A promotion?
A raise?
An exceptional promotion straight to Marine Captain?
Well, if Kizaru was offering all that, then the situation was completely different.
Leon’s eyes lit up.
His drowsiness vanished, and he suddenly looked wide awake and full of energy.
“Just to be clear…”
“I’m not doing this for the rank.”
“And it certainly isn’t about the raise.”
Leon spoke with solemn conviction.
“Whenever I see vicious pirates pillaging and slaughtering innocent people, my heart burns with righteous anger.”
“As a Marine, it is my duty to uphold justice.”
“Even without the promise of a promotion, I would have stepped forward without hesitation and dealt with these criminals.”
“They’re openly trafficking weapons and have committed countless crimes.
They deserve to spend the rest of their lives reflecting on their actions in Impel Down.”
“The only reason I refused earlier was because I wanted to test Captain Caron.”
“I needed to see whether he possessed the courage to stand against pirates or whether fear would overwhelm him.”
“The result is clear.”
“Captain Caron displayed admirable bravery.
I am deeply impressed.”
Leon delivered the speech with perfect seriousness.
Standing nearby, Caron silently stared at him.
Mr.
Leon, you really refuse to lift a finger unless there is something in it for you.
Without Admiral Kizaru’s offer, you absolutely would have watched us all die without doing a thing, wouldn’t you?
Caron kept those thoughts to himself.
Regardless of Leon’s motivations, he had agreed to act.
That alone allowed Caron to release a long breath of relief.
Some of the pressure weighing on him finally eased.
“Enough.”
Kizaru sounded thoroughly unconvinced.
“You think your uncle doesn’t know what kind of person you are?”
“If your commitment to justice is truly that pure, then perhaps I should withdraw my offer.”
“Now, Uncle, you’re a Marine Admiral.”
Leon immediately objected.
“You can’t go back on your word.”
“Deal with the pirates first.”
Kizaru sighed.
“Once it’s done, report back to me.
I’ll submit your achievement to Sengoku and recommend your immediate promotion to Marine Captain.”
The call ended shortly afterward.
Leon returned the Den Den Mushi to Caron with a satisfied smile.
Then he placed a hand on the captain’s shoulder and spoke in a reassuring tone.
“But you can relax now.”
“Leave these pirates to me.”
“Marines and pirates are natural enemies.”
“And these criminals have become so arrogant that they’re openly threatening a Marine warship.”
“As a member of the Marines, I cannot allow such behavior to continue.”
Under the complicated gazes of the crew, Leon walked alone toward the front of the deck.
Bart watched his departing figure before quietly speaking to Caron.
“Captain…”
“Without Admiral Kizaru’s promise, Mr.
Leon really would have watched the pirates kill all of us, wouldn’t he?”
“Must you say it aloud?”
Caron rolled his eyes.
He now possessed a much clearer understanding of Leon’s personality.
Leon was not remotely suited to being a conventional Marine.
He behaved more like a bounty hunter.
Offer sufficient compensation, and he would handle the job.
Offer nothing?
Then deal with the problem yourself.
Justice did not appear to mean much to him.
Whether Leon captured pirates depended entirely on his mood and what he stood to gain.
“So…”
“Is having a monster like Mr.
Leon in the Marines actually a blessing or a disaster?”
Caron considered the question.
At the very least, recruiting Leon prevented him from becoming a pirate.
From that perspective, even if Leon spent his entire career avoiding work and collecting a salary, his enlistment was still a major victory for the Marines.
As long as someone that powerful did not become their enemy, the organization had already benefited.
“Do you really think Mr.
Leon can defeat all of them?”
Bart still sounded uncertain.
“They belong to the Vinsmoke family and the Donquixote Family.”
His concern was understandable.
The Vinsmokes had inspired fear throughout the North Blue for so long that even Marines lacked confidence when facing them.
“Don’t worry.”
Now that Leon had agreed to fight, Caron felt completely at ease.
He had no doubt that the pirates were finished.
The reason was simple.
Caron stared at Leon’s back with absolute confidence.
“You cannot imagine how powerful someone capable of controlling Conqueror’s Haki can be.”
“In the entire North Blue, perhaps only the Vinsmoke family’s strongest members could pose a genuine threat to Mr.
Leon.”
“Anyone else could come at him in any number and accomplish nothing.”
“Mr.
Caron’s certainty gradually eased Bart’s anxiety.
At the same time, Leon’s decision to face both pirate forces alone caused hundreds of criminals to burst into laughter.
“Have the Marines run out of people?”
Larmi laughed openly.
“Their captain hides in the back while they send some brat forward to die?”
“Enough wasting time.”
Jerick spoke impatiently.
“Let’s finish this before anything unexpected happens.”
“If another Marine patrol reaches these waters, it will only create unnecessary complications.”
“We may not fear them, but there’s no reason to invite more trouble.”
“You’re right.”
Larmi nodded.
The hundreds of pirates behind the two men made no effort to conceal their hostility.
Their bloodlust pressed down on Leon as they glared at him from both ships.
An ordinary Marine might have lost his nerve under the attention of so many hardened criminals.
Leon remained completely indifferent.
He had never considered them worth fearing.
“So you’re the reason I have to work overtime?”
The situation brought back unpleasant memories from Leon’s previous life.
Memories of demanding clients and endless revisions surged through his mind.
“This isn’t right.
Change it.”
“No problem.”
“This part doesn’t work either.
Change it again.”
“Understood.”
“Actually, after looking at everything, the first version was better.
Let’s use that one.”
Leon’s expression darkened.
All those miserable nights spent working beyond exhaustion returned at once.
His eyes gradually became bloodshot.
A cold and terrifying presence spread from his body, making him resemble a vengeful spirit.
The chilling pressure swept across the deck.
Even Caron and the Marines behind him shuddered as they stared at Leon’s back.
Just how much resentment had he been carrying?
It felt almost tangible.
Leon looked toward the two pirate ships without expression.
“So you’re the clients responsible for my overtime?”
His voice was dangerously calm.
“Good.”
“Then you’re exactly the people I feel like beating tonight.”
The pirates aboard those two ships had no idea what they had just awakened.
But their fate was already sealed.