One Piece: Mandala Swordsman

Chapter 275 The Withering of the Red Rose and the Blue Rose

To be honest, Roman had considered this scenario.

The person on the bed was pale, weak, and barely breathing; they could no longer hold on and were about to pass away.

However, the person chosen for this idea has always been Adam, not Theoka.

Adam was afflicted with illness, but Theoka was healthy and radiant.

But Silva actually fell before Adam.

A high fever, a sudden high fever. The military doctor has already examined me, but the medication has no effect on reducing the fever.

Ōka is just an ordinary person; in terms of physical abilities, he's no match for Nami of the Straw Hat crew.

She will die if this continues.

Because if the high fever continues, her organs will fail.

"Sioka, cheer up! Are you alright? Can you hear me?" Roman tried to rouse Sioka from his reverie.

"Is this... Miss Roman? Why are you wearing a veil?" Sioka asked weakly, barely opening her eyes, probably because she heard a familiar voice.

Her thoughts were starting to sluggish.

"Remember quickly, have you forgotten? I injured my own face."

"How can I live... if I've injured my face?"

"As long as my combat power remains, there will be no difficulty in living a good life in this world."

Why are people afraid of disfigurement?

In her previous life, disfigurement was classified as a serious injury.

Even if it's not life-threatening, if it involves disfigurement, then the perpetrator will definitely be severely punished.

Because it brings not only ugliness, but also the discriminatory gaze of others, and a sad future.

Your face is your passport to that world.

But that doesn't exist for Roman now.

The navy values ​​combat power, or rather, the world is the same. As long as she is strong, even if she is as ugly as a pig, everyone will treat her politely on the surface.

This is the foundation of one's life.

Compared to this, a face really isn't much.

She didn't originally make a living based on her looks.

Therefore, the cost is not serious.

“Yes, I remember now, it’s like this, you are very strong, you can live well without your own face, unlike me… completely different.”

"Don't say that. Although the outcome wasn't as expected, you risked your life to complete the mission. I will report your merits, and after that, it will be very easy for you to become a naval officer," Roman tried to comfort Theoka.

"The Navy? I'm sorry, Miss Roman, it seems I'm no longer fit to be one."

Today, Siouk is extremely fragile, having long lost its rosy and vibrant complexion, and is now only in a state of critical illness.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm still that coward." Tears streamed down her face, and Sioka fell asleep again.

“I’m sorry, Brigadier General Roman, I’d like to check on her condition again.”

The military doctor standing nearby quickly stepped forward to speak.

"Then I'll leave it to you." She couldn't help with the treatment; all she could do was provide a quiet environment for the doctor and patient.

But when she came out, Adam was also standing outside.

"When you say you weren't the only one who died, are you referring to Sioux?"

"Yes. Although she is indeed a beautiful rose, she has no thorns and is too fragile."

This was Adam's answer.

Just as Roman thought, Adam didn't like Theoka.

Although they didn't have much interaction, they had at least worked together in the same store, and SWAT was also famous, so Adam certainly wasn't completely unaware of SWAT.

Adam described Sioux as a fragile porcelain doll.

Adam believed that Theoka was a fragile and cowardly person.

She actually didn't have the courage to step out of her comfort zone.

The changes Roman made were not enough to completely transform a person.

Upon encountering blood, Sioka became fearful once again.

"Not everyone can be as strong as you and dare to face everything; most people will choose to escape."

Xioka's illness is a mental one.

She fears a bad future and a broken past.

These negative emotions spread rapidly after she left her comfortable and warm safe zone.

"She would rather die than face an even more terrifying future, but having witnessed true power, she was unwilling to go back. So her fate was sealed, and it was a truly tragic ending."

Perhaps Adam is right.

It was Xioka who trapped himself.

"It seems I made a mistake." Roman rarely admitted his error.

She oversimplified everything.

"No, it was her own choice. Is it just my imagination? I always feel like you're a little biased towards her."

"Yes," Roman readily admitted.

"Why? You haven't known her for very long, and she brought this situation upon herself. It can't be that she's like a relative from your past; that kind of drama is a bit outdated."

"No, that's not it. The main reason is that she looks a bit like the first person I killed."

Adam: "...Okay, that's a rather unique reason."

Even the usually calm Adam was taken aback by this reason.

His usually calm face showed a slight ripple.

"Whether in the past or the future, you must have experienced a life that we can hardly imagine. It's just a pity that we can no longer witness it. Syl-Roman, you are the biggest splash I saw in the last part of my life. I hope that one day you can create real waves."

……

"Oh dear, I just saw something incredible! The officer was crying!" Gran said nervously to his three companions.

“Either you’re seeing things, or the officer’s eyes are blinded by sand,” Sly calmly analyzed.

"agree."

"agree."

“I’m serious.” Grant was clearly resentful that the other three didn’t believe her.

"Could it be because Theoka is sick?" Raven analyzed.

"Is she crying because her face hurts too much?" Patch said.

"Patch said the probability is 0."

"agree."

"agree."

“No, are you really sure that demon can cry? I’ve heard before that crocodile tears are…” Patch shared what he had heard.

How could you speak to your superior like that?

"I'm the first to disagree with your assessment."

“Patch, I will not allow you to insult your boss like this.”

"No, have you guys taken the wrong medicine?" Patch was about to say something, but suddenly realized something and stiffly turned her head...

Then there was a series of crackling sounds.

"Young people these days are in great physical condition; they can fall asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow. Don't you think so?"

Looking at Patch's bruised face and rolled-up eyes, Roman said with some "relief".

"Yes, yes, he's just not picky."

"Yes, it's an old problem."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Seeing the awkward smiles on his subordinates' faces, Roman stopped making things difficult for them.

It's a good thing that they are strong and healthy.

Roman then looked out into the endless darkness.

Pitch blackness always makes people feel depressed.

Of course, the sun will rise again the next day, but some people's lives will remain in the darkness.

The night before arriving in Marineford.

The vibrant red roses and the elegant blue roses withered one after another.