Wonder how I feel after seeing shitty TL's getting more Powerstones?
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"I'm so glad... so glad you came back."
A large Marine was hugging the young Marines one by one. Many of them were so beaten up they could barely stand. But when they heard that Zephyr wanted to see them, they came to visit him.
Of course, some refused to see anyone, and others were too tired to even react.
"Instructor... yes, I've returned."
Among them was one female Marine with almost no injuries. She only had bruises on her wrists and neck from being tied up, a few small cuts, and a sword wound on her arm from a fight.
She was the only Marine who left Kuro's ship and was protected as a civilian right before the big sea battle.
"Yes... Um..."
"You were not sure what to do, were you? That's normal. I understand completely why the others chose to go with him."
Many different eyes looked at her as she looked down. Some looked thankful. Others looked jealous or even hateful.
"Instructor... Professor Zephyr... I... I...!"
But she didn't seem to notice them. She just kept her head down and cried. As Zephyr patted her with his large, rough hand, he spoke without thinking.
"...Did you want to stay?"
He knew he shouldn't have asked. But the words came out anyway.
The female Marine tried hard to stop sobbing. She didn't say yes or no, she just tried to hold it in. But when she fell to her knees, Zephyr knew exactly what she had really wanted to do. It hurt him to see it.
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry...!"
He was sorry for the ones who were almost made slaves, and for the ones who were hurt as slaves. He was sorry that the Marines, who were supposed to fight against evil, had become evil themselves. Or maybe he was sorry for himself, because he felt powerless even after training so many marines and catching so many pirates.
"I am so sorry...!"
The old soldier, just like his wounded students, was holding back his tears. He felt that if he cried, it would be an insult to those who had survived such terrible things.
After the female Marine caught her breath, Zephyr spoke to her again.
"This is not a formal questioning. This is just a chat. And I am curious."
"Please, I want you to tell me what you saw."
"Tell me about the pirate named 'Silent Step' who saved everyone. —About the man named Kuro."
–
"Wow, I knew he would become a big deal, but isn't this happening too fast?"
In an office for high-ranking officers at Marineford, Kuzan looked at a report from the West Blue with surprise.
The first report came about two months ago. It said a pirate with a strange flag—a black cat's face over three claw marks—had appeared in the West Blue and was fighting other pirates and the mafia.
A Marine scout ship reported that the pirates were very good at fighting at sea. Those who knew the story thought of the boy with glasses and long black hair tied back.
Even the great strategist, Vice Admiral Tsuru, said, "The wind helped them, but they perfectly used the weaknesses of a quickly formed fleet."
Because of his skill, his danger level went up even more, even though most of the truth was hidden. As a result, the bounty for 'Silent Step' went way up. His crew members, too.
"...It's only been two months since they raised their flag, and they are already a major power in the West Blue."
The mafia groups that were involved in the Marine slave incident had put a separate, special bounty on Kuro's crew. But he beat them all without any trouble.
Normally, a Vice Admiral or someone higher would have been sent to hunt him down by now. After all, Nico Robin, a potential threat to the World Government, was with him.
But there was another reason the Marines couldn't send anyone.
"Oh? Weren't you called by Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
"Bo... no, it's Kizaru. I just got back."
"Was it about pirates again?"
"Nope."
"They said some people are starting a revolution."
It is easy for those at the bottom to just endure. It is also easy to think that's normal.
"You don't think it's that pirate, do you?"
Kuzan shook his head at his fellow Admiral's words.
"No, it happened on an island in the Grand Line. Kuro is still in the West Blue, so he's not involved."
But Kuzan—Aokiji—and Kizaru both frowned. It would have been simpler if it was Kuro's doing. No one thought the young pirate who questioned the World Government would start a revolution, but it wouldn't have been a complete surprise.
"But there is a limit. A day will surely come when it all breaks."
But the ones who stood up were different people. And their anger at the World Government was spreading quickly.
"Aokiji, did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"The officers in the West Blue are starting to ask for 'Silent Step' to become a Warlord."
Aokiji slapped his hand on his forehead.
"He's not the type of person to accept that... especially with Nico Robin."
"Sengoku was worried because people are starting to question Nico Robin's crimes," Kizaru said.
Aokiji thought that young pirate would continue to cause them headaches. He remembered what 'Silent Step' had said.
"I would have liked to talk to him once, that pirate named Kuro..."
"Why is that...?"
"He's the pirate everyone at headquarters is talking about. I heard that when Captain Momonga repeated Kuro's words to Sengoku, Sengoku said, 'Those words are powerful enough for a formal speech.' And even Sakazuki—Akainu—who despises every other pirate, won't say a single bad thing about 'Silent Step'."
Kuzan was stunned to hear that Sakazuki was silent. But he understood when he remembered Kuro's conversation with the Five Elders.
"Well, a Marine can't just talk to him anymore," Aokiji said, his eyes falling on the wanted poster of the man now known throughout the West Blue.
— 'Silent Step' Kuro: 138,000,000 Berries
— 'Devil Child' Nico Robin: 79,000,000 Berries
— 'Steel Blade' Daz Bones: 15,000,000 Berries
— 'Ghost Princess' Perona: 6,000,000 Berries
"Not with the leader of a pirate crew this dangerous."
–
It's been another two months since we raised our flag. We've been busy developing our base, training, and raiding.
"Captain, there's no movement from the mafia on land. It seems they haven't noticed us yet."
"I was worried about a night attack since we're also practicing our shooting, but it looks like this will work."
"It seems so... Amisu, give the orders on the Den Den Moshi. Tell every gunner to aim."
"Understood, Vice-Captain. All ships, prepare for cannon fire."
Amisu, wearing a black suit with the cat symbol from our pirate flag embroidered on the back and a smaller one on her right chest, gave a salute and relayed the command to the other ships.
This attack is to stop the recent increase in kidnappings and human trafficking, which started after the Marine slave incident was dealt with.
We heard from a source that there was a human trafficking base on this island. Perona and Robin, our top two spies, checked it out. They confirmed it was true, so we waited for night. We also made sure our cannon fire wouldn't hurt the people being held captive.
I planned to have a small, skilled crew, but now we have three ships...
We mainly attacked the bases and ships of one of the five big mafia families that was involved in the Marine slave case and other kidnappings.
While doing that, we freed people who were about to be sold. Some of them, and others whose families were being held hostage, asked to join us... and before I knew it, our crew was three times bigger than when we started.
Why... how did this happen...?
Because of that, we've had to work much faster on raids and developing our base to make sure everyone has enough to eat. I feel really bad for making Daz learn that cool drill move he used against Zoro just to plow fields and do the fine-tuning on the cave I'm making bigger with my kicks.
...Well, he actually seemed to be having a lot of fun building the base. He even used the money from our raids to buy all sorts of books.
Perona and Robin, and even the former Marines, were all having a great time farming and doing carpentry... but that's not what pirates do. A person smiling while swinging a hoe and planting seeds is a farmer.
Now that I think about it, even doing combat and evacuation drills feels different from my image of a pirate.
We should probably hurry and enter the Grand Line as soon as we have the basic supplies ready...
"Still, Captain, it's strange that the enemy hasn't noticed our ships and cannons lined up at sea."
"I thought they wouldn't notice if we painted the ships black, but I didn't expect them to be completely clueless... To be honest, I'm surprised too."
Among the things we've stolen, there were many weapons, including swords, guns, bullets, and gunpowder. We even got a few cannons.
We put one cannon on this ship, which we've been using for a while. The other two ships are former mafia ships that we've fixed up, and we put two cannons on each of them.
"Captain, our gunner reports that aiming is complete."
"What about the other ships?"
"The second ship is ready. The third ship... is ready now."
There are Devil Fruit Users, and many people can fly, but a lot of the time, you win if you can just sink their ship.
We need to get better at sea battles, not just regular fighting. We should do a practice drill when we get back.
"Alright, all ships, fire."
"Sir! All ships, begin firing!"
Amisu repeated my command, and five cannons fired all at once. We were far away from the port town on this fairly large island. Besides the noise, no civilians should be hurt.
"Perona, how are things over there!?"
"Horohorohoro! The boats are ready!"
I yelled over the loud sound of the cannons, and I could hear Perona's reply.
"Alright, Daz and the other fighters, get in the boats! After we fire the number of shots we planned, we'll land! Finish off any remaining enemies and then start the raid!"
If we just go on a rampage, we'll be crushed quickly in this new age of pirates. I need to make sure they get proper experience and can act even when things are dangerous.
"Lord Kuro."
Suddenly, the person who gave us this information, who was on the ship with us, spoke to me.
"I want to join the fight too. You listened to my wish to save my people and brought your ships. If I don't at least help fight, I will lose face."
The fish-man, the only one on this ship full of people in black suits who was wearing a white martial arts uniform, stood behind me at the front of the ship and said this.
This amazing martial artist, a fish-man karate master and fish-man jujutsu user, had washed up on our island by chance just the other day.
...He seems kind of familiar...
Oh well.
"Thank you. Our fighters are still a bit nervous in close combat, even though they are good at sea battles. Your help would be great."
"Yes, leave it to me."
Whether he joins our crew or not, it was a big help to meet a fish-man who is easy to talk to.
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