New Shining Star |『 Male Reader 』• One Piece

Page 47: The Price of Allegiance

"The time is the Great Pirate Era!"

"Countless pirates fight desperately for the One Piece, the great treasure left behind by Gold Roger, the Pirate King."

"Y/n L/n, a young man whose body can transform into a buffalo after eating the Ox Ox Fruit Model Water Buffalo, also takes the sea to become the Pirate King."

"As Y/n and his friends overcome numerous adventures, the World Government is less and less able to ignore their existence."

"The crew, on its way to the New World, will speed along the Grand Line again today!"

*Bam*

*Click*

The quiet of the Shimmering Enclave shattered as Rindo sent a soldier flying with a powerful kick, his unconscious form landing with a dull thud on the cold floor. Behind her, Mamoru smoothly sheathed her blade, the soft clink barely audible over the hum of machinery that reverberated through the metallic walls.

Rindo let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through her hair as she watched the soldier crumple. "So much for sneaking around," she muttered. "Y/n said we would have the element of surprise, but we've been spotted twice already," she complained.

Mamoru tilted her head, a small, knowing smile pulling at her lips. "Maybe if someone's stomach hadn't growled loud enough to catch their attention, we might've had a chance," she replied calmly but touched with amusement.

Rindo felt the heat rush to her cheeks, and she crossed her arms with a huff, though the embarrassment crept through in a faint blush. "It wasn't that loud," she grumbled, looking away. "And I didn't expect we would be walking past their kitchen!" added the cook.

Mamoru's smile grew a fraction wider as she glanced at Rindo, her voice soft. "Don't worry about it. I think Y/n probably expected us all to get spotted sooner or later," she said as her hand rested briefly on the hilt of her sword. "As long as we find Toshiro, we'll be fine," added the doctor.

Rindo nodded, brushing off her embarrassment as she moved ahead. They slipped quietly down the narrow corridor. Their footsteps muffled against the polished floor, the shadows elongating around them as they made their way upward.

After weaving through the labyrinthine halls of the enclave, they finally found themselves at a small metal platform overlooking a lower level of the facility. Below, a sea of workers bustled about, clad in white lab coats and hunched over various consoles and machines.

The low murmur of voices and the rhythmic tapping of fingers on keyboards filled the cavernous space. Rindo leaned over the railing, scanning the crowd, her eyes flitting over each scientist and researcher below.

"I wonder what they are working on," she said, making Mamoru follow her gaze over the crow. Then, amid the sea of unfamiliar faces, her eyes caught something or someone. "Rindo, look," said Mamoru, pointing toward the right side of the room.