"If there's still no warship heading to Impel Down today, I might as well Warp-Warp over there myself. Although the chances of being discovered would rise..."
In the early morning, as Marineford was gradually becoming lively, Orin sat at a breakfast stall on a street in the residential district, silently making up his mind.
After dinner last night, with nowhere to go, Orin used Observation Haki to scan the officer quarters and found the home of a single Commodore out on a mission to crash at for the night.
Who would've thought?
In the very heart of Marineford, where the Navy's elite from across the world gather, a pirate with a bounty over one billion was living openly right under their noses.
Talk about hiding in plain sight.
Orin savored his breakfast.
But soon enough, within the range of his Observation Haki, he detected two rather strong presences nearby—one of them even approaching rapidly.
What the...
Was he discovered?
Orin's expression didn't change. Calmly eating his wontons, he looked just like any tall and slightly handsome passerby.
Today, to avoid getting constantly saluted by low-ranking marines, he specifically ditched his Navy cape and changed clothes.
Yesterday, he'd walked around high-profile, and no one even suspected him.
Today he went low-key, and now he was found immediately?
He was a bit puzzled.
Finishing the last bite of his wontons, a strange red gleam flashed through his eyes.
So that's what it is.
"Excuse me, sir. May I take a look at the blade you're carrying?"
A voice rang out behind Orin. He turned around slowly.
The speaker was a woman with long black hair. Naturally, what first caught Orin's attention were her long, bare, slender legs.
A black spider tattoo wrapped around her left thigh, adding an alluring wildness and contrast to her look.
Just based on looks—and Orin had spent months in red-light districts—she was at least on par with the top girls under Sammi.
With that Marine cape on her back, she was even more eye-catching.
Evil pirate versus righteous and beautiful female marine?
Orin's thoughts drifted for a moment. Next time he saw Sammi, he could pitch this idea as a new show.
It'd make a killing, for sure!
As long as you're not afraid of Marines knocking on the door...
But back to the point—Orin actually recognized this Marine officer.
Marine Commodore—Namira.
Orin admired her stunning figure for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the person behind her...
Only to immediately lose interest and look away.
"Hey!!! You bastard! That look of disdain was way too obvious!!!"
Rinari was clearly furious at the dismissive glance.
And given that Orin still looked ridiculously handsome even with sunglasses on, Rinari felt an intense sense of crisis. He roared, arms flailing.
"Rinari!!!"
Namira snapped at him. He quieted down instantly.
She turned back to Orin again.
"Sorry, sir. Please forgive my companion's rudeness. I just wanted to take a look at the blade you're carrying."
"This one?"
Seeing that they didn't recognize him, Orin let out a small sigh of relief and couldn't help but marvel—just a simple change of clothes was enough to throw them off. Works anywhere.
You couldn't really blame Namira and Rinari for not recognizing him.
After that bounty poster from his time with the Roger Pirates, Orin had rarely shown his face in public.
During the final phase of their journey, in the few major battles the Roger Pirates had with the Navy, Orin was always the one lurking in the back.
He'd used his blade only a handful of times, so few people took note that he was actually a master swordsman.
Over the years, he'd grown significantly taller, his presence had changed drastically,
And without that black uniform and signature black rifle on his back, who would associate a two-meter-tall man with the kid who once barely topped one meter?
That's right—
To keep a low profile, Orin had brought a different outfit and sunglasses for this trip.
He didn't even bring the black rifle that his mentor Petermoo had gifted him, a symbol of his identity.
Only a long blade and a bit of Belly.
On the Grand Line, people recognized the figure clad in black with a black sword and rifle.
But a guy in a trench coat, sunglasses, and a blade on his waist?
Nobody would connect that.
Seeing they truly didn't recognize him, Orin was glad he'd changed his clothes last night.
He'd gambled that Marineford had too many people for every officer to know each other.
And he'd been right.
"This was something I picked up by chance. Do you recognize it?"
He asked as Rinari gave him a wary look. Orin casually handed over the blade—he was confident he could snatch it back in a flash if needed.
"Yes!" Namira, oblivious to Rinari's rising alarm, examined the sword carefully.
"No doubt about it, this is one of the Great Grade Blades!!"
"This blade once belonged to a Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters. But after a clash with the Roger Pirates in the New World, both the blade and the Rear Admiral vanished. I didn't expect to see it here!"
"Where did you get it?" she asked earnestly.
Fortunately, like most people, Namira instinctively assumed no pirate would dare waltz into Marineford, so she didn't question Orin's identity.
Uh...
Orin scratched his head. He obviously couldn't say he'd killed that Rear Admiral and claimed the blade as loot.
"I bought it from a merchant I met by chance."
A total lie.
"I see..." But Namira accepted the explanation. After all, it had been years—who knows where the blade could have ended up.
After hesitating for a moment, she bit her lip and made a request.
"I have a bold request!"
Namira suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Orin's hand, speaking with fervor. Her entire body leaned in as she stared into the sunglasses on his face with her big, sincere eyes.
"I hope to buy this blade from you. It once belonged to a hero who gave their life for justice!"
She tried to appeal to his sense of morality and emotion. After all, as a resident of Marineford, surely he could understand.
"Don't do that, Namira, you're standing too close!" Rinari was nearly grinding his teeth to dust at the sight but could only fume helplessly.
Damn it!!!
If not for being a Marine officer, bound by rules not to attack civilians of Marineford, he'd have dragged this punk away already.
So unfair! So jealous!!!
As for the man himself—Orin's eyes were devoid of emotion.
Even as her body pressed close and the soft, white mounds on her chest grazed against him, he didn't react in the slightest.
He didn't even blink beneath his sunglasses.
Seriously? You think a few pretty words will convince me to give up my prized sword?
Do I look like an idiot?
Having long since indulged in the pleasures of life, Orin—even now in his youth—had built up an incredible immunity to beauty.
It was all forged in the fires of experience.
"Sorry, this is part of my personal collection. The Navy doesn't resort to coercion, right?"
"…Of course not, but…"
"Not for sale."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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