Hina and Tashigi's ship sailed smoothly into the nearest port. The bustling port was alive with activity. There were merchant ships loading and unloading their cargo.

  Once the ship was secure, Hina stepped onto the deck. Her long, pink hair flowing in the breeze. She turned to her crew, her voice carrying the authoritative edge, “Hina will be heading to the Marine Dojo with Tashigi,” she decred.

  “Yes, Captain Hina!” responded one of the Marine soldiers, his posture snapped to a rigid salute. His eyes sparkled with hearts as he gazed at her. His uniform was impeccably neat, the very image of Marine discipline.

  Tashigi, standing beside Hina, adjusted her gsses and nodded in agreement. She held her sword, Shigure, in her hand.

  The other Marines on deck, sensing the unspoken order, quickly moved to secure the ship and prepare for the brief stay in port. They lined up and saluted Hina and Tashigi as they left the Marine ship.

  They looked at the vilge which had numerous huts with thatched roofs. The roofs are made from what appeared to be dried palm leaves. The huts were raised off the ground on stilts. Each hut has a small porch area with railings and steps leading up to it. The huts were arranged in a loosely grid-like pattern. The vilge was surrounded by lush, dense tropical foliage. Various pnts and trees are visible, including rge green leaves and palm-like pnts.

  “It is a nice town,” Tashigi complimented.

  “Hina thinks so as well,” Hina agreed as they walked down the streets. The pce was somewhat well arranged and they had finally arrived at the Marine Dojo.

  They saw a golden and red colored rge dome's yered design. In front of the dome, there was a massive double gate made of dark blue metal. The word “Marine" was written across the gate. The dome was surrounded by a rge wall. There were two towering pilrs at either side of the gate. Tall green leaves were visible from the outside.

  Hina and Tashigi saw two guards in front of the pce. Hina walked up to the guard. “This is Captain Hina, Hina wants to talk to your Captain,” Hina said.

  “Right away Madam. We had expected you to come here,” the guard responded.

  “I had sent a message to say we are coming,” Tashigi informed. Hina nodded. The rge gates opened As Hina and Tashigi stepped into the Marine Dojo, they saw dozens of Marines were deeply engrossed in their sword training. Each Marine gripped their swords with a firm, practiced hold, stepping forward in perfect unison. They extended their bdes in a fluid, controlled thrust.

  Tashigi's eyes widened in admiration as she observed the scene. “Impressive,” she murmured.

  Hina just walked ahead. They did not catch her eyes. They both walked inside the Dojo. The building inside was rge and hollow. In front of them, they saw a tall man with tanned skin and long white hair. He wore a red robe and with a white armband on his left arm and red shoes.

  Tashigi noted the sword on his back. The bde was emerald green, with a wavy design and seven glowing points spread evenly across. “Shichiseiken,” Tashigi commented. She thought of the bde and the curse around it.

  “Welcome, I am Saga,” Saga introduced himself. He added, “I heard you were chasing some pirates.”

  “Yes, we were, I am Tashigi and this is Hina,” Tashigi replied.

  “Hina wants to know where those pirates could have gone,” Hina said.

  “Those pirates are near a bandit vilge,” Saga replied. He added, “We have been pnning an operation to strike that vilge.”

  “Both the groups?” Hina asked.

  “Yes, both groups,” Saga replied. Hina looked suspiciously. She thought yes the Willy Pirates could have gone however not the Love Pirate. The brain said there could be a low chance however her heart refused.

  Tashigi was not too sure either. “There will be a combined force but if we work together then we can defeat them,” Tashigi said.

  “Why was this bandit vilge allowed to be established?” Hina asked.

  “It was happening under the radar and it suddenly got big,” Saga replied.

  At that moment, three men came. “Nuhahaha, we have made preparations,” said a massive, round man. He had blond hair that curled over his cheeks. He wore a fluffy-rimmed, orange, unbuttoned vest, white pants, bck shoes and dark grey gloves. He has a continuous scar starting from the top of his face which reaches down to his belly.

  “Okay Boo Kong,” Saga replied.

  “We helped,” said a man with a round face, oval-shaped eyes, and somewhat thick bck eyebrows. He had freckles on his face. He wore a white and grey leopard print coat with a small blue stripe around the rim of the colr. He had striped grey and blue pants tied off with tan cloth just above his ankles and over bck shoes.

  “Sure Toma,” said a tall slim man with broad shoulders and a very angur face. He wore a blue face mask, which held up his red, spiky hair. He wore a green jacket over his blue armour which covers his whole body.

  “Enough Bismarck,” Saga replied. He looked at everyone. “Hina, Tashigi lend us your strength and we can take out the bandit vilges with the Willy Pirates and Love Pirates,” he added.

  “The Love Pirates seems like a stupid name Nuhahaha,” Boo Kong remarked. Boo Kong’s ill-timed jest hung in the air like a lead balloon. Tashigi and Hina shot a deathly gre at him.

  “The Love Pirates,” Tashigi said, her voice low and serious, “are not to be underestimated,” she added. Tashigi felt anger when he disrespected the name. She felt it was a personal insult.

  Hina nodded in agreement. “They’ve earned a reputation for cunning and ruthlessness,” she added. Hina for a second thought about punching him through the wall.

  “The report said they were involved with Warlord Crocodile,” Saga said.

  Hina said, “That was the official story, but there’s more to it.” She gnced at Saga, sensing something amiss. “We should be careful especially with the Willy Pirates around,” she suggested cautiously.

  Tashigi shifted uncomfortably, her unease stemming from the mysterious sword Saga carried.

  “Agreed,” Bismarck chimed in. “Justice must prevail,” he added.

  “I will stay here and defend the Marine Dojo and ensure they do not escape, you all can deal with them,” Saga said.

  “Yes Sir,” Toma, Bismarck and Boo Kong replied back. Hina and Tashigi looked at each other and could feel there were some definitely not right here.