One Piece: Mandala Swordsman

Chapter 62 Revenge Doesn't Require Morality

Borsalino realized he had been tricked.

I didn't realize this until several days later.

Roman's rhetoric and brainwashing abilities are indeed quite formidable. Because I thought she was too contradictory, she used stories to make me fall into contradictions as well, so that I could understand her.

But she didn't reveal any of the crucial information.

Instead, it made me think, and the move of turning the tables was indeed a good one.

Borsalino wasn't exactly angry at being tricked by a child, but he was certainly a little upset. However, he quickly calmed down. After all, he was a vice admiral in the navy, and he had seen all sorts of storms. He should have this much magnanimity. If he had reacted with a rage like Sakazuki, he would have been a laughingstock.

However, the progress from the previous conversations remains at 0%.

I still know nothing about her. Perhaps I can ask a general from the Warring States period to find out more.

But are there more people looking at him today?

Borsalino is strange.

As someone who likes to slack off at work, arriving at the headquarters building on time has been a habit of his for many years. Not counting Kuzan, who likes to be late, almost everyone else is already there when he arrives.

But on his way to the headquarters building, it seemed that many people were pointing and whispering about him.

As a renowned naval monster, there are few in the Navy Headquarters who don't know him, but today, people have been staring at him all the way.

They seemed to be whispering among themselves.

With his Observation Haki activated, a series of words began to reach Borsalino's ears.

"Exactly the same as Lieutenant General Borsalino?"

"Oh, so the painting is real?"

"No way, Borsalino likes that kind of thing?"

"It's not impossible, isn't he always with Lieutenant General Sakazuki?"

"Sigh, I was too young after all. But this person was too bold to expose something like this. They're asking for trouble."

"Oh well, just watch the show. The headquarters building is packed with people right now."

Borsalino immediately had a bad feeling. He stopped taking his time and used his Devil Fruit power to rush to the headquarters building at the speed of light. The first floor of the building was packed with people, and on the most conspicuous blackboard, he saw...

"Where is Borsalino?"

Sengoku was in a bad mood. Today, he went to inspect the offices of several lieutenant generals. Sakazuki was as diligent as ever, Kuzan was not in his office as ever, and Borsalino was also not there.

In the past, Borsalino never dared to slack off openly, but this time he's following Kuzan's example.

"Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Borsalino, has led his warships to inspect the New World," a marine nearby said.

"Huh? Did I hear that right?" Sengoku was clearly not expecting this answer. That lazy brat who was always eating and doing nothing actually took the initiative to inspect the new world?

Without his own orders, he would probably be willing to stay in the headquarters building until he dies of old age.

Seeing the Marine's stammering, Sengoku knew he hadn't finished speaking, and that this was also the reason for Borsalino's unusual behavior: "Just say what you have to say. What exactly is going on with Borsalino?"

"Here's the thing, it was discovered today at headquarters..."

……

"Ha, all done." Looking at the crude line drawing in front of him, Roman tried his best to hold back his laughter.

Although the lines are rough and simple, the expression and physical features make it instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the character as Borsalino. Roman has almost perfectly replicated Borsalino's sleazy expression.

Although this method is a bit despicable, it's Borsalino's own doing. I wonder what his expression will be when he sees it; it must be quite a sight. It's a pity I can't see it with my own eyes.

Hahaha!! (*^_^*)

……

"You mean, there are several pictures there depicting Borsalino in intimate contact with others, or with men?" Sengoku adjusted his thoughts and pieced together the information.

"Yes." After finishing his report, the Navy officer couldn't help but laugh out loud, but seeing Sengoku's serious expression, he quickly put on a serious face, though he couldn't shake off the upturned corners of his mouth.

"This is utter nonsense. No one is allowed to talk about this anymore."

Seeing Sengoku's angry expression, the surrounding navy officers quickly suppressed their smiles and bowed their heads in salute.

But Sengoku, who closed the office door: Hahahaha, hahahaha!!!

I'm not pretending anymore, I'm laying my cards on the table. How is this so interesting? Although this kind of thing should be strictly prohibited, I'll just turn a blind eye to Borsalino, that lazybones, taking on the arduous patrol mission.

Having made up his mind, Sengoku couldn't help but laugh out loud again.

That's strange, who did Borsalino offend?

……

Borsalino is almost certainly the work of Roman. Although the lines in the painting look extremely rough and do not match Roman's smooth and delicate writing style, Borsalino is certain that the painting belongs to Roman.

As for the reason, he felt it was probably revenge for him looking at her notebook without permission.

Another key point is that she originally wanted to find Roman, but received news that Roman and Professor Zephyr were setting sail together.

That's such a coincidence.

How should I put it? This revenge, though it felt extremely childish, did manage to find a weak point. Even with my thick skin, I didn't dare stay in the headquarters building for tea anymore, so I simply went away for a few months.

What an unlovable blonde girl.

……

Borsalino should have seen the gift he left behind by now.

Drinking juice, Roman was in a very good mood aboard the Zephyr warship.

If Borsalino weren't stupid, he would know that he was the one who did it.

But so what? Our own people aren't even at Navy Headquarters anymore, are we going to hold them accountable?

When he returned after some time, Borsalino naturally didn't want to bring up the past again, since he wanted everyone to forget about it more than anyone else.

This could be considered Roman's small act of revenge.

Of course, Roman carefully considered the consequences before retaliating.

If it were Sakazuki, Roman would absolutely not dare.

He dared not play word games with him, and their communication was basically a question and answer session. After all, Sakazuki had a fiery temper, and if he were to unleash a Hellhound attack, he would probably be done for.

However, the three future generals, Kuzan and Borsalino, are actually both good-tempered commanders who almost never scold or punish their subordinates; both are quite magnanimous. As for the potential "mistreatment" that might arise later, does Roman really fear that? She'll deal with whatever comes her way.

While pondering the "tailoring to the person" approach, Roman's left hand moved impatiently. Although Borsalino knew after a moment's thought that he was the one who had done it, a basic disguise was still necessary.

Because it wasn't his dominant hand, the painting appeared crudely made, but Roman was still quite satisfied.

I'm in a really good mood today.