Chapter 8: Gains and Losses and the Marshal's Summons

  As dusk approached, the naval G7's warship finally arrived at St. Mary Joia, the Red Soil Continent Transport Port, where the Ponkhasade Island research team and navy soldiers disembarked.

  "Good work, Lieutenant Colonel Strobe!" The naval headquarters soldiers who came forward saluted, and beside them stood an officer with scars all over his face.

  Strobelberry stepped forward: "It's all up to you now, Moralman."

  "Do you want to return to the new world again?"

  "Ah, there's something else from the G7 side. Here's a list of this time's casualties, you can hand it over to those naval families!" Storoberi handed over a stack of documents.

  "Every time it's me who has to do this kind of thing, you bunch of people..."

  "By the way, there are a few good candidates in the arrest team, you can cultivate them properly."

  "Oh?"

  "Look, it's those few." Strohberry pointed at the five people centered around Hophody in the transportation port's arrest squad: "The one with the terrifying appearance has decent swordsmanship skills, and the round-faced one is a Devil Fruit ability user..."

  Doflamingo heard this and immediately interrupted: "You're talking about the Devil Fruit ability user? That kid, I remember his name was Bellgurd!"

  "Hmm, and then there's that last pink-haired lieutenant... never mind, I've already reported everything to the Sengoku commanders along the way, they should all know. So, let's just resupply a bit and set off. See you later, Moral Man!"

  "It's rare for me to return to headquarters, shouldn't I take a look at my wife and children? Storoberi."

  Strobelberry didn't respond, leaving only a back view for Moral Man. On the cloak fluttering in the wind behind him, the two words "Justice" were displayed.

  "Understood!" De Ma muttered a sentence, then turned around and immediately changed his expression: "Hurry up, haven't you guys eaten yet?"

  Like prisoners under escort, Hobodi and the rest of the Ponkhir-Saad troops were led by numerous naval officers through the sacred land of Saint Mary Joa on the Red Earth continent.

  When they arrived at the adjacent Naval Headquarters of Marinduque, the scientific troops were taken over by the personnel of the headquarters and dispersed one by one. Hopodi and others received orders to wait at home, and those who were injured were arranged in the military hospital of the headquarters.

  Hobbit and others escaped from the Pongkhazad archipelago this time, absorbed a lot of poisonous gas, and were arranged to the hospital without exception.

  Successfully escaped from the poisonous gas-filled Punkhassad, arrived at the world's strongest fortress, the Navy Headquarters, and underwent a physical examination by the beautiful nurses of the medical corps, it can be said that life is no longer worried.

  The next day.

  Hobadi and five others lay in their beds, each clutching a copy of today's newspaper.

  The newspaper headlines read in large letters: "Life Island Ponkhasade Dead! Chemical experiment fails, countless naval personnel killed..." The five people's faces completely lost their smile, and they all knew that after recovering from their injuries, with the current widespread reports, accompanied by the public opinion of the naval families who lost their loved ones, they would absolutely not be able to escape the military court's judgment.

  Bruno looked at the four people around him with a heavy expression, and chuckled: "In short, there's no need to worry too much. According to the information I've obtained, Begabonk has already agreed to take full responsibility for this Pongkhazad incident. You see, Caesar has also been implicated, so the families of those who lost their loved ones won't vent their anger on you."

  "Blanc, this has nothing to do with you, so don't spout nonsense, you Intelligence Bureau guy." Belikov scolded, continuing, "But our capture troops are different. The capture was a failure, which is why Caesar scattered the poisonous gas on the island. How detestable! After finally struggling to become an upper sergeant, am I going to have to go back to being a third-class soldier?"

  Peng En's eyes were fixed intently on the newspaper, muttering to himself: "Although Dr. Beigabonku took most of the responsibility, it's certain that the military rank of the officers in the arrest squad will be reduced. However, we're still young, and if we catch more big pirates later, we'll regain our officer ranks. What's most important is strength; if we have enough strength this time in Ponkhasade, we can definitely rescue even more of our remaining companions."

  Gare was beside Hobodi, twisting and turning to the nurse who was checking his body next to him, holding down his clothes tightly and not letting the nurse lift them up. His face turned red quickly as he changed the subject: "Lieutenant, what do you think?"

  Hoboldi's gaunt face lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling above his head, and after a moment of contemplation, he said: "I tend to agree with Peng En's words. If one has real ability, military rank will come sooner or later. On the other hand, if one lacks ability, even if given a high-ranking position, it would be nothing but an illusion. The best example is General Kuzan 'Seiryu'. We just heard rumors that he went for a stroll by the sea on his bicycle again, abandoning his post. Such a lazy guy, even if he deserted his duties, wouldn't his unit be powerless against him?"

  "No, no... let's just forget about the green pheasant. Blanche's face was beading with sweat as she looked around nervously: "Shall we change the subject? Okay?"

  "The only thing you should worry about is that the department sends you to a place where birds don't lay eggs and you're left to fend for yourself, then it's really bad." Hobodi had experienced this in his previous life. At that time, he had just entered the mercenary world and didn't have much reputation. He always received tasks from big shots with low pay but extremely time-consuming. Fortunately, he didn't give up at that time and continued to fight until he became famous and was recruited by White Xin's father.

  "What's gotten into you... Hobbit! Don't you care at all?" Berelain cried out.

  Hobadi didn't say anything else, just stared quietly at the ceiling, thinking about some things in his mind.

  He doesn't care about the naval rank, and as a substitute for this body's naval position, he would rather see himself being eliminated. Although there is no essential difference between soldiers and mercenaries, the latter's degree of freedom is obviously much higher than the former.

  However, he secretly ate the artificial Devil Fruit created by Vegapunk and was involved in this time's Ponch Hakase Island incident, so for a while, he couldn't shake off his identity as a Marine.

  Of course, he also considered the benefits of becoming a navy.

  At least in the regular army, there are more suitable ways to train this body, and they know nothing about the Devil Fruit. The Navy must have specific reference conditions, and the Navy's vast intelligence will also help find out whether Bai Xin, that little girl, is alive or dead.

  When it comes to Bai Xin, that little girl from middle school, he and her father were in a employer-employee relationship, but just because she called him "Uncle Huo", he had to confirm whether Bai Xin was alive or dead in this world. Moreover, the last scene of his previous life, where he failed to save the little girl, was also a dereliction of duty as her bodyguard.

  So, for now, joining the navy is absolutely a beneficial thing for him, except that he has less freedom.

  Just as Hobbit was lost in thought, time slowly passed by. In the naval hospital's ward, several soldiers walked in.

  "The General of the Warring States has issued an order: arrest M. Caesar's troops on Pong Kha Island! 'Iron Fist' Hobodi, T. Penn, and Belligund, please come with us! Also, General Sakaski has a verbal message: 'Miss Fuyinix, return home immediately and wait for orders, I will come to teach you a lesson!' That's all!"

  "Who is Fuyinix...?" Buran Yu and the others swallowed their saliva, someone who could be lectured by General "Akadoguchi" wasn't an ordinary person.

  "Sorry, it's me..." A man's square face poked weakly out from under the covers.

  "Is that so, it's you!" The three of them let out a sigh of relief, but suddenly, the eyes of the three Blancs widened in surprise:

  "Eh——you're a woman?!"