A Fated Encounter

Because of one exceedingly simple promise, the Alabasta royal family's reputation within the Marines returned to its peak. This made King Hisca and King Crete green with envy. While resolving to follow Major Longinus's lead from then on, they decisively joined in as well, turning what had originally been an unremarkable award ceremony into a grand joint investiture for three kingdoms. Even G2 Branch specifically sent someone to call and inquire about the details.

At Hero Square in the Hisca Kingdom, the citizens who had come to witness this grand occasion had already packed the place solid. Reporters from major newspapers had gathered as well, like sharks that had caught the scent of blood.

Because of the scandals exposed about the former King of Alabasta and King Azka, the information released to the public this time was merely that the Black-Clothed Pirate Group had attempted to disrupt the peace by conspiring to assassinate the royal families of four nations during the peace talks. Two kings had even died in the attack. Fortunately, Marine Hero Major Longinus discovered and stopped the pirates' plot in time, snuffing out the disaster before it could take shape.

Stories involving war and peace, pirates and Marines, conspiracies and Justice had always delighted the public. With two kings having died because of it, the citizens and reporters were driven even more frantic.

Seeing this, King Hisca could not help but beam with joy. Hisca possessed the two largest port cities on Lodestar Island, and its wealth was beyond what ordinary nations could imagine. Yet in terms of international influence, the kingdom's capital was not even as famous as those two port cities.

For that very reason, he craved international recognition all the more. Holding this joint investiture for three kingdoms in the Hisca Kingdom was undoubtedly the best chance to make a name for themselves, which was why he spared no effort in organizing it and sought to make this grand event flawless.

"How much longer do we have to wait? I specifically begged my father to dock our merchant ship here just so I could see Major Longinus," a brilliantly dressed young woman said impatiently amid the crowd.

"Mm-hmm. Although these Marines are certainly worthy of admiration, I still choose Major Longinus!" said the exquisite, striking girl with a ponytail beside her, nodding in wholehearted agreement.

"Huh? Did you two come because of Major Longinus too?" A sweet voice sounded behind them. It belonged to a petite girl holding a stack of booklets taller than her head.

"Of course! Ever since Major Longinus saved me from pirates at my most desperate moment a year ago, I swore that I would follow his footsteps to the ends of the world!"

"Y-you were actually saved from pirates by Major Longinus? Damn it, why didn't I have that kind of luck? How wonderful would it have been if I could have had such a romantic experience too!" the ponytailed girl said, consumed by envy.

"Hehe, it was an encounter decreed by fate. If Major Longinus hadn't been the great benefactor of my entire family, my father never would have agreed to a request guaranteed to cost him a huge sum of money!"

"A year ago? Wait a moment." The delicate-looking petite girl cried out in surprise. In a rather adorably absentminded manner, she shoved the booklets in her hands directly onto a young man watching the spectacle nearby, then pulled out the top booklet and quickly flipped through it. "Found it! Here it is. March, Marineford Era 1499. Lieutenant Longinus crushed the Royce Pirate Group, rescuing five merchant ships from pirates, and left behind that famous saying."

Having reached that point, the petite girl took a deep breath and recited in a dramatic cadence, "The problems of this era cannot be solved by orations and resolutions... Only iron and blood can solve these problems."

"That's right, that's right!" the girl said excitedly. "Back then, Major Longinus used those very words to rebuke the kingdom officials who demanded that he not take extreme action. I'll never forget those forceful words of his!"

The ponytailed girl could not help but suck in a cold breath, her gaze at the booklet blazing. "Th-this... could this be the legendary Longinus's Sayings, which records Major Longinus's words, deeds, and accomplishments and can only be obtained within some mysterious circle?"

"Mm-hmm, that's it!" the petite girl said mysteriously. "These are firsthand materials personally compiled by Miss Hina, president of our Longinus Fan Club!"

"Hiss!" The two girls were stirred to the core and spoke in unison. "How much? I'll buy it!"

As soon as the words fell, their unyielding gazes met, as if thunder rumbled and currents collided between them.

"Don't fight over them. These are given away for free so everyone can better support Lord Longinus!" The petite girl skillfully handed each of them a booklet.

"Thank you, thank you!" The two girls held the booklets in their palms as if they were priceless treasures, eagerly drinking in the "knowledge" within.

"Whew! Lord Longinus really does have so many potential fans. The Sayings I brought today might not even be enough!" the petite girl said happily. Then her expression froze, and she repeatedly apologized to the person beside her whom she had used as a bookshelf. "Sorry, sorry. I just put them there without thinking."

The unfortunate man used as a bookshelf was much taller than the girl. That huge stack of booklets had only just reached the top of his head and had not covered his somewhat worn Straw Hat.

"Hahaha, don't worry about it." The man's hearty laughter came from behind the booklets, as though nothing could ever weigh on his mind.

Even so, the girl shyly retrieved the booklets. Only then did she notice the messy red hair beneath the man's Straw Hat.

"Say, could you give me one of those?"

Hm! Major Longinus's charm has already crossed the boundaries of gender? The girl was secretly astonished, but she quickly got into character, took out a booklet, and handed it to him. "Do you support Major Longinus like we do too?"

"Ah? Sorry, but I'm actually a newcomer who just entered the Grand Line from the East Blue. I don't know much about this Major Longinus you keep talking about. I was just curious seeing how much you admire him."

"Oh, oh, then you really should learn more about Major Longinus!" The girl nodded solemnly. "If you can understand the power contained in Major Longinus's words, perhaps one day you can become a Marine Hero like Major Longinus too!"

Watching the girl struggle away with the stack of booklets, the Straw Hat man awkwardly scratched his head. "Become a Marine Hero? Well, I did used to get chased all over the place by Marine Heroes along with my captain."