After chewing them out, Jin glanced at Dezaya, who was still kneeling on the floor, sHaking.
"Hey, little girl."
"Am I that scary?"
"Ah—!"
Dezaya jolted upright and bowed so fast she almost headbutted the floor.
"Sumimasen!!"
She still didn't dare lift her head.
Jin clicked his tongue.
She was only thirteen or fourteen, but already tall and well-built for her age.
So this kid's physique has been ridiculous since she was young, huh…
He fell silent for a moment.
No new words, no new threats.
Dezaya gathered her courage and risked a tiny glance upward.
She caught him looking her over—eyes briefly appreciative, then he shook his head slightly.
What does that mean?
Still… up close, this man was handsome.
Very.
The open shirt showed tight, balanced abs. His muscles were sculpted but not bulky, perfectly in proportion.
Her heart thumped faster.
This man's… perfect…
Any more muscle and he'd look like an oaf. Any less and he'd look weak.
She stared so hard she drifted, cheeks slowly flushing red.
Jin also noticed her daze and, purely out of bad habit, compared her in his head to a fully grown Nami in a bikini.
He shook his head again.
No contest.
Mature beauty versus a mischievous little gremlin. Different leagues entirely.
Behind him, a couple of Marines were watching with shiny eyes.
"Oi, oi. Has White Boss finally grown up?"
"He never used to look at the female soldiers in the base twice, but now he's staring holes into this girl."
"Hey, he is eighteen now."
"Perfect age for being on fire all the time, hehehe…"
Someone whispered:
"Should we just tie her up and present her to White Boss?"
Their buddy smacked him upside the head.
"Idiot. We're Marines."
"We can't just kidnap people."
"So we use our position to pressure them instead."
"That's how we 'win hearts with virtue.'"
"White Boss says that all the time!"
The first Marine nodded seriously.
"Right, right, right. With virtue."
"Got it."
Kuro's face darkened.
They really are the boss of all hooligans…
Dezaya had heard the muttering.
Her face went even redder.
She hesitated, wondering if she needed to put up some token resistance.
No, wait, I'm only fourteen…
No way anything like that is happening…
But this Marine is really handsome…
Jin finally heard enough.
He snapped out of his thoughts, turning to find Dezaya staring at him.
He kept his expression calm.
"What are you staring at?"
"Never seen a handsome guy before or what?"
"Eek!"
Dezaya yelped, falling backward onto her butt, eyes brimming with tears again.
"You bastard!"
"Don't bully Dezaya!" Bartolomeo shouted, face dark.
"Shut up, brat," Jin said without looking at him.
"It's not what you think."
"And you idiots," he added, turning his head toward his men.
"Shut your mouths."
"Keep talking nonsense and if word gets to HQ, we're the ones who'll get crushed."
A row of Marines nodded solemnly.
"We get it, White Boss."
"We totally get it."
"Ehehehe…"
Jin rubbed his temples.
How did all my subordinates turn into this…
He looked up as Granny Tom finally descended the stairs.
She had a box in her hands and a black look on her face.
She glanced at Dezaya sitting on the floor, but didn't look surprised.
In this world, with this hierarchy, scenes like this were… normal.
That was the ugliest part.
The weak were prey. That was all.
She turned to Bartolomeo.
"Wipe that look off your face, Bartolomeo."
"Right now, we're weak, Bartolomeo."
"That's why we bow our heads."
"If you want revenge, get strong and take it later. That's what a man does."
"Not this impotent rage."
"…Yes, Granny Tom…"
Bartolomeo lowered his head, trembling—whether with anger or fear, even he wasn't sure.
Jin, not particularly bothered by family drama, flicked ash from his cigarette.
As long as the Devil Fruit was real, he didn't care about hurt feelings.
If it wasn't…
Well, then someone was going to be missing parts.
"You wanted this."
Granny Tom threw the box at him.
Jin caught it easily and flipped it open without hesitation.
He wasn't worried about hidden weapons.
His Observation Haki had been on the entire time.
Inside sat a melon-shaped Devil Fruit, purple patterns curling across its surface like engraved waves.
The Barrier–Barrier Fruit—the Bari Bari no Mi.
One of the strongest defensive powers in existence.
The corners of Jin's mouth lifted.
Seeing that smile made Granny Tom's heart twist.
The fruit had cost her dearly.
But refusing to give it would mean blood—hers and the kids'.
"This is enough, right?" she asked.
"Then, Lieutenant Commander Jin…"
"Can you leave now?"
"This place is a mess. Hardly fit for… guests."
Jin chuckled.
"Relax, old lady."
"Now that I've got what I came for, I'll go."
"But—"
"But what now?" Granny Tom snapped, instantly stepping in front of Dezaya, eyes blazing.
Bartolomeo forced himself upright and moved to block as well.
"Granny…"
"Bartolo…"
Dezaya shook harder.
Are they really going to… take me?
"Hehehe…"
"Here it comes," one of the Marines whispered.
"Boss is making his move."
Another nodded sagely.
"She's a bit young, but you can raise her."
"Exactly. Raise her up right and—"
Jin's face went black.
"You've got it wrong, old lady," he said dryly.
"I just wanted to remind you—don't throw my name around."
"I don't like my name being used while someone's out doing evil, only for me to take the blame later."
Granny Tom exhaled, shoulders sinking.
"If that's all, then fine," she said quickly.
"I'll remember."
Jin waved a hand.
"Let's go, boys."
A Marine still wasn't satisfied.
"Uh… White Boss, you really don't want that girl?"
"She's a bit young, but you can—"
Jin kicked him in the ribs.
"We're Marines."
"Not kidnappers."
"You morons, get back to base and run laps around the training field."
"You don't stop until I say so."
"Ahhh—!!"
"Yes, White Boss!"
Jin reached the doorway, then suddenly stopped and turned back.
Granny Tom tensed again.
"What now, brat?"
"Don't think I won't go all out just because I'm old!"
…Jin rubbed his face.
Do I really look that much like a villain trying to snatch someone's granddaughter?
"Relax," he said.
"I just wanted to remind you…"
"Don't forget the monthly payments."
He flashed a quick grin and left for real this time, Marines staggering after him.
"…They're finally gone," Granny Tom muttered.
"He won't come back and change his mind, will he…?"
"Are they really gone?" Bartolomeo asked.
She let her legs give out and sat down hard.
"Granny!"
"Granny Tom!"
Dezaya and Bartolomeo rushed to support her.
"It's nothing," she said.
"I'm just old. Body can't keep up."
Bartolomeo clenched his fists, guilt burning in his chest.
"Granny, I'm useless."
"I made things harder for you."
"I swear…"
"I won't fool around anymore."
"I'll train seriously and get strong enough to repay this debt!"
Granny Tom's stern face softened into genuine warmth.
"Good, good…"
"Now that's more like it."
She turned to Dezaya.
"And you, Dezaya…"
"In the future, you can try getting closer to that Jin."
"Why?!" Bartolomeo exploded.
"He just did all that to us and you want Dezaya to go near him?!"
"That's not right!"
Granny Tom sighed.
"You don't understand, Bartolomeo."
"This will help us more than it hurts us."
"You're still too young to see it."
"Granny…" Dezaya's face was scarlet as she lowered her head.
"Stupid child."
"I was young once too."
"You're already like this, and you still pretend?"
"If you've started, see it through."
"It'll be good for the family."
"Now help me to bed."
"And have them start cleaning up."
"We open again tomorrow."
"After all, we have backing now."
"As long as we don't cross the line…"
"Loguetown will be ours."
"Yes, Granny."
"Yes, Granny…"
By the time Jin and his men staggered back to base, it was already past midnight.
Colonel Mao stood by his office window, watching the group of drunk Marines with their arms slung over each other's shoulders.
He sighed deeply.
"Why is my life like this…"
"Even retirement won't save me at this rate…"
"Can't even retire in peace."
"Every day it's new trouble…"
Back in his quarters, Jin set the Devil Fruit on the table.
"Alright."
"You two talk it out."
"Who's eating this?"
Jango and Kuro stared at the fruit, swallowing.
Kuro leaned forward.
"So that's a Devil Fruit…"
"What kind is it?"
"Paramecia-type, Barrier–Barrier Fruit," Jin said.
"One of the strongest defensive fruits around."
"How far it goes depends on the user."
"But it eats stamina like crazy. If your body can't keep up, it'll just be a pretty shell."
"Barrier, huh…"
Kuro shook his head.
"Doesn't fit me."
"I need speed, strength, endurance."
"Not a turtle shell."
"Fair."
Jin nodded.
"Then I'll see if I can get you a Zoan someday."
"Ancient type would suit you best."
Kuro's eyes flickered.
"…That'd be ideal."
Jin turned to Jango.
"What about you?"
"Your call."
Jango scratched his head.
"Uh, White Boss…"
"It really is one of the strongest defensive fruits?"
Jin thought about it.
"Depends."
"If someone can use flowing Armament, they can still smash you from the outside."
"Extreme heat and cold also get through."
"And if you're an idiot, you'll trap yourself as much as your enemies."
Jango immediately shook his head.
"Then I'll pass."
"Maybe later."
"I'll find something that suits me better, White Boss."
"Suit yourselves," Jin said, shrugging.
"If you're not eating it, I'm holding onto it."
Kuro frowned.
"You're not going to eat it?"
Jin laughed.
"It doesn't fit me."
"Can't you see? I fight with a huge sword."
"This kind of fruit would just be wasted on me."
He carefully put the Barrier–Barrier Fruit away.
"Alright."
"Next lesson is Haki."
"Kuro's already awakened it."
"Now he just needs to deepen his understanding and master control."
"To the point he can coat any part of his body at will."
Kuro lifted his right hand.
A faint black layer shimmered over his fingers.
"Deepen my understanding, huh?"
"Yeah," Jin said.
"Think of it like this."
"Let it be natural. As natural as breathing."
He raised both hands.
A thicker, heavier black sheen spread over his knuckles.
Then his arms.
Then, in a moment, his entire body turned pitch-black, as if covered in living metal armor.
"There."
"Full-body coating for defense."
"Or coat just the blade for offense."
"That's stage one."
"You two can chew on that for now."
"Master that, then we'll talk about stage two."
"Once you get there…"
"Then we'll talk about the next steps."
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