"Those guys… daring to disturb my vacation. They really don't know what they're doing."
High in the sky, a sharp-eyed golden eagle glided steadily, its gaze sweeping the sea below as if searching for traces. Gregory muttered to himself,
"Still, I guess it's not my place to step in. Boss Leon Fang will handle it properly."
"Found it… over there."
With a flap of his wings, Gregory circled downward.
When he returned to human form and set foot on the island, his expression turned serious as he looked at the scene around him.
"Looks like Boss Leon Fang really dealt with this cleanly."
He shook his head lightly and sighed.
"I remember something he once said—treat the people with the warmth of spring, and treat enemies with the cold of winter. Maybe that kind of resolve is exactly what shaped him into who he is."
Gregory didn't stop for long and continued walking deeper into the island.
Along the way, the bodies of pirates lay scattered. There was no excessive bloodshed, no signs of prolonged struggle. Every blow had been precise and decisive, leaving no chance for resistance.
The pirates' expressions were calm, as if everything had ended before fear could even surface. On this silent, deserted island, that calm only made the scene more unsettling.
"Good thing I've seen enough of this," Gregory muttered.
"Otherwise, I'd probably lose sleep over it."
"I'm sorry about that."
A familiar voice came from the forest.
Leon Fang stepped out slowly, wearing his coat of justice, illuminated by the pale moonlight. His clothes were spotless, as if he hadn't just passed through a battlefield.
"I'm not very used to dragging things out when dealing with enemies like this," Leon Fang said calmly.
Gregory laughed and scratched his head.
"Ah, boss, so you heard me. No harm meant."
He glanced around and asked,
"So… that's everyone from the Giant Wheel Pirates?"
"Yes. A few stragglers, but nothing troublesome."
Leon Fang walked toward the open ground outside the forest, Gregory following closely behind.
"That figures," Gregory said.
"They actually thought they could make a move against you. Some people really don't understand the gap between themselves and reality."
Once they reached the clearing, Gregory transformed again, his body expanding into a massive golden eagle. Leon Fang stepped onto his back with practiced ease.
With a powerful beat of wings, the dark island quickly faded into the distance, shrinking into a small shadow on the sea.
"By the way, boss," Gregory's voice echoed in the night wind,
"how did you get out of those Seastone cuffs? I remember those things usually only come with one key."
Leon Fang replied casually,
"Train your body until every part of it responds naturally to your intent. When control reaches a certain level, some limitations stop being absolute."
There was a brief silence.
"…Right," Gregory said slowly.
"Then I guess I'm just an ordinary person. I'd like to be alone for a bit. And don't ask me who Jingjing is."
Leon Fang chuckled but said nothing.
Flying at full speed, they crossed the sea between islands in no time and soon arrived at the temporary naval base.
The moment they landed, a crowd of Marines rushed forward.
"That's great, Major Leon Fang! I knew you'd be fine!"
"Those pirates never stood a chance!"
Gregory shifted back into human form and waved his hand.
"You can cancel the bounty on the Giant Wheel Pirates. They're finished."
A wave of cheers erupted.
Inside the prison, the former captain of the Giant Wheel Pirates—now transferred to a regular cell for good behavior—heard the noise outside and asked curiously,
"What's going on?"
One of the guards replied calmly,
"Your crew is gone. They thought binding Major Leon Fang with Seastone would make him helpless. Turns out they were wrong."
"You—don't slander me!" the giant man protested hurriedly, then patted his chest in lingering fear.
"I knew that Bart was asking for trouble. How could that fool dare to go against Major Leon Fang?"
The other imprisoned pirates, who had once resented their captain's cowardice, quickly changed their tune upon hearing this.
"Our captain was wise!"
"Our captain knew when to stop!"
"There's no captain here," the giant man said immediately.
"We're all just inmates now, here to atone and start over."
The pirates nodded repeatedly, voices overlapping.
"Yes, reform! Start anew! Work hard every day!"
…
"A Light in Troubled Times: Leon Fang, the Rising Star of the Navy!"
"Risk and Responsibility: A Navy Officer's Choice!"
"Justice Above All: Lieutenant Commander Leon Fang and the Giant Wheel Incident!"
Leon Fang flicked the newspaper aside.
Otland, now promoted to brigadier general, laughed.
"Don't take it to heart. With the seas getting more chaotic, the Navy needs symbols like you. Of course they'll push your story."
"I'm used to it," Leon Fang replied calmly.
"It's just that some parts are… a bit overstated."
His gaze shifted to the other newspapers on the table, their headlines printed in bold red letters:
"Ending the Pirate Era—The Navy's Resolve!"
"Vice Admiral Garp Speaks: Praise for the New Generation!"
"Where Will the Star of the Navy Go Next?"
Leon Fang leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful.
Admiral… or something further still?
Only time would tell.
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T/N:
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