North Blue, Miko Island.
Miko Island sat quietly along a major commercial sea route. It was a small island, home to no more than ten thousand residents, and also the location of Marine Branch 201.
Before the Marines arrived, the locals scraped by through fishing, enduring a harsh life under the thumb of pirates and criminal gangs. But once the Marines came, they cracked down on the pirates, dismantled the underworld, and established a marine base. Peace gradually returned to the island.
Thanks to the presence of the base, pirates rarely dared to trouble Miko Island afterward. This made it one of the safest places in the region, attracting passing ships to dock, rest, and resupply.
The renewed safety led to a booming economy. Locals and outside investors alike built inns, casinos, taverns, shopping streets, and more. The island soon became lively and prosperous.
On this particular day, a boy with short silver hair and striking features sailed into Miko Island's port aboard a small sailboat. He wore a crisp white shirt beneath a black coat embroidered with blue karakusa swirls.
An old fisherman, one of the few who still clung to the island's fishing traditions, sat on his boat and stared in surprise at the boy. "Hey there, you're not from around here, are you?"
"That's right," the boy replied cheerfully. "Name's Amphitrite Cross. I came from the Tobias Kingdom to enlist in the Marines here on Miko Island."
Looking at the old man's snowy white hair, deeply lined forehead, and clearly aged face, Cross added with a grin, "By the way, sir, could you tell me how to get to Marine Branch 201?"
After over ten days of rest and recovery, Cross had fully healed from his injuries. He said his goodbyes to King Haritch and the others and set out for the Marines.
Though the king and his ministers had tried to keep him, no one dared voice their opposition aloud. They all knew that the Tobias Kingdom was too small a stage for someone like Cross, a monster destined for the great seas.
And so, Cross had bought a ten-meter sailboat and, just like that, crossed the ocean to reach the nearest Marine branch.
"Unbelievable!" The old fisherman's eyes widened. "You crossed the sea alone in that little boat?!"
Cross chuckled. "Yeah, though sleeping at night was a bit of a challenge with all the rocking. Anyway, old man, you still haven't told me how to find the Marine base."
The fisherman stared at him for a moment, then muttered as if lost in thought, "Kids these days… You remind me of the start of the Great Pirate Era. So many folks just jumped on a tiny boat and headed out to sea."
"Uh… sir?" Cross's smile twitched slightly. "I asked about the Marine base?"
"Sigh… Seeing kids like you really makes me feel my age. I mean, I'm sixty-six already. Guess it's that time, huh…" The old man let out a heavy sigh.
"Sir," Cross repeated, grinding his teeth, "can you just tell me where the base is?"
"If I had a grandson… he might be your age by now." The old man's eyes glazed over in nostalgia.
Cross's expression finally cracked into a scowl. He snapped, "You senile old fart, I swear I'll—!"
"The base is down the coast to the right," the fisherman suddenly barked, straightening his posture and pointing hastily. "Walk about a kilometer and you'll see a naval port and fortress—that's Marine Branch 201!"
"Ugh…"
Cross's breath caught in his throat, stuck halfway between a sigh and a scream. He couldn't spit it out or swallow it down. The frustration practically sizzled off him.
He shot a venomous glare at the old man, said nothing, and began rowing toward the shore at top speed.
He had to get out of there before he lost it and cut the guy down.
"Phew…"
As soon as Cross left, the old fisherman slumped against the deck canopy, letting out a long, relieved breath.
Several moments passed before he could even move. Finally, he wiped the sweat from his wrinkled brow with a trembling hand and muttered to himself, "Kids these days really are monsters… No wonder Tsuru told Moore to keep an eye on him. That boy's outrageous."
"Good thing he's joining the Marines. If he weren't… he'd be a disaster for the entire North Blue."
He paused, then sighed again. "Not that it's my problem anymore. I'm retired. Let Moore handle it…"
…
Elsewhere, Cross had already left his sailboat at the port. With the katana Kagehide at his waist and a bundle slung over his shoulder, stuffed with Berries, gold, and clothes, he walked ashore, still visibly annoyed.
The port town of Miko Island was bustling. Ships docked to resupply, workers and sailors hustled everywhere, drunken louts stumbled through alleyways, and merchants argued with tax officers over customs duties.
One such tax officer glanced at Cross, but seeing he was just a kid, dismissed him entirely and didn't bother asking questions.
Ignoring the town itself, Cross turned toward the direction the old fisherman had pointed and started walking along the coastline to the right.
Soon, he left the harbor district behind. The crowds thinned until he was practically alone.
After walking over two hundred meters and passing through a grove of coconut trees, Cross finally saw a stone fortress perched on the seaside cliffs ahead. It was built entirely from solid rock, sturdy and imposing. At its highest point fluttered the Marines' Justice Seagull flag.
As he drew closer, Cross saw a port built on the shallow beach below the fortress. A stone wall about three meters high enclosed the area, creating a secure military zone. Two naval vessels, one large and one small, were docked inside.
The terrain was defensible; the fortress was built on a natural coastal rise, like a mountain slope overlooking the sea. From this vantage, with enough cannons and rifles, the base could repel an entire army, let alone common pirates.
"So this is it…"
Cross took in the imposing Marine base as the sharp sounds of gunfire echoed from within. A strange mix of awe and anticipation rose in his chest. He took a deep breath and stepped toward the main gate.
It was a large iron gate that swung outward, flanked by two rifle-toting Marines on guard. Nearby stood a ten-meter-tall watchtower, with another Marine stationed above, keeping watch.
As Cross approached, one of the gate guards stepped forward, raising a hand with a friendly smile. "Hey, kid! This is a Marine base. No entry. Go play somewhere else."
"I'm not here to play," Cross replied casually. He patted the hilt of Kagehide at his waist. "I'm here to join the Marines."
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