"Pardon the interruption during your discussion."
In the middle of a truly gloomy meeting about handing over the search plan for that girl he'd let escape—the man suddenly appeared.
They'd never met. But everyone present knew his face.
"To think there'd be a cheeky pirate sneaking alone into a Marine base." Said Sakazuki
Yes, a pirate who should have been in handcuffs or reduced to just his head was standing calmly before the door like a visitor.
"My my, still so young yet quite a bold pirate. How old were you again?"
"Fourteen. A fourteen-year-old big-shot rookie worth 65 million berries—'Silent Step' Kuro."
No way, a fourteen-year-old shouldn't have this kind of presence...
Perhaps thinking he'd come to mock them, Sakazuki—who'd recently sunk even evacuation ships—released genuine hostility, practically killing intent, yet the pirate hadn't shed a single drop of sweat. This was something that would intimidate even fairly experienced Marines.
Plus, seeing how there's no commotion, he infiltrated here without anyone noticing. If he were a Marine, he'd already have skills worthy of Headquarters assignment
The 65 million berry bounty makes sense.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, Vice Admiral Kuzan, and... if I'm not mistaken, Headquarters Admiral Sengoku."
Additionally, strangely, the pirate before them didn't have the scent of a pirate.
"I've heard you walk the righteous path as proper Marines, so I've rushed here. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to borrow your ears for a moment."
Though somewhat dirty, he was properly dressed in a black suit—put a Marine coat on his back and he'd look like a normal Navy officer.
"Don't get cocky, pirate brat--!" Said Sakazuki.
"Now now, we could at least hear him out. I'm curious about those neatly folded Marine uniforms too."
When I restrained my colleague who tried to immediately capture him and looked at my superior Sengoku-san to encourage the conversation, he also seemed interested in what 'Silent Step' had to say. Though wearing a stone face before an enemy, his eyes weren't looking at an enemy.
"--Fine, I'll hear you out, 'Silent Step' Kuro. What business did you have infiltrating to the deepest part of this district headquarters?"
Sengoku-san also seemed curious about the Marine uniforms that were oddly neatly folded and that the pirate was treating so carefully.
"Understood. First, I swear that nothing I'm about to tell you is false."
From the moment a pirate made a direct appeal to a Headquarters Admiral, it was obvious this would be either an outrageous tall tale or an outrageously dangerous story.
"In this West Blue, through some Marines colluding with the Mafia, an underground trade called 'Marine slaves' is being conducted."
But who could normally imagine the lid of such a hell opening right before your eyes?
You've brought something incredible.
–
"How rotten can those bastards beeee!!!!!"
Heat, so hot!! Wait, Sengoku-san or Kuzan-san, stop this guy!!
The killing intent directed at me during my explanation of the smuggling ship raid had eased somewhat, but now everything's dangerous! Look, Sengoku-san's goat is terrified and fleeing to me!!
Magma heat is leaking and parts of the room are starting to smolder! The signatures I collected from everyone are safe, right? Those are proof they're alive!
"In recent years, I'd faintly sensed many inexplicable accidents in the four seas. That's why, coinciding with the Ohara incident, I planned to start inspections in West Blue first. And the truth was... slaves!? Marines who volunteered accepting danger to protect world order and enlisted!!" Said Sengoku.
Near the door, sounds of people collapsing one after another.
Ah, yeah. Marines who came to check what happened from the sudden shouting got caught in these two's rage. I can only offer condolences.
I don't know if it's Conqueror's Haki, but it's been tingling intensely, so if I let my guard down I feel like I'll lose consciousness too. Marines who hadn't grasped the situation at all couldn't withstand that.
...Kuzan, hey future Aokiji. Don't just stare at me without stopping either of them. You have things to do—the conversation hasn't progressed at all and I'm about to wet myself. Is that okay? This'll just become a situation where I make a fool of myself.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, your anger is justified, but please refrain from using your ability for now. ...Admiral Sengoku, these are the signatures everyone personally wrote before departure."
Since they're evidence and material for verification, when I mentioned this to Sakazuki, surprisingly he obediently suppressed his ability.
...
He bowed his head slightly!!?
Well, whatever. This isn't the time to be shocked—I need to work out the details now.
"Sorry, 'Silent Step'. I'll have these cross-referenced with stored enlistment documents immediately." Said Sengoku.
"Also, if possible, I'd like you to confirm the safety of and protect their families." Said Kuro.
"...Gh. No, but... if it's true, the fools might become certain we've grasped the situation." Said Sengoku.
I'd been thinking the same thing.
If they're killing them as a precaution to silence them, in a sense the story is simple, but considering the possibility that the Marines I rescued might escape back, there will definitely be someone who thinks of surveillance.
"The accidents... I'll deliberately call them that, but all the Marines I protected experienced them within the past few months."
"We made them endure humiliation for months...!" Said Sakazuki.
"Yes. ...However, if senior officers visit bereaved families of young Marines who died in the line of duty, wouldn't that be natural?"
"...Some will still find it suspicious, but--" Said Sengoku.
"We could slow down their initial response to some extent, couldn't we?"
That's all I can think of with my head. But if it's Sengoku-san, called the Strategist...
"I'll take the lead and hold a memorial ceremony. The target will be all bereaved families of Marines who died in recent years." Said Sengoku.
"...Ah, I see. If you openly gather the protected targets with legitimate reason, you can assign proper guards and make it harder for unwanted interference."
"But Sengoku-san, is it okay for someone of Headquarters Admiral status to force through budget and venue arrangements?"
At Vice Admiral Kuzan's interjection, Admiral Sengoku raised his voice: "I'll manage it!"
"'Silent Step', your story has credibility. After coming all this way, it's not content you'd say as a joke. But including the Marine uniforms and signatures you brought, there are things I must verify. Wait here for a while." Said Sengoku.
A Marine telling a pirate to wait is normally a death sentence, huh. Well, this time it's obviously different though.
Sengoku-san then left the room with Sakazuki-san. Sakazuki-san, what meaning was in that glare at me as you left?
In any case, that means what's left is--
"Well, sorry for the rush when you went to the trouble of bringing such important information. Want some crackers? They're Sengoku-san's though."
Laid-back-- not quite yet, but this is the Marine who'll eventually uphold such justice.
"Yes, I'll partake."
–
(Kuzan's Pov)
At first, considering the courage and skill to infiltrate here, I thought the 65 million bounty was appropriate. But now I have to retract that opinion.
In terms of ability alone, he'd be fine in the hundred millions. Though his danger level would drop significantly in that regard
He was a type of pirate I'd never seen—one I couldn't imagine as an enemy.
In a Marine base, having grasped the other two's abilities from the power that leaked out in anger, he's now calmly munching crackers and sipping tea like nothing happened.
Insane guts, or what should I call it...
It's not that he isn't afraid. I can somewhat sense that, but he's far too good at hiding it. How did he appear in the eyes of those two trembling with anger?
In the first place, it's strange that someone who can withstand Sengoku-san's Haki still exists in the four seas
"Vice Admiral Kuzan."
"Hm?"
"Well, this is awkward while enjoying tea and snacks, but shouldn't I be in a cell?"
"Kid, you're too prepared for everything at your age."
My honest thought slipped out, but he laughed slightly and modestly said "not at all."
"You have no reason to escape anyway. Those two might... have momentarily forgotten you're a pirate?"
"...No, surely not."
Even though I said it myself, it might be possible. This pirate, strangely enough, seems more like a Marine than some actual Marines.
"Honestly, even when told you're a pirate, it doesn't click."
"I've done my share of plundering though..."
"Did you do that to regular islanders?"
"...Eventually, if necessary, I might."
"I suppose so."
He won't. This man absolutely won't do that.
I see him as someone who'd first act to prevent such situations from arising.
The plundering is probably factual, but he's never done it to civilians. He completely lacks that particular harshness characteristic of people who repeatedly plunder.
Apparently some big shots are pirates like that, but is this boy one of them?
No, he's already a big shot
"By the way, why did Admiral Sengoku believe my story so readily? I thought the conversation progressed unusually quickly."
"Ah, there was some talk from the World Government involving you a while back."
"...Involving me?"
"They wanted your bounty raised and the condition changed to 'Only Dead—No Survival Permitted.' Well, the Fleet Admiral rejected it since it was obviously suspicious. There might've been more back-and-forth behind the scenes."
"...The World Government knew?"
"...That's possible."
I feel pure anger from the pirate who frowned in displeasure.
This is bad—normally I should also feel angry
Yet somehow my interest in the pirate before me wins over my anger toward the Celestial Dragons, Mafia, and traitorous Marines.
"Kuro-kun, was it?"
"...-kun. Well, yes."
"Is Nico Robin doing well?"
But it can't be helped. After all, this man could become the guardian of the seed left by Jaguar D. Saul.
The pirate doesn't answer immediately to my question, smiling slightly while looking at me. I can't read anything from that smile.
"My apologies, but who are you referring to?"
Really, what insane guts this guy has.
--
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