69 chapter 69

Third person's point of view:

Somewhere in the grand line, a marine battleship is cutting through the waves, chasing behind a pirate ship as the canons on the marine ship's prow continuously fired their projectiles at the pirate ship.

"Stay on their tail," Hina, who was standing in the middle of the marine ship's deck, exclaimed loudly, her gaze sharp as she locked her eyes on the pirate ship.

"If Those pirates manage to lose us, then Hina will make sure you get toilet cleaning duties for the rest of your miserable lives," She added with her usual stoic tone.

"Yes, captain. We won't let you down, captain," all the marines on the ship replied with one loud voice with smiles on their faces, seemingly in high spirits, despite Hina's threats, even as the pirate ship returned fire.

"Leave it to me, captain," ensign Obryn said confidently, jumping into the air just as Hina was about to jump into the air to deflect the incoming cannonballs herself.

He then spun himself sideways in the air with his leg outstretched to the side, catching the cannonball with his leg and deflecting it to the side of the ship.

The pirates, of course, weren't discouraged by the ensign's show of force, continuously firing their rear canons at the incoming marine ship, with Most of their projectiles missing their targets thanks to the superb steering of the marine ship's helmsman. The others being deflected by ensign Obryn until a cannonball managed to hit the pirate ship's mast, breaking it in half and forcing it to a halt.

"You know the drill," Hina remarked as the marine ship came to a stop near the pirates' disabled vessel. "Board the pirates' ship and subdue them. Hina will feed the bodies of anyone who dares to die here to the fish," she concluded as she spat her cigarette on the ground, stomping it and boarding the pirate ship before any of her subordinates could even nod.

It didn't take long for the battle to end with most of the pirates lying on their ship's deck wriggling in agony, being bound by black metallic rings, while most of the marines were unscathed, only a few of them suffering slight injuries.

"Get those pirate scum to the holding cells, haul all of their supplies to our ship, and make the preparations to sink this ship," Hina ordered with a calm voice while watching her subordinates busily moving to and fro between the two ships.

"Perurururu," Hina heard a ringing tone coming from her pocket, causing her to frown as she picked up her personal transponder snail. "You have your instruction. I'll be in my the captain's quarters if you need me," Hina remarked as she jumped back into her ship, making her way towards her quarters.

"Yo, Hina. It's been a while," came Johnny's voice from the transponder snail as soon as she picked up the call.

"Johnny? What do you want? Hina is currently busy," Hina asked in a stoic tone.

"How cold. To think you would treat me so coldly after having your way with me. Johnny's heart is breaking," Johnny replied jokingly, his tone that of mocked hurt.

"Cut the crap, Johnny. Hina is really busy," Hina replied with a sigh, rubbing her forehead in exasperation, but there was a slight smile on her lips.

"Fine. I'm calling on that favor you owe me," Johnny replied, his tone turning serious as he spoke.

"So quickly? What do you need?" Hina asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm currently in Kano country, and three cp9 agents attacked my crewmates. Can you find out why cp9 is targeting us and by whose orders?" Johnny explained his tone, becoming especially cold when he asked about the person giving the order.

There was an entire minute of silence as Hina's mouth widened in shock at Johnny's words, causing the cigarette to fall from her mouth.

"Are you serious? If you're joking, then you should stop Johnny because this isn't a laughing matter," Hina stated with a frown, hoping against hope that Johnny was indeed joking.

"I'm dead serious right now. Those cp9 agents went after my crewmates, Hina," Johnny said slowly and calmly, trying to clarify that he isn't joking.

"Fine. Hina believes you, but this kind of information is above Hina's pay grade," Hina remarked with a sigh, her tone very bitter. "Hina will have to ask one of Hina's superiors about this," she concluded.

"So, Will you do it?" Johnny asked, his tone neutral, not showing any emotion.

"Hina will do it. Don't do anything reckless until Hina figures out what's going on," Hina stated after a couple of seconds in thought.

"Thank you, Hina. I'll owe you one," Johnny replied, his tone seemingly pleased.

Hina tried to explain that he wouldn't owe her anything because she was keeping her part of the bet, but Johnny had already hung up, causing her to sigh.

-0-

Johnny's point of view:

I sighed as I put the transponder snail down, feeling the urge to hit something as I stood up and made my way to the black pearl's deck.

"Hey, captain," came a voice from my side as soon as I left the captain's quarters, causing me to turn around and see Laffite, who was leaning on the railing of the ship, seemingly waiting for me.

"Oh, your back Laffite. How did things go with Don Chinjao?" I asked with a smile, trying to hide my irritation.

"Don Chinjao is currently on an expedition to the grand line, but I managed to meet up with his grandson Boo," Laffite said with a smile. "He informed me of his grandfather's departure himself and that we'll have to ask Chinjao himself for a meeting when he gets back," he concluded.

'Just great,' I thought to myself with a sigh.

"More importantly, I hear that Wilson and the others were attacked earlier today," added with a probing tone.

"That's right. I know I've been throwing a lot of work on you lately, but I'm going to have to ask you to find the people who attacked them and keep an eye on them," I said with a sigh. "But do that in the morning, after you're well-rested," I added with an apologetic voice.

"I don't mind, captain, so leave it to me and don't worry about it," Laffite said while smiling assuringly, his tone filled with confidence, causing me to nod with a smile as he turned around and left, making his way towards his room.

'Why can't that air-headed gorilla learn something or two from Laffite?' I thought to myself while shaking my head.