As time passed, people began appearing in the courtyard. Those who walked by and saw Raiden Ei practicing her sword couldn't help but take a few extra glances.
Raiden Ei didn't want to disturb them, and it was getting late. She walked out of the inn. Although the streets weren't crowded yet, some breakfast shops had already opened for business. Although this world was ravaged by pirates,
ordinary people were still doing ordinary jobs, just like before she transmigrated. Most pirates also came from among ordinary people. The lower strata of the world were still populated mostly by common folk.
Walking on the street, she observed that these surroundings, apart from the environment, clothing, appearance, and language, were not much different from the streets she knew in the mornings before, yet everything felt different from before.
Raiden Ei wandered aimlessly, looking around. After finishing breakfast, she returned to the inn. Haisier and the others were already waiting for her, but they didn't appear anxious, meaning they hadn't been waiting too long.
Haisier saw Raiden Ei return: "Miss Shogun, the agreed-upon departure time with Major Kaiweiya is almost here. Is there anything else you need us to do?"
Raiden Ei was slightly surprised: "Is it that early? Then let's go! I still have something I need to ask Major Kaiweiya about. Let's go together!" The group walked out of the inn together and headed toward the port.
Nicola walked up beside Raiden Ei and asked: "General, what were you doing out so early? I couldn't find you when I went to your room just now."
Raiden Ei thought this person was becoming overly familiar, no longer afraid of her: "Nothing, just strolling on the street and having breakfast."
Nicola's expression was exaggerated: "Ah! If I had known, I would have gone with you."
Raiden Ei felt a bit disgusted by the extremely poor acting: "Just say what you need to say! There's no need to put on an act here."
Everyone burst out laughing. Finding amusement in someone else's embarrassment was a form of entertainment. Nicola's expression immediately fell.
Nicola: "Hmph, I'm ignoring all of you!" She ran ahead. Raiden Ei... this must be social death in reality!
Sang stopped laughing and said to Raiden Ei seriously: "Nicola probably just wants to say goodbye to you! It's just that she's still too young and feels too embarrassed to say it out loud."
Raiden Ei truly hadn't expected that: "Is that so? Then I have received her sincerity."
Geer: "We should also say goodbye to you, Miss Shogun. Thank you for taking care of us along the way."
Sang: "Mm-hmm, thank you, Miss Shogun."
Mina: "That Miss Raiden Ei... thank you for your help these past few days."
Raiden Ei stopped and looked at these people. She wasn't quite used to it; she was actually quite thin-skinned. But she had to hold firm. She had just witnessed Nicola's social death, and if she showed weakness, she would surely experience social death herself. Although they didn't understand what social death was, the feeling must be the same.
"Don't mention it. You all helped me quite a bit these days as well."
Haisier sensed the situation was slightly delicate: "Alright, everyone will meet again in the future."
Nicola turned around and found no one following her. She didn't care that they had laughed at her earlier and ran back, shouting: "Hey, why isn't anyone coming? Did I take the wrong way?"
Sang answered Nicola first: "No, we were just saying goodbye to Miss Shogun. Let's go! We can't waste time. Major Kaiweiya is probably waiting for us."
Nicola: "Ah! Then did I miss out!"
Raiden Ei: "It's alright, I've received everyone's kind intentions. Let's go!"
The group stopped lingering and hurried toward the port where they had agreed to meet Kaiweiya yesterday. That port wasn't far from them; it was right next to the Marine Branch. The inn they chose was also nearby. After walking for half an hour, they arrived.
The port was a large bay filled with ships of various sizes. The port where they had previously landed wasn't this large. As soon as they arrived, a Marine led them to a warship. Kaiweiya was talking to a man wearing a cape of justice just like him.
Kaiweiya saw Raiden Ei and the others arrive and concluded his conversation: "Miss Raiden Ei, you've arrived. Why are there only a few of you?"
Raiden Ei explained: "Perhaps everyone has their own matters to attend to! I apologize for the trouble, Major Kaiweiya."
Nicola looked around as if searching for someone. Sang interrupted her searching and whispered: "What are you doing?"
Nicola also whispered back to Sang: "Didn't Maiga and the others join the Marines? I was checking to see if they were here."
Sang: "Stop messing around. They only joined the Marines yesterday; how could they be here?"
Nicola considered this and stopped looking around, quietly waiting for Major Kaiweiya and the others to finish talking.
Haisier surveyed the surroundings and didn't spot Gando: "Major Kaiweiya, the others probably aren't coming. It's just the few of us returning to Vinia Island. Thank you to the Marines for being willing to take us back."
Kaiweiya: "It's nothing. I will make the necessary arrangements. The Marines aren't setting sail just for you all. Routine Marine patrols require going to different sea areas; we are just giving you a ride back incidentally. It's no trouble."
Haisier: "We still must thank you."
Kaiweiya didn't mind and introduced them: "This is the officer in charge of this patrol, Second Lieutenant Senboke. Senboke, these are Raiden Ei and her friends." The group greeted him as well.
Senboke, with an upright expression, greeted them: "Hello everyone. It's getting late now, please board the ship with me! I have already had someone arrange rooms for you. During the voyage, you will encounter many dangers. You do not need to panic; please stay in your rooms and do not wander around. We will handle things."
Haisier and the others agreed: "Yes, we will."
Senboke: "Major, then I shall depart."
Kaiweiya patted Senboke's shoulder: "Go ahead!"
Senboke led the group and the Marines toward the warship without any hesitation, leaving immediately. Haisier and the others could only quickly bid farewell to Raiden Ei! They couldn't ask the warship to wait for them.
Raiden Ei watched Haisier and the others board the warship. As the warship slowly pulled away from the port, she could still see their figures by the side of the railing, waving at her. She raised her hand in response, hoping they would have smooth sailing!
Watching the warship sail toward the vast sea, Raiden Ei and Kaiweiya remained silent during this time. Once the warship was out of sight, she planned to ask the question she had in mind.
"Major Kaiweiya, I truly troubled you this time. Also, regarding Gatt and the others joining the Marines, please take good care of them."
"These are things we ought to do. Since you want me to look after them, why not join the Marines now?"
"You already manage this place so well; why must I join?"
"With the arrival of the Great Pirate Era, pirates have greatly increased. Now, the Marines need more of the new generation like you. We can accept as many as come."
Raiden Ei... If she didn't know that the World Government was the superior authority to the Marines, she might have joined. Now, she could only let his good intentions go to waste.
Raiden Ei changed the subject: "I don't want to talk about that now. Major Kaiweiya, do you know where there is a shipyard on this island? I want to buy a small sailboat."
Kaiweiya didn't press her: "I do! But it's a bit remote. I'll have someone take you there."
Raiden Ei sincerely thanked Kaiweiya: "Thank you. In the future, if there is anything I can help you with, please feel free to ask me."
Kaiweiya called a Marine to guide Raiden Ei: "It's nothing, go ahead! I still have work to handle, so I won't accompany you."
"Okay, I won't keep you. Goodbye!" Raiden Ei bid farewell to Kaiweiya and then followed the Marine to the shipyard.
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