Labet pov

I groaned as I found myself on a broken heap of wooden logs. I had hit the ground hard as I coughed extensively to get the iron particles that I had ingested out of my body.

Thankfully it seemed that he couldn't control it even if it was inside my body due to me using haki.

Barf*

"Fuck…", I muttered. I should have expected a criminal to use underhanded tactics but I underestimated him and caught a iron bomb to the face.

I slowly got up as I assessed my situation. I found a metallic pole has penetrated my inner thigh. Bruised face, minor concussion, minor rib fracture, internal bleeding from my esophagus, pole in my thigh, etc. Nothing I couldn't handle.

I scanned my surroundings using observation haki to notice that all the marines were nowhere to be found.

'Where the hell are those bastards when you need them?', I cursed myself as I took the pole out of my thigh and used life return on myself.

Life return was one of the six powers that they thought to strong cipher pol agents. It granted the user complete control over their bodies. They could control their hair and even nails. I could use it to heal minor injuries, bulk my body, harden my skin and even use more nutrients to strengthen my body.

Even though I was just recently made into a cipher pol aegis zero agent I was still proficient in all of the six powers. Although learning haki was difficult as they never thought it to us when I was in cipher pol nine.

Life return instantly started healing the minor bruises on my body. I took some pills out of my pocket and took them to further increase the rate of healing.

After having healed it enough, I got out of the ditch that my body had made.

I looked around to see that villagers were hiding behind their house but were still observing what was happening outside through the blindfolds.

'Cattle', I cursed them in my mind as I looked towards the cliff to find the culprit of my current situation running towards me, or should I say rolling towards me as he seemed to have made roller blades on his shoes and was rushing towards me.

The devil fruit that he possessed was like nothing I've ever heard before. Ability to create metal on the spot and shape them to one's desire, it definitely wasn't the magnet-magnet fruit.

I would have liked to investigate more but I have orders to follow and he just really pisses me off.

Whoosh*

I tilted my head as a bullet passed by where my head had been.

I turned back to see the same woman with a Mohawk that tried to attack me previously. She seemed to be carrying a rifle that whose model resembled the marine rifles. She shot another shot which I dodged again.

"Bastard, how dare you hurt Genzo and make Nami cry!!", she shouted with anger and came charging towards me. She tried to hit my head with the butt of the rifle but I just dodged her while kicking her in the stomach and sending her flying.

"I don't like loud women", I sarcastically muttered before jumping from my spot as a spherical green liquid hit it.

The ground where the green blob touched seemed to be burning with acid like characteristic.

"DON'T HARM Belle-mére-San!! ", the voice hissed as I looked up to see a blond lady holding a red book with her hand outstretched towards me.

'Who is she? An accomplice?', I thought before shaking my head. "I don't have time for this", I muttered as I used soru and instantly appeared before her.

I tried to use finger gun on it but a metallic shield suddenly formed around her as it blocked attack.

"Tch"

I already knew who was responsible.

"KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM HER!!", I heard a shout coming from above me.

I immediately moved back just in time to avoid a punch from Tesoro, who seemed to have put more metal on his gauntlets making them larger.

He landed on the ground as he breathed restlessly. 'He seems to be reaching his limit and his stamina should run be running out soon', I thought with a smile as I brought my boomerangs in front of me.

Tesoro brought up his gauntlets in acknowledgement as he closed his eyes and seemed to be in a trance. The girl beside him started skimming through the book as she held her hand towards me.

I instantly released the boomerangs as they flew with high speeds towards them. There were now ten real boomerangs coming at them from all direction.

I thought that at least one was bound to hit but the girl seemed to shout something and immediately a translucent spherical barrier erected around them. The boomerangs hit the barrier and bounced off.

'What the hell was that? Another devil fruit? Devil fruits are supposed to rare in the blues damn it!!" , I cursed in my head as my veins popped.

Tesoro didn't let me dwell on my furious thoughts as he came rushing towards me with his gauntlets raised.

I raised my arms in an x-pose and covered them with armament haki and further increased my defense with iron body.

But to my surprise his gauntlets suddenly blacked as his punch landed on my arms.

I tried to contest with it and hold on but was thrown backwards. I managed to land on my feet as I breathed deeply.

I tried to move one of my arms but it wouldn't listen to me. 'Shit!', I cursed in my head as I thought of several plans to turn this situation around.

Then it seems that the gods had blessed me as I saw a way out of this predicament. I grinned wildly beneath my mask.

Belle-mére pov

I feel like the whole world is spinning. My head hurts, my stomach is burning and I think if I move my legs then would break.

"ugh"

I groaned as I try to sit up. I was thrown directly into a house by that man's kick. I held my head as I felt a warm liquid running down my face. It seems that I was bleeding a bit abd had a minor concussion.

I opened my eyes slightly to see what was happening, I heard clashes of metal against metal as I saw sparks fly off. My vision was a bit blurry but I managed to make out two figures.

It seemed to me that someone was fighting the masked man and since he was using metallic weapons he must be Tesoro.

My head throbbed as I heard some familiar voices.

"MOM!", they shouted as I heard footsteps approaching me.

I turned and saw two blurry figures now standing in front of me, one of them had blue hair and the other orange.

"Mom are you ok?", the blue one asked with a shaky voice.

"Mom!", the orange one just came towards me to hug me.

I finally recognized them to be my daughters, Nami and Nojiko.

I winced a little at her action but I knew her action had a pure intention thus I patted her head.

"Nami, Nojiko, you guys should go and hide somewhere it's not safe here right now", I mumbled as I looked at both of my daughters in front of me.

"No! Come with us!", replied Nami as she clutched my shirt as I felt a warm liquid soaking it.

"We won't leave you!", shouted Nojiko as she also came beside us.

My vision got better as I started to see their faces clearly. Nami and Nojiko both had red teary eyes and a runny nose.

I smiled as they had never referred to me as their mother as frequently as today ever before. I brought them closer as I hugged them.

I felt a moment of bliss as we held each other. I loved being their mother and I would do anything to give my daughters joy.

The pleasant feeling didn't last any longer as I felt a sudden danger coming towards us.

I looked up straight to find boomerangs, at least five, coming towards me at a high speed. I knew I had no energy to avoid it with Nami and Nojiko included.

Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I hugged Nami and Nojiko as I turned my back towards the boomerangs to at least shield them with my body. I expected severe pain to be spreading through my body but it did not happen.

"NO!", Nami shouted as she peaked from my shoulder.

"Why…?", Nojiko stumbled as she cried.

I turned back to see a bloodied figure looming over us with several boomerangs piercing through his torso. He hand blood trailing down his mouth as his clothes became soaked in red.

"TESORO!!", I could hear Stella's voice shouting at the top of her lungs.

I recognized the man to be Tesoro now that my vision cleared. He seemed to be barely be able to stand and breath as he asked us, "… are.. Y-you.. O-ok?", he vomited more blood and got on his knees.

"W-why?", I couldn't understand why he was still helping us even if I had kicked him out of my house. He had no reason to be hurt for strangers like us.

He just smiled as he saw that we were all ok, he seemed to be pleased but still in deep pain. He had no time to relax as a man suddenly appeared beside him and kicked him in the chest sending him flying into the air.

"NO!!", I shouted as I reached out to grab Tesoro. But he was no longer in my range. I looked up to see that the man was still going after Tesoro I the air.

"Rokougan!!", he shouted as he punched Tesoro with two fists. A shockwave was emitted from the hit as a great wind blew at my hair.

Tesoro vomited more blood as the punch hit his chest and his eyes whitened out. His body was sent flying into the ocean in high speed just like a canon ball.

Stella pov

My heart sank as Tesoro was sent flying into the ocean. Since he was a devil fruit user I knew that he would be helpless so I rushed after him.

But before I could reach the shore a force hit my gut as it made me fly back. I landed on a food stall as the hit I took racked my brain. My body was still tense as I gritted my teeth and willed my body to get up and rush towards Tesoro.

I forced my legs up as I saw the one who had stopped me, it was the same man who sent Tesoro flying. My veins popped as I saw red. I quickly stretched my palms ahead of me to conjure the strongest spell I currently knew.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!!"

"FIREBOLT!!!!", I shouted as a burning spherical ball materialized in my palm. It was the size of a canon ball but I put more energy into it to make it larger as I fired it.

The man dodged the on coming firebolt as he started closing the distance between us.

I kept on firing several firebolts at him but he kept on dodging it as he came closer.

"DAMN IT!!", my palm were now being scorched due to the excessive use of the spell without any rest. I could feel the layers of skin on my palm peeling off as I fired more and more firebolt.

"JUST DI-", before I could finish my word I felt a chill touch on my shoulder as everything went dark, I couldn't move my body as a chilling sensation assaulted me. My brain was in great pain as I tried to move but failed. 'No, it can't end like this. I have to save Tesoro!!', my thoughts ran wild before I finally lost consciousness.

Kuzan pov

"Ara~Ara~, this girl has a strong spirit. If only she wasn't taken.", I joked sarcastically.

It seems that I had reached at the perfect time before the agent could do any real harm.

"Where were you admiral?", asked Labet as he took hurried breaths.

"Hmm… I was just dealing with someone, you don't have to worry about it. It seems you had trouble dealing with someone that you consider 'an insect'.", I mocked him as I saw his pitiful state. 'It seems that the guy was indeed strong or at least had the potential to be strong. Sad that his journey had to end early, maybe he could have join the marines if he made different choices.', I thought with a sigh.

"Tch", the agent just grimaced as he held on his arms which seemed a bit limp.

"Clean up now let's leave", I ordered the marines that I had just freed from what it looked to me to be a slime mold of some kind.

'It must have been this girl. Was it a devil fruit power? it would have been nice to make her join the marines but I don't think she will like us anymore after today. I hope she can forgive us after she thaws.', I thought gloomily as I heard some footsteps approaching us.

I turned to see what it seems to be a mother and her two daughters. It was the same lady from before. The lady seemed a bit rugged and injured, she had blood flowing from her head as it trailed down her chin. She had several bruises and fresh cuts on her body. She walked or rather limped towards me.

I frowned as I cursed the agent in my head for being too reckless. I had given the lady my word that the agent won't harm anyone but I couldn't keep him in control as I was teleported away.

I gritted my teeth as I bowed, "I'm terribly sorry madam. I couldn't keep my word to you and the situation escalated further.", I apologize with sincerity.

I had suspicions that she could be involved with the outlaw but a civilian was a civilian nonetheless, she was also a mother. I saw that at least the kids were unharmed which I was thankful for. I couldn't stand needless loss of life after O'Hara.

The lady seemed to widen her eyes as she must have not expected me to apologize, she must have dealt with a lot of corruption before.

"No, no I just wanted to ask you to let Stella go", she answered as she pleaded with her eyes. The girls beside her seemed to agree and nod their heads with a hint of fear.

'Ah it seems I must have scared them', I thought as I placed my hands on the girl who's name seemed to be Stella.

"It's ok you don't have to worry, she will have thawed on her own anyway. I didn't use my full powers on her", I tried to ease the family's mind as I scratched my head.

The Ice started to melt as my hand touched the frozen lady. The ice dripped on the ground before completely disappearing.

She stumbled as she almost fell but I caught her shoulders and helped her sit.

"Easy now. We don't wanna break anything. Take deep breaths.", I instructed her as I placed her down.

She seemed a bit groggy at first before suddenly jolting as she tried to fight my grip and move towards the direction of the shore.

"No, it's enough. It's over now, don't fight anymore, he's gone now. A devil fruit user won't survive this long in the sea. Only one life has to be lost today, don't waste yours", I scolded her as my grip around her didn't loosen.

I knew how it felt to loose a loved one, I truly felt for the girl but life isn't always fair. She needed to accept what had happened and move on otherwise she might get herself hurt or worse.

"No… Tesoro… I-I…", she mumbled as she began to sob. I loosened my grip now that I was sure that she wouldn't do anything drastic.

"Can I ask you to look after her", I asked the lady with the daughters. I thought that since we were responsible for this incident if we had offered assistance she wouldn't accept it.

The mother nodded as she moved towards the weeping lady. The kids also now seemed to be crying as they looked like they knew the person.

'It seems that you were a good one Tesoro, sad that you had to make bad choices and end up as the governments enemy. I would have saved you if I could but I can't risk a buster call on innocent civilians. ', I thought to myself as I walked away giving the four crying people their privacy.

I walked over to the marines as they prepared to set sail. I asked the marines to enquire about the town mayor so that I could meet him and give him compensations for the damages.

He looked every furious as he told me that he didn't care about my money. I didn't feel like just leaving them empty handed so I left a suitcase of money with the lady with two kids. Even she refused at first but I managed to persuade her somehow.

I managed to get on the ship with a exhausted mind as I sat on my resting chair.

"ugh", I groaned as I didn't expect this mission to get so complicated. The agent resting in the infirmary didn't make my headache any lesser as he made a mess today. 'I'll give him a beating later on', I thought to myself.

I kept all these thoughts for later as I made the marines set sail for the headquarters. I still have to return this ship to rear admiral Takada as his ship is the fastest in the navy. We tried to make him give up the name of the crafter of the ship but he just told us that it was his brother.

'But now I think I know how the brother managed to craft the ship. A really interesting devil fruit indeed', I put my blindfolds on as I slept on the recliner chair.

The ship departed with great speed as the island was as small as point of a needle in seconds.

[Several days later]

[Belle-mére residence]

Belle-mére pov

"Has Stella still not come out of her room", the man who introduced himself as Boss asked me. We found him in a nearby island when checking for damages, he was in a similar situation as Stella and frozen.

"No…. she won't eat properly and won't talk to anyone…", I muttered as I remembered how broken she was since that day.

She had lost the person that was the most dear to her. I felt responsible for her because Tesoro died to save me and my daughters. The least I can do for him is to look after Stella.

"I see", boss muttered as he rubbed his eyes. "It's all my fault. I teleported the strongest person on this island thinking that there would only be an agent or vice admiral, *tch* but it had to be an admiral".

I handed him a warm cup of tea as I assured him, "it's not anyone's fault. No body can completely predict the future. Blaming anyone won't solve any problems".

Thankfully Nami and Nojiko were already asleep so they did not have to listen to this depressing adult talk. Nami and Nojiko were hit my Tesoro's passing pretty hard, they balled their eyes out and it took everything to get them to sleep that day. I too couldn't sleep that day as my heart felt heavy with guilt, my last moments with him were when I threw him out of my house but his last action was to save us.

No amount of cigarette seemed to make the feeling go away. So I started training more and started shooting my old rifle again. I wanted that if this situation was to occur in the future, I would be able to hold my own and that no one will get hurt cause of me.

As we were discussing other less depressing topic,

"Eh? So your brother is in the navy?", I asked, the shock evident on my face.

"SASASASA"

"I know, I know, I'm out here helping out wanted men and going against the world government while my brother is meant to fight guys like us."

" We used to be close and wanted to go out to explore the sea but one day an incident occurred that changed both of us", he said as he took a deep sip of tea, he seemed to be remembering some unpleasant thoughts.

"I'm sorry if I made you remember uncomfortable memories", I apologize to boss as I also had some memories that were better left buried.

"No, no it's OK besides me and my brother still talk. Just a few years back he asked me to make him the fastest ship I could, so I gifted it to him as a birthday gift, SASASASA! You should have seen his face when we sailed out the test it", boss said with a smile.

I smiled as I appreciated boss's pleasant company, he seemed like a man who would always lighten up the room even at his own expense . The moment was interrupted when we heard a knock on the door.

"Who could be here at this time?", it was almost midnight so I didn't expect any visitors. 'Genzo?, no he must still be at his office fast asleep' , I thought as I moved towards the entrance to open the door.

"I'm coming", I exclaimed as I put on my flip-flops.

Opening the door I came face to face with a hooded figure. They were wearing a green cloak and baggy pants, they had a slim build but seemed strong enough to defeat people even bigger than them. Although they appear to carry no weapons my instincts were telling me that this man was dangerous.

"Miss may I come in?", they asked in a polite way, the voice was deep and seemed very well mannered.

I was dumbfounded on how to answer his question but boss saved me from it as he came up from behind me.

"Dragon? Is that you?", boss asked with surprise in his tone.

"Glad to see you too old friend", the man muttered as he took off his cloak. I saw that he had spiky black hair with red tattoos on the left side of his face.

"Won't you invite me in, it's cold outside", he joked with a grin.