Evening, Loguetown.
Ryan walked leisurely with a cigar in his mouth and his hands in his pockets. The scabbard of Wind Splitter lightly bumped against his thigh with each step, emitting a rhythmic, soft sound.
"Mr. Ryan!"
A clear voice called out from behind him, carrying a hint of hurried panting.
Ryan paused slightly and turned to see Tashigi jogging to catch up. Her light blue short hair was tousled by the wind, and her thin-framed glasses glinted in the sunset. When she reached him, her chest rose and fell slightly.
"Well, if it isn't the beautiful Marine?" Ryan looked at Tashigi, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He blew out a smoke ring and teased, "Are you Marines usually this idle? No need to patrol, but you have time to chase after people?"
"That's not it!" Tashigi was momentarily stunned by the term "beautiful Marine," her cheeks instantly flushing a light pink. She quickly waved her hands. "I just finished my patrol and happened to see you while passing by."
She paused, adjusted her glasses, and asked, "Where are you headed?"
Ryan exhaled a smoke ring. "Looking for a place to eat."
After arriving in Loguetown, he had wandered around the town, visited the execution platform of the Pirate King, found it unremarkable, and now his stomach was growling.
Tashigi's eyes lit up as if she had seized an opportunity. She quickly said, "Then... let me treat you to a meal! As a thank you for helping subdue the pirate Baron during the day."
"I'm planning to have a feast. Are you sure you can afford it?"
Ryan raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Tashigi. The girl's Marine uniform was washed to a faded hue, and the scabbard of Timely Rain at her waist showed signs of use—clearly not from a wealthy background.
Tashigi was taken aback, clearly not expecting Ryan to say that. Then she straightened her back, her eyes behind the lenses filled with determination. "No problem! I can definitely afford the best seafood restaurant in Loguetown!"
"Oh?" Ryan grew slightly interested. "Then I'll have to give it a try."
The two walked side by side toward the town's seafood restaurant. Tashigi stole glances at Ryan from the corner of her eye. His casual walking posture inexplicably carried an aura that commanded respect. Wind Splitter swayed lightly at his waist with each step, like a slumbering beast.
"Mr. Ryan, what kind of person are you, really?" she finally couldn't resist asking quietly.
"Just a traveler," Ryan replied nonchalantly, his eyes fixed on the fish at a street vendor's stall. "Planning to travel around the world and see different sights."
Tashigi lowered her head thoughtfully, then seemed to remember something and looked up. "By the way, was it you who dealt with the pirate Bench at the port? Colonel Smoker said they were taken down very efficiently."
"I happened to run into them, found them annoying, so I took care of it," Ryan said without breaking stride, his tone as casual as if he were talking about someone else.
"So it was you!" Tashigi's eyes sparkled, her voice full of admiration. "You're such a good person! Those pirates have committed countless evils and deserved punishment long ago."
Ryan chuckled softly at her words but didn't respond.
A good person? In this world of survival of the fittest, those two words were the cheapest of all.
He glanced at the sincere young girl beside him and suddenly felt that this feast might be more interesting than he had imagined.
The seafood restaurant's sign swayed in the wind, carrying a briny scent as Tashigi strode forward and pushed open the wooden door. Turning back to Ryan with a smile, she said, "Please come in! Their grilled lobster is famous!"
Ryan pushed open the door, causing the wind chimes to jingle softly.
The interior was cozy rather than spacious, with seven or eight wooden tables arranged irregularly, each draped in blue-and-white striped tablecloths. Dried shell strings hung from an iron rack in the corner, glowing softly under warm yellow lighting.
The patrons were few, mostly local fishermen chatting boisterously over the clinking of cutlery against plates. The air was thick with the smoky aroma of grilled lobster, the richness of butter, and a faint hint of sea brine.
"This way, please." Tashigi led Ryan familiarly to a window-side table, pulling out a chair that scraped lightly against the floor.
A waiter soon came to take their order. Tashigi requested the signature grilled lobster and asked Ryan what he'd like to drink. Upon hearing "rum," she ordered a glass of lemon water for herself.
After the waiter left, she watched Ryan lean his sword, Wind Splitter, gently against the table leg, its cloud-patterned sheath shimmering faintly in the light. Finally gathering courage, she began, "With skills like yours and a renowned blade like Wind Splitter..."
She paused, fingers curling slightly on the tablecloth as if steeling herself. "Mr. Ryan, have you ever considered joining the Marines?"
Ryan finally looked up, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Joining the Marines?"
"Yes!" Tashigi leaned forward earnestly. "With your abilities, you'd surely become an outstanding Marine officer. You could fight for justice alongside us, bring wicked pirates to justice, and let famous blades serve righteous causes..."
She spoke with growing conviction, her words quickening, unaware of the fleeting mockery in Ryan's eyes.
Ryan set down the cutlery he'd just picked up and took a sip of the rum the waiter had brought.
Join the Marines?
Anyone with eyes knew this world belonged to the Celestial Dragons, and the Marines were merely their armed enforcers. Joining them meant becoming a dog for the Celestial Dragons.
With his skills, he'd undoubtedly thrive in the Marines. But the thought of bowing to those self-proclaimed "descendants of gods"... He'd rather roam the seas freely.
As for justice... Every Marine knew the filth hidden behind their so-called "career offices"—human trafficking, sheltering pirates, taking bribes... They just pretended not to see.
He had no interest in such a place, where "justice" was merely a veneer for corruption.
"Not interested," Ryan said flatly, setting down his glass.
Tashigi's hopeful expression froze, as if she hadn't expected such a blunt refusal. Her lips parted, voice strained. "Why? Don't you want to—"
"Uphold justice?" Ryan cut her off. "Everyone's justice is different. Yours follows Marine regulations. Mine means answering to no one."
He tapped Wind Splitter resting against the table. "This blade goes where I go, cuts whom I choose. If I joined the Marines, I'd need permission even to swing it. That kind of life sounds tedious."
Tashigi was rendered speechless by his words, her fingertips turning white from clenching too hard. Her light blue short hair fell forward, obscuring the complicated emotions behind her glasses.
Indeed, Colonel Smoker was right—Mr. Ryan was the type with formidable strength but completely unbound by rules!
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