Demon Slayer Virgil [Isekai One Piece]

Ten minutes later, Zavia arrived in front of a magnificent building with the words "Marine" written in large letters. Ignoring the two guards saluting him at the entrance, he walked straight into the Marine base.

Along the way, every Marine he encountered spoke to him respectfully and saluted him. Although as a soldier, it was necessary to salute and show respect when encountering someone of higher rank, Zavia disliked such formalities. During his time at the Marine Academy, he acted as casually as he could, showing no semblance of a proper soldier's conduct.

It wasn't that he disrespected the position of a Marine, he simply disliked those formalities, that's all.

Arriving at his office, Zavia pushed open the wooden door to find it empty and simply furnished. The room wasn't very large, with standard blue and white colors. A potted plant stood by the wall, next to a sofa and table.

Opposite the furniture was Zavia's desk and chair. Currently, there were a few files and a Den Den Mushi on the desk. The Den Den Mushi had a blue and white color scheme, matching the Marine's standard colors.

Zavia walked over to the desk and picked up the Den Den Mushi, which had been asleep but instantly woke up, making a "calu calu" sound.

"Kacha~ Zavia? You're back from your mission?"

A few seconds later, the Den Den Mushi changed into its normal form with glasses and a braided beard after being picked up.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku? I heard from Ito that you had something for me earlier."

After connecting the call, Sengoku's familiar voice reached Zavia's ears.

Unlike other Marines, Zavia knew it was Sengoku calling, but his attitude wasn't as serious, rather, it was as casual as Kuzan.

However, Sengoku didn't seem to mind, merely clearing his throat. "Ahem, of course, Zavia, I've heard about your achievements in Norris over the past month, very impressive.

Since you went there, the number of outlaws has decreased rapidly, and the residents there are calling you a local hero."

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, surely you didn't call me just to praise me?"

Hearing Sengoku's words, Zavia yawned, not believing the Fleet Admiral would call so late just to compliment him.

"Hahaha, of course not, I was just feeling happy. To get back on topic, Zavia, the place you had the Intelligence Division investigate has been found. All the leads point to the Sabaody Archipelago."

After the praise, Sengoku stated the reason for calling Zavia in a more serious tone.

"The Sabaody Archipelago, huh? Hmm, so I really have to go there?" Upon hearing this, Zavia lowered his head in thought.

"Zavia, can you tell me why you're looking for such a place?"

"...Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I'm not looking for any particular reason, I just simply want to rescue them."

Lowering his head in thought, Zavia pondered for a moment before giving a simple answer to Sengoku's inquiry.

"Impossible, you may be able to fool others, but not me. Back when you first heard about the slave trading incident, there was a flash of anger in your eyes."

(This old man's Observation Haki is terrifying.) Instantly seen through, a drop of cold sweat appeared on the back of Zavia's head as he inwardly admired Sengoku's keen Observation Haki.

"Sigh, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I, lived in an unfortunate family growing up. My mother, there was a period where she lived worse than a slave..."

Instead of directly answering Sengoku's question, Zavia spoke in a mournful tone, his half-closed eyes gazing out at the moonlit scenery.

"I see..."

Hearing Zavia's self-account, Sengoku didn't pry further. Through the Den Den Mushi, Zavia seemed to see a face filled with sympathy, saddened by his misfortune.

"Let's not dwell on the sad past. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, can you assign a new Marine leader here? I plan to go to the Sabaody Archipelago."

Shaking his head to clear those past memories, Zavia spoke into the receiver.

"Hmm...I can, but you'll need to give me a reason."

After a full five minutes of silence, Sengoku finally spoke, during which Zavia saw his eyes repeatedly glancing to the side through the Den Den Mushi, indicating he was likely discussing with someone nearby.

(Zephyr or Garp? But then again, a reason? This is probably just an excuse to leave Norris.) Zavia thought inwardly.

"The reason? To eradicate these slave traders, ensuring the safety of the citizens, upholding the Marines' justice." Zavia spoke with a resounding and overly righteous tone.

"Justice, huh...Very well, Zavia, I'll have someone deliver the paperwork tomorrow. Prepare yourself in the meantime."

"..."

After saying that, Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi, which instantly went to sleep.

"Sigh, this Valona, just how spoiled did he make me in the One Piece world's memories, for every request of mine to be approved like this."

Putting the receiver back on the Den Den Mushi, Zavia scratched his cheek with a resigned expression.

Ever since Valona used his memory modification magic that day, the Marines had been overly indulgent towards Zavia.

As long as it wasn't an excessive request, anything Zavia asked of Sengoku was basically approved.

Just like this incident of being sent to Norris Island - any other Marine of Zavia's strength would definitely have been assigned to the second half of the Grand Line, the New World, not this "paradise" of the first half.

To be honest, Zavia didn't really like being indulged like this, as it would cause great trouble for him to eventually leave the Marines.

This involved various factors. Unless there was some "significant" event that made Zavia seriously "doubt" the Marines, it would be difficult to leave.

Although Zavia could resign from the Marines, he estimated that wouldn't happen for at least a few decades.

Zavia couldn't wait that long. At most, he planned to spend one or two or three years in the One Piece world. Once he had participated in some of the major events, he would leave for the next world.

After all, most of the climactic events in the One Piece world would occur within those three years.

"Forget it, no use overthinking it now. I should focus on how to develop my spatial abilities instead."

Giving up his resigned thoughts about Valona and the Marines, Zavia refocused his mind on developing his powers.

Spatial abilities, in other words the Space Core, was the second beginner's reward for Zavia as the inheritor, and the last one. This ability was an extremely powerful asset for him.

For a sword-wielding swordsman, being able to use spatial abilities would greatly increase his combat strength.

A simple example was spatial teleportation...

In terms of mastering spatial teleportation, Zavia had already reached and surpassed his original goal of freely teleporting within 100 meters. Currently, Zavia could teleport up to 150 meters.

As for other spatial abilities, Zavia had developed spatial sealing and spatial fracturing, but spatial sealing could only target individuals, while spatial fracturing could only injure the target, not reach the level of fracturing space itself into turbulence.

Then there was the space-severing ability, which Zavia hadn't really considered, because even without the Space Core, the Yamato Blade itself had the ability to sever space.

After all, the Yamato was the key connecting the "Underworld" and the "Human World", so it was imbued with the power to sever space to some extent.

The 'Dimension Slash' and 'Dimension Slash-Void' techniques were developed using this property of the Yamato Blade.

Throughout the long night, the silvery-white moonlight enveloped the entire Marine base, giving it a sacred and pristine appearance.

It was currently the middle of the night, and most Marines had gone to bed after completing their missions, with only a few on night patrol to guard against any outlaws.

On the training field, Zavia was both exercising his body and contemplating the development of his abilities.

***

The next day, sitting on the training field, Zavia opened his eyes and looked up at the first glimmer of dawn in the sky.

The sun was about to rise.

Ending his meditation, Zavia grabbed his hanging clothes and took out a sports drink from his dimensional bag, drinking it as he headed towards the bathroom.

The sky gradually brightened, and many Marines woke up early to eat, wash up, and begin their day's rigorous training.

In Zavia's office, he put on his white trench coat and held the Yamato Blade in his hand, just like usual, before leaving.

Zavia was going to patrol the streets. Since there was nothing to do at the Marine base, he might as well wander around town, instantly resolving any civil disputes or dealing with outlaws, which would also help raise his reputation in the Marines.

Day after day, it wasn't until two weeks later that the new leader sent by Sengoku finally arrived.

"Your effort is appreciated."

At the docks, Zavia greeted a Marine with a righteous appearance.

"Not at all, Rear Admiral Zavia, you honor me too much!"

The righteous-looking Marine performed a standard Marine salute, his tone firm.

"Hmm, not bad, let me see... Takizawa, is it? Hmm, good, a Colonel too, promising."

Zavia didn't acknowledge the salute, merely nodding slightly before picking up the file in his hand to read.

Hmm, the other person was a Colonel named Takizawa.

Looking through the other information, there was nothing special, just a very ordinary Marine officer. If Zavia had to point out anything, it would be that the person's name might make him overthink things.

"No, you honor me too much, Rear Admiral Zavia."

"Don't be shy, if someone praises you, you should dare to accept their praise, understand?"

"Yes! Rear Admiral Zavia! I understand!"

"Good, follow me, I'll brief you on some necessary matters, and my aide Ito will explain the rest to you."

"Yes!"