito pointed to the soldiers desperately swimming towards the island on the sea surface. "Why don't we think about how to get everyone ashore first?"

"That's true."

Gion nodded slightly.

However, Little Naito is indeed a bit clueless about romance.

Of course, while they say they'll get the person out of the water, there doesn't seem to be any real way to do so.

Both of them are undoubtedly skilled fighters.

But ultimately, it only has four hands, and can only grab a few people at a time.

There are thousands of marines struggling on the surface of the sea right now, and it's impossible for two people to pull them out in a short time.

Fortunately, they didn't have to retrieve it themselves.

The marines, of course, all knew how to swim, and once the Golden Lion was no longer bothering them, they quickly made their way ashore.

However, a quick count revealed that fewer than 5,000 marines survived, meaning that more than 8,000 naval soldiers died at the hands of Golden Lion.

"..."

Gion remained silent.

The surviving naval soldiers were filled with shock and anger.

Only Naito pulled out Den Den Mushi and contacted headquarters.

"How's the situation, Naito?"

The voice of the Fleet Admiral Sengoku came through immediately.

He probably stayed at the communications department the whole time, waiting for Naito's call back and for the final result.

The Golden Lion has been driven away.

Naito said, "He's nowhere near as powerful as the rumors say. Gion and I combined were no match for him, and in the end, we had no choice but to retreat."

"Good! Very good!"

Sengoku's voice suddenly became excited, "Well done, Naito! You certainly didn't disappoint me! I'll draft your promotion paperwork right away!"

"But the Fleet Admiral Sengoku,"

Naito continued, "G-14 Base is now a ruin; approximately eight thousand soldiers have perished."

Sengoku fell silent instantly on the other end of the phone.

After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly, "Is that so? I understand."

"But it's not your fault. If the opponent is that Golden Lion, the losses are already small. I know better than you how terrifying the Float-Float Fruit's power is Marineford was almost destroyed by him back then."

"If G-14 Base is destroyed, the resettlement of the surviving officers and soldiers will become a problem. I will immediately contact the nearby Affiliated Nation and ask them to send ships to pick them up."

"They'll rest and recuperate in the Affiliated Nation first, and I'll send warships to pick them up later."

"Naito, don't rush back. To prevent any further accidents, you and Gion will lead the team back together later."

"Clear."

Naito hung up the phone.

Yes, his promotion to Vice Admiral should be a sure thing.

In other words,

After settling the surviving marines, Gion listened to the call from the sidelines. Her tone was somewhat puzzled, "Is G-14 Base just being abandoned like that?"

"As long as one person is alive, this base is not considered destroyed."

Naito said calmly, "If the base is gone, we can just build another one."

"Oh, Little Naito can even comfort people?"

Gion chuckled softly, "But you're right, I won't give up so easily."

"Sooner or later, we'll make that Golden Lion pay for his crimes in blood."

Naito chuckled softly.

It seems that Yu Yu was not spared despite the heavy losses.

Afterwards, Naito contacted Ain and told her that the Golden Lion had been defeated and that they should come and join him.

Soon enough, the massive warship approached the island.

Ain and the others quickly disembarked.

"How could this island have been destroyed like this?"

Binz was almost speechless.

Is this something a human being can do?

What kind of monster is that Golden Lion?

"Brother Naito!"

Sanji, the younger brother, quickly walked towards Naito on the shore, saying, "I'm alright—"

Before he could even finish speaking, someone else beat him to it.

A figure swept past Sanji.

Then she threw herself into Naito's arms.

Naito looked down and could only see the top of the woman's head.

"Hello--"

Just as Naito was about to say something, Ain's voice rang out from his arms.

His voice was low, trembling, and choked with sobs.

"I'm sorry, Naito, but let me hold you for a little while. I'm actually... scared."

The girl's shoulders were trembling slightly, and Naito could feel that his clothes were a little damp on his chest.

Naito didn't say anything more.

Fine, I'll let you off the hook this time.

Chapter 130 Scumbag Naito, Yamato and the Sea Kings

"Ain, are you crying?"

Binz looked at Ain, whose shoulders were trembling as she nestled in Naito's arms, and couldn't help but murmur softly.

Although this woman is not usually assertive, she has always been very resilient and stubborn.

In Binz's memory, no matter what hardships she endured, Ain never shed a single tear.

During basic training, despite being a girl, Ain worked much harder than most of the male soldiers.

Sometimes even Binz himself was complaining bitterly, but Ain still gritted his teeth and persevered.

So much so that Binz found it really hard to see her as a woman.

But at this moment, Ain was nestled in Naito's arms, sobbing silently.

Binz had never seen her so vulnerable before.

Is it all because of Naito?

Seriously, Ain, don't fall too much in love.

Sanji, the younger brother beside him, nodded slightly, looking like he'd been knocked in the face. "Sister Ain, you're still too worried about Brother Naito."

Binz nodded in deep agreement.

Who wouldn't be worried?

Oh no, could Naito, that stubborn guy, have actually been moved by Ain?

Wouldn't it be terrible if the two of them started dating?

If something happens to your good brother, that's the worst-case scenario, of course.

But the second worst-case scenario is that your best friend finds a girlfriend!

Binz found it somewhat difficult to accept.

Feeling the softness in his arms, Naito spoke slowly, "You lied, Ain."

You promised to always believe in me.

"Sorry."

Ain's voice was somewhat muffled, "But I am truly afraid something will happen to Naito, afraid that you will leave me."

The enemy is none other than the legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki.

Unlike any of Naito's previous enemies, Golden Lion is a true monster standing atop the sea, and even the Pirate King Roger almost fell to him!

How could one not worry about Naito when faced with such an enemy?

In fact, at that moment, a dark thought even crossed Ain's mind.

Even just once, she wished Naito wouldn't be so headstrong.

But that wouldn't be Naito.

He was no longer the young hero who made her heart flutter.

"So, in the end, I was still looked down upon?"

Naito scoffed softly, then chuckled gently, "But it's not entirely incomprehensible."

"Being obsessed with me is only natural."

Ain raised her right hand, made a fist, and gently tapped Naito's chest. "At a time like this, don't say things like that."

Are you teaching me how to do things?

Naito gave a slight smirk.

"What a hopeless man!"

Ain suddenly raised her head.