Chapter 13: Marine Patrol and an Unforeseen Interrogation
[SYSTEM MISSION: AVOID OR ENGAGE MARINE PATROL. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: BASIC INTERROGATION RESISTANCE / MENTAL FORTITUDE (MINOR). SECONDARY GOAL: TEST NEW SKILLS.]
"Marine patrol. My least favorite kind of death, mostly because they tend to be so self-righteous about it. But a necessary one. If I can get caught, just for a moment, by a particularly zealous officer, I might gain some 'Interrogation Resistance.' That would be incredibly useful, given my future plans for... information gathering. Or 'Mental Fortitude' to shrug off intimidation. This isn't about brute strength, it's about pushing the limits of the mind. Time to get arrested, but only long enough to 'die' and come back even more annoying."
The open seas of the East Blue were usually a tranquil expanse, but every now and then, the tell-tale white sails of a Marine ship would interrupt the peace. After our little detour to the Whispering Isle, Nami was diligently steering us along a less-traveled route, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention. Luffy, however, had other ideas, usually involving shouting at passing seagulls or attempting to stretch himself across a mile of ocean just to grab a floating bottle.
"Luffy, stop making so much noise!" Nami hissed, pointing towards a faint speck on the horizon. "That's a Marine ship! They'll spot us!"
"Shishishishi! Let them!" Luffy declared, unfazed. "We're pirates!"
My compass, which had been gently swaying with the ocean, suddenly pulsed with a new, insistent rhythm. It wasn't pointing towards any specific landmark or person, but radiating a sense of 'confrontation' and 'mental challenge.' A system prompt flashed into my mind, almost too subtle to catch amidst the crew's usual chatter.
[SYSTEM MISSION: AVOID OR ENGAGE MARINE PATROL. RECOMMENDED ACTION: ENGINEER DEATH. ACQUISITION: BASIC INTERROGATION RESISTANCE / MENTAL FORTITUDE (MINOR). SECONDARY GOAL: TEST NEW SKILLS.]
"A Marine patrol, huh? And the system wants me to engage? Interesting. This isn't about physical combat. This is about psychological resilience. 'Interrogation Resistance' could be a stealthy but incredibly powerful skill. Imagine being immune to truth serum or torture. Or 'Mental Fortitude' to shrug off even powerful intimidation tactics. Time to play the role of the captured, annoying pirate. This could be a fun exercise in mental gymnastics, followed by a brief, but purposeful, demise."
"Nami, dear," I said, stretching casually on the deck, "don't worry your pretty little head. Some attention is good for our reputation. Besides, I think I'm due for another… educational experience. Something less messy than quicksand, more about the power of the mind."
Before anyone could question me, a cannonball whizzed past the Merry's mast, followed by a booming voice from the Marine ship. "Straw Hat Pirates! Heave to! Prepare to be boarded!"
"Oh, goody," I muttered, a mischievous glint in my eye. "They're keen. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji! Hold them off for a bit! I've got a very important personal mission to complete. It involves getting very, very annoying, and then very, very dead. Temporarily, of course."
As the Marine boarders swarmed the Merry, a particularly stern-looking Lieutenant Commander with a hawkish gaze and an impeccably sharp uniform singled me out. He was clearly a by-the-book type, focused on capturing and processing, not flashy combat.
"You! You're the one they call the 'Immortal First Mate'! The one who keeps dying and reappearing! You'll come with me! We have many questions for you!" he barked, his voice laced with suspicion and frustration.
"Perfect. The no-nonsense type. He'll want answers. And I'm just the pirate to give him all the wrong answers, right up until the moment he snaps. This is going to be golden."
I calmly put my hands up, feigning surrender. "Oh, dear. Caught already? I had such high hopes for a dramatic escape. Fine, officer, lead the way. But I must warn you, I'm not very good under pressure. I tend to babble. And occasionally sprout wings. It's a work in progress."
The Lieutenant Commander's eye twitched. He clearly wasn't amused. He had two burly Marines escort me to his ship's brig. The interrogation room was small, stark, and utterly devoid of comfort. The Lieutenant Commander sat across from me, his face a mask of stern professionalism.
"Alright, Vane," he began, slamming a fist on the table. "Let's start simple. Who are you truly? What is this Devil Fruit power that allows you to resurrect? And where does your captain intend to go?"
I leaned back in my chair, stretching my rubbery neck with a satisfying pop. "Oh, that's a lot of questions, officer! Let's break it down, shall we? 'Who am I?' A humble seeker of knowledge, a purveyor of chaos, and a surprisingly good dancer, if I do say so myself. 'Devil Fruit power?' Technically, yes, but it's more of a… lifestyle choice. And as for Luffy, well, he intends to be the Pirate King. Though I hear the competition is stiff. Have you tried asking him? He's usually quite forthcoming."
The Lieutenant Commander gritted his teeth. "This is no joking matter! We have reports from Shells Town, Orange Town, Syrup Village! You're a menace! A walking, talking enigma! How did you survive Captain Morgan's attack?! And Buggy's?! And Kuro's?! We have witnesses who saw you die!"
"Oh, they certainly did!" I said, nodding sagely. "Very observant witnesses, too. It's a gift, really. Dying, that is. I've become quite good at it. Top-tier, I'd say. You should try it sometime. Very liberating."
He slammed his fist on the table again, a vein throbbing in his temple. "This is infuriating! Tell me the truth, pirate! Or we will make you!" He pulled out a small, incredibly sharp Marine-issue stiletto, its tip glinting menacingly. "We have ways of making people talk."
"Ah, the classic 'torture' threat. Now we're getting somewhere. This is the perfect moment. He's frustrated, angry, and convinced he can break me. This is where I push him over the edge and get my desired skill. A single, decisive strike, born of rage. Perfect."
I smiled, a wide, challenging grin that probably looked completely unhinged. "Oh, is that a threat, officer? Because I've faced worse. Much worse. I've been chopped, pummeled, choked, and even had my very existence briefly erased by the World's Strongest Swordsman. You think a little pinprick is going to scare me? You clearly haven't read my reviews."
The Lieutenant Commander's face contorted with pure, unadulterated fury. His professionalism shattered. "You insolent worm! You mock the Marines?! I'll show you what a real death is like! One you won't come back from!" With a roar, he lunged across the table, driving the stiletto with full force straight into my heart. It was a precise, lethal strike, aimed to pierce the very core of my existence. My rubbery body resisted for a fraction of a second, then gave way. I felt a searing, agonizing pain, sharper and more focused than anything I'd experienced since Mihawk's non-death. It plunged deep, silencing my breath, stopping my heart. The world went dark, but not empty. There was a brief, burning sense of his rage, his intent to utterly obliterate me.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: DEATH RECORDED. KILLER: MARINE LIEUTENANT COMMANDER. ABILITY ACQUIRED: BASIC INTERROGATION RESISTANCE. REVIVAL INITIATING. PLEASE WAIT.]
"Basic Interrogation Resistance! Excellent! No more truth serums for this guy! And resisting mental pressure? Invaluable for dealing with future World Government agents. This was a good death. Efficient. And deeply annoying for my killer. Win-win."
I gasped, sitting bolt upright in the chair, coughing and sputtering. The stiletto was no longer in my chest, and my body was perfectly whole. The Lieutenant Commander was staring at me, his jaw on the floor, the stiletto clattering from his numb fingers. His face was a mixture of utter disbelief, horror, and a dawning, frantic terror.
"See?" I said, brushing a non-existent speck of dust from my chest. "I told you it was liberating. And I feel so much clearer now! My mind, that is. What was that question again? About Luffy? Oh, yes, he likes meat. Lots and lots of meat. And adventures. And napping. Mostly napping, actually."
The Lieutenant Commander screamed, a high-pitched, guttural sound, and scrambled back, tripping over his chair. "He's a demon! A monster! Get him out of here! Get him away from me!"
Outside, the sounds of battle had intensified. Luffy and the others were making short work of the remaining Marines. Zoro had probably gotten lost but was still cutting things. Sanji was kicking.
"Well, Lieutenant Commander, it's been an absolute pleasure being interrogated by you," I said, rising gracefully and stretching. "A very informative experience. I feel like I've truly grown as a person. And as a resistance fighter. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your… little outburst. Your reputation as a 'disciplined officer' will remain intact. Mostly."
I strolled out of the interrogation room, leaving the gibbering Marine officer behind, and rejoined the fray on the deck of the Marine ship. Luffy cheered. Zoro nodded. Sanji just sighed, shaking his head. Nami looked at me with a mixture of terror and grudging admiration.
"You seriously let them interrogate you?!" Nami hissed, exasperated.
"It was for a good cause, Nami-swan!" I replied, demonstrating my new mental fortitude by calmly shrugging off her furious gaze. It felt like a faint, protective bubble around my mind. "Professional development! Now, about that Marine ship… any loose Beri lying around? Because all this 'dying for knowledge' makes a guy hungry for cash."
The Marines, now thoroughly demoralized by my baffling resurrection, quickly retreated. The Straw Hats salvaged what they could, and we set sail once more, leaving a deeply traumatized Lieutenant Commander and a very confused Marine patrol in our wake. My reputation as the "Immortal Menace" was growing, one strategic death at a time.