[T/N: Hi readers! 4 total chapters of One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King! are releasing today, staggered throughout the day! Stay tuned! Power Stones are at 17 this week (+11 since yesterday!). Let's push for that bonus! 💪 Every +50 helps visibility and rank📈. Weekly Goal: Every +50 Power Stones = 2 bonus chaps next day!🚀 Also check out: Naruto Paradise: An Evil Uchiha's Rise & Young Master, Please Become Hokage!. Leave a comment or review! Happy reading! ✨
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In less than a month, Roya received the green light for his transfer! His superiors wanted him in Logue Town within three months.
Plenty of time to say goodbye.
Roya made sure to bid farewell to everyone he knew. He even went all the way to Syrup Village to see Kaya and her family.
And then...
Shells Town Port. The warship from the 153rd Branch, sails billowing, prepared to depart.
Every officer and marine from the 153rd Branch, along with what seemed like every resident of Shells Town, gathered on the shore to wish Roya farewell.
Roya was their hero, the pride of Shells Town. Ever since the Moon Island incident, the pirates in the surrounding waters had been hit hard. They wouldn't be causing trouble anytime soon, all thanks to Roya. He deserved this send-off.
"Major Roya, good luck out there!"
"We're waiting to hear all about your successes!"
"Fair winds and following seas!"
The crowd waved, their voices full of genuine affection.
"Everyone, goodbye!" Roya called back.
He stood at the edge of the deck, watching Shells Town shrink into the distance until it was just a blur. Then, he turned away, ready for the next chapter.
Thump!
Fullbody and Jango, ever the entertainers, placed their Double Sound Player on the deck and hit play.
"Yes! Let's get some Golden Wind going!"
War Anthem, activate!
The two of them, shoulder to shoulder, stood on tiptoes, ready to bring the party.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow."
"But music can chase away the blues!"
A flick of the wrist, a step downwards, and a gliding step!
Fullbody spun with a flourish, facing Zoro, who was napping peacefully near the mast.
He beckoned with a smile. "Zoro, come join us!"
"Hmph, childish!" Zoro scoffed, unimpressed.
Dancing was for kids. He was a swordsman!
But the next moment, as if pulled by an invisible force, Zoro found himself behind them, his face dark and bewildered, somehow keeping rhythm with the music.
Who am I? What am I doing with my life?
In the blink of an eye, the entire deck of marines was swaying and dancing, the sadness of the farewell completely forgotten, replaced by pure, unadulterated joy.
----
Two weeks later.
The warship arrived at Logue Town Port, the City of Beginnings and Endings.
"Major Roya, we're here!"
"Alright, thank you for the ride," Roya replied, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.
Behind him followed Fullbody, Jango, Ririka, and her daughter.
Six people in total, ready to make their mark.
"Alright, time to split up." Roya said.
Roya needed to report to the Marine Branch, but Ririka and her daughter, and Zoro, were not marines and couldn't go with him.
Roya turned to Zoro.
"Zoro, your job is to protect Ririka."
"Leave it to me," Zoro grunted in reply.
He already knew the plan.
He was responsible for keeping Ririka safe.
And Ririka was in charge of finding a place to buy, a future base of operations. Tavern owners are naturally skilled at gathering information, and she was more than capable of handling it.
"Let's move!"
The six split into two groups and entered the bustling city of Logue Town.
Ririka and the others stared in awe at the seemingly endless streets, packed with people. They felt like country bumpkins in the big city.
"Mommy, it's so big!" her daughter exclaimed, eyes wide.
"Yes, it is," Ririka replied with a smile, but her gaze was already scanning the shops and the faces of the people around them.
A tavern near the port would be perfect. Easy access to overseas information, and a more diverse clientele.
She wanted more.
"Stop right there!"
Two menacing figures blocked their path, sinister smiles on their faces and long swords hanging from their waists. Clearly, they were up to no good.
"Well, well, well, look who we have here. You folks sure don't look like you're from these parts, do you?"
"This is our land. If you want to walk through it, you have to pay us. 100,000 Berries for each person. Understand?"
"Don't make us get rough!"
Robbery, right here in the middle of the day!
The people around us whispered and pointed, but they didn't seem too shocked. They were used to seeing this kind of thing happen.
Ririka frowned.
This town, with its heavily armed marine presence, is even more lawless than I thought. She had already noticed that many of the pedestrians were carrying swords.
Seeing that Ririka wasn't intimidated, the two thugs grew angry, drawing their long swords to threaten her. "Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?!"
Clang!
A blade appeared in front of them, stopping them in their tracks.
It was Zoro.
"Keep it down," he growled, his eyes like ice.
He'd barely arrived and already run into trouble. It seemed Logue Town was going to be more challenging than he had anticipated.
He would make sure the name of Roronoa Zoro echoed through this town!
----
Meanwhile, at the Logue Town Marine Branch.
After confirming the transfer documents, Roya and his crew were escorted to the office of the base commander.
Behind the desk, an executive chair slowly turned around, revealing a man with a huge afro, like a gorilla, munching on a banana. He looked surprisingly ordinary.
"I am the Supreme Commander of the Logue Town Branch, Commodore Murak."
"Commodore Murak, Major Roya from the 153rd Branch reporting for duty!" Roya said, standing tall.
So, Smoker hasn't arrived yet. Given Smoker's personality, it's not surprising he couldn't stay in one place for four years.
"Roya, the Black-Haired swordsman," Murak said, picking up Roya's file.
In just six months, Roya had defeated two powerful pirates with bounties over 15 million Berries. Even Murak was impressed by such accomplishments.
But if he thinks that being a little strong will give him an easy ride in Logue Town, he's got another thing coming.
The water here runs deep!
Murak narrowed his eyes.
"Major Roya, spend the next few days getting to know the Branch. I'll have my Adjutant inform you of your duties when I've made arrangements."
"Understood!" Roya replied, nodding.
Dormitories, training areas, supply depots...
Under the guidance of a lieutenant, Roya and his crew were given a tour of the base.
The size of the base, the advanced weapons, the training facilities - everything was ten times better than the 153rd Branch.
There was no comparison.
And then, Roya had nothing to do.
After showing Roya and his crew to their assigned dormitories, the lieutenant simply left, leaving them staring at each other in confusion.
They were given a place to sleep, an office, and told when to eat. That was it.
They weren't even told where to train.
When they tried to ask, they were told to wait for Commodore Murak's orders. It was like they were expected to just hang around until he decided what to do with them.
Fullbody hesitated. "Major Roya, could it be..."
"I understand," Roya said, shaking his head.
He knew what was happening. Murak was trying to put him in his place, to show him who was boss. This idle state would probably last a while.
But that's okay. He needed time to figure out Logue Town anyway. Besides, just because he didn't have orders didn't mean he couldn't do anything.
There was one more thing.
Daring to mess with him? That was a death wish!
"Let's go, let's go for a walk," Roya said.
The three of them left the Branch. The marines guarding the gate didn't even ask where they were going. They must have received orders to leave them alone. That confirmed Roya's suspicions.
Workplace bullying!
----
That evening, Roya met up with Zoro.
With money, things were easy. By paying a hefty sum of four million Berries, Ririka managed to buy a shop near the port that was about to go out of business.
Three floors, plus a yard.
They officially had a base.
"Roya, this town..." Ririka began, explaining what had happened during the day. A town with a heavy marine presence shouldn't have so much blatant crime. It was strange.
Roya laughed. "Looks like we're going to be busy!"