Become a Marine?
A vein twitched on Klahadore's forehead as he said coldly, "Don't joke around. If you're going to kill me, just do it."
"I'm not joking. I'm serious."
Kuro said, "There's no future in being a pirate. Come be a Marine with me. You'll get a salary, benefits—it's safe."
Turning a pirate into a Marine—wasn't that basically forcing someone into something against their will?
Surprisingly, Klahadore calmed down. He knew he couldn't win against the man in front of him—that attack from earlier had made that painfully clear.
He wasn't some brainless fool who'd fight a hopeless battle. If this man wanted to kill him, he wouldn't need any tricks.
"What exactly do you want?"
"Kuro of a Hundred Plans—I've heard your name long ago. I need your intelligence."
So he does know me.
He needs my intelligence?
Klahadore eyed Kuro up and down. Though the man stood there casually, the overwhelming aura he gave off made Klahadore feel like a lower lifeform before a superior being—it was instinctual fear.
Someone like this needed his brain? A pirate's intelligence? What was he really planning? What was his endgame?
"I'm a pirate," Klahadore made one last attempt to resist.
"Bounty of 16 million belli, right? That doesn't matter. As far as the world's concerned, you're already 'dead.' Your bounty was revoked ages ago. And it's not like pirates becoming Marines is unheard of," Kuro said with a smile.
And it wasn't. Kuro at least knew of his subordinate Zangao, who'd had his crimes forgiven and joined the Marines.
That guy's bounty had only been nine million.
And Klahadore himself had already been 'captured.' Given how the government operated, there was no way they'd admit to making a mistake. Even if they recognized him later, as long as Klahadore was already in the Marines, they'd probably just let it slide.
Realizing Kuro had already made up his mind, Klahadore understood he didn't have much choice—and nodded.
Either way, he got to stay alive.
Klahadore didn't want a peaceful death—he wanted a peaceful life.
As the patrol ship neared the pirate vessel, Cass and the others prepared for a boarding skirmish—but when they arrived, they found everyone already unconscious.
"Warrant Officer, what happened here?" Cass asked, confused.
"Probably knocked out from the bombardment. They were all out cold when I got here."
Kuro made up a quick excuse and pulled Klahadore toward him. "This guy's not bad. I'm bringing him back to HQ to serve the Marines."
"A pirate? Sir, how can a pirate join the Marines?" Cass asked, surprised.
"I didn't plan on it either at first, but... he's just so pitiful."
Clearly having rehearsed this, Kuro pointed at Klahadore. "Look at him. Doesn't he look like a man?"
Cass stared seriously at Kuro, then his eyes went wide. "Kuro of a Hundred Plans! That's impossible—he was already caught by Morgan!"
Kuro replied solemnly, "The Black Cat Pirates, in mourning for their captain, found someone who looked almost exactly like him to take his place. Look—same styled hair, same round glasses—everything's identical. They even gave him the same name, 'Kuro.' But in truth, he's just an ordinary man."
"Ask him what he really wants."
"I... I just want a peaceful life. I'm tired of all the killing and fighting among pirates."
Klahadore said this with a dazed look under Kuro's intense gaze.
And it was true—it came from the bottom of his heart. Not a trace of falsehood in those words.
Cass was moved to tears. "That's so tragic! An ordinary man forced into such a life—that's just too sad!"
Thanks to Kuro's convincing explanation, Cass dropped his guard. After all, even their own 153rd branch had a pink-haired recruit who'd been with a pirate crew for two years and still ended up a Marine.
Crack.
A splintering sound echoed—the damage from the earlier bombardment was widening.
"The ship's going to sink. Let's board ours. Leave these pirates to their fate," Kuro said, stepping onto the Marine vessel first.
Capturing them wasn't an option—if they did, Klahadore's cover would be blown.
The Black Cat Pirates had been quiet in recent years and hadn't committed any major crimes. Kuro could let them go—if they could survive the open sea.
Just like that, Klahadore was taken aboard, barely knowing what had hit him.
…
"Perfect timing. There's something I want to discuss with you."
Inside the captain's quarters, Kuro lit a cigarette and passed the pack to Klahadore. "Sit. Make yourself at home."
"Kuro of a Hundred Plans? Where'd you find someone like that? He's a big-name pirate in the East Blue," said Lida, munching chips while eyeing Klahadore curiously.
Even a kid knows me?!
Klahadore felt like all his years of low-profile living had been for nothing.
"He's one of us now," Kuro said. "Actually, I have a question for you."
So this is when he reveals his ambition?
This guy was clearly absurdly strong, yet he was just a Warrant Officer. Why stay in the East Blue?
Wealth?
Power?
Fame?
Or maybe he wanted to build his own turf—and needed Klahadore's experience and cunning to do it?
"I have a friend..."
Kuro started slowly: "He's a Marine, just living a quiet life in the East Blue—fighting bandits, training, taking it easy. But due to an unexpected incident, I—I mean, he—was summoned to Marine HQ. There's no avoiding it. But... is there a way for him to return safely to one of the four seas? Preferably the East Blue?"
Back to the East Blue...
So that's where his ambition lies?
After a moment's thought, Klahadore said, "If you want to stay in the East Blue—"
"It's for my friend," Kuro corrected.
"If your friend wants to stay in the East Blue, it depends on what HQ wants. Honestly, I don't know much about the Marines, but I'd suggest your friend find a faction to join. Through that faction, they could arrange a transfer back."
Of course the Marines had factions. The three people had their own camps. Sengoku, Tsuru, Garp—they all had trusted subordinates. Every big-name Marine had their own group.
"But joining a faction would mean your friend needs to get noticed. But he doesn't want attention. He's not strong. If HQ notices him, they might use him as cannon fodder."
Lida, still munching, said flatly, "You're too modest. If you're cannon fodder, then what are we? Trash?"
"Lida! You've changed in just a few days!" Kuro scolded. "What happened to your sense of safety? Your caution? You must be cautious in everything you do! You must be 100% safe!"
Lida pouted. There was no arguing with this overly cautious maniac.
"I think your idea's good. I'll think it over."
Kuro nodded in satisfaction. This guy was way more useful than Lida—at least he gave proper advice.
He stood up and extended his hand toward Klahadore.
"Welcome to the Marines. Trust me—stick with me, and you'll definitely get to live a peaceful life!"
The ship continued sailing, and over the past few days, Klahadore had been observing the patrol vessel.
He'd learned it belonged to the 153rd Marine Branch and had ties to Morgan.
But that only left him more confused. From the intelligence he'd gathered these past few days, Kuro was just a Warrant Officer—not particularly impressive. The Marines aboard respected him to a degree, but the image they painted was merely that of a diligent, rule-abiding officer.
And Kuro's behavior was nothing remarkable—just an average Marine, even a little lazy.
He didn't participate in drills or patrols, leaving everything to the sergeant on board, Cass.
He spent most of his time holed up in the cabin with that little girl—smoking, drinking, while she munched on snacks nonstop.
If Kuro hadn't carved that sword slash deep into Klahadore's memory, he might've been fooled by the man's facade.
If someone like him could be deceived, then this man—who had lain dormant in the East Blue for over a decade—must be planning something big.
This man... is terrifying.
Klahadore stood on the deck, gazing at the sky. Though it was cloudless, he felt as if dark clouds were about to descend—as if a giant hand were about to engulf the entire East Blue.
"Oh! Baratie! Baratie!"
A cheerful voice rang out from the cabin. Lida ran over, hands raised in excitement, bouncing with joy.
Up ahead, the silhouette of a ship came into view.
The most famous restaurant in the East Blue—the sea restaurant, Baratie.
"Klahadore, you interested in Baratie too?" Cass asked, noticing Klahadore staring ahead, lost in thought.
The Marines had tried to learn Klahadore's "real name," but he'd confidently declared, "Since I'm called Klahadore now, I'll live with that name." And thus, the name Klahadore was officially confirmed.
At Cass's question, Klahadore snapped out of his thoughts.
He'd heard of the restaurant before, though he'd never gone there as a pirate. He never expected to eat there one day.
A peaceful life... perhaps this counted.
Kuro hadn't lied, after all.
Just as he was thinking that, a brilliant light rose from the sea—a crescent-shaped flash hurtling toward them.
"What is that?!"
Klahadore froze. He'd never seen anything like it, but he had no doubt—if that hit, he'd be blown to pieces.
"Kuro, get out here!"
The white-haired girl cried out in alarm.
"Too late!"
Lida, seeing the slash racing toward them, grit her teeth and leapt to the ship's bow. Her body shifted, growing into that of a young woman. Crossing her arms in front of her, she activated Armament Haki over her forearms.
"Vital Energy Max Wheel: Impact!"
She thrust both hands forward.
Boom!!!
The air twisted. Lida pushed the slash back with her hands as the ship's bow cracked under the pressure. A massive shockwave swept across the deck, knocking Marines off their feet.
Klahadore was blasted backward, pain stabbing through his body like blades.
"What the hell is this? Since when does the East Blue have something like that?" Klahadore was stunned.
And that girl—why did she change like that? What was that on her arms? If she punched him, he'd probably go down in one hit.
"Get out of here!!!"
Lida roared and gave one last shove, sending the slash flying skyward.
The attack curved off-course and disappeared into the clouds.
"Haha, what kind of joke is this? That was insane!"
Lida shrank back into her child form, panting heavily as she stared ahead.
Just one slash, and she was already exhausted.
"Blocked it?"
On a wrecked ship near Baratie, a man with a straw hat and another in golden armor were fighting. A third man, who had just sheathed a black sword, looked over in surprise.
Those hawk-like eyes showed a flicker of curiosity. "That woman?"
The black blade rose again.
"Again?!" Klahadore's eyes widened as an even larger slash came flying toward them.
This time, there was no dodging it.
Suddenly, a golden crescent slash shot out from their deck, colliding mid-air with the dark green one.
Boom!!!
The two slashes clashed, struggling against each other before exploding in a violent shockwave that triggered towering waves.
The sea surged skyward, becoming a torrential downpour that battered the ship.
"Interesting."
Far away, the man smiled faintly and leapt onto his small boat, heading toward them.
Kuro now stood at the ship's bow, his face dark, eyes locked on the approaching boat.
"Kuro, you big dummy, I'm hungry," Lida muttered weakly.
Kuro glanced at her. "My bad. That was my mistake. I was napping. Klahadore, go get her some food."
He'd been sleeping just fine—then all this chaos started. If not for Lida, the ship might've been sunk. And...
The blood on her hands made him uneasy.
Soon, Klahadore returned with a pile of food. Lida wolfed it down, then patted her belly with a sigh of relief. "I feel better now... That slash was terrifying. What's with that? Since when does the East Blue have a monster like that—"
She cut herself off.
She saw the small boat—and the man sitting in it.
Those hawk-like eyes, and the massive black blade on his back...
"That black sword... there's no mistaking it. That's Yoru! That's Dracule Mihawk!"
Lida's eyes widened in shock.
Kuro nodded grimly. "Shichibukai. The world's strongest swordsman—Dracule Mihawk."
"The world's strongest swordsman?!"
Klahadore turned pale. Even with outdated intel in the East Blue, he'd heard that name.
What was someone like him doing here?
Whoosh!
As the ship approached, Mihawk suddenly appeared on the warship's deck.
"You're the one who deflected my attack, aren't you?"
Mihawk stared at Kuro with interest. He'd expected a swordsman he knew—but this young face? He didn't recognize it.
When did the Marines get someone like this?
"Wasn't me," Kuro denied instantly, pointing at Klahadore. "He did it."
"???"
Klahadore's glasses practically filled with question marks.
Mihawk turned to him. Klahadore tensed like he was staring death in the face, instantly drawing his Ten Claws.
"Oh?"
Mihawk slowly unsheathed his black blade. The pressure alone made Klahadore break into a cold sweat.
He got sold out just like that?
What happened to living a peaceful life!?
"Nukiashi!"
Faced with the pressure, Klahadore struck first. His figure vanished, tearing apart the ship's railing.
This was Kuro's signature move—its speed rivaled Rokushiki's "Soru," though the direction was impossible to control.
With a move like this, he should be able to stall, at least a bit!
Smack.
Mihawk casually tapped the back of his blade forward, and the vanishing Klahadore reappeared instantly, knocked flat to the deck.
"I can still tell where you are."
Mihawk glanced at the military saber in Kuro's hand and smiled slightly. "You're strong. Fight me."
Damn it, why!?
A vein bulged on Kuro's forehead. "Should I take this as a provocation against the Marines? Do you not care about your position as a Warlord anymore, Mihawk!?"
"Can a low-ranking Marine speak for Marine Headquarters? I never really cared for that title anyway."
Mihawk looked utterly indifferent. He glanced toward the distant battle. "They're fighting over there. If the Navy shows up, it'll get annoying. Keep me company here."
Shing!
He slashed at Lida.
The slash came so fast, Lida couldn't even react—she could only stare, wide-eyed, as the black blade closed in.
Clang!
A military saber, coated in Armament Haki, intercepted the black sword.
Kuro's face was cold as he spoke, word by word:
"Don't mess around... Pirate."
(*****)
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