An Idiot with His Wits About Him

"Have a seat. No need to be so stiff. Just think of me as a frail old lady."

Tsuru smiled faintly and gestured toward the chair beside her.

"Alright."

Wilton's whole persona was built on being stubbornly straightforward, upright, fierce, sunny, and fearless. What he said was what he meant.

That persona spared him a lot of trouble.

She said sit, so he sat.

Sadi, on the other hand, was somewhat restrained. She was not having an episode either, sitting properly with a quiet expression. At first glance, she actually looked normal, even somewhat ladylike.

Who would have thought she was a mentally ill pervert with both sadistic and masochistic tendencies?

The four Jailer Beasts plopped down on the floor, heads lowered as they sucked on their snot bubbles, remaining just as quiet.

Although Tsuru was not giving off any intimidating aura and instead seemed kindly and easygoing, Sadi and the four Jailer Beasts could still sense an invisible pressure.

It was hard to describe.

They simply could not stop themselves from feeling restrained.

"Major General Wilton, you have had a difficult journey. Even when facing the world's most evil man in Loguetown, you did not retreat. You showed the Navy's might admirably."

"Not only did you not lose the escort target, you also captured several Devil Fruit User pirates. Fleet Admiral Sengoku has been closely following this matter."

Tsuru clasped her hands before her chin, her wise eyes fixed on Wilton.

The moment he entered, he gave her the impression of someone incorruptible, straightforward, simple-minded, brave, and fearless.

Like the sun.

A person's appearance reflected their heart, and their temperament was obvious. Such people were generally easy to understand; everything was written on their faces.

But they were often single-minded, stubborn hardheads, not the sort to scheme or play tricks.

To put it bluntly, they were not particularly intelligent, but they were loyal and trustworthy—the kind of subordinate every leader loved.

Combined with Wilton's bulging muscles, massive frame, sharply defined features, bright eyes, and handsome middle-aged appearance that exuded righteousness and bravery, the image could not have suited him better.

In reality, Wilton was only twenty-five.

He just looked a little older than his age!

"A real man should defend his home and country, uphold justice."

"As a Marine, I will not allow even the slightest trace of evil to exist."

"For justice, I can fight until I shed my last drop of blood."

Wilton's expression was solemn, and his voice rang with conviction. He met Tsuru's gaze without the slightest hesitation, his eyes filled with determination and the resolve to die for justice at any moment.

Tsuru was slightly taken aback.

It was the first time she had understood someone so simply and quickly. There was not the slightest evasiveness in his eyes as he met her gaze, only solemnity and a willingness to face death.

Tsuru knew that the human heart was complicated. It was impossible to see through someone in a short time, yet now she had to admit that some people could indeed be seen through after only one meeting.

Fight until he shed his last drop of blood.

He was not lying. He had truly done it. She had read the detailed battle reports from Loguetown. Even at the very end, this major general had not backed down.

He had been knocked down again and again, only to rise again and again.

He did not stop fighting until he was utterly exhausted, unable to continue, and had even fallen unconscious.

He had truly cast life and death aside and faced danger without fear.

Of course.

She could have misjudged him. But if that were the case, then this man's ambition, patience, and acting skills would be terrifying.

"Thank you, Major General Wilton, for your devotion to justice. With people like you, the Navy will surely spread justice across the entire world in the future."

Tsuru's expression also became solemn.

This was a seedling with great potential. She would need to keep watching him in the future.

"To uphold justice is my bounden duty."

It was a thoroughly official standard answer.

"Good, good, good."

Just then, an adjutant happened to bring over coffee and pastries. Tsuru gestured for Wilton and the others to try some, then casually said, "Warden Magellan sent word that the former Chief Jailer had led four Jailer Beasts in rebellion. It seems that is not the case after all."

"Vice Admiral, I did not rebel. At most, I abandoned my post without permission."

Sadi trembled and hurriedly set down her coffee before rising to her feet.

The four Jailer Beasts were still sucking on their snot bubbles and had yet to react. They remained seated on the floor, drinking the coffee that adjutant had just brought them. It did not taste very good, but the pastries were delicious.

They had never enjoyed anything like this in Impel Down.

Wilton was somewhat surprised now. He looked at Sadi with a trace of disbelief. He had thought this sadistic, masochistic pervert was an idiot, but it turned out she was so clever when she was not having an episode.

Just look at that answer.

Rebellion and abandoning one's post were two entirely different concepts.

"You should currently be awaiting punishment, shouldn't you? Because you attacked Major General Wilton upon meeting him, Warden Magellan stripped you of your position as Chief Jailer afterward and detained you."

Tsuru could not quite make sense of Sadi either.

The information sent from Impel Down stated that former Chief Jailer Sadi had voluntarily brought four Jailer Beasts and secretly infiltrated Major General Wilton's warship.

Yet now, both sides seemed to be at peace.

So the question was?

Should they not have been like fire and water?

"I have recognized my mistake, so in order to make amends, I have decided to follow Major General Wilton and atone through meritorious service."

Sadi's pretty face began to flush.

Tsuru frowned deeply.

"That is still no reason for you to abandon your post, flee while awaiting punishment, and take the Jailer Beasts with you. Both your actions and methods were extremely improper."

"I know, but I beg you, Vice Admiral, please allow me to remain by Major General Wilton's side. From now on, I will fight bravely against enemies and make up for my mistakes."

Sadi's attitude was extremely sincere, as though she would rather die if they refused.

Crime or no crime, all she wanted was to remain beside Major General Wilton and be tormented and abused by him every day and night.

"Vice Admiral, if I do not follow Major General Wilton, I will die."

"Please, you must allow me to remain by Major General Wilton's side."

Tsuru fell silent.

She could tell that Sadi was not lying. Aside from her accumulated experience, a woman's intuition told her that Sadi really would die if she left Wilton.

Clearly, she had developed some kind of mental illness.

"What do you think, Major General Wilton?"

Tsuru looked at Wilton.

At the root of this incident, Sadi had attacked Wilton. But Wilton had nearly killed Sadi as well, and Magellan had later stepped in, so the matter was essentially over.

What they were dealing with now was Sadi, who had been dismissed, privately fleeing with four Jailer Beasts. The matter could be considered serious, or it could be considered not so serious.

Either way, it was just a matter of one word from her.

In truth, this had nothing to do with Wilton. But Sadi had just made it clear that she would die if she could not follow him.

Sadi was still a capable person, after all. She had worked hard in Impel Down for so many years, and she was not exactly unforgivably wicked.

Sometimes, as a leader, one had to be accommodating or turn a blind eye.

Wilton hesitated.

If Sadi had not just displayed that normal side of herself, along with her functioning intelligence, he would have refused without hesitation.

But if he could also obtain the four Jailer Beasts, then it was not entirely unacceptable.

Whenever she had an episode, he could just beat her until she behaved.

"Vice Admiral, if I agree, will those four Jailer Beasts become my subordinates as well?"

Wilton pointed at the four Jailer Beasts, who were eating enthusiastically.

"We will need to ask Warden Magellan about that." Although Tsuru had the authority to make the decision herself, she could not simply bypass Magellan in a matter like this. It would be tantamount to slapping him in the face.

Respect still had to be shown.

"Then please ask him, Vice Admiral. If Warden Magellan does not agree, then I think it would be better to send them back to Impel Down."

"No, Lord Wilton, I will die!"

Sadi wailed as she hugged Wilton's muscular calf. She could not imagine what life would be like without Wilton's abuse.

She also knew that Wilton preferred the four Jailer Beasts.

Was she not seductive enough? Was she not wearing little enough? Why did he prefer four wild beasts over her?

Perhaps she needed to reflect on herself...