Chapter 36 Hina Is Confused! Who Is Ai Xiu?

Ai Xiu descended gracefully, utilizing the Moonwalk technique to land softly on the ground. Tashigi's gaze toward Ai Xiu became complex, mirroring Hina's reaction when she first encountered him. Initially, they had both assumed Ai Xiu to be a junior officer with embellished military credentials and relatively weak combat abilities. Tashigi had even harboured concerns when Ai Xiu took charge of the investigation in front of Hina.

However, the display of Ai Xiu's immense strength shattered those preconceptions. His previous demonstration of Conqueror's Haki and the devastating sword slash on the island indicated that his position within the Marines was significantly higher than expected. In Tashigi's estimation, Ai Xiu's power surpassed that of a Rear Admiral stationed at Marine Headquarters.

Regret tinged Ai Xiu's tone as he revealed the unfortunate incident of the box being swallowed by the Sea Kings with no trace of the pirate remaining. He tossed the small box to Tashigi, who instinctively caught it and opened it to reveal a peculiar grey fruit.

"Officer Ai Xiu, obtaining even one Devil Fruit is a remarkable achievement. The appearance of the Sea Kings was beyond anyone's prediction!" Tashigi hurriedly tried to console him.

Ai Xiu nodded, and together with Tashigi, he made his way back.

On the other side, Hina issued orders for the three warships to dock. Marines disembarked from the vessels and fanned out across the island. Hina's eyes widened as she took in the terrifying sword marks, her expression filled with disbelief. She had anticipated significant losses, yet the fact that Ai Xiu and Tashigi had emerged unscathed left her incredulous.

"Did the headquarters provide any response?" Hina inquired, her voice tinged with concern.

"Colonel Hina, there has been no response from the headquarters," a Marine soldier promptly replied.

Frustration etched across Hina's face as time slipped away. Lives need to be saved, and she couldn't simply give up. Determined, she gritted her teeth, contemplating going to the island herself. She believed her Devil Fruit abilities would allow her to handle any formidable adversaries.

However, just as Hina entertained the thought, a commotion erupted among the first group of Marines who had landed on the island. Hina's complexion changed, and she activated her Shave technique, propelling herself to the location of the disturbance. What she witnessed left her dumbfounded—Ai Xiu strolled over with Tashigi by his side.

Hina's eyes widened, her face reflecting sheer disbelief. She had mentally prepared herself for substantial casualties, yet here stood the two Marines unharmed.

"Colonel Hina, the pirates on the island are no longer capable of resisting," Tashigi quickly explained upon noticing Hina's speechlessness.

Hina waved her hand, signalling another Marine major and his squad to apprehend the subdued pirates. She then turned her gaze toward Ai Xiu, who was approaching.

"Hina is curious; what transpired on the island?" she inquired.

"Tashigi, please explain the situation to Colonel Hina," Ai Xiu interjected before bypassing Hina and making his way back to the warship.

"Colonel Hina, the pirates on the island were under the command of Heavenly Yaksha Doflamingo. There was an internal dispute over the Devil Fruit—this is the Devil Fruit that Chief Ai Xiu captured!" Tashigi explained, handing the box to Hina.

Upon receiving the box, Hina examined its contents. Disappointment flickered across Tashigi's face as she mentioned that the other box had been seized by

a pirate who subsequently encountered the Sea Kings at sea.

Hina furrowed her brow, processing the information. The pirate in question had a bounty of 87 million berries, a level of threat she could easily handle even without revealing her true strength.

"Did the strong individual on the island pose any difficulty for you?" Hina asked, suspicion colouring her tone.

"The strong individual?" Tashigi mirrored Hina's uncertainty.

"Are you referring to the person who unleashed Conqueror's Haki on the island? You don't know?" Hina questioned, her curiosity piqued.

Conqueror's Haki? The notion took Tashigi a moment to comprehend before she connected it to Ai Xiu's ability to incapacitate all the pirates at once. So, that ability was called Conqueror's Haki?

"The strong individual you mentioned might be Chief Ai Xiu," Tashigi stated, her tone laced with an odd mix of surprise and realization.

"Major Ai Xiu? What about the individual responsible for that devastating slash?" Hina inquired.

"That, too, was Chief Ai Xiu," Tashigi responded, her tone still tinged with bewilderment.

Hina stared in astonishment, her gaze shifting from the Devil Fruit box in her hand to Ai Xiu, who had already boarded the warship. The combination of Conqueror's Haki and the fearsome swordsmanship suggested that Ai Xiu possessed the qualities of a formidable swordsman, all at such a young age.

Hina's beautiful eyes brimming with questions. Why had such a powerful individual been assigned to her without any prior knowledge? Who exactly was Ai Xiu? She couldn't recall ever hearing his name before.

With a sigh, Hina resolved to investigate further upon their return. Her earlier speculations had been way off the mark. She had initially assumed that Ai Xiu was a Marine high-ranking officer's protégé, sent to gain recognition. Now, it was apparent that he stood among the Marine's elite. However, his identity remained a mystery to her.

Hina's curiosity burned bright, and she made a mental note to uncover the truth.

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