"I'm so popular, and yet you actually cut me with a sword?!"
Locked up in a cell, covered in bandages, Cavendish stared in utter disbelief at Kuina standing outside.
"How can you not be enchanted by my beauty?!"
"You're way too full of yourself!" Kuina sighed, looking at the narcissistic man before her. "What's wrong with you? Instead of sleeping at night, you go around attacking people?"
"And you were impossible to communicate with. Now that I've defeated you, you're finally willing to talk? Cavendish!"
"Also, don't you call yourself 'White Horse'? Now you're using 'Young Master'? Just who exactly are you?"
"Parading around with so many attendants, your daytime and nighttime personalities are completely different!"
"'White Horse'…"
Cavendish finally snapped out of the shock of his charm failing to work on a young woman for the first time. He remembered why he was locked up in the first place.
"Sleepwalking disorder?"
Wright rubbed his temples as he reviewed the case file submitted by Captain T. Bone.
Bone had mentioned it was something regarding Kuina that required Wright's attention, so Wright had come to his office at Marine Headquarters in Marineford.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Wright."
Bone sighed. "After Lieutenant Kuina apprehended Cavendish, she discovered that he suffers from an extremely rare form of sleepwalking disorder."
"When he enters a dream state, a second personality emerges—one that is highly violent, nearly devoid of reason, and attacks anything in sight. He's incredibly dangerous."
"Worst of all, this second personality, 'White Horse,' is twice as skilled in swordsmanship as Cavendish, who is already a swordsmanship prodigy. If left unchecked, his nighttime rampages could escalate from injuries to outright murder."
"So, does Cavendish know about this second personality? How does he feel about it?" Wright asked. He knew what kind of person this narcissist would eventually become, but since his condition was just beginning to manifest, perhaps there was still time to intervene.
"Yes, he's aware of it. He actively tries to suppress 'White Horse' from taking over. However… he is extremely narcissistic."
Bone's normally fearsome face took on a strange expression. "While he does have a strong sense of justice, he's obsessed with his own fame and popularity."
"As long as he's the center of attention, he's happy. But if people ignore him or someone steals his spotlight, he gets furious."
"Also, according to him, every young woman who has ever seen him has fallen for him… In fact, that's the reason he was banished from his home country."
Wright's expression turned odd. "Let me guess… he's finally met a woman who isn't charmed by him?"
"Ahem… yes, Vice Admiral Wright. Lieutenant Kuina is completely unaffected by him."
Bone scratched his head. "As a result, he claims to have suffered a tremendous blow and has sworn that he will make Lieutenant Kuina… er, fall for him."
"…"
This kid is doomed.
Does he even realize who's backing Kuina?
"So? He wants to join the Marines? And follow Kuina?"
Wright pointed at the case file, feeling exhausted. "Kuina didn't mention this to me. What's her stance on it?"
"Well… Lieutenant Kuina acknowledges that Cavendish is an exceptional swordsmanship talent. He also possesses a sword on par with her own. She believes his addition to the Marines would strengthen our forces."
"So she hasn't opposed it… But Cavendish is still technically a criminal. She's currently escorting him and his crew back to headquarters, and she believes this matter should be left to your judgment, Vice Admiral Wright."
"Alright…"
Wright gave Bone a smile that made the captain shudder.
"Once that kid arrives at headquarters, I'll meet him myself."
"If his desire to join the Marines remains unchanged, he'll learn the true meaning of fear."
Feeling the killing intent rising from Wright, Bone shivered and quickly excused himself, silently mourning for the foolish young swordsman.
"Wouldn't it be easier to just live a normal life?"
...
At last, Kuina's warship was approaching Marineford. Wearing her Justice coat, she glanced at Cavendish, who looked utterly shocked.
This guy sure had impressive recovery abilities. The wounds she had inflicted hadn't fully healed, but he was already moving around without issue.
"We've arrived at Marineford. Senior Brother has already contacted me—once we dock, we're to meet him immediately."
"Senior Brother?"
Cavendish blinked. "Kuina-chan, you have a Senior Brother? Ah~ Should I bring a gift to impress him?"
"You're still a criminal! Stop making such self-important decisions!"
Kuina snapped. "If Senior Brother doesn't approve of you joining the Marines, you're heading straight to prison! You're not even qualified for Impel Down yet!"
"Hah? Someone as popular as me, willingly joining the Marines, and they might reject me?!"
Even with handcuffs on, Cavendish struck a dramatic pose and lifted his chin confidently.
"With my charm, I'm sure I'll be a superstar even in Marine Headquarters!"
"Your Senior Brother—who is he? If he refuses to let me join, it must be because he's afraid my popularity will surpass his!"
"…"
Kuina looked at him like he was an idiot. "Popularity? You're actually talking about popularity in front of my Senior Brother?"
The Marines aboard the warship, who had initially found Cavendish likable—handsome, strong, and willing to join the Marines—could no longer hold back.
They burst into laughter.
"He said popularity?! Hahaha!"
"Competing with Vice Admiral Wright in popularity? He's lost his mind! Hahaha!"
"Forget popularity, even in terms of looks, he's got nothing on Vice Admiral Wright! Haha!"
"Ahahaha, my stomach hurts! These rookies are too much!"
"And now you understand why Lieutenant Kuina would never be interested in him!"
Cavendish wasn't stupid. On the contrary, he was very smart.
From Kuina's expression and the Marines' laughter, he realized something terrifying.
"Kuina-chan… your Senior Brother… is Vice Admiral Wright, the 'Orange Horse' and Admiral Candidate?!"
"See? You already know his name. You should also have some idea of his popularity, right?"
Kuina sighed. "Your reason for joining the Marines… While I personally don't care much, I think Senior Brother will 'definitely' care."
"…"
For the first time, Cavendish felt like he had hit rock bottom.
Vice Admiral Wright's popularity wasn't something an ordinary person could even dream of surpassing.
Even the three Admirals couldn't compete with him, let alone a commoner like himself…
A legendary swordsman, the 'ultimate healer,' the man who had faced down Kaido, an Admiral Candidate, and a living legend…
And Kuina-chan was his Junior Sister?!
His reason for joining the Marines?
Hahaha… no hope left. Just wait for death. Before him, only darkness remained…
As the warship docked, Kuina waved to the medical team waiting onshore.
"Uh… please send a medical unit aboard. We have an unconscious patient. No matter what we do, we can't wake him up!"
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