"You know my grandfather?" I couldn't help but become speechless, my voice full of admiration. This old wise monk knew my grandad!?

"Yes, yes. Get your shock out early. Sotaru and I have been friends for a very long time, back in those days. Why do you think I'm here?" Master Snow couldn't help but chuckle at my reaction.

But for some reason, I completely believed him! Even just by age, he looked like he could be my grandfather's peer. Maybe because of that, or for some other reason, I couldn't help but feel a special kind of connection to Master Snow.

"Well, I guess that makes sense. You'll have to explain later, but first, where am I and where is that damn Haru?" I took a deep breath and calmed myself, and the first thing I thought of was damn Haru.

I was still furious at him! To think that I would be shot by my own comrade and fellow marine, it was just sickening.

"That green-haired fellow? He should be somewhere at Navy HQ by now. I saw what happened to you, truly a sad matter." Master Snow's eyes warmed a bit, and the way he shook his head showed that he knew it all.

"You let him go? If you saw, why didn't you stop him?" If he saw what happened, he would stop him. Right?

"Wait, you said Navy HQ? He got a promotion!?" I couldn't help but be bewildered. Typically they wouldn't send someone to Navy HQ to be in jail...this meant that he must've got a promotion!

Suddenly I felt even more sick to my stomach.

"Me? Stopping him will be your job, after all, his betrayal remains your affairs. As for his promotion, don't forget none of your squadmates saw what happened. He arranged a whole new murder scene quite skillfully, he will serve as a dangerous opposition to you." Master Snow still remembered the viciousness Haru displayed that day.

"You're right." I could only let out a deep sigh, and finally, collect myself. But then I remembered - I had been shot! I began to feel up on my chest, right where my heart was, only to find a bandage that wrapped around the wound and my chest diagonally. Surprisingly, the wound only seemed somewhat sore.

"Finally realized, eh? I healed your wound for you, though I do have to attribute most of it to your tenacious life force." Master Snow smiled slightly, making him seem even more like a peculiar but gentle monk.

"I-uh. Thank you. I'm sorry, just a lot's going through my head right now." Taking another deep breath, I saluted in gratitude and turned my attention to the meat roasting on the fire.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Anytime, youngster. Ready to eat, eh?" Master Snow gently chuckled, and almost immediately my ravenous stomach rumbled - almost waking all the birds in the forest. He passed me a meat bone, and almost immediately I began to dig into the bone.

I didn't realize exactly how hungry I was until that first bite! I began to chew more and more and before I knew it we had eaten the entire beast! It was mostly me though, Master Snow only had a little bit and watched me eat with some humor.

"Ahhhhh!!! Thank you, Master Snow!" Finishing the last bone, I couldn't help but pat my stomach satisfactorily. Food after nearly dying was the best kind of food, I decided.

"Don't get too comfortable. You're training will start tomorrow, so don't expect a life of luxury!" Master Snow laughed and reminded me. I didn't even notice that the sky had already turned dark.

"Training? You're going to teach me?" I laid back down and opened one eye, looking at this peculiar and gentle looking monk. I couldn't help but be curious, what did he want to teach me?

"Of course. You've been asleep for almost a month now, precious time lost. In fact, while you were resting and at basic training, your brother Leon made a name for himself. He joined one of the Four Emperor's - Shanks." Master Snow curiously looked at me, wanting to see my response. Sotaru had told him about the relationship between the trio, he wanted to see if this news would surprise me. And it sure did.

"Shanks!? Red-Haired Shanks? The Yonko? What!" I shot up from my lying position, looking Master Snow in the eyes.

Shanks was one of the Four Yonko - the four strongest pirates in the entire world! They were the peak of all pirates, each of their crews' strengths were unfathomable, not to mention themselves.

Suddenly I felt like I was falling behind, just like all of our races in our childhood. He was aboard a crew with one of the strongest pirates in the world, and here I was, a Chief Petty Officer shot by his own crew member and asleep for the last month. I couldn't help but feel a little bit discouraged.

"And what about Hatsune? Is he still in the village?" He may have left early, knowing him. But remembering the little chubby Hatsume couldn't help but put a smile on my face, despite the desperate times I was in.

"That boy? He has left the village, and so has your Aunt Anari. His adventure has still yet to be revealed, but I'm confident you'll meet him later on." Master Snow explained, drinking a cup of tea he had prepared for himself.

"Huh, I guess that's good. I'll have to catch up to Leon though, and also handle my business with Haru." I clenched my fist, a newfound determination in my heart.

"Sleep now. Training tomorrow won't be easy. No questions, tomorrow more will be explained. But before that, I have something of yours." And with that, almost out of nowhere, Master Snow pulled out a bright white hat with bold blue letters across 'MARINE'. At the tip of the hat was a small niche from Daichi's poisoned blade. It was more than my hat.

Master Snow tossed the hat to me, which glided across the air and landed softly in my hands. Looking at the bold blue 'MARINE' letters, resolve filled my heart. I swore to myself that Daichi's niche would be the last mark an enemy would make on that white cap.

"Wake me up for training tomorrow." And with that, I placed the hat on my head and collapsed - asleep.

And things changed from there.