Found an SSR

After nearly four days of tedious sailing, Figo returned to Marine Headquarters aboard a warship.

This was also his 'first time' at Marine Headquarters, Marineford. As soon as the small island appeared on the horizon, he had already walked to the deck at a Marine soldier's reminder to look out.

It was a crescent-shaped island, with layered buildings climbing up the mountain. The blue symbolizing the vast sea and the dove pattern representing peace were striking even from afar, but the most eye-catching were the two large characters 'Marines' on the buildings!

Just like the scenes from the anime—it seemed Marine Headquarters didn't move often, at least not in the last hundred years, to the point where relocation was necessary.

The warship gradually approached the dock. Just then, Figo noticed another warship on the opposite side of the crescent island also heading toward the headquarters dock. Compared to the one he was on, that warship was much larger, about twice the size, with large-caliber cannons on both sides that radiated power.

"Th-That looks like Rear Admiral Miya's warship?" a Marine soldier shouted loudly.

"Really? Really?"

"Really! What luck!"

"Will we get to see Rear Admiral Miya?!"

One Marine soldier after another rushed to the deck, staring at the opposite warship with a mix of surprise and delight.

Figo scratched his head. Miya? That name sounded vaguely familiar; his predecessor should know her. He searched through his memories.

"Hmm, the Flower of the Marines?"

The most beautiful woman in all of Marine Headquarters... at least the prettiest among the top-tier female Marine soldiers. At 22, she was already a Marine Colonel.

But now that flower was 30, promoted to Rear Admiral, and still this popular.

Looking at the excited Marine soldiers, Figo waved his arm: "Men! Bring the ship closer!"

The Marine soldiers froze, then said in surprise, "F-Figo, sir, is that allowed?"

"Who do you think I am!" Figo laughed. "I'll take responsibility for any problems!"

"Ooh!" The Marine soldiers were full of energy.

They pulled the levers and steered, the warship's course gently curving and slowing as the two ships gradually drew near.

Hearing the commotion, a female Marine in a Rear Admiral's uniform stepped out of the opposite warship's cabin. She was about 1.9 meters tall, with fair skin, a beautiful face, and long legs. Her black bangs slanted across her forehead, with two strands sticking out slightly, giving her a playful look. She didn't seem like a 30-year-old woman at all, more like a young girl.

But her neat uniform and brisk steps added a touch of heroic grace.

A mature woman's figure with a girlish face—at first glance, it was quite striking, leaving the Nun three streets behind. No wonder she was so popular.

She looked over at them with some confusion, and when she saw Figo standing at the bow, she paused for a moment.

"You're... Figo?"

They weren't close, but they knew each other—otherwise, Figo wouldn't have casually brought his ship over.

In his predecessor's memories, they had both been outstanding recruits who stood out in the new soldier camp and trained together in the Elite Training Camp. But in the Elite Training Camp, Miya remained excellent, while his predecessor lingered near the bottom, so they hadn't actually spoken much.

Luckily, his predecessor hadn't left behind any memories of 'youthful infatuation' or 'secret crushes,' so Figo could calmly reconnect with Miya and take the first step into familiarizing himself with his predecessor's social circle.

"Long time no see, Sister Miya." Figo waved as a greeting.

Miya gave a slight smile. "It really is you. It's been so many years..."

Halfway through her words, suddenly, an unusual ripple emanated from Miya's warship!

It was hard to describe what kind of sensation it was—like being stared down by the most vicious wolf, looked upon by a higher lifeform, crushed by a strongman's aura. Figo's Observation Haki sensed an unknown faint red halo sweeping through, and a deep discomfort rose in his heart. He furrowed his brow and stomped a crack into the deck beneath him before shaking off the unease!

"What is this?"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Sounds of bodies hitting the ground rang out beside him. The Marine soldiers who had been captivated by Miya's beauty all rolled their eyes back, mouths agape, knocked down by that sudden faint red halo!

The Marine soldiers on Miya's warship were the same!

"Conqueror's Haki?!"

Figo's heart jolted. Then he heard a loud crash. On the opposite warship, a huge hole burst open in the cabin, and a Black-Haired Youth bound tightly in chains, along with the cell holding him, smashed through the cabin and tumbled straight into the sea!

Miya staggered. "No!"

Before her cry even finished, Figo had already leaped into the sea. The Black-Haired Youth's hands and feet were bound in chains, and he was still locked in the cell, so naturally he couldn't break free or swim. But he didn't seem to want to escape either—he opened his mouth wide, gulping down seawater continuously, as if trying to commit suicide!

He looked like a captured pirate. Figo wasn't about to let him succeed. With a twist of his body, he shot over, quickly pulled the cage out of the water, and with a heave of his arm, threw the man and his cell back onto the warship!

Miya's face lit up with joy, but she shouted again:

"Figo, the ship!"

Figo had already seen it.

Because the Marine soldiers had all been knocked unconscious by the earlier burst of Conqueror's Haki, both warships were now out of control, drifting by inertia. It wouldn't be long before they collided, causing a shipwreck.

He swam over quickly, bracing his arms against the warship to push. Suddenly, countless pale arms sprouted from the point where the two ships were about to scrape, propping them apart as Figo worked together with them to divert the ships from intersecting!

She was called the Flower of the Marines not just because Miya was beautiful, but also because she had eaten a Devil Fruit Figo was very familiar with—the Flower-Flower Fruit!

Seeing that the two warships wouldn't collide, Figo climbed up with his arms, using the momentum to leap onto Miya's ship.

"Thanks, Figo. If it weren't for you, he might have actually succeeded in killing himself." Miya checked the cage and thanked him.

"No, if I hadn't brought my ship closer, he wouldn't have found the chance to kill himself."

Figo shook his head, not taking the credit. He gestured at the Black-Haired Pirate in the cage and asked, "Was that the legendary Conqueror's Haki just now?"

"Probably... I don't know how he mastered that power either." Miya nodded solemnly, then turned her gaze to the unconscious Suicide Man, sighing with emotion. "As expected of Jellal, captain of the Laughing Pirates—a Great Pirate with a bounty of 630 million Berry!"

How much? 630 million Berry?

Figo had assumed this was just some unlucky rookie pirate who'd awakened Conqueror's Haki and possessed kingly qualities. But this... how did Miya even capture him?

Sensing Figo's confusion, Miya shook her head and explained, "He was just personally apprehended by Admiral Moka. Since the Admiral is still pursuing the other members of the Laughing Pirates, and to prevent them from pulling a diversion to rescue him, he ordered me to escort him back first. I almost let something slip!"

Arrested by an Admiral? That figures.

Wait.

Does his jump into the sea count as an escape attempt?

Did I just participate in his capture?

A sudden warmth surged in Figo's chest.

The beautiful Rear Admiral before him was still briefing Figo on the Laughing Pirates, her voice pleasant enough, but Figo had no mind to listen to her ramble.

This pirate was very likely...

The Prison Archives surfaced in his mind, flipping open to a blank page, branding the image of the Black-Haired Youth onto it!

[Prisoner: Jellal]
[Grade: SSR1]
[Status: Incarcerated]
[Crime Index: 25]
[Capture Participation: 35%]
[Selectable Rewards (Choose 1 of 5): Merchant, Swordsmanship, Chef, Childcare, Navigation]
[Character Event 1: Activatable]
[Character Event 2: Temporarily Unavailable]
[Core Event: Temporarily Unavailable (Complete all Character Events to activate the Core Event. Completing the Core Event allows selection of any three abilities from the character's ability list.)]

It really counted as a capture?!

How was the 35% participation calculated?

No, no, no—more importantly, before setting sail back, Figo had thought he wouldn't have a chance to incarcerate an SSR-grade prisoner anytime soon. Yet today, on this single return voyage, this one chance encounter...

He'd stumbled upon an SSR?

At the start of the month, I humbly ask for recommendation tickets and monthly votes.