One piece : Celestial Rose

Doll pursed her lips; some of the marines serving under her did not want to save Mark.

She understood their sentiment, but letting someone fall to their death wasn't her style.

"We cannot do that; it is our duty to greet the new warlord."

"Prepare the nets and get ready to save him."

Doll gave a strict order. She believed in ambiguous justice and did not want to kill anyone casually.

Her orders were clear, and the marines had to follow them. They quickly grabbed a net and spread it over the ocean.

The net was spread on top of the place where Mark was about to crash. It was supposed to help break his fall.

"He's coming, get ready to catch him!"

Doll had completed the preparations just in time, and the Marines had tightly spread the net over the ocean.

_BANG_

Mark hit the ocean with a loud bang. The force was so great that the Marine soldiers holding the net went flying.

The emerging waves shook the warship and displaced a ton of water; it was like a small meteorite had fallen near them.

Doll held the helm and stabilized herself, then ran to the edge of the ship and observed the surrounding ocean.

Her men were fine, but what happened to warlord Mark?

_Splash_

"Hahahaha!"

Mark's head rose from the ocean water while laughing cheerfully.

"What a great experience."

"Thanks for trying to save me; I can't believe that actually worked."

Doll was surprised after seeing Mark's cheerful smile. He had almost died just now, but he was still so happy.

There was also something she noticed about Mark. He was not injured even after he fell from such great heights.

The newly appointed warlord was very powerful; Doll understood this right away.

"You didn't need our help; you aren't even injured."

Doll commented dryly. After she pointed this out, the regular Marines also noticed that Mark was just fine.

He had fallen from such great heights, and he wasn't even bleeding; that was some crazy levels of durability.

"You are right, Miss Marine; I did not need your help."

Mark smiled and jumped out of the water with a single leap and landed on the ship's deck.

"But I appreciate your help regardless. You tried to save me, and that's what counts."

"Hello, I am Mark Rose. Noble turned pirate, and the new warlord of the sea."

With an aristocratic gesture, Mark greeted Doll and the Marines, who were taken aback by his etiquette.

Mark might be telling the truth; it was clear from his manners that he was of noble origin.

Given his young age, the Marines assumed he must be a prince who ran off to become a pirate.

"Hello, Mark Rose. I am Vice Admiral Doll."

Performing a navy salute of her own, Doll gave Mark a certificate.

"I am here as a Marine representative; we are officially granting you the position of a warlord."

"You have a legal right to plunder and piracy, but you must help us when you are called."

"This is the short summary; you can check the details later when you have time."

Pirates were short-tempered people and did not like being told what to do, so Doll kept it simple.

The concept of Warlord wasn't complicated anyway.

Warlords could do any crime they wanted, and in exchange, they would help the Marines when needed.

This was the deal, and this was why some Marines hated warlords. They were criminals who openly committed crimes.

Doll herself didn't have such deep thoughts; she had completed her assignment and was ready to go home.

"I understand, but there is no need to leave so soon, Miss Marine."

Mark's words stopped Doll, who was about to pack up and leave.

"I don't have a place to stay or a boat to travel with."

"Do me a favor and drop me off on this island."

Taking out an eternal log pose, Mark tossed it to Doll, who caught the compass and looked stunned.

Before she could say something, the scarred marine spoke; he was the same guy who wanted Mark dead.

"That's absurd; Marines, battleships aren't your taxi."

Scarface seemed pissed. Doll felt he was being too harsh, but she agreed with him on this point.

"Sorry, marine warships aren't allowed to travel freely."

She wasn't making it difficult on purpose; warships only patrolled in their own territory; this was the rule of the navy.

If she gives Mark a lift, she would be breaking a bunch of rules; and she and her men would be punished for it.

"Seriously? I am being rejected over such an absurd rule?"

Mark rubbed his hair in distress.

"But I don't have a boat, and I need to be somewhere."

"You can't possibly be thinking of leaving me here right…?"

Doll felt a pang of sympathy for Mark, but she really wasn't allowed to sail out of her territory.

Mark remained worried for a few seconds, then stopped and gently smiled at the Marines.

"Okay then, if this ship won't travel under your command, then I am taking over."

"This is my warship now; and you guys are my captives."

"Please do not resist, I wouldn't want to hurt you."

Looking at Mark's warm smile, Doll and the Marines froze in their place. Was Mark trying to hijack their vessel?

Doll instantly jumped back and raised her fist; a dark coat of armament Haki covered her hand.

The Marines also took out their guns and aimed at Mark; everyone acted as a team and surrounded Mark instantly.

"I hope you were joking?"

Doll seriously asked Mark and was hoping that he would back down, but Mark was unamused by her threat.

These wild rabbits were underestimating him. This was the first time in his life, that he was threatened by someone from the lower realm.