Borsalino's warship cut an elegant white arc across the sea, heading towards the last known location of the Sun Pirates.
As the champion of slacking off, this location wasn't actually far from where the Sun Pirates were, ensuring that if a situation like the current one arose, he could complete the mission immediately.
Of course, if Sengoku hadn't called to urge him, Borsalino could have trailed behind them, slacking off for several years.
The sea breeze swept across the deck, and Borsalino was reclined in a sun lounger, a fashion magazine half-open in his hand.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the canvas, casting dappled shadows on his brown sunglasses.
He took a sip of cool tea, letting out a satisfied sigh.
For the better part of a day, he had been supervising the execution of the mission in this manner.
Time quietly slipped away amidst the salty sea breeze and the rhythmic waves.
Borsalino had been chasing the Sun Pirates for so many years, but he hadn't decided to slack off from the very beginning.
When he first arrived, unsure of their strength, he had personally tested them.
Fisher Tiger was naturally no match for Borsalino, and even with Jinbe and others on board, it wasn't enough.
After all, there was no Betty to buff them here, nor did the Sun Pirates have the sheer numbers of the Mary Geoise Slaves, and Borsalino's strength was far beyond what the Iron Wall could compare to.
But the Fishman's advantage in the sea was just that; as soon as Tiger exchanged a move with Borsalino, he realized he was no match and immediately ordered all members of the pirate crew to jump into the sea without hesitation.
Fisher Tiger had experienced the Mary Geoise Riot, and in fact, he could be said to be the fuse for that incident.
Having participated in battles between top-tier powerhouses, he knew from just one encounter that the unreliable, shifty-looking man opposite him was a super powerhouse on the same level as Monkey D. Dragon, Christopher, and others, far beyond what he and his crew could contend with.
Tiger's crew members were all Fishmen, and Borsalino, whether due to carelessness or a keen sense of an opportunity for paid leave, simply let the Sun Pirates escape.
Thus, in the following years, Borsalino's warship continuously patrolled near the Sun Pirates.
According to him, it was useless to catch up anyway; if they jumped into the sea, could they still be pursued?
The clever Borsalino thus remained in the New World, ostensibly on a mission, but in reality, living a life almost like a vacation.
But this time, his vacation was finally over.
Borsalino hadn't just been thinking about slacking off these past few years.
If it was difficult to catch these merfolk at sea, why not just catch them when they weren't at sea?
Coincidentally, over these three years, Borsalino had figured out the Sun Pirates' operational logic.
The root cause was still related to the Mary Geoise Riot incident back then.
At that time, thanks to the efforts of Tiger, the Revolutionary Army, Christopher, and others, a large number of Slaves escaped from Mary Geoise.
These Slaves generally lacked the ability to cross oceans or live independently, so the Sun Pirates, led by Tiger, had been dedicated for many years to sending those who knew their hometowns back to their native lands.
In fact, it was similar to the Koala incident in the original work.
However, even without Koala, and without the villagers' betrayal, Tiger still couldn't escape this calamity.
After all, this incident was much bigger than in the original work, and the World Government was determined, directly dispatching Borsalino.
Don't let this guy's unreliable demeanor fool you; his abilities are among the best in the Marine.
"How troublesome indeed~"
Borsalino looked at the empty sea in the distance and issued new orders in his characteristic slow tone:
"Let's take a detour near Gladstone Island~"
The energized young soldier didn't know the significance of going to Gladstone Island, but he didn't object to the order either.
In his opinion, since there was only a general direction, and the Sun Pirates weren't stationary, going anywhere was much the same.
Gladstone Island was also in the sea area where the Sun Pirates were located, so it wasn't too late to search carefully once they got there.
In reality, according to Borsalino's observations over these three years, based on the patterns he had discovered, although the Sun Pirates were composed of Fishmen, they also needed to replenish fresh water and food.
They were very likely to dock at Gladstone Island soon.
This sea area was riddled with reefs and had complex hydrology, which was perfect for concealing the warship's tracks.
Once Fisher Tiger and the others landed on the island, it wouldn't be so easy for them to leave.
After sailing for most of the day, the warship finally vaguely saw the outline of Gladstone Island.
"Let's just wait here~"
Borsalino reclined back in his sun lounger, placing the magazine over his face, and entered a state of bunk (feigned sleep).
For him, the upcoming battle wasn't important; the opponents definitely couldn't win anyway.
What was important was what reason he should find to continue his current lifestyle after this mission ended?
After a brief thought, Borsalino decided that it was better to analyze specific problems specifically, and he would see what mission Sengoku had prepared for him then.
So he gave up thinking and had the kitchen prepare snacks and hot tea.
His demeanor was not at all like someone about to engage in a major battle; rather, it was more like Blake's state when he went on an outing.
This was also why Blake always felt that he and Borsalino probably had common ground; their attitudes towards life were similar.
The only thing left to do was to wait for the Sun Pirates to sail into this natural trap themselves.
The young Marine looked at his superior, then at his colleagues around him, and sighed helplessly.
The sun was still warm, the sea breeze still salty, but the atmosphere had subtly changed.
The leisurely vacation was over; the time for the hunt was approaching.
The moon was high in the sky, its cold light turning the sea into a expanse of silver scales.
The lookout's hushed voice came through the night:
"Vice Admiral! A ship is approaching! It bears the Sun Pirates' flag!"
The magazine on Borsalino's face stirred, but it wasn't immediately removed.
Not far away, at the edge of this complex reef area, a pirate ship was cautiously navigating the waterway into the harbor, using the cover of night and the ocean currents.
Its unique sails were faintly visible in the Moonlight—blue on top, Blake below, adorned with a yellow and red sun symbolizing freedom and hope.
It's worth noting that this ship did not bear the pirate skull and crossbones flag.
In the self-perception of Fisher Tiger and his crew, they were merely Slave liberators; the identity of 'pirate' was forced upon them by the World Government, and they didn't acknowledge it themselves.
What? You ask why they still call themselves the Sun Pirates if they don't acknowledge it?
Why do you have so many questions?
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