His throat burned as if scorched by flames and every inch of his body ached to the extreme.
The pungent scent of alcohol swabs and the bitter odor of medicine filled the air around him.
The bed beneath him swayed slightly, accompanied by the sound of waves crashing against the ship's hull and the cries of seagulls—all of it plunged Jake into a dazed stupor.
Yes, he was no longer in that dungeon reeking of piss and shit!
Even though his arms were too sore to lift and every muscle in his face was stiff to the point of paralysis, he forced himself to sit up slowly.
When his eyes landed on the Marine's seagull flag, a genuine smile spread across his face.
Just then, a hoarse voice rang out—unpleasant to the ear yet brimming with unmistakable joy and excitement.
"Finally awake, kid! How's your body feeling? You must be parched—let me get you some water. Don't sit up yet, your injuries are serious. Overusing your Devil Fruit powers has taken a heavy toll on your body."
Turning toward the voice, Jake was met with a face so fearsome it filled his entire vision, grinning in a manner far from graceful.
Yet despite the terrifying appearance, that face filled Jake with an overwhelming sense of security.
Lowering his head respectfully, he spoke with sincerity.
"Thank you so much for saving my life and the lives of my companions! I am eternally grateful! No matter what, I will find a way to repay you!"
To Jake's surprise, the response that followed was utterly unexpected.
With a loud thud, T-Bone dropped to his knees, his terrifying face now streaked with tears as he cried out.
"No! You owe me no thanks at all! It was my failure to uncover the suffering and darkness on that island sooner that subjected you to such torment! It was my incompetence and stupidity that allowed those damned pirates to escape my pursuit, giving them the chance to harm more innocent civilians in the future! And it was my weakness that let those helpless people die at the hands of pirates and the nobles!"
"If—if only I had set sail earlier that day, captured the other pirate crew sooner, or discovered your plight faster—I could have saved more lives!"
"If the Marine, whose very duty is to protect civilians, demands gratitude from those we save—then what kind of Marine are we?! Kid, I am the one who owes you an apology! I Marine Lieutenant Commander T-Bone, hereby offer my deepest and most sincere apology to you and all the innocent civilians who suffered or perished!"
With that, T-Bone slammed his forehead against the floor, producing a dull thud that echoed through the cabin.
Jake stared at the scene before him, momentarily stunned.
Though he had known of T-Bone before crossing into this world—aware that he was one of the few Marines who truly embodied justice—he had never imagined T-Bone's sense of justice could be so pure.
Everything T-Bone had said actually had little to do with him.
This rescue mission was entirely an additional task for him—a burdensome mission that only brought risks and death!
Even if he hadn't come to the rescue, he wouldn't have faced the slightest punishment.
Or he could have chosen to play it safe, waiting for other Marine warships to join him before heading to the island, which would have significantly reduced the risks he encountered.
But T-Bone didn't choose any of these options.
Even when he saw powerful enemies on the island, he actively jumped off the warship and swam desperately toward Jake.
Everything—if T-Bone had hesitated even for a second during any of it—Jake would never have survived the night.
It felt like fate, yet also like the most natural thing in the world.
T-Bone's justice, in that moment, gave Jake an indescribable feeling.
Looking at T-Bone who was still kneeling on the ground, Jake didn't hesitate.
He moved his weakened body and tumbled straight off the bed.
Seeing this, T-Bone immediately straightened up and caught Jake before he could hit the floor.
Feeling the broad, sturdy touch on his shoulders, Jake looked up at the still fierce and ugly face before him, revealing a look of unprecedented determination and a smile.
"Please let me join the Marines!"
"Joining the Marines means you'll face situations countless times, be pushed to the brink endlessly and come close to death over and over. You'll carry justice and that justice may be so heavy it could kill you. Are you still willing?!"
"If not for that justice, I would've died on that beach long ago. Please let me join the Marines!"
Hearing Jake words, a gentle smile appeared on T-Bone's face, and his voice grew lighter.
"Then, tell me your name, Petty Officer Third Class!"
"Jake, Petty Officer Third Class Jake."
"Good! Petty Officer Jake! Your mission now is to rest properly! Once you've recovered, you'll begin regular Marine duties! I am your direct superior and the newly appointed commander of Marine Base G12 in Water Seven, Lieutenant Commander T-Bone!"
"Yes, Lieutenant Commanderl T-Bone!"
After carefully helping Jake back onto the bed, T-Bone said softly.
"Your companion is still unconscious. She's mainly suffering from extreme physical exhaustion and overuse of her abilities. She'll likely wake up today or tomorrow. I've already asked our ship's doctor, Ms. Elibam, to look after her. If you want to see her, just let me know once you're well enough to walk."
"I think I can walk now, T-Bone-san."
"Don't rush. I know you're worried about her, but this isn't the time to push yourself. First, drink the water I gave you. I'll bring you some food later. After you finish it all, I'll let you go see her. For now, listen to me—you might face some trouble later."
Seeing T-Bone slightly grave expression, Jake face remained mostly unchanged as he asked.
"Is it those pirates? Or is it from the Aston Kingdom side?"
T-Bone nodded, his tone somber.
"I've investigated those pirates thoroughly. They're the notorious Donquixote Family that's been making waves in the Grand Line recently—a ruthless organization led by Doflamingo. Calling them pirates isn't entirely accurate, they're more of a weapons and black-market syndicate tacitly permitted by the World Government. Their influence spans wide and now that you've crossed them by stealing their Devil Fruit, retaliation is inevitable."
"Meanwhile, the Aston Kingdom is accusing the Marines of deliberately disrupting legitimate trade and has filed a lawsuit against us. Headquarters will likely send higher-ranking officers to investigate in a few days."
At this point, T-Bone seemed concerned that Jake might be overwhelmed by the pressure.
He offered a reassuring smile and said confidently.
"But you don't need to worry. As long as I'm alive, I won't let my soldiers fall victim to darkness!"