One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 36: I'm Not the Boss

Though he spoke with bravado, deep down, it was his dream. He mocked the rookies because they lacked the strength to back up their ambitions. Survival itself was their primary concern.

"Don't preach to me about dreams! In this world, it's all about survival and profit. People will betray even their own family for a chance to get ahead. It's all about the exchange of value..."

Mr. 5 was about to continue his lecture to Bellamy when a cold, emotionless voice interrupted him, cutting through his words like a sharp blade. His face went blank.

"Well, well. Things seem lively here. Mind if I join in?"

They looked up to see a figure standing on the bow of a ship, clad in white, a black-sleeved Marine Vice Admiral coat draped over his shoulders. The sun cast his form in silhouette, obscuring his features.

"Damn it! A Marine Vice Admiral? Here? And it's that Black Winged Devil! Wait, our boss is a Warlord! What's there to be afraid of?"

The partial horned skull helmet, deathly pale skin, distinct tear marks, and piercing green eyes.

His identity was unmistakable: the Black Winged Devil, the man who had defeated Gecko Moria, now a Marine Vice Admiral.

"No, we can't judge this guy by normal standards. He attacked Moria. We're small fry compared to him." Panic surged through them. If this man wanted them dead, he could easily find a justification.

Their own boss wouldn't risk a confrontation with a Marine Vice Admiral on their behalf. As Mr. 5 had said, this world was all about self-preservation and exploiting opportunities. Even if they possessed some value, the consequences of aiding them far outweighed any potential benefits, especially for Bellamy, who wasn't even an officer, merely a peripheral figure operating under their flag.

"May I ask what brings the Black Winged Devil Vice Admiral here?" Mr. 5 asked with a nervous laugh. His partner, Miss Valentine, clad in a yellow dress and carrying a parasol, had also descended from the sky, her usual haughty demeanor replaced by apprehension.

Bellamy remained silent, his gaze fixed on the imposing figure. This was the man who had defeated Gecko Moria, a feat even his own boss, the Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo, wouldn't attempt.

Ian's mere presence exuded an aura of power and danger that intimidated even the most hardened pirates. The combination of his Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, his mastery of swordsmanship, and his high-ranking position in the Marines created a potent blend of strength and authority that was impossible to ignore.

"Black Winged Devil?" Ian was taken aback.

That was the name given to Ulquiorra's true Hollow form. He recalled the newspaper articles depicting the epic clash between himself, soaring through the sky with his black wings unfurled, and Gecko Moria, transformed into a massive toad after absorbing 900 shadows.

"Black Devil? Not a bad moniker. Whether you're a pirate or a Marine, you need a cool and intimidating name. Otherwise, you're just another nameless face in the crowd."

"What do you think? You were the ones who came looking for me. And isn't it our duty as Marines to eliminate pirates?" Ian's impassive expression gave no hint of his thoughts.

Mr. 5 turned to Bellamy and said, "See? If you had joined us, none of this would have happened. You insisted on scavenging for scraps, like a true hyena. Any bone will do, as long as you can gnaw on it."

Ian and Tashigi felt no sympathy for these heartless pirates, driven solely by greed and devoid of empathy. They had eliminated them without hesitation, a decision that yielded an unexpected bonus.