#22 - Chapter 22 Preparing to Return to the Kingdom of Solbe

"Report, Colonel, Vice Admiral Garp has already departed..."

Huo Shaoshan is now also a member of Jin An's direct combat force, currently serving as a colonel's assistant, responsible for relaying and summarizing various messages.

"Understood..."

Jin An didn't even raise his head, diligently processing the documents on the table. His official duties felt like a prison sentence, constantly dealing with paperwork.

"What, is there anything else?" Seeing that Huo Shaoshan seemed to have more to say, Jin An asked directly.

"Nothing major, but Vice Admiral Garp took quite a few things with him on his return journey." Huo Shaoshan was sweating profusely.

"It's fine. Garp rarely comes by, so I let him pick some things from the warehouse to take with him."

Jin An didn't take it to heart. Garp was a vice admiral, after all, and didn't lack for good things. He probably wouldn't take much. He was generous to his own people, and a little material wealth was nothing.

"But the Navy warehouse's inventory has been almost entirely moved away by Vice Admiral Garp..."

Fearing that Jin An wouldn't believe him, he continued, "Many people on the island saw it. Vice Admiral Garp's dog-head ship was almost full..."

Actually, there wasn't much in the base warehouse to begin with. It had all been squandered by the previous colonel, leaving only some scrap metal with no value.

The things Garp took were all delivered by Kuma at Jin An's request, including all the products Jin An had created over the years, originally intended to develop the island's economy.

"What?!" Jin An was stunned.

The island's warehouse stored Jin An's replacements for the base's old equipment and new office supplies, as well as items for doing business with the island's wealthy residents.

Most importantly, it also stored a lot of food.

"The other things are fine, only about 10 of each item are missing, but almost all the food has been moved..."

Huo Shaoshan was full of incomprehension. He could understand taking away the new tables and chairs, as they were indeed useful, but what was with taking the food as well?

They, the Navy, needed to eat! If the warehouse was empty, they would have to eat in town...

Jin An covered his face: "Damn, that old geezer really isn't polite..."

It seemed that the food Jin An had been making lately had made him crave those items.

This food was what Jin An had exchanged for seeds from the system store and tried to cultivate in this world. The quantity was still small and couldn't be widely promoted.

"Forget it, I'll ask someone to send another batch over later."

A warehouse was nothing to Jin An, just a drop in the bucket. It would just be a bit of trouble for Kuma, as it would be quite a hassle for him to transport so much stuff.

Hearing that the food problem had been solved, Huo Shaoshan was overjoyed. Not only did Garp like the food, but the soldiers liked it too.

The entire base seemed to have turned into foodies, thinking about what dishes would be in the cafeteria after work.

"Oh, right, Huo Shaoshan, is the ship for me to return to the Sorbet Kingdom ready?"

Under his governance during this period, the island had completely returned to order and was even more lively than before. There was no need for him to stay here any longer.

Huo Shaoshan replied, "Colonel, the ship for you to leave the island is ready and can depart at any time."

"How about it, do you want to come with me?"

Jin An valued this talent. Although Huo Shaoshan was still weak, Jin An valued his character. Someone who would stand up when people were suffering was qualified to join his team.

Hearing Jin An's words, Huo Shaoshan's face lit up with joy: "I'm willing!"

Jin An was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly: "No need to be so excited... Pack your things, and I'll take you with me when the time comes."

"Yes, sir! I'll go prepare immediately."

Huo Shaoshan ran off like the wind, unable to suppress his excitement.

"Young people these days are so impetuous..." Jin An laughed.

Obviously, he had forgotten that he was only 22 years old.

......

Sorbet Kingdom

"Brother Kuma, why hasn't my brother returned yet?" Shanks was uneasy, afraid that Jin An had encountered danger.

"He said he'd be back soon when he left, but it's been over a month..."

He sniffled with some grievance. He had never been away from Jin An for so long before. Although Kuma and Ginny were with him, he was still very uncomfortable.

"Little Shanks, don't worry. Your brother is very strong, and you've been talking all the time, haven't you..." Ginny sighed and comforted him softly.

"But Brother hasn't talked to me for two hours..." Shanks' tone weakened.

Kuma and Ginny exchanged glances, both with a wry smile. They were helpless with Shanks' brother complex.

They couldn't imagine that Shanks, who acted like a little adult in front of outsiders, completely changed when it came to his brother's affairs.

Even they, who were close to Shanks, couldn't do much to comfort him.

"Your brother is busy today. He asked me to send some things over for him earlier." Kuma touched Shanks' head. "But he said he'd be back soon."

"We'll go to the port to wait for him with you when the time comes."

Shanks was a little skeptical because Kuma had said that half a month ago, and the result...

Kuma awkwardly touched his nose. In Shanks' gaze, he also remembered those things, but he really didn't know how to comfort people.

And he himself was still a child...

Ginny looked at Kuma, whose face was flushed, and felt he was a little cute: "Shanks, what Kuma said is true."

"I heard it too when Jin An called."

"Just relax, he'll be back soon."

......

On the other side.

On the ship heading to Marineford.

"Vice Admiral Garp, isn't what we're doing a little too much..."

Garp's adjutant looked at the food piled up on the entire ship. The only remaining conscience in his heart made him uneasy about Jin An.

"What, don't you like to eat these things?" Garp didn't care, picking up a fruit and eating it.

The adjutant hesitated for a moment, but ultimately succumbed to the delicious food.

"I believe that Vice Admiral Garp's actions all have their reasons."

"Don't eat it all by yourself, share some with us."

Watching Garp eat with relish, the unpromising tears of the Marines were about to flow from the corners of their mouths.

Garp laughed loudly: "The things are all there, do I have to feed you?"

"Long live Vice Admiral Garp!"

Laughter floated on the sea, while the sea fish were frightened and trembling, not daring to show their heads at all.

......