Secret Talk

That night, Luca received a Den Den Mushi message from the Marines he had sent to track Luo Ze.

Over the call, the Marines gave a very clear report. According to expert confirmation, the method Luo Ze had used to kill the pirate Kashal was identical to the method used by the culprit who had massacred Colonel Yate and the Marines under his command at the Dog Town Marine branch. There was a ninety-nine percent chance that Colonel Yate and his men had died at Luo Ze's hands.

After receiving this news, Luca fell silent for a long time.

"Looks like the truth I least wanted to find has surfaced after all. But while Luo Ze is bloodthirsty, he has never killed without reason. I've known him for so long, and I've never noticed him holding any prejudice against the Marines. It seems Colonel Yate must have done something that gave him a reason to kill."

Luca muttered to himself.

He knew Luo Ze far better than he knew Yate. Although the truth had now basically been uncovered, he still instinctively leaned toward Luo Ze's side.

He picked up the Den Den Mushi and called Luo Ze.

After a burst of cries from the Den Den Mushi, Luo Ze answered the call.

"Luo Ze? It's Luca. I have something to ask you. Come out right away. Meet me beside the tavern on the east coast." Luca did not bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

His tone was somewhat grave, completely unlike his usual self.

Luo Ze immediately sensed the seriousness of the matter, but he still agreed without hesitation. "Alright. I'll be there right away."

After hanging up, Luo Ze took out his longsword and sprinted outside.

Since it was already late at night, Ellie had fallen asleep, so Luo Ze did not disturb her.

Yet as he ran, Luo Ze's mind kept turning.

"With a tone that serious, it must be something important. He has something to ask me? The Marines have extensive intelligence networks. I'm only a pirate hunter—what could Luca possibly need to ask me? No... if that matter has been exposed, Luca really might come looking for me."

Luo Ze recalled the case involving Colonel Yate.

"If Luca has uncovered the truth, then even if we're on good terms, he probably won't let me go. That guy values justice above everything else. Still, he probably wouldn't set a group of Marines in ambush for me."

Luo Ze was fast. He had only just been thinking when he quickly arrived beside the tavern on the east coast. Luca was already there waiting for him.

He held two glass bottles containing expensive Plum. Luo Ze discreetly surveyed the area and found no sign of any other Marines, causing the tension in his heart to ease.

"You're here." Seeing Luo Ze arrive, Luca set the two fine bottles of liquor in a corner beside them and spoke to Luo Ze.

There was no expression on his face. He did not look like he had called Luo Ze out for a chat.

Luo Ze also turned serious and asked, "What is it? Ask."

"Was the matter with Colonel Yate your doing?" Luca nodded slightly and organized his thoughts. Looking at Luo Ze, he asked solemnly.

"Heh, so it really was this?"

Luo Ze's heart jolted. Sure enough, this was the question.

He remained silent for a long while. Then, looking into Luca's dark eyes, he slowly nodded.

"That's right. I did it."

He was a bloodthirsty madman, but even madmen had their own way of doing things. At the very least, he never denied anything he had done.

"Give me a reason. I know you aren't the kind of person who attacks without cause."

Luca's expression did not change. He had already known the answer; he was merely asking one more question to see whether Luo Ze intended to deny it.

Now, it seemed he had not misjudged him. His methods might be ruthless, but he was at least forthright.

"Does that matter? Now that you've confirmed the outcome, why didn't you bring Marines here to ambush me? You should know that if you asked me to come, I had no reason to refuse."

Luo Ze gave a light laugh.

"Because of friendship," Luca said seriously. "I need to know everything that happened that day."

"Hmph. How boring." Luo Ze curled his lip, but continued, "Fine. Since you want to know, I'll tell you."

He picked up one of the bottles of Plum from the ground, casually twisted off the cap with one hand, took a swig, and recounted every detail of what had happened that day.

"Hmph! That idiot." After hearing Luo Ze's account, Luca's expression darkened.

He had never expected that he had actually wanted to avenge such an idiot. He had truly been foolish before.

After pondering for a while, he said to Luo Ze, "I'll report this matter to Marine Headquarters. Don't worry. I'll do everything I can to protect you."

Luca looked deeply at Luo Ze. Now that he understood the full sequence of events, he knew Luo Ze had not been in the wrong that time. Who could have known that Yate would develop murderous intent toward him? And in that situation, if Luo Ze had not killed Yate, Yate would have killed him.

"Don't be naive. Don't you know better than I do what the Marine government is like? Compared to a pirate hunter like me, they care more about the Marines' reputation. Even if you report this, they'll only bury the truth and eliminate me."

Luo Ze shook his head. He knew very well how dark the Marines could be. Especially when it involved matters concerning the Marines' reputation—those were absolute taboos. Among the three Admirals, Sakazuki displayed this most clearly.

In the original story's Dressrosa arc, Fujitora had publicly bowed his head to King Riku, severely damaging the Marines' reputation. Sakazuki had then clashed fiercely with Fujitora. Fortunately, they had not argued face-to-face that time, or they might truly have come to blows.

"Damn it." Luca was also angered, because he knew Luo Ze was telling the truth.

"You only need to report it truthfully. Even if you don't, some of the Marines under your command will definitely report it anyway. There are plenty of people in the Marines who want promotions. If you choose to cover for me, you'll be finished." Luo Ze drained the bottle in one go and said to Luca.

"As for me, I'll head out to sea when I get back. I'll take Ellie and claim Kid's head, then head for the Grand Line. It won't be so easy for those Marines to catch me."

"This!" Luca's gaze sharpened. "Have you prepared yourself to become a pirate?"

"Hmph. Even if I don't acknowledge myself as a pirate, once those bastards in the Marine government issue a wanted poster, won't I become one anyway? Don't worry. Those scum won't be able to take my life. You only need to keep this matter under wraps until dawn. I'll leave tonight."

Luo Ze spoke calmly, spreading his hands at Luca.

If any other Marine had learned of this matter, he would have considered killing them. But Luca was still his friend, so he could only obediently become a pirate.

Besides, the Marines would learn of this sooner or later. Even if Luo Ze killed the other Marines, it would only treat the symptoms, not the cause. So Luo Ze had no intention of hiding it any longer.

Although this would cost him a source of income, there was nothing he could do about it.