The entire deck fell into an eerie silence, as everyone stared dumbfounded at Ian.
How dare this guy?
The marines from 315th Branch, in particular, stared at their former colleague with a mixture of admiration and bewilderment.
Although they were only members of the West Blue Branch, they had heard of that high-ranking figure from Marine Headquarters.
That was Chief Instructor Zephyr from the Marine Headquarters, once known as Black Arm, the former Admiral who never killed!
How dare he slap him twice in front of so many people?
What a disgrace this was!
Even Captain Enchi and the other two stood there in stunned silence, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Just a minute ago, they had thought Ian, the marine from the 315th Branch, had a solution?
To their surprise, the solution was... Just a couple of slaps?
At that moment, Ain, with her long, wavy, ocean-blue hair, finally came to her senses. Her eyes instantly filled with rage as she glared at the jerk who had dared to humiliate her most respected teacher.
"What the hell are you doing, you bastard?"
"Calm down."
Seeing Ain, who had already drawn two daggers and was about to charge at Ian, Captain Enchi quickly stopped her.
"Let's wait and see… Maybe this really is his method."
"Don't stop me, you're a bastard too!"
Ain, overwhelmed by anger at her teacher being humiliated, could not calm down at all. "Binz, what are you still standing there for? Don't let Zephyr-sensei be humiliated any further!"
"I..."
Called upon by Ain, Binz showed a trace of confusion on his face, as if only just snapping out of the shock of seeing his teacher shamed. His eyes still clouded with daze, he muttered: "Mr. Zephyr, oh, right, right."
Then he, too, glared angrily at Ian: "You damned bastard..."
But before he could finish, Ian, who had slapped Zephyr twice, looked at the unresponsive man and shook his head in disappointment.
"What's with that expression? Truly disappointing. To think that the so-called Black Arm, the Admiral who never killed, is nothing but a coward."
Then he turned, still speaking in the same calm tone. "Beaten once and you sink into despair, without even the courage to face your enemies again. As an instructor, you're not even as strong as your two students. Just rot here with your last two students!"
"What are you talking about, you idiot? Do you know what Mr. Zephyr is facing?"
However, facing the roaring, tearful Ain, Ian paid no attention. He turned around and looked at the still-dazed marines from the 315th Branch.
"Everyone, prepare to evacuate."
"This..."
"Follow the order, Marines! Don't pay attention to anyone else. Those who want to survive will follow!"
"Yes, Lieutenant!"
At Ian's command, the marines did not hesitate. They rushed back to the 315th warship while shouting: "Turn around! Sail away now!"
At once, under Ian's orders, the marines of the 315th Branch snapped back from their daze and sprang into action, quickly maneuvering the warship to change direction.
Ian, however, paid no more attention to what was happening behind him; he had already done what needed to be done.
While he didn't know how Zephyr and the others managed to evacuate safely, he had no intention of waiting around here to die with them.
Back on the 315th Branch's warship, Ian immediately issued various orders, and the Marines followed suit, moving in an orderly manner without stopping for a moment.
After turning around, they immediately began to move forward. Captain Enchi, left bewildered on the wrecked ship, watched helplessly as it sailed away.
Enchi: "..."
He hasn't even boarded the warship yet!
And he's supposed to be the base commander of the 315th Branch!
"Damn it! Didn't that bastard say he had retired?"
Captain Enchi cursed, then thought of Zephyr. Turning around, he saw Zephyr, who had stood up without a trace.
Although Zephyr's eyes were still filled with despair and sadness, he had stood up.
Captain Enchi, stunned, immediately became excited, and he hurried forward to support him.
"Z-zphyr-sensei."
"Zphyr-sensei."
Ain and Binz also excitedly stepped forward.
"I'm not old enough to be supported by someone."
Zephyr, whose arm was severed, refused. He simply wrapped his severed arm in tattered clothing and looked at Ain, Binz, and Enchi with some disappointment.
"You're still young. You shouldn't follow me to my death."
"Zephyr-sensei..."
The three of them hesitated to speak. Aside from Ain and Binz, who looked determined, Enchi wore a wry smile, as if he had something to say.
"Well, that kid's right."
Zephyr looked at the receding warship, seemingly revitalized at this moment, and threw his head back with a laugh.
"The children aren't safe yet, so how can I sit here and complain?"
"Teacher..."
Captain Enchi's face lit up with excitement upon hearing Zephyr's words, and he shouted: "I'll go get them back right now. Don't worry, I'm still here; they won't just run away."
With that, before Zephyr could say anything, he rushed to the edge of the ship and shouted: "Come back! Zephyr-sensei has decided to leave."
"Come back!"
"Damn it! We're not even on board yet!"
But no matter how he shouted, the ship didn't turn around. Instead, it drifted further and further away, leaving Enchi frozen in bewilderment.
Finally, under the gaze of the three, Captain Enchi became furious. "Seriously? Your captain is still here! Assholes!"
"Captain Enchi."
At this moment, Binz seemed to notice something and pointed at a small boat beside the ship.
"Look at that! Are they asking us to row over there on our own?"
Ain: "..."
Captain Enchi: "..."
Zephyr: "..."
Enchi and the other two also stared at the boat, and suddenly fell silent.
"That bastard definitely did it on purpose."
Captain Enchi's face darkened. "Absolutely on purpose."
"Hahaha, I didn't expect such interesting Marines to appear in the West Blue."
Zephyr, who had been silent, suddenly laughed heartily. His sorrowful eyes glanced once more at the distant warship before he sighed.
"It's all my fault. That boy was right, I really am a coward! Enough. Don't just stand there, let's change ships. Any later and we really will be left behind."
...
"Lieutenant Ian, Captain Enchi..."
"He told us to turn back?"
"Ignore him, keep sailing."
"... Yes, Lieutenant Ian."
The marine replied immediately. Then, as if realizing something, he hesitated and said: "They are on a small boat."
"Don't worry about it."
Ian glanced at it and shook his head, but then added: "Slow down a bit."
"Yes, Lieutenant Ian."
The marine breathed a sigh of relief at Ian's words. They had almost thought... Lieutenant Ian was really going to send Captain Enchi to his death!
However, just as the warship slowed down, another marine hurried over, shouting anxiously: "Lieutenant Ian, pirates, there's a pirate ship blocking our route."
"I can see it."
Ian raised his head, his eyes flickering slightly as he looked at the pirate ship blocking their way.
Then he said expressionlessly: "Don't worry about it. Keep sailing!"
"Understood!"