Inside the Marine base, the atmosphere had completely changed.
The moment Yuta placed the sacks down on the counter—
A heavy, metallic sound echoed.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The smell of blood faintly spread as the contents shifted.
The Marines froze.
One of them hesitated before slowly opening one of the sacks.
And then—
Silence.
Inside—
A head.
Recognizable.
A pirate with a known bounty.
"…T-this…"
The Marine's hands trembled slightly.
Another sack was opened.
Then another.
Each one—
A confirmed target.
A wanted criminal.
Proof.
Not paper.
Not claims.
But heads.
Real.
Undeniable.
The entire room fell silent.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Then—
A Marine at the center suddenly snapped out of it.
His voice came out rushed and uneasy.
"…I—I'm calling Captain Housven!"
Without waiting, he quickly turned and ran deeper into the base.
The remaining Marines stayed where they were.
Some stared at Yuta.
Others avoided looking at the table.
The name "Silent Grave" had already spread through reports.
But seeing this—
Seeing the reality—
Was something else entirely.
Yuta stood calmly.
No reaction.
No expression.
Just waiting.
More than a minute passed.
Then—
Footsteps.
Steady.
Firm.
A man entered.
Marine coat.
Straight posture.
Controlled presence.
Captain Housven.
The moment he saw the table—
His expression changed.
Not fear.
But seriousness.
He walked forward slowly, his gaze moving from the heads—
To Yuta.
"…So."
He spoke.
"…You're the one they call Silent Grave?"
Yuta answered simply.
"…Yes."
Housven narrowed his eyes slightly.
Then asked directly—
"…Did you do all of this?"
He gestured toward the table.
Yuta didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
No pride.
No explanation.
Just a simple answer.
The room remained quiet.
Housven looked at him for a few seconds longer, then exhaled lightly.
"…I see."
He shifted his attention to the matter at hand.
"…About the bounty."
His tone became more official.
"…Processing this amount will take time. This base does not have enough funds available right now. You will need to wait at least three days."
Yuta listened.
Then spoke calmly.
"…How much is it in total?"
Housven paused briefly before answering.
"…Seventy million Beli."
The nearby Marines reacted slightly.
Seventy million.
All from one person.
Yuta remained still for a moment.
Then asked—
"…How much do you have right now?"
Housven hesitated slightly.
"…Thirty million."
Yuta nodded once.
"…Then pay me thirty million now."
The room grew tense.
Some Marines glanced at each other.
That amount—
Was not small.
Yuta continued calmly.
"…I'll come back in three days for the remaining forty million."
Silence.
Housven stared at him for a moment.
Thinking.
Calculating.
It wasn't a small decision.
But after a short pause—
He sighed.
"…Fine."
He turned to the others.
"…Prepare thirty million."
The Marines moved quickly.
Still shocked—
But they didn't question the order.
After a short time, the money was brought forward.
Thirty million Beli.
Yuta took it without hesitation.
Checked briefly.
Then stored it.
Transaction complete.
Simple.
Clean.
As he turned to leave—
Housven spoke again.
"…Wait."
Yuta stopped.
Turned slightly.
"…What?"
Housven looked at him seriously.
"…With your strength… have you considered joining the Marines?"
The room went quiet again.
It was not a casual offer.
Someone like Yuta—
Would be valuable.
Very valuable.
But Yuta answered immediately.
"…No."
No hesitation.
Housven frowned slightly.
"…Why?"
Yuta looked at him calmly.
"…Too many rules."
A pause.
Then—
"…I want freedom."
That was it.
Nothing more.
No explanation needed.
Housven held his gaze for a moment.
Then slowly exhaled.
"…I understand."
He didn't push further.
Some people couldn't be controlled.
And forcing them—
Would only cause problems.
"…Then I won't ask again."
Yuta nodded once.
"…Good."
He turned and walked out of the Marine base.
Behind him—
The room was still filled with tension.
Heads on the table.
Blood still fresh.
Proof of something the East Blue had never seen before.
Outside—
Loguetown was the same as always.
Busy.
Noisy.
Alive.
Yuta walked through it calmly.
Thirty million Beli secured.
Forty million waiting.
No rush.
No pressure.
Just steps forward.
After a short walk, he found a place to stay.
A simple inn.
Nothing special.
Just a room.
A bed.
And quiet.
As he sat down, he placed the money beside him.
"…Three days."
He muttered.
Enough time to rest.
To plan.
To move again.
Because once he collected the remaining forty million—
He wouldn't stay here any longer.
His path—
Was already moving forward.