Pirate: I was just slacking off, do you really think I'm bad?

Gion glanced at Kake beside her; his nostrils were still stuffed with two wads of tissues.

Suppressing the urge to beat this guy up again, he said calmly:

"The file doesn't mention Raleigh's current strength. After all, during the time he and Momonga were stationed in the East Blue, it was Momonga who handled the pirates. He's still the same as always, preferring to slack off rather than take action."

Even Jia Ji was amazed:

"I really don't know what this guy is thinking. He has a face just as handsome as mine, but he's unwilling to spend his time training."

"That's normal, though. Although I couldn't beat him back then, I'm a genius who's both hardworking and talented. I'll definitely beat him this time."

Kaji still remembers that when he first confessed to Gion, he asked Raleigh to prepare a bouquet of roses, but Raleigh gave him a toilet plunger instead.

Kaji, who had his back to Raleigh, was unaware of this.

So, in front of everyone, Kaji confessed his feelings to Gion while holding a toilet plunger.

He was almost laughed to death by the trainees of the same year, and in a fit of embarrassment and anger, he decided to duel with Raleigh, but Raleigh ran too fast and he couldn't catch up.

Finally, in a secluded alley, they caught up with Raleigh and got a beating.

Of course, he didn't know that Raleigh's real intention was to embarrass him in front of Gion so he would stop being a sycophant. Who knew that Kake would actually fall deeply in love with him...

-------------------------------------

On the naval warship, people were feasting, with large chunks of fish and meat laid out on the tables for them to eat.

All the sailors were happily enjoying their meal.

Raleigh and the flying squirrel sat facing each other at a table, slowly enjoying their dinner.

"Rayle, what are your thoughts on the future?"

The flying squirrel cut off a piece of steak and stuffed it into its mouth, asking Raleigh across from it.

"Thoughts? Not yet, you know me. I don't want to go to the Grand Line. Unless something special happens, I think I'll choose to stay in the Four Seas. Actually, the East Blue is quite good for me."

Raleigh replied dismissively.

He has no desire to go to the Grand Line.

Pirates were as numerous as hairs on a cow on the Grand Line, and that was before Roger started the Great Age of Piracy.

Even before the wave of going to sea had begun, there were already many people.

Raleigh, who only wanted to coast along and relax, had no intention of working like a slave. Besides, once he got to the Grand Line, he would inevitably have to greet the Celestial Dragons.

He doesn't yet have the power to overturn the table against those filthy reptiles, so he avoids them if possible.

Brubrubru.

Raleigh pulled out the Den Den Mushi from his pocket.

"Yes... I received it."

After hanging up the phone, the flying squirrel asked curiously who had called Raleigh.

"It was a call from Naval Headquarters. They said a big-breasted, brainless girl came to see us with a simp, apparently with some special transfer order. I don't know anything about it."

"Gion and Kake?"

"The flying squirrel said in surprise."

"Shouldn't they be training at Naval Headquarters? Why are they looking for us all over the world?"

Gion and Kake were also familiar with each other, after all, they were classmates.

He remembered the nicknames Raleigh had given them, so he knew them.

Slowly swallowing the foie gras in his mouth, Raleigh took a sip of red wine and said.

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it. We haven't done anything to violate military discipline anyway."

"Sir! We received a call from Branch 137 saying that a group of pirates has wandered into this area and they request a joint operation to capture them."

A branch correspondent stepped forward to report.

"Oh? Which pirate crew?"

This kind of defensive cooperation had happened many times before, but Raleigh and the flying squirrel didn't take it to heart.

"Reporting, sir, Branch 137 is also unsure, but this group of pirates appears to have retreated from the Grand Line, as they are not flying any pirate flags on board."

"Raleigh, shall we go and capture them? I feel like my strength has hit a bottleneck, and I need stronger opponents."

The flying squirrel stared intently at Raleigh.

He's a battle maniac; he's always busy training or capturing pirates.

There aren't many strong pirates in the East Blue; most pirates only gradually reveal their talents after entering the Grand Line.

There are very few pirates with a combined population of 30 million in the East Blue now, especially in the area under the jurisdiction of Branch 133.

Well-informed pirates all know that the Squirrel of Branch 133 is a battle maniac, and no one wants to provoke him, so they all tacitly agree not to come to this area.

At first, the flying squirrel considered asking Raleigh to spar with him, but Raleigh was just too lazy to do anything.

He seemed very serious when he fought, but he never actually used his full strength.

The flying squirrel doesn't experience the feeling of walking on the edge of life and death, so its efficiency is far worse than when it fights pirates.

Now that he has encountered a group of pirates who have been defeated on the Grand Line, Momonga thinks this is a good opportunity to hone his skills.

Besides, even if they really can't win, Raleigh is always there to fall back on.

Momonga knew far more than the average Marine soldier; he knew that his friend and superior, Raleigh, was far more than just a simple colonel.

During his time at military academy, no one ever forced him to unleash his full potential.

With him on the ship as a backup, Momonga can confidently fight the pirates.

"Alright, Major Flying Squirrel, it's your turn to shine again."

Raleigh had no objections; he always did things as he pleased.

The flying squirrel was very important to him; he wanted to improve his strength, and as his superior and friend, he naturally had to support him.

After all, the more capable the subordinates are, the less work the boss has to do.

With his "slacking off system," Raleigh isn't afraid that his subordinates will surpass him in strength; the stronger they are, the happier he is.

Imagine Sakazuki in the future. If Raleigh were to become the Field Marshal, his first priority would be to brainwash the generals.

How can you slack off happily if you don't have many capable subordinates?

"Do you know which direction they fled in?"

Raleigh asked.

"Sir, they are reportedly fleeing towards Kyrenia Island."

Raleigh nodded, then gave some instructions to the flying squirrel.

"Lieutenant Commander Momonga, arrange for the warships to accelerate towards Kyrenia Island. A bunch of defeated dogs returning from the Grand Line, who knows what crazy things they might do."

"Have the brothers work overtime and try to catch up with their progress tonight, then take them down on the beach of Kyrenia Island."

After hearing this, the flying squirrel's originally serious face showed a slight smile.

"Yes, Colonel Raleigh, I'll take care of everything."

After arranging everything, Raleigh went to sleep.

Overtime? Not a chance!

How could I, Raleigh, possibly work overtime to catch pirates!

At this moment, the Mist Wolf Pirates were unaware that they had been targeted by a terrifying opponent.

They were still lost in their own fantasies.

On a dilapidated pirate ship, not even a pirate flag was flying.

The cabin was filled with the strong smell of alcohol and smoke, and a group of pirates wrapped in bandages were eating meat and drinking heavily.

A drunken, one-eyed man picked up his wine glass and addressed the pirate captain, Coleridge Roy, who sat at the head of the table:

"Boss... the East Blue is still the same as before, nothing has changed. The Navy and the pirates are too weak."

"With our strength, we can definitely build up our power in the East China Sea and return to the Grand Line once again."

Pirate leader Coleridge Roy, known as the Mist Wolf, had a gloomy look in his eyes. He took a large gulp of rum and said:

"That damned guy, I will definitely get my revenge on him."

"Let's raid Kyrenia Island first, then with the money we can gather a group of men and march back to the Grand Line. This time, I promise I won't fail again!"

"My men, drink to your hearts' content! Tomorrow will be a brand new day for the Mist Wolf Pirates!"

Kollridge Roy's words successfully roused the drunken pirates' morale.

They encountered a terrifying enemy on the Grand Line and fought their way out.

Returning to the East Blue where they started, with the strength they had honed on the Grand Line, they were naturally invincible.