Freedom: Capone Island

Soon, as Yaen woke up from a comfortable nap in the sea breeze, the Marine Warship had already docked at a port.

"Get up, we're here." Seeing Yaen wake up, Kuzan, who was lying nearby, lazily stretched and stood up.

"Where are we?" Yaen asked, still a bit groggy.

"This island is called Capone Island, the base of the 'Capone Mafia,' one of the four major underground forces in the West Blue."

After a pause, Kuzan added, "Since we're passing by, we might as well round up this Mafia and turn them in to finish the job."

"Mm..."

Yaen rolled over and said, "Then you go ahead, Brother Kuzan. I'll stay here and wait for you to come back."

"You're not going? Didn't you say you were very interested in the Mafia?" Kuzan said, somewhat surprised.

"I think I found my dream in my dream just now, so I need to go see her again. Compared to the Mafia, that matter is more urgent." Yaen waved his hand in refusal.

Kuzan.

It was obvious that Yaen was purely making excuses; he simply didn't want to leave the ship to avoid earning any merit.

However...

Kuzan grabbed Yaen and hoisted him up, saying, "Yaen, that won't do. This Mafia was prepared for you. If the protagonist doesn't show up, aren't you giving me a bit of a hard time?"

The corner of Yaen's mouth twitched slightly as he asked, "Brother Kuzan, you aren't actually trying to force the credit for wiping out the Mafia onto me, are you?"

"What do you mean 'force'?"

A smile tugged at Kuzan's face as he said, "I received a report from a concerned citizen named Tefimer Yaen, stating that the Capone Mafia is running rampant in these waters and causing great destruction to the lives of many civilians. Subsequently, with the assistance of Tefimer Yaen, the Navy uprooted the entire Mafia."

After a pause, Kuzan looked at Yaen, whose expression was gradually stiffening, and said, "So, whether you get off the ship or not, it's actually the same. This credit is already yours, so you might as well come along with me."

"I... I didn't report anything," Yaen tried hard to clarify.

"No, you did. I, Kuzan, can testify to it. Admiral Sengoku even has your signed report on file," Kuzan replied.

!!!

Yaen.

A report? And a real-name report at that? When on earth did I ever write something like this?

Besides, in this day and age, who would dare to file a real-name report so easily?

It's fake. It has to be fake. That old man, that bastard, must have found someone to forge my handwriting.

"Kuzan, you are slandering me!" Yaen said, his tone filled with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Yaen, you should save that line for Admiral Sengoku. I'm just following orders," Kuzan replied.

"This doesn't follow protocol! This is forgery and claiming credit for someone else's work—that's a serious crime. I want to be a good person, don't force me," Yaen struggled to argue.

"How can you call this forgery or claiming credit?" Kuzan said, suppressing a laugh.

"You, Yaen, were single-mindedly determined to eliminate the Capone Mafia that was plaguing the region, but since you are merely a civilian, you specifically entrusted the report to your adoptive father, who has a certain status and connections within the Navy, to submit it on your behalf. This is all in accordance with the procedure for claiming merit."

Hearing this, Yaen felt a headache coming on, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

That damn old man actually went this far? And this isn't just 'a certain status and connections'—this is being well-connected enough to reach the heavens.

"You know it, so just get off the ship with me. At the very least, this is the Mafia organization you were quite interested in," Kuzan urged again.

Immediately, Yaen was grabbed by the hand by Kuzan and dragged all the way toward the port.

"Wait..."

Seeing that it was difficult to persuade Kuzan with logic, Yaen hurriedly played the emotional card.

"Big Brother Kuzan, it's not like you don't know me. I really don't want to earn any merit. With my frail body, I can barely manage as a Navy handyman. If I were to hold a high position, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to protect my subordinates."

"Besides, we've drunk together, slept in the same bed, and carried rifles together. Just pretend you never found Capone Island."

"Wait, wait, I'm really starting to feel sick. I might have a disease where I get dizzy the moment I step on an island..."

Unfortunately, Kuzan remained unmoved. His pace didn't falter in the slightest, and he simply replied.

"Yaen, once I finish this task, Admiral Sengoku will let bygones be bygones regarding the fight between me and Sakazuki."

Yaen shouted in a tone of utter disappointment, "Kuzan, even a thick-browed, big-eyed guy like you has turned traitor? That old man offered you such a small benefit, and you're already selling out a friend like me?"

"It's not about the benefit. Obedience to orders is the sacred duty of the Navy," Kuzan said lazily, sounding completely unconvincing.

Sometimes, when you can't resist, you just have to accept it.

This island, known as Capone Island, had an overall style that leaned toward an American aesthetic. The crowds seen along the way were mostly dressed in black suits with serious expressions, giving off a "keep your distance" vibe.

What was important was...

Yaen's eyes darted left and right, and he could always see obvious bulges in certain places on these people.

Guns!

Almost everyone was carrying a handgun.

At the entrance to the town stood a sign that read: "Freedom Town." Beside it was a small supplementary note.

"This is the freest place in the entire ocean. Even the air is filled with a sweet scent. Additionally, the best gun shop on the island is three hundred meters ahead, turn right."

Yaen looked back and forth several times before he finally realized what it was, saying in shock, "Is this... an advertisement?"

"Who knows?" Kuzan said lazily, continuing to walk into the town.

The next moment...

"Rat-tat-tat-tat!!"

A burst of gunfire erupted ahead, but the pedestrians on the street acted as if they were accustomed to it, calmly ducking for cover nearby without a hint of panic.

For a moment, this left Yaen and Kuzan, who were standing right in front of the town entrance, exposed.

However, soon after, two crisp "bang-bang" shots rang out, and the incessant "rat-tat-tat" gunfire came to an abrupt halt.

The pedestrians who had taken cover on both sides of the street brushed off their clothes one after another and went back to their business as if nothing had happened.

"As expected of an island where the Mafia is stationed; such elegant and refined folk customs!" Yaen's mouth twitched slightly as he spoke.

"Interesting," Kuzan remarked as well.

Then, Kuzan and Yaen, both dressed in plain black clothes, quickly blended into the town and continued walking forward.

Along the way, Yaen looked left and right. The buildings on both sides of the street were riddled with bullet holes, seemingly a testament to the freedom here.

Before long, a large pool of bright red blood appeared on the ground, and several men in black suits were busy cleaning the pavement with clear division of labor.