Chapter 63: Undead Mage

Chapter 63: Undead Mage

"Does he have any combat achievements?"

Sengoku asked puzzledly. As Brannew displayed the photo, Sengoku had picked up the relevant file and browsed through it, but found nothing particularly noteworthy.

Brannew, holding Smoker's submitted report as well as another one, read aloud:

"Captain Smoker's report states that he was once sneak-attacked by the subject using a Seastone bullet."

"That's it?" Sengoku's expression was odd. It wasn't about the sneak attack with a Seastone bullet, but rather why the report contained only that single sentence.

"N-no, that's all." Brannew quickly explained, "You know Captain Smoker's reports are always vague."

"However, I specifically checked the archives and discovered he previously shot and killed Captain Morgan at the 153rd Branch..."

"...also via sneak attack."

"Killed a Captain? Why haven't I seen this report?" Sengoku asked casually.

Brannew explained, "...Someone covered it up."

It wasn't uncommon for a Branch Captain to die in the line of duty, but even so, Headquarters would typically review the report.

However, the report submitted by the branch regarding this particular incident was extremely vague. Instead, it was filled with dense descriptions of Morgan's tyrannical rule and exploitation.

From this, it was clear Morgan's conduct in the region was universally condemned.

As the report moved up the chain of command, layer by layer, it was intercepted by a certain officer in charge of East Blue affairs before reaching Sengoku's desk.

To avoid being implicated by association, the officer directly sealed it away in the archive vault.

Brannew only discovered it because he specifically went through the archives while preparing materials for this meeting after seeing Smoker's report.

"Mm, I understand," Sengoku nodded after hearing Brannew's explanation, roughly grasping why Smoker had specifically mentioned this individual.

Being able to obtain Seastone bullets in the East Blue indicated this fellow had some resourcefulness. Combined with his style of operation, he was indeed worth noting. However...

Sengoku pushed up his frog-themed glasses and asked again, "What about his strength?"

"Uh... well..." Brannew suddenly became awkward, looking at the only description of frontal combat gathered in the report. The contrast was so stark he didn't know how to phrase it.

All eyes in the room fell upon him, expressions serious, quietly waiting for him to speak.

Brannew lowered his head and read the report out word for word:

"During an encounter outside the Alabasta Royal Palace...

...hid behind the captain...

...fired over ten shots...

...injured...

...two soldiers."

...

???

All the Vice Admirals were stunned. What the hell?

Hid?

Over ten shots?

Injured two?

Which word in that description is 'noteworthy'?

Silence. The room fell inexplicably quiet for several seconds, then suddenly erupted with laughter.

"Pffft-hahahaha!"

Several Vice Admirals present couldn't hold back their laughter.

"What's gotten into Smoker? Hahaha!"

"The former 'White Hunter' actually paying attention to a character like this?"

They had initially thought it might be someone significant, but hearing the report, wasn't he just a clown?

Just someone relying on despicable, underhanded sneak attacks. Might work against weaklings, but could he possibly sneak attack them, users of Observation Haki?

However, a portion of the more experienced Vice Admirals, though surprised, still regarded the golden-haired man seriously.

Having seen much, they naturally knew anything could happen in battle; it was still necessary to maintain some vigilance.

But that was the extent of it. Someone lacking strength and relying solely on sneak attacks – as long as one was slightly cautious, what waves could he possibly stir up?

"Well, he did kill a Captain. How about setting it at eight million?"

"It said Morgan, right? Someone like that dies, so what? Why pursue it?"

"We're discussing pirates right now, not Morgan."

"But it was just a sneak attack, right? Is that really worth eight million?"

"Exactly! Giving eight million to any small fry... people who don't know better might think the Navy is weak!"

The group chimed in one after another, but their tones weren't particularly strong.

They had clearly relegated Reiner to being a bit of comic relief before the meeting adjourned.

"Alright then. Let's set it at five million," Sengoku finalized with a rap on the table. He stood up, his voice stern.

"Meeting adjourned!"

Hearing this, all the Vice Admirals stood up, shedding their playful expressions, postures ramrod straight. The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned solemn again, followed by a perfectly synchronized shout:

"Justice Will Prevail!!!"

Somewhere in the first half of the Grand Line, on the stern deck of the Going Merry, Nami and Robin were sunbathing on deck chairs.

Before them, two men were training, swinging exaggeratedly large barbells.

On their slender frames, smooth lines delineated muscles filled with explosive power, displaying a violent aesthetic in every contraction and release.

Nearby, Usopp struggled with a clearly lighter weight load, gritting his teeth with just a few hundred kilograms on his barbell, his arms even beginning to tremble.

"Hey Reiner! This is getting ridiculously exaggerated!"

Zoro couldn't help but yell, looking at the five-ton barbell in Reiner's hands. He was supposedly doing physical training, yet the weight Reiner was using already matched Zoro's own maximum limit!

"It hasn't even been a full week since we left Alabasta!"

"It's always been this weight, hasn't it? Maybe sometimes think about your own problems. Did you put in 200 times the effort today?"

Reiner mocked him with a laugh. The Awakening boost is terrifying! This increase is comparable to when I first ate the Devil Fruit back then.

Reiner couldn't resist showing off in front of Zoro anymore, visibly annoying him.

"T-t-two... thousand!"

Clang!

"Huff~~ I can't do anymore~~" Usopp dropped the barbell onto the floor with an expression of utter exhaustion, his body going limp as he collapsed backward, lying flat and staring up at the sky, panting heavily.

Although his barbell weighed less than a tenth of Zoro's, having trained with them for nearly ten days, this was the first time he had completed two thousand reps.

"Very impressive, Usopp! Sanji's adding extra dishes tonight," Reiner praised generously, while also noting inwardly that Usopp's physical potential was actually quite good.

Don't mind his half-dead appearance now; he had just started, and his body needed time to adapt.

In time, while catching up to the main combatants was likely impossible, he at least wouldn't lag too far behind. Reaching a superhuman level shouldn't be a problem.

After a while longer, Reiner and Zoro also finished their training, pulling towels from their necks to wipe off sweat.

Reiner put his blue shirt back on, buttoning it up, lit a cigarette, and entered 'Sage Mode' (calm reflection).

That template fused from Crocodile and Ace... he still hadn't created an undead summon to match it.

He had originally thought of modeling it after Gandalf, the melee mage, creating an old man figure.

However, after Awakening, his control over undead could be much more detailed. With Chopper's help, he could now create undead that looked even more human-like.

Thus, a not-so-bold idea occurred to him: Why not create a cute girl summon to feast the eyes on?

Reiner searched his memories, looking for any good-looking female mage archetypes.

A voice instantly popped into his head: "...Seal, Release!"

No, no, that's not a mage. Cross that out.

Suddenly, another figure surfaced in Reiner's mind. He sat up abruptly with a start.

His sudden movement caught the attention of Nami sunbathing on her deck chair nearby.

She cast a quizzical look his way, just in time to see a strange smile spread across Reiner's face.

Then, Reiner raised his hand, and a void crack appeared out of thin air.

A little girl with white twin tails walked out. She had a round face and two long, pointed ears like a legendary elf.

She wore a white shawl over a matching colored long dress and held a staff in her hand.

"Ooh~~ So cute!" Nami couldn't help but stand up and walk over, crouching down in front of the little girl.

Although its eyes were somewhat vacant, the small, delicate figure was still undeniably cute.

The Millennia-Old Demon, Frieren!

"Well~ Doesn't quite capture her spirit. More like Mirror Frieren," Reiner murmured, looking at the summon's empty eyes.

Nami pinched Frieren's cheek; the texture felt almost exactly like a normal person's. She couldn't help but turn to Reiner and demand:

"Hey Reiner! You can make good-looking undead after all!?

"Hurry up and replace all those ugly things from before!"

"What!? What kind of talk is that!" Reiner yelled back defensively. "I see your hair hasn't grown much, and neither has your sense!"

Of course, he wouldn't replace them. Many of his undead had already been seen in public; changing them rashly wouldn't be good.

Especially the Blue and Red Ogres – they probably already had bounties on them.

Reiner directed Frieren to jump onto the ship's railing, facing the sea.

Fwoosh!

A flame ignited spontaneously before her, floating slowly straight forward.

As it flew, it gradually grew larger. Frieren continuously controlled its concentration until it formed an enormous fireball, so huge that even the Going Merry looked like a child's toy beside it.

Like a blazing sun, the soaring flames were incredibly blinding, instantly drawing the eyes of everyone on board.

To avoid affecting the Merry, Reiner had Frieren control it further away, but even so, the intense heat was unavoidable.

It's done! Hahaha! My Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor is complete! Reiner grinned widely.

He couldn't wait for the future moment when he could display his abilities without restraint.

Then I'll turn this template into equipment! This badass display... I'll do it myself!

The giant blazing sun was controlled to slowly sink into the sea. Reiner was using this move... to bomb fish.

"Hey Reiner! Did you do that!?"

"Woahahaha! So cool, Reiner! Quick, make her breathe fire! Breathe fire!"

(End of this chapter)

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