C48 : Peaceful Exit

• [Near Loguetown on Polestar Islands in front of Red Line] {Year : 21.10} •

"Interesting!" Ryu smirked when he noticed the pink-haired man shouting at the other Marines to move away from Kumiko. The small ship they purchased for themselves was docked on Polestar Islands' dock already and he patiently waited on there. He didn't budge even when the Marines' Battleships slowly approached the dock as well.

Admiral Kizaru looked at him from short distance on his battleship. He was unsure how to feel about this pirate now. He was definitely angry at Ryu for making his life difficult, but he was also helpless against him. Not only that, the Uncrowned Emperor actually allowed him to remain alive even though he had intended to kidnap the young ladies.

"How was life?" The green-eyed handsome man suddenly spoke when the battleship Admiral Kizaru was on, docked.

"..." A vein bulged. Admiral Kizaru suddenly became more clear on how he felt against him. 'This little... You dared to ask that when you clearly made me suffer?!'

He didn't dare to say it out loud though, so he remained silent. The Uncrowned Emperor shrugged and silently sat down on a chair on the small ship. Compared to the large battleship beside it, it was as if the small ship was a dinghy. But with Ryu on it... they didn't dare to laugh at it.

The Vice Admirals behind Admiral Kizaru were tense the whole time. After all, unlike the admiral, this was their first or second time meeting the Uncrowned Emperor in person.

The elite officers under Admiral Kizaru's command were also sweating with tension rising during the silence. Even though the female side of elite officers wanted to swoon over Ryu's handsomeness with manly charisma, they didn't want to do it when there were people around them. After all, Ryu was still a pirate, manly handsome or not, while they were Marines.

"I'm back~!" Rin smiled and waved at Ryu from a distance while she walked back to the dock. However that beautiful smile quickly diminished when she saw Admiral Kizaru. She coldly looked at him. "Oh, an admiral."

Because Ryu was around the admiral, Rin relaxed and continued to walk to his side. Admiral Kizaru silently looked at her.

'She doesn't seem special.' But this was someone who the Uncrowned Emperor allowed to stand by him. He didn't look at her any further out of fear of inciting Ryu's beatings.

Rin whispered to Ryu. "I left Kumiko alone with those people, but it looks like she's toying with them. So, I guess we'll be waiting a bit longer..."

Her eyes showed some strange glow as she looked at Ryu's green eyes. Ryu looked back at her, showing a troubled smile. "You actually said that in front of the admiral?"

"..." Admiral Kizaru was actually able to hear them due to his heightened senses of being a logia and his past trainings. He said nothing but behind his shaded glasses, his eyes showed tranquility. It was as if he ascended and became a sage, unbothered by worldly matters...

"What if that little lamp wants to talk to me?"

...if only Kizaru could ignore Ryu. His heart pounded heavily and veins appeared on his forehead. 'F*cker! I didn't do anything yet, why are you involving me already?!'

"Just ignore him. After all, my dear husband can just send him flying away if the little lamp wants to interrupt our time!" Rin coyly pouted, mocking the admiral at the same time.

'Truly, two peas in a bud.' Admiral Kizaru gnashed his teeth. 'No wonder Ryu allowed her to come with him... it must be to infuriate me!'

Ryu felt that it was enough and he laughed out loud. "Haha! Looks like I fell in love with you more than before."

Rin blushed but smiled. "Then I guess you will continue to fall for me till our death together."

"...Yeah." After a brief silence, Ryu agreed. But when he thought of dying together of old age... he knew that it wouldn't happen because of his perfect body condition. He continued to smile to hide away the sadness. "Kumiko's almost finished playing with them, so let's prepare to leave."

"Okay." Rin nodded.

Admiral Kizaru and the rest of officers of Marines didn't know what to say about this. Should they just tell the Fleet Admiral that they allowed him to leave so easily? When Admiral Kizaru remembered that Sengoku was currently in a grim situation with the Five Elders, he sighed heavily.

A bright light orb slowly manifested in his right hand as it clutched. However it suddenly turned into ashes before becoming nothing.

"..."

Admiral Kizaru slowly glanced back at the Uncrowned Emperor, who acted innocent as he laughed with the young lady. His vein bulged slightly more firmer as thick blood coursed through it. His heartbeat became more erratic when he realized that all his preparations of attacking the small ship that Ryu was on, kept becoming nonexistent.

'Sh*t! This guy has such ability?!' The tall man with yellow-striped outfit cursed inwardly. Even those around him knew something was wrong because...

*woosh*

*woosh*

"Can you f*cking stop being flashy?!" An annoyed and bold resident bravely shouted at the ashen-faced admiral. At first, he was afraid of a battle starting between the admiral and the Solitary Pirate but after that flashing light kept happening repeatedly, the residents became annoyed. They had to cover their eyes ten times now.

Rin laughed even harder due to this. The admiral kept being a practical lamp, brightly flickering as if it was becoming broken. "A lamp, indeed! Haha!"

Ryu just smiled and acted like he was not the cause.

When the residents saw that the Solitary Pirate didn't seem really prone to starting a fight, they heaved a sigh of relief together. After all, this man was the one who could take over Wano Country even when the Beast Emperor reigned in it! If Ryu actually made a move in Polestar Islands, the residents felt that they would have to swim to a nearby island. Let alone Loguetown, perhaps even this small island would become barren.

The small ship suddenly shifted and moved. But there was one problem that people around noticed with a strange look. There wasn't any steering mechanism on it... Both Ryu and Rin also didn't seem to be doing anything except for chatting between themselves on the chairs that were on the deck. A chill went through everyone else.

'It can't be that he even got a ghost?'

Rin glanced at them and snickered. She also thought like that at first when Ryu abruptly showed her this ability. "Look at them! They're shocked like I was."

The green-eyed handsome man laughed as well. Then both of them turned when they felt Kumiko's presence approaching them. She looked to be in high spirits as she had a light bounce in every steps she made towards them.

"What's got you so happy like this?" Rin curiously asked when Kumiko arrived.

Kumiko grinned and looked at Ryu with coy eyes. "Nothing! Hehe~"

But even Ryu didn't know. He simply threatened the Marines that had intended to group up and kill her by invoking such vision in Koby's Observation Haki. Perhaps that was it...?

Rin understood when Kumiko looked at Ryu. She nodded. "Oh! Even I would feel happy when Ryu's protecting us like that."

"It also means much more for me too." Kumiko slightly explained with her eyes lovingly gazing at Ryu.

The Uncrowned Emperor became awkward at this. Rin smiled with Kumiko. "Looks like it'll be soon, Kumiko."

"Oh? You'll let me?" Kumiko was surprised when Rin didn't offer any words of resistance anymore. Rin usually sent her small glares whenever she tried to become more physical with Ryu.

"Of course not." Rin rolled her eyes and clung onto Ryu's arm as the small ship slowly began to move away from the dock under the difficult eyes of Admiral Kizaru. "You'll have to make Ryu fall in love with you first after all."

"Yes, I know." Kumiko nodded seriously. She wasn't going to simply chase after him like a hopeless fangirl.

Ryu changed the topic since the small ship approached the Red Line. "Get ready, it'll be slightly dangerous."

Even though he said that, there weren't really any dangers because he already became accustomed to controlling himself and his powers on his own. But even so, there were still consequences whenever he used all of his powers. After all, just his mere Sword Intent caused a divinity-made dinghy to explode so easily.

When the small ship finally faced the large river-like going upwards, both Rin and Kumiko held tightly onto Ryu's body. His body was straight ramrod on the small ship, not budging the slightest as waves crashed against the ship.

However, the small ship that was supposed to become debris when faced with the heavy waves, suddenly smoothly shot off towards the upstream river. It sailed so smoothly that Rin felt like an idiot for clutching onto Ryu. Of course he wouldn't let anything bad happen to them. Kumiko just continued to plaster her cheeks onto Ryu's arms, smiling.

…

"Ad-admiral!" A bruised blond-haired man with dual kukri on his hips became surprised when he and the others saw Admiral Kizaru lazily looking out far the sea.

The residents of Polestar Islands silently continued to move about, readying to fix up what damage the young ladies of Ryu caused.

The pink-haired man with a sour look stood beside Helmeppo. He knew that this event wasn't going to be concealed as much as possible because the World Government was currently in a dire state. They busily tried to recover from the Uncrowned Emperor's siege on Mariejois, especially around the Domain of the Gods. There were also several slaves of special World Nobles spreading out into the world to hunt down for the Uncrowned Emperor.

The backlash of releasing them already began when several islands were massacred. However they all had one similar goal — to take or kill the Solitary Pirate for their freedom. The special slavery necklace on them wouldn't be taken out unless their owners willingly did it with their keys.

The Marines kept being bombarded by the public while the officers tried to handle the matters related to their jobs. Their headquarters were completely obliterated by Whitebeard, so they couldn't rebuild one in the same place because there weren't even a island there to start off. The Marines started to build their headquarters in another location while a secret plan was undergoing with the Fleet Admiral's permission.

Now with the matter in Loguetown of Polestar Islands, the Marines would once again become bombarded by public opinions. After all, Loguetown was precisely where the Pirate King Gol D. Roger was executed. This wasn't forgotten at all. Especially when the attackers were actually someone related to the Uncrowned Emperor, two young ladies.

"Fleet Admiral won't find this funny at all~." Admiral Kizaru sighed as he pouted out his lips. He was sure that Sengoku already found out about what happened here, including the fact that the light admiral left his office when he was 'grounded' by Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

Just knowing that made him shiver because ever since Sengoku revealed his Human Human Fruit - Model: Buddha once again in front of everyone, they were afraid of inciting his fury on them. The Fleet Admiral didn't becoming one without reason after all.

Helmeppo and Koby became even more tired when they also remembered Vice Admiral Garp would also deal with them due to their loss... they lost to a young woman, who was not even the Solitary Pirate at all.

The blue-haired woman with a seemingly-permanent scowl on her beautiful face spoke. "I'm still weak. I have to go to New World to train myself even further."

"Young lady, you will not." A slender Vice Admiral with bushy beard shook his head. He then coyly patted the young woman's cheeks. "Even though that handsome hunk barely gave you a chance at all, I still managed to see him personally! Hoho~!"

"..." Admiral Kizaru sighed again. Then he looked around the Polestar Islands, there were only damage to buildings and no death of anyone. "Let's go."

The disciples who were trained by Vice Admirals followed him. Even though they were confident that they would never be able to deal with the Uncrowned Emperor, they actually lost to some young woman who was with him before even seeing him at all.

Koby, the pink-haired man, also felt slightly bitter. He was just this much? If that was the case, did that mean casually traveling in New World would be difficult for them as they were? Not only that, there was also the case of his Observation Haki being taken advantage by the Solitary Pirate.

Just how amazing was this man to be able to do such thing?

"Hey. I've been thinking about this, how about we both request Vice Admiral Garp to take us to New World?" Helmeppo showed a rare determination as he took his visor off, though it was quite funny because of his looks. "New World is dangerous, but can't we train under such conditions to grow stronger faster that way? Facing the danger head-on?"

"...Right." Koby also became affected and grew determined. But when he realized just who he was being affected by, the corner of his right eye twitched.

The blue-haired woman continued to pester the coy Vice Admiral to help her grow strong in New World too. The rough-haired with rigid facial looks man silently walked with the other two special marines. The two other special Marines donned stoic looks as if they weren't affected by their loss but the surroundings already knew that they were merely emotionless because they were manmade. They weren't of their race, but androids made by a certain cackling mad scientist. Their training routine was made from combining several Vice Admirals' training methods, so it could be said that they were also their disciples in a sense.

Admiral Kizaru saw all of this happen. 'Perhaps it was a good idea after all?'

…

"Ahhhh!!!"

Two high-pitched screams resounded as a small ship roughly went down the Red Line's streams. The handsome green-eyed man stood on the small ship with unnerved face, a small smile plastered on it.

"Ryu!!! Why did you suddenly stop?!" The beautiful young woman with flowing long black hair screamed as she tightly clung onto his arm.

Ryu remained serene with a small smile.

Kumiko also continued to scream loudly. After all, they were far up high that they could die if not for the fact that Ryu was around. She tightly closed her eyes and latched onto Ryu as few tears came out of her eyelids.

Ryu, the damnable human with green eyes and manly handsomeness, continued to have a serene smile as the small ship rapidly fell down the height.

"AHHHHHH~!!!"

…

Somewhere in the now-huge world

"...Was it them?"

"Unknown. We did not dare to approach recklessly with only just us two."

"Hmm. You do realize that this is a punishable offense, correct?"

"..."

A sigh. "Very well, I will excuse it this time because of your contributions."

"Thank you, general."

"However, I have a mission for you now. Take your whole squad and investigate why Little Spark died with his squad in the humans' side. It is unneeded to fight if the cause was someone of a greater race."

"Understood."

…

*splosh*

The small ship lightly splashed onto the sea. Ryu casually opened his mouth. "Well, now we've arrived, in which direction do you want me to lead it to?"

"..." Rin glared at him.

"..." Kumiko remained latched onto Ryu's body. Her body sometimes quivered but it was unknown regarding why.

"Okay, I'll choose which island to go then." Ryu's smile widened when Rin struck on his body, feeling nothing painful.

"Why did you stop sailing the ship when we were falling?!" The beautiful young woman with long black hair scowled at him. She then huffed as she crossed her arms. "You're sadistic! And you, Kumiko! Get off him already!"

"Yes, yes." Kumiko had a red blush on her face as she slowly unlatched herself. She smoothened her clothes and calmed herself. "I hope to not experience that again..."

"It won't happen again." Ryu glanced and shook his head but smirked at the end. "If I feel like it."

Rin and Kumiko shivered when they remembered that Ryu told them Sky Islands existed and they'd eventually visit those in their travels too. Kumiko asked. "Um, when will we be seeing the Sky Islands?"

"Now if you want." Ryu answered. Skypiea should be in decent state after the Lightning Lightning Fruit User disappeared.

"Later! We'll go there at another time!" Rin shook her head while Kumiko agreed with her. She then asked Ryu. "Where are we going to go?"

"It should be called Kyuka Island, I think. It has a lot of archways and a gigantic tree resembling an umbrella covering the island." Ryu answered and said. "It's also an island where we can take vacation at if we wish to."

Rin nodded while Kumiko stood by their sides. The small ship departed from the Red Line and began to approach an island, but it didn't have the usual large umbrella-like tree which confused them. Ryu was also confused until they saw the state of Kyuka Island.

It was barren with a large trunk. Crumbled buildings and destroyed archways were all over the island, like a war happened.

"What happened?" Rin asked, frowning.

Kumiko curiously looked around and said. "Although it looks ravaged, there doesn't seem to be any corpses."

"Yes, I also don't sense any humans on it. It's simply ruined." Ryu's green eyes glowed slightly for a moment before it returned to normal. "Ah, so that's what happened. The island's life source was cut off."

"The island's life source?" The cute young woman with tied black-hair questioned. "Is it what give islands nature?"

"Yep." Ryu nodded to Kumiko. He turned to both of the young women and shrugged when they looked back at him. "I guess we'll just go to a different island then."

Kumiko nodded in response. The island gave off a weird ghastly feeling after all. It was like ghosts would appear there if they landed on it. Rin remained silent as she glanced at the barren island.

Ryu moved the small ship as he looked at a direction in the far sea, lightly sitting on a chair near him. He closed his eyes.