Just a Little Overtime, Officer, It's My Duty!

"That was close."

Mingling with the crowd, Luo Yi watched a squad of disciplinary Marines, responsible for maintaining order in Marineford, storm towards where the fight had just occurred.

Luo Yi inwardly thought, "That was close."

If he had been caught, the fine alone would have cost him a month's salary, not to mention at least half a month in confinement.

"Not even being able to drink Cola for half a month, that's too terrifying."

As for Smoker, whom Hina had left behind, Luo Yi wasn't interested in considering his situation—after all, seeing the number of premium cigars the smoker carried around his neck every day, he probably wasn't short on money.

As for the confinement.

"It's best to lock that guy up for a while longer, otherwise he'll definitely come to cause trouble for me again."

"Justice. No matter how grand its pronouncements, it's essentially just being a dog for the Celestial Dragons and the World Government. Who cares about that kind of thing?"

Luo Yi thought this as he passed through Oris Plaza and entered the Marine Headquarters' tall building, the 'Tenshukaku'.

That's right.

Luo Yi certainly didn't dislike Smoker—although his initial contact with Smoker was solely for the Devil Fruit Ability he possessed.

But during their training in the Marines, he had indeed come to regard him as a friend.

What Smoker had said, about how they had once pursued a Pirate in a certain sea to recover money for a young girl to save her mother's life, was indeed a fact.

But as Luo Yi had said.

That had nothing to do with the 'Justice' that the Marines always boasted about and believed in.

"The little girl's father died early, her mother had been ill for many years, and she herself was blind. The money she painstakingly saved, with the village's support and the small clothes her mother sewed daily, was stolen by those dog-like Pirates—who could stand to see that?"

Luo Yi didn't consider himself a great philanthropist.

But as a transmigrator, he still possessed the basic conscience he had developed before crossing over.

But undoubtedly, he felt that his basic conscience was already a rarity in this world.

It was precisely because of that incident that Smoker had come to respect him, viewing him as a friend ever since, and acknowledging his 'Justice'.

But in reality, Luo Yi's own attitude towards the Marines was just as he had just thought.

Having been in the Marines for so many years, he naturally knew that there was no shortage of truly kind and just warriors within the organization.

But this couldn't change one fact: the Marine organization itself was a part of the 'World Government'—and that supreme institution ruling the world was precisely the most corrupt part of this world.

Luo Yi had never intended to be a dog for the Celestial Dragons, so he naturally wouldn't truly believe in the Marines' so-called Justice.

Of course, pirates are the same—Luo Yi didn't deny that there might be some heroic pirates on the seas of this world.

But the fact was, most of the pirates who set sail during the so-called 'Great Pirate Era' were pure villains.

Luo Yi disliked both the Marines and the pirates, and had no intention of truly joining either side.

His positioning of the Marines was simple.

The Marines were just a company for him to hide in and obtain Devil Fruit abilities.

And the Detention Unit was a 'key department' he wouldn't leave as long as he was in the Marines.

"But that guy Smoker was right about one thing, freedom is indeed very important."

"I know the locations of quite a few Ability Users on this sea, but now I'm restricted by Headquarters' rules and don't have the chance to acquire their abilities."

Thinking of this, Luo Yi showed a troubled expression.

This problem was essentially the same as his urgent need for Belly; it required him to leave the Marines or the Detention Unit to solve, but he couldn't leave the Detention Unit right now.

"Troublesome..."

Luo Yi sighed.

"Hahahaha!? You actually have things that trouble you, Kid—how rare!"

But at this moment, a hearty laugh entered Luo Yi's ears.

Unknowingly, Luo Yi had walked to an office.

The office door was tightly shut, and the laughter was coming from inside.

"Old man, are you eavesdropping with Observation Haki again?"

Luo Yi said helplessly, then pushed open the office door.

The office was simply furnished—a desk with black tea and dango skewers, a chair, and a pile of newspapers and wanted posters.

And in front of the desk, a muscular old man was happily eating dango.

He wore a Marine greatcoat over a shirt, and the scars all over his body and the medals on his uniform were enough to show the life-or-death battles he had experienced.

"Hahaha! I'm so bored here, Old man, it's hard to pass the time without gossip every day!"

Upon hearing Luo Yi's words, he chuckled.

"Eavesdropping with Observation Haki at Headquarters is strictly forbidden!"

Luo Yi rolled his eyes, but he knew these words were useless against the old man in front of him.

Because the old man in front of him was his direct superior, Division Vice Admiral 'Billoss' of the Navy's Detention Unit.

This Vice Admiral was not named in the plot known to Luo Yi, but he was very senior—an old soldier who joined the Navy at the same time as Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Marine Hero Garp, having experienced countless battles in his life.

Due to his declining combat power in old age, he was transferred to the Detention Unit to retire, and was now just waiting to be pensioned off.

And it was common knowledge that this old man enjoyed using Observation Haki to eavesdrop on gossip.

"Tell me, what do you find troublesome!?"

At this moment, the old man looked at Luo Yi curiously.

Hearing this, Luo Yi's expression remained unchanged.

He certainly didn't reveal his true thoughts, only bringing up the matter with Smoker from earlier.

"That guy is really stubborn. I clearly recommended Lieutenant Tashigi to him."

He complained.

"I see."

Vice Admiral Billoss naturally didn't doubt him. He handed Luo Yi a skewer of dumplings while chewing on his own skewer with a 'munch munch' sound.

"I don't think what Smoker said was unreasonable—you kid are indeed very strong, and it's a waste of your talent to be here."

"I have my justice!"

Luo Yi said with a serious expression.

And obviously, in the Navy, this sentence was akin to a certain red-haired fox jinchuriki's 'This is my ninja way'.

So, with that said, Vice Admiral Billoss naturally stopped trying to persuade him.

"How did the mission go?"

He asked casually.

"Same as usual, I've already had them sent to prison."

Luo Yi took out his handbook and briefly reported on the mission.

"Good, I'll report your merits for you."

Billoss nodded, but then changed the subject and handed Luo Yi a piece of intelligence: "Speaking of which, I just received a temporary mission—are you interested?"

"Huh?"

Luo Yi subconsciously took the intelligence but frowned: "I just returned to headquarters, old man—the brothers haven't even settled in yet!"

"I know, you always hold a celebration banquet after every mission and let your subordinates rest for a few days, so I'm just asking you,"

At this moment, Vice Admiral Billoss said casually.

"This matter concerns the affiliated nations of the World Government, so the merits are considerable. In two months, our Headquarters' 'All-Army Martial Arts Tournament' will begin. If you can be promoted to officer of colonel rank or above before then, you can participate in the tournament."

"All-Army Martial Arts Tournament?"

Luo Yi frowned upon hearing this.

The All-Army Martial Arts Tournament was a major event held by the Navy every few years.

Any young and strong officer in the Navy with the rank of Colonel or above and under the age of 50 could sign up to participate. It was considered the Navy's 'Martial Arts Competition'.

Once a good ranking was achieved in it, additional promotions could be obtained. The top three could even be directly promoted to 'Brigadier General', leaping to become a general officer.

Even more famous than the All-Army Martial Arts Tournament was the 'World Conscription', which had only occurred a few times since the Navy's establishment.

However, as always – Luo Yi had no interest in these things.

Promotion was certainly good, but once promoted, he would very likely be transferred away from the Detention Unit, which would be very bad.

However, at this moment, Vice Admiral Billoss's words sent a shock through his heart.

"Kid, after this All-Army Martial Arts Tournament, I might be retiring."

The old man chewed a string of dumplings with a crunch, and the words from his mouth sounded like thunder to Luo Yi.

"Retiring!?"

"Yes – my grandson was born, and it's the perfect time for me to retire and train him, striving for him to become an outstanding Navy officer in the future."

Vice Admiral Billoss said with a grin, "And I've been in this Detention Unit for so many years. You, kid, are the most promising person in the team."

His meaning was simple.

He was retiring, and the special nature of the Detention Unit meant that most ambitious and capable Navy officers were unwilling to come here.

"If you can get a good ranking in the 'All-Army Martial Arts Tournament', I, the old man, will apply to Sengoku to let you stay and serve as the administrator of the Detention Unit. What do you think?"

"..."

What do you think?

That would be too good!

The excitement in Luo Yi's heart at this moment needed no further words.

Becoming the administrator of the Detention Unit held immense benefits for him.

Even though the Detention Unit itself was not highly regarded within the Navy, it was still one of the key components of the Navy.

The management generals of the Detention Unit symbolized extremely high freedom and status, and at the same time, "The administrators of the Detention Unit are also responsible for escorting powerful criminals to Impel Down. They even have the authority to enter Impel Down for inspections."

This was the crucial point.

For Luo Yi, that Underwater Great Prison, which held countless powerful criminals, was a true treasure trove.

Therefore.

"Old man, let me see the mission!"

He said decisively, his words ringing with conviction.

"It's just overtime--for justice, I won't shirk my duty, Officer!"