Side: Third-person perspective
Huff… huff… damn it… Hina is furious…!
Just moments ago, Marine Captain Hina had launched a full-force assault to capture the Pirate Literary Master—an operation driven half by official duty, half by personal grievance.
Less than thirty minutes had passed since the clash began, yet she was already down on one knee, shoulders heaving as she struggled to catch her breath.
A subordinate rushed to her side, panic plain on his face.
"C-Captain… are you all right?!"
"I'm fine. The injuries aren't serious…"
(That's right… not serious at all… because he was holding back the entire time…!)
Her opponent, Sue, was already gone.
After buying enough time for her allies—the remnants of Baroque Works—to escape, she had slipped through Hina's grasp.
Even the fight itself…
He had faced Hina and multiple reinforcements at once, never once losing his composure.
Despite their numerical advantage, neither the Prison Bullets nor the combined pressure of martial arts and Cage-Cage abilities had landed a decisive hit.
Worse, his attacks had forced them into exaggerated evasive movements, draining their stamina while opening gaps in their defenses. Each tiny lapse was exploited with merciless precision.
The damage hurt—but never crossed into anything fatal.
Another clear sign of restraint.
In the end, Sue vanished without delivering a finishing blow, leaving Hina immobilized by exhaustion and pain.
Even accounting for his goal of stalling for time…
They had been completely played.
Realizing that, Hina clenched her teeth hard enough to grind.
Hina… this humiliation…!
But stewing in anger wouldn't change reality.
Forcing her emotions down through sheer discipline, Hina barked orders to her subordinates.
"They'll attempt to flee the island with the remaining Baroque Works remnants. Be alert for small vessels departing the area. Notify every port and establish blockades—do not let them escape. If they break through, prepare the fleet for pursuit."
"Yes, Captain! I'll recall the ships immediately and have them return to the island!"
"…? Wait," Hina snapped. "What did you just say?"
She stopped the Marine before he could run off.
"Recall the ships? That implies our Marine vessels aren't currently docked here."
"That's… correct. Our ship has already set sail offshore."
"…Why?! I gave no such order!"
"Eh?! B-but… Warrant Officer Muscat said it was under the Captain's orders! Right, Warrant Officer?!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" Muscat barked back. "I never gave such an order! I've been with the Captain all day—I haven't even been near the port!"
As Hina watched her adjutant and the flustered Marine argue, one thought surfaced in her mind—
The remnants believed to be hiding on this island.
I was certain he was here…
That man with the Clone-Clone Fruit.
The one who could become anyone.
No… an Okama.
"Got me… Hina mortified."
---
After shaking off Hina-san and retreating, I followed the lingering traces of my companions' presence and reunited with Marianne and the others.
At the same time, I retrieved my ship—stored in paper form thanks to my abilities. I always keep it that way. Leaving a ship in port is just asking for Marines or bounty hunters to steal it.
Once everyone was aboard, we set sail.
Not across the sea—
But into the sky.
"W-What the hell?! The ship's—"
"It's flying?!"
"Sue, this thing can really fly?! What are those wings made of?!"
"Paper clay. Since it's paper-based, I can control it directly with my powers."
I manipulated the special paper clay built into the hull—not the ordinary kind, but my own custom blend—and reshaped it into wings.
The ship lifted cleanly from the surface, soaring upward in moments.
Man, it really is faster this way.
I don't usually fly like this, though. It's far too conspicuous, and maintaining control in midair takes serious concentration.
But we didn't have the luxury of subtlety right now.
Our destination was the Marine Detention Center.
Still, flying straight in would make us stand out even more. I'd have to hide the ship just before arrival and sneak the rest of the way… though honestly, they'd probably spot us the moment we got close anyway. With patrols and lookouts covering the surrounding waters, there wasn't an easy answer.
While I was thinking that through, Gem—who had been leaning over the railing, shouting a carefree "Woo-hoo!" at the ocean below—suddenly froze.
"Huh…? What's that?"
"You see something, Mr.—uh, Gem?"
"Just call me whatever's easiest, Miss Valentine. No one's gonna overhear us up here anyway. But look—down there. That's a Marine ship."
We all looked.
Sure enough, a Marine vessel was cruising below us.
And it was heading in the same direction we were.
"…Isn't that ship bound for the detention center?"
"If we hijack it, we could use it as a disguise to get close, right?"
"I was thinking the same, but if it's packed with Marines…"
"Those ships are huge," Gem added. "Takes a lot of manpower to run one. Capturing it cleanly would be tough."
"Don't worry," Marianne said calmly. "I can control them with Colors Trap."
"Oh, right. If we use hypnosis, we could minimize damage to the ship."
"And we could send fake reports through Den Den Mushi," Mikita added. "'We've captured three Baroque Works remnants and are escorting them,' or something like that."
"We need to be careful," I said. "If they suspect us, it'll blow up in our faces. That said… what's with that weird chanting? Is that a song?"
"Sounds like it's coming from below…"
"…From that Marine ship?"
"One, two!"
"One, two!"
"One, two!"
"Wait… that voice…"
"It sounds… familiar…"
Someone was spinning and dancing right on the bow of the Marine ship.
No way…
After all, this world has men and women~♪
But Okama are both men and women~♪
"That's why—"
"Strongest! Strongest!"
"O Way~♪ Ah~… Strongest!"
"Nngoo waaaay~~~♪"
"Ngaahahahaha! You darlings really pulled it off!"
"As expected of Mr. 2 Bon Clay-sama!"
"Those Marines fell for it completely!"
"Of course~♪ My Clone-Clone Fruit powers aren't something ordinary Marines can see through! Now then, let's head straight for the detention center…"
"M-Mr. 2 Bon Clay-sama! Emergency! Look at the sky! There's a strange ship flying!"
"Huh?! What nonsense are you spouting?! A flying ship? Don't tell me you're hallucinating—wait, it really is flying?!"
"Eeeeeh?!"
…Wow. What a lively bunch.
So that's what they're up to. I definitely heard something about heading to a detention center.
There stood Mr. 2 Bon Clay—Bon-chan himself—one of the most beloved Okama in the One Piece world, striking poses with unrestrained theatrical flair. A small group of subordinates surrounded him.
"Report. We've received a transmission from Captain Hina on Kyuka Island. Due to a scheme by Baroque Works remnants and their collaborators, the transport vessel was lost and the targets escaped. However, 'Mr. 3' was successfully apprehended. Captain Hina requests reinforcements for escort."
"I see… It's regrettable they escaped, but fortunate there were no civilian casualties. Still, shouldn't we retrieve Captain Hina before any further incidents occur?"
"That would be ideal, but we cannot divert this ship. Our current mission takes priority."
"…Yes. That's reasonable. My apologies."
"Have another base dispatch a vessel to retrieve Captain Hina. We will proceed to the detention center as planned—no, increase speed. Full ahead."
"…Yes, sir! Understood, Vice Admiral!"
"Listen up!" the Vice Admiral barked. "You all know what we're carrying—a former Shichibukai. If we lower our guard, anything could happen. Stay sharp. Focus on the mission!"
"Hah!"
To be continued...