82: Chapter 82 A leisurely start, no rushing.

That afternoon, the 18th Branch general mobilization meeting was held on time.

Lin Han rarely changed into a neat rear admiral's uniform, standing tall and straight upon the parade viewing platform of the drill ground.

His usual lazy and relaxed demeanor was mostly reined in, his expression solemn and stern as his gaze slowly swept across the dense and neatly arrayed Marine soldiers below the stage.

Clearing his throat, he began to issue the notice, his steady voice spreading across the entire drill ground.

"Brothers, we have just received an emergency rescue order from headquarters. Large-scale internal strife has broken out in the Alabasta Kingdom on the Grand Line, and our side is ordered to go and support the suppression of the rebellion."

As his voice fell, the drill ground fell silent for a fleeting moment.

Immediately, a rising and falling chorus of soft discussions sounded.

Groups of young soldiers whispered to one another in pairs, their eyes intertwined with tension and excitement.

To the grass-roots Marines of the East Blue, the Grand Line had always been a legendary and perilous sea area.

Being able to step foot there to execute a formal mission was a rare once-in-a-lifetime training opportunity for countless people.

Lin Han raised his hand to press down slightly, signaling everyone to be quiet, his tone still steady.

"This mission carries considerable risk, and I do not force anyone to accompany me."

"Those who volunteer to set out, step out of formation right where you are. Those who harbor concerns and are unwilling to take risks can remain behind to guard the base and be responsible for the defense of our jurisdiction as usual. I will give everyone five minutes to consider."

Finished speaking, he put his hands behind his back, standing quietly atop the high platform, patiently waiting for the soldiers' choice.

The crowd below looked at each other in dismay.

After a brief hesitation, a young soldier gritted his teeth and stepped out of the formation, his posture straight as he saluted solemnly.

"Report to the Major General, I am willing to set out!"

With the first person taking the lead, the remaining soldiers responded one after another.

The second, the third, the fourth... Large batches of soldiers successively stepped out of formation, forming a neat long line in front of the drill ground.

In less than three short minutes, almost the entire personnel signed up to participate in the battle.

Only a handful of people chose to stay behind at the base due to special reasons such as old physical injuries and family ties.

Lin Han looked at this group of passionate and high-spirited young soldiers before him, a flash of genuine gratification sweeping through the depths of his eyes.

Yet on the surface, he still maintained an indifferent and steady expression.

"Good. Since everyone is willing to set out, go back immediately and pack your baggage. We will set sail on time tomorrow morning. Everyone should prepare a week's worth of dry rations and fresh water. Dismissed immediately to rest and recuperate."

As the command fell, the soldiers dispersed in an orderly manner, and the lively drill ground quickly returned to emptiness and desolation.

Kuina walked to Lin Han's side, looking at the vibrant backs of the soldiers, and could not help sighing softly.

"Master, everyone's morale is truly very high."

Lin Han nodded lightly, his tone plain and without waves.

"They are all good soldiers who are willing to fight and dare to barge ahead. However, high morale is one thing, and whether they can safely return from the Grand Line is quite another."

When his voice finished dropping, he turned and stepped away from the drill ground, walking straight toward the rear warehouse.

Kuina followed closely behind.

She originally thought that her master would prioritize rushing to the armory to select fine equipment, or heading to the operations room to study routes and deduce the battle situation.

But the scene before her completely subverted her expectations.

Lin Han headed straight for the logistics warehouse.

Skillfully rummaging out a full set of tea sets he had treasured for a long time, he held a soft cotton cloth to carefully wrap them layer by layer, steadily placing them into a solid wood box.

Following closely, he stuffed several cans of top-grade Yunwu tea, and a few boxes of sweet, soft, and glutinous osmanthus cakes and mung bean cakes inside.

Even clean, fresh fruits were packed and stored together.

Kuina stood at the door of the warehouse, watching his meticulous appearance of packing snacks and tea pastries, her mouth corners twitching uncontrollably.

"Master, what are you packing these things for?"

Lin Han didn't even raise his head, his hands not stopping their movements, his tone taking it for granted.

"For backup on the road."

"The weather on the Grand Line is bizarre and fickle; storms, heavy rains, and freak winds come as they please, and no one can predict what will be encountered on the road."

"Bringing more good tea and pastries means that if we encounter severe weather and get trapped at sea, at least we can still have a cup of hot tea and a bite of sweet pastry to calm our nerves."

Kuina took a deep breath, forcibly stabilizing her mindset, trying her best to make her tone calm.

"Master, we are going to execute a rescue and suppression mission, not going out to sea for a spring outing or vacation."

"Of course I am clear about that."

Lin Han stuffed the last pack of osmanthus cake into the wooden box, covered the box tightly, raised his hand to pat the box body, with a calm expression.

"Executing a mission does not mean we have to sleep in the wind and dew or wrong ourselves."

"Moreover, Alabasta's situation is unclear, and the internal strife is complexly intertwined. There is a high probability we will drift on the sea for a long time. When traveling away from home, treating oneself well is the absolute truth."

Kuina was completely speechless, and could only silently step forward to help him move the heavy wooden box onto the waiting warship.

The next morning, the morning light was dim at the 18th Branch port.

A medium-sized warship had long hoisted its sails and stood ready, its hull neat, its sails spread, ready to weigh anchor and set sail at any time.

Kuina looked at the ordinary warship before her, then glanced sideways at the main battle warship on the other side of the port—the branch's fastest, most heavily armed, and highly maneuverable one—full of confusion.

"Master, are you sure you want to set off on this warship?"

Lin Han nodded, looking confident.

"This one is the most suitable; the hull is stable and the shaking is minimal. Although the main warship is fast, it shakes violently when driving. In case of seasickness, it would be suffering in vain."

"Seasickness?"

Kuina was completely speechless, the corners of her eyes twitching wildly.

"Master, you are a dignified Marine rear admiral with tyrannical strength, yet you still get seasick?"

"A Marine rear admiral is also a human being; why shouldn't he get seasick?"

Lin Han replied righteously, raising his foot to step on the gangway and board the warship.

Skillfully setting up a lounge chair in an excellent sunny and wind-sheltered position on the deck, he took out the tea set and charcoal fire, slowly boiling water and making tea. His movements were smooth as flowing water, full of coziness.

Looking at his completely relaxed appearance of a vacation, Kuina sighed helplessly and could only board the ship following closely behind.

The warship slowly weighed anchor and sailed away from the port, cutting through the waves and advancing toward the direction of the Grand Line.

But Kuina soon found something amiss.

The route chosen by Lin Han was simply not the shortest and fastest direct route.

This route deliberately bypassed the direct sea area, passing through multiple scattered transit islands, directly doubling the voyage.

The time to arrive at Alabasta was fully slower than the normal route by more than half.

Staring at the winding and detouring route on the navigation chart, she couldn't help asking.

"Master, this route makes too much of a detour. According to this sailing speed, it will take us at least half a month to reach Alabasta."

Lin Han lay lazily on the lounge chair, holding warm clear tea in his hands, narrowing his eyes to look at the drifting clouds in the sky, his tone leisurely without a shred of eagerness.

"Half a month is half a month, no rush."

"To put it bluntly, this rescue is just going through the motions; it's not our turn to make a move at all."

"Alabasta has the Royal Army guarding it, Crocodile holding down the fort, and full-time personnel from the World Government following up."

"Whether we arrive early or late makes little impact; we are purely ordered here to make up the numbers."

Kuina helplessly rolled her eyes and completely gave up trying to persuade him.

She knew her master's temperament too well: delay whenever possible, slack off whenever possible, never taking the initiative to get involved in trouble or take on chores.

This trip to Alabasta was destined to be a sea vacation journey.

The warship sailed leisurely on the sea surface, its speed not even comparing to commercial cargo ships on their way.

Soft sea breezes brushed her face, warm sunlight covered the deck, and seagulls skimmed low over the sea surface, leaving crisp cries behind. The entire sea area was peaceful and leisurely.

Lin Han's days became increasingly comfortable.

He simply had the cooking squad set up a grill on the deck to catch and grill fresh sea fish on the spot, savoring it carefully alongside the mellow Yunwu tea. The days were even more carefree and at ease than at the base.

Kuina stood by the ship's rail, watching her master's leisurely slacking-off appearance while looking at the gradually approaching boundary of the Grand Line ahead, a trace of inexplicable unease welling up deep in her heart.

She vaguely had a premonition that this seemingly relaxed business trip would by no means be as simple and stable as her master anticipated.

Deep within the Alabasta desert a thousand miles away.

The sky-full of yellow sand swept across, and rolling sand dunes crisscrossed one another.

A figure draped in a black cloak and wearing a pale white mask stood quietly atop a sand dune.

The cold wind blew the corners of the cloak, the figure's posture hidden within the sandstorm, exuding a bone-chillingly cold and mysterious aura.

Beneath the mask, a pair of bitterly cold eyes narrowed slightly, looking far off toward the direction of the war-torn Alabasta royal capital.

A low, hoarse soliloquy quietly sounded in the empty desert.

"East Blue 18th Branch... Rear Admiral Lin Han... Ice Ability user."

"Finally, are you coming?"