Double-transformation: I, Sakura Haruno! Will crush the pirates!

The soldiers rushed forward, offering words of comfort: "Colonel, this is not your fault!"

The man on deck seemed comforted and rallied again: "Thank you all, but I will not give up on my justice! Everyone is not in good shape right now, let's go back to base to rest."

"Yes!"

The sailors saluted him and ran back to their posts, completely unaware that the ice beneath the ship was melting at an incredible speed.

The warship quickly turned around and headed towards the waters where the 77th branch was located in the Conifer Islands.

Chapter 177 Friendship lasts forever

After a five-hour voyage, the warship slowly entered the port where the branch base was located, and the soldiers who participated in the battle were given a rare day off.

The 'colonel' who gave them the orders remained in the port, and when no one was around, he openly and brazenly had the round, chubby little sparrow restore the ship's hull and moor it in the navy's dock.

Have Kuina disguise herself as a naval grunt, and incidentally hide the real BrinBrin in the box.

Before long, the navy's dedicated maintenance technicians entered the berth in twos and threes.

"Oh, Colonel Brinbrin, you're here too?"

The old shipwright in the maintenance crew saluted the man sitting on the box.

"No need for formalities. We just captured a pirate ship at sea that's a bit unusual. You can take a look at it."

The 'colonel,' with his arms crossed, raised one hand and hooked his thumb at the tri-hulled speedboat behind him.

"Hmm, this is really... what kind of idiot designed this crappy ship?"

The old shipwright put on a single-lens reflex mirror with adjustable focus, looked at the boat which was almost entirely made of logs, and uttered a mocking remark.

"Um?!"

A row of neat teeth bared at the ram's point on the bow, its dangerous gaze sweeping over the shipwrights who came up to inspect the vessel.

"Cough cough!"

The 'colonel' following behind the technicians reached out and held down several cables that were about to come loose, then punched the head of a ship spirit that was about to emerge with an imposing fist.

"The hull and structure are normal, but there are problems with the interior and some living systems."

After finishing his inspection, the old shipwright patted his back and led his apprentices up from the lower cabin.

"Can it be repaired?" The colonel rubbed his hands together awkwardly, looking embarrassed.

"Let me make it clear first, it's not that I like this ship, it's just that it's pretty good, and it would be a shame to leave it broken like this."

The shipwright, who had spent most of his life at the naval base, immediately understood that this was not what he meant, and raised his hand to stroke his beard.

Since the Great Pirate Era, the Navy's regulations regarding captured spoils of war have been very vague. In principle, pirate ships, as spoils of war, belong to the Navy as public property.

As the commander of a local branch, Kebring does not own the spoils of war, but he has the right to use them.

So...

"Don't worry, Colonel, I'll take care of this!"

"We'll work overtime this afternoon to ensure you can board the ship tonight."

The old shipwright gave him a knowing look and raised his hand in an OK gesture.

Throughout the entire conversation, there was no mention whatsoever of the costs associated with modifying the ship's cabins, electrical circuits, or desalination facilities.

To become the top technician in the maintenance team, you really have a knack for networking and navigating social situations!

"Haha, Master Craftsman is truly reliable. I'll put that matter concerning the maintenance team on the agenda immediately!"

Back on the dock, the 'Colonel' ordered Kuina to lift the boxes onto a cart and head into the base.

"Really? Thank you so much!"

After receiving his promise, the old shipwright and his team of technicians immediately got to work with great enthusiasm.

Inside the passageway, Kuina lifted her navy cap and asked, "Sakura-nee, how did you know about the navy maintenance crew and that colonel?"

"I don't know. Think back to which part of my conversation with them did I mention anything about it?"

Colonel Haruno, who was walking in front, turned around and shrugged at the handyman Kuina behind him.

"Can this still happen?"

"Just learn it!"

The two walked out of the passageway chatting and laughing, found a soldier in the hall, and ordered him to help Kuina push the wooden crates to the branch base commander's office.

After closing the door, Sakura sat down in the commander's chair and released her ninjutsu to return to normal.

Kuina, who was standing nearby, opened the box that had made the noise and released BrinBrin, who was tightly bound inside.

"You despicable pirate, what exactly is your purpose?!"

After the cloth was removed from the man's mouth, he immediately roared at Sakura.

"Don't say that, we're good friends who've been through thick and thin together~"

Sakura picked up a cigar from the table and took a sniff.

Yes, it's a high-end product.

It seems the commander of the Navy's Four Seas Branch is living a very comfortable life.

"Sakura-neechan, you're so mean."

Kuina rolled her eyes as she walked up to the girl.

"Who said we're friends! Let me go right now, or you'll be waiting for the central government to send people to surround and wipe us out!"

In its struggle, Brin lost its balance and crashed face-first to the ground.

"Stop messing around. You were defeated fair and square by my crew and are now our prisoners."

"Not killing you, just using your identity for an afternoon is already a very good treatment."

Sakura walked over, lifted him out of the wooden box, and tossed him onto the sofa beside her.

She squatted down next to the sofa with a smile, looking directly at him.

Anyway, let's get along well~

"you...."

BrinBrin gritted her teeth, but couldn't refute it.

Being less skilled is being less skilled, and losing is an indisputable fact.

Continuing to clamor for justice will only make his sense of justice seem incredibly cheap.

Feeling deeply ashamed, Brin closed her eyes, no longer looking at the pirates beside her, and buried her head deeply in the sofa.

On the other side, the equipment maintenance team had been busy all afternoon.

The electrical system and desalination module on the Leviathan were meticulously repaired, and the newly added cabins were planned and renovated to include living quarters, storage rooms, weapons rooms, bathrooms, etc.

The thoughtful old shipwright took into account the 'Colonel's' travel needs and even converted the upper deck into a bar area, and equipped the entire ship with a ventilation system.

"Yes, the whole ship looks brand new!"

Satisfied, the old shipwright led his men to do the final touches, using a spray painting process to dye the entire ship white.

Below the dock, some soldiers who had been granted leave came to the pier wanting to personally work on the weapons and ammunition on the ship.

However, when they saw the Leviathan docked behind the warship, their eyes bulged out and their mouths agape.

"Why, why is this ship here!"

A group of Marines who had participated in the pursuit of Sakura raised their fists and roared at the maintenance crew.

"What do you mean, why? This is a trophy that Colonel Brinbrin ordered us to repair."

The old shipwright of the maintenance crew took out his pipe from his waist, lit it, and took a satisfying puff.

A soldier rushed forward, shaking the maintenance crew's technician: "Idiot! This ship belongs to Higanbana Haruno Sakura, the pirate ship. We were defeated by her, how could there be any spoils?!"

"Wait, you mean...?"

The old shipwright loosened his grip, dropping his pipe to the ground, his expression gradually turning grim.

"Alright~, we've been exposed~"

Under the incredulous gazes of the navy, the Leviathan's shark-like bow opened its sharp teeth, and a pair of ferocious red eyes stared intently at them.

"The ship...the ship is talking?!"

In the navy, hidden by the ship's shadow, someone fainted, foaming at the mouth.

Then they saw the huge three-hulled composite sailboat leap high into the air, its black wings unfurling, transforming into a large bird that flew into their base.

Woo——!

At night, the long sirens of the naval base echoed throughout the Coniferous Islands.

Large numbers of soldiers, armed with weapons and ammunition, rushed toward their beloved colonel's office, showing no fear even if their opponent might be that great pirate.

"Colonel Brinbrin!"

The sergeant in charge burst through the office door and immediately saw the commander, who was tied up and thrown onto the sofa.

There were also two pirates sitting at their desks, playing a board game called Ludo.

"We've been found out, what should we do, Sakura-nee?"

Kuina held the dice and slapped the dirty little hand that was sneakily moving the pieces.

"Then of course we'll... run away! We can't let the navy catch us!"

Sakura, sensing the situation outside the base with her Observation Haki, threw a punch, shattering the wall behind her.

Without warning Kuina, he jumped out first.

The girl who was left behind mechanically turned around and stared blankly at the naval soldiers who had set up guns and cannons in front of her.

"Sakura-nee, you unreliable captain—!"

Amidst the barrage of gunfire, Kuina also leaped out of the large hole, her figure swallowed by the enormous black shadow hovering outside the base.

"That is...."

The naval soldiers who had pursued the enemy to the broken wall felt the night sea breeze blowing, and their wide eyes reflected the enormous black wings that blotted out the sky.

The sailors swallowed hard, their raised guns trembling. "Monster... monster!"

Sakura patted Leviathan on the head, and the Great Night Sparrow flapped its wings, knocking a group of marines to the ground before flying away.

Just as the shadowy figure was about to disappear, a laugh, carried by the sea breeze, reached their ears.

"Haha, let me remind you one last time: you can't uphold justice without power."

Also, I had a very pleasant afternoon together, and I hope our friendship will last forever.

Chapter 178 No War in the Western Sea

Naval Headquarters, Marinevando.

In the spacious office, a man in a yellow striped suit sat with his legs crossed, trimming his nails little by little with nail clippers.

In front of him was a cup of hot tea that his adjutant had just brewed, with wisps of steam rising from the water.

Puff puff puff...

The Den Den Mushi on the desk rang, and after about thirty seconds, the man slowly raised his hand to answer the call.

"Moshi moshi, this is Borsalino~"

Holding a microphone and sipping hot tea, Borsalino, despite being a general, continued his job as a pay thief.

The Den Den Mushi's face gradually transformed into that of a man with a long beard, whose deep voice rang out: "Kizaru, this is Mary Geoise!"

"This is quite something. What business does such a high-ranking figure from the central government have with me?"

After putting down the hot tea, Kizaru's nonchalant attitude lessened somewhat.

"I have a mission for you: go to an island in the West Blue and take care of a pirate, Fisher Tiger, the captain of the Mermaid Pirates!"

The Den Den Mushi perfectly mimicked the other person's expression, its narrowed, sinister eyes fixed on Kizaru.