Chapter 56: Black Loyalty! Mouse-face Mask!
Three days later.
Water 7, port.
The shipwrights were busy repairing the damage from the previous battles while chatting with the Marines nearby.
"Don't worry, trust our Galley-La Company's craftsmanship! Our company has the best shipwrights—your ship's damage isn't severe, it'll be repaired within today."
The leading shipwright, hammering with an iron hammer, curiously looked at Hannes nearby.
"Speaking of which, your captain... wait, I mean Loy Major, is he really with the Seven Warlords of the Sea...?"
"How could that be fake?!"
Hannes, who had heard this question countless times in the past three days, was impatient. "Our boss is a disciple of former Admiral Zephyr—do you know 'Fire Fist' Ace? He fled in disarray in front of our boss! And that Seven Warlords of the Sea also..."
"Cough, cough."
At this point, Far nearby lightly coughed twice.
Hannes immediately changed the subject: "...also fought our boss to a draw! You wouldn't believe it, the entire sea at that time was..."
He excitedly began to boast, drawing gasps of surprise from the shipwrights nearby.
Meanwhile, on the battleship's deck.
"The World Government truly knows how to seize opportunities with the Seven Warlords and the Three Armies Military Exercise."
Loy had his Marine cap pulled down over his face and was lying on a deck chair, a long straw connecting to a cola bottle below.
At this moment, his heart was grumbling like this.
Yes.
Three days ago, not long after learning the contents of the newspaper from the 'Water Buffalo Bar'.
Loy received a call from Marine Headquarters, personally made by Byrnes Major General.
"Loy, kid, the content of the newspaper is the higher-ups' intention, don't mind it—just consider it putting our Escort Unit on the map."
Not long after, Zephyr also called specifically.
"Kid, don't get carried away by fame—even when performing missions outside, you must train well. I heard you've developed two new wave-power fist techniques? Come to my place for a demonstration after returning to Headquarters."
It was through these two old men that Loy finally learned the whole story.
Simply put, the matter still came down to himself—more precisely, it came down to Drunk Chicken and Chen Long.
Originally, after Drunk Chicken's incident of robbing the Heavenly Gold, the World Government was already somewhat affected.
The World Government's World Government Member Nation couldn't be described as being self-endangering, but quite a few kings were worried that their own countries would face the same situation as the Nismal Kingdom.
This led to the World Government putting pressure on the Marines, resulting in the Marines initiating the 'Three Armies Military Exercise'.
But before this matter even concluded, Chen Long made another big move.
He killed Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
This further damaged the World Government's prestige—after all, the Seven Warlords of the Sea were meant to balance the Four Emperors, existing as one of the Three Great Powers of the Sea.
And under such circumstances.
Loy defeating Huaben became very opportune.
If something like 'Marines and Seven Warlords of the Sea in a great battle' or 'Seven Warlords of the Sea defeated by a Marine Major' were reported, the value of the Seven Warlords of the Sea would definitely plummet even further.
Moreover, as a subordinate organization of the World Government, a conflict between the Marines and the Seven Warlords of the Sea was inherently not good for external propaganda.
But it's unknown which high-ranking official in the World Government made a move, which led to this report.
"My battle with Huaben became a 'warm-up match' before the Three Armies Military Exercise, the result of the battle became a draw, and at the same time, with some battle footage attached, the focus of public attention would naturally shift to the Three Armies Military Exercise itself."
"And the World Government must have originally intended to use this exercise to display its strength to the entire world and stabilize public morale... Hmph, after all, factually speaking, the World Government is indeed the strongest power."
Huaben preserved the reputation of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Headquarters publicized the Supernovas, allowing the common people to regain confidence in the Marines.
The World Government publicized the Three Armies Military Exercise, showcasing its own image.
Morgans, although not reporting the truth, gained 'Big News'.
A win-win-win-win situation.
And the only loser...
"Only me."
Loy scratched his head.
That's right—although he gained immense fame, he was a bit troubled now.
Because after such a push from the Marines and the Government, Loy has now directly become a key participant in the Three Armies Military Exercise!
According to recent propaganda, he has already secured a top three position in the exercise.
But the problem is...
"I originally just planned to participate and get a top ten spot, then get promoted to Rear Admiral and go back to inherit old man Byrnes' position as the Escort Unit manager."
Loy grumbled a bit.
However, he then thought—it seemed that from the moment he and Huaben started fighting, his plan to keep a low profile wasn't going to work out too well.
So...
"It's all Huaben's fault, for being so weak."
Loy grumbled, "Twenty billion Berries and two Devil Fruits, she got off too easy."
On a side note—the twenty billion Berries Huaben promised would be directly advanced by Headquarters after Loy's return trip this time.
And the two Devil Fruits would be delivered within half a month at most.
And just as Loy was grumbling in his heart.
"Boss!"
He heard Hannes's shout from below.
"Hmm?"
Loy hummed through his nose.
"Boss, the shipwrights say they want your autograph—and also, the Black Cola Loy is already provisionally repaired! We can set sail back to Headquarters tonight!"
After hearing Hannes's words, Loy finally took off the cap from his face.
"Oh?"
He raised an eyebrow. "We can set sail tonight?"
And in his eyes, a cold intent was already spreading.
Since they could set sail, his plan could also begin.
However...
"Wait, what was the name of the ship you just mentioned?"
"The Cola Loy! We haven't named the ship all this time, have we?—I think this ship is your exclusive battleship, so of course it should be named after you, Boss!"
"...Hannes Torg, have you forgotten? I'm the commanding officer of this ship!"
Loy gritted his teeth, the cold intent in his eyes growing even stronger.
"No matter what—naming the ship, that kind of thing, should be done by me personally, right?"
The ship itself looked like a cola bottle, which he endured, but now even the name had to be given by him?
This cannot stand!
That very day.
The battleship, renamed 'Black Loyalty' (BLACK LOYALTY), sailed from Water 7, with a human-shaped fish bait named Hannes hanging at its front, amidst the latter's excited, ear-splitting cheers, officially beginning its return voyage.
And what no one knew was...
Just a few hours after Loy left the island and set sail.
At the port, a shipwright responsible for routine patrol of the port let out a puzzled sound.
"What's wrong?"
His companion, yawning beside him, asked casually.
"Oh, nothing, I just thought I saw someone there—no, that's not right, it looked like an old mouse?"
The shipwright glanced at the empty spot, then scratched his head.
"What are you talking about? Some person, an old mouse... You had two glasses today, did you drink too much?"
"Ha! You're looking down on my drinking capacity? Let's go, let's go, after our patrol tonight, we'll go to the bar and have a few more glasses!"
"Afraid you won't make it! Too bad the Water Buffalo Bar is closed tonight, we'll have to find another one."
Chatting like this, the two shipwrights quickly left.
And they naturally didn't know that after they left...
"Water Buffalo Bar closed?"
A figure appeared from nowhere.
He was shrouded in a pitch-black cloak, and he glanced in the direction of Water 7.
"That's just fine."
As he muttered in a low voice, he stepped forward.
"Click!"
A door appeared out of thin air.
He stepped into the door in one stride, then disappeared without a trace.
Only at the moment he stepped into the door, moonlight happened to fall on his face.
Illuminating the mouse-face mask on his face.
(end of chapter)