One Piece: Global improvement system

January 17th, 1498, Age of the Sea Circle

The Marine ship advanced swiftly until it reached the coast of the island where the Maro pirates' base was located.

"Uncle, is it true you captured Christina for me?" asked Yarisugi with a big smile.

"Don't be stupid. Do you think I have time to pay attention to every woman you harass?" said Nakamura, somewhat irritated by his nephew's question.

Yarisugi showed a surprised expression and immediately replied,

"Uncle, don't play with my feelings! You told me Christina had been captured and that I could do whatever I wanted with her!" The teenager sounded indignant, worried that his uncle might not keep his word. He had been dreaming for months about laying his hands on the beautiful Christina Kelly, and he couldn't accept any other outcome.

Bang!

Rear Admiral Nakamura struck his nephew on the head, irritated by his foolish attitude. How could this damn brat spend the whole day thinking with his dick?

"Why can't you be more serious?!" Nakamura said exasperatedly. Then, before Yarisugi could say anything, he added,

"What I mean is that the reason I captured Kelly Christina is because she's a threat to us—and especially to you!

She has caught the attention of someone important from Headquarters and is about to be recruited. With her talent, if we allow her to grow and rise through the ranks, our family will be in serious trouble in the future!

Christina has a very rigid personality and a stupid, unwavering sense of justice. That type of person is the most dangerous when they reach positions of power.

In the future, she'll surely act against our family! After all, she knows about our movements within the Marine branch in the South Blue.

Do you realize how dangerous it would be if she reached the rank of Vice Admiral or higher and decided to wipe us out for being corrupt?

How would we survive then?! We'd have no choice but to abandon all our privileges and run!

Do you understand how big of a problem that woman is for us?!"

Yarisugi picked his nose and ear simultaneously, seemingly not listening to his uncle at all, too focused on poking around in his orifices.

A large vein bulged on Nakamura's forehead.

Bang!

"Ouch! Why'd you hit me, Uncle?" Yarisugi asked in a whiny voice.

"Damn idiot! If you weren't my nephew, I'd strangle you to death right here and now!"

Yarisugi was the most naturally talented young man in the family, and despite being incredibly stupid, Nakamura valued his raw potential and had high hopes for him.

"Christina Kelly is especially problematic for you, moron! So far, you've managed to get away with everything because I've stepped in to fix your messes. But if she gains great power and status in the future, do you think she'll ignore the fact that you tried to assault her multiple times? Or how you disrespected her again and again?"

Hearing that he was personally in danger, Yarisugi finally began to worry.

"No! Uncle, we can't let that damn bitch do as she pleases!" said Yarisugi, his concern plainly visible on his face.

Nakamura sighed.

"And that's why I went through all this trouble to capture her and make it look like an accident. Now she's in our hands, and her life depends on our mood," Nakamura said coldly.

"So... can I have a little fun with her?" asked Yarisugi, starting to drool at the thought of certain exciting scenarios.

"Yes, this time I'll let you humiliate her a bit. Then I'll give her the option to live under our rule or die. She has no third option," Nakamura concluded.

The reason the corrupt Rear Admiral hadn't eliminated Christina outright was because he still hoped to break her and recruit her into his service. After all, the serious Captain was undeniably talented.

Yarisugi's eyes lit up, and his breathing quickened. Staring at the distant island, he couldn't wait to get his hands on the beautiful and aloof captain.

Meanwhile, at the pirate camp, the battle had ended, and the pirates had been utterly annihilated. Only the captain of the crew remained alive, as Orion thought he might still be useful. He had knocked him out and thrown him into the Pocket Dimension.

"Christina, I want to talk to you for a moment," said Orion seriously, approaching the stern captain, who was cleaning the battlefield with her subordinates.

"Sure, Kairos. What's going on?" asked Christina, wiping the sweat from her brow with a small white handkerchief embroidered with her initials.

Orion opened a door in the air and said,

"In private," then stepped into the Pocket Dimension, waiting for Christina to follow.

Christina said nothing and simply followed, walking through the door that had appeared from nowhere.

Once both were inside, Orion closed the door, completely isolating them from the outside world.

Inside this small parallel dimension, Lucky Roux was sitting in the distance, clumsily tending to his wounds, while Nibble was asleep on the massive bed Orion had placed there for comfortable travel away from home.

Orion approached Lucky Roux, took the medicine the boy was using, and began treating his wounds skillfully while looking at Christina.

"Christina, what do you plan to do now?" asked Orion.

The captain's face grew even more solemn than usual.

"I'm going to keep doing my job, as always," she replied with a firm gaze.

"Really? You're not stupid enough to think you can do that, right?" said Orion bluntly.

It was obvious that after being set up by her own superiors, she couldn't just pretend nothing had happened and return to command her base as before.

There was no way the corrupt Marines in the upper ranks who had conspired against her would let her go free, even if all the pirates on this island had been eliminated and she had escaped their custody.

Christina Kelly bit her lip in frustration but said nothing. She understood what Orion meant, but she had dedicated her entire life to the Marines and couldn't conceive simply abandoning it all suddenly.

To her, running away to save herself from Rear Admiral Nakamura's pressure would be equivalent to death. She didn't want to betray her ideals and sense of justice.

Seeing her in such a vulnerable state, Orion couldn't help but sigh. Honest people were the ones who suffered most in this cruel world.

"If you want, I can help you," said Orion, looking her straight in the eyes.

"What kind of help?" asked Christina, a note of hope creeping into her voice. This mysterious man always made her feel like anything was possible, and she was intrigued by what solution he might offer.

"I have two options for you. The first is for you to leave the Marines and come work for me."

"Impossible!" said Christina before Orion could finish speaking.

"Let me finish. I'm the king of a nearby kingdom, and I work to help those in need. If you come work for me, I promise you'll help the people of the South Blue even more than if you remain in the Marines."

Christina looked at him, and Orion's clear eyes told her he wasn't lying. At least, he truly believed in what he was saying.

Still, leaving the Marines was unthinkable for her. After thinking for a moment, she gently shook her head and said,

"I'm sorry, Kairos, but I can't leave the Marines."

Orion wasn't too disappointed—he had expected that answer. Still, it was a shame. He had analyzed the young captain's talent and determined that it was on par with a Named Character like Lucky Roux!

This had happened the first time he saw her again after acquiring the 'Prism Eyes' ability. Upon seeing Christina again, a golden light had appeared around her, prompting Orion to use an 'Evaluation Card' to examine her in more detail.

Since then, Orion had considered recruiting Christina Kelly. She was the kind of talent he needed most right now: someone with great potential who was already capable of handling important tasks.

His plan was to put her in charge of his kingdom's troops. Given her noble and righteous personality, that role would suit her perfectly.

However, earning the loyalty of someone like Christina wasn't easy. She was determined to remain in the Marines. If she had a flaw, it was that she was too rigid in her thinking and incredibly stubborn. Convincing her to change sides was no easy feat.

Orion raised two fingers and said,

"The second option is to take this pirate and contact Cipher Pol. If you can expose Nakamura's corruption, you'll have a chance to survive and stay in the Marines."

Christina looked at the pirate captain, who was unconscious on the ground, and shook her head again.

"Both the Marines and Cipher Pol are corrupt organizations. I'll never accomplish anything trying to expose Nakamura's misdeeds. The only outcome would be my disappearance," she said resignedly.

"Well, even within corrupt organizations, there are incorruptible people, right? Aren't you the best example of that?" Orion smiled.

"So you're suggesting I take a gamble? Hoping to just randomly find someone like that?" Christina's voice was filled with disappointment and near-palpable resignation.

"Of course not. That would be reckless. There's no need to gamble because I can take you to a Cipher Pol agent who isn't corrupt," Orion concluded.

Christina's mouth opened slightly, forming a small 'o,' with surprise, and after a moment, she asked quickly,

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course. You have my word of honor," Orion replied.

He wasn't lying. During his time in Guanhao, he had reviewed countless Cipher Pol files. Although he had access to only a fraction of the information circulating within the massive organization, he had reliable information about someone with an impeccable record in the South Blue.

He remembered it clearly, as he had considered inviting this person to join him in the future once his kingdom was more stable—though he'd have to investigate them personally first.

"Alright, then I choose option two!" Christina said without thinking too much.

Right now, she didn't have many options. If she returned to her base, she would likely be eliminated to cover up everything that had happened.

Previously, Nakamura hadn't killed her outright because he still hoped to recruit her. But if she became a major threat, the Rear Admiral wouldn't hesitate to use all his power to crush her like an insect, even if it cost him a bit.

"Perfect. Then we'll leave immediately. We've got a long journey ahead," said Orion, placing a hand on Christina's shoulder in a friendly manner.

The captain nodded solemnly.

"Let me say goodbye to my subordinates," said Christina, looking through the transparent membrane toward the small group of surviving Marines waiting for her return.

Orion opened a door in the air, and Christina exited the Pocket Dimension, reappearing in front of her men once again.

"Attention, Marines! I will now give you your orders…" Christina began, but before she could continue, one of her subordinates raised his rifle, aimed at her, and fired without hesitation.

Christina was surprised by the sudden action, but she still managed to dodge the shot by a hair thanks to her Observation Haki.

"What the hell are you doing, bastard?!" shouted another subordinate, tackling the marine and disarming him.

Two more Marines present pointed their weapons at Christina and fired without hesitation. She dodged again, but one of the bullets grazed her leg, leaving her slightly wounded.

A battle broke out among her subordinates, and Christina watched in horror as more than half of those present were traitors!

A mix of anger, indignation, and resignation washed over her, and she immediately used her whip to subdue the traitors, who stood no chance against their captain's strength.

At that moment, a large number of figures appeared at the base's gate and charged directly at her.

Among the newcomers, Christina recognized several familiar faces, including her subordinate Yarisugi and Rear Admiral Nakamura!

A door opened in the air, and two new figures appeared on the battlefield.

"Roux, this is part of your training. I want you to take care of the weaker Marines in this group. Especially that one," said Orion, pointing at Yarisugi.

"Alright! I'll make sure to give him a good beating, hehe," answered Lucky Roux with a chunk of meat in his mouth. His wounds had just been bandaged, and he already had to fight again.

Meanwhile, Orion appeared directly in front of Nakamura and drew his cutlass.

"Christina, you don't mind if I take care of this old man, do you?" asked Orion with an intentionally arrogant tone.

"Insolent brat," said Nakamura, disappearing from his spot using Soru and reappearing behind Orion to strike with a metal claw he wore on his hand.

"Let's see the level of a Rear Admiral," thought Orion as he dodged Nakamura's attack.

This time, he wanted to test how much he had truly progressed. The pirates hadn't been much of a challenge, but a Rear Admiral from the South Blue wasn't someone to take lightly.

Considering the equivalence between Marine ranks from HQ and the four Blues, a Rear Admiral from the South Blue was equivalent to a Commander from Marine Headquarters, which was a fairly high rank.

Orion wanted to know if he was already at that level or if he was still unprepared for such a challenge.

A new battle erupted at the pirates' base, this time between Orion and the Marines.

Christina Kelly unsheathed her twin curved sabers and had no problem cutting down the corrupt Marines under Nakamura's orders.

Meanwhile, Lucky Roux rushed at Yarisugi and attacked him using his new "Self Bowling" technique.

The teenage Marine reacted to Lucky Roux's incredible speed and kicked him hard, using one of his special attacks. He had been trained by the family since childhood and was highly skilled in martial arts, which allowed him to dominate people with even greater physical power.

Orion used Shigan, but he couldn't pierce Nakamura's defenses, who used Armament Haki to protect himself.

"I'll teach you your place in the world, insect," said the Rear Admiral, moving swiftly and attacking with his metal claws.

It was the first time Orion had seen this kind of weapon, and they were quite troublesome due to Nakamura's incredible speed.

"Thirty-Six Styles: Roaring Dragon Sword!"

The cutlass slashed through the air, producing shockwaves that roared like a dragon and clashed directly against one of Nakamura's claws—but failed to break through his defense.

"Damn Armament Haki, it's really a pain in the ass!" thought Orion, realizing his attacks were ineffective.

The difference between someone who had decent control over Armament Haki and someone who couldn't use it at all was enormous, and Orion had to make up for it using the rest of his abilities.

Nakamura's level was completely different from that of the pirate Maro, whom he had fought earlier. Although Maro also used Armament Haki, his control was pathetic, making that battle far easier for Orion.

Nakamura, on the other hand, had far better control and more experience, making him a fearsome opponent.

Clang!

The cutlass clashed again with one of the claws, while the other one shot toward Orion's eyes, trying to blind him!

"Art Coating!"

Orion focused his mind and tried to transform the metal claw into a harmless shape, but something strange happened. The claw seemed to distort for a split second and immediately returned to normal.

Orion had no choice but to open a portal in the air at the last moment, narrowly avoiding being skewered by the sharp metal claws.

"What the hell…" murmured Orion, thinking about what had just happened. It was the first time one of his abilities failed like that, not even activating. He quickly deduced there could be only one explanation: Armament Haki!

Evidently, that strange energy had interfered with his power.

A thin layer of sweat began to cover his body as he struggled to keep up with Nakamura's relentless assault. Little by little, Orion was being outpaced.

He pulled two small stones from his pocket and hurled them at the Marine, who dodged them instantly before they could crush him.

Of course, these were giant rocks Orion had previously shrunk using "Art Coating" and kept on hand as projectiles for battle.

"Kairos!" came Christina's voice. She was being overwhelmed by the sheer number of Marines around her.

Orion glanced at Lucky Roux, who, due to his injuries, was having trouble dealing with Yarisugi. He quickly made a decision.

There was no point in continuing this fight. After all, his intention had never been to wipe out this large Marine force. He simply wanted to measure his strength to see what level he was at, and he already had his answer.

Right now, he wasn't strong enough to take on a Rear Admiral from the South Blue, at least not without using all his abilities in a fight to the death—in which case, he estimated his chances of victory at about 50%.

"You dare get distracted in the middle of our battle?!" came Nakamura's voice behind him.

The Rear Admiral had taken advantage of Orion's brief distraction to strike from his blind spot.

Orion didn't have time to dodge. Even though he sensed the attack with Observation Haki, Nakamura was too fast. He had no choice but to step back to avoid a direct hit and activate Tekkai to harden his defenses.

Even so, the metal claw—coated in Armament Haki—pierced his skin, leaving a large diagonal gash on his torso. His shirt was completely shredded, and blood poured from the wound.

*Ding*

*You have been poisoned*

A system notification appeared, and his passive skill "Poison Resistance" activated, protecting him from the potent venom used by Nakamura.

Apparently, this Rear Admiral wasn't just coating his metal claws with Haki; he was poisoning them too!

"Now you're mine, hahaha!" laughed Nakamura gleefully, believing the poison would finish Orion off.

However, in the next instant, Orion used Soru and appeared behind Yarisugi, attacking with the intent to behead him.

Clang!

The boy turned pale at the sight of Orion's sword, which had been blocked at the last second by his uncle.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, bastard?!" roared Nakamura in fury. If he'd been a second slower, his nephew's head would've rolled across the ground.

"What a pity. I guess I'll have to wait until next time to cut it off," said Orion with a smile, causing Yarisugi to tremble in fear.

Before Nakamura could respond, Orion grabbed Lucky Roux and tossed him into the Pocket Dimension. Then he appeared beside Christina, who was completely surrounded and about to be overwhelmed by the tide of Marines. He lifted her into his arms, carrying her like a princess.

A door appeared beneath their feet, and the two of them vanished without a trace—leaving behind only the confused Marines, the enraged Nakamura, and the terrified Yarisugi.