"Close one."
Blending into the crowd, Luo Yi watched as a squad of Marine soldiers from the patrol unit responsible for maintaining order in Marineford stormed toward the site of the battle.
Luo Yi silently sighed in relief.
If he got caught, the fine alone would be enough to make him work an entire month for nothing. On top of that, he would be confined for at least half a month.
"Not being able to drink cola for half a month? That's terrifying."
As for Smoker, who Hina had left behind, Luo Yi had no interest in worrying about him. Judging by the expensive cigars the smoker wore across his chest every day, he probably wasn't short on money anyway.
As for the confinement...
"Hopefully they'll lock that guy up for a little longer. Otherwise, he'll definitely come and cause me trouble again."
"Justice. No matter how grandly it's put, it's essentially just being the World Government and Celestial Dragons' dog. Who cares about that sort of thing?"
Thinking this, Luo Yi crossed Oris Plaza and entered the Marine Headquarters' high-rise building, Tenshukaku.
That was right.
Luo Yi certainly didn't hate Smoker. Although he had initially approached Smoker for his Devil Fruit Ability...
During their Marine training, he had genuinely come to acknowledge Smoker as a friend.
What Smoker had said—that years ago, they had once chased pirates across a sea region to retrieve a young girl's mother's life-saving money—was indeed true.
But as Luo Yi had said...
That had nothing to do with the "justice" the Marines constantly preached and worshiped.
"The poor girl's father died young, her mother had been sick for years, and she was blind herself. She'd relied on aid from the village and the money she painstakingly saved by sewing small clothes every day. And those damn pirates still had the heart to rob her. Who could stand by and watch that?"
Luo Yi didn't consider himself some great saint.
But as a transmigrator, he still possessed the basic conscience he had developed before coming to this world.
There was no doubt, however, that what he considered basic conscience was already exceedingly rare in this world.
Smoker had acknowledged him because of that incident. From then on, he regarded him as a friend and recognized his "justice."
In truth, however, Luo Yi's attitude toward the Marines was exactly as he had just thought.
He had been in the Marines for many years, so of course he knew that there was no shortage of truly kind and righteous warriors among them.
But that could not change the fact that the Marines themselves were part of the World Government—and that supreme organization ruling the world was precisely the most rotten part of it.
Luo Yi had never intended to be a dog for the Celestial Dragons, so naturally, he did not truly believe in the so-called justice of the Marines.
Of course, the pirates were the same. Luo Yi didn't deny that there might be some pirates on the seas of this world who could be called heroes.
But the fact was that most of the pirates who went to sea during the so-called Great Pirate Era were nothing but pure scum.
Luo Yi disliked both the Marines and pirates, and he had no intention of truly joining either side.
His position regarding the Marines was simple.
The Marines were merely the company where he hid himself, found shelter, and obtained Devil Fruit Abilities.
As for the Detention Unit, it was a "key department" he would never leave as long as he remained in the Marines.
"Still, Smoker was right about one thing: freedom really is important."
"There are quite a few Ability Users whose locations I know, but right now, I'm restricted by Headquarters' rules and have no chance to obtain their abilities."
At that thought, Luo Yi wore a troubled expression.
At its core, this problem was just like his urgent need for Belly. He would have to leave the Marines or the Detention Unit to solve it, but he couldn't leave the Detention Unit right now.
"What a hassle..."
Luo Yi sighed.
"Hahahaha! You actually have things you find troublesome too? How unusual!"
But at that moment, a bold laugh reached Luo Yi's ears.
Before he knew it, Luo Yi had arrived at an office.
The office door was tightly shut, and the laughter was coming from inside.
"Old man, are you using Observation Haki to eavesdrop again?"
Luo Yi helplessly said this before pushing open the office door.
The office was simply furnished: a desk with black tea and skewers of dango, a chair, and a large pile of newspapers and wanted posters.
In front of the desk, a muscular old man was happily eating dango.
He wore a Marine cloak over a shirt. The scars covering his body and the medals on his uniform were enough to show the countless death matches he had endured.
"Hahaha! I'm about to die of boredom in this place. Without gossip every day, it's hard to pass the time!"
Hearing Luo Yi's words, he chuckled.
"Using Observation Haki to eavesdrop at Headquarters is expressly forbidden!"
Luo Yi rolled his eyes, but he also knew that the warning was useless against this old man.
That was because this old man was his direct superior, the Division Vice Admiral in charge of the Marine Detention Unit, Billoss.
This Vice Admiral's name had never appeared in the plot Luo Yi knew, but he had extremely senior credentials. He was a veteran who had joined the Marines during the same period as Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Marine Hero Garp, and the others, and he had experienced countless battles throughout his life.
His combat strength had declined with age, so he had been transferred to the Detention Unit to enjoy his retirement. Now, he was simply waiting to retire.
And using Observation Haki to eavesdrop on gossip was widely known as one of the old man's hobbies.
"Tell me, then. What is it you find troublesome?"
The old man looked at Luo Yi curiously.
Luo Yi's expression did not change.
Of course, he didn't reveal his true thoughts. He merely brought up what had happened with Smoker.
"That guy is as stubborn as a mule. I even recommended Lieutenant Tashigi to him."
He complained.
"I see."
Billoss Vice Admiral naturally had no suspicions. He simply handed Luo Yi a skewer of dango while chewing on one himself.
"I don't think Smoker was entirely wrong. You're indeed very strong, kid. Staying here is a waste of your talents."
"I have my own justice!"
Luo Yi's expression turned solemn.
Clearly, in the Marines, those words were much like the red-haired fox jinchuriki's "This is my ninja way."
Thus, after hearing them, Billoss Vice Admiral naturally stopped trying to persuade him.
"How did the mission go?"
He asked casually.
"Same as always. I've already had them sent to prison."
Luo Yi took out his notebook and briefly reported the details of the mission.
"Good. I'll report your merits."
Billoss nodded, but then changed the subject and handed over a sheet of intelligence.
"Speaking of that, I just received a temporary mission. Are you interested?"
"Huh?"
Luo Yi accepted the intelligence instinctively, but his brow furrowed.
"I just got back to Headquarters, old man. The guys haven't even warmed their seats yet!"
"I know. You always hold a victory banquet after every mission and let your subordinates rest for a few days, so I'm only asking."
Billoss Vice Admiral spoke casually.
"This concerns a World Government-affiliated nation, so the merits are substantial. The Headquarters' All-Army Martial Arts Tournament will begin in two months. If you can be promoted to officer of colonel rank or above before then, you'll be eligible to participate."
"The All-Army Martial Arts Tournament?"
Luo Yi frowned at the words.
The All-Army Martial Arts Tournament was a major Marine event held every few years.
Young officers of officer of colonel rank or above who were under fifty could sign up to participate. It was essentially the Marines' "martial arts tournament."
Anyone who achieved a good ranking would receive an additional promotion in rank. The top three could even be directly promoted to Commodore, becoming general officers in a single leap.
Even more famous than the All-Army Martial Arts Tournament was the World Conscription, which had only been held a handful of times since the Marines were established.
But as he had said, Luo Yi had little interest in those things.
A promotion was certainly good, but once promoted, he would very likely be transferred away from the Detention Unit. That would be very bad.
At that moment, however, Billoss Vice Admiral's words made his heart jolt.
"Kid, after this All-Army Martial Arts Tournament, I may retire."
The old man chewed his skewer with loud, crisp crunches, but to Luo Yi, his words sounded like thunder.
"Retire!?"
"That's right. My eldest grandson was born, so I'm going to retire and train him properly. I'll strive to make him an outstanding Marine in the future."
Billoss Vice Admiral grinned.
"And I've been in the Detention Unit for so many years. You're the most promising person in the unit."
His meaning was simple.
He was going to retire, and because of the Detention Unit's special nature, most ambitious and capable Marines were unwilling to come here.
"If you can achieve a good ranking in the All-Army Martial Arts Tournament, I'll apply to Sengoku to let you stay and take charge of the Detention Unit. What do you think?"
"..."
What did he think?
It was simply perfect!
Luo Yi's excitement needed no words.
Becoming the manager of the Detention Unit would bring him enormous benefits.
Although the Detention Unit itself was not valued within the Marines, it was still one of the key parts of the organization.
The officer managing the Detention Unit would possess tremendous freedom and status. At the same time—
"The manager of the Detention Unit is also responsible for escorting powerful criminals to Impel Down. He may even have permission to enter Impel Down for inspections."
That was the crucial point.
To Luo Yi, that Underwater Great Prison holding countless powerful criminals was a true treasure trove.
So...
"Old man, let me see the mission!"
he said decisively, every word ringing with force.
"Just a little overtime—for justice, I'm duty-bound, sir!"
Before you continue