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Chapter 37 is out!!!! +40 advanced chapters monthly
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"Pardon the offense!"
Seeing Hakusui voluntarily offer his hands, the two Marines flanking T-Bone looked relieved and quickly clamped the Seastone handcuffs onto his wrists.
"Guh!"
The moment the Seastone cuffs clicked shut, Hakusui couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.
He felt as though every ounce of strength in his body was being siphoned away by the Seastone. A terrifying, oppressive sensation washed over him, making it hard to even draw breath. His complexion instantly turned a sickly pale.
"You're a Devil Fruit user!" T-Bone exclaimed, visibly startled by the reaction.
"Of course I am. Why else would I offer to let you use Seastone on me?" Hakusui raised his head and flashed a weak grin. "I already told you, I mean no harm! Since you guys didn't believe me, I had to show a little sincerity. So, how about it? Is this sincere enough for you?"
"You speak too modestly, sir," T-Bone said, looking at Hakusui with profound respect. The skeletal Marine Captain gave him a heavy, formal salute. "Once I have ensured the safety of the townsfolk, I will definitely offer you a drink as my formal apology!"
"You two!" T-Bone commanded in a deep, booming voice, his gaunt face dead serious. "Guard this young man with your lives. If anything happens to him, I will hold you personally responsible. Do you understand?!"
"Yes, sir!" The two Marines stiffened, replying with unwavering discipline.
By the time T-Bone had successfully reassured the panicked residents of Kuro Island, over an hour had passed. Exhausted from his earlier ordeal, Hakusui had long since drifted off to sleep on the ground.
The two Marines, however, stood like a pair of stone statues, not moving an inch—even as the scorching sun drenched their uniforms in sweat. Hakusui had proven himself a man worthy of their respect. Because of this, despite their fatigue, they didn't utter a single word of complaint.
"Hakusui!"
"Hakusui!"
"Hakusui!"
Through the hazy veil of sleep, Hakusui thought he heard someone calling his name.
He slowly cracked his eyes open, groggily looking around, only to see the young girl, Aki, crouching in front of him. Her soft hands were gently but persistently shaking his arm.
"Oh, it's you, Aki. What's up?" Hakusui stretched lazily and sat up, letting out a large yawn.
"You lazy bum, that Marine officer is calling for you!" Seeing Hakusui finally awake, Aki breathed a sigh of relief and pointed over her shoulder.
"Oh, got it."
Following the direction of Aki's finger, he saw T-Bone flashing him a rare, toothy smile, raising a cup of sake and gesturing for him to come over.
"Let's go, Marine brothers! Come have a drink with us!" Hakusui stood up and casually addressed the two Marine officers beside him, who were already looking quite dehydrated from the blazing sun.
"Phew, we can finally move! Haha!" The two men couldn't help but rejoice. Smiling blissfully, they eagerly followed Hakusui over to their Captain.
"Consider this drink my formal apology for my earlier transgression. I shall drink first!"
As Hakusui walked over and took a seat beside him, T-Bone raised a large bowl of sake and downed it in a single, honorable gulp.
"Hahaha, as the saying goes, out of blows grows friendship! Though we didn't actually fight, we still got to know each other," Hakusui laughed, his carefree maritime spirit fully on display. "Haha, there's no need to sweat over 'offenses' between men of the sea! Come on, Marine bro, I'm toasting to you! From now on, we're friends!"
Hakusui raised his own cup toward T-Bone with a hearty grin.
"Hahaha! Excellent! Spoken like a true man of the sea! I gladly accept this drink!"
T-Bone roared with laughter, his usual grim demeanor melting away. He clinked his cup heavily against Hakusui's before throwing his head back and downing the sake.
All around them, the surrounding civilians were completely immersed in singing and dancing. Looking at the lively, joyous festival filling the square, one would never guess that a bloody battle had threatened to destroy this very island just hours ago.