When the female Marines righteously shouted—
"Even if we were wrong in every way, you can't just watch Kujaku die!"
Leno froze.
Actually froze.
For a moment, he questioned reality itself.
T0-tier logic has spread to the One Piece world too?!
He genuinely couldn't comprehend it.
Was this something carbon-based lifeforms could say?
He took a deep breath.
Reflected seriously.
"Wrong. I was wrong."
Painfully wrong.
His mistake?
Not drawing a clean line with these women sooner.
His mistake?
Ever building good relationships with them in the first place.
Back then, he had known his situation.
The One Piece world was all about backing.
If you didn't have a "dad" behind you, you were finished.
So he played along.
Raised bonds.
Built the childhood-friend route.
But he never imagined—
Those very actions would evolve them into… this.
Their logic was centuries ahead of civilization.
Absurd.
Completely absurd.
He should have punched hard from the beginning.
Taught them that in this world—
Friendship means nothing.
Power means everything.
Want the girl from the anime?
Take her.
Romance without strength is outdated.
Especially here.
He hadn't even been gone from the Marines that long—
And look how well he was eating now.
The contrast spoke for itself.
Before Leno could respond—
Tsuru's voice poured out of the Den Den Mushi again.
"Leno! Save Kujaku! We can negotiate!"
"I know we were wrong, but Kujaku is innocent!"
"If you save her, I'll consider any condition!"
"I'm begging you! She's my only granddaughter!"
In short—
Save Kujaku.
Leno sneered.
"No concrete benefit. Just empty promises and moral blackmail?"
"You think I'm stupid?"
Silence.
Then—
"What do you want?"
Leno's lips curved.
"I want—"
Those outrageous words hadn't just stunned Leno.
Domino, Hancock, and the others were equally speechless.
Domino's eyes widened.
"Do they even hear themselves?"
Hancock looked disgusted.
"I don't understand their language. Are they a different species?"
Robin tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Fascinating… I've never encountered such a rare specimen."
Kalifa adjusted her glasses.
"Even among the Celestial Dragons' women, I haven't seen logic this warped."
Perona hugged Kumashi dramatically.
"Wow! Their skin is thicker than my zombie servants!"
Bonney snorted.
"A brain is a good thing. Too bad they don't have one."
Little Arichette frowned.
"They're weird. Did they get scared stupid?"
None of them could understand.
Were these women living in the same world?
Were they even speaking human language?
The more they thought about it—
The more they laughed in disbelief.
Then they fired back.
Hard.
"Shameless!" Hancock declared, hands on hips, Empress aura unleashed.
"You think two sentences entitle you to Leno-sama risking himself? What right do you have to accuse him of wrongdoing?!"
Domino stepped forward.
"No one understands that day better than I do!"
"You betrayed him! Now you demand virtue? Is your skin made of Seastone?!"
Robin spoke calmly.
"Abandon a companion without hesitation, then demand rescue with righteousness. Truly impressive."
Kalifa added coolly, "With Marines like you, the Navy's future shines brightly indeed."
One after another—
Relentless.
Precise.
Each sentence struck like a blade.
The female Marines were left speechless.
In the middle of it all—
Akainu stood there.
Still holding Kujaku up.
Like an idiot.
Arm starting to ache.
Psychological ache, but still.
"Oi! Are you done?!" he roared.
"I'm still here! I still have a hostage! Am I invisible?!"
They were arguing as if he didn't exist.
Infuriating.
Meanwhile—
Kujaku was being strangled.
Her inner thoughts?
Pure rage.
Are you kidding me?! You're having a debate while I'm getting choked to death!
Can someone prioritize whether I LIVE OR DIE?!
She mentally cursed everyone equally.
"SHUT UP!" Akainu bellowed.
He refused to be sidelined.
His eyes locked onto Leno.
He lifted Kujaku higher.
"LENO! Enough nonsense! Are you saving your childhood sweetheart or not?! Answer me now—or I crush her throat!"
Leno watched calmly.
Actually thinking.
When had he given off the impression that he would sacrifice everything for women?
Why was Akainu still using this tactic?
He didn't understand.
He didn't answer immediately either.
Instead—
He slowly raised the Den Den Mushi.
A playful tone entered his voice.
"Sakazuki."
"Whether you kill her or not is up to you."
A slight pause.
"But it also depends on whether you're willing… to completely tear apart relations with the Navy's dovish faction."
This wasn't charity.
Tsuru had already paid.
Fortunately for Leno—
Akainu had shut off his Den Den Mushi before leaving HQ.
Even Tsuru couldn't reach him.
During the argument earlier—
She had made her offer.
Now—
The Den Den Mushi crackled.
Tsuru's voice exploded through it.
Gone was the calm strategist.
Only fury remained.
"Sakazuki!!! You bastard!!!"
"Release my granddaughter Kujaku immediately!"
"If you so much as touch a hair on her head—"
"I, Tsuru, swear I will be your enemy for life!"
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