"Grade swords? Even... famous ones?"
Zoro's visible eye, which had been narrowed in a predator's focus, now widened, and an intense, almost hungry light lit within it.
No true swordsman, no one who had dedicated their life to the blade, could possibly resist an offer of Meito—legendary, named swords.
Honestly, he was tempted.
He was very tempted.
Of course, it wasn't just the swords, though they were a significant, immediate draw.
It was everything Lancelot had said, a calculated, three-pronged assault on his deepest desires.
He harbored the ambition to become the world's greatest swordsman, a dream he had sworn on his life and the life of his friend.
So, the path of a Great Swordsman, the promise of facing true powerhouses... it was truly what he had always dreamed of.
He had set out to sea to find Mihawk, but he was smart enough to know that in his current state, he was nowhere near ready.
This man, this towering, monstrously strong, and politically-connected Marine, was offering him a shortcut.
A way to train, to acquire the tools, and to be pointed in the right direction.
"Hah..." Zoro let out a deep breath, the tension leaving his shoulders.
He looked at Lancelot, then at Lina, who was watching him with the critical eye of a fellow master. He made his decision.
He nodded, a single, sharp dip of his head. "I'm in."
Lancelot's smile was immediate and victorious.
"Welcome aboard, Zoro."
He clapped the swordsman on the shoulder.
"This time, since you took down Blood Slaughter and Black Bear—two captains with a combined bounty of 34 million—I'll count it as a significant merit for your enlistment in the Marines. I'll write up the report myself. That way, you'll at least be promoted straight to Lieutenant, possibly even Lieutenant Commander, depending on how Headquarters processes it."
Zoro wasn't too concerned about the intricacies of military rank and simply nodded again.
A title was just a title; what mattered was the access and the opportunity.
But Lina, who had been standing nearby, was not so nonchalant.
She leaned in, her hybrid tiger-like eyes gleaming.
"And what about me, Commander?"
Lancelot turned to her, his smile softening. "You, my dear Lina, took down Kasli, a 13-million-Beri captain, and personally captured two other pirates with million-berry bounties during the initial landing. A Lieutenant promotion is guaranteed."
Then, Lancelot turned to Gin and Daniel, who had been standing at attention, awaiting their own fates.
"You two," he said, his voice carrying. "Gin, you will also receive the rank of Lieutenant. Daniel, for your command and service, you are promoted to Ensign."
Gin remained completely indifferent on the outside, though inwardly he was processing this new, strange reality.
He was a Marine now.
A Marine Lieutenant at that.
It was... bizarre.
Daniel, however, was practically bursting with a joy so profound it was almost painful.
His eyes went wide, and he physically trembled.
He had been waiting for this day for so long.
He had all but given up hope, resigning himself to retiring as a Petty Officer.
Who would have thought that after just one single, insane month under Lancelot's command, his decades-long wish would finally come true?
Lancelot clapped a heavy hand on Daniel's shoulder.
"What, you're satisfied with just a measly Ensign? Daniel, this is only the beginning. Give me your loyalty, and I'll give you a chance to be put in charge of your own Marine base. Of course, with your new rank, it'll have to be a small one to start. But if you manage both the base and the island well, getting promoted again later won't be an issue."
Lancelot wasn't just making empty promises.
He already had a precise plan for Daniel in mind.
To take true control of the entire East Blue, the first and most crucial step was to replace all the existing, often corrupt or incompetent, base commanders with his own people.
Daniel, a man of experience, skill, and now, unwavering loyalty, was just the beginning.
Hearing this, Daniel's excitement exploded.
He dropped to one knee, his voice thick with emotion.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Commander! I, Daniel, pledge my undying loyalty to you and you alone! I will not fail you!"
Lancelot nodded, his expression one of deep satisfaction.
He helped the older man to his feet.
Then, he turned to the fifty Marines, who had been watching this all unfold with wide, hopeful eyes.
"All of you," Lancelot's voice boomed, "assisted me in securing Black Thorns Island. A feat like this—wiping out a convention of the East Blue's most notorious pirates—is unparalleled. So, I will personally recommend in my report that every single one of you be promoted one full rank."
The moment he said this, the entire group erupted in a deafening, joyous cheer.
Lancelot raised a hand to quiet them, and they immediately fell silent, their eyes fixed on him with a new, fervent adoration.
It had to be said—his authority among them, built on fear, power, and now, profound generosity, rivaled even Smoker's.
Lancelot continued, "Petty Officer—no, Ensign Daniel. Gather all the valuables from the pirate ships and the pirate holds on this island. This time, one-tenth of all spoils... will be distributed as a bonus among all the men."
The men gasped, their eyes widening.
"Another two-tenths," he went on, "will go to Zoro, Lina, Gin, you, and Johnson, to be divided amongst yourselves as my core command."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of his words sink in before adding the most important part.
"From now on, any loot seized from defeated pirates... will be divided this way."
"Uh..."
Daniel hesitated, his new joy conflicting with decades of ingrained procedure.
"Sir... Marine regulations state that all seized goods must be turned over to the government..."
Lancelot's eyes narrowed.
He said nothing.
This was a test.
A simple, binary test.
If Daniel argued, he would remain a useful tool.
If he obeyed... he would truly become one of Lancelot's own.
After a long, agonizing moment of hesitation, Daniel's eyes grew resolute.
He understood.
This was the new way.
This was the price of loyalty and the reward for it.
He snapped to attention, his salute crisper than ever.
"Yes, Lieutenant Commander Lancelot! I will see to it at once!"
"Excellent."
The fifty Marine soldiers were now beyond excited.
They were ecstatic.
Their monthly wages were barely enough to support their families.
Even though they were "only" getting one-tenth of the spoils... the combined wealth of eleven pirate crews, including some of the richest in the East Blue, meant that even a tenth—divided fifty ways—was still a massive, life-changing fortune for each of them.
At the very least, it amounted to ten or twenty years of their salaries, in a single day.
Johnson, who had been quietly taking notes, was also overjoyed.
He hadn't expected to receive a share at all, let alone one equal to the core combatants.
Just then, Lancelot's gaze fell on Johnson.
"From now on, you are the chief logistics officer and purser of my ship. Your rank will also be raised to Ensign along with Daniel's."
Johnson beamed, bowing deeply.
"Thank you for your trust, sir! From this day forward, I'll follow your lead without question. Whatever you command, I'll carry out without hesitation!"
Lancelot nodded.
"Good."
Promoting him wasn't just a favor to Lina; he needed someone he could trust, someone without a Marine background, to handle the "off-the-books" logistics.
Finally, Lancelot waved his hand.
"Then let's get moving! Strip this island bare."
Daniel, now an Ensign, turned to his men.
"You heard the Commander! Move! Haul every last Berry, every weapon, and every barrel of rum from those ships!"
The men roared and set to work, their enthusiasm boundless.
They worked with more energy than if they were carrying a bride home.
Because among the spoils they were lifting... was their own share.
Most importantly, Daniel and Johnson had given them a vision of the future.
As long as they served Lancelot well, they too would one day be rewarded.
Money now, and a promising future ahead.
Was there anything more fulfilling in life?
.....
Meanwhile, as his crew plundered the island, Lancelot took out his official Marine Den Den Mushi and dialed Smoker's number.
Though Lancelot was an Inspector, he still nominally fell under Smoker's command as the highest-ranking officer in the East Blue.
When Smoker, back in his Loguetown office, heard Lancelot's initial report, his eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
"You... what? You wiped out Black Thorns Island? Out of six pirates with bounties over ten million, only one escaped? And you captured several others with million-berry bounties in the process?!"
His expression was one of utter disbelief.
True, Lancelot's strength had impressed him before, but taking on six high-level captains and their crews and winning? Killing five of them? That was beyond his wildest expectations.
Even with Gin's help, it would have been, at best, a desperate two-against-six fight.
But soon, as Lancelot continued, he understood.
There's a new pieces on the board.
Lancelot submitted his promotion list: "Former bounty hunter Roronoa Zoro, three-sword style swordsman. After joining the Marines, he personally killed Blood Slaughter, captain of the Blood Slaughter Pirates, and Black Bear, captain of the Black Bear Pirates. Recommended for promotion."
"Former resident of Loguetown, Lina, Zoan-type White Tiger Fruit user and Iron Cutting swordsman. After joining the Marines, she personally killed Kasli, captain of the Kasli Pirates. Recommended for promotion to Lieutenant."
"Former officer of the Krieg Pirates, Gin. After joining the Marines, he killed Red Fox, captain of the Red Fox Pirates. Recommended for promotion to Lieutenant."
"Petty Officer Daniel, commanded the Marines in sinking five pirate ships, demonstrating exceptional leadership. Recommended for promotion to Lieutenant."
"All fifty Marines who assisted in the Black Thorns Island operation are recommended for a two-rank promotion."
After hearing this list, a grim, knowing smirk spread across Smoker's face.
He saw right through Lancelot's little tactic.
The brat was intentionally inflating the recommendations by one or even two ranks.
With achievements this massive, Headquarters would be in a bind.
They couldn't possibly demote the recommendations by two ranks at once—how demoralizing would that be? This was, after all, the single greatest anti-piracy achievement in the East Blue in recent years.
But if they didn't demote them, or only demoted them by one rank, then Lancelot's true goal would be achieved.
Daniel would get his Ensign rank, and Zoro and the others would get their officer commissions.
"You brat," Smoker muttered, chuckling darkly. "Truly... you are Burns's offspring. These little schemes of yours..."
Then he abruptly changed his tone, speaking into the receiver.
"But it's not a big issue. After all, you've really accomplished a great feat this time. I will... personally... endorse this report to Headquarters."
As he spoke, he silently noted two names: Roronoa Zoro, and Lina.
Especially Lina.
If he remembered correctly from Bogart's visit, that White Tiger Devil Fruit should have been the one Burns went to such great, expensive lengths to obtain for Lancelot.
Who would have thought Lancelot would turn around and just... give it to his woman?
Was it foolish sentiment, or another calculated move to secure a powerful, loyal subordinate?
With Lancelot, Smoker was beginning to realize, it was probably both.