Marine Branch Base.
In the main hall, a young Marine stood frozen, staring at the battered and barely-breathing Buggy, then turned stiffly toward the boy standing beside him—Kai.
At that moment, his entire body tensed, every muscle tight, his eyes filled with restrained awe and disbelief as he looked at Kai.
Even now, he still couldn't wrap his head around it.
A four-year-old child had taken down a pirate worth twelve million Berries in bounty!
If the proof weren't lying right there before his eyes, he would never have believed such an absurd thing was possible.
Before long, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the stairwell.
A burly middle-aged man in a Marine coat with the word Justice emblazoned on the back descended quickly, exuding authority with every step.
Following close behind him was the same beautiful female Marine from earlier—Lilith.
When they entered the hall, the man—Colonel Gerson, a Marine Headquarters officer stationed at Loguetown,hadn't even looked at Kai yet.
Instead, his attention was instantly drawn to the bloody, half-dead figure lying on the floor.
"T-This is…"
"Buggy the Clown?!"
Seeing Buggy's miserable, near-death condition left Gerson dumbstruck.
After all, Buggy wasn't just any pirate—he was a notorious captain with a bounty exceeding ten million Berries!
And yet here he was, beaten to within an inch of his life.
Was this real?
Was this really the same troublesome Buggy he'd failed to capture countless times?
Gerson had personally led multiple operations to apprehend Buggy the Clown—each one ending in failure.
That alone was proof of how tricky Buggy truly was.
Never in his wildest dreams did Gerson imagine he'd one day witness this:
Buggy the Clown—one of the most slippery, exasperating pirates in East Blue—lying in the Marine s' own hall like a mangled dog.
The sight was enough to rattle even a hardened officer's nerves.
"It really is Buggy the Clown…"
"I've fought him enough times to recognize him instantly."
"No doubt about it. That's him—one hundred percent genuine."
"A pirate worth twelve million Berries..."
Kneeling beside the unconscious Buggy, Gerson carefully examined him before drawing a firm conclusion.
And that conclusion… left him utterly shaken.
"Phew…"
He exhaled deeply, forcing himself to stay calm.
Finally, Gerson's gaze shifted from Buggy… to the boy standing quietly in the middle of the hall.
"This child…"
"Is he the one?"
"The one who single-handedly captured Buggy the Clown…?"
"A four-year-old monster?"
Gerson couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
He had already heard the full report from his subordinates, but seeing it with his own eyes was a different experience altogether.
"Too young… far too young!"
"Only four years old…"
"And yet he possesses the power to defeat a pirate worth twelve million Berries?"
"What kind of concept is that?!"
"Unbelievable!"
Even as a Colonel, Gerson was deeply shaken.
After a long moment, he forcibly steadied his emotions.
Then, stepping forward, he addressed the boy with a respectful and almost deferential tone.
"I presume… you must be the one who personally subdued Buggy the Clown and brought him here to our base, correct?"
Anyone capable of capturing a pirate with an eight-figure bounty deserved respect—even from a Headquarters officer.
But this case was even more extraordinary.
Because standing before him… was a four-year-old child.
A child with such terrifying, world-shaking strength!
Gerson could easily imagine what kind of being this boy would grow into in just a few short years.
Forming a friendly connection early… could only bring benefits.
At the very least, this child had already shown hostility toward pirates—and anyone who stood against pirates was automatically a friend of the Marine s.
"Four years old, and he's already defeated a pirate worth twelve million Berries..."
"Give it a few more years, and he might become one of the most terrifying monsters on the seas!"
"This level of talent is beyond comprehension!"
"There's never been anyone like him."
The more Gerson thought about it, the more awed he became.
"Four years old, and already at a power level equivalent to a pirate with a multi-million bounty…"
"Was he training since the day he was born?!"
"What a terrifying little demon…"
"A peerless genius!"
The thought lit a spark in Gerson's eyes—a burning desire to recruit such a prodigy.
If he could bring a talent like this into the Marine s, it would be a historic achievement!
And for Gerson, who had served as Loguetown's base captain for twelve years, such an accomplishment could easily elevate his rank—perhaps even to Commodore… or Rear Admiral!
With that in mind, Gerson's expression softened, and his tone turned eager.
"I am Gerson, a Colonel stationed here at the Loguetown Marine Branch."
He introduced himself formally.
A four-year-old prodigy capable of defeating Buggy the Clown deserved nothing less.
He knew full well that this child's future was far beyond his reach—but forging goodwill now was the smartest move possible.
"To think that at your age, you could single-handedly take down Buggy the Clown, a pirate worth twelve million Berries…"
"Such strength commands the utmost respect."
"But I must admit, I'm very curious…"
"How exactly did you do it? Buggy is a cunning man. Capturing him isn't easy."
"I've personally attempted to arrest him multiple times… and failed every single one."
"So for you to bring him down alone—well, I can only feel humbled."
He sighed sincerely.
Kai's expression turned slightly odd.
After a brief moment of thought, he replied casually,
"Capturing Buggy? That wasn't difficult at all. Honestly, I didn't feel any pressure. I just threw a single punch… and that was enough to cripple him on the spot."
"After that, I simply brought him here."
The hall fell completely silent.
Gerson's smile froze; his mouth twitched violently.
Good heavens…
This four-year-old brat—was he even human?!
Something that Gerson himself couldn't achieve even after elaborate planning…
To this child, it was nothing more than "a single punch"?
The comparison made Gerson suddenly question his entire career.
Was he… a joke?
"I–In one punch?!"
"I once led an entire squad, spent weeks setting up an ambush network… and he still slipped away."
"This is… too humiliating…"
Gerson felt like crying.
Never in his life had he imagined being emotionally destroyed by a four-year-old.
He wanted to sink through the floor.
Beside him, Lilith and the young Marine from earlier were equally dumbfounded.
They stared blankly at Kai, his words echoing in their minds.
Then, almost in unison, both turned to look at Gerson.
"…Did he just slap Colonel Gerson in the face?"
Everyone at the branch knew: Gerson had tried—and failed—countless times to capture Buggy.
And now this kid casually declared that he'd done it in one punch?
If that wasn't rubbing salt in the wound, what was?
Too cruel!
Colonel Gerson was being utterly humiliated.
"A Colonel… and I'm not even as strong as a four-year-old kid?"
Gerson's sense of self-worth wavered dangerously.
After a long, awkward silence, he finally coughed twice to ease the tension.
"Ahem… well then!" He quickly changed the subject. "May I ask, what should I call you?"
"My name's Kai," the boy answered plainly.
"Kai, huh? What a fine name…"
Gerson automatically complimented him, hoping to restore some dignity to the conversation.
But then—
He froze.
Wait…
Kai?
Why did that name sound so familiar?
He frowned, lost in thought.
"Kai…"
"Where have I heard that before?"
"It sounds so familiar."
"I'm certain I've come across that name recently…"
"But for the life of me, I can't remember where."
Gerson's brows furrowed deeply as he sank into contemplation.
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