Become the King of the Marines!

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere grew somewhat solemn because of the four words "Grand Line."

The landlady wiped down a table as she watched the absurdly young boys with concern.

"I've heard passing customers mention it too. That sea is called the Pirate's Graveyard."

"Once you enter the Grand Line, no one ever comes back alive... It's filled with monsters, natural disasters, and madness."

"Hahahaha!"

Luffy was still chewing on meat, yet he laughed heartlessly.

"But One Piece is there! So we have to go!"

"Can't be helped."

Zoro crossed one leg over the other and clasped his hands behind his head, a fearless smile curling at his lips.

"Since I've boarded this pirate ship, I guess I'll have to brave even hell."

Looking at those two lunatics, Koby felt deeply helpless.

He turned around and looked to Victor for help.

"Mr. Victor, you'll stop them, right? You know how dangerous that place is—"

"Koby."

Victor suddenly spoke, cutting him off.

"Yes! Mr. Victor!" Koby instinctively straightened up.

Victor set down his teacup. "You want to become a Marine, don't you?"

Koby froze.

He looked at the three pirates who had just saved him. The hesitation in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by unprecedented determination.

He took a deep breath, then raised his head and said loudly:

"Yes! It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it... Mr. Victor."

"I don't have a Devil Fruit, I don't have powerful swordsmanship, and I'm even a coward."

"But after meeting all of you, I want to change too! I want to live for my own beliefs!"

Koby squeezed his eyes shut, his body trembling slightly.

He had already prepared himself to be mocked, just like he had been on Alvida's ship.

One second, two seconds.

The laughter he expected never came.

Koby cautiously opened one eye.

Luffy was sitting cross-legged on a chair, tears and snot streaming down his face as he looked at Koby with overwhelming emotion.

"Boohoohoo... Koby! That was so well said!"

"Go for it! Since you've decided, become the King of the Marines!!"

"Huh? Huh?!"

The touching atmosphere instantly shattered as Koby frantically waved his hands in protest.

"Mr. Luffy, don't joke around! There's no such thing as a 'King of the Marines'! That would be a Marine Admiral!"

Just as everyone was noisily arguing, the restaurant door was suddenly pushed open.

"Creak—"

The once-lively restaurant fell silent in an instant.

A Marine lieutenant commander wearing a coat emblazoned with "Justice" entered with a stern expression, followed by a squad of fully armed Marines.

The lieutenant commander's gaze finally settled on Luffy and the others.

"I heard you are pirates. Is that true?"

"Yeah!" Luffy showed no intention of hiding it and even proudly patted his chest.

"We're a three-man pirate crew now! Hahaha!"

The lieutenant commander looked at that defenseless smile and fell silent for a moment before slowly removing his hat.

"Everyone is grateful to you."

"If not for you, our base and this town would probably still be living under the shadow of Morgan's tyranny."

But the next second, the lieutenant commander put his hat back on, his tone turning stiff and cold.

"However, since we know that you are pirates, as Marines, we cannot simply remain silent.

"For the reputation and position of the Marines... please leave this place immediately!

"As repayment, we will not report your whereabouts to headquarters."

The surrounding townspeople immediately became upset and stood up to criticize them.

"Hey! Marines!"

"How can you do this? They're our benefactors!"

"Exactly! Weren't you just too scared to move under Morgan's oppression?"

Facing the crowd's accusations, the lieutenant commander's face darkened, but he still did not yield. He merely clenched his fists.

"Fine! Then we'll leave!"

Luffy showed no anger at all. He slung the remaining food onto his back and stood up decisively.

"Victor! Zoro! Since we're full, let's get going!"

"Thanks for the meal, landlady!" Luffy said with a smile, waving his hand.

Zoro picked up his three swords and followed. "Seriously, Marines really are a bunch of blockheads."

Just as the three of them were about to leave through the door, while Koby was still standing there in a daze, unsure how to face this parting moment—

"Whoosh!"

A sudden change occurred.

Victor, who had been walking at the rear, suddenly turned around, grabbed Koby by the back of his collar, and violently yanked him over.

Before everyone's horrified eyes, a black, sharp Kunai was pressed directly against Koby's vulnerable throat.

"Hey! Marines!"

The gentleness on Victor's face was gone, replaced by a chilling indifference.

"This brat is a hostage we picked up along the way. We originally planned to use him as labor, but since we're leaving, keeping him around would just be a burden."

Victor tapped Koby's pale cheek with the Kunai and sneered.

"If you want him alive, bring us ten days' worth of food and fresh water!"

Hearing this, the Marines who had wanted to keep them from leaving immediately changed expression and began raising their guns.

"Fine! No problem!"

The lieutenant commander immediately raised a hand to stop them, his face incomparably grave.

"Please do not harm the hostage! We will prepare the supplies at once!"

Less than five minutes later, several large bags of supplies were delivered to the entrance.

Victor glanced at the supplies on the ground, and a satisfied curve appeared on his lips.

"At least you know what's good for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Victor raised his foot and mercilessly kicked Koby in the ass.

"Bang!"

"Ow!"

Koby rolled like a tumbling gourd straight to the Marines' feet.

"Lucky you."

Victor put away the Kunai, picked up the supplies, and turned to leave.

Luffy and Zoro walked ahead. Neither looked back, but both could not help smiling.

"Ah..." Zoro lowered his voice and chuckled. "That bastard really thought things through. He even got us supplies."

"Hehehe, Victor really is wicked."

Though Luffy said that, he was smiling more happily than anyone.

Under the Marines' wary gazes, the three of them swaggered toward the dock.

At the restaurant entrance.

Koby lay sprawled on the floor in a sorry state, staring blankly at the ceiling.

His butt hurt badly, but his heart felt warm.

That kick from Mr. Victor had looked heavy, but he had not used any strength at all.

He did it on purpose...

Koby's eyes instantly reddened, and tears began pouring down his face.

He deliberately put on that act to sever my connection with them... Mr. Victor, Mr. Luffy, Mr. Zoro...

"Hey! Are you all right, kid?" The lieutenant commander came over and tried to help him up.

But Koby suddenly jolted, sprang up from the ground, and stood perfectly straight.

Without bothering to wipe away the dirt and tears from his face, he shouted at the stern lieutenant commander before him:

"Lieutenant Commander! Please let me join the Marines!!"

The lieutenant commander was stunned.

"I can run errands, scrub floors, clean toilets, anything!" Koby shouted himself hoarse. "I want to join the Marines!"

A Marine soldier beside him frowned.

"Lieutenant Commander, this kid's identity is unknown. He was just hanging around with pirates..."

"I am—"

Koby took a deep breath. Luffy's fearless smile surfaced in his mind.

"I am going to become a Marine Admiral!!"

The entire place fell silent.

The lieutenant commander looked at the boy before him, his face streaked with tears and snot, his body still trembling.

"We have lost many comrades," the lieutenant commander said deeply. "The Marines bear justice upon their shoulders. If you wish to join, you must be prepared to die for it. Can you do that?"

"Yes! I'm not afraid!!" Koby shouted.

The lieutenant commander was silent for two seconds, then the corners of his lips rose slightly.

"Good. You're approved."

Shells Town harbor.

The sea breeze blew gently.

"You bastard really thought things through. You did it on purpose, didn't you?"

Zoro struggled to haul several large bags of Marine supplies onto the shabby little wooden boat, unable to stop himself from complaining.

Victor stood at the bow, tossing an apple he had "borrowed" in his hand before taking a crunchy bite.

"Oh? I thought my performance was pretty convincing."

Victor chewed the apple and spoke unclearly. "I cleared that kid's name while solving our food problem for the next few days.

"That's called strategy, got it, moss head?"

"You bastard!" Zoro's forehead veins bulged as he watched Victor move only his mouth and not his hands. "Get over here and help carry this stuff!"

"I'm the brains of the crew," Victor said righteously.

"Three-man pirate crew—set sail!!"

Before the two could finish arguing, Luffy had already jumped onto the bow and untied the mooring rope.

With the sea breeze pushing them onward, the small boat slowly left the shore.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from the embankment.

"Mr. Luffy—!! Mr. Victor—!! Mr. Zoro—!!"

The three turned around.

Koby stood on the shore, with a neat line of Marine soldiers behind him.

Koby waved one hand while crying his eyes out and shouting:

"I'll never forget this kindness for the rest of my life!! One day, we'll meet again!!"

"See you later, Koby!!" Luffy stood at the bow and vigorously waved his arm, his smile as bright as the sun. "Next time we meet, we'll be enemies!!"

"Goodbye, big brothers!" Rika ran out as well, waving desperately.

At that moment, the lieutenant commander suddenly stepped forward.

"Everyone—salute!!"

"Snap!!"

All the Marines, including Koby, raised their right hands in perfect unison and gave the highest military salute to the pirate boat slowly sailing away.

This was the Marines of Shells Town paying tribute to "true justice."

Out at sea.

Watching this scene, Zoro's lips curled slightly. "Hmph. What a strange bunch of Marines."

"They are strange, but they aren't bad, are they?"

Victor turned around and looked out over the endless sea.

"Wait... does anyone here know anything about navigation?"