Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1517.
Somewhere in the Grand Line.
Two Marine warships were anchored side by side, their flags—seagulls carrying scales—fluttering in the ocean breeze.
One warship bore the standard 'MARINE' insignia, marking it as a regular naval vessel.
The other carried an additional designation: 'DT-31'. This marked it as part of the Marine's special logistics division—the 'Detention Force' responsible for transporting captured criminals.
"Bounty of 47 million berries. 'Gladiator' Antoria, custody transfer complete—apprehended by warship T-14551 under the command of HQ Major Gushil."
Roy Amos spoke into a Den Den Mushi recorder while watching the massive figure being escorted onto his ship.
After finishing the log entry, he turned to the naval officer on the adjacent warship. "Appreciate the hard work, Major Gushil."
"All in the name of justice."
Major Gushil chuckled, then added with a warning tone, "But I've got to tell you, Lieutenant Roy—this guy's no joke. Make sure those Seastone cuffs stay on the entire trip."
"I wouldn't mind catching him again myself, but I'd rather not hear about your ship getting sunk by a prisoner out at sea... hahaha!"
He burst into laughter at his own joke.
Behind Roy, several sailors from the detention force visibly bristled at the remark.
Roy, however, seemed completely unbothered by the jab. He simply smiled and nodded. "Thanks for the heads up."
With that, he turned and leaped back onto his own vessel. "Set course for Marineford."
"Yes sir, Lieutenant Roy!"
His crew snapped to attention in unison before busying themselves with departure preparations.
However...
"Seriously, what's that guy so proud of? I mean, we're all Marines here, right? So he got lucky and bagged someone with a 40 million bounty—big deal. Admiral Kuzan captured a pirate worth 300 million last month and wasn't nearly that smug about it!"
One of the detention force officers muttered to his companion while escorting the prisoner into the ship's specially-designed holding cell.
"Keep it down, Hans... there's nothing we can do about it. We're the detention force, after all."
The sailor named Farr sighed in resignation.
This clearly wasn't the first time they'd been treated this way.
The reason was simple—the detention force occupied an awkward position within the Marines.
Their primary duty was transporting already-captured criminals from various regions. They typically didn't participate in frontline combat, yet they still received a portion of the credit when prisoners were delivered.
So in the eyes of many Marines, detention force personnel were glorified paper-pushers—too scared to fight but still eager to claim their share of the glory.
"What's wrong with being detention force?"
Hans grew more irritated. "It's not like we don't face danger transporting prisoners. And it's not like we get that much credit anyway."
He mimicked Major Gushil's tone mockingly: "'I wouldn't mind catching him again, but you better be careful...' What kind of garbage is that!"
But his complaint was cut short by a sharp voice: "Sergeant Hans!"
"Sir, Lieutenant Roy, sir!"
Hans immediately straightened and instinctively saluted toward the voice behind him.
There stood the black-haired, blue-eyed lieutenant, having appeared without anyone noticing.
"What have I told you before?"
Roy gave his subordinate an amused look.
"Less complaining, more working..." Hans replied sheepishly.
"I can barely hear you!"
"Less complaining, more working! Sir!"
"Good! That's the spirit!"
Roy waved his hand dismissively. "Now get to the helm—same as always, I'll take first watch over the prisoner myself!"
"Yes sir!"
Hans practically fled in relief, exchanging a quick glance with Farr as they headed for the exit.
Just before leaving, though, he remembered to ask, "Sir, should we bring you something to eat once dinner's ready?"
"Pizza and cola, thanks." Roy waved them off, then emphasized, "And make sure the cola's ice cold!"
"Yes sir!"
The sailors departed, leaving behind the Seastone-cuffed giant known as 'Gladiator' Antoria, who leaned against the bars of his cell, watching Roy.
"Sounds like you and your men aren't too popular within the Marines, huh?"
He chuckled darkly.
"Something like that."
Roy settled onto a sofa in the cabin and casually pulled an hourglass from his coat, setting it on the table.
Sand began trickling through as he turned his attention to Antoria.
"Though I hear Fleet Admiral Sengoku's considering raising the detention force's status... anyway, what's on your mind? You look like you've got something to say."
He seemed perfectly comfortable chatting with a criminal.
"No, that's not it!"
Antoria's voice dropped to a growl. "It's because you're all too weak—if you were strong enough, nobody would dare look down on you."
"Status, money, power—you need real strength to claim any of it... just look at me!"
He struggled to sit upright despite his restraints. "If it weren't for these cuffs..."
His eyes drifted to a massive iron slab nearby—it had a handle-like protrusion on top.
This was his weapon, confiscated along with him.
"One full-power swing of my 'Iron Weight' and I could kill you easily, then smash this cell to pieces."
Antoria sneered.
But he noticed Roy didn't seem the least bit concerned by his "threat."
"Sure, sure, whatever you say."
Roy nodded with exaggerated seriousness.
Then...
"Although..."
His tone shifted. "Your full power can only destroy this little cell? You ate the Muscle-Muscle Fruit, didn't you? Are you really that weak?"
"...What?"
Antoria looked genuinely confused.
It took him several seconds to process what Roy had just said, and when he did, visible rage ignited in his eyes.
This Marine—this guy called Roy—how dare he insult him like that?
"What did you just—"
But Antoria's furious retort died in his throat, his eyes nearly bulging from their sockets.
Because at that moment, Roy had casually picked up the massive iron block known as 'Iron Weight.'
That crushing weight—heavy enough to collapse a small building by itself—Roy lifted it as easily as if it were a balloon.
"Hmm... judging by the weight of your weapon, you can only amplify your muscle strength about twenty times at most? Your Devil Fruit development is pretty lackluster, isn't it?"
He offered his critique matter-of-factly.
"You... you... you..."
Antoria could barely form words.
What he was witnessing felt like a dream.
"Wait..."
Only after several moments did reality catch up with him.
"How do you know I ate the Muscle-Muscle Fruit?"
"Oh, about that..."
Roy casually set down the massive iron block and returned to his seat.
"I know a thing or two about Devil Fruits."
He said it dismissively, his gaze shifting to the hourglass on the table.
About a third of the sand had already fallen. Roy nodded in satisfaction.
"Perfect timing."
"Timing? What timing?"
Antoria's confusion deepened.
But in the next instant, Roy extended his hand toward him.
"Nothing important—get some rest."
The moment those words left his lips, Antoria felt a tremendous impact.
Then everything went black.
"THUD!"
His massive body collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Roy didn't spare him another glance.
Instead, he looked up at the empty air before him.
In his vision, a translucent screen materialized in that space.
[Devil Fruit user 'Antoria' detected]
[Confirmed as 'Paramecia-type: Muscle-Muscle Fruit', analyzing and storing in 'Fruit Encyclopedia']
[Fruit Ability - Enhances and controls muscle strength]
[Effects by Level]
[LV1: Minimal fruit effects, enhanced muscle strength, 2-5x multiplier]
[LV2: Partial fruit effects, significantly enhanced muscle strength, 5-10x multiplier. Requires 60,000,000/20,000,000 berries for permanent/temporary unlock]
[LV3: Complete fruit effects, massively enhanced muscle strength, 20-40x multiplier. Requires 300,000,000/100,000,000 berries for permanent/temporary unlock]
[LV4: Deep fruit development, freely control muscles to form shields and blades, freely harden and rapidly regenerate specific muscle groups, maximum 100x muscle enhancement. Requires 1,000,000,000/300,000,000 berries for permanent/temporary unlock]
[LV5: Fruit Awakening - Muscle Mastery, absorb life force from beings within range to enhance own muscles, manipulate muscle tissue of all living things within domain. Requires 6,000,000,000/2,000,000,000 berries for permanent/temporary unlock]
[Analysis Progress: 33%, LV1 ability will be acquired upon completion]
Roy's expression remained calm as he studied the screen.
'Gladiator' Antoria was, in his assessment, just an ordinary, mediocre Devil Fruit user.
But there was one thing the man had said that Roy actually agreed with.
That was...
"Strength is everything—in these chaotic seas, without power, you'll never find security anywhere."
He looked down at the unconscious Antoria.
"The difference between you and me is perspective."
"I understand how vast this ocean truly is, which is why I chose the detention force."
"You know nothing about it, which is why you could say something so ignorant just now—enjoy your time in Impel Down. The people there are fascinating, real conversationalists. I'm sure you'll love it."