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

Another day passed, and a message arrived from Marine Headquarters.

"I have a very important mission for you!"

Fleet Admiral Kong's voice was grave.

"An important mission?"

Xia Le sounded puzzled.

"I had intended to assign it to Sakazuki, but something came up for him. After discussing it with Sengoku, I decided that your abilities and the strength of your crew make you better suited to it."

Kong's voice was solemn.

From Kong's tone and words, Xia Le could tell the mission might truly be important.

"You'll need to meet Sakazuki and take custody of the valuable item he's carrying."

"Then deliver it to Egghead Island and hand it to Vegapunk in person."

After listening to the full assignment, Xia Le fell silent.

A moment later, his eyes gleamed.

"Fleet Admiral Kong!"

"I'd be happy to take the mission."

The Commission and a Warning

Kong seemed unwilling to tell him much about the mission's details or background.

He only stressed its importance again and again, insisting that Xia Le complete it without the slightest mishap.

After ending the call with the Den Den Mushi, Xia Le couldn't help forming all kinds of theories. His curiosity only grew.

"Also, remember this: nothing about Egghead may be disclosed to anyone!"

"That's an order. You must follow it to the letter, Xia Le!"

Kong had even ended with that solemn warning.

It showed just how seriously Marine Headquarters took this mission.

First, they had assigned a powerful but young Marine, perhaps to avoid drawing public attention. Second, they had imposed strict secrecy on the destination, suggesting that whatever was on the island was extremely important to the Marines.

Soon after Xia Le received the mission, his adjutant T Bone got word from Headquarters.

"Rear Admiral Sakazuki is sailing toward our position."

"We're to wait here."

Xia Le nodded lightly.

Then he looked at the group of trainee Marines aboard the ship, a smile touching his lips.

He had, of course, heard their conversation yesterday.

"Evens."

Xia Le called out casually and glanced down at the seven sets of rank insignia in his hand.

"Sir!"

Evens responded at once.

"Assemble everyone on the ship."

"Yes, sir!"

Evens saluted, then quickly notified the others.

Before long, Evens, Rosinante, Yagyu Hyoe, Slo, Mina, Kira, and Crocodile stood before him in a neat row, heads high and chests out.

Puzzlement showed in every pair of eyes. None of them knew why he had summoned them so suddenly.

Xia Le looked them over, then smiled.

"I heard what you all talked about yesterday!"

He paused. When he saw the excitement rising in their eyes, his smile deepened.

"In light of the outstanding performances you seven have given in battle as Marines, I submitted a report to Headquarters with my recommendations."

"Headquarters asked for my assessment of each of you."

"And they approved your commissions!"

He was not a Vice Admiral yet, nor a veteran like Garp with so much freedom of action. He still had to report any promotions among the sailors under his command.

"Starting today, you'll be full-fledged Marine officers!"

Xia Le's smile faded as he spoke in a firm voice.

"Officers?"

"Not soldiers?"

Rosinante looked confused.

Rather than answer him, Xia Le barked out a name.

"Evens!"

Evens snapped upright. "Sir!"

"Today, I'm granting you the rank of Lieutenant. From this moment on, you are a Marine officer!"

"I hope you'll remain true to the justice in your heart and fulfill your ideals!"

Xia Le's voice rang out.

Evens stiffened, then nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir!"

Xia Le stepped forward, fastened Evens's insignia, and smoothed the creases in his uniform.

"Don't lose sight of where to aim that gun of yours. Always know who it should be pointed at."

Evens's heart jolted. Then he saluted.

"Rosinante!"

Xia Le moved down the line.

"Sir!" Rosinante answered eagerly.

"You are hereby granted the rank of Ensign."

"As your superior, I have a serious warning for you."

"The dreams in your heart and the principles you stand by both need strength to support them."

"So there's one thing you must understand."

"Your fists will determine the course of your life!"

"So work hard and get stronger, you brat!"

Xia Le studied the tall young man's still-innocent face. Remembering the fate that awaited Rosinante, he spoke in a low voice.

Rosinante blinked at those words, then suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Yes, sir!"

"I'll work hard, hard, hard to get stronger!"

"I'll do my best to become as strong as you!"

Xia Le smiled and gave Rosinante a thump on the chest. Rosinante grimaced in pain, but he couldn't contain his joy and burst out laughing.

Next came Yagyu Hyoe, Mina, Kira, and Slo. Each received the rank of Lieutenant.

Xia Le pinned on their insignia himself and gave each of them a few words of warning about what to stand for and what to protect in the years ahead.

The last was Crocodile, who stood ramrod straight.

His whole body was tense, and he looked solemn and nervous, though he couldn't quite hide the restrained joy in his eyes. At this age, his left hand was still intact, not a Golden Hook.

"Crocodile!"

Xia Le called his name with a faint smile.

"Sir!" Crocodile answered loudly.

"On behalf of Marine Headquarters, I'm granting you the rank of Lieutenant."

Xia Le smiled as he spoke.

Then, carefully and unhurriedly, he fastened the insignia to Crocodile's shoulders.

"Everyone has a past. Everyone has memories."

"Some are beautiful, some cruel, and some heartbreaking."

"But we should always live in the present and look toward a brighter future."

As Xia Le straightened Crocodile's collar, he looked at the young man whose bearing had changed so completely and spoke softly.

"You can chase the past, but it will always be the past!"

"What you do today and tomorrow is yours to decide!"

"You should know in your heart who you want to be!"

Crocodile froze. Fragments of memory flashed through his mind and swept away, leaving only the image of a young face smiling at him.

The commissioning ceremony was brief and simple. When it was over, Xia Le's warship had seven fewer trainees and seven new officers.

Junior officers might occupy the lowest ranks of the Marine officer corps, but they had truly begun that path. Their commissions were recognition from Headquarters.

That day, everyone aboard shared their excitement and talked about the bright future ahead.

The night passed, and morning came.

Sakazuki's warship arrived around noon.

Xia Le stood at the front with his arms folded. T Bone, Crocodile, and the others stood behind him.

Every one of them stood straight, eyes fixed ahead. Some had been pirates not long ago, but becoming Marines had already changed the air about them.

A warship approached slowly.

At its bow stood a burly man in a white shirt and Marine cap, a sword strapped across his back. His expression was stern, his gaze cold, and he carried an unmistakable air of iron discipline.

It was Sakazuki.

"Xia Le!"

The warship soon stopped ten meters away. Sakazuki fixed his eyes on Xia Le and addressed him coldly.

"Sakazuki."

Xia Le's reply was equally cool.

There was no friendship between them. When they had first met two years ago, Xia Le had knocked Sakazuki unconscious with a burst of Conqueror's Haki. Whatever Sakazuki thought of him, it was unlikely to be good.

"More than two years have passed, and you don't seem to have changed at all," Sakazuki said coldly.

"Oh, no. Something has changed."

His knife-sharp gaze passed over Xia Le to Evens and the others behind him. A sneer of contempt crossed his face.

Was That You?