One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine

The warship sliced steadily and swiftly through the waves.

The sea breeze was cool and clear, and white seagulls soared freely in the sky.

It should have been perfect weather to relax and enjoy, yet Daren, sitting in a beach chair, felt anything but comfortable under the scrutinizing gaze of Staff Officer Tsuru, as if he were sitting on a bed of nails.

"Ahem... I guess you could say this is our first time working together on a mission at sea, Staff Officer Tsuru?"

He lit a cigar to mask his slight awkwardness and smiled.

Staff Officer Tsuru slowly withdrew her gaze from Daren's ruggedly handsome face, picked up a cup of freshly brewed tea, took a sip, and smiled with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, Vice Admiral Daren."

"Now that I think about it, I realize we haven't really talked much before."

Daren gave a sincere smile and chimed in at just the right moment.

"That's actually been one of my biggest regrets. The world always focuses on Admiral Sengoku, Garp-san, and Zephyr-sensei, but I know that without you, Staff Officer Tsuru, Marine Headquarters wouldn't function properly."

"Everyone calls Admiral Sengoku the 'Resourceful General' of the Marines, but what they don't realize is that behind the scenes, it's you—our Chief Staff Officer—quietly planning and strategizing for the Marines' development."

"When I was stationed in the North Blue, I always admired Staff Officer Tsuru. But after being transferred to Headquarters, I've been so caught up with missions and training that I haven't had the chance to properly pay my respects."

Caught off guard by Daren's heartfelt words, Staff Officer Tsuru paused, then chuckled softly.

"I finally understand why Sengoku keeps saying he wants to bring you under his command as his adjutant."

With her experience and keen insight, she instantly recognized Daren's flattery.

Daren shook his head earnestly.

"Please don't think I'm just saying this to butter you up, Staff Officer Tsuru. I've been in charge of naval affairs in a sea region myself."

"The Marines is an enormous and complex organization. Of course, fighting pirates is our main duty, and combat strength is important, but that doesn't mean staff work, logistics, and deployment are insignificant."

"The allocation of warships, resource distribution, ammunition supplies, strategic analysis... these seemingly minor things often end up deciding the outcome of a battle."

"My time serving in the North Blue made me deeply understand that."

"In my eyes, Garp-san, Zephyr-sensei, and Admiral Sengoku are all admirable, but you, Staff Officer Tsuru... you are the true hero of the Marines!"

As Daren spoke, his expression was serious and sincere, coming from the heart.

"You brat..."

Staff Officer Tsuru let out a soft laugh and pointed at Daren.

"All right, all right, stop with the flattery. I'm not that guy Sengoku."

Despite her words, a smile blossomed on her face like a chrysanthemum, and much of the initial formality in her tone melted away.

She took another sip of tea, and her eyes lit up.

"This tea is quite good."

The tea was rich and fragrant, its aroma refreshing and invigorating.

Daren smiled.

"I knew Staff Officer Tsuru likes tea, so I made sure to have some top-quality leaves prepared on the ship."

Staff Officer Tsuru was slightly taken aback, her gaze toward Daren softening considerably. The grudge she held against him because of Gion also eased a little.

At the same time, she couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

This brat Daren really was quite charming...

She quietly studied the Vice Admiral before her.

His face was sharply defined, his dark eyes deep as a starry night, his eyebrows as sharp as blades, his jawline and Adam's apple as if carved by a master craftsman, and all of it set off by the crisp, form-fitting military uniform he wore...

It brought out his carefree yet wild and unrestrained aura to perfection.

Reckless yet composed, indulgent yet restrained—two opposing qualities that somehow harmonized flawlessly in him.

'No wonder Gion is so fascinated by him…'

Staff Officer Tsuru sighed inwardly, unable to help but shake her head.

If it had been twenty or thirty years ago, when she was young and her heart still easily stirred, and she had met someone like Daren, she might very well have been completely swept away by him.

Handsome, charismatic, skilled at sweet-talking, capable, powerful... as a romantic partner, apart from being a little fickle, he really had no flaws.

He was a bit of a scoundrel, sure, but Tsuru had seen the colorful metal bouquet placed in the vase in Gion's bedroom.

Word had it that every time this kid arrived in a new place, he would find a local coin and use his Devil Fruit ability to create a gold-leaf flower for Gion.

It might not sound like much, but considering that every new place Daren visited was tied to dangerous missions where survival was never guaranteed, the fact that he still remembered to do such a thing was proof enough of his sincerity and care for Gion.

"Never mind, let young people deal with their own affairs..."

Staff Officer Tsuru muttered to herself.

She gathered her emotions, moved to the main topic, and said seriously,

"Daren, how much do you know about this Doflamingo guy?"

Daren pondered for a moment, his brows furrowing before he slowly spoke,

"To be honest, I do know a bit about Doflamingo."

"That kid has a twisted and paranoid nature, full of darkness and a bloody desire for destruction. He's very different from the usual Nobles. Maybe because of his childhood experiences, he's extremely calculating and deep."

"This time, pulling such a crazy move and stealing the Heavenly Tribute... I'm afraid he has bigger plans. He probably wants to use it to force the government into making concessions."

Daren's logical and thorough analysis made Staff Officer Tsuru secretly nod in approval and glance at him with appreciation.

This kid really was different from the rest.

Not only was he strong, but he was also incredibly smart.

She could already imagine how ridiculous the answers from those three troublemakers, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan, would have been if she had asked them instead.

"Yes, that's my assessment as well."

Staff Officer Tsuru nodded.

"That's actually why Sengoku asked me to assist you on this mission."

"After Doflamingo entered the Grand Line from the North Blue, I led a fleet several times to try and take him down, but unfortunately, we always came back empty-handed."

"However..."

At this point, a helpless smile flickered across Staff Officer Tsuru's face.

"Calling it a punitive expedition would be putting it too strongly. It was more like a warning."

When it came to a Celestial Dragon, there was very little the Marines could actually do.

Thinking about it, Staff Officer Tsuru's gaze toward Daren softened even more, a feeling of shared burden and mutual understanding rising between them.

As someone who had also dealt with Doflamingo before, she knew better than anyone just how tricky the situation could be.

Doflamingo's status was simply too problematic.

And clearly, when it came to matters like the Heavenly Tribute, especially those affecting the World Government's face, there was no way the Five Elders would ever compromise.

Which meant the pressure would inevitably fall on the Marines.

To act? That wouldn't work—Doflamingo was a Celestial Dragon.

Not to act? Also impossible—the Marines had to protect the dignity of the World Government, and the Heavenly Tribute couldn't be allowed to fall into enemy hands.

In the end, the Marines were caught between a rock and a hard place.

This mission was a ticking time bomb from the start.

"It's not hopeless yet. Everything will turn around."

At that moment, Daren smiled lightly and spoke.

His voice was calm, yet carried a strangely convincing weight.

Staff Officer Tsuru blinked in surprise.

She looked at the Vice Admiral's side profile, his confident smile faintly illuminated by the sea breeze, and somehow, her heart settled a little.

'Where does this kid get his confidence…'