Chapter 6: Marines Make Way for Pirates
One hour to prepare for departure was, for Ian, an absurdly short amount of time. The overbearing style of the Headquarters officers had left a deep impression on him, only strengthening his resolve.
Once I get to Headquarters and have the backing of the big shots there, life should become even more colorful!
Ian still held deep feelings for this branch base where he had lived for years. Even with only an hour, he set aside fifteen minutes to bid a final farewell to the few hundred Marines stationed there.
According to the information Hina provided, a new base commander would arrive to take over his position within five days of his departure. The East Blue, now the sea with the fewest pirates among the four blues, was a testament to Ian's numerous military achievements. To preserve his accomplishments and set a positive example for the world, the new commander was being transferred directly from Marine Headquarters to continue shouldering the responsibility of protecting the East Blue.
While Ian was promoted alone and couldn't bring prosperity to everyone, being allowed to select thirty trusted Marines to accompany him to Headquarters was a small reward for his success in pacifying the region.
After his fifteen-minute farewell speech, Ian rubbed his nose, feeling a touch of emotion. A new adventure was about to begin!
"Commodore Ian, rest in peace! We will miss you forever! Waaah!"
"Waaah! Commodore Ian, we don't want you to go! You will live on forever in our hearts!"
"Once our boss, always our boss!"
"Commodore Ian!"
"Commodore Ian!!"
"..."
"Shut up, you idiots!" Ian roared in exasperation. "You're talking as if I'm about to die! Everyone, drop and give me fifty push-ups! Now! After that, find Nami and move all my crates onto the ship. Not a single crate from the warehouse is to be left behind. This is your final order. Do you understand?!"
Ian fumed. If he stayed at this branch any longer, these Marines would be the death of him sooner or later. Instead of being proper soldiers, they were all a bunch of comedians!
The crates in the warehouse contained all the spoils from Ian's "pirate-hunting" activities over the years. All the effort spent supporting the East Blue and making money over the years was for this very day! Anything else could be faked, but not money. If you could amass real wealth, then you were a real success. This iron rule held true even in the world of pirates.
...
One hour later.
Everything was ready.
Woo——!
The whistle of Hina's warship sounded, signaling departure. Following her instructions, Ian boarded his branch warship, which fell in line behind Hina's vessel. With her acting as their naval guide, they set course for Marine Headquarters.
"Alright, that's enough. No more farewells. Let's go!" Watching his own warship weigh anchor and set sail, Ian waved a hand dismissively, then leaped nimbly onto the ship's railing.
"Salute!"
"Salute!"
"..."
"Commodore Ian, bon voyage!"
"Commodore Ian, bon voyage!"
"Lift it higher! Lift it higher!"
"..."
Ian turned his head in surprise towards the crowded shoreline. There, held aloft above the heads of the crowd, was his majestic tiger-skin chair. The Marines who had followed Ian for years, their faces streaked with tears, shouted at the top of their lungs once more:
"Commodore Ian!!"
"This will always be your home! You will always be our boss!"
"Don't forget us!"
"You're welcome to come back anytime!"
Fragments of memories from the past few years flashed through Ian's mind—familiar faces surfacing one after another. Grueling training under the scorching sun. Marine uniforms soaked with sweat. The delicious wine at celebration banquets. The exuberant cheers of victory... It all seemed to be blown away by the strong sea breeze, yet the soldiers' shouts still echoed on the wind.
"Woo... Commodore Ian, so you can cry too," Nami said, her eyes red-rimmed as she stood beside Ian, constantly wiping her tears.
Tch! Ian raised his head, looking up at the blue sky. "Cry? Like you? How could I possibly cry? It's just... today's sea breeze is so damn salty!"
...
In the afternoon, having just completed his daily task of 5,000 sword swings, Ian lay drowsily on a bench on the deck.
The journey from the Four Blues to the Grand Line was far easier for Marine vessels than for pirate ships. There was no need to detour around the Reverse Mountain; they could simply rely on warship navigation technology to cross the Calm Belt and reach their destination directly. At their current speed, they would likely reach the area near the Calm Belt by late night and arrive at Marineford within a few days.
For now, Hina's and Ian's warships were still within the East Blue, traveling along the dedicated sea route marked by the Marine Log Pose. This official route was fast and convenient, requiring little attention from Ian.
Nami, excited to be leaving the East Blue for the first time, sat high in the crow's nest, meticulously recording their route and drawing nautical charts by hand. Following Ian had finally given her the chance to fulfill her childhood dream. She was heading for the wider ocean!
"Hmm? Captain Hina's warship... it's veering off course?" Nami muttered, noticing something amiss. According to the Log Pose and her charts, their course should be a straight line. Why had the lead ship adjusted its bow towards the ten o'clock direction?
As the navigator, Nami was fully responsible for commanding their route. Sailing in a convoy had made the journey feel more relaxed, but faced with this sudden change, she knew she had to observe carefully before making a judgment.
Nami grabbed a telescope and looked ahead. Suddenly, she shuddered all over, exclaiming in surprise, "Is that... a pirate flag? A pirate ship!"
As Hina's warship moved completely out of the way, what appeared before them was a pirate ship sailing directly towards them! Judging by the distance, it was just over ten nautical miles ahead.
A warship carrying a Headquarters Captain was actually giving way to a pirate ship? How unbelievable!
Nami seemed to remember something. She quickly slid down from her perch and rushed to a file box on the deck, frantically rummaging through it. These were the materials Hina had given Commodore Ian before their departure, containing a wealth of information about the Grand Line.
Finally, Nami found what she was looking for in a booklet.
"That's the symbol! That's it!" she gasped, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "That flag belongs to... one of the Shichibukai, the Donquixote Pirates!"
She never expected to encounter a ship belonging to the Seven Warlords of the Sea here in the East Blue!
Not caring that Ian was resting, she ran over and shook his shoulders urgently. "Commodore Ian! Please wake up! I have an urgent report! Ten miles ahead, ships from the Donquixote Family, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! Captain Hina's warship has given way. Should we also change course immediately to avoid them?"