A cannon-fodder assignment.
Liam Ross would rather die than take it.
Of course, with his current strength, even spending a year or two aboard a patrol ship wouldn't put him in danger.
And that was exactly the problem.
Every time a patrol fleet returned, there were always casualties officers, majors, even rear admirals weren't spared. Yet if a low-ranking seaman like him came back alive, safe and sound, again and again?
That would raise eyebrows.
And once someone like Fleet Admiral Sengoku, known for his sharp mind and suspicious nature, took notice…
Liam's peaceful life would come to an abrupt end.
At that point, his secret powers would inevitably be exposed. Worse, he might even be branded as a spy and hunted down by the Marines themselves.
The more he thought about it, the heavier his chest felt.
He really didn't want this.
But Commander Burke just smiled after hearing his plea. "I know you originally applied for courier duty, Liam, but things changed. The delivery department said they were full, and just then, Fleet Admiral Sengoku issued a new directive to expand the patrol divisions. So your rejected application was transferred congratulations, you're officially assigned to a patrol vessel."
Liam's mouth twitched in disbelief. "Sir, how about I cancel the transfer and just keep cleaning floors?"
He wasn't joking.
Becoming a patrol soldier was as good as volunteering for death.
If it meant survival, he'd rather spend his days sweeping corridors and polishing brass than gamble his life at sea.
But Burke shook his head with a pitying look. "Too late, son. Orders from the top. But don't look so grim! Patrol duty isn't all bad. The pay's far better than logistics, and if you survive a few missions, promotion comes fast."
Liam stared blankly.
Sure, if it's so great, why don't you go instead?
Now this same lazy, greedy superior who'd never missed an opportunity to slack off was giving him a motivational speech about justice and opportunity?
Yeah, right.
Liam exhaled slowly, then lowered his voice. "What if… I pay you to make this go away? Say, one hundred thousand Berries?"
Burke frowned, hesitating.
Liam immediately raised the price. "Two hundred thousand. That's all I have."
That wasn't exactly true. He had over a million Berries saved from sign-in rewards. But flaunting that much wealth would only invite trouble. A low-ranking seaman sitting on a fortune? That kind of thing got people investigated.
Burke's eyes flickered. For a moment, Liam could practically see the greed wrestling inside him. The man's breathing grew shallow, fingers twitching slightly.
Liam smiled inwardly. Hooked.
It didn't matter which world you lived in money always talked.
But then, to Liam's surprise, Burke's expression hardened. He suddenly straightened, face solemn and voice booming through the office.
"Liam Ross! How dare you attempt a bribe here of all places? This is Marine Headquarters the symbol of absolute justice! I will not tolerate corruption in my command! You will report to your patrol ship tomorrow morning without fail. Now get out!"
Liam froze, stunned.
That wasn't the Burke he knew the same man who'd once pocketed three boxes of rationed cigars and blamed the kitchen staff.
When had this corrupt old fox turned into a paragon of virtue?
Defeated, Liam trudged out of the office in silence. His bribe plan had gone down in flames.
He returned to his cramped dorm room, tossing himself onto the cot with a sigh.
Maybe he could find another way out perhaps talk to Vice Admiral Garp?
Unfortunately, word around HQ was that Garp had already left for his hometown in the East Blue two days ago. No one knew when he'd return.
As for Dragon… rumor had it he'd taken a year-long leave to spend time with his wife.
Liam frowned, doing the math in his head. Right around now, he's probably planning his revolution.
He rubbed his temples. No allies left. No escape routes.
In the end, he had no choice but to accept his fate.
That night, he lay awake under the dim glow of the barracks lamp, turning over every possible plan in his mind. None of them worked.
By dawn, he'd resigned himself to it.
The next morning dawned bright and clear, the sea glittering under the rising sun. Gulls wheeled above the harbor, their cries echoing against the waves.
Liam reported for duty and joined hundreds of other soldiers for a week-long pre-deployment training session aboard the fleet. The schedule was brutal combat drills, rifle practice, endurance training but he managed.
During that time, the system rewarded him with another Weekly Bonus Pack. Most of it was junk, but the swordsmanship manual and experience cards were valuable.
After applying the technique scroll, a faint warmth coursed through him.
Greatsword Mastery: 300 / 1000 (Proficient)
"Not bad," he murmured with satisfaction.
His current plan was clear: evolve his Earth-Earth Fruit first. Once awakened, its power would skyrocket. After that, he could focus on Haki, swordsmanship, and the Navy's Six Techniques.
For now, he kept a low profile during drills, showing just enough strength to appear competent nothing more. If he looked too weak, he'd be a liability. Too strong, and someone would start asking questions.
Finally, the day of departure arrived.
The deep, thunderous sound of a horn rolled over the sea.
Liam stood in line with the other soldiers, wearing his short-sleeved Marine uniform and cap, eyes fixed forward as the senior officers approached.
"Attention!"
"Salute!"
Their commanding officer stepped onto the deck a tall man with a thick mustache and scars crisscrossing his face. His Marine coat fluttered behind him, the word "Justice" emblazoned in bold on the back.
Liam recognized him instantly. Vice Admiral Doberman.
One of the admirals who'd participated in the Buster Call on Ohara years ago.
This time, he was leading a month-long ocean patrol, flanked by two rear admirals and several commodores.
"Everyone, take your positions. We set sail immediately," Doberman ordered, voice cold and sharp.
With that, he turned and disappeared into the cabin.
Liam breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his name on the roster he'd been assigned to a different ship than Doberman's flagship.
Moments later, the three Marine battleships slowly glided away from the harbor, their shadows stretching across the waves as sunlight danced on the water.
The open sea awaited them.
Hours passed. On deck, Liam chatted idly with a few comrades when the familiar voice of the system echoed in his mind.
"System detection complete. Due to change in occupation and prolonged departure from home base, please select one of the following options:"
"Option 1: Change permanent sign-in region to current patrol vessel."
"Option 2: Temporarily suspend permanent sign-in region. Weekly rewards will not be distributed."
Liam frowned.
If he bound his sign-in region to the ship, he'd lose access to Marine HQ's high-value areas. But if he suspended the feature, he'd still have his daily sign-ins plus the chance to find unique rewards at sea.
The choice was obvious.
"System, I choose Option Two."
"Permanent region suspended. Daily sign-ins remain active. Special locations will grant bonus rewards."
A grin spread across Liam's face.
And then
"Enemy attack!"
The lookout's voice tore through the air.
Within seconds, chaos erupted across the deck. Marines scrambled into formation, rifles raised, cannons loaded.
Then came the roar of the sea itself.
A towering wall of water at least twenty meters high surged toward the fleet, blotting out the sun.
"All Marines must die!" a man's crazed laughter echoed from within the rising wave.
Liam's pulse quickened as the shadow of the tsunami swallowed the ships whole.
The ocean had turned into a battlefield.
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