Bang!
Enel was sent flying heavily, crashing against the mast, nearly falling unconscious.
Nicole Robin, sipping her iced lemon tea, watched as Enel struggled to stand and said to Sakata Gintoki beside her, "Brother Gintoki, how many times has he been knocked down now?"
Sakata Gintoki gazed at the starry sky and replied, "It's the third day today. If we calculate it at almost ten times a day, it should be around the twenty-eighth time now."
"Oh, doesn't it hurt?" Nicole Robin asked, looking at Enel with a touch of pity.
"It probably hurts quite a bit," Sakata Gintoki chuckled. "The Marshal's strength is immense. Master pampers him."
"I think so too," Nicole Robin nodded emphatically. "Why does he want to leave the Xuanwu Navy so badly?"
Sakata Gintoki watched Enel, who refused to admit defeat and whose body crackled with lightning, stand up again. He said, "It's ambition. The ambition revealed in his eyes won't allow him to be subservient, to live comfortably under rules."
Enel's destiny had changed since his sneak attack on Benedict from Bika.
Bika would not be destroyed, and for a long time, he could not return to the Sky Island.
After being brought aboard, Enel repeatedly tried to escape, but Benedict caught him no matter the circumstances.
After being severely beaten by Benedict for a day, Enel would lie on his bed for half a day.
It was truly effective, the idea that Enel used the Goro Goro no Mi for electrotherapy to rapidly recover his body.
Thus, after a few hours of rest, he would be as lively as ever, causing trouble.
This time, he no longer ran, but began to sneak attack Benedict.
In Enel's mind, defeating Benedict would prove his strength, and he could then freely leave Benedict's control.
Benedict walked out of the cabin, glanced at Enel, and smiled, "Not bad. In just a few days, you've developed some abilities and lasted one more move."
"However, your strength is still too weak."
Enel was panting, with several bruises on his body, all gifts from Benedict.
But this also made Enel realize the power of the Three Types of Haki.
He had mastered Observation Haki, but Armament Haki, which could have a substantial impact on Devil Fruits, and Conqueror's Haki, had yet to be mastered.
Ignoring Benedict's taunts, he dragged his exhausted body and brushed past Benedict, returning to his room.
Soon, someone delivered a large portion of food.
As the door closed, Enel immediately began to eat ravenously.
In his eyes, that untamed spirit seemed unchanged.
—
In the far east of the Sky Island, where the sea of clouds met the rivers and seas on the island, the Xuanwu warships smoothly entered the rivers and seas, sailed out of the island, and into the ocean.
At the same time, Buggy had arrived at Shandora, and the result was, as expected, very disappointing for him.
However, upon learning that Benedict had led the fleet away without summoning him to rendezvous, Buggy became incredibly excited.
"Hahaha, I'm free!"
Buggy shouted excitedly and held a banquet that day. The next day, he began leading the Clown Squad towards the far east, leaving the Sky Island and the East Blue.
Benedict returned to the Xuanwu Navy base with the fleet and immediately convened a meeting.
The attendees included Kenshiro, Wang Zhi, Sakata Gintoki, Gin Fu, and Yelü Siji.
"There can only be one navy in the East Blue, and that is the Xuanwu Navy."
"I give you three days. The East Blue Navy must disappear from the East Blue."
Benedict's gaze then fell on Kenshiro, saying, "How is the intelligence you were tasked to collect coming along?"
"It has been collected," Kenshiro replied calmly.
"Good! With you in charge of this matter, and Yelü Siji assisting, those who should be killed will have their crimes announced, and none shall live. As for the rest, those willing to surrender will be taken to the re-education base, and those unwilling to surrender will be sent to Azkaban."
"Yes, Marshal!" Yelü Siji stood up and saluted.
Benedict nodded at Yelü Siji, signaling him to sit down, then continued, "The second matter: we will begin to venture out of the East Blue, infiltrating every island and every country, and propagating our justice. We must also resolutely deal with pirates."
Benedict looked at Wang Zhi and said sternly, "Wang Zhi, you will lead your fleet to the Reverse Mountain and prioritize stationing troops there. No pirates coming and going shall be spared. At the very least, I do not want any pirates entering the East Blue from there. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Yes, Marshal!" Wang Zhi's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he spoke confidently and full of spirit.
Benedict's gaze then turned to Sakata Gintoki, saying, "Gintoki, you will cooperate with Wang Zhi. I do not wish for unrelated individuals to interfere in matters of the East Blue."
"Yes, Marshal," Sakata Gintoki nodded.
"Gin Fu, you will lead your troops to patrol the East Blue. I do not want pirates daring to provoke our justice on the seas of the East Blue during this period."
Benedict looked at Gin Fu again, and Gin Fu naturally accepted.
The Xuanwu Navy was growing stronger by the day, especially as it absorbed talent daily.
Furthermore, the current Xuanwu Navy soldiers were numerous, all proficient in the Six Powers of the Navy, and many talented soldiers had begun to master Armament Haki or Observation Haki, or even both.
Facing the Xuanwu Navy with such a foundation, Gin Fu was immensely shocked.
Even with his current Vice-Admiral level strength, if he were surrounded by such a group of Xuanwu Navy soldiers, he would eventually fall.
However, what puzzled him endlessly was why so many talented individuals would apply to join the Xuanwu Navy base.
He had also inquired and tested these soldiers, but the responses he received were: 'I came for justice.'
'We greatly admire Marshal Benedict.'
'The justice of the Xuanwu Navy is what I pursue.'
'No reason, I just want to join the Xuanwu Navy, as if a mission is calling me from the depths of my soul.'
...
The answers were all pure, and similarly, none of them were trained or invited.
Moreover, these people came from all over the world, making it difficult for Gin Fu to believe they had any connection.
It seemed, as someone had said, this was a mission.
"Now, commence immediately."
"I want to see results in the shortest possible time."
Benedict made his final conclusion, and Kenshiro and the others left the meeting room.
As the adjutants conveyed the orders of their respective superiors, the entire Xuanwu Navy base quickly mobilized.
Members of various squads quickly assembled, then, under the command of their captains, swiftly checked equipment, combat supplies, and so on.
Nearly an hour later, warships sailed out of the Xuanwu Navy base and proceeded towards their respective destinations.
In the following days, the East Blue became lively, but it also caused immense anger for the World Government and the Navy.
And some pirates originating from the East Blue also made their moves at this time.