"Teacher, the water is here. Please drink."
Kuina hurried back into the room, carefully holding a glass of warm water.
She did not want to keep her teacher waiting for too long.
Saint Roselith Seraphina accepted the slightly trembling glass.
The warmth lingering along the side of the cup felt comfortable against her fingers.
Just right.
Her lips gently touched the rim.
The lukewarm water flowed down her throat.
The dryness in her mouth eased immediately.
Her body relaxed slightly.
Then she muttered quietly.
"…I kind of wish it were iced."
"Huh?"
Kuina blinked.
The room had been very quiet, yet she still hadn't heard clearly.
Seraphina chuckled softly.
"Nothing."
She shook her head.
Then she turned her gaze toward Kuina.
"Kuina."
"Let's grow stronger together."
Kuina froze.
"Ah… okay!"
The sudden proposal left her flustered.
Her cheeks turned faintly red.
Her teacher was an incredibly powerful swordswoman.
To train together with someone like her
The thought alone made Kuina both excited and embarrassed.
To Kuina, Seraphina was still the same extraordinary swordswoman she had always admired.
Even after witnessing her teacher's defeat during the battle with Shanks, her respect had not diminished.
If anything
It had grown stronger.
Seraphina gently brushed Kuina's smooth black hair aside.
Then she lightly patted the girl's head.
"I want to go outside for a walk."
"Yes!"
Kuina immediately nodded.
As Seraphina climbed out of bed, she suddenly realized something.
The clothes she was wearing had been changed.
Instead of her Marine uniform, she was now dressed in a loose shirt.
Seraphina lifted the blanket.
Her bare feet touched the wooden floor.
A cool sensation brushed against her thighs.
"…Pants?"
Kuina froze for a moment.
"Oh! Right!"
"I'll get them immediately!"
As she turned around, she couldn't help but glance back.
Seraphina's long legs and pale skin looked almost unreal in the morning light.
Kuina quickly shook her head.
Focus!
Moments later, the rustling sound of fabric echoed through the room.
Then
Knock knock knock.
"Please come in."
Kuina called out.
The door opened.
"Is the Colonel awake?"
A Marine officer stepped inside while speaking.
The man was Bruce.
The acting commander of Marine Branch 18 during Seraphina's recovery.
"Colonel, you're finally awake."
Bruce stopped mid-sentence.
Because the woman standing before him was already fully dressed.
Seraphina adjusted her coat calmly.
"Bruce."
"Is something wrong?"
Bruce straightened his posture immediately.
"Colonel no."
He corrected himself.
"Brigadier General."
"The official order from Marineford has arrived."
"You have been promoted."
"You are now officially the Commander-in-Chief of the Marines in East Blue."
"You will oversee all Marine operations in this sea."
Seraphina nodded calmly.
"I understand."
"Is there anything else?"
Bruce hesitated briefly.
"Well… from now on we should address you as Brigadier General."
"And… please take better care of your health."
Kuina quickly nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Teacher!"
"You don't have to push yourself so hard!"
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"I'll be careful."
Their concern warmed her heart.
"Bruce."
"How is the situation at Branch 18?"
Seraphina suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
After initially taking command, she had personally managed the base only for the first few days.
After that
She had been constantly busy hunting pirates.
Now that she had become the East Blue Commander-in-Chief, she needed to understand the current situation.
Bruce answered immediately.
"Our branch currently has a full roster."
"Five hundred Marines."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow.
"That many?"
She clearly remembered that the base originally had barely two hundred soldiers.
Bruce nodded.
"Brigadier General, the funds you provided earlier allowed us to double the salary and benefits of our Marines."
"Because of that, many recruits joined the base."
"And your reputation for personally defeating pirate crews spread quickly."
"Many Marines who truly believe in justice volunteered to serve here."
"Reaching full capacity in just over a year is actually considered slow."
Seraphina nodded thoughtfully.
"Good."
Then her expression turned serious.
"If any Marine dies in the line of duty…"
"Make sure the pension funds reach their families."
Bruce's expression hardened.
"I will personally supervise it."
"Anyone who dares embezzle the pension of a fallen Marine will answer to me."
Seraphina nodded.
"That's enough."
Knock knock knock.
Another knock sounded.
"Is Brigadier General Seraphina awake?"
The voices belonged to Fran and Liva.
They had just finished the administrative work related to recruitment.
Liva had officially joined Branch 18.
After entering the room, both men immediately saluted.
Pride filled their expressions.
Their commander had stood face to face with Shanks.
A pirate with a bounty exceeding a billion.
Only Admirals normally dealt with such monsters.
"You're here at the perfect time."
Seraphina looked at the gathered officers.
"I've been considering a plan."
"Listen carefully."
She walked slowly to the window.
"The Marines stationed throughout East Blue have been neglecting their duties for years."
"Corruption is widespread."
"My original plan was to use my authority as a special envoy to transfer each of you to different bases."
"You would rebuild those branches and secretly collect evidence of corruption."
"At the right moment, we would remove those officers."
She paused.
"Previously I hesitated."
"I didn't want to create unnecessary conflict within the Marine organization."
"But now it's different."
"As Commander-in-Chief of East Blue…"
"Managing the Marines falls directly under my authority."
She turned toward them.
"Is this plan feasible?"
Bruce answered immediately.
"I support it."
He had already managed Branch 18 like an iron fortress.
He had absolute confidence in enforcing discipline.
Liva remained silent.
He had only recently joined the branch and preferred to observe first.
Fran scratched his head nervously.
Among everyone present, he was the weakest.
His rank of Major was largely thanks to following Seraphina in battle.
But after seeing Bruce agree, he nodded as well.
"I… support it too."
Seraphina crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"This is only a preliminary idea."
"There are still too few people I can truly trust."
She looked out the window toward the sea.
"The strength of one person has limits."
Then she spoke quietly.
"Our highest priority now…"
"Is to find Marines who genuinely believe in justice."