One Piece: Lost in the Tutorial #55

Several days later, inside the ship, Blake stood in front of a mirror, tightening the black tie around his neck with an uncomfortable expression. He wore a white suit, paired with a derby hat, leather gloves, and matching shoes. 

Turning to Law, who watched with a bemused expression, Blake spread his arms wide. "How do I look?" he asked with a grin.

Law sighed in exasperation, giving Blake a once-over. "You look like a douchebag," he stated bluntly.

Blake chuckled at those words. "Good. That means I look the part," he said, reaching for a white mask on the table beside him. He cleared his throat, rubbed his neck for a moment, and then put on the mask. 

"Then I must be off now.. time is of the essence and the will of the Gods can not enforce itself upon the unworthy masses," he declared in a solemn tone, devoid of the usual mirth.

Law looked at him and couldn't help but smile. "Not bad... this might work, after all," he said, impressed by Blake's ability to act. "Once you leave, we'll submerge the ship and make our way to the Marine Branch," he stated. "Once you give us the signal, we'll be ready to attack," he concluded.

Blake nodded, his eyes gleaming with a light of resolve. "Alright then, let's get this show on the road," he said, turning on his heel and heading towards the door. "See you on the other side, Law," he added, his voice carrying a mixture of excitement and impatience.

Law watched him go, a sense of anticipation building in his chest. "Good luck, captain-ya," he muttered under his breath, turning to prepare the crew for the upcoming mission.

...

The 66th marine base buzzed with activity. Despite being situated on a small, unnamed islet, it was heavily defended with numerous cannons along its shores, manned by trained marines. Teams of soldiers patrolled the perimeter, while watchtowers stood as vigilant sentinels, their occupants keeping their eyes on the horizon.

One such lookout leaned on the railing of his watchtower, yawning as he scanned the sea. A white dot in the sky caught his attention, and he frowned, wiping his eyes, thinking it must be a trick of the light.

The white dot persisted, growing larger with each passing moment, much to the lookout's dismay. Retrieving a telescope from his pocket, he extended it and peered at the mysterious object. His breath caught as he realized it was a man running on thin air, rapidly approaching the island.

The soldier felt an eerie sensation that the man was staring directly at him. Shaking his head to dispel the unsettling feeling, he quickly rang the alarm bell on his watchtower. "Possible intruders! There's someone approaching the base!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with urgency.

Soon enough, word reached the commodore presiding over the base, and he wasted no time gathering his men on the shore to await the intruder. He retrieved a telescope and intently studied the form of the approaching man, an inscrutable expression on his face as he put it away.

One of the marines looked at the commodore in confusion. "With all due respect, sir... why are we waiting for the intruder to arrive?" he asked with a frown. "Wouldn't it be better to strike preemptively and shoot him out of the air?" he added, his grip tightening on his rifle.

The commodore shook his head. "That man might not be a simple intruder... he's employing one of the Rokushiki skills to step in the air," he stated. "It's highly likely that he might be a marine soldier... maybe even a member of Cipher Pol," he added, a dark expression forming on his face.

"Cipher Pol, sir? What is that?" the marine asked, his confusion deepening.

The commodore sighed audibly, looking at his subordinate with a hint of apprehension. "Cipher Pol is an intelligence agency directly under the World Government. They handle secret missions and espionage, operating beyond the typical marine jurisdiction," he explained. "If this man is from Cipher Pol, it means he has authority and skills far beyond what we’re used to dealing with."

The marine’s eyes widened in realization. "So there's something like that?" he muttered. "But if that's the case, he should be considered an ally, no? You don't seem particularly pleased about his presence..." he added, noting the expression on the commodore's face. 

The marine’s eyes widened in realization. "So there really is something like that?" he muttered. "But if that's the case, shouldn't he be considered an ally? You don't seem particularly thrilled about his presence," he added, noticing the commodore's grim expression.

The commodore shook his head. "Not in the slightest," he replied. "These Cipher Pol operatives are ruthless killers. Wherever they go, bloodshed follows," he explained, his voice low and bitter. "I once heard about a Cipher Pol agent, a mere child, sent to rescue some soldiers from a rebel force... he slaughtered everyone."

The marine's eyes widened further. "A child took out an entire rebel force?" he asked, struggling to believe it.

The commodore's expression darkened. "Not just the rebels... he killed the captured soldiers too," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "It's best to avoid entanglements with these kinds of people, but it looks like we don't have much of a choice now," he added, signaling for the marine to be quiet as the approaching man finally landed in front of them.

As the mysterious figure touched down, an uneasy silence fell over the marines.

His expression, a façade of composed professionalism concealing his inner unease, the commodore advanced to greet the newcomer, only to be swiftly interrupted. 

"You're the base commander, I presume?" the newcomer asserted with authoritative confidence, causing the commodore to momentarily halt his welcoming gestures and simply nod in response.

"Indeed," the commodore affirmed, his voice steady despite the subtle tension in the air.

"Good. Take me to your communication center. Urgent news demands transmission to my superiors," the newcomer commanded, his tone brooking no delay.

Caught off guard by the abrupt directive, the commodore hesitated before cautiously responding, "May I inquire about the nature of--"

"The specifics are nonessential to you. What matters is that I operate under the authority of the Celestial Dragons," the newcomer interjected sharply. "The details of my mission are confidential and time-sensitive. Now, kindly cease wasting my time and lead me to my destination," he concluded, his demeanor chillingly authoritative.

The commodore clenched his jaw, torn between his duty to protect the base and the unsettling authority of the stranger before him. "I mean no disrespect, sir, but I must insist on verification of your identity before granting access to the communication center," he asserted, his voice firm despite the tension.

Before the commodore could finish his sentence, the newcomer swiftly closed the gap between them, seizing the marine officer by the neck with an alarming grip. "I was explicitly ordered to minimize casualties among marines due to your short staffing," the newcomer retorted sharply through his mask, locking eyes with the commodore. 

"However, the information I bear outweighs your insignificant life and those of your men," he continued, unperturbed even as surrounding marines promptly encircled him, weapons trained and ready.

"Do them and yourself a favor; comply while I'm still inclined to be patient," he concluded coldly, releasing his hold on the commodore who staggered back slightly, shaken by the encounter.

Despite himself, the commodore swiftly regained his composure, prioritizing the safety of his men above all else. "Stand down! Lower your weapons!" he commanded firmly, massaging his sore neck where the stranger's grip had been tight.

"But sir--" protested one marine, only to be sharply rebuked by the commodore. 

"Bastards! Did you not hear me? Lower your weapons immediately!" he barked, his tone leaving no room for argument. Reluctantly, the marines complied, though their expressions betrayed lingering unease.

Putting on a diplomatic smile, the commodore turned to the masked stranger. "Please forgive the inexperience of my men," he apologized but received only cold silence in response to his words.

"Right... please follow me. I will take you to the communication room as you've instructed," he offered, gesturing towards the main building at the heart of the marine base. 

The newcomer nodded tersely in response, exuding an air of satisfaction. "Quickly then," he instructed, his tone brooking no delay nor argument.