East Blue, Cocos Town.
Marine Branch 131.
"Colonel Rogg, these are the latest incident reports from the surrounding seas."
In the top-floor office, a young ensign set a stack of files before Colonel Rogg, who sat behind his desk, cigarette clamped stiffly between his lips and a sour look on his face.
Rogg took the papers and skimmed them.
[The Ironfist Pirates with a total bounty of 3 million Berries attacked merchant ships on the Maple Route, estimated losses near 20 million Berries, few casualties.]
[The pirate captain Klu, bounty 5 million Berries, was hunted down by a previously unknown bounty hunter named Ron. Refused Marine enlistment.]
[…]
There were only three or four items. Normally Rogg would study each one and decide on countermeasures. Today he barely glanced before tossing them aside.
"Don't bring me these trifles right now."
"Y-yes, sir."
Seeing the colonel's foul mood, the ensign shrank back. Rogg drew hard on his cigarette, blew smoke through his nose, then snapped at the officers posted on either side of the office.
"The report. Where is it. I asked you for news!"
"S… still tracking," a major answered, voice shaking.
Rogg slammed the desk and stood, anger bursting. "Still tracking? A warship was destroyed. Headquarters just demanded answers. Who is taking the blame. You?"
"Colonel Rogg…" The major swallowed, then forced himself to continue. "We misjudged the Iron Hammer crew's strength. Even if we find them now, only a medium warship can handle them. Our base has one medium ship. The pirates will never linger in one place long enough for us to deploy."
In the East Blue, any pirate crew with a combined bounty over ten million was already beyond what a single branch could comfortably handle. Even when Marines could win, they seldom could catch.
And there were terrors like Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates, the sort that gave branch bases headaches. Axe-hand Morgan had been promoted straight from enlisted man to branch captain for catching a fake Kuro, and that told the whole story.
"Please calm down, Colonel," a nearby lieutenant colonel said softly. "The Government has already raised Iron Hammer Loff's posted bounty from eight to twelve million. This is outside our branch's capabilities. I doubt Headquarters will punish us too harshly."
Rogg looked across the faces of his majors and lieutenant colonels, lowered his gaze and paced a few steps, drawing long on his cigarette.
They would not flay him for this. But his chances of promotion were another matter.
And what if the Iron Hammer crew continued operating in his waters. If they lingered here, then what.
Rely on bounty hunters?
Ridiculous.
Below ten million, yes, pirates were sometimes brought down by hunters. In the East Blue, though, those over ten million almost never fell to bounty hunters. You could count the cases on one hand.
Just then quick footsteps sounded in the corridor. An ensign appeared at the door, breathless.
Everyone turned.
"R… report, Colonel. A bounty hunter has arrived at the base," the ensign blurted, voice unsteady from exertion or shock.
Rogg scowled. "A bounty hunter. Why are you panicking."
The ensign swallowed. "B… because… he brought Iron Hammer Loff's head."
Silence descended on the office. Only the ensign's ragged breathing remained.
…
Outside the bounty claims office.
"You're certain there's no mistake."
Rogg asked again, side-eyeing the ensign.
"I compared multiple times, and had Lieutenant Nata confirm. There should be no error."
Rogg drew a deep breath, then walked toward the office. Even now a tremor lingered in his chest and his eyes would not stay calm.
Iron Hammer Loff, bounty twelve million, hunted and slain.
Who did it.
Bounty hunters were not Marines. They did not have the Corps' weaponry or troops, much less warships. When a hunter killed a pirate, it was either through a sniper's ambush or through overwhelming personal might. Snipers rarely delivered a head. Only the latter walked in carrying one.
Rogg entered the office and saw the man.
A youth stood there, posture relaxed, air unhurried. No weapons visible. At first glance he did not look strong, even looked like someone who skipped physical training.
Rogg frowned. Then their eyes met.
Something jolted in the colonel's heart. There was weight in that gaze. Pressure.
The pressure of a superior spirit.
Ron's spirit had surpassed thirty. Compared to ordinary people his mental force was tenfold. Even without trying, his eyes carried something set apart from the crowd. Confidence. Nobility. Power.
"I am Colonel Rogg of Branch 131. Allow me to offer our respects… and to ask whether Mr. Ron would consider joining the Marines for the sake of peace on these seas."
The words were rote, a formula he recited for every capable hunter.
"I prefer freedom."
Ron's tone was even.
"I understand." Rogg nodded. "Here is Iron Hammer Loff's bounty. Twelve million Berries. You may count it."
Ron smiled, took the case, weighed it in his hand. "No need. I trust the Marines."
He did not linger. He turned and walked away, the line of his back soon swallowed by the hall, then the sunlight beyond the gate. The gathered Marines watched until he was gone.
Only then did Rogg let out his breath.
A lieutenant colonel murmured, "He refused enlistment, but a hunter who can kill Iron Hammer Loff will make many pirates think twice. Their behavior will cool for a while."
Rogg nodded. "It is a net good."
…
Days later.
With the Marines' quiet encouragement, the news spread like wind across the East Blue: the bounty hunter known as the Magician, Ron, had slain Iron Hammer Loff, posted at twelve million.
Countless middling pirates felt a chill under their skin.
Even those who stood near the East Blue's peak frowned when they heard it. They were not afraid, not yet, but they wrote a new name in their hearts.
Magician Ron.
They would remember it.
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