"—So, about that issue we discussed..."
At Marineford.
A few top officers had gathered at the Navy Headquarters, the force that protects the world's seas, and they all looked worried.
"Marine slaves... What a ridiculous story this has turned into."
Vice Admiral Tsuru, the only woman present, looked at the documents Sengoku had given her, showing a rare burst of anger.
"In West Blue, it seems an organized mafia group was behind this. Vice Admiral Kuzan is handling that now." (Sengoku)
"Working with the pirate mentioned in the report, right?"
Tsuru asked Sengoku for confirmation as he explained.
"Yes, he is the one who rescued the captured marines and snuck into the district base alone to tell us what was happening."
"...Hey, Sengoku. Is he really a pirate?"
"Well... yes. Unfortunately, he is."
Sengoku also gave a hesitant answer, which was unusual for him, and looked down at the report he wrote about the incident.
He had written it himself, but looking back at how terrible the incident was made him angry at everyone involved.
Sakazuki, who had helped prepare the documents and was now standing behind him, felt the same way.
"'Silent Step' Kuro... So, it was him."
"What is it, Garp? Do you know him?"
"He's a famous bandit hunter in East Blue. He wiped out several bandit groups without them even seeing his face. When his wanted poster first came out, it was for a small amount of 1,000 Berries, but in less than a year, it went over 10,000,000 Berries."
The man who had fought the Pirate King, Gold Roger, many times and was a legend in the Marines, sighed with a serious look he rarely made.
"I thought something was strange. He never stole from regular people, only going after bandits and secret slave traders. I never understood why he had a bounty, but maybe it's because those scum targeted him... What a shame."
"Garp! Watch your mouth!"
"What's wrong with calling scum, scum?!"
The man, who was almost always smiling, stood up, his face full of anger.
"They used the young, new marines! Maybe I should just become a pirate and attack them myself!"
"Garp!!!!"
"Is there any marine who wouldn't be angry after hearing this?!"
"Both of you, calm down. ...I know exactly how you feel, so just calm down."
At Tsuru's words, the two men, who looked like they were about to start a fight, sat back down, but they were still very angry.
Everyone there knew that there wasn't a single person in the room who wasn't furious.
"So, where is 'Silent Step' now?"
"According to the report from Kuzan, he ran into Gecko Moria, who tried to use the marines and gangsters he found as his own soldiers, and they fought. Kuzan also went to help and they drove Moria away... But Kuro's injuries are serious, so he is resting and recovering while also leading the effort to treat the other marines."
At this, a different kind of murmur went through the room.
—Gecko Moria!?
—I heard he lost to Kaido...
—So he ran away to West Blue!
—To think a 14-year-old could fight him...
"The only people there were the captured marines and the gangsters, right?"
"To be precise, the marines' shadows were put into the dead bodies of gangsters that Moria had killed."
"...I'm surprised he didn't run away."
This is what most marines would think.
If high-ranking officers like them were there, it would be different, but a pirate leading captured marines would normally run.
And he was in a place with only his enemies, the marines, and a very strong pirate.
Running away was a very reasonable choice in such a tough spot.
But Sengoku shook his head at that.
"He's not the type of man to run. If he were, he wouldn't have gone into a base in the first place to ask for protection for the marines' families."
Everyone agreed with Sengoku's words, but at the same time, they all sighed with a look of frustration.
"...He's a good kid."
No one argued or felt bad about Tsuru's heartfelt whisper—an inappropriate thing to say about a wanted pirate.
There was no doubt that this pirate's brave actions, which were not like a pirate at all, helped save many marines.
"Fleet Admiral Kong. Has there been any news from the World Government?"
"Ah, Sengoku... We received a notice, but..."
The World Government had a big responsibility in this incident.
So of course, they should have something to say, but—
"We will give orders after we check the facts. Until then, everyone involved is ordered to stay quiet... is what they said."
"Are you kidding me?!"
Hearing those ridiculous words, Sengoku slammed his fist on the desk and stood up.
"They're obviously just trying to buy time! They're just trying to get rid of all the evidence so they won't get in as much trouble!"
"But we can't do anything!!"
"———!!"
"The world has entered the Great Pirate Era, thanks to Gold Roger's last words! Conflicts in the Grand Line are getting worse, like the war between Kaido and Moria! On top of that, there's more stealing and fighting in the four seas from pirates trying to get to the Grand Line! If we cause big problems with the World Government now and a fight starts—Many innocent people will be the ones who suffer!!"
At Kong's painful shout, every marine in the room gritted their teeth.
Some even had tears in their eyes because they felt so helpless and frustrated.
"We will not let them get rid of the marines who are believed to be slaves now. We will get them back!"
"So please... just endure it for now...!"
–
"Captain, how's your leg?"
"It's... pretty good."
I tried running up the cliff, and it feels fine.
I'd say it's almost completely healed.
So I really want to get out of this bed soon.
Right now, I'm resting with the other marines in a temporary clinic in the ghost town, which our carpenter team fixed up from a building that was still in good shape.
"I need to thank Perona and the ship's doctor..."
"The ship's doctor is just a trainee, though."
"If you can heal people, you're a ship's doctor."
The ones who treated me were a ship's doctor trainee who was among the marines we fought with, and Perona.
Perona, who was raised by the 'witch' of that island, knew a little about wild plants that help with injuries and how to give first aid, so she and the trainee worked together to patch everyone up.
"By the way, where are Perona and Robin?"
"While you were running up the cliff, they were making food for the marines we rescued. It seems they were left alone for a long time, so it's not safe for them to eat normal food."
"...They were probably going to just throw them away."
When Robin and I were checking out that building with the huge underground room, we found a machine to pull in seawater and a secret door—no, a secret valve—that led to the ocean.
They probably planned to fill that room with seawater to make it look like they drowned, kill them, and just dump the bodies.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan...?"
"He just got back. He was apparently catching the remaining gang members scattered around here."
"Remaining members?"
"It seems he found them by tracking the people who were watching the escaped marines' homes and families."
"Ah, I see."
I thought he showed up at the perfect time, but it was because he was already nearby.
Still, to find this place just by following the lookouts...
The gangsters are really bad at managing their risks... especially for doing something this big...
I wonder if the main boss cut them loose, leaving only the useless ones behind?
Kreeeak...
"Well, well, looks like you can move already, Kuro."
Speak of the devil, he's here.
"Yes, I've recovered enough to run up a cliff."
"You're supposed to climb cliffs, not run up them... but I guess that doesn't apply to you."
Kuzan shrugged, came over to my bed, and pulled up a random chair to sit down.
"So, Kuro. I sent a letter to Mr. Sengoku about what you said... Are you sure about this?"
"Sure about what?"
"About hiding this whole incident. If you handle this well, you might get your crimes cleared, you know?"
"If I become a normal person, who will protect Robin?"
Well, she meets Luffy in twenty years... but wait, being alone for twenty years is worse than hell.
I've already made enemies with the Families, bandits, and even some of the World Nobles. If I try to hide Robin now, we'll get noticed right away and have to run, so this can't be helped.
"Oh my... You've already made up your mind."
"I told you I have no intention of letting go of my treasure."
"So you did. So, why do you think it's better to hide it?"
"The Navy... or maybe the World Government thinks so too, but I believe it would be bad if the Navy and the Government had a big fight right now."
After all, it hasn't been that long since Roger's execution, so things are probably going to get really serious from here on out...
Actually, this West Blue is pretty chaotic. I hear the North is pretty bad too.
"The government is also probably thinking it would be bad to make the Navy any angrier..." (Kuro)
"Well... Mr. Sengoku and Fleet Admiral Kong were really furious, that's for sure." (Kuzan)
"I think the World Government is pretty scared, actually." (Kuro)
Well, that's why, in a way, they'll end up coming to me...
"Have you seen your new bounty?"
"Yes, I had to look at it many times to believe it..."
Stop it, Vice Admiral Kuzan. That cool-looking photo is really embarrassing. I don't even know when it was taken.
-- 'Silent Step' Kuro 98,000,000 Berries
...
Hmm, it didn't reach 100 million. I wonder if I can see that as their small act of kindness...
"It seems the government wants you dead."
"Even if they order the Navy to capture me, the people who know what happened will just trust the government even less. So they want bounty hunters and other pirates to come after me—is that the plan?"
"Well, well, you're pretty smart, Kuro. ...Yeah, I think that's about right."
Ugh. I can't believe them...
--
PS Goal: 200 (Only 25 Remaining)