Mutual Appreciation

About forty minutes after the call for help went out, the warship from the East Blue 153rd Marine Branch finally pulled up to Glass Bead Island.

As the ship docked, the Marines' eyes widened in horror at what they saw: a huge pile of pirate bodies lay scattered at the port. Perched right on top of this gruesome heap was Roya, his shirt gone, a sword dripping with blood in his hand. The Marines, startled, immediately raised their guns.

Roya's face turned pale.

"Don't shoot! It's me!" he shouted, his voice laced with panic.

I just wanted to look good in front of my buddies. Did they have to be so quick to draw their weapons? Couldn't they see he'd already taken care of the pirates?

After three minutes of frantic explaining, the Branch Marines finally understood what had happened, but they were still having a hard time believing it.

He had defeated seven pirates and captured more than ten, including their captain! Even though they were just a small, no-name pirate crew, it was still an incredible feat that most Ensigns couldn't pull off.

The Major, clearly impressed, walked up to Roya and offered him a cigarette.

"Brother, did you really do all this by yourself?" he asked, his voice full of admiration.

"Of course," Roya replied, taking a long, satisfying drag. A hint of well-deserved pride crept into his voice. "Roya, Second Class Soldier of the 153rd Branch, ID number xxxx9527. You can check if you don't believe me."

"Alright, one moment, brother."

The Major was shocked again. He had assumed Roya was at least a Lieutenant, but he was just a lowly Second Class Soldier!

If I remember correctly, the 153rd Branch is just a small, out-of-the-way place. The branch number itself shows it's not exactly a powerhouse.

The Major didn't want to waste any time. He quickly told his men to contact the 153rd Branch to confirm Roya's identity. After they confirmed who he was, the Major was utterly amazed.

This young man has a bright future ahead of him!

"We'll report everything that happened here to our superiors," the Major said. "You can leave the cleanup to us!"

"Okay!" Roya replied.

He didn't want to hang around. This island wasn't even under the 153rd Branch's control anyway. It was enough that they would record his accomplishment.

After grabbing the pirates' rocket launcher, Roya immediately hurried back to the alley where he had left Fullbody. He had no idea how their fight was going.

----

Inside the alley, a brutal scene unfolded.

Both Fullbody and Jango were beaten and bruised, covered in cuts and scrapes. They threw wild punches and kicks at each other, with no skill or technique, just raw emotion.

It was a clumsy, desperate brawl.

Fullbody landed a punch on Jango's face, sending him stumbling backward. "Give up!" he yelled. "You can't escape!"

"Who wants to just sit around and die!" Jango shouted back.

He caught his breath, steadied himself, and kicked Fullbody in the stomach, sending him flying several feet.

"Aaaah!!!"

"Oooh!!!"

The two men charged at each other again, trying to look fierce even though they were exhausted.

Roya arrived at the alley and watched the fight. He didn't step in to stop them. Instead, he sat down on an old wine barrel and settled in to watch.

The sun set, then rose again.

The two men had been fighting all night. By the end, they could barely stand. Their weak punches had less force than a child's.

"Haa..." Roya yawned.

Well, it looks like these two are starting to understand each other.

They hadn't used any weapons, and they didn't seem to have the cold-bloodedness you'd expect in a fight to the death. Instead, Roya sensed a weird mix of, "Please defeat me, I can't bring myself to do it," and a conflicting feeling of, "As a Marine, I have to defeat you (to survive)."

It was making him a little queasy.

"Kaya should be waking up soon," he muttered.

Roya shook his head and stepped forward, delivering two swift, powerful punches that knocked both men unconscious. Then, he dragged the limp bodies toward the ship.

----

Morning, seven o'clock.

"Splish splash..."

The sound of water filled the air.

Kaya frowned slightly. "Ugh," she groaned, opening her eyes and sitting up, still half-asleep.

Just then, Roya walked out of the bathroom with a towel, wearing only shorts. Water droplets glistened on his skin.

He was covered in pirate blood, and his clothes were ripped. He didn't want to frighten the young lady by showing up all dirty and disheveled.

He just hadn't expected her to be awake.

"Yo!" Roya greeted her, trying to act casual, then walked into the changing room.

"Ah?" Kaya sat on the bed, her eyes and mouth wide open, completely frozen. As Roya disappeared into the next room, Kaya's face turned bright red, her mind racing.

She had seen Roya's muscles before, but that was when he was training. This was completely different from seeing him fresh out of the shower.

He looks great.

"Huh?"

Remembering the scene a moment ago, Kaya suddenly realized something was wrong.

Roya had scars on his back!

Because of the pirate attack, security on Glass Bead Island had been increased. Marines from the 32nd Branch were patrolling everywhere, making sure no pirates escaped. At the same time, the Syrup couple's business was thriving, giving them more free time to spend with Kaya. This meant Roya had some time to himself as well.

----

Syrup Village, the lower deck of the ship.

Fullbody was covered in bandages, looking utterly miserable. In the chair next to him, Jango was tied up, also covered in bandages.

"Don't be so sad, Fullbody, my friend," Jango said. "You're a Marine, and I'm a pirate. This isn't the worst outcome."

Compared to Fullbody, Jango was much calmer. When he decided to fight Fullbody, he knew there would be consequences.

On this cruel sea, friendship is more precious than life and death!

"Will I be sentenced to death?" Fullbody asked, his voice heavy with dread.

"Yes."

Fullbody clenched his fist.

Jango was a wanted criminal with a 9 million Berry bounty, and the Vice Captain of the Black Cat Pirates. Unless something miraculous happened, he would definitely be executed.

And he, Fullbody, would be promoted for capturing Jango, becoming at least a Sergeant. But he would rather not receive the credit.

"Damn it!"

If he were an officer in the Marine Headquarters, he might be able to speak up for Jango in court and save him. But he was just a Second Class Soldier, without any real influence.

I've been too careless!

"Creak..."

Roya pushed the door open, looked at the depressed Fullbody, and said calmly, "I know a way to keep him alive."

"What?" Fullbody's eyes widened.

Jango also perked up. If he could live, he certainly didn't want to die.

"Roya, how?"

"It's simple," Roya said, staring at Jango.

"Help our Marines capture Kuro!"

"Impossible!" Jango blurted out, his eyes filled with fear. "You have no idea how powerful Captain Kuro is!"

"No, I know exactly how strong Kuro is," Roya replied calmly.

Kuro was strong, strong enough to fight the entire 153rd Branch on his own.

But even if Kuro was strong, he was still just a criminal with a 16 million Berry bounty, a human who could be killed by guns and cannons.

Kuro hadn't reached the point where he was superhuman yet!

If they prepared carefully and set a trap to lure Kuro in, the 153rd Branch might have a chance to defeat him.

Taking the initiative was completely different from passively waiting to be attacked!

He couldn't wait until some unknown day, unprepared, and let Kuro board the 153rd Branch warship and kill all the Marines.

Roya didn't know when that attack would happen. Maybe in a year, maybe in six months, or maybe it was right around the corner.

Waiting would only make him anxious and put him on the defensive.

Therefore, he had to take action now.

To defeat Kuro, the 153rd Branch could only rely on its own strength!

"This is your only chance to live, Jango the hypnotist!"