It was said that Hina had tried for hours that day…
But in the end—
She just couldn't bring herself to say the word "I."
Now, seated in the captain's chair on the bridge, Hina sat sulking with a stormy face.
"Sister Hina, what's wrong? Still no progress?"
"Luo Lan, go die in a corner!"
She shot a vicious glare at Luo Lan, cursing him silently in her heart. This bastard was just the worst.
Every now and then, he'd bring it up again.
He was absolutely doing it on purpose!!!
And to be fair—yes, Luo Lan was doing it on purpose.
After all, there weren't many chances in daily life to tease Hina.
How could he possibly let such a rare opportunity slip by?
That said, just as Luo Lan was about to drop a few more jabs, the helmsman interrupted.
"Commander, we've arrived at the target coordinates!"
"Ascend to periscope depth!"
"Aye!"
Moments later, as the ballast tanks began to vent water, the Danaan gradually rose.
"Hina, what exactly are we doing here at Branch 153?"
"Confirming a few things."
"About why they haven't deployed any warships?"
"Mm. That's part of it. But there are other matters too. Once the area is confirmed secure, launch a recon drone."
Luo Lan nodded as he spoke.
Hina didn't press further. She immediately began issuing orders.
After all, in her mind, Luo Lan had always been a walking enigma.
Getting a clear explanation out of him?
Not gonna happen.
"We've reached periscope depth. Visuals are coming through—relaying to the main screen now!"
The helmsman's voice rang out again.
And sure enough, the massive screen at the front of the bridge lit up, showing a live feed of the ocean surface.
Once they confirmed that no ships were in the vicinity—
"Surface. Launch the UAV. Then dive again to periscope depth!"
"Yes, Commander!"
At Hina's command, the crew sprang into action.
Before long…
The Danaan surfaced, and her back panels began to open.
Two catapult systems extended outward, and on one of them, a drone was already locked and ready.
The next second—
Whoosh!
The drone launched into the sky.
With that complete, the upper hatch sealed again.
The Danaan began submerging once more.
---
The reason they took hours to cover what should've been a ten-nautical-mile trip?
Because—
You can't see a damn thing at night.
Now that dawn had broken, it was the perfect time.
Inside the bridge, the main screen displayed a live aerial feed.
And what it showed—
Made several people cover their mouths in shock.
On a training field stood three wooden stakes.
Tied to them were three men—clearly Marines, based on their uniforms.
Standing before them, wielding a whip, was a sleeveless man in a justice-emblazoned coat—clearly a Marine Captain.
Around them, dozens of other Marines stood with heads hung low.
"Adjust the audio pickup."
"Yes, Commander!"
Though everyone aboard the ship called Hina "Commander," Luo Lan continued to call her "Captain."
At his command, the drone operator quickly responded, lowering the drone's altitude and tweaking the microphones.
Finally, about a minute later, the audio came through.
"Everyone listen up! Disobey me, and you'll end up just like these three!"
"That's right—I am the greatest!"
"My orders are justice!"
Raising his axe high, the man bellowed his declaration.
This was Axe-Hand Morgan.
Ever since taking command of Branch 153, he'd faced constant insubordination.
No one respected him. Orders were ignored.
Monka had endured for months, training obsessively, growing stronger.
Now, no one in the entire branch could stand against him.
Last night, he finally snapped.
Using a surprise incident as cover, he issued a suspicious command: no one was to deploy.
But these three? They led a group of Marines in an attempt to seize a warship and head out anyway.
Naturally, they failed—and Morgan personally captured them.
This was his moment to make an example. Through fear, he would finally seize full control of Branch 153.
From today onward, he would rule with an iron grip.
"I said no one leaves. You three disobeyed! You call that justice? You call me unfit to lead?!"
"No! You lost your way, Morgan! Letting pirates raid outside while you forbade action? That's not justice—it's cowardice!"
"You're not the man we once knew!"
"Fellow Marines! We represent justice! Don't bow to this tyrant!"
The three shouted defiantly from their stakes.
But the dozens of onlookers kept their heads down—some even trembling with fear.
Morgan only sneered and raised his whip again.
Crack! Crack!
Screams echoed through the Danaan's bridge from the live feed.
"Luo Lan, I can't take this anymore!"
Hina shot to her feet, face full of fury.
But Luo Lan grabbed her arm.
"Wait!"
"You bastard! Are you really just going to watch those three get beaten to death!?"
"No. I mean—don't go as you. Go as Captainl Hina of Marine HQ."
"…What do you mean?"
Hina blinked.
"This way, it'll be easier to handle. All you need to do afterward is file a report with HQ."
Luo Lan knew the situation well.
Branch 157, his domain, wasn't strong enough yet.
Taking down pirates? That wouldn't catch much attention.
But openly attacking a Marine base in broad daylight? That would blow their cover—and unravel all the progress they'd made hiding behind the "revolutionary army" scapegoat.
But if Hina, a HQ officer who just happened to be passing by, responded to an abuse of authority?
Perfectly reasonable.
No one would trace it back to Luo Lan or Branch 157.
"Also—bring those three back with you."
"Got it."
Hina nodded firmly.
She turned and headed to her quarters to change.
Red pantsuit, wine-colored gloves, and her crisp white justice coat.
Once the Danaan surfaced again, she used Moonwalk to soar toward Branch 153.
Unaware of the storm about to hit him, Morgan continued his brutal display.
Crack! Crack!
"See this?! This is what happens when you disobey me!"
"I am justice!"
After a few more strikes, Morgan scanned the crowd again.
All heads were still lowered. All voices silent.
He burst out laughing.
Until—
"Justice?"
"Hina… doesn't think so."
A voice echoed from above.
Morgan snapped his head up.
His pupils shrank—
Hovering mid-air, stepping through the sky, was a tall figure in red.
Her justice coat billowed in the wind behind her.
"Who are you!?"
---
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