"You're a marine?" Octavius got caught on that fact, and didn't find the rest of Ceres' words terribly interesting. She invited him into her cabin, promising a proper meal and a reasonable conversation, and now she was telling him she was a marine? Full disclosure hadn't been part of the agreement, so why she felt compelled to tell him this was beyond him. Just because she'd killed some of her own, didn't make her any less of a marine. There was a reason that saying went around. Compulsively, the pirate produced his bayonet and stabbed it into the table. He wasn't aggressive about it, though. He calmly set the point against the wood and forced the thing a good half inch into the table, leaving it there to await him, should he have to fight this woman. She didn't seem terribly hostile, but he supposed there was more than one way to murder a cat. She set out the food and started going on about his plans, wanting more information. Meanwhile Captain Cuttlam was stuck on the fact that this woman was a marine. He didn't think they let women into the marines, but he supposed she might have been able to pass for a man if she kept quiet and cut her hair, and dressed properly.

Obviously she didn't realize the sort of impact her admission was going to have. The pirate lord was about ready to rescind his offer and start swimming. He was sure there would be no sleep between now, and when he got free of this woman. He would admit, she was good. But he was better. One didn't get good at this game by being slow, or witless. Having been one of the best, Octavius was neither. He failed to touch his food as he answered the questions fired at him. "I plan to use what crew I can. The realms of men forget my name, and my clout is not what it was. I'm not going to be be picky. I've got a proper crew, probably scattered across the whole Grand Line, by now, if they're alive. But I'll need some men to follow me while I collect them. And I'm sure I'll find some new pirates, just as worthy of my flag. You're welcome to go off on your own, seeing as it's a free world, and this is your ship. Looking a gift horse in the mouth is a good way to get your face bitten off though..." he couldn't help but chuckle. She had to pry, of course. He knew she wanted a guaranteed success. But she couldn't sail a ship by herself, not one big enough to brave the Grand Line. Far more likely they would all drown, but what was the point to life if others didn't suffer for your advancement?