Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Speak with Fist
(T/N: Please consider reviewing this Fanfic, Thanks and appreciate all who support me)
(T/N: Enjoy!!)
<><><><><><>
Loguetown, known as the "Town of Beginnings and Endings," is located in the East Blue, near the entrance to the Grand Line.
With just one day left until the deadline, Byakuya rushed to make it in time.
Byakuya arrived at the Loguetown Marine Base to report in, and the duty marine, looking at his credentials, exclaimed in surprise,
"Byakuya? Are you Byakuya?"
"Yeah, isn't my name written on the documents?" Byakuya chuckled.
The duty marine continued to scrutinize Byakuya, unable to associate the refined and gentle-looking person before him with the "Butcher of the East Blue" known to pirates.
"Can I go in now?"
"Oh, yes, of course." Upon hearing Byakuya's words, the duty marine snapped out of it and quickly handed him the documents.
With an admiring tone, he said, "You truly are an example for our Marines."
"As a Marine, these are just things I should do," replied Byakuya.
Byakuya didn't consider himself particularly noble; he hunted pirates mainly to gain World Source Power.
However, for the lower-ranking soldiers of the Marines, it was different.
They saw someone like Byakuya, with considerable strength and potential, willing to risk his life to hunt down pirates before setting sail, greatly reducing the danger in the East Blue.
In other words, Byakuya unwittingly saved countless Marine lives, earning their admiration.
"Captain Smoker, Byakuya is here to report in." Upon hearing Byakuya's name, Captain Smoker's eyes lit up.
Finally, the moment had arrived.
Previously, he had found Byakuya's name on the list for recruitment into the Marine Elite Training Camp and thought it was just a coincidence.
However, after contacting Captain Vaughn and confirming that on the list was indeed the notorious Byakuya from the East Blue.
He had been eager to see what kind of person he was. "Have Byakuya come to me."
"Yes, sir."
"Forget it, I'll go find him myself."
As Byakuya walked through the Marine Base, he felt like a panda being observed at a zoo.
Whether it was the Marines stationed in Loguetown or the soldiers from other Marine bases attending the Elite Training Camp, they all wanted to see what this man, dubbed the Butcher by pirates, was really like.
A burly man remarked to his companion,
"Is this the Butcher Byakuya? Doesn't seem like it, does he? Look at how frail he looks; I feel like I could knock him out with one punch."
"Yeah, he looks too skinny, doesn't he? Wasn't Byakuya supposed to be a towering giant with muscles all over?"
"Could this be a fake?"
On the side, a female marine exclaimed indignantly,
"Do you think Byakuya is just like you guys, simple-minded, with developed limbs, and nothing but muscles in his head?"
"Yeah, if you have the ability, go solo and wipe out a pirate crew."
Although these people spoke quietly, Byakuya's sharp ears caught every word.
As soon as Smoker arrived, he saw a crowd surrounding Byakuya.
"What are you all doing here instead of training? Are you all so free? Have you caught all the pirates around Loguetown?"
Hearing Smoker's slightly stern tone, the people around immediately dispersed and went about their own business.
When Smoker saw Byakuya, he was also shocked by Byakuya's youthful appearance.
However, he didn't pay too much attention to it and instead looked at Byakuya's eyes seriously.
Byakuya also observed Smoker, with his short silver hair, open shirt revealing his chest, a cigar wrapped around his waist, and Seastone jitte inserted behind him.
He was one of the few significant Marine characters encountered by Byakuya in the original work.
Smoker furrowed his brows.
"You killed Captain Nezumi and over a hundred of his soldiers on Gecko and Windmill Islands, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did," Byakuya admitted straightforwardly, surprising Smoker.
"Don't you have anything to say for yourself? Shouldn't you provide me with a reasonable explanation?"
"Killing a Marine Captain and over a hundred Marines is a serious offense!"
"I managed to suppress this matter. If it had been reported, you might have ended up in Impel Down."
Byakuya sneered, "What's there to say? They wanted to kill me, so I killed them."
"Besides, don't you think they deserved it?"
"The Arlong Pirates have been oppressing Cocoyasi Village for over a decade, and many people have died under Arlong's hands during these years."
"As the Captain of the Loguetown Marine Base, you oversee all the Marines in the East Blue."
"Yet, you let this matter drag on for so long. Don't you think you're deeply involved in this?"
"I helped you deal with the rotten apples in the Marines, and now you're here to charge me?"
Smoker was left speechless by Byakuya's words. After a moment of silence, he spoke up,
"You're right, I do bear a great responsibility for this matter. But you can choose to report this issue, and we will naturally handle those colluding with the Arlong Pirates."
With a contemptuous laugh, Byakuya mocked mercilessly, "Is your brain filled with crap?"
Smoker snapped, "Watch your language, Ensign Byakuya. You're speaking to your superior now."
"Speaking? Right now, I just want to speak to you with my fists."
Before Byakuya's words had finished, his figure vanished from Smoker's sight.
In the next moment, a punch was aimed straight at Smoker's head.
"Such speed?" Smoker was astonished.
He hadn't expected Byakuya to be so fast. If that punch landed, it would surely cause severe injury if not death.
The fist whistled through the air with a sharp sound, and even before it reached, the forceful wind it carried made Smoker's clothes rustle.
Though Byakuya was only an Ensign, Smoker dared not underestimate him.
After all, the reputation of single-handedly defeating over a dozen pirate crews was not just talk.
It came from a seasoned fighter who had emerged from countless battles.
But even so, Smoker realized he couldn't evade, so he immediately activated his Devil Fruit ability.
Byakuya's fist struck Smoker's head, and though the entire fist sunk into it, it felt like hitting empty air as Smoker's head dispersed into smoke.
Drawing Seastone jitte from his waist, Smoker struck fiercely, enveloping Byakuya from both sides.
If you want to support me, join my patr**on. Have 10 advanced Chapters for you guys.
patr**n.com/saitamablast > OP:OPM NOVEL TIER