𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑 // 𝐓.𝐋𝐀𝐖 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂

6 : Rumors

The dawn had barely broken, yet the entire Marine HQ was already alive with murmurs.

From the highest-ranking admirals to the newest recruits, everyone seemed to be buzzing with the same topic. Whispers passed through the halls, spreading like wildfire.

“They say she fought Trafalgar Law... and won.”

“She took down the Scourge of the North Blue single-handedly.”

“And then—she almost died... because of some cursed power.”

The chatter grew louder as more soldiers and officers gathered in the main courtyard, where rumors had started swirling about the bloody battle Valeria had endured.

The Reaper of the Grand Line’s name was on every tongue. Even the upper echelons of the Marine command had been shaken by the news of the fight.

In the war room, the highest-ranking officers of the Marines gathered around a large table.

Fleet Admiral Sakazuki sat at the head, his eyes narrow and calculating as he listened to the reports coming in from the battlefield.

Beside him, Admiral Kizaru leaned lazily against the wall, his usual smirk in place, while Vice Admiral Tsuru sat quietly, her hands folded in thought.

Aokiji stood near the window, his breath visible in the cold air as he gazed outside, his face unreadable. He hadn’t said much since he returned from the fight, but everyone knew the battle had been intense.

“This is getting out of hand,” Sakazuki growled, his fist slamming on the table. “A lieutenant commander engaging in a battle with Trafalgar Law, and no one had the sense to send reinforcements sooner?”

“They didn’t expect her to survive it, let alone win,” Tsuru pointed out calmly.

“The Scourge wasn’t just some pirate captain, he was one of the most dangerous criminals in the North Blue. And Valeria took him down. That’s bound to make waves.”

“She almost didn’t make it,” Aokiji said, finally turning to face them. His expression was grim, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—concern, perhaps.

“The Scourge had a power none of us anticipated. A cursed energy that nearly consumed her.”

Kizaru chuckled, though there was no real amusement in his voice. “Cursed energy, huh? Sounds like something that’s bound to make life a bit more... troublesome.”

Sakazuki’s jaw clenched. “We cannot allow one of our own to be consumed by something like that. If she’s a danger to the Marines, we’ll deal with her accordingly.”

Aokiji shot him a cold look. “She’s not the enemy, Sakazuki. Valeria fought through that curse and won. If anything, she’s even more valuable now.”

Sakazuki’s fiery temper simmered just below the surface, but before he could respond, the doors to the war room burst open.

A young Marine officer entered, out of breath and pale. “Fleet Admiral, we have news! Valeria has been spotted at the southern dock. She and her team are returning to HQ.”

A silence settled over the room as the officers exchanged glances.

“So, she’s alive,” Tsuru murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Sakazuki stood, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the table. “Let’s see if she’s still fit to serve.”

---

At the southern dock, Valeria’s ship sailed in quietly. The crew aboard was exhausted, battered from the long journey and the battle they had survived. Law had disappeared, as he often did after a fight, leaving Valeria to return to the Marines on her own terms.

Darwish, still limping from his injuries, stood beside her on the deck. His usual carefree attitude had been replaced with something more somber. “Looks like we’re in for some fun when we dock,” he muttered, nodding toward the growing crowd of Marines waiting for them.

Valeria’s skeletal mask hid the worst of her exhaustion, but she felt it deep in her bones.

The fight had taken a toll, and the cursed energy still lingered inside her, making her feel heavier, slower.

But she wasn’t about to show weakness now. Not in front of her subordinates, and certainly not in front of the entire Marine HQ.

As they disembarked, the crowd parted to let them through, soldiers and officers alike whispering to each other as Valeria passed by. Her presence, always intimidating, was now even more fearsome after the rumors of her battle had spread.

“Look at her... it’s like she’s not even human anymore.”

“She fought Trafalgar Law and survived. I heard she nearly died.”

“They say she’s cursed.”

Valeria kept her head high, ignoring the whispers. Her mind was focused on what came next—facing her superiors, the fallout from the battle, and the lingering curse that now tied her to the darkness she had barely escaped from.

At the entrance to HQ, the higher officers awaited her arrival. Sakazuki stood at the front, his arms crossed and his eyes burning with intensity. Aokiji, Tsuru, and Kizaru flanked him, all watching her carefully as she approached.

“Lieutenant Commander Valeria,” Sakazuki’s voice boomed, commanding the attention of everyone around. “Step forward.”

She did, her expression unreadable beneath the mask, though her posture was rigid, formal. Darwish stood behind her, ready to defend his friend if needed, though he knew better than to speak out of turn.

“You fought Trafalgar Law,” Sakazuki began, his eyes narrowing. “And you fought the Scourge. By all accounts, you should be dead right now. And yet, here you stand. Explain yourself.”

Valeria’s voice was steady, though the fatigue was clear in her tone. “The mission was to neutralize the Scourge. I did so. Trafalgar Law was not the target, but he was... unavoidable. I fought to fulfill my duty, nothing more.”

Sakazuki’s gaze hardened. “And this curse? The one that almost consumed you?”

Valeria’s hand twitched involuntarily at the mention of it. She could still feel the darkness inside her, coiling beneath her skin, but she didn’t let it show. “The curse was part of the Scourge’s power. I fought it. I overcame it.”

A tense silence followed her words. Sakazuki’s eyes bore into her, as if he were trying to determine whether she was lying or not.

Finally, Tsuru spoke, her voice soft but firm. “Valeria has proven herself more than capable. The Scourge is dead, and Law was not captured, but we must consider the bigger picture. The curse she carries... could be dangerous, but it’s also a testament to her strength. If she can control it.”

Sakazuki’s lips curled into a scowl, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he gave Valeria one last, piercing look. “For now, you’ll be monitored. If that curse becomes a threat to the Marines, you know what will happen.”

Valeria didn’t flinch. “Understood.”

With that, Sakazuki turned and left, the crowd beginning to disperse. Aokiji lingered for a moment, his eyes meeting Valeria’s briefly before he, too, walked away.

As the crowd thinned, Darwish finally relaxed, exhaling a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “That... could’ve gone worse.”

Valeria nodded, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far from over. The curse inside her pulsed faintly, reminding her that, while the battle was won, the war was still on the horizon.

And in the shadows, she could sense that Trafalgar Law wasn’t far. Their paths would cross again, sooner than either of them expected.