"If there wasn't a warship headed to Impel Down today, then I might as well teleport over there.
"Though the chances of being discovered would be higher..."
Early in the morning, as Marineford gradually came alive with activity, Austin made a silent decision at a breakfast stall on a residential street.
After dinner last night, Austin had nowhere to go, so he used Observation Haki to scan the officers' district and found the home of an unmarried rear admiral who was away on assignment, staying there for the night.
Who would have thought?
In Marine Headquarters Marineford, where the Navy's elite from all over the world gathered, a pirate with a bounty exceeding one billion was openly living here.
It was quite the case of hiding in plain sight.
Austin sampled his breakfast.
But soon, two fairly powerful auras appeared nearby within his Observation Haki, and one of them was rapidly approaching.
What was going on?
Had he been discovered?
Austin kept his expression calm and quietly ate his wontons. At least on the surface, he looked like nothing more than a somewhat tall and handsome passerby.
Today, to avoid being repeatedly greeted by the rank-and-file soldiers, he had deliberately not worn that Marine coat and had even changed his outfit.
Yesterday, he had gone out so ostentatiously and hadn't been suspected.
Yet today, when he was keeping such a low profile, he had immediately been found out?
Austin was somewhat puzzled. He calmly swallowed the last wonton, and at the same time, a strange red light flashed in his eyes.
So that was it.
"Excuse me, sir. May I take a look at the sword on you?"
A voice sounded behind Austin. He slowly turned around.
The speaker was a woman with black long hair. Of course, the first thing to catch Austin's attention was naturally her pair of long, fair, bare legs.
A black spider tattoo was inked on her left thigh, adding a touch of contrast and wild beauty.
Judging purely by appearance, based on Austin's months of experience in the Red-Light District, she was at least on par with the top girls under Sammy.
And with that Marine cape behind her, she gained a few more points.
An evil pirate battling a beautiful Marine of justice?
Austin's thoughts drifted off course. The next time he saw Sammy, he could suggest she open this new service.
It would definitely make a fortune!
As long as she wasn't afraid of the Marines coming after her...
But seriously, Austin really did know the female Marine officer before him.
Marine Rear Admiral—Gion.
Austin appreciatively looked over her impressive figure, then shifted his gaze toward the person behind her...
Then he withdrew his gaze without the slightest interest.
"Hey!!! You bastard, that look of disgust was way too obvious!!!"
Tokikake was clearly furious at that look.
On top of that, even with sunglasses on, this guy's face was obviously ridiculously handsome, making Tokikake feel a sudden sense of crisis. He bared his teeth and claws as he roared.
"Tokikake!!!"
Gion called out unhappily, and he immediately behaved himself.
She then turned her gaze back to Austin.
"My apologies, sir. Please forgive my companion's rudeness. I merely wished to take a look at the sword you carry."
"This one?"
Seeing that they did not seem to have recognized him, Austin breathed a sigh of relief while silently marveling that a simple change of clothes could make people fail to recognize someone. It worked everywhere.
It was not really Gion and Tokikake's fault for being face-blind. Ever since Austin had fought aboard the Roger Pirates and had his Wanted Poster made, he had rarely shown his face in public.
During the later stages of their voyage, in the few major clashes between the Roger Pirates and the Marines, Austin had simply been the one firing Black Spear shots from the shadows and ambushing people.
He had used his sword only a handful of times, so he had never attracted much attention. In fact, he was now still a Great Swordsman.
Several years had passed, and Austin's height had shot up dramatically. His temperament had also changed greatly from before.
If he was not wearing that black military uniform and carrying that iconic Black Spear on his back, who would associate a man over two meters tall with that child who had once been barely over a meter tall?
That was right.
To travel inconspicuously, Austin had specifically brought a change of clothes and sunglasses this time.
He had not even brought the Black Spear that Master Bitam had given him as a symbol of his identity, carrying only his longsword and some Beli.
On the seas, many people could recognize someone in a military uniform carrying a black sword and Black Spear.
But almost no one could recognize a sunglasses-wearing man in a trench coat with a sword at his waist.
Watching the two of them utterly fail to recognize him, Austin felt that changing clothes last night had not been a waste.
What he had gambled on was that with so many people in Marineford, these officers could not possibly know every single one of them.
And the facts were exactly as he expected.
"I got this by chance. Do you recognize this sword?"
Austin asked. Under Tokikake's wary gaze, he generously handed the sword to her. In any case, he was confident he could snatch it back immediately.
"Yes!" Gion did not notice Tokikake's strange behavior beside her. After taking the sword, she examined it carefully. "That's right, it truly is one of the Great Grade Swords, Nether Raven Shadow!!!"
"This sword was once the sidearm of a Marine Headquarters rear admiral. However, after encountering the Roger Pirates in the New World, that rear admiral and Shadow both vanished. I never expected to see it here!"
"Where did you obtain it?" Gion asked seriously.
Fortunately, like most people, Gion instinctively believed that no pirate would dare swagger into Marineford, so she did not suspect Austin's identity.
Uh...
Austin scratched his head. He could hardly say that he had cut down some rear admiral with a single slash and simply claimed the sword afterward.
"This was purchased from a merchant I happened to meet."
That was a lie.
"I see..." But Gion clearly accepted the explanation. After all, so many years had passed, and it could have ended up anywhere.
After hesitating for a moment, she pursed her lips and made a request of the man before her.
"I have an unreasonable request!"
Gion suddenly stepped forward and directly grabbed Austin's hand, speaking with conviction as her entire body pressed against his. She looked exceedingly sincere, her large eyes fixed on the sunglasses on Austin's face.
"I hope you can sell me the longsword in your possession. After all, it was the weapon of a Hero who sacrificed himself for justice!"
She tried to move him with love and morality. Since he was a resident of Marineford, he would surely understand, right?
"Don't do this, Gion. You're too close to him!" Seeing this scene, Tokikake nearly gritted his teeth to pieces. Yet he could only worry helplessly and persuade her from the side.
Damn!!!
If he had not been a Marine officer, with military discipline forbidding him from laying hands on ordinary Marineford residents, he would have pulled this brat away immediately.
Damn! I'm so jealous!!!
As for Austin, the protagonist, there was not the slightest hint of emotion in his eyes.
As Gion's delicate body drew close, and the two faintly visible white mounds before her chest came into view, he showed no reaction at all.
Even beneath his sunglasses, his eyes did not blink once.
You think you can buy my treasured battle trophy with just a few words?
Do I look like an idiot to you?
Austin had long since enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh. Even though he was currently at an age of youthful vigor, he still had an extremely high resistance to beautiful women.
It had all been honed through one dragon after another.
"Sorry, this is part of my private collection. The Marines wouldn't force someone into a sale, would they?"
"...Of course not, but..."
"Not for sale."
Before you continue