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The warships in the A13 area were leaving the port one by one, each heading to different destinations in separate batches.
A short while later, the warship Arashi was on began moving, setting course for the Edd Bay Sea.
"I found out that the northwest part of the Etwall Sea is pretty empty, so we can say we're one of the safer teams," said Saul in his deep, enthusiastic voice.
"Safe?" Arashi was momentarily taken aback.
"Yes, our mission this time is just to locate and observe the movements of Shiki and his crew from a distance. Usually, no battles occur," Saul said happily.
As Marines, especially when tasked with missions in the New World, the death rate was extremely high.
Many of Saul's companions from the same cohort had already lost their lives.
"Is that so?" Arashi murmured. He wasn't afraid of death; in fact, hovering between life and death had allowed him to increase his strength rapidly.
However, the current mission's arrangement differed from what he had anticipated.
Initially, he thought he would be with Kuzan, Garp, and others, but the outcome differed.
The journey was flexible; aside from the officers taking turns on watch, everyone was relatively free.
Rear Admiral Jerry was an unconventional superior, rarely giving them orders.
This tall, thin, and sickly-looking rear admiral often smoked cigars alone, sighing as if worried.
On the other hand, Arashi found himself enjoying his time with Saul.
Despite being a giant with a massive frame, Saul was kind, warm-hearted, and, most importantly, simple-minded.
The two had met a few days earlier when Kuzan introduced them.
"I saw Kuzan and Sakazuki board Vice Admiral Garp's ship."
"They must have some special mission," Saul shared, revealing news that surprised Arashi. "Borsalino seems to have stayed back at the base."
"Mission? What kind of mission?" Arashi asked, puzzled.
"No idea, but it must be something highly dangerous, unlike our relatively easy assignment," Saul said with a laugh.
Arashi nodded, not dwelling on it. He continued his silent training.
With a superhuman physique, Rokushiki techniques could be mastered quickly if one was willing to put in the effort and had some talent.
By the third day, on their way to the Etwall Sea, Arashi had mastered the Shigan (Finger Gun).
By the fifth day, the warship arrived at its designated location and entered patrol mode.
Rear Admiral Jerry reported the situation to headquarters and received orders to remain on standby.
That afternoon, Arashi noticed a new line of text on his status screen: [Geppo (Moonwalk) LV1+]
He had mastered five Rokushiki, except Kami-e (Paper Art).
However, achieving true mastery and creating techniques unique to himself would require considerable time and effort.
As far as he knew, even the three "monsters" hadn't accomplished that yet.
The sea remained calm, and Rear Admiral Jerry occasionally raised his binoculars to scan the horizon but found nothing—not even a shadow of the Flying Pirates.
This left everyone a bit disappointed yet relieved. "It looks like this will be an easy job," Jerry sighed.
Arashi continued his silent training.
The ship was equipped with the necessary exercise equipment, and he followed the guidance of Bogart and Zephyr, repeatedly swinging dumbbells, creating gusts of wind with each motion.
"Monsters are rare enough as it is!"
"But a hardworking, diligent monster like him is even rarer—someone to be admired."
"Haha, Shimbu, you're already a middle-aged man in your forties."
"You've reached your limit, so you don't need to push yourself like this. But Arashi is still young."
"Who knows, maybe he'll become an admiral one day!"
Laughter echoed around him as Arashi grinned and continued to swing his dumbbells.
Although he was quiet, his young age made him well-liked by the other officers on the ship.
Captain Shimbu, in particular, often chatted with him and shared valuable experiences about survival and combat at sea.
At the warship's bow, Rear Admiral Jerry glanced briefly at Arashi, listening to the noise behind him.
"Just like those three, Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino, this kid is also called a 'monster.' Yet he's been assigned to my ship," he mused.
Recently, Jerry had heard Arashi's name frequently mentioned around the G-5 base.
"He's only just begun to master the Rokushiki, probably due to a lack of foundation, but he's got great potential."
"That's why they put him in a relatively safe area," Jerry speculated.
"Perhaps it's a favor from the higher-ups. But then again, he's still very young and inexperienced."
Jerry was convinced that the area he was in charge of was safe.
It was possible that they wouldn't even encounter any enemies before the mission ended.
"I've heard that Headquarters has decided to grant a batch of Devil Fruits to the new generation to strengthen their powers," Jerry thought.
"I wonder if he'll be among them?" But this didn't concern Jerry much. He was getting on in years, and his potential was clear.
The best resources were naturally reserved for the younger, more promising Marines.
Meanwhile, in another area...
"Sengoku! Why isn't Arashi on the same ship as us?" Garp shouted angrily into a Den Den Mushi.
"That kid is strong enough to take on the Golden Lion Pirates and even the Roger Pirates head-on!"
Garp was furious that his beloved disciple had been separated from him during such a crucial mission.
Instead, Kuzan and Sakazuki accompanied him.
"I have my reasons, Garp," Sengoku replied firmly.
"You still don't get it. This mission isn't about engaging Shiki in battle; it's about long-range observation."
"While two of the world's strongest pirate crews are clashing, we need to be more focused on ensuring the safety of the Marine bases and Headquarters."
"What reasons? All I know is that you lost track of Arashi!" Garp retorted loudly.
"He's only been with the Marines briefly, and his foundation is still weak. What he needs now is growth,"
Sengoku countered, his voice rising in frustration. "Being with you is too dangerous! Can you guarantee his safety?"
Sengoku was furious. A young Marine with such potential, following Garp, could be a massive loss for the Marines if something happened to him.
Even the most talented individuals need time to grow and develop.
Kuzan and Sakazuki, the other two "monsters," already had the physical strength and combat experience necessary to handle major responsibilities.
"Of course I can!" Garp shot back without hesitation. He knew full well that his disciple had an extraordinary resilience bordering on immortality.
Such a remarkable young Marine could play a crucial role in direct combat.
"You idiot!" Sengoku cursed. "Where is he? At least tell me what area he's responsible for!"
"The northwest, in the A13 sector," Sengoku snapped.
The Edd Bay Sea was a vast region, and the Marines were disadvantaged in the New World.
In this era, it was difficult for them to compete with pirates.
This time, Sengoku had divided the sea into countless sectors for surveillance, carefully waiting for the right moment to act.
If the two pirate crews clashed, they would decide on their next move based on the situation.
It was a meticulous and cautious strategic deployment. But there was one unpredictable element: Garp.
"Hahahaha, got it," Garp laughed. After quickly checking the map, he realized his area was close to Arashi's.
However, the danger levels between their two locations were vastly different.
According to Sengoku's assessment, Garp's area was highly dangerous, while Arashi's was relatively safe.
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