r18novel Chapter 16 I'm on the Right Path
Chapter 16 I'm on the Right Path
Five days later.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"Hey! Far, did you hear?"
Far, who was exercising with two dumbbells, heard the shout.
He turned his head and saw Hans, holding a cup of coffee, excitedly approaching him.
"Keep your voice down!"
Far lowered his voice and pointed to a spot not far away: "The boss just got back from Masterport yesterday and is catching up on sleep—you know, if he's disturbed while sleeping..."
"So what if I bother you?"
Upon hearing this, Hans snorted coldly: "That bastard Roy, he acts recklessly just because he has some skills. He didn't even take us with him on this extra mission. In my opinion, we should unite and take his bird's nest sooner or later."
Although he said that, he still lowered his voice honestly.
"..."
Far looked at the other person helplessly, thinking to himself, who was it that cried so much on the warship when Roy volunteered to carry out that dangerous mission in Masterport, and who was the first to greet Roy when he returned to Marineford last night?
"What is it? Speak quickly."
But Far didn't expose Hans; he just said impatiently.
"It's not about that big event in the Kingdom of Nismair... I've found out some more information!"
Hans muttered, "I heard that the guy who stole the Heavenly Gold and seriously injured Brigadier General Renly is wearing a 'Sea Beast Head' that's unique to our South Seas."
There was a distinct hint of excitement in his words.
"This suggests that the guy is very likely from our South China Sea region."
"...This isn't something to be excited about."
Upon hearing this, Far also became serious.
That's right.
If we're talking about the biggest events that have shocked the world recently, then the incident on Arahit Island is definitely the most prominent one.
The Kingdom of Nismair's "Heavenly Gold," a treasure worth a staggering 5 billion, has been stolen this year.
The attackers destroyed four naval bases and a watchtower on Arashit Island, and overwhelmingly defeated Commodore 'Ranley,' hailed as a naval supernova.
There are many mysteries surrounding it.
For example, the identity of the attackers remains unknown, and how they managed to move such a huge amount of treasure in such a short time is also a mystery—no suspicious ships were seen in the vicinity after the attack.
But one thing is certain—this event has an impact beyond imagination.
After all, stealing the Celestial Gold is tantamount to directly robbing the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.
"Also, keep your voice down—haven't you heard? We've been ordered not to discuss this matter privately."
Therefore, at this moment, Far also spoke cautiously.
"What's there to be afraid of? What's the use of a blockade? The news has already spread through the World Economic News Agency."
Hans, however, disagreed.
So, Far could only shake his head helplessly.
However, he also knew that Hans was right in this matter.
Although the government's top brass was furious about this, and it is even said that the Warring States Marshal was reprimanded for it.
But it's clearly impossible to block the news now.
"I heard that the higher-ups at headquarters are already discussing the bounty on that guy, and it's very likely that the initial bounty for him will be over a hundred million... It's a good thing we missed him in Masterport back then. Such a dangerous guy."
Hans remarked at this moment.
Upon hearing this, Far was also somewhat frightened.
That's right.
For these members of the detention force returning from Mastersport, the incident seemed even more terrifying.
It's not hard to guess that the attackers on Arahit Island and those who attacked G-51 were likely the same person, or at least the same group.
If they were to encounter such a powerful figure, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Hey, do you think the boss might know more? He's been investigating in Masterport for days."
At that moment, Hans suddenly had another idea.
"...What are you thinking about?"
Far was speechless upon hearing this.
But Hans retorted confidently, "Why is it impossible? With the boss's strength, he could certainly have escaped from the enemy in a sorry state, couldn't he?"
"Ahem!"
As the two were engaged in their passionate discussion, a soft cough from behind interrupted them.
So, the two of them turned around stiffly, and then saw Roy walking out of the room with a gloomy expression.
"Boss... Boss!?"
Hans tensed up: "You're awake."
"Yes, my source of life is gone."
Roy said with a gloomy expression, "I'm on my way to town to buy some goods."
"Well... then please take care!"
Hans felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately bowed and smiled apologetically.
"Um."
Roy waved his hand and then walked away.
But before Hans could even catch his breath, he heard Roy's voice beside him: "By the way—the word 'fleeing in a sorry state' is not a good one, I don't like it."
"Come to the training ground tonight. I want to see if you've been training hard enough lately, and how you're going to take my birdie spot!"
Hans's face immediately fell.
Meanwhile, Roy, who had prepared sandbags for the night, smoothly entered the town of Peace in Marineford.
This is the town where the families of naval personnel live.
Roy, on the other hand, went straight to a store called "Fresh Fresh Department Store".
"Grandma Kara, I'm here to buy some goods!"
Roy shouted loudly into the store.
"They're here."
A moment later, a kind old woman came out of the shop.
"Is it Roy... or three cases of Coke?"
She looked at Roy and asked with a cheerful smile.
"That's right."
Roy said with a serious expression, "And please open a chilled bottle for me right now, thank you."
Not long after, Roy was leaning against the counter, gulping down a bottle of cola.
"ha!"
After gulping down a third of the bottle, Roy exhaled a comfortable breath of carbon dioxide: "That feels good."
"You're still as carefree as ever, Roy—Tina is very disappointed."
The sound coming from behind almost made Roy spit out his cola.
With that signature way of speaking, Roy knew who the other person was without even turning around.
"Tina?!"
He immediately turned his head and, sure enough, saw Lieutenant Colonel Tina with pink hair walking into the store.
"Why are you here...? Could it be!?"
Roy immediately became alert and began searching the surroundings for a suspicious man with a cigar and a cigarette.
But seeing his reaction, Tina rolled her eyes at him: "Stop looking, Smoker's still in solitary confinement—have you forgotten?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Roy realized that this was indeed the case.
But he still cautiously said, "I don't understand what you're talking about... The incident of damaging the headquarters' public areas last time had nothing to do with me... cough cough, I mean, I also heard about it."
Seeing Roy's guilty expression, Tina could only shake her head helplessly and say, "Tina is speechless."
As she spoke, she walked to the counter: "Grandma Kara, some Source of Life, please..."
"Okay, okay, Phil brand women's cigarettes, I'll go get them right away."
Grandma Kara smiled and said after hearing this.
After Grandma Kara left, Tina and Loy finally started talking.
"Don't worry, Smoker has given up on having you as his second-in-command—he has chosen the girl you recommended named Tashigi."
Tina said this.
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Roy's expression brightened: "That's great—that stubborn guy actually came to his senses? I knew a one-track-minded guy needed to be locked up in solitary confinement to get his brain working properly!"
But after hearing Roy's words, Tina gave him a strange look: "Tina is surprised. It seems you didn't know?"
"...What do you know?"
Luo Yi looked completely bewildered upon hearing this.
"It's nothing, I just heard about it—but if it's true, Lieutenant General Bilos should inform you soon."
Tina shook her head and didn't dwell on the matter any further.
She simply looked at Roy seriously: "However, on the matter of you, Tina thinks Smoker is right."
"Someone like you really shouldn't be in the detention center."
Roy, however, didn't seem surprised. He simply took another sip of his cola and said, "Burp...Why do you say that?"
"This sea is becoming increasingly chaotic and needs the power of justice."
Tina calmly stated, "The events on Arasite Island are proof of that."
Roy, as always, gave his standard answer: "Detaining troops is also a matter of justice."
"But Tina believes that with your power... you should want to change more things."
Tina said softly.
"For example, five years ago, if you hadn't joined the detention unit but instead followed the original plan and entered the 35th Operations Detachment, Vince wouldn't be dead."
Loy remained silent.
Vince Seata, and his fellow Marine who was in the same class as Tina, is also the son of Granny Kara, the owner of the shop.
He and Roy were originally assigned to the 35th Operations Squadron after graduating from the training camp, but Roy voluntarily joined the detention unit.
Vince, on the other hand, was killed in action five years ago.
Of course, no one blames Roy for this, not even Tina.
Loy understood that Tina was simply stating her own thoughts.
"Tina believes that capable and virtuous people should be in high positions so that they can change everything."
Just as Tina finished speaking, Grandma Kara came out with cigarettes in her hand.
Let's get together sometime.
So she didn't say anything more, just waved to Roy, paid, picked up the cigarettes, and left the store.
Roy watched Tina's departing figure and silently took a sip of his cola.
But at this moment, his heart remained unshaken.
Change the world? Change everything?
At least for now, he doesn't have that much ambition or desire.
He just wanted power and freedom, to be able to live the life he wanted.
He wanted to see all the strange and wonderful sights of this world he had once longed for, without any constraints.
But without a doubt.
Whether it's the former or the latter, the right path he wants to take will not be the one Tina described.
"Join the Navy, genuinely apprehend criminals, and dedicate yourself to justice?"
"Even if you rise smoothly to the top, you'll only be a Marine Admiral or Fleet Admiral—you'll still be a dog of the World Government."
That won't grant you freedom, and it won't change anything.
Muttering to himself, Roy downed the last sip of cola.
"I have my own path."
"And... I'm already on my way."