chapter 20
While Rhodes and his group wreaked havoc in Spedamis, a warship sailed through the nearby waters.
On the deck, marines busied themselves with their tasks. At the center, a group of naval officers wearing Justice cloaks sat around a table, enjoying afternoon tea.
"What are your plans after we report back to headquarters?"
A burly marine put down his cup and turned toward a female officer seated nearby.
The marine, a striking woman with short light pink hair, exuded a cold demeanor. A cigarette hung from her lips, and dark purple gloves covered her hands as they rested on the table.
Though he spoke to the group, his eyes lingered on the female officer, admiration obvious in his gaze.
"I'll remain in the Grand Line," a calm young officer with an X-shaped scar on his chin replied in her place.
Although the atmosphere was relaxed, his upright posture and serious demeanor reflected his naval discipline.
"Got it, Colonel Drake. And you, Lieutenant Colonel Hina? Are you staying in the Grand Line too? If you're undecided about your next post, I can pull some strings," the burly marine said casually, attempting to sound nonchalant.
He leaned back, adding with a hint of smugness, "After all, Vice Admiral Jonathan of the G8 Fortress has been my father's close friend for decades."
Hina sighed, plucking the cigarette from her lips and pressing it into the ashtray.
"Hina is very irritated!"
She rose, adjusted the brown sunglasses perched on her head, and tugged at her gloves before striding toward the ship's railing. Alone now, she stared out at the vast, monotonous sea.
I should've taken my own ship to headquarters, she thought bitterly.
The North Sea had been relatively calm in recent years. Doflamingo, leader of the Don Quixote family, had shifted his operations to the New World, becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Meanwhile, the Vinsmoke family had reached an agreement with the World Government, solidifying their position.
Hina, having served in the North Sea branch for years and earned enough merit, was now being transferred to Marine Headquarters in Marineford. The journey would have been straightforward—if not for Colonel Monte Barrow.
Barrow, an officer with more rank than ability, had been relentlessly pursuing her since boarding the ship. With Vice Admiral Monte Giles backing him, Hina had no choice but to tolerate his advances, though her disgust was palpable.
"Is the voyage too dull for you?" Barrow said, oblivious to her irritation. "We'll be docking soon. Here, let me get you a drink."
Happily, he rushed to fetch a glass of fruit wine.
"Hina doesn't want to drink. Take it away!"
Were it not for her concerns about him causing trouble during their report to headquarters, Hina would've gladly thrown the wine in his face.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion suddenly echoed across the sea, snapping everyone's attention to the horizon.
"What was that?"
Hina turned sharply toward the sound.
Drake approached, squinting at a faint outline of an island in the distance.
"That's Spedamis Town," he said thoughtfully. "To hear an explosion this loud from here... something serious must be happening."
"I haven't heard of any major pirate groups in the area," one officer mused.
"We can't ignore it," Barrow declared dramatically, though his constant glances at Hina undermined his bravado. "We are the navy of justice!"
"Major General Bastille, what's your decision?" Drake asked, turning to a tall officer wearing a horned mask and carrying a long-handled saw.
Major General Bastille had been dispatched from Navy Headquarters to handle a crisis in the Dawson Kingdom. Afterward, he was tasked with escorting Hina, Drake, and Barrow to Marineford.
Though reluctant to interfere, Bastille couldn't ignore the explosion.
"This island is tied to one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea," he muttered.
Spedamis was Doflamingo's birthplace and a key base for the Don Quixote family in the North Sea. While Bastille had no desire to cross paths with the warlord, his duty as a marine left him no choice.
"Turn the ship toward Spedamis. Prepare for action!" Bastille commanded.
"Major Corlaw, assemble a team for potential evacuations. Captain Barstow, take two units to treat any wounded on the island. The rest of you, prepare for combat!"
As the warship adjusted course, Bastille stared at the island ahead. A nagging feeling told him trouble awaited them there.
---
On the Island
"Finding Seastone handcuffs isn't easy," Rhodes said, rummaging through the Don Quixote family's warehouse.
"Such treasures are likely only in the Grand Line," Nailu remarked, handing him the last crate of supplies.
"Why don't you help more? You've been wandering around, pretending to work," she added with a smirk.
"False accusations!" Rhodes grinned, taking the crate as they walked back to the port.
After defeating Gladius and Adorade Manudo, the remaining Don Quixote family members fled, leaving Rhodes' group to plunder their base.
Though they didn't find the weapons Gray had hoped for, the sheer volume of treasure shocked them.
Nia, in particular, couldn't contain her excitement. She darted between their ship, the Polar, and the manor, handling most of the transportation. However, once all the valuables were aboard, she refused to leave.
One moment, she claimed to be tending to Gray's injuries; the next, she insisted on guarding the ship against thieves. In truth, she simply didn't want to part with the treasure.
As a result, transporting supplies fell to Rhodes and Nailu.
❄️For more chapters ❄️
patreon.com/Thereator
Extra chapters already available
You can get daily chapter update....💐