"And besides, weren't those people pirates? I've never had much fondness for pirates..."
Toki lightly bit the tip of her chopsticks, her gaze calm as she looked at Darren.
Over the course of 800 years—crossing through countless epochs—she had seen sights most people couldn't dream of in a dozen lifetimes.
The rise and fall of nations. The shifting tides of history. Seas swelling and sinking, civilizations crumbling and reborn. Though times changed, one truth remained constant: in every era, pirates were synonymous with chaos and plunder.
Let alone that, in this era—mere days after her arrival—she had nearly been sold into slavery by pirate traffickers.
With all that in mind, it was only natural that Toki harbored no goodwill toward pirates.
She's got a solid moral compass, Darren thought, eyes brightening slightly as he marveled inwardly.
He had been a little worried—concerned that the time-displaced nature of this worldline might make Toki feel differently about Oden.
He'd braced himself to spend time persuading her.
But it turned out she was more clearheaded than he'd hoped. That saved him quite a bit of trouble.
"So you're not afraid I might be a bad person, Toki?"
"No, I'm not, Mr. Darren."
Toki smiled softly, then lowered her gaze shyly.
"And besides... someone as handsome as you couldn't possibly be a bad guy."
Then he let out a wry chuckle.
That... wasn't a reason he'd expected.
But the more he thought about it, the more sense it made.
On one side: a tall, composed Marine officer who had rescued her from traffickers.
On the other: a pirate swollen like a pig, oafish and beastly in his recklessness.
Whom to trust was obvious.
"But, Mr. Darren... that man who called himself Kozuki Oden—wasn't he wearing clothing from Wano Country?"
Toki suddenly recalled something and asked.
"You've been holding that question in for a while now, haven't you, Toki?"
Darren gave her a knowing glance.
Toki's cheeks flushed as she clenched her fists and nodded sheepishly.
After all, her mission through time was to reach the future of Wano. Seeing someone dressed in traditional samurai garb—it was only natural for her to be curious.
But until now, she'd kept silent. Something about Darren's attitude toward Oden had felt hostile. She hadn't dared ask.
Now, with their growing closeness, and the conversation flowing easily, she finally found the courage to voice the question that had weighed on her heart.
To her surprise, Darren smiled and answered her directly.
"That's right. He's from Wano."
He didn't intend to lie to her.
Toki, though gentle on the surface, had a resilient heart and keen mind.
Too many secrets would erode her trust—she might not say anything outwardly, but inside, the damage would be done.
Better to speak plainly.
After all, if there's one truth universal across worlds, it's this:
Women hate being lied to.
As a man, you must either be fully honest—or lie with absolute commitment.
But Darren had no desire to deceive a woman he liked.
"Kozuki Oden is heir to the Kozuki Clan, Daimyo of Kuri in Wano, born under an extraordinary star, and blessed with immense strength."
Darren's smile was open as he explained patiently:
"He's a man brimming with a spirit of adventure. From a young age, he scorned worldly rules, had little interest in fame, fortune, or power. What he longed for most was to set sail—to see the vastness of the world beyond his borders."
"But like I mentioned before, Wano Country has been under a strict isolationist policy for years. Almost no contact with the outside world, and its citizens are strictly forbidden to leave."
"So Oden made his choice. He abandoned his family, his title, his people—even his country. And he boarded Whitebeard's ship, becoming a freewheeling pirate."
"In short, Kozuki Oden is an uninhibited, brash, and unconventional man. In Wano, those who hate him do so with venom. And those who admire him... they worship him as a hero touched by the divine."
"And I'm guessing you figured it out too—he appeared on that island because he heard your call. He was coming to rescue you."
As he said this, Darren caught a subtle flicker in Toki's eyes.
Just as he'd thought.
"Well, now that we've talked about the 'Invincible Hero of the World,' Kozuki Oden, let's talk about me."
Darren let out a carefree laugh and lit a cigarette.
The sea breeze carried the smoke across his face as he—rarely—opened up about his past.
"I was born in the most chaotic of the Four Blues—North Blue. I didn't have any special gifts. Started as a common enlisted Marine, and climbed my way up—step by bloody step."
"To gain strength, I trained harder than anyone—often until I vomited blood."
"For military merits and promotion, I didn't hesitate to use any method against pirates or enemies."
"I once wiped out an entire mafia family of thousands in a single night. I've used underhanded methods to assassinate nobles and officials who opposed me."
"Beyond my public rank, I control vast territories of underground influence through countless channels."
"My illegal income is uncountable. And the number of women I've slept with? I honestly don't even remember."
"The nobles tremble under my shadow. Pirates are nearly extinct in the waters I govern. And strangely enough... under my rule, crime rates are shockingly low."
"I'm cruel. Greedy. Ruthless. I never spare an enemy. But I never betray my friends either."
By the seaside, beside a campfire—
The Marine commodore's face was wreathed in smoke. And in his deep-set eyes, memories stirred.
The world around them was eerily silent.
Only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks echoed in the background.
"Toki, you'll soon come to understand—me, Rogers Darren... I'm no hero."
"Despite my titles, my victories, my so-called 'monster' reputation—most of the world calls me one thing behind closed doors."
"The greatest disgrace in Marine."
He let out a bitter chuckle and turned toward the woman kneeling beside him, quiet and composed in her kimono.
Smiling softly, he asked:
"So... do you regret it?"
"Not choosing that lauded 'hero,' Kozuki Oden—and instead placing your trust in me, a disgrace?"