At Klein's side, Os, Charlotte Linlin, Gloriosa, and Shakky appeared with a fully armed squad of Marines.
The sheer pressure of their presence alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of ordinary pirates.
A few light, offhanded remarks were all it took to crush the pirate leader's spine with sheer force.
"D-Devil Fruit…?" The pirate leader broke out in a cold sweat, back soaked and freezing, regret churning in his gut. "Damn it! Why did I have to show off and blurt that out?"
'Why can't I ever keep my damn mouth shut? I always spill things I shouldn't!'
'I swear—never showing off again. Showboating brings down lightning!'
He was practically drowning in regret.
But…
As Klein approached, the invisible pressure nearly suffocated him.
The pirate captain forced a stiff smile. "M-Marine sir… if I give you the Devil Fruit, could you maybe let me off the hook?"
"You think you're in a position to bargain? What the hell do you think you are?" Klein's eyes were calm and deep like a still well, his sneer cold and utterly dismissive.
He trampled on the man's dignity without mercy.
In this world, everything came down to strength and background. No strength, no backing—who would give you face?
"You—"
The next second, the pirates around him charged in unison, blades raised toward Klein.
But in a flash—
Two long, flawless white legs shot past Klein's left and right.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One pirate after another was kicked with lightning speed, coughing up blood midair as they were sent flying.
Gloriosa and Shakky stood on either side of Klein like the "King's Twin Wings."
"You bottom-feeders aren't even worthy of making Klein-sama lift a finger," Gloriosa said, one hand on her hip, eyes filled with contempt for the fallen pirates.
Shakky blew out a puff of smoke, her cold, stunning beauty making the nearby Marines swoon. "If you're just small fry, then act like small fry."
Watching this unfold, Whitebeard Newgate's pupils dilated in shock, waves crashing in his heart. 'W-Who is this guy?'
'Even the two women beside him are insanely strong!'
He hadn't even seen clearly what happened. Just like that, all the pirates had been taken out in an instant by the two women.
And it wasn't just him. Every single one of his companions was utterly stunned!
Klein smiled faintly and placed a hand on the pirate captain's head. The man nearly wet himself, stammering and shaking uncontrollably. "Y-You… You… You're gonna… gonna…"
"D-Don't come any closer!"
[Memory Read]
Activated!
It was only level 1, but against a small fry like this, that was more than enough. Klein only needed to find the Devil Fruit's location anyway.
As for the rest of the man's memories? Klein couldn't care less.
Soon enough—
Using the [Memory Read] ability, he located the Devil Fruit's exact whereabouts in the man's mind.
[Shigan: Westbound Shot!]
Biu—
Forming his hand into the shape of a pistol, Klein aimed through the air and fired a compressed air bullet straight at the man's forehead. It pierced through his skull with ease, sending him straight to hell.
Thud—
The pirate captain collapsed, eyes wide open in death, blood oozing from the center of his forehead. In his fading vision, all he could see were barefoot children, some in torn, hole-riddled shoes.
"Oi, brat. What's your name?" Klein lifted his head slightly.
'Damn, he's tall!'
Newgate's eyes slowly refocused. He took a deep breath and replied calmly, "Newgate. My name is Edward Newgate."
He had grown up on the "Outlaw Island," constantly fighting to survive and looking after other orphans.
That upbringing had forged his incredibly tenacious will.
"Newgate, be my son!" Klein grinned wide, mimicking the Whitebeard of the future, extending his hand in invitation.
His glowing eyes were practically screaming, "Say yes! Say yes!"
In that moment—
Klein felt an odd joy, like he was flipping the entire era on its head.
Hilarious!
O Yaji!
"..."
Three black lines appeared on Newgate's forehead. His heart sank. 'This guy… doesn't look much older than me—and he wants me to be his son?'
'What the hell kind of twisted kink is this?!'
Behind Klein, the others also looked baffled.
But Newgate's companions? They were once again shocked speechless, staring at Klein in disbelief.
Then… their eyes lit up with hope as they looked at Newgate.
"I refuse!" Newgate crossed his arms, face darkening. He just couldn't figure it out…
Why would this Marine officer—so vastly different from him in every way—want to make him his son?
After all…
He had grown up crawling through hell. He didn't believe in free handouts from the sky.
"Tch—" Klein clicked his tongue. "I knew it. Do I lack a certain 'fatherly' aura?"
Was he missing that unique fatherly charm?
Too much "big bro," not enough "old man."
Even though he was technically part of the "Tomato Orphanage."
He rubbed his chin. No beard, obviously—he was only 19.
Klein turned away and thought, "Gotta get that Devil Fruit first. I'll come back for Newgate later."
He stepped past Gloriosa and Shakky and said, "Let's move."
The two followed with some doubt in their hearts.
Newgate himself wasn't overthinking it, but some of his companions suddenly clutched their growling stomachs.
"U-Um… Can I join the Marines?" one of the kids asked, mustering all his courage. His black-and-white eyes were filled with intense longing.
Step.
Klein stopped in his tracks, grinned, and turned to the dirty-faced, raggedly dressed boy. "Oi, brat. Why do you want to join the Marines?"
The boy clenched his tiny fists, eyes burning with hope and determination, and shouted, "I—I want to be cool like you!"
"Ahahaha—!"
Klein burst out laughing. "Anyone with a dream is awesome. Approved!"
Seeing Klein agree, the other kids all perked up.
Another boy stepped out. "I wanna join too! I heard the Marines have beef!"
"I wanna eat beef till I pop!"
"Sure!" Klein waved him over, ruffling the boy's face as he approached.
Another boy tugged Newgate's hand. His other hand clutched his sunken belly, which gurgled like an empty barrel.
He whispered, "Newgate, let's join the Marines too…"
Newgate frowned and thought it over. He knew their home couldn't pay the Heavenly Tribute, so the Marines would never care about anything that happened on this island.
But—
What if he became a Marine?
He had originally planned to sail off as a pirate and bring back treasure to support his homeland.
But now, Klein's sudden arrival had thrown that plan into chaos… and his companions were already defecting to the other side.
While he mulled it over, Klein turned to him and smiled. "If you want to grow strong… If you want to protect your home… Then come with me."
He turned coolly away, the word "Justice" fluttering on his back as the wind caught his coat.
Many of the kids ran after him immediately, and the ones next to Newgate kept begging him to follow too.
It was clear—they all wanted to join the Marines.
And Newgate knew it too. Klein's words had struck straight into his heart. On this lawless island, the only thing that kept you alive…
Was power.
And he had always longed to grow strong.
Step!
Newgate finally moved, smiling faintly. "Come on, let's go."
"One day, we'll protect this land with our own strength!"
"Yeah!" the kids around him erupted into cheers, beaming with joy.
Meanwhile…
Up ahead, Klein wore a smug grin on his face, as if today's sunlight was especially bright, warm, and lovable.
Even the air seemed sweeter.
"If I can't be Whitebeard's old man, I'll be his big bro, or his teacher—whatever works!"
"Anyway… I'm not leaving him for Rocks!"
"Man, what a shame. Rocks isn't even a pirate yet. If I could NTR him in person, make him rage until he exploded—now that would be fun!"