One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine Chapter 265: Volume 2 – - 167: Cleaning Up The Mess

In the midst of the storm, the rebellious and passionate song slowly faded into the distance.

Yet its echoes lingered in everyone's hearts, refusing to fade.

It was as if the ancient epic carried within it a mysterious and powerful force—one that stirred the blood and set hearts ablaze.

On the warship, the Marines knelt on one knee, gazing blankly at the worn-out little boat disappearing over the horizon. Unknowingly, their faces were streaked with tears.

They couldn't understand the lyrics, but the bold, mournful lody was filled with overwhelming power.

At the island's port, a dense crowd had unknowingly gathered.

They, too, stood silently, emotions roiling.

"This just got a lot more complicated... He's actually awakened Conqueror's Haki..."

Borsalino spoke with a faint, half-smile, both hands tucked into his pockets.

Daren gave a knowing, thoughtful smile.

Looks like his hunch might not have been wrong after all.

For a Marine, killing a Celestial Dragon could indeed be the fastest and most direct way to awaken Conqueror's Haki.

But maybe it wasn't just that.

Daren suddenly shook his head, overturning the idea.

Dragon's Conqueror's Haki hadn't awakened the mont he killed the Celestial Dragon—it had erupted naturally when his mindset shifted and his convictions solidified.

Which ant that killing the Celestial Dragon was only part of the equation.

Conqueror's Haki was the power of spirit—an inner force.

At its core, the awakening of Conqueror's Haki often stemd from a transformation of the heart triggered by external events.

Like the desperate will to protect a loved one in mortal danger.

Or the burning ambition to roam free when crushed by oppression.

Or a defiant spirit chasing the dream of freedom...

Seen in this light, killing a Celestial Dragon alone wasn't enough for a Marine to awaken Conqueror's Haki.

At the very least, it wasn't the whole reason.

Whether that Marine had a strong enough will, whether the ntal strain they faced was crushing enough, and whether they could, amid the confusion and pressure of killing a Celestial Dragon, rediscover a belief they'd devote their life to...

That was the real key to awakening Conqueror's Haki.

Still, it's no surprise—he is, after all, the future leader of the Revolutionary Army... the "most dangerous criminal" in the eyes of the World Governnt.

Even though Dragon had only just awakened his Conqueror's Haki, its intensity had already reached the point where it manifested in streaks of black and red lightning.

That wave of spiritual force was so overwhelming that even Daren, who had also awakened Conqueror's Haki, felt a montary daze and a tingling across his scalp.

It was precisely this burst of Conqueror's Haki that allowed Dragon to overpower Sakazuki in that final clash, buying just enough ti to escape.

As Daren's thoughts drifted, Sakazuki's flagship and another late-arriving warship slowly pulled into port.

With a dark expression, Sakazuki stepped off the deck, a sar of blood still at the corner of his mouth.

Daren noticed blood dripping from his right hand.

"Borsalino, why didn't you go after them?"

Sakazuki's voice was flat, but his tone carried the weight of interrogation as he locked eyes with Borsalino.

Borsalino raised his hands in mock surrender, looking completely innocent.

"A 'monster' who's awakened Conqueror's Haki... and Dragon's powers are a massive advantage at sea. Even if I chased him, it wouldn't have ended well..."

"Besides, doesn't Commodore Daren need soone to look after him?"

He suddenly lowered his voice, the corners of his mouth curling into a aningful smile.

"Sakazuki, sotis it's better not to push things too far... You heard him—Dragon didn't betray 'justice'..."

Sakazuki went silent for a while.

He glanced at Daren's battered body. Then, without a word, he pulled out his military Den Den Mushi and dialed headquarters.

Before long, the call connected.

"What's the situation, Sakazuki?"

Admiral Sengoku's anxious voice ca through the Den Den Mushi.

Sakazuki pressed his lips together, then replied hoarsely,

"Reporting, Admiral Sengoku... During the fierce battle, the target criminal, Monkey D. Dragon, awakened Conqueror's Haki."

"Commodore Daren and I were seriously injured. Rear Admiral Borsalino..."

He glanced at the hem of Borsalino's coat, soaked with seawater, and the corner of his eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

"...Sustained minor injuries."

"The target managed to escape. The arrest mission... has failed."

There was a noticeable silence on the other end.

"...Understood. You've done well, Sakazuki."

Sengoku's voice clearly relaxed a little, and his tone steadied once more.

"Take so ti to recover, then return imdiately."

After a pause, he seed to recall sothing and added,

"By the way, is that kid Daren conscious?"

Sakazuki blinked and looked over at Daren, who gave a small nod.

"Yes. He's conscious."

"Good. Hand him the military Den Den Mushi. I need to speak with him privately."

Sakazuki frowned slightly but didn't say anything. He passed the Den Den Mushi to Daren, then walked a few steps away with Borsalino, heading toward the sea.

"Cough cough... Admiral Sengoku, it's ."

Daren coughed weakly, breathing a little unsteadily as he spoke into the receiver.

"How's your condition?"

Sengoku couldn't help but ask after hearing his cough.

Daren gave a faint smile.

"Don't worry about , Admiral Sengoku."

"Mm. That's good to hear..."

Sengoku paused briefly, then lowered his voice.

"I'm leaving the cleanup to you. What's your plan?"

Daren looked like he had expected this and gave a helpless expression.

So in the end, it still falls on to clean up this ss.

That bastard Dragon—fine, kill a Celestial Dragon if you want—but why the hell did it have to be in my territory?

After a mont of thought, he said slowly,

"Admiral Sengoku, tomorrow, every newspaper and publication in the North Blue will publish a headline..."

"The main story will report that the vicious criminal Monkey D. Dragon and his gang were completely wiped out by the Marines. Dragon himself is missing, and all 500 of his subordinates have been captured."

"...But Dragon doesn't even have a criminal gang—"

Sengoku blurted out instinctively.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized.

This was a statent ant to appease the World Governnt.

After all, they couldn't exactly admit that even after deploying so many forces, Dragon still escaped. That would make the Marines look hopelessly incompetent.

And it would sound completely ridiculous.

"I'll take care of it. Besides, the North Blue's been too quiet for a while now."

Daren said with a faint smile.