Chapter 4: Just a Little Overtime? For Justice, It's My Bounden Duty, Sir!
"That was close..."
Blending into the crowd, Roy watched as a squad of Marines from the Disciplinary Committee stormed toward the area where the fight had just taken place.
If he'd been caught, the fine alone would have wiped out his entire month's salary, not to mention he'd be thrown in the brig for at least half a month.
"No cola for half a month... That's too terrifying."
As for Smoker, who was still stuck back there with Hina, Roy had no intention of worrying about him. In any case, seeing as that smoke-freak hung so many expensive cigars on his uniform every day, he was probably not hurting for cash.
(Translator's Note: A publisher's URL watermark was here and has been omitted as per the "no asterisks/notes" rule.)
As for the brig time...
"They should lock that guy up for a good long while. Otherwise, he's guaranteed to come and bother me again."
"Justice... No matter how grand and righteous they make it sound, in the end, it's just being a dog for the Celestial Dragons and the World Government. Who cares about that stuff?"
Thinking this, Roy crossed Oris Plaza and entered the main tower of Marine Headquarters, the 'Tenshukaku.'
Of course, Roy didn't actually dislike Smoker—even if he had only approached him in the first place to get his Devil Fruit ability.
During their Marine training, he had genuinely come to consider Smoker a friend.
And what Smoker had said was true. That old incident where they'd chased a pirate crew across an entire sea to get back the money for a young girl's mother... that really happened.
But just as Roy had said...
It had nothing to do with the 'Justice' that the Marines were always bragging about.
"The girl's father died young, her mother was sick for years, and she herself was blind. She'd saved up that money by relying on the village's charity and sewing clothes every day... and those scumbag pirates still had the heart to rob her? Who could just stand by and watch that?"
Roy didn't think of himself as some great samaritan.
But as a transmigrator, he still had the basic conscience and bottom line that he'd developed before he came to this world.
Without a doubt, what he considered a basic conscience was already a rarity in this world.
It was because of that incident that Smoker had acknowledged him, viewing him as a true friend and recognizing his 'Justice.'
But in reality, Roy's attitude toward the Marines was exactly what he'd just been thinking.
He had been in the Marines for many years and knew that there was no shortage of genuinely kind and just soldiers within its ranks.
But that didn't change the fact that the Marine organization itself was part of the 'World Government'—and that supreme ruling body was, in fact, the most corrupt part of this world.
Roy had no intention of being a dog for the Celestial Dragons, so he naturally had no faith in the Marines' so-called Justice.
Of course, the same went for pirates. Roy didn't deny that there were probably some truly heroic figures out on the seas.
But the fact remained that the vast majority of people who set sail during this so-called 'Great Pirate Era' were just pure-blooded scoundrels.
Marines, pirates... Roy didn't like either of them, and he never planned on truly joining either side.
His view of the Marines was simple.
It was just a 'company' where he could lie low, hide, and acquire Devil Fruit abilities.
And the Detention Unit was the one 'key department' he would never leave, as long as he was a Marine.
"But that guy Smoker was right about one thing... freedom of movement is really important."
"I know the locations of many ability users on this sea, but right now I'm restricted by Headquarters' rules and have no chance to get their abilities."
At this thought, Roy's expression turned troubled.
This problem, much like his urgent need for Berries, could only be solved by leaving the Marines or leaving the Detention Unit. But he couldn't leave the Detention Unit...
"What a pain..." Roy sighed.
"Hahahaha! You're saying something is a pain? How rare!"
Just then, a hearty laugh entered Roy's ears.
Without realizing it, he had already arrived at an office.
The office door was closed, but the laughter was clearly coming from inside.
"Old man, are you eavesdropping with your Observation Haki again?"
Roy said with resignation as he pushed the door open.
The office was sparsely furnished—a desk with black tea and dango skewers, a chair, and huge piles of newspapers and wanted posters.
At the desk, an old man with a body of dense, knotted muscle was cheerfully eating his dango.
He wore a Marine Admiral's coat over a simple shirt, and the countless scars on his body and medals on his uniform spoke of the life-or-death battles he had endured.
"Hahahaha! I'm so bored in this place I could die! If I didn't have gossip, how could I pass the time!?"
Hearing Roy's words, he just chuckled.
"Using Observation Haki to eavesdrop at Headquarters is strictly forbidden!"
Roy rolled his eyes, but he knew it was useless to say that to the old man in front of him.
This was his direct superior, the man in charge of the Marine Detention Unit: Vice Admiral Viroth.
The Vice Admiral's name wasn't famous in the stories Roy knew, but his tenure was long. He was a veteran from the same generation as Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Marine Hero Garp.
Because his combat strength had declined with age, he had been transferred to the Detention Unit to "retire," and was now just waiting to collect his pension.
And the old man's habit of using his Observation Haki to listen in on gossip was a well-known "hobby" to just about everyone.
"So, tell me. What's giving you such trouble!?"
The old man looked at Roy with curiosity.
Hearing this, Roy's expression didn't change.
He certainly wasn't going to tell him his real thoughts. He just brought up the incident with Smoker.
"That guy is as stubborn as a mule. I already recommended Lieutenant Tashigi to him..." he complained.
"I see."
Vice Admiral Viroth didn't seem to doubt him. He just pushed a skewer of dango toward Roy while munching on one himself.
"I don't think Smoker is wrong, though. You're a strong kid. You're wasting your talent staying here."
"I have my own Justice!" Roy said with a perfectly straight face.
In the Marines, this phrase was basically the equivalent of a certain red-headed fox jinchuriki's "That's my ninja way!"
So, as soon as he said it, Vice Admiral Viroth naturally stopped trying to persuade him.
"How'd the mission go?" he asked casually.
"Same as always. I've already had the prisoner sent to the cells."
Roy took out his logbook and gave a simple report on the mission.
"Good. I'll report your merits."
Viroth nodded, then his tone changed as he slid a document across the desk. "Speaking of which, I just received a temporary mission. Are you interested?"
"Huh?"
Roy instinctively took the paper, but his brow furrowed. "I just got back to Headquarters, old man! My men haven't even had a chance to sit down yet!"
"I know, I know. You always throw a victory feast and give your men a few days off after a mission. That's why I'm asking you, isn't it?"
Vice Admiral Viroth said casually.
"This one involves a World Government-affiliated kingdom, so the merit reward is high. In two months, Headquarters' 'All-Marine Demonstration' is set to begin. If you can get promoted to a Field Officer rank before then, you can participate."
"The All-Marine Demonstration?"
Roy frowned.
The All-Marine Demonstration. A major event the Marines held every few years.
All Marine officers at the rank of Major or higher and under the age of 50 could sign up to participate. It was basically the Marines' "Grand Tournament."
If you took a high rank, you would receive an additional promotion. The top three finishers could even be directly promoted to 'Commodore,' becoming a flag officer in a single leap.
Even more famous than the Demonstration was the 'World Military Draft,' which had only happened a few times since the Marines were founded.
But again... Roy wasn't interested in that stuff.
A promotion was nice, but once he was promoted, he would most likely be transferred out of the Detention Unit. That was not good.
However, Vice Admiral Viroth's next words made his heart stop.
"Kid, after this All-Marine Demonstration... I'm probably going to retire."
The old man's words, spoken while crunching loudly on a dango skewer, hit Roy like a thunderclap.
"Retire!?"
"That's right. My grandkid was just born. It's the perfect time to retire and train him up, try to make him a fine Marine in the future."
Viroth grinned. "And this Detention Unit... I've been in this post for many years. You're the one with the most potential in this unit."
His meaning was simple.
He was leaving, and the... special nature of the Detention Unit meant that most ambitious, strong Marines wanted nothing to do with it.
"If you can take a good spot in the All-Marine Demonstration, I'll petition Sengoku to let you stay here... as the Commander of the Detention Unit. What do you think?"
"..."
What did he think?
He thought that was absolutely perfect!
The excitement surging in Roy's heart was impossible to describe.
Becoming the Commander of the Detention Unit had massive benefits for him.
Even if the unit itself wasn't respected, it was still a critical part of the Marine infrastructure.
Commanding the Detention Unit meant an extremely high degree of freedom and status, and...
"The Commander of the Detention Unit is also responsible for personally escorting powerful criminals to Impel Down... and even has the authority to enter Impel Down for inspections."
That was the key.
For Roy, that great undersea prison, which held countless powerful criminals, was a true treasure trove.
So...
"Old man, let me see that mission!"
He said decisively, his words ringing with conviction.
"It's just a little overtime! For the sake of Justice... it's my bounden duty, sir!"