Evil Pirate Play with Beautiful Marine

"If there are no warships heading to Impel Down today, I'll just warp there myself.

Though the chances of being discovered will increase..."

As dawn broke and Marineford began to stir with a growing liveliness, Austin made a quiet decision at a breakfast stall on a main street in the residential area.

After dinner last night, having nowhere else to go, Austin used his Observation Haki to scan the officer's district and found the home of a single Commodore who was out on a mission. He ended up staying there for the night.

Who would have thought?

In Marineford, the Marine Headquarters where the world's naval elites gathered, a pirate with a bounty over a billion could openly live there.

He supposed it was a case of "playing the fool in plain sight."

Austin savored his breakfast.

However, soon, within his Observation Haki, two powerful auras appeared nearby, with one rapidly approaching.

What's going on?

Have I been discovered?

Austin's expression remained unchanged as he quietly ate his wontons. On the surface, he appeared to be just a tall, handsome passerby.

Today, to avoid being greeted by the soldiers again, he had deliberately left his Marine coat behind and changed his attire.

He had been so conspicuous yesterday and wasn't suspected, but today, being so low-key, he was immediately discovered?

Austin was puzzled. He finished the last bite of his wontons with a calm demeanor, and at the same time, a strange red light flashed in his eyes.

So that's how it is.

"Excuse me, sir, may I see the sword you're carrying?"

A voice sounded from behind Austin. He slowly turned his head.

The speaker was a woman with long black hair. Of course, what first caught Austin's eye were her long, fair legs, exposed for all to see.

A black spider tattoo on her left thigh added a touch of contrast and wild beauty.

Judging by her appearance alone, based on Austin's experience of frequenting red-light districts for months, her level was comparable to the top courtesans under Sammy.

Adding the Marine cloak on her back only enhanced her allure.

A battle between an evil pirate and a righteous, beautiful Marine?

Austin's thoughts wandered. He could suggest to Sammy that she introduce this new attraction next time he saw her.

It would surely be a huge profit!

As long as they weren't afraid of the Marines showing up...

But seriously, this female Marine general in front of him was someone he actually knew.

Marine Commodore -- Gion.

Austin appreciatively took in her impressive figure before shifting his gaze to the figure behind her...

And then indifferently withdrew his gaze.

"Hey!!! You bastard, your look of disdain is way too obvious!!!"

Tokikake was clearly infuriated by that glance.

Furthermore, seeing Austin's incredibly handsome face, even with sunglasses on, instilled a sense of crisis in him, causing him to roar and flail.

"Tokikake!"

Gion called out displeasedly, and he immediately quieted down.

She then turned her attention back to Austin.

"I apologize, sir. Please forgive my companion's rudeness. I merely wished to see the sword you carry."

"This one?"

Seeing that they didn't seem to recognize him, Austin breathed a sigh of relief, while also marveling inwardly that a simple change of clothes could make him unrecognizable – a trick that worked anywhere.

In truth, it wasn't entirely Gion and Tokikake's fault for being bad at recognizing faces. Ever since Austin's wanted poster was taken after a battle on the Roger Pirates' ship, he had rarely appeared in public.

During the later stages of their voyage, in the few major engagements the Roger Pirates had with the Marines, Austin had purely acted as a sneaky, underhanded mole.

He had used his sword only a handful of times, so he hadn't been particularly noticed. He was, in fact, still a Great Swordsman.

Years had passed, and Austin's height had shot up dramatically. His demeanor had also changed significantly compared to before.

If he didn't wear that black uniform and carry the iconic Black Gun on his back, who would connect a man over two meters tall with the child he once was, who was barely over one meter?

Yes.

To travel discreetly, Austin had specifically brought along a change of clothes and sunglasses this time.

He hadn't even brought the Black Gun, a symbol of his identity, gifted to him by Master Bitam. He only carried his long sword and some Belly.

On the sea, many people could recognize someone in a Marine uniform carrying a Black Blade and a Black Gun.

But very few would recognize a man in a trench coat, with a sword at his waist and sunglasses.

Seeing that the two couldn't recognize him at all, Austin felt that changing his clothes last night wasn't a waste.

His gamble was that with so many people in Marineford, it was impossible for every single officer to know him.

And as he expected, "I obtained this by chance. Do you recognize this sword?"

Austin asked, and under Gion's wary gaze, he generously handed the sword to her. He was confident he could snatch it back immediately anyway.

"Yes!" Gion, not noticing Tokikake's unusual behavior next to her, carefully examined the sword after taking it. "That's right, it's indeed one of the Great Grade Swords (21), Nether Raven Shadow!!!"

"This sword once belonged to a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral. However, after encountering the Roger Pirates in the New World, that Rear Admiral went missing along with this Shadow. I never expected to see it here!"

"Where did you get it?" Gion asked earnestly.

Fortunately, Gion, like most people, subconsciously believed it was impossible for pirates to openly appear in Marineford, so she didn't suspect Austin's identity.

Uh...

Austin scratched his head. He couldn't exactly say he had killed that Rear Admiral with a single blow and then confiscated the sword, could he?

"I bought it from a merchant I met by chance."

This was a lie.

"I see..." But Gion clearly accepted this explanation. After all, so many years had passed, and it was possible it had traveled anywhere.

After a moment of hesitation, she pursed her lips and made a request to the man before her.

"I have an impertinent request!"

Gion suddenly stepped forward, directly taking Austin's hand. She spoke earnestly, pressing her entire body against him, appearing extremely sincere, her large eyes fixed on the sunglasses on Austin's face.

"I still hope to buy the long sword you have. After all, it's the sword of a hero who sacrificed for justice!"

She tried to influence him with love and morality. After all, he was a resident of Marineford, and surely he would understand.

"Don't do that, Gion, you're too close!" Tokikake's teeth were grinding seeing this scene, but he could only fret helplessly and tried to persuade her from the side.

Damn it!!!

If it weren't for the military discipline that prevented Marine generals from attacking ordinary residents of Marineford, he would have pulled this kid away right now.

Damn it! I'm so jealous!!!

As for the protagonist, Austin, there wasn't a trace of emotion in his eyes at this moment.

He showed no reaction to Gion's proximity, nor to the faint outline of two white mounds that appeared on her chest.

He didn't even blink under his sunglasses.

As if! You think you can buy my spoils of war with just a few words?

Do I look like an idiot to you?

Having already experienced the tenderness of women, Austin, despite being in his adolescence, still had a high immunity to beauties.

He had trained himself through "one dragon after another."

"Sorry, this is my private collection. The Marines wouldn't force a sale, would they?"

"...Of course not, but..."

"I'm not selling."