Chapter 20 — A Plan
Eiger, of course, wasn't actually going to jump off the ship.
Even if he hadn't become a Devil Fruit user, he'd never be that stupid — it wasn't like he was some lunatic who enjoyed swimming through the Calm Belt for sport.
With his current strength, he'd be lucky to survive an hour in normal waters, let alone the dead seas crawling with Sea Kings.
Once Colonel Enchi agreed to let him join the mission as an off-the-books participant, promising a hefty payment and full claim over any pirate bounties earned, Eiger stopped arguing.
Besides, from what Enchi had told him, the main battle was already over.
Earlier that morning, the Marine Headquarters' Chief Instructor had led his cadets on a training exercise — and was ambushed by a powerful pirate crew. The students suffered devastating losses, and even the instructor himself had been gravely wounded.
Their current task was simple: head to the site of the attack and escort the survivors to safety.
Still, Eiger couldn't help but wonder — why was a Grand Line mission being assigned to a West Blue branch?
Was the Grand Line's manpower shortage really that severe?
He shrugged the thought off.
If things followed the "story," the Chief Instructor — Zephyr — would recover, though the tragedy would push him toward a far darker path.
In the end, he'd still make it back to Marine Headquarters with two of his surviving students.
So, logically speaking, this mission shouldn't be too dangerous.
And if things did somehow go wrong? Well, Eiger could always commandeer the 315th Branch's ship and make a break for it.
As the ship plowed through the waves, Eiger cast a sidelong glance at Colonel Enchi, who had finally relaxed a little, and couldn't help but smile wryly.
This man still hoped he'd return to the Marines.
Too bad he didn't realize — for Eiger, the Marines had only ever been a stepping stone.
Even if he became strong enough to shake the world, he had no intention of staying chained to their flag.
---
The Sibia River Archipelago, where Eiger had been living, sat not far from the Calm Belt.
With the warship moving at full speed, it didn't take long before they breached that still, deathly stretch of ocean and crossed into the Grand Line.
All the while, Colonel Enchi was restless, urging the crew to push faster, his worry written across his face.
It was clear — he held deep respect for Zephyr, the Marine Headquarters Instructor they were going to retrieve.
After another hour of tense sailing, they reached their destination.
Eiger had expected the location to be much farther away — but apparently not.
Given how stretched the Grand Line's forces were, it made sense they had called on the West Blue for backup.
Ahead of them drifted the battered remains of a Marine warship, its hull split and scorched by cannon fire.
The moment their own vessel drew close enough, Enchi leapt across without hesitation, landing on the shattered deck.
Something in the wreck must have struck him hard, because the hardened colonel's eyes glistened as he broke into a run.
Eiger followed at a steady pace.
When he stepped onto the deck, his eyes fell on a small, grim scene.
Three figures stood amidst the wreckage.
Two men and one woman.
All three were injured — bloodied uniforms, bandaged limbs, ash clinging to their faces.
The oldest of them, a broad-shouldered man with graying hair, was kneeling on the deck, motionless, his gaze blank and hollow — as though his soul had already left him.
Behind him stood the two younger survivors, a man and a woman, both silent, both grief-stricken.
Their eyes said everything: pain, guilt, and the weight of a loss too great to speak aloud.
And then Eiger heard Enchi's voice crack, trembling with emotion.
"Instructor Zephyr!"
The title echoed across the wrecked deck — heavy with respect, and despair.
Seeing his once-proud mentor reduced to such a state, Colonel Enchi could no longer hold back.
He stumbled forward, kneeling beside Zephyr, trying desperately to help the man to his feet—
but no matter how he pulled, Zephyr wouldn't move.
The two young marines behind him said something quietly, and Enchi froze.
When he finally looked up again, his face was streaked with tears.
Eiger, standing off to the side, didn't interrupt the reunion.
He just watched the scene with a faint frown, muttering under his breath,
"This is getting a bit melodramatic."
But before he could even sigh, another marine hurriedly vaulted across the gap between ships.
"Lieutenant Eiger!" the man shouted breathlessly.
"We've spotted pirate ships approaching from the front! We need to evacuate immediately! Colonel Enchi—he—"
"I'm not a lieutenant anymore," Eiger interrupted flatly. "And stop yelling."
He frowned. "Tch. These brain-dead pirates really don't value their lives, do they?"
The Chief Instructor of Marine Headquarters had just been attacked.
The cadets had been slaughtered.
Even if the World Government didn't make a fuss, this was already a direct slap in the Navy's face.
At this point, even the big names in the New World wouldn't dare stir the pot—
because killing a Marine Headquarters instructor would mean open war.
If the Government didn't step in, the Navy and those pirates would fight until the sea turned red.
Eiger's gaze drifted to the deck—
where a severed, muscular arm lay among the wreckage.
He pointed lazily. "You, over there. Pick up that arm. Seal it and keep it on ice."
"Uh… huh?"
"Don't just stand there—move! And as for the rest…" Eiger sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'll go talk to your commanding officer."
Leaving the stunned soldier behind, Eiger strode toward Colonel Enchi,
who was standing stiffly off to the side, cigarette trembling between his fingers, rage and grief written all over his face.
"We need to go," Eiger said calmly. "The pirates caught the scent. They're coming."
"These damn pirates!!" Enchi roared, crushing the cigarette in his fist.
His voice cracked with fury. "They still dare come here? Fine—let them! I'll fight them myself if I have to!"
"Cool your head," Eiger snapped, blocking him with an outstretched arm.
"If I'm not mistaken, your mission is to get these people to safety.
Or are you planning to drag your precious instructor and those cadets into a suicidal brawl?"
He raised an eyebrow. "If that's the case, tell me now so I can borrow a smaller ship and run for it."
"…"
That shut Enchi up. His jaw clenched, his fury burning out into helplessness.
Finally, he growled, "You… you little bastard. Always thinking of running away when things get hard.
Didn't you once say you wanted to awaken Conqueror's Haki? Since when does a coward awaken Haki?"
Eiger gave a dry laugh. "This isn't a 'hardship,' old man. This is called suicide.
And since I'm no longer a marine, remind me—why should I die for your mission?"
He shrugged casually. "So? What's it going to be? Make your choice, Colonel."
Enchi opened his mouth, hesitated… then gritted his teeth. "Fine! We run!"
"Good. Then grab your instructor and get everyone back to the 315th's ship. We'll switch vessels and get the hell out."
"That's… the problem." Enchi scratched his head in frustration. "Zephyr-sensei's not in a good state.
He's… refusing to leave."
"Then drag him," Eiger said without missing a beat.
"It's not that simple!" Enchi protested.
"I already tried. He shoved me off and started yelling—'Why save me?! Let me die here! Leave me behind!'
I can't just carry him off by force."
Eiger fell silent for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
When Enchi saw that look, his eyes brightened with desperate hope.
"You've got a plan?" he asked quickly.
"I've got one."
"Then hurry the hell up! If those pirates catch us, we're finished!"
Eiger sighed and gave him a deadpan look.
"Now you're worried? Great timing. Anyway, the plan's risky."
"Forget the risk!" Enchi barked. "If it saves the instructor, I'll take it on myself!"
"Me too!" said the male cadet, clenching his fists. "I'll die for Sensei if I have to!"
"Same here," added the young woman beside him, her eyes burning with determination.
"…You three said it," Eiger replied with a faint smirk.
"Don't go back on it in a minute."
Before any of them could ask what he meant, Eiger turned and started walking toward Zephyr.
Enchi and the others held their breath, tense and expectant.
Then—
"PAH! PAH!"
Two sharp slaps cracked through the air.
The sound echoed across the deck.
Everyone froze.
Enchi: "…"
Binz: "…"
Ain: "…"
Eiger stood over the kneeling instructor, his hand still raised, eyes calm and steady.
And then—
"YOU LITTLE BASTARD! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"
The roar shattered the silence like thunder.
Zephyr's fury had finally returned.