Pirate: I Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki First Since I Can't Die

"First, starting today, you can live as a Marine under my command."

Before Evens could speak, the Bald Man beside him widened his eyes.

"What? You want me to become a Marine?"

Xia Le ignored him and gave them the second choice.

"Second, this warship turns around and sails for Impel Down!"

"I'll pull every string I can to get you into Level Six, the most secure and prestigious level of Impel Down."

After a pause, he grinned.

"I guarantee you'll spend the rest of your lives there in peace, without the slightest disturbance or unexpected incident."

The five men's expressions changed. They stared at Xia Le as if to say, How very thoughtful of you!

Unsurprisingly, all five chose the first option.

The warship left the Sabaody Archipelago and headed for the Marines' passage through the Red Line.

Few people paid attention to Xia Le taking five pirates into his crew. Marine officers recruiting pirates as subordinates was an old tradition, after all. As long as they didn't make a spectacle of it, no one minded.

The five men's bounties were quietly withdrawn the next day after Xia Le spoke with Sengoku.

As the morning sun rose, a chorus of voices rang across the warship's deck. Six people in trainee Marine uniforms were hard at work cleaning and mopping the planks.

T Bone, a Marine lieutenant, watched them work with a stern expression.

Xia Le stretched. Looking at the scene before him, he smiled faintly, a little moved.

He was gradually gaining a warship of his own and soldiers to serve aboard it. His path as a Marine had finally gotten off to a good start.

"I'm Rosinante. Nice to meet you all!"

Holding a mop, Rosinante grinned at his new comrades.

He had been handling the chores alone until now. Having five others to share the work clearly put him in a good mood.

"Evens. Sniper. Twenty-two. I hope for world peace."

"Yagyu Hyoe. Swordsman. Twenty-one. I want to use my sword to defend the justice I believe in."

"Mina. Navigator."

"Kira. Cook and gourmet. My dream is to taste every delicacy in the world."

"Slo. Shipwright! I want to see the legendary Ship's Spirit."

The five exchanged glances. With Evens taking the lead, they reluctantly introduced themselves.

"From now on, we're comrades!"

Rosinante grinned.

The five relaxed and nodded. At the very least, being called comrades made them feel better.

"I'm T Bone. You can call me T-Bone, too. I'm a lieutenant."

T Bone came over then. His zombie-like face looked rather frightening, but his tone was gentle and polite.

"Hello, sir."

The five paused, then greeted him.

"Rear Admiral Xia Le is also the commanding officer of our unit."

"No need to be nervous. He's a good man, and kind, too."

A smile appeared on T Bone's zombie-like face.

Xia Le heard them talking but paid it no mind.

Friendly conversation would help him lead the group. Besides, T Bone was describing him from his own perspective, with nothing but praise and admiration.

"The commander was once treated by nobles..."

"Then, in the end, by the Celestial Dragons..."

"After joining the Marines, he..."

"He fought the Roger Pirates and held off the world-famous pirate Dark King Rayleigh."

"Afterward, Roger called the commander a powerful opponent who could not be ignored and praised him highly."

"..."

T Bone's words stunned Evens and the other four. They kept stealing glances at the figure standing at the bow. They had never imagined this young Marine officer had such an extraordinary story, or that his experiences were so much like theirs.

The warship soon passed through the Red Line and entered the second half of the Grand Line.

During that time, Xia Le gradually learned more about the five through their conversations.

Evens was a sniper who had begun to awaken Observation Haki. He could sense danger, spot targets at greater distances, and shoot them with precision.

Yagyu Hyoe had practiced swordsmanship since childhood and could already cut through iron. He was also physically strong.

Slo was a shipwright, but he had decent hand-to-hand combat skills as well.

Mina wasn't strong, but she had plenty of experience navigating at sea.

As for Kira, he was a gourmet, just as he had said. He could cater to anyone's tastes with remarkable accuracy, though fighting wasn't his strength.

All in all, the five newcomers made the warship a livelier place.

"You won't be skipping your training. I'm putting you in charge of these trainees."

"Of course, I'll also give each of you guidance on your weaknesses."

Xia Le spoke in the firm voice of a commanding officer.

"Yes, sir!"

The seven stood straight and answered in unison.

In just a few days, Evens and the other four, once pirates, had begun to carry themselves like Marines.

During their training together, Evens and the others were shocked to learn that the towering Rosinante was only twelve!

"How is that possible? You're only twelve, but you're already so tall?!"

"What have you been eating?"

Yagyu Hyoe and Mina exclaimed.

"Natural talent! That's all it is!"

Rosinante laughed, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

Despite his imposing height, he still had a child's innocence and a touch of childishness.

Just then, Xia Le walked over, fists swinging.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

A rapid series of punches left a large bump on every forehead.

"No shouting during training."

Xia Le barked the order.

Evens clutched his head, tears welling in his eyes.

"Why does that guy's fist hurt so much? It's harder than my sword."

Yagyu Hyoe grimaced in pain.

"Commander Xia Le is Vice Admiral Garp's student. He learned his fighting skills from him."

Rosinante drew in a sharp breath and forced the words out.

Training continued. None of them could escape the physical conditioning expected of trainee Marines on that deck.

Xia Le's instruction and training methods were both scientific and effective. He had combined the best of Garp's and Zephyr's approaches with what he had learned at the Navy Academy.

T Bone joined in just as earnestly, making no effort to hide his admiration for the commander.

After reaching the second half of the Grand Line, the warship spent most of its time at sea, putting into a fortress only now and then to resupply.

Xia Le also kept in contact with headquarters. Whenever he received information about pirates, he led the crew to hunt them down.

Everyone grew stronger through those battles.

Half a month after they entered the second half of the Grand Line, a newspaper dropped from a News Coo's claws and landed in front of them.

"Gol D. Roger has reached the end of the Grand Line, become the Pirate King, and named the last island Laugh Tale!"

When Evens read the headline aloud, everyone aboard the warship was shaken.

"Roger became the Pirate King!"

Slo stared in shock.

Xia Le narrowed his eyes. His teacher had mentioned the possibility during a call not long ago.

The news shook the world. Newspapers spread far and wide.

Just then, the Den Den Mushi tucked inside Xia Le's coat rang.

"Teacher Garp."

Xia Le answered in a low voice.

"You've seen the latest newspaper, haven't you?"

Garp sounded grave and tired.

"I have."

Xia Le nodded.

"I chased him for two years, but I still couldn't stop him."

"I have to hand it to him. He really is something, even with that serious illness of his."

Garp laughed, though he sounded helpless.

"I thought he'd do something unimaginable once he became the Pirate King."

"But Roger disbanded his crew instead."

"And now no one can find the man!"

Xia Le smiled. "Then you can take a break for a while."

"Hahahaha! You brat, do you think your teacher wants to rest?"

Garp laughed and scolded him.

Teacher and student chatted for a while longer. Xia Le mostly listened as Garp recalled the years he had spent fighting and pursuing Roger.

He started with God Valley and carried on until Roger's recent rise to Pirate King.

At last, the Den Den Mushi fell silent.

Xia Le said nothing.

He knew that Garp had been telling Roger's story, but also the story of his own life.

He could hear the uncertainty about the future in his teacher's voice, along with a trace of regret.

What did he regret?

Roger's rise to Pirate King had stunned the world. Before long, the shock of that moment had spread everywhere.