Chapter 113: Breaching the Forbidden Isle
Ian watched as the ship approached, but he did not allow it to dock. Even the residual poison gas surrounding the island held significant lethality. If an ordinary person inhaled too much, it could cause complete loss of sensation in the lower limbs and result in lifelong paralysis.
"Really? We really found it? Punk Hazard Island!"
"Looking through the binoculars, I can see it's surrounded by high iron walls with 'Danger, No Trespassing' signs."
"Uh, are we... are we really going to land? What resources can we possibly find here?"
"Lieutenant General Ian's judgment is sometimes hard to understand. Finding some toxic materials here is completely useless!"
"..."
After arriving near Punk Hazard, Ian's cadres began to voice their doubts again. Going to such a dangerous place for resources? Were they not just courting death?
Doll, on her first mission with the team, raised a direct question to Ian: "Lieutenant General Ian! This is an island where the Navy has expressly prohibited landing! Are you intending to break regulations? Disregard everyone's lives?"
Having been at Headquarters for years, all officers at the Colonel rank and above had seen the internal files on Punk Hazard. However, when the others heard Doll's question, they felt nothing. Break regulations? In Ian's team, the only rule was: obey Ian's orders! He never cared much for Naval regulations.
"What are you afraid of? Didn't we prepare gas masks for everyone?" Ian retorted. "Those who are scared can stay on the ship. As for the trainee officer... it's normal to be timid and fearful. Nami, build a bridge!"
His words were pointed, and Doll's eyebrow twitched in anger.
Upon receiving the order, Nami went to the ship's railing with her Climate Baton. After gauging the distance, she swiftly swung the baton forward. "Cloud Bridge!"
Clusters of solid white clouds connected to form an arching bridge, its other end landing directly on the island.
Of course, Ian could reach the island directly using the Six Powers technique, Moon Walk. However, not all his cadres were proficient in it, making movement troublesome. Nami's "bridge-building" ability was immensely useful here.
"This... this is technology from Skypiea, right?" Doll remarked, knowledgeable. "Nami, have you been to Skypiea?"
"I've never been to Skypiea, Commodore Doll," Nami replied proudly. "The Climate Baton is a weapon Lieutenant General Ian had the Science Unit develop for me. I've been using it for a while now, and there are so many amazing features I haven't even fully explored yet, hehe!"
Ian's subordinates often felt the privilege of having such backing even more keenly than Ian himself. Theirs was the team that had forced an apology from the Supreme Commander of the God's Knights!
"Wow, so weapons... can be obtained like that?" Doll said, unable to hide her envy.
Beep!
As she spoke, Speed, already wearing her gas mask, carried Ian onto the Cloud Bridge. Whoosh! Peacock, also fully equipped, mounted the pegasus, Stronger, and flew up beside Ian. T-Bone, Skylark, and Nami checked their gear and stepped onto the Cloud Bridge.
"You..." Doll's pupils trembled slightly as she looked at everyone in disbelief. What was with this team? It was one thing for the leader, Ian, to act recklessly, but after hearing his orders, the cadres cast aside all fear and followed without hesitation? At Headquarters, Doll had never seen a Marine team like this!
"It's just poison gas. Don't underestimate me," Doll declared, putting on her gas mask. "Whatever the task is, let me handle it. Lieutenant General Ian!"
...
Upon reaching the end of the Cloud Bridge, T-Bone instinctively moved to the front of the iron wall.
"Right-Angle Pheasant!"
Slash! Slash!
Boom...!
Two sharp sword slashes flashed. The massive iron gate crashed to the ground, opening a passage.
Simultaneously, two scouts hidden in the island's cover, equipped with special gas balloons, observed the entrance through telescopes.
"Reporting to Secretary Monet! Please notify the Master immediately! Intruders have breached the island! Six individuals in Navy uniforms! Two men, four women, and two horses. Sending the photos now! Their direction is heading towards the town where the fire dragon is."
The scout spoke with trained efficiency, showing no signs of panic. It was clear that incidents of intruders breaching the island were not uncommon, suggesting strong confidence in the island's defenses.
"Continue surveillance. I will report the situation," a gentle woman's voice came from the Den Den Mushi.
Upon hearing the scout's report, Ian took no action. Letting the news spread wasn't a bad thing. Let the enemy come to them directly; it would be good training for his cadres.
"Is there really poison gas here? It doesn't look like a place teeming with life," Doll noted, then asked suspiciously, "And... why don't you need a gas mask, Lieutenant General Ian?"
"It's confirmed; there are indeed traces of toxins in the air," Ian replied calmly. "These toxins have no effect on me and cause no harm. But if you don't want to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair, keep your mask on."
After entering Punk Hazard, the group advanced through the dilapidated town. Aside from overgrown weeds and ruins, no intact buildings were visible. There seemed to be no signs of human activity.
"Little Ian, you're not just taking a gamble, are you?" Peacock asked, looking around. "Does it look like there are any supplies here? Are you planning to take these broken bricks and rubble back with you?"
She felt certain Ian had his reasons for choosing Punk Hazard.
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