Chapter 125 Rewards for Merit, Punishment for Faults
All three of them had been heavily injured in the recent battle.
Especially Manlong.
In Zane's absence, he was the lead commander of the Hunting Team.
Given his personality, even without Zane's orders, he would have surely charged to the front line of any battle.
At this moment, Manlong was covered in bandages once again, his right arm even secured in a wooden splint and hung across his chest—clearly broken during the fight.
Approaching them, Zane sat cross-legged directly in front of Nico Robin without a hint of disdain.
"Captain, in the battle just now..."
Compared to Manlong, Nico Robin and Baby 5's injuries were lighter; though also bandaged, she immediately composed her thoughts and began to recount the events.
Through Nico Robin's narrative, Zane quickly learned of the details of the battle outside.
Gion, the Admiral Candidate, was not only exceptionally strong herself, but her subordinates were certainly not to be underestimated either.
Or rather, she was fully prepared for this mission to track down Zane.
In addition to a full complement of two thousand elite soldiers on the warship, there were many commissioned officers.
Particularly Gion's adjutant.
Although she was also a female Marine, her strength had reached the level of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
Manlong's right arm had been broken while fighting this woman.
Of course, while Manlong only lost the use of an arm, the other party had been beaten to death by him.
Such a difference proved that Manlong's current strength was no longer what it once was, and was now comparable to the elite Vice Admirals of Marine Headquarters.
As for the others...
In this battle, the Hunting Team's casualties far exceeded previous encounters.
But there were also many who performed outstandingly.
Whether it was Wyper, Roche, Kamakiri, and Eddie, who had been granted Devil Fruits, or those like Bones and Bon Kurei, whose strength was already decent.
These people had defeated many Marine officers in battle and successfully repelled the counterattacks launched by the Marines against the New Riding the Wind and Waves.
In terms of the outcome...
Although the Hunting Team suffered significant casualties, it was undoubtedly a major victory.
After understanding the results, Zane offered a great deal of encouragement to everyone.
At the same time, he generously promised bountiful rewards.
Rewards for merit, punishment for faults.
This was the ironclad rule of leadership.
Zane naturally wouldn't be stingy with mere money.
"Captain, what should we do with this warship? It'd be such a waste to just discard it, right?"
Having received treatment for her injuries, Baby 5 couldn't wait to approach Zane's side.
Zane reached out to steady her, his gaze following her finger toward the docked Marine warship.
As the main battlefield...
The Marine warship was heavily damaged.
Aside from corpses and blood, there were many marks of destruction left by the Hunting Team.
Sword slashes were common.
There was also machine-gun fire from Baby 5, Fishman Karate from Manlong, and mercury from Wyper.
The damage was severe.
But it was far from being scrapped.
After all, this top-tier large-scale Marine warship, while not as massive as the New Riding the Wind and Waves...
Its scale, configuration, and durability made it a first-class vessel on the sea.
Its construction cost alone would have started at at least one billion Berries.
Just as Baby 5 said, it would be a waste to discard a ship of this scale like previous pirate ships.
Zane thought for a moment and said, "Arrange for some people to go over later. Have the shipwright team repair it properly. From now on, this warship will serve as the escort vessel!"
Although he hadn't deliberately expanded the Hunting Team's numbers, through recruitment and incorporation along the way, their numbers still exceeded three thousand even after these casualties.
With the scale of the New Riding the Wind and Waves, it could certainly carry over three thousand people.
But considering the future growth of their ranks, expanding with an escort vessel was only natural.
With Zane's decision, Baby 5 immediately and proactively organized personnel, having those with lighter injuries clean up the New Riding the Wind and Waves while also starting work on the neighboring warship.
As for the Marines who had fainted under the pressure of Conqueror's Haki...
So what if they were Marines?
Since they were enemies, they would be handled accordingly.
Those willing to surrender would be recruited; those who resisted would be tossed into the sea to feed the fish.
Post-war processing lasted the entire day.
Only then did the New Riding the Wind and Waves set sail once more.
Meanwhile, the warship, now an escort vessel with the Marine and World Government flags lowered, guarded the side of the New Riding the Wind and Waves.
"Cheers!!!"
On the deck that night, under the bright lights and flowing wine, the members of the Hunting Team showed no trace of the day's exhaustion. Each of them cheered excitedly and happily during the banquet.
It was impossible not to celebrate a victory over the enemy.
Wooden mugs clinked together, splashing liquor that perfectly reflected the boisterous scene.
At the dining tables laden with various delicacies, Chopper, the head doctor, showed none of his usual timidity. He found two chopsticks, stuck them into his nostrils and mouth, and performed a lively, hilarious dance.
Inspired by Chopper, others joined in one by one—either finding their own chopsticks to dance with or belt out Bink's Sake at the top of their lungs.
Some even had enough energy left to find a spot to start wrestling.
Indeed, the ones leading the wrestling were none other than Manlong and Wyper.
"Wyper, you're pathetic! How can you not even pin Manlong when he's only using one hand?"
Leaning against the railing with a wooden mug, Zane watched the group's rowdy fun and couldn't help but crack a joke when he saw Manlong and Wyper leading the wrestling match.
"Captain, let me offer you a toast."
Just as Zane was watching the festivities with interest, a graceful figure walked over.
Holding up a wooden mug, Nico Robin signaled to Zane with a smile on her face.
Clink!
Zane raised his mug, bumped it against hers, and then drained it in one gulp.
As if not wanting to be outdone, Nico Robin also downed her drink.
A few drops of wine escaped the corner of her mouth, falling into her midriff-baring, low-cut top, and sliding down between her pale curves until they vanished into the depths.
"Tell me, coming to toast me so diligently... did you run into something you need my help with?"
After finishing his drink, Zane looked at her with a beaming smile and spoke.
"Not at all. I simply wanted to share a drink with you, Captain," Nico Robin said, leaning casually against the railing.
'Saul, it seems I've finally found some reliable partners.'
Raising her hand to tuck a stray hair blown by the sea breeze, Nico Robin looked out at the night sea, a smile instinctively spreading across her face.
The two World Government officials had been personally ordered for execution by Zane during the day.
The death of these two officials was merely a casual act to Zane.
But Nico Robin, who had witnessed it, felt an unprecedented sense of security.
Zane's act of executing World Government officials allowed Nico Robin to truly confirm his attitude toward the World Government.
It also caused the ice around her heart to thaw, finally allowing her to truly feel at ease as a member of the Hunting Team.
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