It would not be an exaggeration to say that Kaido, hailed throughout the New World as the Strongest Creature on land, sea, and air, would seem almost fragile compared to Leon’s current physique.
While Leon lounged comfortably in his rocking chair, Bread Village welcomed a group of unexpected visitors.
A Marine warship had docked at the harbor.
Leading the group was a Marine captain named Caron, accompanied by roughly fifty uniformed Marines.
Their conspicuous arrival naturally drew the villagers’ attention.
Curious gazes followed them through the streets, but no one appeared nervous or afraid.
This was Admiral Kizaru’s hometown.
The people of Bread Village had no reason to fear the Marines.
“Excuse me, sir.
Is there a young man named Leon living here?”
Captain Caron politely stopped an elderly villager.
“We received orders from Admiral Kizaru.
We have come to formally invite his nephew to enlist in the Marines.”
Caron was especially respectful.
He had no intention of throwing his weight around in the hometown of a Marine Admiral.
“You’re looking for Leon?”
The villager immediately volunteered to lead the way.
“Come with me.
That brat is probably lazing around somewhere again.
He never does anything useful.”
“It’s a good thing Borsalino hasn’t forgotten about his nephew.
Otherwise, I really would worry that Leon might starve to death one day because he was too lazy to feed himself.”
The villager continued grumbling as he walked.
Captain Caron stared at his back in confusion.
Something did not add up.
According to Admiral Kizaru, his nephew was ambitious, diligent, and unbelievably hardworking.
Yet from the way this villager described him, the young man sounded like a hopeless loafer.
Had there been some kind of misunderstanding?
Caron kept his thoughts to himself and followed quietly.
Before long, the villager brought the Marines to their destination.
Caron looked in the direction he indicated and immediately spotted a young man reclining in a rocking chair outside a house.
Leon had one leg crossed over the other.
Sunglasses covered his eyes, and a glass of juice rested lazily in his hand.
Under the morning sun, his relaxed expression and languid posture were impossible to miss.
The sight shattered nearly every expectation Caron had formed along the way.
“That is Admiral Kizaru’s nephew?”
His voice came out weaker than he intended.
The young man did not look remotely diligent or hardworking.
“That’s him.”
The villager nodded without hesitation.
Caron slowly exhaled and forced down the complicated emotions rising inside him.
After thanking the villager, he led several Marines toward the young man in the rocking chair.
“Mr.
Leon?”
Caron stopped beside him and spoke tentatively.
Leon removed his sunglasses and turned toward the Marines.
“And you are?”
With his sharp senses, he immediately judged that the middle-aged Marine standing before him was no ordinary soldier.
The man’s disciplined physique and controlled movements revealed years of proper training.
“We came on Admiral Kizaru’s orders to invite you to join the Marines.”
Caron went straight to the point.
“My uncle sent you?”
Leon looked mildly surprised.
A moment later, he shook his head and put his sunglasses back on.
“I never said I wanted to become a Marine.”
“Please return and tell my uncle that I prefer living here.
I have no intention of leaving the village.”
“Sorry you had to make the trip.”
“Just explain the situation honestly.
Knowing my uncle, he shouldn’t blame you.”
Caron looked troubled.
His orders had been to bring Leon back with him.
The young man might have been nothing like the person Admiral Kizaru had described, but orders were still orders.
Caron hesitated before attempting to persuade him again.
Leon, however, refused without the slightest hesitation.
He had never once considered joining the Marines.
Become a Marine?
What kind of joke was that?
Why would he trade his peaceful life for a job?
He had already died from overwork once.
There was no chance he would allow himself to be dragged into the same miserable routine again.
Leon was far too powerful to ever starve.
If he truly wanted wealth and status, obtaining them would be effortless.
With his strength, he could conquer a kingdom, seize more treasure than he could ever spend, and surround himself with every luxury imaginable.
But that sounded exhausting.
It was not that Leon lacked the ability.
He simply could not be bothered.
In this life, he wanted peace, comfort, and as little responsibility as possible.
That meant joining the Marines was out of the question.
Becoming a pirate did not appeal to him either.
Life in Bread Village suited him perfectly.
The villagers were entertaining, the food was good, and no one expected much from him.
He loved it here.
“Captain Caron, there is no need to keep trying.”
“My decision is final.”
“Call my uncle with a Den Den Mushi and tell him yourself.
I will not be joining the Marines.”
Leon waved dismissively and said nothing more.
Caron could only stand there helplessly.
With no other choice, he ordered one of his subordinates to bring out a Den Den Mushi and connect them to Marine Headquarters.
“Purururu… Purururu…”
The call went through shortly afterward.
“Please transfer this call to Admiral Kizaru’s office.
I have an urgent matter to report to him personally,” Caron said.
After a brief wait, Kizaru’s familiar, unhurried voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
“This is Kizaru.
Captain Caron, was it?”
“I remember you.
You’re stationed at the Marine branch in Mushroom Town, North Blue, aren’t you?”
“That means you’ve already reached Bread Village and are preparing to bring my nephew back?”
“Admiral, your nephew is unwilling to join the Marines.”
Caron sounded helpless.
“He has refused several times, and his decision appears firm.”
Kizaru thought for a moment.
“Leon is beside you, isn’t he?
Hand him the Den Den Mushi.
I’ll speak to him myself.”
“Yes, Admiral.”
Caron passed the Den Den Mushi to Leon.
Leon accepted it without leaving his chair.
“Uncle, I know you mean well, but I genuinely have no interest in becoming a Marine.”
“Protecting justice on the seas is important work.
It should be left to people who actually want to do it.”
“And why don’t you want to join?”
Kizaru’s tone became slightly more serious.
“You’re my only nephew.
I don’t want to hear that you starved to death one day because you were too lazy to take care of yourself.”
“How would I face my sister after that?”
Kizaru had already guessed why his nephew was refusing.
After considering the matter, he continued.
“Don’t reject the idea so quickly.”
“I only want you to join because it’s a secure job.”
“You don’t honestly believe every Marine is constantly busy, do you?”
“Look at me.
I’ve been in the Marines for years, and I’ve never worked overtime.”
Leon fell silent.
Kizaru continued in a persuasive tone.
“Listen to your uncle.”
“Join the Marines, take it easy at work, and collect your salary every month.”
“Doesn’t that sound appealing?”
“It’s better than sitting in the village doing nothing all day.”
“You’ll still have plenty of freedom, and you’ll be paid for showing up.
Most days, you can simply follow my example and avoid doing anything unnecessary.”
“And if anyone has a problem with it or tries to file a complaint, just tell them who your uncle is.”
“I still have a little influence around Marine Headquarters.”
Leon considered his words.
He had to admit that, when Kizaru explained it that way, joining the Marines did not sound entirely terrible.
His uncle spent most of his time taking things easy and apparently never worked overtime.
Leon’s eyes gradually lit up.
Perhaps becoming a Marine was worth considering after all.
He could relax on duty and still receive a steady salary.
It was the kind of job he had dreamed about throughout his previous life.
At that exact moment, the system—which had remained silent for the entire three months since his transmigration—finally responded.
[New check-in location unlocked: Mushroom Town Marine Branch, North Blue.]
[Check-in reward: the combined swordsmanship of Dracule Mihawk, the dragon-slaying samurai Ryuma, and Kozuki Oden at their peaks.]