Leo followed the distant sounds across the harbor, spotting the unmistakable dog-head emblem of a Marine warship hurtling toward the port at full speed.
On the deck, a cape of justice flapping violently in the wind, Vice Admiral Garp bellowed with fury, his voice echoing across the waters.
So this was what they meant by "strike the grandson, and the grandfather comes for revenge?!" Leo thought, a grin tugging at his lips.
With a swift motion, he manipulated the cloud beneath the Going Merry, sending the ship soaring skyward at an incredible speed. "Garp, I'm heading out first. Next time I see Luffy, I'll be sure to give him a proper welcome," he called back, his voice tinged with amusement.
"You bastard! You think you can just escape?!"
"Bogat!" Garp's aide barked sharply.
Bogat immediately understood, tossing a cannonball into Garp's outstretched hands.
Garp grabbed it and hurled it with the force of a hurricane.
"Fist Meteor!!!"
One of Garp's signature techniques. Countless pirates had perished beneath this attack over the years.
The solid black cannonball tore through the air like a meteor, a thunderous shockwave trailing behind it, aimed directly at Leo. Its destructive force far surpassed that of any main cannon aboard a warship.
Crossing his arms confidently, Garp muttered, "Old man never quits."
Swish—
Slash Wave!
Leo drew his sword in a blur, swinging with precision. Another signature technique of the legendary Golden Lion.
A golden slash, dozens of meters long, cut through the sky, wrapped in refined Armament Haki. The incoming cannonball split perfectly in two, the explosion of sound and wind barely grazing the Going Merry.
"Hahaha… Garp, until next time!"
Leo's laughter rang out as the Going Merry ascended, disappearing into the clouds.
"Bastard!!!"
"How could this kid… use the Golden Lion's sword technique?!" Garp's face flickered with shock and disbelief. Having fought the Golden Lion countless times, he recognized the style instantly. Could it be that the Golden Lion had trained a secret disciple to wreak havoc again?!
"Vice Admiral Garp, what should we do now?!" Bogat asked quietly, worry threading his tone.
"Get me a Den Den Mushi! I need to report this to Sengoku immediately," Garp snapped, eyes narrowing on the retreating ship.
Back aboard the Going Merry, the deck buzzed with activity.
"Captain, who was that?!" Nojiko demanded, her eyebrows furrowed. The cannonball had seemed almost homing in on Leo.
"Just an ordinary Marine Vice Admiral," Leo replied casually, as if brushing off the threat of one of the strongest Marines in the East Blue.
"Sort the supplies we bought. I'll check on Tashigi," he added, gesturing for the crew to start organizing.
With that, he left the deck and quietly made his way to the cabin.
Inside, Tashigi sat by the bed, utterly dejected. Her small frame trembled as she hugged her knees.
The thought of never serving alongside Lord Smoker again, never fulfilling her duties as a Marine, pressed heavily on her chest. Even if there were an opportunity to run, she dared not move.
Leo had warned her: any attempt at escape, and Smoker would pay the price.
Her mind replayed the horrifying scene over and over—Smoker pinned beneath Leo's boot, powerless, humiliated, bleeding. She knew he was capable of carrying out the threat. The thought of Smoker dying because of her own actions made her chest tighten painfully.
Makino knelt beside her, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "It's alright, Tashigi… everything's going to be fine," she said softly, but the consolation barely sank in.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips as the cabin door creaked open. Leo stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
"How's she doing?" he whispered to Makino.
Makino shook her head slightly, giving a subtle nod before leaving the room, leaving Leo alone with Tashigi.
He stepped closer, noting the glistening trails of tears, the slight puffiness around her delicate eyes. He let out a soft, almost imperceptible sigh.
Truth be told, he hated using such blunt, forceful methods. But there were simply too many beauties, each with different allegiances, and far too little time to court them all patiently.
So his strategy was simple:
Step 1: Bring them aboard by any means necessary.
Step 2: Soothe them.
Step 3: Teach them navigation, survival, and ship duties.
Step 4: Reap rewards and live together.
The standard "four-step integration" plan, meticulously honed.
"Stop crying. I'm not really going to kill Smoker," Leo whispered near her ear.
Tashigi's face paled further, and she instinctively pulled back.
"Are you a demon?!" she demanded, her voice quivering.
Leo let out a bitter chuckle.
Tashigi stubbornly nodded. "Yes. You're a demon."
"You didn't just take me aboard—you also tried to kill Lord Smoker."
"Correction. I did take you aboard, but I never intended to kill Smoker," Leo replied evenly, his gaze calm yet firm.
"I don't believe you," Tashigi shot back, arms wrapped tightly around her knees, pride refusing to yield. The image of Leo's terrifying glare lingered in her mind.
Leo: Do you honestly think I was faking it?!
He smiled faintly, shaking his head. Seeing the glasses-wearing girl get angry was… oddly entertaining. Yet he maintained patience.
"Think carefully. The gap between Smoker's strength and mine is immense. If I truly wanted to kill him, wouldn't I have done it already?!"
"And even if I had, I could still take you back afterward."
Tashigi blinked, momentarily caught off guard. There was… some truth to that.
"So… then why go through all this trouble?!"
Threats, intimidation… she was just a small, innocent girl. If all he wanted was to bring her back, why not just grab her outright? No one could stop him.
Leo paused, choosing his words carefully. He wasn't being cruel without purpose—he wanted to sever any thoughts of escape and ensure her cooperation.
"But… my real goal is to get you to help me."
"Huh?! What do you mean?!" Tashigi's brow furrowed deeply. She could… do what exactly?
Leo's expression softened, his voice turning earnest. "You know I'm a pirate. I can't help but do bad things sometimes, just like today. I need someone with a sense of justice to supervise me, to stop me when I go too far."
"And you… are that Marine."
"With your guidance, I might truly turn over a new leaf. Wouldn't that be a great accomplishment for you?"
Tashigi froze. She actually listened. The logic was undeniable: sacrifice herself to guide a pirate toward good, saving countless lives in the process. The sense of fulfillment… it was irresistible.
Leo chuckled softly. "So, join my crew, beautiful Tashigi."
"Okay."
The word escaped her lips almost instinctively, her hands relaxing slightly as a small, reluctant smile appeared.
Tashigi's world had shifted in a single moment—fear, despair, and coercion had given way to reluctant acceptance, her mind slowly reconciling with her new role.
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T/N :
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