"Everyone, listen up! Conduct a thorough search of the entire city. We must capture that clown Buggy before Rear Admiral Gion returns to headquarters tomorrow morning!"
The pirate they had just captured less than half a day ago had escaped from the jail, leaving the branch's Navy soldiers no chance of getting a good night's sleep.
"Will it even help at this point?"
Rear Admiral Gion's adjutant, Thomas, appeared beside Navy Captain Brown.
"It's already late, and Carnival City is so vast. That pirate can fly... it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. Even with the headquarters soldiers Gion brought, it's impossible to catch that clown."
"So... what should we do?"
The Navy captain looked worried. He knew a small-time pirate wouldn't cause much trouble, but the nature of this incident was severe.
The pirate inside scared the soldiers guarding the cell out of their wits. If this got out, where would the Navy's prestige be?
"Gather all the soldiers. Rear Admiral Gion has something to say."
The adjutant left a vague statement and stood at attention nearby.
Following orders, the branch commander quickly assembled all the soldiers, including the jailers.
Soldiers were guarding all the prisoners from Navy headquarters brought by Rear Admiral Gion.
"Do you think Rear Admiral Gion will punish us?"
"Probably not. I heard Rear Admiral Gion is very easygoing, not strict with his subordinates like Vice Admiral Sakazuki..."
"Silence! Keep quiet!"
The Navy captain roared.
In the Grand Line, even the most minor branch is led by a captain from headquarters. Large bases are sometimes directly commanded by a vice admiral from headquarters.
Even if their strengths are equivalent, the headquarters' Navy looks down on branch Navy. This discrimination is a reality that mere words cannot change.
Aside from some important bases that have to be guarded by vice admirals from headquarters, most Navy officers assigned to branches are essentially being demoted.
The Navy captain had hoped to earn some merits and eventually return to headquarters for a promotion.
Now, his soldiers had been scared by an unknown pirate, which severely impacted his career.
Despite the captain's shouts, the soldiers on the field quickly quieted down.
But as they waited for Rear Admiral Gion's speech, ten minutes passed...
Half an hour passed...
No sign of Rear Admiral Gion.
Each soldier started feeling discontented, but no one dared voice it, seeing the adjutant standing there so rigidly.
An hour passed...
Two hours passed...
The field became as noisy as a market, buzzing with complaints.
Initially, the captain scolded them, but eventually, even he became dissatisfied and did nothing.
As dawn broke, the sky lightened.
Unlike headquarters, the Navy branch lacked strict discipline. Feeling fooled, the soldiers grumbled, and some even fell asleep, snoring loudly.
"Captain Brown, our soldiers are either guarding prisoners or searching for the escapee, while your soldiers can't even stand for one night. Do you think this is appropriate?"
Adjutant Thomas suddenly questioned the startled Captain Brown.
Staring blankly, Captain Brown responded, "Huh?"
Thomas replied, with a faint, unfriendly smile, "Perhaps Rear Admiral Gion forgot about this?"
He cleared his throat and shouted at the soldiers, "Get in line! Rear Admiral Gion hasn't started his speech yet. How can you be so lazy? Stand at attention!"
Brown wouldn't openly express his dissatisfaction, but it would be a welcome result if any soldier acted out.
Despite their complaints, the soldiers stood up again, though the formation was far from neat.
"Hey! Everyone here?"
A mocking voice came from behind.
Turning around, they saw no one but noticed someone standing beside Captain Brown.
All the soldiers woke up instantly.
Soru!
A skill only learned by headquarters' elites!
"…"
Captain Brown was at a loss for words.
Address him by name? Seemed inappropriate.
Call him "sir"? He was just a trainee.
Ignoring Brown, Hailan nodded at Adjutant Thomas, then addressed the soldiers, who were all staring at him with awe and envy.
"Has anyone taught you to be punctual?"
The soldiers were confused by Hailan's question.
You made us stand here all night, and now you're talking about punctuality?
Hailan continued, "But have you ever thought that being punctual means having your time wasted by those who aren't?"
"When you've arrived on time or early and are anxiously waiting, the other person might just be enjoying the flowers."
"Your superior claims to be busy, but might only be studying a foreign language."
The soldiers were bewildered; even Thomas thought the trainee might be crazy.
But he trusted Gion's judgment and didn't intervene.
A soldier raised his hand, "So, are you telling us to be late?"
Despite Hailan looking younger than most of them, none dared to underestimate him after seeing his Soru.
"You could try being late next time the branch soldiers assemble. If Captain Brown breaks your leg, don't worry, I'll find someone to fix it."
"Hahahaha..."
The field erupted in laughter.
"Is that funny?"
Captain Brown roared.
He didn't understand Hailan's point but felt his soldiers embarrassed him.
As the field quieted, Hailan continued, "If you are late, Captain Brown might break your leg."
"But if I am late, you can't do anything to me."
"Do you know why?"
"Only the strong have more privileges!"