Look at you, you're in a hurry again

"Kill all the Marines?"

Leon spoke such horrifying words with the calm of someone asking Rouge what she wanted for dinner...

Portgas D. Rouge even wondered if she'd misheard...

"Heh."

"Just kidding, Miss Rouge didn't take that seriously, did you?"

"I'm not that extreme."

"The Marines on this island should be a lot more restrained from now on—at least they won't dare use such brutal screening methods out in the open..."

"Good luck, Miss Rouge."

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

Everyone has their own fate. Leon respected Rouge's choice.

He hurried back to the Marine outpost, timing it perfectly.

Having just dealt with the reporters outside the base, the frazzled Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel trudged to Leon's door with a dark face.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A rough pounding on the door.

The door swung open, and Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel's eyes flickered with surprise, barely stopping his fist in time.

"Chief Petty Officer Leon?"

"You're here..."

"What's wrong?" Leon looked completely clueless. "Lieutenant Colonel, were you looking for me?"

"Nothing much—just that the soldiers under your command reported they couldn't find you..."

"The situation on the island is chaotic right now. I was worried you might run into danger..."

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel explained while discreetly sizing Leon up, searching for any suspicious signs.

This Chief Petty Officer Leon was hardly the docile type. Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel could even be sure that Leon was the one who leaked the island's news to the News Agency!

His goal was to muddy the waters!

Unfortunately, without catching Leon red-handed, and given his status as Garp's disciple, it wasn't wise to openly burn bridges...

"Thank you for your concern, Lieutenant Colonel."

"Actually, I was just about to look for you too..."

"Huh?"

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel's guard went up. Leon seeking him out for no reason couldn't mean anything good.

"I plan to leave today and return to headquarters to report."

Oh, so he's leaving...

"Hm? You're leaving?"

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel had braced himself for Leon to stick around long-term and sabotage their mission.

He never expected this troublemaker to volunteer to leave.

Watching the skeptical Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel, Leon nodded and said, "My mission is the same as yours, Lieutenant Colonel—to find any possible trace of the Pirate Prince's Offspring."

"After yesterday's inspection, I've basically ruled out the possibility that Pirate King Roger left any offspring, so there's no need for me to stay."

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

Leon's reasoning was sound and convincing.

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel stroked his chin.

Had he misjudged this Rookie of the Marines?

Maybe he'd just been too tense these past few days, seeing everyone as a villain...

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

"Of course! As long as it's women and children..."

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel instinctively agreed, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he sensed something off.

"Chief Petty Officer Leon! What do you mean by that!"

"See? You're getting worked up again."

Watching Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel stomp his foot, Leon yawned, leaned against the doorframe, and said unhurriedly, "I was just praising your outstanding abilities, Lieutenant Colonel, wasn't I?"

"Take those reporters causing trouble today—a bunch of civilians daring to question the righteous Marines. You should have killed them on the spot!"

"Or better yet, instead of wasting time going door to door, just kill every woman on the island!"

Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel's fists were already clenched, but Leon kept going.

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

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

"Not only would that nip evil in the bud, it'd also show the world the might of us Marines!!!"

"Don't you think..."

"Enough!!!"

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

"Chief Petty Officer Leon! I respect you as Vice Admiral Garp's disciple, and I've tolerated you for that reason."

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

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

"I hope you'll think twice!!!"

Red.

Leon chuckled lightly and beckoned to the Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel.

"Looks like the Lieutenant Colonel has some deep misunderstandings about me."

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

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

Despite sensing a faint hint of scheming, the enraged Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel still stepped closer to Leon without fear.

He didn't believe that Leon, a mere Chief Petty Officer in the same Marines, would dare to...

"BAM!"

While the Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel was still lost in thought, Leon's premeditated, deliberate punch struck directly.

A full-force blow landed hard on the unsuspecting Wide Chin Lieutenant Colonel.

A near-sonic boom exploded within the Marine outpost.