Kaede hadn't even realized her forehead was already beaded with sweat. It was hard not to be tense right now.
Her eyes stayed locked on Hook's back, every muscle primed to draw Skybreaker at a moment's notice.
Damn it, where the hell is Buggy?! Hurry up and get me out of here already!
Hook's voice was growing more irritable by the second. Ever since Buggy's prison break started, Hook hadn't caught even a glimpse of him. The wait was driving him mad.
Kaede, on the other hand, wasn't in any hurry. In fact, she welcomed the delay—it was giving her the perfect opening. The angrier Hook got, the higher her chances of ending him in one clean strike.
"Trash. Utter trash."
The moment Hook vented his rage at the prison bars again, Kaede moved.
All the force she'd been storing up exploded in an instant. A silver-white katana materialized in her grip as if from nowhere.
To the onlookers, there was only a faint flash of light. Some didn't even notice her move at all.
"Agh!"
A shrill scream shattered the stillness. The prisoners froze in shock as Hook's chest was pierced clean through from behind—by the quiet newcomer who'd only arrived recently.
Nobody knew where Kaede's blade had come from, and frankly, nobody had the presence of mind to care.
The sheer suddenness of it left them stunned. None of them could have guessed that the timid girl would suddenly explode into violence—and now that she held a blade in her hand, that weapon was a mortal threat to every unarmed soul in the cell.
Hook coughed, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth. Pain tore through his chest, and his vision blurred. The truth hit him hard—he wasn't going to survive this.
He didn't want to believe it. His trembling hand reached out into empty air, eyes pleading for someone, anyone, to save him.
But the cold, indifferent stares around him crushed all hope.
"Please… please spare me…"
Even at the very end, he begged Kaede for mercy.
But mercy was never an option. Not when the system's task required her to kill him. And even if it didn't, Kaede understood the simplest rule of survival—leave no roots to sprout again.
After a few weak struggles, Hook went completely still.
[System]: Mission complete. Target Hook eliminated. Reward has been delivered. Please check your inventory.
Kaede's eyes didn't relax in the slightest. The looks she was getting from the others were full of cold fear—and she knew exactly why. That katana in her hands was far too dangerous for a cell full of defenseless prisoners.
"I only had business with Hook."
Her voice was cold enough to make the air in the cramped cell feel heavier. Coupled with the crimson specks staining her clothes, her presence alone made everyone think twice about crossing her.
No one would underestimate her again.
Sliding the blade back into its scabbard, Kaede returned to her corner, waiting. Whether Luffy and Buggy arrived first, or the guards stormed in first—it didn't matter. The whole thing had probably already been broadcast to the guards via a Den Den Mushi.
With the fight over, Kaede's focus slipped into the system's shop interface. Her gaze skimmed over one powerful skill after another—Tree World Descent, Flying Thunder God Technique, the legendary Goro Goro no Mi lightning fruit, even Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi.
But one thing caught her eye—Ace's Mera Mera no Mi was priced higher than both the Gura Gura and Goro Goro. Kaede had a theory why… though she couldn't be sure yet.
Finally, she found what she was looking for—Geppo (Moonwalk), Navy Six-Style, beginner level, Lv. 1. Price: 700 points.
Relief washed over her. She only had 1,000 points right now—at least Geppo was affordable. Skill level didn't matter for now.
"System, purchase Geppo."
[System]: Purchase successful. 700 points deducted. Remaining balance: 300 points.
[System]: Mission complete. Would you like to activate a new task now?
"Activate."
The new mission appeared faster than she'd expected, but she didn't hesitate. The rewards were too good to resist.
Instantly, a rush of knowledge on Geppo filled her mind. Kaede was certain she had fully mastered it.
[System]: Current timeline detected—prelude to the Marineford War. Two main missions are available.
[1]: Aid Whitebeard in turning the tide and secure victory for the pirates. Rewards scale based on final outcome.
[2]: Why fight fate? Side with the Marines—capture Impel Down escapees, sabotage Luffy's rescue mission, and secure a greater Marine victory. Rewards scale based on final outcome.
Kaede fell silent.
The second mission would be much easier. Marineford was already destined to be a Marine victory—she'd only need to tip the scales a little more to claim the reward.
But that path would guarantee the deaths of Ace and Whitebeard. She had no personal ties to them… yet, a part of her hesitated. She still remembered watching the anime, crying when Ace fell, wishing she could rewrite that moment.
If I have the chance to save him… should I?
A metallic clang rang out—the cell door swung open.
No one moved. The armed guards outside—dozens of them—were aiming rifles directly inside.
"Prisoner E-50301! Drop the weapon and get on your knees!"
The muzzles of over a dozen guns were pointed straight at her. Even the other prisoners felt the tension clawing at their nerves.
But Kaede? She didn't look the least bit afraid. If anything, a playful smirk tugged at her lips.
It was as if those guns weren't even pointed at her.
"Out of my way. I'm in a hurry."
"Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!"
Before the tension could snap, a third party burst onto the scene—a rubber arm shot out from nowhere, smashing the guards aside in a single blow.
Seeing that, Kaede made her choice.
"System… I choose Mission One."