The Celestial Dragons' Hunt

Zephyr's special training was tougher than Lin Yuan had imagined.

At five in the morning, on the training ground.

"The foundation of Shave is stomping the ground more than ten times in an instant." Zephyr folded his arms. "You did well in your last assessment, but that was just speed. Real Shave requires explosive power."

Lin Yuan nodded.

His "Shave" was a trick he had pulled off with the Door-Door Fruit. But he knew that sooner or later, he would need real physical techniques to complement his Devil Fruit ability.

He couldn't rely on cheating forever.

"Watch closely."

Zephyr tapped the ground lightly with his right foot and vanished. The next second, he appeared ten meters away.

Lin Yuan's pupils narrowed slightly.

This was Shave at the level of a Marine Admiral. Silent, traceless, and so fast that even Observation Haki could hardly track it.

"Your turn."

Lin Yuan took a deep breath and stomped hard with his right foot.

"Bang!"

The ground cracked, but he moved less than two meters forward.

"Too slow." Zephyr shook his head. "You're stomping hard enough, but not fast enough. Shave isn't about force. It's about technique."

Lin Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and kept practicing.

He wasn't in a hurry.

His Door-Door Fruit was still developing. It was too early to expose it now. Every extra day he spent in the Marines was another day he could learn.

More importantly, he needed a "reasonable" reason to leave.

Not because he wanted to go, but because the Marines forced him out.

Two

A week later.

Lin Yuan was assigned to a patrol fleet headed to the South Blue on a mission.

The fleet commander was a rear admiral named Tanaka, a fairly upright man.

"Lin Yuan, Instructor Zephyr mentioned you to me specifically." Rear Admiral Tanaka looked at him. "You'll stay with me on this mission."

"Yes, sir."

The fleet set sail.

Lin Yuan stood on the deck, watching Marine Headquarters recede into the distance as he silently calculated the timeline.

Sea Circle Calendar, year 1472.

Twelve years until God Valley.

Seven years until the Rocks Pirates were wiped out... maybe?

He couldn't quite remember. He had memorized the timeline of the original story, but some details had begun to blur after he transmigrated.

But there was one thing he remembered clearly—

Every year, the Celestial Dragons held a "Hunting Game" in a non-affiliated nation.

And the fleet he was with had been sent to "escort and protect" the Hunting Game.

Three

Five days later.

The fleet arrived at a small, nameless island in the South Blue.

Several hundred civilian households lived on the island, making their living by fishing. They weren't part of the World Government Member States, so they had no protection, no rights, and even being allowed to live was a gift.

Because they could become the Celestial Dragons' prey at any moment.

"Lin Yuan." Rear Admiral Tanaka called to him. "Come ashore with me."

The two men landed on the island.

When the islanders saw the Marines, relief spread across their faces. An old man stepped forward and asked shakily, "Sir, does this mean... they're not holding it this year?"

Rear Admiral Tanaka was silent for a few seconds. Then he said, "I'm sorry."

The old man's face turned ashen in an instant.

Lin Yuan watched without saying a word.

He had long known what this world was like. But knowing and seeing it with his own eyes were two different things.

Four

Three days later.

The Celestial Dragons' luxury cruise ship docked.

A group of Celestial Dragons wearing bubble helmets and crescent-white robes disembarked, followed by a large contingent of CP Agents and Marine guards.

Their gazes swept over the island's civilians as though they were livestock awaiting slaughter.

"The goods are pretty good this year," a fat Celestial Dragon said with a grin. "Better than last year."

"Fufufufu... I want that young one."

"I saw that one first!"

The Celestial Dragons laughed and chatted as though they were picking out merchandise.

Lin Yuan stood in the ranks, his face expressionless.

His right hand was in his pocket, his fingertips rubbing lightly together. If he wanted to, he could open a door and take everyone away at any moment.

But he couldn't.

It wasn't that he lacked the ability. He couldn't do it.

The time wasn't right.

He was just a lowly Marine recruit, with no power base and no resources. He hadn't even fully developed his Devil Fruit ability.

If he acted now, he and the civilians would all die.

Lin Yuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Heh heh heh..." He gave a low chuckle, so quiet that only he could hear it.

"Just wait."

Five

The hunt lasted three days.

Of the island's more than four hundred civilian households, fewer than half survived.

Lin Yuan stood on the perimeter the entire time, watching the Celestial Dragons laugh as they killed, the civilians cry out as they fled for their lives, and the Marine soldiers "maintain order" without a flicker of expression.

His gaze remained calm throughout.

He wasn't numb. He was keeping score.

Sooner or later, he would settle this score.

As the fleet sailed back, Rear Admiral Tanaka stood at the bow, looking out at the sea. Suddenly, he spoke. "Lin Yuan, do you think we're bastards?"

Lin Yuan didn't answer.

"I think so too." Tanaka gave a self-mocking smile. "But that's the Marines. We're the face of the World Government. Whatever they tell us to do, we have to do it."

Lin Yuan still said nothing.

He didn't need to.

His actions would say it all.

Six

After returning to headquarters, Lin Yuan was summoned by Zephyr.

"How did the mission go?" Zephyr asked.

Lin Yuan gave an honest report, including the Celestial Dragons' actions.

Zephyr's expression darkened. It wasn't that he didn't know. He just didn't want to hear it.

"What are you thinking?" Zephyr stared at him.

Lin Yuan raised his head and met Zephyr's gaze.

"Instructor, what exactly are the Marines protecting?"

Zephyr fell silent.

After a long while, he said, "The people who should be protected."

"What about the civilians on that island today?" Lin Yuan pressed. "Should they be protected?"

Zephyr didn't answer.

Lin Yuan hadn't expected him to. He only wanted Zephyr to know that he was no longer the recruit who did nothing but obey orders.

"Dismissed." Zephyr waved him away.

Lin Yuan turned and left.

As he walked out of the training ground, his lips slowly curved into a subtle smile.

"Heh heh heh..."

Soon.

(End of Chapter 2)