Rhett had just directed Joy Boy and the two excited kids to haul the "restocked" vegetables and berries onto the rubber ship when his blood mist sense trembled slightly. He looked up and saw a magnificent black hawk folding its wings, landing steadily on the mast of the Navy ship behind them.
Its gaze was sharp, carrying a scrutiny that could be felt even from a distance.
Then, the long-idle warship began to move closer. Standing at its bow, draped in a Navy coat, was Vice Admiral Gale himself.
"Hey, rubber-head," Rhett prodded Joy Boy with a small mist hand. The giant was still joyfully counting their new money. Rhett had appointed himself treasurer for now — someone had to be responsible, or these five would starve. He was slowly training the girl to take over.
"Stop counting. Our old friend is here."
Joy Boy's rubber neck shot out like a snake as he spotted the approaching ship. A bright, carefree smile spread across his face. "Oh! It's Gale! Long time no see!"
The warship stopped at a respectable distance — close enough to talk, far enough to be safe.
Gale stood at the bow, arms crossed, his cool demeanor intact. He spoke first.
"I'm not here to fight."
Rhett raised an eyebrow, crimson eyes glinting with amusement. He waited.
Gale's gaze swept across the rubber ship's odd crew: the grinning giant, the two nervous kids, the unnaturally quiet ice girl, and finally settling on Rhett — the one who looked lazy but whose presence felt bottomless.
Rhett: I like that description. Joy Boy's whole crew combined doesn't get half that. Hehehe.
Gale was silent for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts. Then he continued.
"I'm here to invite you."
"Invite?" Joy Boy tilted his head.
"To join the Navy." Gale's voice carried little persuasion, more like he was stating an option — which fit Rhett's impression of him perfectly.
"Your strength is wasted on aimless wandering. The seas are in chaos. The World Government needs power. The Navy needs it even more. We need strong fighters to counter those who threaten order — both external and internal."
He added, "With your abilities, you could earn high rank immediately. I could recommend you both for Vice Admiral status directly. You'd have real influence. Better than running from us all over the sea."
Rhett: Wait, what? You can just make someone Vice Admiral that easily? In the future, it takes years of constipation and hemorrhoids just to promote one Admiral. The sea was in chaos, and they still only had three Admirals.
Curious, Rhett asked, "Don't you need the World Government's approval? A Vice Admiral position carries that much weight?"
"Why would we need their approval? They have no right to meddle in Navy personnel decisions!"
Rhett gave him a mental thumbs up. You're the boldest Marine he'd ever met. At least so far. He couldn't imagine what the Fleet Admiral must have been like if the Admirals were this independent.
No wonder the Void Century was erased.
The invitation sounded sincere — the Navy at this time wasn't fully under World Government control. They were still independent and hungry for talent.
But Joy Boy answered without hesitation. "No! I refuse!"
"Joining the Navy means I can't adventure freely! And I can't help people who need it! Besides..." he pointed at Rhett and the girl. "We're pirates! We're partners!"
Gale looked at Joy Boy's adamant refusal. A flicker of "I expected that" crossed his stoic face. No surprise, no persuasion.
Rhett: Wait, that's it? That's your entire recruitment pitch? You're this relaxed?
He clearly knew the answer before he asked. The invitation had been a formality.
"Ah... I figured you'd say that."
He sighed — not with disappointment, but with the ease of someone who'd completed a required task.
Then his demeanor shifted. Battle intent rose. His eyes sharpened.
"Then there's nothing else to say. Let's fight. Perfect chance to test a new move I've been working on. You've been running long enough. Time to stretch your legs."
His tone shifted effortlessly from formal recruitment to an old friend challenging a sparring match. Eager, even.
Rhett: Bro, this is way too relaxed! What do you mean we've been running long enough?!
Unable to contain his curiosity, Rhett asked, "Hey, Gale! What kind of justice do you follow?"
Gale threw his cape back with a flourish. "Absolute style. Absolute efficiency. Absolute justice."
Then he struck a pose, hands in pockets.
Rhett snorted. "Hah. Your 'invitation' was just an excuse to fight, wasn't it?"
Gale's mouth twitched slightly — not confirming, not denying. "Enough talk. Who's first? Or both of you at once?"
Joy Boy was already stretching his rubber limbs excitedly. "Me! Me! I'll fight you! I'll go first!"
Rhett waved him off. "Go ahead. Too much effort. I'm old, no energy for this."
He had no interest in stealing the spotlight. More importantly, his Observation Haki detected something else in the air.
Ship-to-ship combat.
A Vice Admiral-level battle was about to break out on these recently "restocked" waters.
The Navy soldiers aboard the warship seemed used to this. No tension. Almost like they were here for entertainment.
Rhett leaned back, arms crossed, and said to the kids and the girl, "Find a seat. Watch the show. This counts as... regularly scheduled programming."
Sea breeze. Sunlight. A friendly conversation between rivals.
Ending the only way it ever could.