Major Kaiweiya: "Miss Shogun, the day is still young. Why don't I show you around the Branch? Let you see the justice of the Marines, and I hope you can join the Marines soon."
Raiden Ei... Did this person have all his marbles? If this were before she transmigrated, she could be certain this behavior meant he had designs on her. But in this world, she was a little uncertain, seeing Major Kaiweiya's sincere expression.
"No need. I have things to do today and plan to leave after I finish my business."
Major Kaiweiya looked like a master of facial expression changes, displaying a hint of disappointment: "That's truly a pity. I was planning to let you experience life in the Marines. But there will be opportunities in the future, Miss Shogun. I hope you join the Marines soon."
Raiden Ei could only offer a perfunctory reply, telling Haisier to talk to Major Kaiweiya: "Alright, I will. Haisier, you discuss the departure details for tomorrow with Major Kaiweiya."
Haisier walked up to Major Kaiweiya and Raiden Ei: "Understood, Major Kaiweiya. I am Haisier..."
Seeing the two strike up a conversation, Raiden Ei walked over to Geer. Today was the first time she had spoken so much since arriving in this world; she truly wasn't used to it.
Geer hesitated for a moment: "Miss Shogun, where do you plan to go next?"
"Where to? I plan to head to the Grand Line first!"
"The Grand Line is rumored to be countless times more dangerous than the East Blue. But with your strength, it shouldn't be an issue. Still, please be careful."
"Actually, the Grand Line isn't as dangerous as you think. It's just that the geomagnetism, celestial phenomena, ocean currents, and air currents are all chaotic, making it difficult to even confirm one's own location."
"And that's not dangerous?"
"These are all things that can be overcome with the right tools. It's not that dangerous. You'll know in the future; it's not like what you imagine."
"Oh!"
At this moment, Haisier, having finished his discussion with Major Kaiweiya, walked over. Raiden Ei stopped talking with Geer.
Haisier: "Miss Shogun, I have settled things with Major Kaiweiya regarding the departure time tomorrow. He asked if we had lodging for tonight, and if not, we could stay at the Branch."
Raiden Ei definitely preferred staying outside: "Where do you all want to stay?"
Haisier: "Anywhere is fine. We found quite a few Berries on the pirate ship before."
Hearing Haisier, Raiden Ei knew what to do and spoke directly to Major Kaiweiya: "Then we won't trouble you, Major Kaiweiya. We'll just go out and find an inn to stay at."
Major Kaiweiya showed no disappointment this time: "Very well! See you tomorrow then."
Raiden Ei: "See you tomorrow!"
Major Kaiweiya looked at Gatt: "Gatt, are you joining the Marines?"
Gatt stepped forward excitedly and stood firm: "Yes!"
Major Kaiweiya nodded in satisfaction. Today hadn't been wasted after all: "Good, then come with me!" He turned and led a few people out of the reception hall.
Nicola saw that matters were settled and they could return to Vinnia Island tomorrow. She was overjoyed and pulled Sang out: "Hurry up, hurry up, let's go shopping together!"
The four of Maiga hesitated slightly. They didn't really want to return to Vinnia Island. They wanted to venture out to sea, to carve out a career for themselves. But the Raiden Ei clearly wouldn't take liabilities like them when she went out to sea. Now that they saw Gatt joining the Marines, they felt restless—joining the Marines wouldn't be bad either!
Cyrus: "Why don't we go ask Uncle Haisier?"
Maiga: "I think that's a good idea. Let's ask him if he wants to join the Marines too."
The four thought it feasible, so after everyone left the Marine Branch, Maiga and the other three found Haisier and pulled him aside into a street alley.
Haisier didn't understand what they wanted: "What is it you kids need me for?"
Maiga: "Uncle Haisier, I just wanted to ask if you want to join the Marines." The four stared seriously at Haisier.
Haisier noticed their expressions were a bit off: "I don't want to join the Marines! Why, do you all want to join?"
Mandi: "It's not that we absolutely have to join the Marines. It's just that we don't really want to go back to Vinnia Island either, to live that life of being bullied again. Venturing out on the sea these past few days felt pretty good, and we want to make a name for ourselves on the sea too. Originally, we wanted to follow the Raiden Ei, but she clearly doesn't want to take us, who are so weak. Just now, seeing Gatt join the Marines, we thought about joining the Marines too."
Haisier: "Oh! You want to rope me into joining the Marines with you?"
Maiga: "Yes, Uncle Haisier, do you want to come with us?"
Haisier looked at the four of them, eager to go, but they could go by themselves. Why did they need to pull him along? Was it because they were still wavering and hadn't made up their minds? Haisier felt that Raiden Ei's reputation was still at stake, so he decided to help them out: "I won't go. I'm already over thirty, unlike you young people. How about this! If you are sure about joining the Marines, I'll take you to see Colonel Kaiweiya right now, so you can be Marines here with Gatt in the future."
The faces of Cyrus and the others blossomed with joy: "Really? That's wonderful!"
Maiga thought about how dangerous the sea was and that one couldn't survive without backing. He made up his mind: "We are definitely joining the Marines!"
Haisier: "Alright then, let's go back to find Colonel Kaiweiya now." He led the four of Maiga back into the Marine Branch.
Nicola looked back curiously but didn't see Haisier and the others following: "Uncle and the others didn't follow. Is something the matter?"
Sang also glanced back: "Perhaps it's something inconvenient for us to know!"
"Should we wait for them?"
"No need. Haisier will handle it. Let's go find an inn to stay at first."
"Alright then, let's head this way."
Nicola seemed the most familiar with these things, so the four let her lead the way without worry.
Geer and Mina chatted as they followed Nicola. They usually got along well enough to talk: "Mina, we'll be taking a warship back to Vinnia Island tomorrow. Are you still going back to be a servant for that 'Duke Inste'?"
Mina didn't quite know how to answer. If she didn't go back, she had nowhere else to go. Going back at least meant having a place to live: "I guess I'll be the same as before!"
"Don't you have any other thoughts? Like changing jobs?"
"What else can I do besides being a servant? I don't know anything else!"
Geer thought about her own experiences and decided to help: "Then you should just stay with me! I'll help you find an easier job so you don't have to go back to being a servant for nobles."
Mina quickly refused: "No! If Duke Inste finds out, I'll be punished. I... I can't implicate you."
Geer: "You're overthinking it, it won't happen. Nobles don't care about the lives of their servants; I've seen it too many times over the years."
Mina still quickly refused Geer: "It's better not to, I..."
Geer interrupted what Mina was about to say: "Don't worry, just listen to me. Enough talk, we're almost at the inn."
Raiden Ei naturally had eyes everywhere and ears attuned to everything. She heard all their conversation. It wasn't that she was intentionally eavesdropping; they were just so close that if she couldn't hear them, she'd be deaf. She approved of Geer's actions.
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