Three Marine warships sailed in a pincer, cutting through the sea. On their decks a low buzz ran through the men.
"Captain, are we really going?" a sergeant asked, voice tight.
"The man we face wiped out Arlong's crew. He is said to be a powerful fighter, even a Devil Fruit user. Perhaps we should stand down," he added, glancing nervously at Captain Nezumi.
Nezumi's eyes glittered. "Fool. That prize is nearly one hundred million Berries."
"If only that Arlong idiot had not insisted on waiting for that thief to scrape together a hundred million," a subordinate muttered.
"If you had told me earlier I would have seized the funds myself," Nezumi said, a greedy curve at his mouth.
…
In Rody's mind the system chimed.
Host killed the fish-man Arlong.
[Slaughter Value +5]
Host killed the sea beast Momoo.
[Slaughter Value +3]
Slaughter Value: 10.
"Killing that sea beast added Slaughter Value too. So taking down strong creatures grants value as well," Rody thought as he watched the number in his status panel.
"Three warships ahead," Nami called from the bow.
"They're from the Marines' 16th Branch," she added. Rody pressed his hands together in a seal. From the shadows of his figure a Nue burst forth. Rody leapt onto its broad back and the beast launched toward the enemy ships.
"Captain, a large bird flew up from that ship and is now rapidly heading back our way," one lookout shouted.
"Open fire. Shoot it down," Nezumi ordered.
Cannons roared. Shells screamed toward Rody. Before they reached him each shell detonated midair in a sudden, violent burst.
Rody stepped from the smoky clouds atop the Nue and dropped onto the deck of the center warship. He scanned the sailors aboard and paused on one officer whose face looked rodentlike.
"Red hair, strange markings on his face and body, about 2.3 meters tall," a Marine reported.
"Captain, no mistake. He's the one who destroyed Arlong's gang," the man confirmed.
Nezumi's voice curled with official contempt as he addressed Rody. "So you are the one who killed Arlong. Do you know how many Berries Arlong paid us every year? You are not flying a pirate skull, so you are no pirate. Turn over the hundred million we confiscated from Arlong and the Marines will not place a bounty on you. Coo coo coo…"
The sound grated on Rody. Without warning he sliced through Nezumi's smug posture. Two legs fell away. Nezumi screamed.
"Ahhh!" he wailed. "My legs! Fire, shoot him. Kill him now!"
Marines on the deck froze for a moment then panicked, raising their rifles. Bullets left the muzzles but were shredded in midflight by invisible slashes. Before they could squeeze another shot the slashes tore through them, metal ringing as men crumpled.
Nezumi crawled backward on his hands, blood pooling where his legs had been severed. He clawed at the deck and begged, voice ragged and wet with tears.
"Don't kill me. The money is not worth it. There's more at the branch headquarters. My uncle is a Vice Admiral. Killing me will do you no good. Spare me and I will make sure the Marines never hunt you. Please, have mercy."
Rody watched the crawling, pleading figure drag his severed legs along the deck leaving two trailing blood streaks. He thought, ugly and tedious.
"Ugliness and boredom in one," he said softly.
Rody extended his right hand and whispered, "Cut." A storm of irregular slashes flashed outward. Three Marine ships were cleft into fragments. Plating, timber and iron shredded into pieces and fell back into the sea.
The Nue returned. Rody dropped down from its back. Nami approached, eyes wide and anxious. "Rody, why did you kill them all?"
Rody smiled and brushed her cheek. "Remember Arlong's deal with Captain Nezumi? Those three ships were sent by the 16th Branch to pillage Cocoyasi Village's coffers."
Nami's heart swelled. She felt Rody's large hand warm against her face. Her voice in her head whispered that Rody did it for her. Overcome, she stepped forward, rose on tiptoe and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
Rody blinked in mild surprise. He touched the spot she had kissed. Nami's face warmed. His eyes met hers, and on impulse he drew her close, captured her waist with one arm and kissed her.
Nami's startled "mm" broke into a small cry. Panic widened her eyes. Her hands pushed at his chest, but were powerless to move him. His kiss was gentle and coaxing. Her trembling hands surrendered and wrapped around his waist. The terror behind her eyes turned soft. She returned the kiss tenderly.
Rody lifted her through the gap of her bent legs and began toward the cabin.
The sudden motion jolted Nami back to herself. She pushed Rody's face lightly away. Her cheeks flushed with modesty. "Rody, that was too sudden. I am not ready. Wait until I am prepared." Her voice trembled.
Rody set her gently down, reluctant but amused. "Nami, don't make me wait too long."
"I won't. I promise I won't make you wait much," she said, blush still brightening her cheeks. She kissed him once more on the lips, then looped her arm through his and walked toward the galley.
Nami smiled. "Rody, where to next?"
"First we'll check the nearby islands for a good cook. Then we'll buy a better ship. This galley is too small, the tools are few and the ingredients are poor."
Nami squeezed his arm. "Ah, Captain Rody, is my grilled duck with orange sauce not good enough?" she teased.
"It's delicious, but we cannot eat grilled duck and orange sauce every day, and we are running low on duck." Rody chuckled.
…
Far away, on the first half of the Grand Line, Marineford.
At the summit of Marineford's Bastion of Justice sat the Fleet Admiral's office. On the wall hung the plaque of Justice. Below it, Admiral Sengoku sat with a stern expression, his once-dark hair still unthreaded with white. He was not yet the grey-haired, smiling inspector of the post-War era.
Across his desk stood Commodore Brannew delivering a briefing. "Admiral, this report arrived from the 16th Branch in the East Blue," Brannew said, placing the document on Sengoku's desk.