In a dark corner of the room.
A man in a blood-red suit with a solitary aura was clutching a newspaper with trembling fingers.
Patrick Redfield.
This legendary pirate, who had been tricked by Tatsuki into becoming an "off-the-books thug," was currently experiencing a mental breakdown.
'Roger lost?'
'That brat actually did it?'
He didn't believe it.
That was Gol D. Roger!
But the devastated landscape in the background of the photo, and the horrific injuries on Tatsuki's body, forced Redfield to believe it.
"I'm finished." Redfield muttered to himself.
"Did I board a ship I can never get off?"
If all this was true, it meant Tatsuki's hidden strength was even more bottomless than he had imagined.
Then this damn "fundraising officer" job...
He'd probably never be able to quit for the rest of his life.
Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, a cry broke the silence of the room.
"Tatsuki!!!"
Gion gripped the newspaper tightly, her eyes already swollen from crying. She looked at the "bone-deep" wound on Tatsuki's chest in the photo, her heart aching so much she could hardly breathe.
That was her light! Her hero!
"How could... how could he bleed so much?"
Gion suddenly lunged for the den den mushi on the table, her trembling fingers dialing the number.
It was Tatsuki's private line.
Purururu... Purururu...
The den den mushi rang for a long time.
With every ring of waiting, Gion's heart sank a bit further.
Until—
Click.
The call connected.
A faint groan slowly drifted out. "Is that Gion?"
...
South Blue, Baterilla Island.
The sun was bright, and the sea breeze was gentle.
Tatsuki was sprawled out on a beach chair, swirling a glass of top-tier red wine he'd swiped from Roger's ship.
Where on his body was there even a hint of a wound?
Life Return had long since healed those superficial injuries until not even a scar remained.
Roger was squatting under a nearby coconut tree drawing circles in the sand, his entire body radiating a bleak aura of questioning his life choices.
Hearing the den den mushi ring, Tatsuki instantly sat bolt upright and unhurriedly set down his wine glass.
Best Actor Mode, activate!
He took a deep breath and used muscle control to make his voice sound raspy and dry.
In the G-5 command room, Gion's tears instantly burst forth. "Waaaah! Tatsuki! It's me! It's Gion! How are you? Are you okay?!"
"Me? Heh..."
Tatsuki looked at the blue sky and white clouds, his voice incredibly desolate.
"Still alive."
"I've only got twelve broken ribs, half my lungs were shattered by Roger's Conqueror's Haki, and my heart... it probably just stopped for about three seconds."
"But it's fine. For justice, I can still hold on."
"Pfft!"
Eavesdropping nearby, Roger almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
You broke twelve ribs and you're still here tasting red wine?
Your heart stopped for three seconds and you're still here talking nonsense?
Tatsuki glared fiercely at Roger, signaling him to shut up, then continued to pant "weakly" into the den den mushi.
"Gion, don't cry. A soldier's blood is shed for justice. As long as I can catch Roger, as long as I can save a few lives on this sea, what do my injuries matter?"
"Uwaaaaah!!!"
From the other end came Gion's heart-wrenching wails and the sound of a blade being unsheathed, "Tatsuki! You must hold on! I'm bringing the medical team right now! I'll cut down anyone who dares to stop me!"
Hearing her breakdown on the other side, Tatsuki nodded with satisfaction.
Excellent, more Violation Points are about to be credited.
The system would definitely reward this kind of behavior of deceiving a pure-hearted girl's feelings.
"Cough, cough... Gion, let Sakazuki and the others take the phone." Tatsuki said with "difficulty."
After a flurry of chaotic footsteps, Sakazuki's heavy voice came through. "Tatsuki, it's Sakazuki. How. are you?"
Tatsuki's tone suddenly shifted. Though still weak, it gained a few traces of ruthlessness. "Listen, my situation is very bad. Although I've used Life Return to forcibly lock down my injuries, my combat power is less than ten percent of what it was."
"To prevent Roger's remnants from counterattacking, or in case someone from the World Government wants to swoop in and steal the credit..."
At this point, Tatsuki's voice suddenly became stern. "The three of you, take the fastest warship and get here immediately. Bring our justice back."
"Remember! Anyone who tries to intercept you, whether they're CP or the dogs of the Celestial Dragons, sink them for me."
"This is our G-5's funding for the next ten years, and... cough, cough, also my medical expenses."
Sakazuki's hand tightened around the receiver.
Even at a time like this, this bastard is still thinking about funding but why does it sound so reassuring?
"Understood."
Sakazuki took a deep breath, a fighting spirit as hot as magma boiling in his eyes.
"Rest easy, Tatsuki."
"No one can snatch away the glory that belongs to you."
Beside him, Borsalino adjusted his sunglasses, a dangerous smile on his lips. "Since it's Tatsuki's medical expenses, we certainly can't let others touch it. I'd be quite troubled if it were intercepted."
Kuzan stood up, a blast of cold air instantly dropping the room's temperature to the freezing point. "Arara, then let's head out. It just so happens I want to see the expression of the legendary Pirate King right now as well."
The three of them locked eyes.
Without any nonsense, at this moment, the future highest combat powers of the Marines reached an unprecedented understanding.
Click.
The call ended.
Tatsuki casually tossed the receiver back onto the sand, picked up his wine glass again, and took a comfortable sip.
"Tsk, this batch of subordinates is so easy to lead."
He looked at the system prompts constantly popping up on his retina.
[Ding! Through your superb acting skills, you have deceived the pure feelings of your subordinates and incited conflict between G-5 and the World Government.]
[Violation Points +100!]
[Ding! Your 'playing the victim' behavior has caused the favorability of the important character Gion to exceed the critical threshold, transforming into a morbid obsession, judged as 'distorting others' values'.]
[Violation Points +50!]
(End of Chapter)
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