One Piece Shadow Army - Chapter 44
A seventeen-year-old Marine Headquarters Ensign!
What does that mean?
Everyone knew that Charlotte Curls would become a high-ranking Marine officer in the future.
So, when an East Blue newspaper found out about this, they immediately sent a reporter.
At the gate of the Marine base.
A middle-aged reporter, not dressed in fancy clothes, was negotiating with the Marine guard.
“What’s going on?”
Suddenly, a clear voice inquired.
The reporter turned to see a young man in a Marine coat approaching, with black hair and blue eyes, a handsome face, and a clean and neat Marine uniform, looking exceptionally dashing.
“Ensign Curls.”
The Marine guard immediately saluted.
Although Curls had only been in the Marines for three months, ranks determined respect and lower-ranking soldiers needed to salute their superiors as a basic courtesy.
Curls nodded slightly in response.
Then, he looked at the plainly dressed middle-aged reporter beside him.
Hearing the Marine’s greeting, the reporter’s face lit up, and he quickly introduced himself.
“Hello, you must be the newly promoted Marine Headquarters Ensign from Loguetown. I’m a reporter from East Blue Times. I’d like to take a few photos of you for the newspaper. May I?”
A reporter?
“Do you have identification?”
Curls, with a cautious mind, scrutinized the man before him.
The middle-aged man quickly nodded and took out an ID from his pocket: “Yes, this is my work ID.”
Curls checked the ID.
It was indeed a press ID, and the recorded information matched the man in front of him.
No issues.
“Ensign, may I take a photo for the newspaper?” the reporter asked eagerly.
Curls returned the ID to the middle-aged man, replying indifferently, “Sorry, I don’t want my photos published in the newspaper for now.”
Although appearing in the news might seem like a sign of fame to others, it could bring trouble for Curls.
He had a family to care about. Being in the newspaper would increase his visibility, exposing more information about him to the public.
Former Marine Admiral Zephyr, who defeated countless pirates and never killed an enemy, was known as the “Non-Killing Admiral.”
But this Marine hero was retaliated against by pirates who bore grudges, leading to his family being killed by pirates…
After that incident, the Marines strengthened the protection of Marine families, but Curls was still uneasy.
So, for the safety of his father Ronald and sister Vilsia, Curls didn’t intend to appear in the newspaper so soon.
“But…”
The middle-aged reporter wanted to say more, but Curls had already entered the Marine base.
The reporter tried to follow but was stopped by the Marine guard, leaving him helpless.
Thinking of his editor’s angry shouts, his face showed a deep sense of defeat.
……
Inside the Marine base.
Curls arrived at the office that originally belonged to Major Karn. Now, it was his office after the major’s transfer.
Placing his Marine coat on the chair, Curls stretched a bit and began exercising in the empty area.
There were still thirty minutes before official duties began so that he could use this time for some training.
After completing half an hour of physical training, the door outside was knocked.
“Ensign Curls, fifty Marines are assembled and ready for street patrol.”
Tashigi’s voice came from outside. From her tone, it was clear she was still getting used to addressing Curls as her superior.
Curls stood up.
He donned his Marine coat and strapped on a standard-issue officer’s katana.
The cursed sword, Red Moon, with its strong bewitching power, was kept in the shadows to avoid influencing him.
This could be considered a development of his Devil Fruit ability, similar to storage.
However, the shadow could only store inanimate objects, not living things.
Opening the door, Tashigi stood outside in her white Marine uniform. At seventeen, she still looked very young and inexperienced.
“Let’s go.”
Curls led Tashigi to the plaza below, where Marines were already lined up in four rows.
These fifty Marines were Curls’s peers from recruit training.
If they were veterans, they might have resented having a young officer from Marine Headquarters. Smoker had assigned peers who knew Curls to avoid this issue.
Moreover, these Marines had just completed recruit training, so assigning them to dangerous positions wasn’t suitable. Regular patrol duties were more appropriate.
“Move out.”
Without further ado, Curls led the Marines out of the base.
But before they got far.
The same middle-aged reporter appeared again outside the Marine base.
“Ensign Curls, I just want to feature you in a newspaper…”
“I refuse!”
Curls responded coldly.
Such a firm refusal might have deterred most people, but the middle-aged reporter had to persist.
“Just one photo, just one.”
Curls coldly turned back, “I don’t want to refuse a third time.”
The middle-aged reporter felt a shiver as if he were enveloped in darkness.
The Marines continued marching.
“Thud!”
Behind them, the reporter suddenly knelt, his face full of misery, his head touching the ground, his voice filled with pleading.
“Please, help me.”
“Our newspaper’s performance has been poor, and due to family issues, my work has suffered. My editor has warned me multiple times.”
“This task about you is my latest assignment. If I fail, I’ll be fired!”
“If I lose my job, my financial situation will be dire, and my wife and son will worry about money. So, please help me!”
The patrolling Marines stopped.
Tashigi, unable to bear it, turned to look. For a middle-aged man to kneel and plead, his situation must be dire.
“Sorry, I can’t help you.”
Curls’s expression didn’t change much as he continued leading the Marines forward.
Watching the Marines disappear, the reporter’s expression turned to despair.
On the third street of their patrol.
Tashigi, who had been silent, suddenly stopped and asked.
This time, she didn’t use any formal address.
“Why? Why wouldn’t you help that reporter who was at his wit’s end? Aren’t Marines supposed to help those in need?”
Hearing this.
Curls also stopped.
He turned to Tashigi, as if explaining to her alone, but also as if explaining to everyone.
“You’re right. That reporter’s situation is indeed dire. Failing his task might get him fired.
I feel regretful.
But I also have a family. I need to avoid risks to them.
I believe most of the Marines here have families too. I may not know why you joined the Marines.
Maybe it’s for justice, maybe to fight pirates, or maybe just for a steady job…
But I joined the Marines to gain the ability to protect my family.
Faced with the possibility of endangering my family by being in the newspaper, I must refuse…
I can only offer a cold refusal!”
Curls’s words deeply impacted the Marines present.
They suddenly remembered.
They also had families.
Care, love, happiness… These were emotions shown unintentionally with family!
Few people don’t care about their families.
They asked themselves.
If they couldn’t ensure their family’s safety, what was the value of being a Marine?
The Marines couldn’t provide an answer, but they knew that protecting their families was also their wish.
“Alright, continue the patrol.”
Curls said no more, turning back to continue his duties.
……
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