The smoke from the Blood Axe Pirates seemed to clear quickly from this iron-fisted warship. Like a stone thrown into a lake, it caused ripples for a short time, but the surface soon returned to its stagnant silence.
Over the next few days, the warship continued along its planned route, patrolling the first half of the Grand Line.
Inside the medical room.
Aiden's arm was still wrapped in fresh bandages. He leaned on the hospital bed, bored, flipping through a basic Marine navigation map.
After all, he wasn't actually injured. The blood had just been something he smeared on himself. He was only wearing the bandages now to act for the benefit of others.
Rosinante sat on a chair nearby, holding a cup of hot cocoa. His eyes drifted toward Aiden from time to time; he looked like he had a lot on his mind.
The bloody scenes in the alleyway and Aiden's god-like killing movements had given him a huge shock.
However, he did not distance himself from Aiden because of it.
First, Aiden was the only person on this cold warship he could actually talk to. Second, no matter what Aiden was hiding, Aiden had still pushed him to safety and faced the powerful enemies alone during the most dangerous moment.
That friendship alone was enough for the naturally kind Rosinante to choose to believe in and protect him.
Still, as he looked at Aiden's overly calm face, the confusion in his heart wouldn't go away.
The sound of clothes rubbing together came from the doorway.
Both of them looked up at the same time. Vice Admiral Sakazuki had appeared at the door of the medical room without them noticing. He just stood outside the door. His gloomy eyes scanned the two of them, and his gaze stayed on Aiden's bandaged arm for an extra half-second.
Rosinante was so startled he almost spilled his cocoa. He hurriedly stood up to salute.
Aiden also put down the map and pretended to struggle to get up.
"No need," Sakazuki's voice was cold. "Just focus on recovering."
After saying that, he turned and left, as if he had just been passing by.
Sakazuki certainly didn't believe the story about the internal conflict. The report was full of holes, but he didn't care. The results were the most important thing—the Blood Axe Pirates were gone, and that was enough.
As for the recruit named Aiden...
Whether it was luck or high-level strength, Sakazuki didn't mind as long as his justice was carried out.
Aiden watched Sakazuki's back as he walked away, his eyes showing no emotion.
Then, he went back to studying his map, playing the role of a lucky Marine recovering from an injury.
...
This "calm" period lasted for a while.
The warship moved like a tireless iron beast, patrolling the dangerous Grand Line.
During this time, they stopped at several docks for supplies. Every time they docked, the soldiers were given a short half-day break to relax their tense nerves.
Aiden and Rosinante had also gone ashore together.
Rosinante was always curious about the new things in the harbor towns. Because he was clumsy, he often caused funny problems, and Aiden usually had to step in quietly to help him out.
Aiden wasn't very interested in the time spent on land. He cared more about when they would run into pirates again.
After absorbing the nutrients from the two A-level targets, "Blood Axe" Barton and Grom, his [Physical Improvement] was just one step away from the SSS threshold. He urgently needed a "big experience pack."
Rosinante also seemed to be getting used to life on the ship. Although he was still clumsy and would trip over nothing or knock things over, he had gained some of the toughness a soldier should have. After Aiden's previous advice and help, he wasn't as terrified as he was at the start.
During breaks in training, he would habitually walk over to Aiden and hand him a bottle of water.
"Aiden, when do you think our internship will end?"
Rosinante whispered, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Every day is either training or patrolling. It's so boring."
Aiden usually just listened calmly and gave an occasional "mm." He knew Rosinante just needed someone to talk to, especially on this warship where the air felt like it was made of rust.
"...Really, Aiden, you didn't see it," Rosinante lowered his voice, still feeling scared. "Yesterday, when I was delivering documents to the Vice Admiral, I accidentally dropped the folder on the floor. The look in his eyes... it felt like he was going to burn a hole through me! It was terrifying!"
Aiden listened without much focus, his eyes drifting toward the distant horizon.
I wonder when I'll be able to "get to work" again...
Just then.
A communication soldier ran past them in a panic, heading straight for the command room. He seemed to have important information to report.
Aiden and Rosinante looked at each other. Both saw the seriousness in each other's eyes.
"Something happened!" Rosinante gripped his fists nervously.
Aiden's eyes shifted slightly. He thought to himself, Is it finally here?
...
Meanwhile, inside the warship's command room.
A communication soldier was sweating as he reported loudly to Sakazuki:
"Reporting, Vice Admiral! We just received an extremely weak emergency distress signal! The source is confirmed to be from the direction of the Foggy Islands!"
Sakazuki and Commander Dal immediately looked at the dangerous area marked with a skull on the sea map.
The soldier continued: "The signal is breaking up, and the interference in that area is very strong. We can only barely make out keywords like 'Ghost Ship'... 'Attack'... 'Spider'! The signal cut out completely a few minutes ago!"
"Foggy Islands?" Commander Dal frowned, his face turning serious. "That's the Seagull 3 patrol boat from the Third Patrol Fleet! They just entered that area yesterday for a routine patrol mission!"
The Foggy Islands are a special area in the first half of the Grand Line. The place is covered year-round in thick fog that cannot be cleared. The magnetic field is so chaotic that Log Poses become completely useless. The sea floor is full of hidden reefs. It is clearly marked on maps as an extremely dangerous zone.
Because of the harsh environment, it has become a perfect hiding spot for many pirates and criminals.
"Ghost ship... spider..." Sakazuki stood before the massive map, biting his cigar. He looked at the Foggy Islands area, a sharp light flashing in his eyes as he repeated the keywords.
Commander Dal immediately stepped forward and said in a heavy voice, "Vice Admiral, to move in that sea area and have the power to attack a Marine patrol boat, there is likely only one person—'Great Whirlpool Spider' Squard! His latest bounty is 120 million berries. He is extremely skilled at using the fog and whirlpools to ambush ships, and he is very brutal toward us Marines!"
"Hmph, Squard, is it?" Sakazuki slammed his fist onto the map with a loud thud. The anger in his voice was almost solid. "That bastard! How dare he run wild in my patrol zone!"
He was extremely furious about this attack on the Marines.
"Give the order! Change course! Full speed ahead! Target: Foggy Islands!"
Sakazuki turned to Commander Dal. "I want to see for myself if this Great Whirlpool Spider really has as much power as they say!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
The warship's massive hull began to turn. The engines let out a loud roar as they headed toward the unknown foggy seas at full speed.
Since the main ship was huge and would be hard to move in the complex waters of the Foggy Islands—and would easily be spotted—Sakazuki quickly made a decision.
He looked at Commander Dal. "Dal, take a scout boat. Pick ten elites, including those two recruits, and head into the islands first! Find out why the signal cut out and try to find the location of Seagull 3!"
He specifically named Aiden and Rosinante.