Chapter 76 Returning to Loguetown

The sea breeze brushed past as Makino stood on the deck, watching the coastline of her hometown gradually recede, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Nojiko thoughtfully handed her a cup of hot tea; the warm touch allowed her tense nerves to relax slightly.

“Everyone feels a bit out of place the first time they go out to sea.”

Nojiko leaned against the railing.

“But you’ll soon fall in love with this feeling of freedom.”

“Why were you all willing to follow him?”

Makino asked with some curiosity after taking a small sip of the hot tea.

Nojiko looked out at the shimmering surface of the sea, a gentle curve appearing at the corner of her mouth.

“Everyone has their own story.

To me, he’s like a lighthouse in a storm, giving me direction when I was at my most lost.”

She gently swirled her teacup.

“Back then, Cocoyasi Village was still shrouded in Arlong’s shadow; it was him who led us to a new life.”

Honey Queen had also come onto the deck at some point, leaning lazily against the mast.

“I was actually forcibly abducted by this scoundrel~”

She said it with her lips, but her eyes were full of sweetness.

“But thinking about it now, this was probably the arrangement of fate.”

Makino’s gaze shifted to Kaguya, who was nearby focusing intently on his cultivation.

Nojiko followed her gaze, her eyes full of tenderness.

“He trains like this every day, racing against the clock as if every second counts.

I always feel like there’s an inexplicable pressure on his shoulders.”

Speaking of which, Nojiko looked back at Makino.

“By the way, Sister Makino, you are very important to him; he hasn’t even cultivated these past few days just to accompany you.”

Makino was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.

“So he… cares about me that much?”

Makino murmured softly, a wave of warmth surging in her heart.

“Sister Makino, you should rest first; it’s time for us to train too.

Although we don’t know what that pressure on him is, as his women, we must also work hard to become stronger.”

Nojiko set her teacup aside and walked toward the training area while loosening her wrists.

“Sister, you go rest first, I’m going to train too~”

Honey Queen also quickly followed.

Makino watched the backs of the two women, thought for a moment, and finally chose to follow them.

“Take me with you; I want to become stronger too, or at least not be a burden.”

Kaguya put down the heavy barbell and looked at the serious-faced Makino.

“Alright, then let’s get stronger together.”

Kaguya first did a simple check of Makino’s physical fitness, and then began to formulate a training plan for her based on her condition.

In the evening, considering that Makino had just left home and would inevitably feel some unease, Nojiko and the others were very sensible and let Kaguya spend time with her.

The next morning, the ship riding the wind for ten thousand miles slowly docked at the shipyard in Loguetown.

“Nojiko, take them for a walk, and buy a set of medical books for Kaya while you’re at it.”

“Understood.”

Nojiko knew what Kaguya was going to do; after all, there was another sister waiting for Kaguya in this town.

After several people got off the ship, Kaguya found Thomson.

“Lord Kaguya, you’ve come. Do you want to modify the ship or repair it?”

Although Thomson was surprised by Kaguya’s appearance, as the person in charge of an established shipyard in Loguetown, he still maintained a professional smile.

“It’s a modification, I suppose.

Thicken the deck for me and replace it with sturdier wood.”

Kaguya led Thomson onto the ship riding the wind for ten thousand miles.

Thomson looked at several damaged spots on the deck and nodded.

“Understood, our shipyard will prioritize the modification for you; it can be completed in one day.”

“Good, how much is the modification fee?”

Thomson pondered for a moment and calculated the cost.

“Hmm… two million Berries will do.”

Kaguya nodded, went back to the treasure room, and took out two million Berries.

After arranging everything, Kaguya left the shipyard and headed straight for the Marine Base.

This time he didn’t go through the main gate; after all, he was currently wanted, and looking for Tashigi openly would bring her trouble.

Kaguya found an opportunity to climb over the wall and hid in the shadows of the buildings to secretly look for Tashigi.

Soon, he saw Tashigi training hard at the training ground.

Watching Tashigi compete in swordsmanship with an opponent, Kaguya did not step forward to disturb her.

It wasn’t until the lunch break that Kaguya found an opportunity to quietly approach Tashigi’s dormitory.

He tapped gently on the window; Tashigi turned around alertly, but her eyes instantly reddened when she saw that familiar face.

“You… why are you here?”

Tashigi cried out excitedly, then hurriedly opened the window.

Kaguya jumped in through the window and took Tashigi into his arms.

“I missed you, and I’m about to leave the East Blue.”

“You’re leaving the East Blue! You’re going to the Grand Line?”

Tashigi looked up from Kaguya’s embrace, looking at him with a face full of worry.

“Yes, do you want to come with me?”

A look of struggle flashed in Tashigi’s eyes, her fingers unconsciously tightening on the corner of Kaguya’s clothes.

Faced with Kaguya’s invitation again, Tashigi fell into a dilemma.

On one side was the man she deeply loved, and on the other was the justice she upheld.

Kaguya did not rush her, but just gently stroked her hair, waiting for her answer.

Tashigi took a deep breath, a firm light gradually appearing in her eyes.

“I… want to go with you.”

She said softly, her voice light but incomparably clear.

“But before that, I need to settle some things.”

Kaguya smiled slightly and nodded.

“I understand.”

Tashigi bit her lip and continued.

“I will submit my resignation to Captain Smoker; although it might disappoint him, I don’t want to go against my own heart anymore.”

Kaguya squeezed her hand and said softly.

“I will wait for you.”

Tashigi broke away from Kaguya’s embrace and then began to sit at her desk to write her resignation letter.

Kaguya sat on the bed, silently watching Tashigi’s back.

He was very happy that Tashigi chose to go with him.

Last time he invited her, it was interrupted by an accident, so Kaguya hadn’t explained things clearly to her.

Tashigi wanted to stay in the Marine to send him information, but it was actually completely unnecessary.

His strength was growing every day; in the future, even if the Marine sent people to capture him, they might not necessarily be his match.

But if Tashigi stayed in the Marine, if Marineford went insane and used Tashigi to threaten him, it would instead put him in a passive position.

It was best for his women to stay by his side; even if they couldn’t be with him, they couldn’t be left in the hands of the enemy.

Soon, Tashigi finished writing her resignation and looked tenderly at Kaguya.

“Wait for me outside, okay? I want to personally hand the resignation to Captain Smoker.”

Kaguya nodded gently and planted a kiss on her forehead.

“I’ll wait for you at the old place.”

Having said that, he quietly flipped out the window just as he had come.

Tashigi took off her Marine uniform, changed into casual clothes, took one last look at the room, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

…

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