Friends of Fire Fist, Rushing to the Town

"Go to hell!!"

With a roar, Captain 'Milton' Milton, with a bounty of 75 million, wildly swung his heavy Big Saber. The wind from the blade condensed into a fierce and steely aura and pressure, pressing heavily towards the petite figure! Long cracks were cleaved in mid-air on the deck, so fierce and ruthless that the onlookers in the navy held their breath.

Milton, with a bounty of 75 million Beli, may not have the same bounty as 'Plague' Wilson, who was instantly killed by the White Knight, but unlike Wilson, who relied on his Devil Fruit ability and was powerless against Roman's puppets, Milton is a true swordsman.

Having spent over a decade battling on the high seas Wilson wielded his Big Saber with formidable skill, displaying impressive power and speed, making him a formidable opponent. He wielded it with ease, mastering both Iron Cutting and wielding sword energy. However:

His opponent was the petite Isca, who skillfully used the Rokushiki, "Shave" and "Geppo," to counter Milton's fierce attacks! She moved about like a streak of light, her saber flashing with barely perceptible light as she swung it!

If Milton's Saber Technique is a savage art born from slaughter, then Isca's is a refined swordsmanship passed down through wisdom.

The two fought with contrasting speed and strength, one fast and the other slow, leaving most of the pirate ship's deck in ruins. The observing marines couldn't immediately discern the winner! However, the fact that bloodstains appeared on the ground while Isca's snow-white coat remained intact highlighted this point:

Clang!

As expected, after a fierce exchange, both men retreated. The towering pirate captain Milton sized up the unharmed Isca, ignoring the wounds all over his body, licked his lips, and chuckled:

"I never thought the Navy had such a cold and beautiful woman. But wait until I strip you naked, then let's see if you can still put on that sour face!"

"That damned guy!"

As Nami clenched her fists, preparing to give the rude pirate a "Professor Yang's Kiss," Roman pulled her back.

"Look closely: that captain's words are lewd, but his eyes are still cold. He's obviously using a trick." Roman analyzed seriously for Nami. "Fighting isn't something you can just do by rushing forward on a whim. Even Luffy is constantly looking for the enemy's weaknesses and flaws in battle."

"Don't underestimate this kind of underhanded tactic; as long as it's effective, it's a good tactic."

In the 'normal' world, during the recent Marineford War, Ace lost his life due to a few words from Akainu.

Don't underestimate the power of words! Righteous people use them to Turn Enemies into Friends; wicked people use them to sway and provoke. Just like now—

"Roar!!!"

Just as Isca frowned, a thunderous roar exploded! It felt as if the surrounding navy had been struck by an invisible giant hammer, their heads buzzing! At the same time, 'Milton' Milton charged forward and kicked, sending the damaged deck flying towards Isca in a dense barrage of wood chips.

Puff puff puff,

The dense wood chips rained down on the young colonel like bullets, causing her to instinctively shield her eyes with one hand. At the same time, two lines of blood trickled down her ears.

Hearing and sight were both taken away!

In that instant, Milton, who had rushed in front of her, changed his previous fierce and violent style with his Big Saber. He silently bypassed Isca's saber that was blocking his way and slashed at the girl's smooth neck in an arc.

Succeed--

Click,

?!!

In a flash, Milton, who was overjoyed, abruptly stopped his Big Saber. The blade was pressed against the beautiful lieutenant colonel's neck, but he couldn't go any further! Because:

"Good tactics and Saber Technique."

A hand ignored the sharp blade, firmly gripping his Big Saber between his five fingers, as if it were cast in steel and could not be shaken!

Brush,

Another blur, and the figure gripping his Big Saber vanished abruptly. A jolt ran down the back of his head, and Milton collapsed limply onto the deck. His last thought:

This is a bamboo shoot steal! What kind of colonel is this?!

Thump!

"Clean up the battlefield and set sail again."

After giving orders to the surrounding navy, Roman looked at Isca, whose body was covered in splinters and whose ears were bleeding.

"Next time you encounter an enemy provoking you, stay calm. There won't always be someone to help you—"

Bang!

A fist slammed into Roman's face, causing Borgin and the others to gasp. However:

"Such a soft fist, haven't you eaten?"

Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder he's the boss.

Seeing Roman remain unfazed after taking a punch from 'Second Lieutenant An,' the Marines continued cleaning up the battlefield without a second glance. As for their superior's personal troubles? Heh heh heh, underestimating our captain, don't you? His skin can withstand swords and blades; a mere punch is just a joke...

"Roman, Isca is injured, and you're still making such sarcastic remarks."

Nami helped the beautiful lieutenant colonel up, and despite her words that she was "fine," Nami insisted on helping her back to the warship for treatment, prompting Roman to gently shake his head.

Ah, women.

"Thank you, Second Lieutenant An."

Lying in the officer's cabin, the beautiful girl, who had taken off her naval uniform, let Nami use tools to pull out the splinters stuck in her skin. This 'open and honest' interaction made Isca had been acting very coldly, blush and thank Nami.

"There's no need to thank me. There are only two girls on the ship. If I get injured in the future, you must help me get treatment."

"Also, could you please not include military ranks? It feels really awkward."

Nami can't switch between different factions without batting an eye like Roman does, and she always mentions her naval rank when someone calls her name—it's so incongruous!

"I'll call you Isca, and you can call me Na... An."

The girl with short, orange-red hair nodded seriously in response to Nami's words.

"Okay, peace."

"However, shouldn't Colonel Roman treat your injury?"

Faced with Isca's question, Nami sighed helplessly.

"Don't even mention it. Roman's motto is: 'When in doubt, use the Devil Fruit.' Any problem that can be solved with Devil Fruit ability isn't a problem. And his numerous abilities just allow him to do that..."

"He sounds like a very reliable man,"

"Certainly--?"

Nami suddenly became alert and was about to assert her dominance as the "official wife" when the beautiful girl lying on the boat turned pale.

"I once met a man like that, but unfortunately..."

Why?

Why did you refuse the invitation from the Shichibukai?

Why refuse Vice Admiral Garp? Can't you just be a Marine?

Is 'freedom' really worth sacrificing everything, including life, including... me...?

Um?

"When did you two become best friends?"

Roman tilted his head, looking at Nami, who was wearing his colonel's cloak and chattering away while holding Isca's hand. The originally aloof lieutenant colonel was infected by Nami's cheerfulness and slowly began to smile. However:

Didn't you seem to dislike the other person a while ago? What happened in such a short time?

"Go away, we're talking about girls' stuff, what are you doing sticking your head in here?"

!?

"I'm not Luffy... Never mind, whatever makes you happy."

A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.

The ancients were right!

"Boruru Boruru Boruru ~~!!"

?

This time, it wasn't Roman's Den Den Mushi Paper ringing, but the Den Den Mushi on the ship making a request to connect! Borgin had already walked over, picked up the Den Den Mushi, and was walking towards Roman while answering the call.

"Hello, this is the Team 211, currently on a maritime patrol mission—"

"No matter who you are!"

"This is Valencia Town! We're under attack by pirates!!"

A series of words came out rapidly from the Den Den Mushi.

"The enemy is extremely powerful. Navy personnel are requested to provide immediate support! Please receive this message—Ah!!"

After a scream, the Den Den Mushi was silent for a few seconds, then a flippant voice came through.

"Hey, is someone really coming here to die?"

"No way, no way, I'm—"

Click,

As Roman stood up, took the receiver, and placed it directly on the Den Den Mushi, many eyes fell on him.

"Why are you still looking at me?"

"Full speed ahead to Valencia Town!"

"Yes!"

As the numerous naval personnel busied themselves, Roman stretched his shoulders. —Saving lives is urgent; it's time to go all out!

Snap,

Roman, crouching down, slapped his hands on the deck, and layers of paper spread out like waves, quickly enveloping the warship. This significantly increased its defense and resistance, while he turned to look at Nami beside him.

"Install!"

"Hmm," Nami understood Roman's meaning with just a glance, and after observing the Eternal Pose that Borgin had sent (the Marine warship were equipped with a large number of Eternal Pose from the surrounding islands), Nami opened the book in her hand.

"On your marks, hold on tight!"

?

"We need to start accelerating!"

??

As Nami simultaneously activated 'Sasa Pages' and 'Thunder-Thunder Page', the sky behind the warship was rapidly churned into a dark vortex. A massive tornado then slowly descended, and gales and giant waves began to appear on the sea. The marines on board were visibly shaken.

"Sister-in-law... Second Lieutenant An, what you mean by 'hold on tight' wouldn't happen to be—"

With a livid face, Borgin pointed to the tornado behind the warship, momentarily at a loss for words.

"That's right, we're going to race on the boat!"

With a powerful wave of her hand, Nami unleashed a raging storm and surging waves from behind, propelling the warship beneath her feet to accelerate rapidly.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

Tears streaming down their faces, the sailors clung desperately to anything around them that could hold them in place; this method of 'traveling' shattered their worldview, leaving them questioning the meaning of life. Meanwhile, ahead on the deck:

Hahaha, hahahaha~~~

Nami, arms outstretched in the strong wind, looked on with enjoyment. "As expected, this familiar speed is the most reassuring~"

That's just how wild the Straw Hat crew's way of traveling is.

We're worried!

Under the silent gaze of Borgin, who stood at attention with his back bent, and Isca, whose saber was stuck in the deck, Roman leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest. This earned him the utmost respect from the Marines (physically).

As expected of the boss, only the boss can enjoy such a tough woman.

Regardless, propelled by the raging waves, the warship reached several times its normal speed, hurtling towards Valencia Town like an arrow shot from a bow!

P. S.: I was urgently pulled into doing manual labor today, so the update is late. —This isn't a hiatus... Also, readers who have free time can post some pictures (any doodles are fine) in the 'fan art' section of the book review area to help boost the popularity score!