You're Looking So Worked Up Again

"Kill all the Marines?"

Leon had said something so horrifying with the calm air of someone asking Rojue what she wanted for dinner...

Portgas D. Rouge even wondered if she had heard him wrong...

"Heh."

"Just kidding, Miss Rojue. You didn't take me seriously, did you?"

"I'm not that extreme."

"The Marines on the island should behave themselves a lot more from now on. At least they won't dare use such brutal screening methods in public..."

"Good luck, Miss Rojue."

With that, Leon closed the door and left without looking back.

Everyone had their own fate, and Leon respected Rojue's choice.

He hurried back to the Marine outpost, arriving just in time.

After dealing with the reporters outside the outpost, the harried Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel strode over to Leon's room with a dark expression.

Bang, bang, bang!

A rough pounding sounded at the door.

The door opened. A flicker of surprise crossed Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel's face, and he nearly failed to stop his hand.

"Chief Petty Officer Leon?"

"So you're here..."

"What's wrong?" Leon looked utterly bewildered. "Did you need something, Lieutenant Colonel?"

"Nothing. The soldiers assigned to follow Chief Petty Officer Leon reported that they couldn't find you..."

"The situation on the island is chaotic. I was worried you might be in danger..."

As he explained, Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel discreetly sized Leon up, hoping to spot something suspicious.

Chief Petty Officer Leon was hardly the quiet, obedient sort. Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel was even certain that Leon had leaked the news to the News Agency!

The goal was to muddy the waters!

Unfortunately, without catching Leon in the act, it wasn't easy to openly confront him, given that he was Vice Admiral Garp's disciple...

"Thank you for your concern, Lieutenant Colonel."

"I was just about to come find you, actually..."

"Pardon?"

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel grew wary. If Leon was looking for him without a reason, it couldn't be anything good.

"I'm planning to leave today and return to Headquarters to report in."

Oh, so he was leaving...

"Hmm? You're leaving?"

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel had already prepared himself for Leon to stay here for a long time and obstruct their mission.

He had never imagined the troublemaker would volunteer to leave.

Leon nodded at the suspicious look on Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel's face. "Your mission and mine are the same: to find out whether the Pirate King left behind any offspring."

"After a full day of searching yesterday, I've mostly ruled out the possibility that Pirate King Roger left any children behind. There's no need for me to stay."

"Besides, even if my judgment is wrong, you're still here, Lieutenant Colonel..."

Leon's words were logical and convincing.

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel stroked his chin.

Had he misjudged this Rookie of the Marines?

Maybe his nerves had been too frayed these past few days. He was starting to see a villain in everyone...

"I believe that with your abilities, Lieutenant Colonel, you'd bring even the Pirate King's mother to justice if she were still alive!"

"Of course! If it's a woman or a child..."

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel instinctively agreed, but realized something was wrong as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Chief Petty Officer Leon! What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look at you, getting worked up again."

Watching Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel jump up and down, Leon yawned and leaned against the doorframe, speaking at his leisure. "I'm complimenting your outstanding abilities, Lieutenant Colonel."

"Those reporters who caused trouble today—just a bunch of civilians daring to question the righteous Marines. You should've killed them on the spot!"

"Better yet, why waste time searching every house? Just kill all the women on the island!"

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel clenched his fists, but Leon kept right on talking.

"Roger lived on this island, so he must have interacted with people. Anyone who came into contact with the Pirate King's aura could become a criminal, too."

"Why not go all the way and kill everyone on the island!"

"That wouldn't just nip evil in the bud—it would show the world just how fearsome the Marines are!!!"

"What do you say..."

"Enough!!!"

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel could no longer hold back. He stepped forward, his face flushed as he glared at Leon.

"Chief Petty Officer Leon! I've shown you forbearance out of respect for your status as Vice Admiral Garp's disciple."

"But you can't keep insulting us again and again!"

"I'll report everything you've done here to Marine Headquarters!!!"

"You'd better watch yourself!!!"

He was red in the face.

Leon chuckled and beckoned to Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel.

"It seems you've misunderstood me badly, Lieutenant Colonel."

"Haven't you always wanted to know why I came to this island?"

"Come closer. I'll tell you quietly..."

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel sensed the faint hint of a trap in his fury, but approached Leon without fear all the same.

They were both Marines. He refused to believe that a mere Chief Petty Officer like Leon would dare do anything to him...

"Bam!"

While Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel was still turning it over in his mind, Leon had already launched the charged punch he'd prepared.

The full-force blow slammed into Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel, who was completely off guard.

A thunderous boom, almost like a sonic blast, erupted inside the Marine outpost.