Surrounded by the local branch's marines, Yoriichi Tsugikuni stood calm and composed, utterly unfazed by the countless rifles trained on him. His voice rang out clearly across the tense port.
"A Lieutenant Commander from Navy Headquarters?"
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni? Never heard of him!"
"Sent to inspect our branch? Why? Has the 133rd done something wrong?"
His words caught the gathered marines off guard. Some lowered their rifles in confusion, and murmurs quickly spread among the ranks.
A Headquarters Lieutenant Commander, for a branch unit like theirs, that title alone carried serious weight. While it didn't strike fear into their hearts, it certainly commanded attention.
"Nonsense!"
"There's no such officer listed among the Headquarters Lieutenant Commanders!"
"Don't let him deceive you, attack! Kill him!"
The shout came from the branch's leading officer, a lieutenant commander. His voice boomed with urgency as he pointed his drawn sword directly at Yoriichi, issuing a deadly order.
And yet, hesitation flickered in the eyes of the surrounding soldiers.
Was he really lying?
Though a Headquarters Lieutenant Commander was technically lower in rank than a branch lieutenant commander, everyone knew the truth: an officer from the main command held far more promise and influence than their branch counterparts.
Moreover, they couldn't ignore the striking image before them, this young man, standing calmly under the aim of hundreds of guns, his expression unwavering. That kind of composure under pressure wasn't something just anyone could fake. Maybe... just maybe, he was telling the truth.
Whoosh!!
Yoriichi's gaze turned cold as he looked straight at the lieutenant commander. Without another word, his figure vanished from sight in a sudden burst of speed.
The officer sensed danger and began to react, but it was already too late.
Yoriichi appeared right in front of him and, with a single swift movement, seized the man's face.
Thud!!
With ruthless precision, Yoriichi slammed the lieutenant commander's head into the ground. A muffled crash echoed across the port. The officer's body went limp, unconscious, thoroughly incapacitated.
Yoriichi had held back.
He remembered what Zephyr had told him: avoid killing whenever possible.
Beyond Zephyr's warning, Yoriichi also understood the bigger picture. He didn't want to kill someone who might not deserve it. Perhaps, just perhaps, these people were caught up in something beyond their control, manipulated by forces yet unseen.
The full story could wait until the real investigators from HQ arrived.
For now, Yoriichi's mission was simple: detain all officers ranked lieutenant and above. The rest would be sorted out later. He'd already pushed the limits of acceptable conduct. Killing a Navy officer, even under suspicion, would only hurt his standing.
And Yoriichi fully intended to remain in the Navy.
This much... was enough.
The marines watched in stunned silence as their commanding officer was taken down in a single blow. Tension gripped them again—they raised their rifles once more, aiming at Yoriichi with renewed urgency.
But Yoriichi simply straightened his posture and calmly addressed them:
"I'll say it again: Drop your weapons."
"All officers of lieutenant rank and above, step forward."
His tone had shifted, no longer calm, but sharp and commanding. An invisible pressure radiated from him, sweeping over the assembled marines like a silent tide.
Those with weaker wills instinctively obeyed, their weapons clattering to the ground as they stared blankly at the man standing alone in the center of their formation.
Meanwhile, the officers looked at one another uneasily. After a moment's hesitation, they began to step out from the ranks one by one.
In truth, there weren't many officers of lieutenant rank or higher in a typical marine branch. Even in the 133rd Branch, the total number probably didn't exceed forty.
At that moment, there were only a dozen or so officers above the rank of ensign present at the port.
Once those officers stepped forward, Yoriichi Tsugikuni sprang into action. Using Soru, he vanished in a blur and reappeared before them in an instant. Without hesitation, he knocked each of them unconscious. Though they were officers, none of them could withstand even a single exchange with him. The moment they made contact, they collapsed—unconscious before they could react.
With the task done, Yoriichi swept his gaze over the stunned sailors surrounding him and issued a series of crisp orders.
"Bind these men and lock them up."
"All staff sergeants, report to the branch base. Use the Den Den Mushi to contact Marine Headquarters and verify my identity."
"Once my credentials are confirmed, you'll act according to my instructions."
"Headquarters has already dispatched an official inspector. Until they arrive, I'm taking command of this branch."
"Don't just stand there. Move!"
Snapped out of their stupor by his commanding presence, the sailors quickly sprang into motion. Although they still harbored doubts about Yoriichi's identity, he hadn't harmed anyone unnecessarily, and every order he gave was clear and reasonable. The staff sergeants in particular returned to the base to make the call to HQ using the Den Den Mushi.
When confirmation finally came through, the sergeants first breathed a sigh of relief, but tension quickly followed.
Marine Headquarters was launching a full investigation into the 133rd Branch?
What had happened here?
And would this inspection affect them personally?
Nervous as they were, they had no choice in the matter. Some, more clear-headed than others, simply followed orders and did their work without questioning what had occurred—or what fate awaited the officers now locked away.
Others, less at ease, began reaching out to friends stationed at HQ, probing for any information on Yoriichi Tsugikuni and why this sudden investigation had been launched against their branch. But every inquiry met with the same result: nothing. No one knew anything.
Despite the officers being imprisoned, the 133rd Branch's operations did not grind to a halt. Yoriichi gathered all remaining petty officers and reassigned them to temporarily assume their superiors' duties, handling security and patrol rotations.
It soon became apparent that the true backbone of daily military operations lay in these lower-ranked officers. Even without the ensigns and lieutenants, Yoriichi's coordination kept the branch running smoothly.
However, the absence of higher-ranking officers did take a toll on their overall combat strength. Over the next few days, while waiting for the inspector from HQ to arrive, patrol ships began spotting more and more pirate activity. Skirmishes broke out, and the Marines sustained casualties.
In response, Yoriichi assigned Kyros to lead strike teams and eliminate the pirates. Though Kyros officially held no rank, just a "regular" private, his combat skills were formidable. In the relatively tame waters of the West Blue, he encountered little resistance.
After several successful missions, Kyros earned the respect of the others. Though he remained a private, his growing list of achievements began to speak for itself.
Ten days after Yoriichi assumed control of the 133rd Branch, a Marine warship finally arrived at the port. Yoriichi, accompanied by Kyros and every staff sergeant in the branch, went to welcome the inspector from HQ.
But as soon as Yoriichi saw who stepped off the ship, he smiled, shook his head, and said with a teasing tone:
"Kuzan? You're the inspector?"
"Since when did you qualify for a job like that?"
*********
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