24. Alexander Ridfield

I'm currently relaxing, after handing the head of John Mart over to the local marine base.

With this I conclude my two year long hunt.

Now I will restart chasing my dream. Seeing the World.

I also already made some plans how I would go about this, as the world is just way too big and if I simply sail around the Four Blues, then I would probably take 10 years to simply explore a single Blue.

Although I really wanted to explore everything, but it is very unrealistic. And the longer I'm in this world the more I realize just how big it is. Sure even in the Manga it was shown how big the world is, but in the end it was just an image, but once you enter into the world, only then would you really be able to understand just how big it really is. And that the Grandline is really just a small part of it.

But just the East Blues is probably even bigger than my old planet. Maybe even two or three Times as large. So wanting to explore it in its entirety is wishful thinking.

And since that the case I would simply sail across a specific route along the most scenic islands and then travel to the next Blue.

And looking for treasures and finding the secrets of the world?

Well that had to depend on my luck.

I wanted to enter the Grandline in at most four years. That would mean I had to travel one Blue in one year.

Furthermore, I wanted to slowly find a crew. Now that I'm  already a wanted man, then it doesn't matter if I really go pirate.

Always wearing a disguise and hide behind a mask is really bothersome. And I simply want to stop that. But I had to first grow stronger in order to do that. I at least needed Haki. But this shouldn't be that much of a problem, as Master should be searching for me soon. Three years have already passed, since I last saw him. And he told me he would find me in three to four years, which means he should be come during the next year or so.

I also wanted to go and find Whitebeard soon, as my .last two years of solitude made me realize, that humans really are social animals. I really grew a bit lonely and depressed. But still I want to chase my dream, and if I were to go back now, then I think I would never come back to the Four Blues I think.

....

The next day I started my journey. The first destination, Firewind Island.

It's a very popular tourist attraction, especially at this time of the year.

As the special trees, that bloom on that island are fire red. Being responsible for part of the name.

The other part came from the breeze, which blew nearly all year round on the island. Making the weather very comfortable all year round.  But once a year this light breeze would explode with massive strength, resulting in what the locals called, the Day of Fire.

It was called this way, because once the strong wind blew across the whole island, it would blow all the petals on the trees and on the ground into the air, resulting in something that looks like the whole island is on fire.

And one week prior, is something called Fire Festival, where people celebrate a joyful year or when they experienced something bad, they celebrate as a way to conclude their bad memories and hope for a better future. On the last day they even pray to their Island God, who was named the Fire God.

Well it's practically their new year.

And since the Fire Festival is just 6 days away, which is also coincidentally the same amount I will need to get there, if nothing unexpected happens, I decided to make it my first destination.

...…..

4 Days into my journey

Of course something had to happen.

Currently in front of me was a big warship. One from the marines.

And they stood in my way because I didn't wear my disguise.

Why?

Well I was relaxing after my daily training. Of course I only did the light training so I stayed in peak condition, if something like this happened.

Now after two years of always keeping my disguise on I really was tired of it. And since I wanted to relax and being pretty far from Loguetown now, where the marine main branch in the East Blue was, I thought even if I were to meet the marines I wouldn't have problems facing them, or at least escaping.

So what is this?

In front of me was the same Rear Admiral, I met 2 years ago, Rear Admiral Horin.

„So I finally meet you. The rat that escaped two years ago, thanks to Vice Admiral Garp. Did you finally decide to leave your rat hole, were you hid for two years, escaping my pursuite?"

So that's how it is, he was searching for me.

Sigh

Just what did I do to him? To keep looking for me even after 2 years have passed?

„You rat, are the reason, I became a joke! That day was supposed to be my biggest pride, presiding over the execution of the Pirate King. But thanks to you 8t turned to my biggest shame! I the great Rear Admiral Horin, highest commander of the East Blue, couldn't even block an attack of a teenage brat. And even nearly letting the Pirate King escape."

So that's what happened?

I looked strangely at the man in front of me, who took a pose before his men, that said ‚look! Look how awesome I am!'

I couldn't help but slightly chuckle.

Such a clown.

After hearing, that he isn't a Headquarter Rear Admiral, I lost all fear and apprehension for him.

Sure Rear Admirals are powerful, at least powerful enough to survive in the New World, as long as they didn't meet a big shot. But that is only for those from Headquarters. For those from the Four Sea branches, they usually are one or two ranks weaker than those from headquarters.

So there really is no need for me to fear him.

Especially now, that I got some real combat experience.

The marines on the warship didn't seem to get why I'm laughing as such they started to scold me.

„Oy, why are you laughing? Have you gone stupid from the awesome display of Rear Admiral Horin?"

„That has to be the case. Seeing the outstanding pose and elegance of the Rear Admiral, he is so afraid,that he could only laugh."

„Yeah I bet you're right. Just look at him just standing there saying nothing, just staring at us. He should be so afraid, that he can't even move."

Yes I indeed stood speechless there, just staring at them, but not due to fear, but I don't know whether I should laugh or cry. These people sure are idiots. Having never seen the strength of the Grandline and thinking this Rear Admiral is something.

Even though I'm  nearly the same….cough.

But that was only because I thought he was from headquarters.

I could only Sigh thinking about how stupid I was and they are.

„Look. Now he sighs at his inevitable defeat at the hands of Horin-sama!"

„Haha you are right! Just look at him."

The whole crew laughed, making me sigh again.

„Clowns."

Suddenly the marines went silent and stared at me angrily.

Ups.

Did I say that just out loud?

Hah living alone speaking to nearly No one in these past two years, really let me pick up bad habits, for example just now, saying my thoughts out loud.

Chuckle.

In the next moment a small chuckle attracted the attention of everyone, including me.

The one who got all the focus, was a man. He was pretty big, around 240 cm tall, which made it very easy to single him out of the surrounding marines.

He wore the standard low rank marine uniform. Had shoulder long black hair and crystal clear blue eyes. His features were so handsome, that one could even say he was beautiful, and if he were a woman, than his slight chuckle, would have been enough to topple kingdoms.

Guh

Why did I think of this? I'm not into this! I like women. Real women.

„What is so funny cadet Ridfield?"

„OH nothing, nothing, Rear Admiral Horin. I just thought, that the Freedom Sword over there is right and that my fellow marines are Clowns, sullying the great marine name, with their inferior judgement. That pirate over there, is clearly very calm. Nothing like my fellow marines are describing him as. He simply chuckled at your funny posture. Not putting you in his eyes."

Oh interesting.

This marine sure is something else. He clearly ridiculed his superiors right in his face. He sure got guts.

Gorarara I like it.

?!

Oh no! I like girls! Girls! GIRLS! Not some wuss like the one up there.

As I had a small internal crisis, the face or Rear Admiral Horin went black.

„Cadet Ridfield, what do you mean? Are you ridiculing me? Your superiors superior?"

Ah sigh this Rear Admiral Horin sure is fixated on his face and status. Such a petty person. Just like the famous Young Masters in those Chinese Novels I read sometimes.

„But of course not Rear Admiral Horin, I'm only ridiculing my fellow cadets, who seemed like they were fooled by your ‚great' and ‚noble' posture, into thinking that pirate gives a darn about you."

Oh shit this one seems pretty insane. Just who would insult his boss and coworkers so bluntly in their face.

I find him more and more interesting.

Ah shit! I like girls! Girls! GIRLS!

Girls like, Perona, Nami, Robin, Bonny, or even someone like Yamato or Carot!

Ah my dream Girls from one Piece.

I slightly smiled as I thought about them and nearly forgot were I was for a moment. Until I heard the scream of a certain someone.

„You! Ah just who do you think you are? To say something like this to my face! To me the great Rear Admiral Horin."

„Well I'm the Ex-Marine Cadett Alexander Ridfield. It's good to be able to finally say what I want and stop pretending. You stupid self-centered idiot, who thinks, that being a Rear Admiral in the East Blue means shit in the world, where the strong rule. You shut shove that face, you value so much up your ass. You damn frog in a well!"

With this outburst, Alexander Ridfield, stunned everyone. Me included. And he used this opening, to jump from the marine ship onto my own, with a beautiful somersault.

„Freedom Sword, I finally found you. You can't imagine what I had to endure these last two years to find you."

Ugh.

I didn't know what to say. Can it be? Does he like men? But I! I like Girls. I think I should make it clear first. And fast at that, as he really just looks like a girl. Sigh what a mess. Am I too handsome? I mean yeah I'm really tall and with me coming after mother, pretty handsome. But a masculine handsome. Not like him who is more beautiful, and feminine. So I could understand if he fell for me. But I'm sorry buddy.

But!

„Sorry I don't swing that way."

„Huh"

The whole venue, who were about to burst out in anger, no longer shocked, by the sudden betrayal of Alexander, was once again silenced. This time even more. As slowly looks of understanding came to the marines. But it turned first to repulsion, the to full disgust.

Looks like the people in this world, or at least the marines before me are still old fashioned and not so tolerant as me. Sure I didn't swing that way and had to make it clear, but I still won't discriminate Alexander for whole is and who he likes.

I mean who could blame him with such a handsome and masculine man like me in front of him.

Cough.. enough narcissism.

While I was immersed in my narcissism, Alexander got his bearings back and looked a bit odd. Red face, looking at the ground and clenching his fist.

He then went towards me.

Although I had a bad feeling, but I didn't feel any killing intent, so in order to appear strong I stayed my ground.

Alexander arrived before me and stood still.

And just as I wanted to say something, he swung his fist and hit me!

„You Idiot! I didn't mean it that way. I wanted to find you in order to join your crew!"