Kuzan cast a glance at Roy's retreating figure, then turned lazily toward his mentor. "So... what do we do with him?"
"Don't be in a rush. Let's deal with the mess here first. We'll talk about Roy afterward," Zephyr said as he stepped forward.
He loomed over Okulama, who was still crumpled on the ground. With the sunlight blocked by Zephyr's massive frame, it felt like a mountain of pressure had fallen on him. Though the Marines served under the World Government, the Government never gave Zephyr much weight. But Okulama? He was just a disposable pawn. And this man—he dared not offend.
"I'd like a full explanation," Zephyr said coldly. "Of course, you're welcome to lie... I'll just confirm everything with the locals myself."
Originally, Zephyr had only come to supervise the delivery of platinum-lead ore to the Red Line, using the mission as field experience for his students. But after hearing from Major Assal that an entire pirate crew with a bounty exceeding thirty million had been wiped out by a fifteen-year-old bounty hunter, Zephyr's attention had been piqued.
Roy's actions had already attracted the Navy's notice, so Zephyr had tracked him to this mine—and arrived just in time to witness the chaos.
"This needs a proper investigation," Zephyr muttered.
---
Elsewhere, Roy was back at the clothing shop again. He bought three more sets of the same outfit, causing the shop girl to nearly faint with excitement.
Then he found a bar, ordered a glass of rum, and sat with a satisfied grin. Honestly, how could he not be thrilled? It was just like playing a game—would you rather dominate or be endlessly dominated? Roy would choose to fight stronger opponents any day. Beating up weaklings was a waste of time.
Speaking of which… He suddenly remembered something.
"Oh right, I still have that Silver Chest."
"System," Roy said. "Open the box."
[Ding! Congratulations! You've received: Recruitment Token x1.[
[Recruitment Token]: Can summon one follower from either World of Warcraft or Dungeon Fighter Online. (Note: What's a Lord without a loyal lackey?)
[Requirement: Unlock [Tavern] feature to summon.]
[Ding! New Special Quest: Kuzan's Invitation]
[Kuzan's Invitation] – Today, Kuzan will extend an invitation for you to join the Navy. Choose wisely, My Lord.
Quest Options:
- Join the Navy
- Fight Kuzan
[Reward for Completion: Unlock [Tavern] system.]
"…Huh?"
Roy blinked. "System, explain why the hell I have to fight Kuzan?"
[Well, Host, you could always choose to join the Navy.]
Roy frowned, lost in thought. Truthfully, he had no desire to become a Marine. This sea was built on freedom and dreams. The Navy would only clip his wings.
Right now, Roy wasn't even on the wanted list. Sure, he had injured Zephyr and offended the Navy—but Roy had once been a die-hard fan of One Piece. He knew Zephyr wouldn't arbitrarily declare someone a pirate. Not his style. Not ever.
Fighting Kuzan would be like planting a pirate flag over his own head. He'd be officially branded, bounty and all. And while he knew he'd eventually end up opposing the World Government and the Navy, now wasn't the time. It'd be way too inconvenient. He didn't want to be chilling at a bar only to hear someone yell, "That's the guy! Cut off his head and trade it for booze!"
Peaceful drinking was vastly underrated.
After a long pause, Roy asked, "System, would arm-wrestling count as a 'fight'?"
[No.]
"Alright then. I know what to do."
---
Meanwhile, at the Flevance Marine Base…
"The World Government is full of nothing but bloodsucking parasites," Zephyr growled into a Den Den Mushi. "If I hadn't come out of curiosity, they'd be smearing the Navy's name again."
He had just finished interrogating Okulama and learned the truth. Furious, Zephyr was now reporting the situation to Fleet Admiral Kong.
"Keeps your cool, Zephyr. The World Government has its own problems. If you've got time to complain, spend it figuring out how to stop Roger from tearing up the Grand Line," Kong said flatly—and then hung up.
Zephyr slammed the receiver down, gritting his teeth. So much for justice. In the end, it's all about protecting the Government.
Just then, Kuzan stepped in. "Teacher Zephyr."
Zephyr trusted few people, but Kuzan was one of them—his favorite student, his right-hand man. He'd always kept Kuzan close, just so there'd be someone sensible to talk to.
Kuzan handed over a photo. "Tirion D. Roy. If we're going to issue a bounty, this would be the image to use. Should I file it?"
Zephyr didn't even look. He tore the photo in half.
"No need for now. Kuzan, go talk to him. See if he's interested in joining the Navy."
"…Understood." Kuzan nodded, then paused. "Wait, me? I'm not good at this kind of thing! Why not go yourself? Or send Major Assal?"
"Assal? That guy colluded with Okulama to skim off Roy's bounty. He's not trustworthy."
Kuzan: "…Okay then."
While Zephyr was shoving Kuzan out to negotiate, he also summoned Okulama to deliver his punishment—stripped of his title, docked a year's pay, and demoted under supervision. Assal was dismissed as well.
Zephyr was relieved that he had come in person. If it had been Sengoku, that so-called "paladin" kid would've already been pushed onto the path of piracy.
As for Assal? Well, he was just unlucky.
---
Later that afternoon, in a cozy tavern…
"Um… hey… Mr. Paladin? Mind if we chat for a sec?"
Kuzan awkwardly sat down beside Roy and slid over a box. "Here's the rest of your bounty."
Roy looked him over, then smiled and accepted the box without hesitation, tossing it straight into his system storage.
Kuzan blinked. "Uh… you're not gonna count it?"
"The Light tells me you're a good man, sir. I trust you completely," Roy said with a warm smile. "In fact, drinks are on me tonight."
Kuzan stared at him. Is this guy for real?
And just like that, the two of them sat there drinking in silence. Eventually, Roy broke it. "You didn't come all this way just to deliver a paycheck, did you, sir?"
Kuzan finally collected himself. "Right, right. Let me start properly. I'm Vice Admiral Kuzan, currently serving as an aide under Zephyr-sensei."
He paused. "That was some fight earlier. Pretty insane, honestly. You've got regeneration powers or... are you actually immortal?"
Roy solemnly touched the glowing cross on his chest and adopted a devout expression. "It is the Light's divine blessing. So long as I walk beneath its radiance, nothing shall stand in my way."
Kuzan squinted. Okay, but seriously—is it regen or immortality?
In truth, Roy could die. If his brain were destroyed and his mind severed from the Light, that would be it. Otherwise, he was functionally immortal. Even then, he could still respawn. And if he had a "Revival Coin," he could even revive on the spot.
Roy saw the curiosity in Kuzan's eyes and decided to move things along. "Alright, Vice Admiral. You came to invite me into the Navy, right?"
Kuzan perked up. "Ah! It's great talking to someone so direct. Zephyr-sensei would really love for you to join us. What do you say? Will you come with me?"