24 Chapter 23: Lacrymosa

"Tsuru, Rick! Good to have you back!"

Sengoku welcomed them in his office.

"Sengoku."

"Uncle!"

"So, Tsuru, tell me, how did the youngest Master Chief Petty Officer in the marines do his last 18 months?"

"He performed outstandingly."

"Good!" He turned to Rick.

"So what did you learn?"

"A lot of things actually. Like how to properly lead a crew for once."

Sengoku laughed at that.

"Please don't tell grandpa!"

"Don't worry I won't."

Tsuru gave Sengoku a pile of files

"Here the reports from the past 18 months."

"Wait, we have written reports? Rick was astonished.

"Of course, How do you think we can keep up with information from all over the world?"

"Grandpa didn't have any everytime he brought me here!"

"And that's why I put you under Tsuru, Garp is not really the best marine when it's not about fighting or motivating troops."

"He's actually one of the worst regarding paperwork" chided Tsuru

"Then how.. Captain Kaza?"

"Right Kaza."

"She really must have it hard."

"That she does." he sighed.

"She is properly compensated though, despite being a captain she has the salary of a rear admiral. But keep that to yourself."

"Anyway Sengoku, any new mission for us."

"Of course there is. There are always troubles somewhere in the globe. I won't give you any new one though, at least not right now. I'm giving you two weeks vacation."

"Two weeks?"

"Sengoku that's too much".

"Yes it is, but Garp is coming back by the end of the week, and I don't want any problem."

"I know grandpa is wild but I don't think he'll do anything worse than throw a fit." said Rick frowning.

"Oh that's not Garp I'm worried about…"

Tsuru and Rick looked at each other then back to Sengoku.

""Kaza""

"Yes. Garp called and told me things… well, Rick you better spend some time with her okay ?" Sengoku was almost pleading.

Rick closed his eyes and sighed.

"Okay. But you know, one day I will cash in all those favors I'm owed. I hope you and Grandpa will be able to pay."

Sengoku had a wry smile.

~~~~~~

Garp finally arrived before having the chance to talk to his grandson, he was Kaza running away with him.

Three years without seeing was too much for her. She held it in as best as she could but the moment the ship landed at the base all hell broke loose.

She was promised a walk and she wanted it now!

By the time Rick got back to Sengoku's office he was exhausted.

The trio, when they saw his face went into a laughing fit. Even Tsuru.

Garp was rolling on the ground hitting it with his face. Sengoku had the tead he was drinking.

Rick's face was covered in lipstick. No corners were spared.

He had a murderous glare in his eyes.

"YOU. OWE. ME. BIG TIME!"

~~~~~

Finally, Tsuru and Rick departed for their new mission, not before Kaza coerced him into a real date.

'I know I look like a 15 years old but I'm eleven for f*cks sake! Why is no one locking that shotacon up?!'

Their destination ? North blue. Some conflict between pirates was happening there. They were ordered to lock everyone up.

During the journey Rick kept practicing with Ryusei. He was not a talented swordsman but was better than the average marine with it.

He mainly used it to help him focus when he was using his gravity.

By pinpointing a location his aim has gotten better and his abilities were less taxing for his mind and body.

He could have done it with his finger but he thought he was ridiculous doing it.

'It would be great if I awaken my Zushi Zushi no mi. I could imbue my gravity into Ryusei and make gravity slashes. Let's not forget the possibility to directly change the magnetic field of an object instead of using mine to change it. Can't wait to make meteors attract objects or repel them, falling down from down the sky. Maybe I can even make a black hole?'

Rick was dreaming the impossible but he didn't care, he just kept on training.

~~~~~~

In another part of the world. Three sisters were being held by slaves traders. They were being sold to someone noble or so they guessed since the prize for each one of them was in the million range.

They were cruising on a civilian ship when it was attacked by the traders. Everyone who was not killed was handcuffed and an explosive collar put on them.

The door of their dark cells opened.

"Congratulations girls! You've been bought by gods!"

The eldest took the front, trying to protect her little sisters but to no avail.

They were dragged by the chain link to their collar.

Finally they were led to a room with a man sitting in front of a furnace burning and a pillory in the center of the room.

The eldest was the first one to go.

They locked her in the pillory and ripped her shirt off.

The man stood up, took the iron rod that was heating in the furnace and approached the girl's back.

The girl screams with all her strength from pain.

The man had applied the rod on her back then once the work was done lifted it.

Onto the very flesh of the girl's back, was burned a mark in the shape of a hoof.