The vast ocean stretched endlessly as a column of Marine warships advanced in formation. Their hulls were solid steel, their cannons gleaming with cold light. A small pirate crew foolish enough to block their path was effortlessly crushed, and the moment the surrounding pirate ships realized what they were dealing with, they panicked and scattered.
But the Marine fleet didn't bother giving chase.
They simply sailed on—quiet, steady, unstoppable.
"Word is Gregory and the others begged you for two full days of personal training?"
Brigadier General Adkin let the sea breeze whip through his hair as he widened his expression theatrically.
"They're worried," Longinus replied calmly. "Afraid their strength won't keep up with the pace of the Recruit Training Camp. So they overcame their fear and asked me for help."
"That's… a very tragic story." Adkin crossed his arms and sighed dramatically.
"Your training is so insane even Vice Admiral Kizaru gets nervous just watching. Sometimes I really don't understand. With your talent, you'll become a monster like Kizaru sooner or later. What's the rush?"
"Who knows? Maybe there's a monster already living inside my soul."
"Hahaha! That joke isn't funny at all!"
—
The harbor of the flourishing coastal kingdom bustled with activity—ships docking and departing, workers shouting as they unloaded crates. And yet the broadest section of the port had been completely cleared out, sealed off by a full contingent of Royal Guards.
Merchant ships passing through couldn't help slowing down to gawk.
What kind of dignitary warranted this kind of spectacle?
"Tina is sooo disappointed… Big Brother Longinus still isn't here?"
Dressed neatly and full of youthful vitality, Tina was without question the brightest sight in the whole harbor. If not for the intimidating presence of her overprotective father—the kingdom's highest military officer—half the men nearby would have already attempted to talk to her.
"Oh? Already impatient?" Louis teased.
"You just visited the G-2 base three months ago to see Longinus, didn't you?"
Had anyone else enjoyed such treatment, Louis would have exploded in anger.
But Longinus had saved his entire fleet two years ago.
Louis had followed his growth closely ever since—and admired the boy's character more and more.
At the very least, he'd never stand in the way of Tina making a friend like that.
After all, thanks to his own heavy-handed involvement, Tina barely had any friends at all.
Every time he thought about it… he felt guilt twist in his stomach.
"Daaad—" Tina elongated her tone accusingly.
"How can you even say that? It's been three months since you took me to G-2!"
"Daddy was busy! The war these past months—battlefields everywhere—"
"I remember two years ago you told me the reason those pirates gave you trouble was because you're terrible at naval battles…"
"Cough! Cough! That… that wasn't a defeat. It was more like… a temporary setback. If I had just half a day more, I definitely could've turned the tide."
Louis's face reddened as he declared this shamelessly.
"The pirates' supplies were way worse than your fleet's. Of course you could've turned the tide if you just waited for them to run out of ammunition.
But the idea that you'd last long enough is the real miracle."
Tina muttered under her breath.
"W-War is unpredictable! Anything can happen on a battlefield!"
"Fine, fine, let's put naval battles aside."
Tina sighed like a miniature adult, as if heartbroken by her father's incompetence.
"But Big Brother Longinus resolved the whole Hughes Kingdom rebellion in less than a month.
Your war lasted over three months—and it still needed the Marines to mediate.
So the whole 'no time' excuse is a YOU problem."
"Th-this…" Louis felt his scalp tingle.
His dignity crumbled like wet sand.
Thankfully, a glint of steel caught his eye—Marine warships approaching the harbor.
He seized the distraction immediately.
"Ah! Look! The Marines—Longinus's ship must be here!"
Tina instantly abandoned her roasting session.
"I see it! I see it! Big Brother Longinus is standing right at the bow!"
Louis let out a breath of pure relief.
So it still falls on Longinus to save his pride…
He straightened his posture and barked,
"Everyone! Look alive! Don't embarrass us in front of our honored Marine guests!"
The fleet drew closer—massive steel beasts gliding across the water.
Some dockworkers were so shocked they dropped their cargo outright.
For people who had never once left their island, such ships were a spiritual revelation.
Even Louis couldn't help thinking—
If he had possessed such warships two years ago, pirates wouldn't have stood a chance no matter how incompetent his fleet was.
—
From the lead ship, a Marine brigadier general in a Justice coat strode forward.
Longinus followed just half a step behind him, wearing a calm and gentle smile.
Seeing this, Louis was stunned.
He had underestimated Longinus's place within the Marines.
Higher-ranking officers all stepped back half a pace to highlight Longinus's central role—and not a single one looked displeased by it.
The boy had clearly won over the entire G-2 base during the past two years.
"Brigadier General Adkin, please follow me. His Majesty has already prepared a banquet at the palace."
"You must be General Louis, guardian of the Hisca Kingdom. Thank you for receiving us."
"Hahaha! In front of a Marine brigadier general, how could I call myself a guardian? You flatter me."
Longinus, walking behind them, almost rolled his eyes.
A brigadier general and a kingdom's top general… from the outside looking in, one might think Louis was the one in charge.
But in reality, a Marine brigadier general—especially one from Headquarters—held far more weight than a kingdom's general on the Grand Line.
Even kings treated Marine brigadiers with utmost respect.
Technically, World Government member nations outranked Marines.
But everyone knew the truth—
the safety of these seas depended entirely on the Marines.
Offend a Marine brigadier general, and the "bad luck" that followed your country might just be uncanny.
All it took was a rumor—
"The Marines are neglecting this region."
Immediately, every pirate in the area would swarm like hungry hyenas.
Try complaining to the World Government?
Your case would be smothered under endless bureaucracy.
Several nations had once dismissed the Marines as irrelevant—
only to become pirate havens shortly thereafter.
Their economies collapsed, they couldn't afford the Heavenly Tribute, and they were expelled from the World Government…
leading ultimately to complete destruction.
This was exactly why Louis hadn't opposed Tina joining the Marines.
In any world, the old truth never changes:
Standing beneath a great tree gives the best shade.
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