The sun sank, night fell, and stars lit up the sky one by one.
Cool moonlight spread across the vast sea, scattering silver across the waves and giving the world a quiet, mysterious beauty.
The Marine warship lay anchored on the still water, its flag—the symbol of justice and order—fluttering in the night wind.
It was dinner time.
The aroma of food mixed with the salty dampness of the sea, creating a strangely pleasant atmosphere.
"Thanks for the meal."
Kairos D. Vale rose from the table and gave Onigumo a friendly smile.
Several hours had passed since their duel. Onigumo had deliberately kept Kairos aboard for dinner, and the two had exchanged a few words over the meal. All in all, they had gotten along fairly well.
"Kairos, are you sure you won't think about it one more time?" Onigumo wiped his mouth, clearly sensing that Kairos was ready to leave. He lifted his head and spoke with unusual seriousness.
"With your strength, joining the Marines would put you on track to become a Vice Admiral without question. Give it enough time, and you might even have a shot at becoming an Admiral."
"Sorry." Kairos shook his head politely. "I don't have any interest in that right now."
This was the second time Onigumo had invited him to join the Marines.
And Kairos refused him again.
He had never liked being bound by rules and institutions to begin with. And beyond that, the World Government still sheltered the Celestial Dragons—something he had no intention of overlooking.
"Then that's that." Onigumo was just as decisive. Once rejected, he did not press the matter any further. He stood immediately, ready to see him off.
Kairos wasn't a pirate.
If he couldn't become a comrade, then leaving behind a good impression was the next best thing.
This was a world where strength ruled above all else.
And Kairos had more than earned the right to be called strong.
Onigumo had personally experienced that lightning-fall swordsmanship of his.
"Ah, right."
After taking only a few steps, Kairos seemed to remember something. He turned back toward Onigumo.
"Could I get a sea chart?"
"No problem."
Onigumo barely hesitated. He immediately ordered one of his men to fetch it.
Soon, the Marine adjutant came out of the cabin.
In his hands were not only a chart, but also a Den Den Mushi.
"Mr. Kairos."
He handed both items over.
Kairos accepted them and glanced at Onigumo in confusion.
"What's this?"
"If you ever change your mind and decide you want to be a Marine," Onigumo said with a light smile, making a calling gesture with his hand, "contact me."
To him, a chart and a Den Den Mushi were nothing special.
Just ordinary supplies.
"I'll take them, then."
Kairos turned away and waved without looking back.
Before the final word had even faded, he had already walked off.
Onigumo smiled and said nothing more. He simply watched as Kairos reached the edge of the deck, leapt off, and vanished from sight.
Kairos landed neatly on the small wooden boat he had arrived in.
He stored away the sea chart and the Den Den Mushi.
The chart would be useful.
The Den Den Mushi…
might come in handy too.
Who knew? Maybe after defeating pirates in the future, he could call Onigumo over and have the Marines pick them up themselves.
With a blast of its horn, the Marine warship soon departed.
Kairos lay back alone on his tiny boat, drifting across the sea.
Then he recalled the system notification that had been sitting quietly in the back of his mind.
"Ding. Host has defeated Marine Vice Admiral Onigumo."
"Reward obtained: Sasaki Kojiro Card (Fate/stay night Version — 1 Use)."
That was it.
Nothing else.
"So I wasn't that lucky this time."
Kairos gazed up at the star-filled sky and let out a long breath.
Last time, getting Qi Control had already been a great bonus. Even if he hadn't gained one of Killer Bee's techniques this time, he wasn't disappointed.
That duel alone had been more than worth it.
Even now, if he closed his eyes, he could still recall the sensation of Eight-Sword Style.
That feeling itself was more valuable than some flashy skill he might never actually use.
"…Now where should I head next?"
Murmuring to himself, Kairos unfolded the sea chart.
…
The sun rose in the east and set in the west.
That much never changed.
And today, the same blazing sunlight poured down over the blue sea once again.
But the warm radiance brought no warmth at all.
Only bone-deep cold.
Blood spread across the water.
Everywhere the eye could see, there were severed limbs, shattered planks, and floating wreckage.
The stench of blood hung thick over the sea. The wind carried it farther and farther, enough to drive the surrounding marine life into a frenzy. Under normal circumstances, even the monsters lurking in the deep would have followed that scent.
But not today.
Not now.
No sea creature dared stir.
Because an overwhelming killing intent blanketed the ocean.
That pressure was so dense it seemed to take physical form.
It made even the sunlight feel cold.
Crash!
More than a dozen pirate ships burst out from the blood-red sea, racing forward at full speed. Their propellers churned the water into frothing waves as they fled in a mad rush.
These weren't shabby pirate vessels, either.
For East Blue, they were top-tier ships.
With all of them pushing their engines to the limit at once, the noise was like an army charging across the sea.
It should have been reassuring.
But for the pirates aboard those ships, it brought no comfort at all.
Every last one of them was trembling.
Their faces were white as paper, their expressions twisted with absolute terror. From time to time, they would glance back over their shoulders, as though some monstrous beast were hunting them down.
"Damn it! Who the hell is he?!"
Don Krieg clung to the railing at the edge of his deck.
His armor was still lavish and golden, but it no longer shone. It was smeared with blood, stained with grime, and covered in the dust of battle.
Then—
a cold killing intent locked onto him.
Krieg shuddered violently and whipped around in terror.
On the horizon behind them, a towering silver wall of water surged across the sea.
It looked like an indestructible divine spear, driving straight toward Krieg's fleet.
And within that monstrous wave—
a small wooden boat could be seen.
At its prow stood a tall figure, upright and still.
"That bastard still isn't done with us?!"
Krieg stared at the scene behind him, his voice cracking between fury and fear as he shouted at the top of his lungs.
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