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Chapter Text

(TL: IN Chapter 53 I Change the name of Lu Yu to Ryuunosuke)

East Sea, Goa Kingdom, Foosha Village.

A man stood leisurely by the coastline, watching a ship slowly disappear into the horizon.

"Luffy has set sail too."

Lu Yu's face showed a thoughtful expression.

"Ding! The God-level Pirate Crew system has been successfully activated."

"Novice gift pack received."

"Recruitment function unlocked."

...

With a burst of electronic sounds, a light blue panel appeared in front of Lu Yu.

Host: Lu Yu [21 years old]

Items: Novice gift pack

System Functions: 100m³ portable space, recruitment mall

Title: Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirate

Yes, Lu Yu was a time traveler.

In his previous life, he was just another worker trapped in the grueling 996 work culture, his life "fulfilled" in all the worst ways.

At the same time, as a fan of the sea, he had always yearned for the freedom of adventure.

Who knew that one day, he would wake up and find himself in the world of One Piece?

As a time traveler, it was only natural for him to have a golden cheat ability—a system.

This one was called the God-level Pirate Group System.

However, the system’s activation condition required him to witness Sabo, Ace, and Luffy setting out to sea.

Thus, Lu Yu, who had been reborn in Windmill Village, had only now unlocked the system.

"System, use the novice gift pack."

Lu Yu activated the gift pack without hesitation. After all, he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Multiverse Recruitment Card, 1,000 reputation points, a super small broken ship, and an exquisite pirate flag..."

As the system notifications rang out, Lu Yu's panel updated with new items.

Reputation Points: Used to recruit and exchange mall items

Recruitment Card: Can be used to summon crew members from different worlds

It had to be said—this novice gift pack was pretty standard.

"System, use the Multiverse Recruitment Card!"

Lu Yu had been waiting far too long to set sail.

This Grand Line, this era of extreme chaos and ambition, would begin anew—with him at the center.

As soon as he gave the command, a glowing magic circle appeared in front of him.

Then, a tall, black-haired woman with cold, piercing eyes emerged.

"Akame!"

Lu Yu instinctively called out her name.

This was Akame from Akame ga Kill!

In her left hand, she held the legendary Teigu, Murasame.

"Ding! Nightraid group unlocked."

"Akame recruited."

"Armament Haki detected—host synchronization in progress."

"Swordsmanship talent detected—rewarding Ame-no-Habakiri."

Before Lu Yu could react, an immense wave of power, swordsmanship, and combat knowledge surged into his mind and body.

His strength increased at an astonishing rate.

He checked his updated panel.

Host: Lu Yu [21 years old]

Abilities: Advanced swordsmanship,
advanced assassination techniques, beginner-level Armament Haki

Items: Ame-no-Habakiri, super small broken ship

Reputation Points: 1,000
Crew:

First Squadron - Akame [From Akame ga Kill]

Nightraid Group Activation Recruitment Conditions Met

Title: Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirate Group

Looking at the significantly improved panel, Lu Yu exhaled deeply.

This was it—proof that he was becoming stronger.

Moreover, with Akame at his side, safety wouldn’t be a concern—at least for now.

"Akame."

Lu Yu closed the panel and turned to her.

Although the system assured him that recruited crew members would be absolutely loyal, he still wanted to confirm it firsthand.

"Captain!"

Akame knelt on one knee, looking up at him with complete admiration.

The respect in her gaze was undeniable—it was real.

"From now on, you're my crew member. No need to kneel every time."

"On this sea, we're partners."

"As for the rest of the Nightraid members, I’ll recruit them as soon as possible."

Lu Yu smiled.

"Thank you, Captain!"

Akame stood up and walked to his side.

"Lu Yu, are you leaving too?"

A gentle voice called out.

It was Makino, the owner of the Partys Bar.

Before today, Lu Yu had lived in Windmill Village and worked at Makino’s bar.

"Yeah."

"Sister Makino, I want to see the world."

"I want my name to be known across the seas!"

He spoke with a fiery determination.

Are you kidding? He had traveled to One Piece, gained a powerful system—how could he not make a name for himself?

"You should go explore the sea."

"But remember—your safety comes first!"

"No matter what, this place will always be your home."

Makino smiled warmly.

She truly had a perfect personality.

"Yeah!"

"I—"

"Is this your girlfriend?"

Before Lu Yu could finish, Makino smirked and teasingly pointed at Akame.

Apparently, no matter how perfect a woman is, she still loves gossip.

"Akame is my crew member."

Lu Yu corrected her proudly.

Akame’s name would soon be known across the seas alongside his own.

"Akame?"

"That’s a lovely name. Take care of Lu Yu, okay?"

"He's a bit reckless..."

Makino took Akame’s hands and began chatting endlessly.

Akame, who had always been a bit socially awkward, was completely overwhelmed by the sudden influx of information.

After some farewells, Lu Yu was ready to set sail.

He had sent Sabo, Ace, and Luffy off on their own journeys.

Now, it was his turn.

Makino was the one to see him off, watching as his tiny ship drifted away.

Perhaps this was the bond between pirates and their homeland.

She stood by the shore until Lu Yu’s ship disappeared from sight before turning back toward her bar.

Meanwhile, Lu Yu was now officially at sea on his super small broken ship.

Thankfully, he had prepared supplies in advance.

His experience working in the bar had also exposed him to Red-Haired Shanks’ crew and Vice Admiral Garp’s marines, allowing him to pick up some basic navigation skills.

However…

Three days later, with no map or clear direction, Lu Yu found himself completely lost.

"Captain, is this the adventure of a pirate?"

Akame looked at the eerily calm sea and asked in confusion.

After all, according to what she had learned, sailing was supposed to be dangerous.

"I guess so..."

Lu Yu scratched his head, a little embarrassed.

After all, this was the East Blue—the weakest of all the seas.

Most powerful pirates didn’t linger here for long, as it was home to monsters like Shanks and Garp.

As a result, in three whole days, they hadn't encountered a single pirate ship.

(TL: IN Chapter 53 I Change the name of Lu Yu to Ryuunosuke)

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Chapter Text

Over the past three days, Lu Yu had become familiar with Akame.

There was no significant difference from their original personalities—except for their absolute loyalty to him. Otherwise, they retained full autonomy.

"Captain Lu Yu, is that a pirate ship ahead?"

At that moment, Akame swiftly climbed onto the mast and peered into the distance.

A large ship flying a skull flag was heading straight toward them.

"Pirates?"

Lu Yu grinned. "Hahaha, finally!"

He turned to his crew. "Alright, get us close—let’s rob them!"

"Got it!" Akame responded enthusiastically, adjusting the sail to steer toward the enemy vessel.

They had rehearsed this line before. After all, as their pirate crew grew in strength, they needed to establish their own aura of dominance.

On the Enemy Pirate Ship

"Captain, a shabby-looking ship is approaching us," a lookout reported. "There are only two people on board. The man is handsome, and the woman is gorgeous."

He licked his lips. "Should we take action?"

The pirate captain laughed. "Hahaha, capture them both. If they’re high-quality, we might fetch a good price for them!"

"Aye, Captain!"

The captain rose from his seat. Towering over two meters tall, his massive frame was covered in fat, and he wielded an enormous longsword.

His name: Jekasfa.

Bounty: 18 million berries

His crew numbered in the hundreds, and their ship was armed with turrets—an impressive force for the East Blue.

As the ships drew close, Lu Yu and Akame leaped onto the enemy vessel.

"Captain Lu Yu, they’ve committed many crimes. Can I just kill them all?" Akame asked, slowly drawing her cursed katana, Murasame.

"Pirates robbing pirates—that’s fair game," Lu Yu replied. "Leave the bodies intact. We’ll collect the bounties later."

With that, he unsheathed Ame-no-Habakiri, a sleek white sword with striking patterns. Its thick spine and versatile grip allowed for both one-handed and two-handed use. A sharp, menacing aura radiated from the weapon.

"Heh, are rookies this arrogant nowadays?" sneered a hunched, elderly pirate clutching a Mauser rifle. He didn’t take Lu Yu or Akame seriously.

To him, they looked like young nobles who had lost their way at sea—valuable merchandise for the black market.

"Alright, boys—"

Shing!

Before he could finish, Akame was already behind him.

A thin line of blood formed on his throat. A heartbeat later, the curse took effect, draining the life from his body in an instant.

"The Captain said you all must die," Akame declared coldly. "Burn."

She charged forward, cutting through enemy after enemy with effortless precision. Speed, technique, and power—all perfectly balanced. Some pirates only suffered a minor wound, only to collapse moments later as death overtook them.

Panic spread through the enemy ranks.

"Useless fools!" Jekasfa roared.

Boom!

He swung his massive sword, forcing Akame to retreat. Though she was stronger, brute strength wasn’t her forte.

"Armament Haki!"

A dark aura surged around her arms and legs. Despite only three days of practice, Akame had already mastered this ability.

Her speed exploded.

"Ka… Destroy!"

A dazzling slash cut through the air.

Jekasfa barely had time to react before his body was sliced apart. He fell with a heavy thud.

"Who… are you…?" he gasped, but his words died as darkness claimed him.

A chain reaction followed—one by one, the remaining pirates collapsed.

Akame calmly sheathed her katana and stepped behind Lu Yu.

---

Ding!

Pirate crew annihilated (Bounty: 18 million berries)

Gained 2,000 reputation points!

Bonus: 10 million belly earned!

Super Small Broken Ship's devouring function activated! Would you like to absorb the enemy vessel?

Lu Yu barely had to lift a finger—the battle was already over. The system’s notification rang in his ears, confirming another way to earn reputation: eliminating pirate crews.

"Absorb it," Lu Yu ordered.

His small, ragged ship latched onto the enemy vessel and began absorbing its structure. Within moments, a brand-new pirate ship took shape—a vast improvement from the wreck they had been sailing.

A Multiverse Recruitment Card required 10,000 reputation points. Lu Yu now had 3,500. If he destroyed a few more pirate crews, he could perform a second summon.

He glanced at Akame, wondering who their next recruit would be.

For now, he dismissed the idea of targeted recruitment—every Night Raid member required a hefty 50,000 reputation points. It was best to summon randomly until he had more to spare.

With the pirate ship fully absorbed, all supplies and treasures onboard were transferred to their inventory.

"Captain, I’m hungry. I’m going to cook," Akame said in a cheerful voice.

"Go ahead," Lu Yu nodded, smirking.

He had to admit—Akame’s cooking was top-notch. She wasn’t just a fearsome warrior; she could handle both battle and the kitchen with ease.

Not to mention, she was pleasing on the eyes.

Among the loot, Lu Yu found a sea chart.

Checking their location, he realized they had been circling the Kingdom of Goa for the past three days. The nearest Marine base was in Shells Town.

He smirked. "Let’s head there, cash in these bounties, and stock up on supplies."

With that, Lu Yu set their next course.

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Chapter Text

At the same time, in the Kingdom of Goa.

"Captain Kadjoer, according to the reconnaissance unit, the Jekasfa pirate group has been annihilated."

"And it was the pirates from that small ship we detected a few days ago."

Lu Yu had just defeated the Jekasfa pirate group, and the navy had received the report.

"What!?" Kadjoer was stunned.

The Kingdom of Goa was under the protection of Vice Admiral Garp. Originally, they had dismissed Lu Yu's ship, seeing that it carried only two people. But now, those two had managed to annihilate a pirate group with a bounty of 18 million, proving they were far from ordinary.

Moreover, Lu Yu's ship had remained in the waters near the Kingdom of Goa for three days. Their intentions were becoming clear—these pirates were targeting the kingdom.

As an ally of the World Government, and with Garp’s personal interest in protecting the region—particularly for the sake of Curly Dadan in Windmill Village and Mount Colubo—Kadjoer’s expression turned solemn.

"Upload the information to headquarters immediately to identify this pirate crew."

"Everyone, remain on high alert."

"Officer Gula, come with me. We need to assess the strength of these pirates ourselves."

Kadjoer wasted no time giving orders. Pirates of this level could not be ignored—if left unchecked, they could pose a serious threat to the world.

Soon, the stationed navy began mobilizing.

---

Meanwhile, on Lu Yu’s ship.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for being noticed by the navy and triggering an investigation. You have gained 500 reputation points."

As Lu Yu and Akame enjoyed their lunch, the system notification rang in his ears.

"The navy!?" Lu Yu was momentarily stunned.

He hadn't engaged the navy since setting out, so why were they suddenly investigating him? Could it be that Garp had taken an interest in him? But Luffy had already gone to sea—shouldn’t Garp be chasing after him instead?

Lu Yu was confused.

"Akame, finish eating quickly. We need to leave this area and head to Shells Town."

He took out a map and handed it to Akame. Aside from combat and cooking, she was skilled in nearly everything else, including navigation.

"Got it, Captain Lu Yu." Akame nodded, quickly finishing her meal before preparing the ship for departure.

---

Although their small, modified ship had been improved, its speed was still lacking.

A day later, navy warships appeared on the horizon.

"Captain Lu Yu, we’re being followed."

"Two navy warships are approaching quickly from behind."

"Should we engage?"

Akame unsheathed her katana, Murasame.

"Not yet."

"If they attack first, we’ll retaliate."

Lu Yu stopped Akame.

Since the navy ships came from the Kingdom of Goa, they were likely affiliated with Garp. Lu Yu had a good impression of Garp and didn’t want to provoke the navy unnecessarily.

"Understood, Captain Lu Yu."

Akame assumed a battle-ready stance. If the navy made a move, she would counter immediately. Protecting the captain and ship was her duty.

Soon, the navy warships closed in.

"Pirate ship ahead, stop immediately! This is the naval fleet under Captain Kadjoer from Navy Headquarters."

"Do not resist, or we will be forced to take action."

"Repeat, cease all movement..."

Lu Yu, deep in thought about his next move, snapped out of it as the navy broadcasted their warning.

"So it really is Garp’s subordinates."

"What a hassle..."

Then a thought struck him—his reputation points.

Simply being investigated by the navy had already earned him 500 points. If the navy issued a bounty on him, how much more could he gain?

"Akame, prepare for battle."

"Once I give the signal, we retreat immediately."

Lu Yu gripped his sword, Ame-no-Habakiri. During his fight with Jekasfa, Akame had taken care of most of the battle, leaving him with little opportunity to test his own strength. This time, he wanted a proper fight.

"Understood."

Akame leaped into action.

Lu Yu activated his Armament Haki and charged forward.

The navy’s warning was ignored as the two pirates attacked first.

Seeing this, Kadjoer ordered his men to fire.

Dozens of Mauser rifles locked onto Lu Yu and Akame.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Gunfire erupted, but their bullets proved ineffective.

Before long, Lu Yu and Akame landed on the navy warship’s bow.

"Brother Kadjoer, long time no see!"

Lu Yu smirked.

If he wanted to build a notorious pirate reputation, he needed to act the part. Since they had made the first move, he felt no guilt about playing along.

"Lu Yu!?"

Kadjoer recognized him immediately.

Hadn’t he been working in Makino’s bar in Windmill Village? When had he become a pirate?

More importantly, Kadjoer had never sensed anything extraordinary about Lu Yu before. But now, the killing intent radiating from him and Akame was unmistakable.

"Brother Kadjoer, will you let us go?"

"Or do you want to fight first before letting me leave?"

Lu Yu held his sword horizontally, eyes locked onto Kadjoer with amusement.

"As a pirate, you stand against justice."

"Today, I will—"

Before Kadjoer could finish, Lu Yu vanished and reappeared in front of him, swinging his sword.

Kadjoer barely blocked with his own blade, but a massive crack appeared on it.

Lu Yu’s power and speed were overwhelming, and his attack angle was dangerously precise.

Kadjoer was shocked. Had Lu Yu trained under the Red-Haired Pirates? But his flag was different...

His thoughts were cut short as Akame attacked. The navy soldiers rushing to aid Kadjoer fell to her deadly strike.

"Brother Kadjoer, I am Lu Yu, captain of the Hunter Pirates!"

"I look forward to seeing my bounty."

"Akame, retreat!"

With that, Lu Yu and Akame vanished.

Kadjoer did not pursue. He simply watched as their ship disappeared over the horizon, his face filled with frustration.

He had no chance of winning.

A Captain of Navy Headquarters, yet Lu Yu and Akame had made him feel powerless.

Another dangerous figure had emerged in the East Blue...

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Chapter Text

Then, Kadjoer spoke to Garp.

"Are you talking about the brat who used to work in that girl Makino's bar?"

Garp was completely baffled after receiving the call. The fragrance of the senbei he was chewing suddenly seemed to disappear. He had noticed Lu Yu before and had even considered inviting him to join the Navy. However, since Lu Yu never showed any interest, Garp eventually gave up on the idea.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yu had now gone out to sea and become a pirate.

"Yes," Kadjoer confirmed. "And according to the information we've gathered, there are only two of them."

"Just two people managed to wipe out the Jekasfa Pirates."

"Against our two warships, they showed no panic at all and even killed several Navy officers right in front of me," Kadjoer added somewhat weakly.

Such a powerful pirate was beyond what he could handle.

"I see."

"He didn't kill all of you, probably because of the old ties."

"Don't engage with him for now. I'll issue a bounty order."

With that, Garp hung up the phone. After thinking for a moment, he submitted the necessary reports. Although he usually didn't bother with such matters, Lu Yu had grown up alongside Luffy. That connection had some influence on his decision.

---

Three days later.

"Ugh..."

A news bird landed on Lu Yu's ship.

"The latest newspaper?"

Lu Yu handed over a hundred belly and took a copy.

"As expected..."

Two days ago, Lu Yu’s reputation points had suddenly soared by 5,000. At that moment, he had already guessed that the Navy had placed a bounty on him. Now, seeing it in the newspaper confirmed his suspicions.

Lu Yu, Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates, had a bounty of 23 million belly.

Akame, a crew member of the Hunter Pirates, had a bounty of 15 million belly.

Lu Yu was quite satisfied with his first bounty, which had surpassed the 10 million mark. After all, the strength he had displayed so far was only at this level.

Bounties weren't necessarily based on strength but rather on how much of a threat the individual posed to the world. Since Lu Yu had previously spared some Navy personnel, his evaluation by Marine Headquarters was only at this level.

"Akame, we’ve been rewarded."

Lu Yu handed the newspaper to the dazed Akame with a smile.

"Captain Lu Yu, as pirates, shouldn't we keep ourselves hidden?" Akame asked hesitantly after taking the newspaper. "Why do you seem so happy about getting a bounty?"

After all, she had once been part of Night Raid, where secrecy was crucial. Being targeted by the government was never a good thing.

"This is the sea!"

"Out here, a bounty is equivalent to a pirate’s reputation."

"If you don’t have a bounty, you'll be laughed at by other pirates."

"Besides, there are countless pirates in this world. The World Government and the Navy won’t mobilize their entire force just for one small-time pirate."

Lu Yu briefly explained the nature of the pirate world to Akame.

"I see..." Akame nodded, though she still didn’t fully understand. To her, the sea was completely foreign territory.

---

"There's a ship ahead."

"It doesn’t look like a pirate ship or a Navy vessel."

At that moment, Akame leaped onto the mast, scanning the horizon.

Hearing this, Lu Yu was intrigued. Could they have encountered a merchant ship?

As pirates, robbing a merchant vessel seemed like the natural course of action, right?

Lu Yu smirked.

"Brother Lu Yu, they seem to be coming straight for us."

"From the way they move, they look like the bounty hunters you mentioned."

"The leader is wearing a green hat!"

Akame jumped down, drawing his Murasame—the one-shot killer—and prepared for battle.

"A green hat?"

"Bounty hunters?"

"No way..."

A grim look crossed Lu Yu's face.

They were nearing the town of Shells. Judging by the timing, it was highly likely that he knew who was coming.

Soon, a ship appeared in their sights.

Standing at the bow of the ship was a familiar figure, causing Lu Yu to grin.

Instead of a merchant vessel, he had unexpectedly run into Roronoa Zoro.

"Captain Lu Yu of the Dragon Hunter Pirates! Crew member Akame!"

"Both of you carry high bounties!"

"You must realize what that means!"

Zoro stood at the bow with an arrogant expression, his voice full of confidence.

Seeing Zoro, Lu Yu almost thought he had mistaken him for someone else. Before meeting Luffy, this guy was quite the over-the-top hothead.

Then again, it made sense. As a well-known bounty hunter in the East Blue, such arrogance wasn’t unexpected.

"Akame, stand down!"

While Lu Yu was still processing the situation, Akame had already prepared to attack.

Seeing this, Lu Yu immediately stopped her. If Akame fought, Zoro might not stand a chance. With Murasame’s cursed ability, Zoro could end up dead with a single misstep.

"I’ll handle this."

"As the captain, it’s my job to take on Zoro, the Pirate Hunter of the East Blue."

Lu Yu said, drawing his sword, Ame-no-Habakiri.

The moment Lu Yu unsheathed his sword, Zoro’s expression changed.

"This sword..."

"I may not have seen it before, but I can sense its aura."

"It’s a fine sword. I hope your skills live up to it."

Zoro drew his three swords, then leaped forward, launching a fierce attack on Lu Yu.

His offensive was truly impressive. His coordination of strength and technique was surprisingly precise.

For a brief moment, Lu Yu was caught off guard. His swordsmanship was more focused on attack than defense, making him vulnerable in direct confrontations.

"Armament Haki!"

Lu Yu dodged Zoro’s strike and instantly reinforced his arms and legs with Haki.

While he couldn't yet coat his weapon in it, it was enough for now.

Bowing slightly, Lu Yu launched himself forward with explosive speed, appearing behind Zoro in an instant.

"Checkmate."

Lu Yu’s sword stopped at Zoro’s neck.

"Big Brother!"

Zoro’s two crewmates instinctively rushed forward to help.

However, Akame stepped in front of them, her Murasame gleaming ominously. One step closer, and they would be buried by Akame in an instant.

"Stand down. These two are out of your league."

Zoro immediately stopped his companions.

From their brief exchange, he could tell that Akame was even more dangerous than Lu Yu.

Right now, he himself wasn’t even Lu Yu’s match.

Moreover, the strange burst of speed Lu Yu had just displayed left Zoro deeply intrigued.

"Go on."

Zoro slowly sheathed his swords, spreading his arms wide with a fearless smile.

To him, a wound on a swordsman’s back was the ultimate disgrace.

"I have no intention of killing you."

"In the future, if you meet a certain idiot captain, he’s going to need your help."

Lu Yu grinned and put away his sword.

---

"Ding! Congratulations, host, for gaining the obsession of protagonist member Zoro! Reputation points +5,000."

"Ding! Congratulations, host, for defeating Zoro! Reputation points +3,000."

"Swordsmanship +100."

The system notification rang in Lu Yu’s mind once again.

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Chapter Text

As the system prompt echoed, a smile appeared on Lu Yu's lips.

He hadn't expected that defeating Zoro would come with such a reward.

But thinking about it, Zoro was an important member of the protagonist's group.

Defeating him and forging a bond with him would only boost Lu Yu's reputation. Over time, as Zoro's name spread across the seas, so too would Lu Yu's.

[Look! That man defeated the great swordsman Zoro... and so on.]

Most importantly, his reputation points had now exceeded ten thousand.

"Tsk..."

With that thought in mind, Lu Yu slashed Zoro’s chest without hesitation.

"Remember this—it’s for the scar left on your chest by that so-called 'Super Pirate.'"

"My name is—Lu Yu!"

After declaring his name in a dramatic tone, Lu Yu raised his foot and kicked Zoro back onto his own ship.

Then, he turned and left.

Zoro was the type who wouldn’t feel satisfied unless he bore a fresh wound from a fight.

With the crisis resolved, Akame resumed course, sticking to their original route.

Meanwhile, Zoro lay on his own ship, catching his breath.

"Lu Yu!?"

He clenched his fists. "Soon, my sword will be the tool I use to surpass that man!"

Zoro wasn’t discouraged by his defeat. Instead, his fighting spirit burned even brighter.

As he lay there, his crewmates quickly bandaged his wounds.

---

Back on Lu Yu's ship, Akame was steering while Lu Yu sat on the deck, raising his hand to bring up his system panel.

Host: Lu Yu [21 years old]

Abilities: Advanced Swordsmanship, Advanced Assassination, Basic Armament Haki

Items: Ame-no-Habakiri, Small Broken Ship

Reputation Points: 16,500

Crew:

First Squadron: Akame [From the world of Akame no ga Kill...]

[Night Raid Group Recruitment Conditions Unlocked]

Title: Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates

As for the belly he had earned, they were stored in the system’s portable space.

With over 16,000 reputation points, Lu Yu had to decide whether to use them for a random recruitment or save up for a designated Night Raid member.

After some thought, he decided to wait.

For now, they were still in the East Blue, where the risk factor wasn’t too high.

Better to save up and summon a key member like Tatsumi or Najenda later.

Not only would it grant a team bonus, but it would also make Akame feel more at home.

With his decision made, Lu Yu closed his system panel.

"Akame, find the nearest island to restock our supplies. We’re almost out of food."

He spoke with a smile.

"Got it."

Akame picked up the sea chart, scanning it carefully.

Their next target was Shells, and along the way, they would pass by several villages.

Any of those could serve as a supply point.

The closest one was Gunardo Village.

With that, Akame adjusted their course and set sail.

---

Gunardo Village – A Local Tavern

Gunardo Village was a small settlement, far from the navy’s reach and lacking any real military defense.

Because of this, it had become a popular stop for pirates.

Fortunately, even pirates understood the importance of supply stations like this one.

As a result, they refrained from looting or destroying the village.

After all, even criminals knew better than to ruin a good thing.

At that moment, inside a crowded tavern…

"Hey, pirate… you haven’t paid yet!"

A timid voice cut through the noisy chatter.

A group of pirates was preparing to leave when a nervous waitress stopped them.

"Hah!?"

The pirate leading the group turned around, scowling.

"Do you know who you’re talking to?!"

"I am the great pirate with a bounty of 16 million—Hoduras!"

"Eating here should be payment enough! And you dare ask me for money?"

Hoduras' expression darkened with displeasure.

"B-But… you ate so much…"

Despite her fear, the waitress bravely held her ground.

"Little girl, do you have any idea what happens to those who anger pirates?"

With a flick of his wrist, Hoduras lashed out.

In an instant, the thin fabric of the waitress’s dress was torn apart.

"AHH!"

Her scream echoed through the tavern, but the onlookers merely chuckled, enjoying the spectacle. None of them stepped in to help.

Hearing the commotion, the tavern owner rushed out from the kitchen.

But the moment he saw Hoduras, he froze in place.

He knew better than to interfere.

Rumor had it, a different tavern owner had been killed just for demanding payment from pirates.

Faced with this reality, the owner dared not take a single step forward.

"You dare offend a pirate? You should be prepared for the consequences!"

Hoduras turned to his crew, grinning. "Boys, take turns!"

Just then—

BANG!

The tavern doors swung open.

All eyes turned toward the entrance.

Two figures stepped inside, moving at a leisurely pace.

Leading them was a young man, seemingly in his early twenties, yet exuding a powerful aura.

He paid no attention to the commotion, walking right past Hoduras without a care in the world, heading straight for the front desk.

Beside him was a beautiful young woman with long, jet-black hair that shimmered like polished onyx.

But despite her delicate features, her piercing gaze warned others to keep their distance.

The sudden arrival of these two newcomers disrupted the pirates' momentum.

Those who had been gearing up to join the "fun" hesitated, their faces turning sour.

"Hey, hey, hey… boy, do you have a death wish?!"

Hoduras' voice boomed across the tavern.

"Don’t you see I’m in the middle of something?!"

His gaze landed on the girl beside Lu Yu.

"This one’s not bad either… she can join the fun too!"

Lu Yu, however, remained indifferent.

He reached the bar, acting as if he hadn't even heard Hoduras.

Not even sparing him a glance.

This blatant disregard made Hoduras' blood boil.

When had he ever been treated like this?

He was a notorious pirate in the East Blue! Someone with a 16 million bounty!

The crowd burst into laughter.

"Hahaha… Hoduras, are you seriously being ignored?!"

"Man, you might as well quit being a pirate! Go home and drink your milk!"

"Damn, even a brat like that doesn’t take you seriously!"

Mocking laughter filled the tavern.

Hoduras' veins bulged in rage.

His humiliation had just begun.

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Chapter Text

Hoduras, who was already furious, became even more enraged upon hearing those words.

In the world of pirates, reputation is more important than life itself. Lose your reputation, and you might as well forget about surviving in this world.

"Bastard!"

"How dare you look down on me!"

Seething with rage, Hoduras drew his longsword and stormed toward Lu Yu.

"Brat, I'll show you that anyone who offends me, Hoduras, won't live to see another day!"

With those words, he raised his sword high and swung it down at Lu Yu.

Even so, Lu Yu didn’t spare him a glance. Instead, he remained seated on the barstool in front of the counter, unfazed.

This blatant disregard sent Hoduras' anger soaring to its peak.

"Die!"

Clang!

Just as Hoduras’ sword came down, a katane intercepted it effortlessly. No matter how much strength he mustered, he couldn’t push forward.

The one who blocked it was Akame.

No one even noticed when she had made her move.

Swish...

Clang...

A muffled sound followed, and then the clang of metal hitting the ground.

Hoduras collapsed, blood slowly seeping from the gash on his neck.

The woman whose clothes had been torn by Hoduras trembled as she covered her mouth with both hands, terrified of making even the slightest sound.

"M-murder... he's dead..."

Clearly, this was her first time witnessing such a brutal scene. Her pupils quivered in fear.

Meanwhile, Lu Yu finally spoke up.

"Boss, do you sell supplies here?"

"I need some fruit and meat. Also, if possible, get me some good wine."

His purpose for coming here was simple: to restock supplies. He had no intention of fighting.

As for Hoduras? He had simply dug his own grave.

"Y-yes, sir," the shopkeeper stammered, cold sweat running down his back. "How much do you need? I’ll prepare it immediately. Do you require preservation tools? We have ice and fresh-keeping boxes for sale."

He was terrified. After all, the woman who had just killed Hoduras without hesitation was merely a subordinate. If even his crew was this strong, what did that say about the man himself?

The other pirates in the tavern, who had been rowdy just moments ago, fell silent one by one, afraid of provoking this mysterious and dangerous figure.

"Thank you. I’ll take them."

Lu Yu tossed a pouch onto the counter. "Here’s 20 million Belly. Get everything ready for me."

Then, turning his gaze toward the other pirates, he pulled out a stack of bounty posters.

"A bounty of 11 million, leader of the Hoduras Pirates."

"A bounty of 13 million, leader of the Roelki Pirates."

"A bounty of 12 million, leader of the Biasya Pirates."

He scanned the posters, nodding in approval.

"Not bad. A small tavern like this has several pirates with bounties over 10 million."

Lu Yu had purchased these bounty posters from a News Coo, specifically to gauge the worth of the pirates he encountered.

"I just founded my own crew. Any of you interested in joining and doing some work for me?"

Silence.

The already tense atmosphere grew even heavier. Even the half-dressed woman’s heartbeat seemed deafening in the eerie stillness.

Then—

"Are you joking?"

"I’m a pirate captain! Why would I do odd jobs for you?"

"We have bounties in the tens of millions! Do you have a death wish?!"

"Killing Hoduras means nothing! Do you really think you can take us all on?"

Tension flared once more as the pirates, notorious for their short tempers, looked ready to erupt at any moment.

Lu Yu sighed. "Not interested? What a shame. I really didn’t want to kill you all. After all, every pirate crew needs some deckhands."

His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.

Shing...

A flash of silver.

Thud...

A severed head rolled across the floor.

The tavern fell into dead silence.

The head belonged to the captain of the Biasya Pirates, the one who had been shouting the loudest just moments ago.

"H-he’s dead?"

"Captain? Just like that?"

"Impossible! Our captain was strong—!"

"CAPTAIN!"

The Biasya Pirates let out enraged cries and charged at Lu Yu.

Lu Yu remained seated.

"Akame."

"Understood, Brother Lu Yu."

Akame moved.

"Eliminate."

Slice!

Unlike Lu Yu, Akame’s execution was swift and precise. As expected of a trained assassin, she wasted no unnecessary movement.

In an instant, the Biasya Pirates—worth tens of millions in bounty—were completely wiped out.

Akame sheathed her blade and returned to Lu Yu’s side.

The remaining pirates could only stare in shock.

"Strong..."

Hoduras and Biasya had been on equal footing with them. That was why all these pirate crews had coexisted here peacefully.

Now, those two groups were gone—erased as if they were nothing.

They hadn’t even seen how it happened.

This level of power was far beyond their comprehension.

Lu Yu stretched lazily. "So? Do you guys want to make the same choice as them?"

"I just want some workers. Why is this so difficult?"

In truth, all the miscellaneous tasks aboard the ship were handled by Akame. However, Akame was supposed to be a combatant, not a deckhand. She had been forced to spend more time on chores than training, which frustrated Lu Yu.

That’s why he wanted to recruit some subordinates.

Roelki was the first to react. He quickly stood up, swallowing his pride.

"P-please! Let me join your crew! I’ll do anything!"

Though his voice wavered, he knew that if he hesitated, he wouldn’t even have the chance to surrender.

"Oh? You’re willing? Good. You’re in."

Lu Yu turned to the others.

Before he could even speak, the remaining pirates all dropped to their knees.

"Captain, please accept us!"

"We’ll do anything! We’ll work like slaves! I can wash clothes and clean decks!"

"Me too!"

These so-called great pirate captains, who had once bragged about their strength, were now trembling, too scared to even wipe the sweat from their faces.

Seeing their "enthusiastic willingness," Lu Yu finally smiled in satisfaction.

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Chapter Text

The tavern owner had finished preparing the supplies.

In addition to running a tavern, they also provided provisions for pirates. Simply operating a bar wasn’t enough to survive in these times.

After all, they weren’t like Makino’s tavern, which had the protection of an Emperor of the Sea and a Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters.

"Alright, since you're handymen now, get these supplies loaded onto the ship."

"Remember, the captain you serve is none other than Lord Lu Yu, captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates!"

"Move it!"

Akame, acting like an authoritative big sister, issued the orders.

Upon hearing her command, everyone had long forgotten about their earlier lustful thoughts toward her.

This beautiful woman harbored a terrifying demon inside her.

"Yes, ma'am!"

The pirates scrambled to carry the supplies.

As they left, Lu Yu stood up, preparing to depart the tavern.

"My lord! I…"

The tavern owner hesitated, as if struggling with something.

"Speak your mind," Lu Yu said calmly.

"Sir, these pirates only show you respect on the surface. If you take them with you, they may rebel one day. I fear for your safety..."

Having witnessed Lu Yu eliminate the troublemakers in his tavern and place a hefty order, the owner gathered the courage to speak.

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face.

"I think you misunderstand. I don’t need their loyalty."

"They just need to be afraid—so terrified that it seeps into their very bones."

With that, Lu Yu turned and walked away.

Only after Lu Yu had disappeared for several minutes did the tavern owner collapse to the ground, trembling.

"What kind of being was I just speaking to...? Is this... the embodiment of absolute evil?"

His voice quivered as he muttered his thoughts aloud.

Of course, Lu Yu neither knew nor cared about this.

He had recruited these pirates purely for convenience—handling the mundane chores of a pirate crew.

With them aboard, he wouldn’t need to handle trivial tasks personally.

Beyond that, they were meaningless to him.

---

"Ding! You have annihilated two pirate crews worth two million belly each. Rewarding..."

"Ding! You have subdued three pirate crews worth three million belly each. Rewarding..."

A system notification rang in Lu Yu’s mind.

"Tch, this system sure has a delay."

By the time Lu Yu arrived at the port, the pirates had already finished loading all the supplies onto the ship. Some had even started wiping down the hull.

He had to admit, their labor skills weren’t bad.

Moreover, the three pirate captains—Roelki, Alec, and Dor—had some decent strength.

They might just be passable as enforcers.

Upon seeing Lu Yu and Akame approach, the pirates immediately ceased their work, lined up, and stood at attention before the ship in two orderly rows.

Thud… Thud… Thud…

As Lu Yu and Akame walked toward them, the pirates felt their nerves tighten.

After all, mere moments ago, they had barely escaped death at the hands of this man.

"Captain! Lord Akame!"

The entire crew bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle.

Seeing their obedience, Lu Yu’s mischievous side surfaced.

This feeling... wasn’t bad at all.

"We’ll rest for the night and set sail tomorrow."

He issued the command without any further words.

There was no need to formally welcome them—they were just handymen, nothing more.

With that, Lu Yu returned to his lounge chair on the ship, stretching out lazily.

"Yes, Captain!"

The pirates responded in unison, then rushed to finish their preparations.

Lying on his lounge chair, Lu Yu shut his eyes for a nap.

---

This journey had begun to shift his mindset.

Strength, power…

These things inevitably changed a person’s outlook.

As someone reincarnated from Earth, Lu Yu had initially held onto his old way of thinking.

But in the world of One Piece, that mentality was far too naive and powerless.

In fact, it was beginning to feel like a burden.

Suddenly, a thought echoed in his mind: Then don’t be human.

The truth was evident—destruction led to creation.

His perspective was being reshaped by the sea’s harsh reality.

Pirates weren’t just about freedom.

Look at Luffy—he was practically a Marine disguised as a pirate.

The trouble he caused for pirates across the world made the Navy’s job easier.

No wonder Akainu wanted him dead so badly—he was practically taking over his job!

As random thoughts drifted through his mind, sleep finally took over.

---

The next morning, Lu Yu and his crew set sail for Shells Town.

Meanwhile, at a Marine base...

"What? You claim to know the whereabouts of the newly wanted pirate, Lu Yu, captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates?"

"He’s still in your town and has killed two pirate crews?"

"Understood."

"Hmm… Once verified, your reward will be issued."

The Marine put down the Den Den Mushi and immediately reported to his superior.

"Not bad. A pirate worth 18 million Berries, and he’s already wiped out two crews worth tens of millions."

"No need to act immediately. Report this to headquarters."

"Increase his bounty. That’ll get me more merit points!"

A Marine officer chuckled slyly.

The information quickly made its way to Marine Headquarters, and soon, they began verifying it.

---

"Ding! Congratulations, host! The Marines have taken notice of you! Your bounty has increased! Reputation points +3,000!"

At that moment, Lu Yu was practicing his swordsmanship when the system notification rang in his head.

"Huh? The Marines?"

He paused, puzzled.

He didn’t recall encountering the Marines at any point.

"What’s up with them? Have they got nothing better to do than randomly increase pirate bounties?"

However, Lu Yu didn’t dwell on it. Gaining reputation points wasn’t a bad thing, after all.

With his newly recruited handymen, their travel speed had increased significantly.

Akame no longer needed to handle lookout and navigation duties.

This meant both of them had ample time to train.

As for the pirates’ former flags, they had all been replaced.

Even for a crew of mere handymen, Lu Yu would not allow other pirate insignias to fly under his command.

This was the basic principle of being a pirate.

---

"Brother Lu Yu, he says he has something to discuss with you."

While Lu Yu was mid-swing with his sword, Akame approached with Roelki in tow.

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Chapter Text

Roelki stepped forward and knelt on one knee before Lu Yu.

"Captain."

"The Dor Pirates and the Alec Pirates are actually colluding with the Navy."

Roelki wasted no time relaying the information.

"The Navy?"

"I see."

Lu Yu responded indifferently.

To him, those two pirate crews were nothing more than errand boys. Their actions didn’t warrant much concern. After all, it wasn’t uncommon for the Navy to collude with pirates in the East Blue.

For Lu Yu, this was insignificant.

"Captain, I’m willing to eliminate any hidden threats for you."

"I hope to become a trainee crew member!"

Noticing Lu Yu’s lack of enthusiasm, Roelki pressed forward.

Yes, Roelki was a pirate with ambition.

Since he had chosen to follow Lu Yu, he didn’t want to be just another errand boy. Though he couldn’t officially join the crew right away, becoming a trainee was a significant step forward.

"A trainee crew member..."

Lu Yu pondered for a moment.

As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn’t aspire to be a general isn’t a good soldier.

Roelki ambition at least proved he had potential.

"You’re now an apprentice of the Dragon Hunter Pirates."

"As for those two pirate crews, leave them be for now. Just keep them busy with chores."

Lu Yu spoke calmly.

Hearing this, Roelki face lit up with joy.

"Thank you, Captain!"

"I’ll make sure those errand pirates do their job well."

Roelki declared before leaving happily.

---

Meanwhile, in Cocoyasi Village.

"Arlong, aren’t you going too far lately?"

"Several villages are starting to revolt."

"If this keeps up..."

Colonel Nezumi trailed off, his narrow, rat-like eyes glancing at the Fish-Man sitting before him.

Arlong, seated at the head of the table, clearly didn’t take the Navy officer seriously.

And why would he? Whether in terms of strength or influence, Nezumi was nowhere near his equal.

Taking a bite from the dragon’s share was no easy feat.

One had to be prepared to die for it.

Of course, Nezumi had his own leverage.

If Arlong wanted to maintain his reign in the East Blue, he still needed Nezumi’s cooperation.

"Public resentment isn’t my concern."

"Nezumi, let me remind you—if you take my money, you do your job."

"Otherwise..."

CRACK!

Arlong crushed the wine glass in his hand, startling the Navy officer.

Nezumi had always been a coward at heart.

A rat in both name and nature.

"Arlong, I have a chance to be promoted to a headquarters officer."

"If you help me, my jurisdiction in the East Blue will expand."

"And when that happens, all those territories will be yours as well!"

Nezumi finally revealed his true purpose.

He had never intended to reprimand Arlong. His earlier words were merely a prelude.

"Headquarters officer?"

"Nezumi, you’d better tread carefully."

"If you need me to spell it out for you... there won’t be any turning back."

Arlong warned.

"I understand."

"This is the intel. I’ll keep an eye on things and withdraw the Navy when necessary."

"All you need to do is take care of this man."

Nezumi said, pulling out a bounty poster along with a Den Den Mushi.

On the poster was an image of Lu Yu.

"Dragon Hunter Pirates?"

"Hahahaha... Hahahahahaha!"

"With a name like that, there’s no way I’m letting him leave the East Blue alive!"

Arlong laughed wickedly, grabbing the bounty poster and leaving.

Just the name alone—Dragon Hunter—was an outright challenge.

Of course, the dragon Lu Yu hunted was not the one Arlong assumed.

Watching Arlong depart, a sly grin crept onto Nezumi’s face.

He, too, had his own moves to make.

The entire East Blue was about to be shaken.

The Navy, long absent from these waters, suddenly took to the seas.

Warships patrolled the ocean, striking fear into the hearts of small-time pirates.

Was the so-called "safe haven" of pirates about to turn into a battlefield?

Many pirates chose to lay low, waiting for the storm to pass before resuming their adventures.

---

Back aboard the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ ship.

The Dor Pirates and the Alec Pirates slowly spread out to the sides.

Their ships, like wings, flanked Lu Yu’s small, battered vessel.

Meanwhile, the Roelki Pirates lingered at the rear.

"Brother Lu Yu, the Dor and Alec Pirates seem to be adjusting their navigation."

"Shall we..."

Akame approached, gripping Murasame as she spoke calmly.

"Ignore them for now."

"If we strike too soon, we’ll scare away the real prey."

Lu Yu smirked.

From the beginning, he had known the Dor and Alec Pirates were up to something.

But he had allowed them to linger—because they made excellent bait.

Rather than diving headfirst into chaos, it was better to wait until the battle came to him.

"Understood."

"By the way, Brother Lu Yu... is the government of this world as corrupt as it seems?"

Akame brushed her hair back, a hint of naïve curiosity in her tone.

"Corrupt?"

"If Roger’s final words ushered in the so-called 'Golden Age of Piracy,' then this era is more fittingly called the 'Age of Extreme Evil.'"

"And the World Government? They are the Age of Extreme Darkness."

"The Navy may claim to uphold justice, but in reality, they are nothing more than accomplices to evil."

Lu Yu spoke to Akame, sharing his perspective on the world.

To him, a crew wasn’t just a collection of tools.

Akame wasn’t just a pawn—she was his comrade.

One day later.

They were a day away from Shells Town.

"Captain, a pirate ship is approaching!"

"Captain, it's the Arlong Pirates!"

"Captain...!"

Just as Lu Yu was preparing to land in Shells Town, Roelki urgent voice rang out.

"Arlong?"

"So, he finally showed up."

Lu Yu grinned.

"Roelki, wipe out the Dor and Alec Pirates."

He issued his command.

Now that the fish had taken the bait, there was no need to keep the bait around.

Roelki hesitated momentarily but quickly composed himself before turning to attack the two pirate crews.

Meanwhile, Lu Yu and Akame turned their sights toward the true enemy—the Arlong Pirates.

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Chapter Text

Soon, the massive pirate ship loomed over Lu Yu's small, battered vessel.

"Lu Yu?"

"Dragon Hunter Pirates? You really dare to call yourselves that!"

"Now, burn your pirate flag yourself."

"I'll allow you to end your own life."

Arlong sat on his high seat, his face full of mockery and amusement.

If Lu Yu had chosen this name, he should have been prepared for the consequences.

"Arlong, a slave once imprisoned by the Celestial Dragons."

"After being freed by Fisher Tiger, he joined the Sun Pirates."

"Later, he formed the Arlong Pirates."

"Nothing more than a stray dog who lost his home. Too scared to even set foot on the Grand Line, so he hides in the weak seas of the East Blue."

"And now, you think you have the right to be arrogant?"

They say you shouldn't hit someone in the face when insulting them, and you definitely shouldn't expose their deepest wounds. But Lu Yu didn't care.

He struck straight at Arlong’s pride, branding his words onto the fish-man’s soul like a red-hot iron.

Arlong, who had been grinning moments ago, instantly turned livid. His amusement was gone—replaced by pure fury.

Lu Yu's words had ripped open the wound he wanted to forget, pouring salt and acid into it.

"Boss Arlong, kill him!"

"Damn humans! Just as filthy and vile as ever!"

"You dare mock us? We are the Arlong Pirates! Tremble before us!"

A chorus of enraged shouts erupted from the fish-men crew.

Arlong’s entire body trembled with rage. His twisted expression showed just how deeply those words had cut him.

With a sharp, grating sound, Arlong drew his massive saw-blade sword, Kiribachi.

Then, without hesitation, he dove into the sea.

His top officers—Hatchan, Kuroobi, and Chew—followed instantly. They sensed a dangerous aura from Akame and knew they couldn't afford to hesitate.

BOOM!

Arlong accelerated in the water, bursting out like a torpedo. His Kiribachi slashed toward Lu Yu in an instant.

"Little bug, die!"

To Arlong, Lu Yu—just 1.8 meters tall—was nothing more than an insignificant pest.

A mere human could never match the raw strength of a fish-man. And with the added momentum from his aquatic acceleration, Arlong believed his power had reached its peak.

There was no way this weakling could withstand his strike.

CLANG!

A deafening clash rang out.

Arlong’s eyes widened in shock.

With just one hand, Lu Yu had effortlessly raised his sword and blocked the full force of his attack.

In that instant, Arlong realized something terrifying.

He had made a grave mistake.

But it was too late to turn back now.

The battle had begun.

If he couldn't kill Lu Yu now, then he would be the one to die.

"Die!"

"DIE!"

Panic surged through Arlong’s mind. The more he thought about it, the more desperate he became. He swung his saw-blade wildly, each strike fueled by fear and rage.

Slowly, the rage faded.

Only fear remained.

Driven to his limits, Arlong's power suddenly surged beyond its normal constraints.

"Not bad," Lu Yu remarked, blocking each attack effortlessly. "The natural fighting power of fish-men is indeed remarkable."

"But your arrogance makes you unfit for life on land."

With ease, he parried every single one of Arlong’s frenzied slashes.

Meanwhile, Akame had already finished off Kuroobi and Chew. Hatchan, despite being a skilled swordsman, was severely injured. After being wounded by Murasame, he made the desperate choice to cut off his own arm and retreat into the sea.

Akame didn’t chase him. She had no experience fighting underwater, and she wasn’t about to start now.

Instead, she stood silently, watching Arlong with cold, predatory eyes. The moment Lu Yu gave the order, she would end him instantly.

Arlong felt like he was facing an immovable mountain.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake it.

At the same time, he could feel the icy gaze of death itself watching him from the side.

This chilling sensation made him feel like he was sinking into an abyss of despair.

"Akame, go help Roelki clean up the battlefield," Lu Yu instructed casually.

Hearing his words, Akame tossed the corpses of Kuroobi and Chew overboard, then used them as a springboard to leap toward the Dor and Alec Pirates.

"Impossible!"

"This is impossible!"

"How can a mere human possess such overwhelming strength?!"

Arlong's mind shattered under the weight of this realization.

"I’ll kill you! I’ll KILL YOU!"

"ARRRRGH!!"

He had completely lost himself in madness. No longer thinking rationally, he threw everything he had into his attacks.

The same man who had plunged countless villages into darkness and fear was now experiencing that same terror himself.

And standing before him was an unshakable force—

A darkness he could never hope to overcome.

"I think it’s time to wrap this up."

Lu Yu’s voice was calm, almost mocking.

"Arlong, bounty of 20 million berries..."

"The highest bounty pirate in the East Blue..."

"And this is all you’ve got?"

"You call yourself a pirate?"

"Don’t make me laugh."

The moment he finished speaking, Lu Yu unleashed his Armament Haki.

Up until now, he had been blocking Arlong’s attacks purely with physical strength.

Now, with his Haki coating his sword, he swung down with terrifying force.

KRRSH!

The strike cleaved through Arlong’s Kiribachi and carved a massive wound across his chest.

One blow.

That was all it took to completely shatter Arlong’s fighting spirit.

Lu Yu followed up with a powerful kick, sending Arlong crashing into the sea.

He was no longer a pirate.

To Lu Yu, Arlong was nothing more than a stepping stone—a way to gain reputation.

Killing him? That was unnecessary.

He wasn’t Luffy, who went around doing free work for the Navy.

Besides, Lu Yu could already sense the scent of the Navy closing in.

With Arlong defeated, the remaining fish-men abandoned ship and fled into the sea, too terrified to even retrieve their own vessel.

This worked perfectly for Lu Yu, who immediately claimed their pirate ship as his own.

On the other side, with Akame joining the fight, the Dor and Alec Pirates were swiftly wiped out.

Ding! "Congratulations to the host! Your broken ship has absorbed resources and upgraded to a Primary Extremely Evil Battleship!"

As the system notification rang, Lu Yu’s small, tattered boat transformed before his eyes.

A menacing black dragon head appeared at the bow. The hull expanded to twice its original size, now adorned with ominous black and red accents. Rows of fearsome cannons lined its sides, and even the pirate flag grew larger and more intimidating.

Just the sight of it exuded overwhelming dominance.

A fitting ship for the journey ahead.

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Chapter Text

At that moment, Roelki steered his pirate ship closer.

Staring at the massive warship before him, his face twisted in shock and horror.

"Where is Captain Lu Yu?"

Just moments ago, Lu Yu’s small and tattered ship had been in that exact spot. Now, in its place stood a monstrous warship, its fearsome design and ominous colors exuding an overwhelming sense of dread.

Most importantly, this was exactly where Lu Yu’s ship had been.

Could it be… Captain Lu Yu was killed!?

But… who could have done it…?

Just as Roelki was lost in thought, Akame suddenly leaped onto the terrifying warship before him.

"Sister Akame… this…"

"Hehehe… Hahahaha…!"

"So that's it… I'm not as decisive as Sister Akame, am I?"

"As an apprentice crew member, I have to avenge Captain Lu Yu as well!"

"Little ones, attack!"

Roelki hesitated for a moment, then gave the order to engage.

In his mind, Akame had already taken the initiative to avenge their captain, while he himself had been too afraid, too uncertain. Was this the difference between an official crew member and an apprentice?

Feeling ashamed, Roelki clenched his fists and charged forward.

"Captain!?"

But the moment he landed on the deck, he saw Lu Yu standing calmly at the bow of the ship, completely unharmed.

"This… could it be…?"

"Roelki, you performed well."

"From now on, you’re a full-fledged crew member."

"Take the lead—set course for Shells Town."

Lu Yu could see the emotions flashing across Roelki’s face but didn’t dwell on them. The plan had to move forward.

"Ah!?

"Captain is mighty!"

"I—Roelki—will serve the captain with my life and soul!"

"I’ll lead the way immediately!"

All his doubts and questions vanished in an instant. Overjoyed, Roelki rushed off to steer the ship.

Watching Roelki’s excited antics, Lu Yu couldn’t help but feel that this crew member had a few screws loose. However, he chose to say nothing.

The appearance of Arlong had confirmed something for Lu Yu.

There was no reason to linger in the East Blue any longer.

Either he'd run into monstrous foes far beyond his current strength, or he’d only encounter weaklings.

For him, neither would be of any benefit.

Moreover, his bounty had now soared to 30 million.

There was no point in staying here.

First, they would go to Shells Town to take Morgan's head.

Then, they would head straight for Loguetown.

---

Meanwhile, in Shells Town…

"What?"

"You want to join forces with me?"

"Hahaha! Captain Nezumi, what makes you think you have the qualifications to stand before me and say such things?"

"You're just a pathetic nobody with no real strength!"

Morgan's scornful voice echoed through his office.

To him, even though Nezumi held the same rank as him, the man was utterly beneath him.

A branch Captain who climbed the ranks through bribery and flattery? That was nothing compared to Morgan, the man who slew the infamous Black Cat Pirates!

How could he possibly cooperate with someone as lowly as Nezumi?

"Captain Morgan's, please hear me out."

"This new pirate… he’s already taken down several major crews with bounties in the tens of millions."

"Even the Arlong Pirates have fallen to him."

"Right now, he’s heading for Shells Town."

"I have the information. You have the power."

"With your axe, such a pirate will surely meet his end!"

Nezumi’s eyes gleamed as he spoke with a sycophantic smile.

He wasn’t the least bit offended by Morgan's insults—he was long used to such treatment.

Now that Arlong had been defeated, he had the chance to take control of the remnants.

If he could join forces with Morgan to take down Lu Yu, he would gain an even firmer grip over the East Blue’s illicit affairs.

At that point, he would rule his own little empire.

"Pirate… Lu Yu?"

"Just a rookie."

"If he dares step foot into my waters, I’ll cut him down myself!"

"Get lost!"

"Stay any longer, and I might just chop you up instead!"

Morgan sneered with contempt.

"I can pay to make your statue even bigger."

Nezumi added, unfazed.

Morgan's eyes lit up.

Although he had already drained most of Shells Town’s wealth and forced its people to build a grand statue of him, Nezumi’s proposal piqued his interest.

"Hmph!"

"Fine. I’ll let you assist me."

"But the pirate’s head belongs to me!"

Morgan brandished his axe with a menacing grin.

Nezumi merely smiled flatteringly in response.

Yet, deep inside, he was grinning for another reason.

---

"Captain Morgan! A pirate ship has entered the inner sea!"

"Based on reports, it’s the infamous Dragon Hunter Pirates, with a bounty of 30 million!"

A Marine officer burst into the room, delivering the urgent news.

"So… they’ve arrived."

"Nezumi, watch closely."

"This is the grandeur of a true hero of justice—not the pathetic scheming of your kind!"

Morgan declared proudly as he put on his coat and prepared to depart.

Nezumi quickly followed behind him.

At the same time, three Marine warships sailed into the inner sea of Shells Town.

These reinforcements had been summoned by Nezumi.

To take down Arlong, Lu Yu had to be powerful.

In Nezumi’s mind, even if Lu Yu had won, he must have suffered significant losses in doing so.

Now was the perfect time to strike.

---

Meanwhile, at the Marine training grounds…

A green-haired swordsman was tied to a post.

That’s right—Zoro.

Previously, he had been cut down by Lu Yu.

Now, he was bound as punishment for "sticking his nose where it didn’t belong."

Nearby, a young man in a straw hat and a little girl had arrived at the scene.

"Navy?"

"What are they up to?"

Luffy asked in confusion.

Fear? No, there was no fear at all.

After all, Garp had frequently visited him before he set sail.

He had seen plenty of Marines growing up.

Since they weren’t attacking him, he didn’t really care.

On the other hand, Coby was trembling in terror.

After all… he was still technically a pirate.

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Chapter Text

"Captain, there are warships approaching us!"

"The leading ship belongs to Morgan, the captain of the Navy Branch stationed in Shells Town!"

Morgan and his men were quick to respond, heading out to sea without delay. Before long, their fleet appeared just ahead of Lu Yu and his crew.

"Perfect timing. I was just planning to look for him," Lu Yu said, lifting a corpse from the ground.

Without hesitation, he leapt straight toward the approaching warship.

"What's the captain trying to do?"

"I think he mentioned earlier that he was going to turn in the pirate's head for a bounty."

"But... we’re pirates too!"

"I don’t get it. Isn’t this suicide?"

The crew was completely baffled. After their brutal battles with the Dor Pirates and Alec Pirates, only 21 handyman remained. Seeing Lu Yu charge forward alone had them scratching their heads in confusion.

Then Akame jumped after him, adding to their disbelief.

"Are they seriously taking on four navy warships with just the two of them?"

It was insane. Normally, pirates would run the moment they spotted a navy ship—whether they could win or not. Attacking a navy warship was a whole different level. That would make them targets of high-ranking officers. If a school officer couldn’t handle it, a general would be sent.

To avoid unnecessary trouble—and because the navy was no joke—most pirates wouldn’t even think of doing something like this.

But Lu Yu’s actions? Absolutely confusing.

BANG!

BANG!

Lu Yu and Akame landed side by side on Morgan’s warship.

"Lu Yu, captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Akame, combat specialist," Morgan sneered. "Coming here yourself? You must be ready to die."

He raised his axe, its sharp edge glinting under the sun.

To him, Lu Yu’s arrival was suicide.

Thud... thud... thud...

Lu Yu unsheathed his long sword and casually tossed several severed heads across the deck. Each one rolled toward the navy soldiers.

"What the hell…?"

Just when everyone thought Lu Yu was going to start a fight, he dumped a pile of heads at their feet.

"These are pirates with bounties in the tens of millions," Lu Yu said casually. "Seven heads total. I want 100 million berries."

That’s right. He was here to cash in.

Going out to sea meant massive expenses—supplies, weapons, gear, you name it. And he had plans to build a super pirate crew.

Even with his system giving rewards, it wasn’t enough. Not by a long shot.

"What kind of sick joke is this? You’re a pirate trying to collect bounties on other pirates?" a navy soldier shouted, swinging his sword at Lu Yu.

Shh—

Blood sprayed across the deck.

The same soldier who was just yelling now had his head cleanly sliced off—courtesy of Akame.

The blood reached Morgan’s feet. His eyes twitched. He hadn’t even seen Akame move.

If that strike had been aimed at him, he would’ve been dead by now.

"I didn’t come here to fight," Lu Yu said, leaning on the ship’s railing with a smirk. "There’s nothing here worth attacking. I’m headed for the Grand Line—straight to the New World. I don’t think you, Captain Morgan, have any reason to stop me, do you?"

Morgan might’ve looked tough, but in a real fight, he wouldn’t last a minute against someone like Arlong. Lu Yu had no interest in wasting time here. He just wanted to cash in the heads, grab supplies, and bounce.

"You damn fool!"

"I am Captain Morgan! The top dog of Shells Town! And you dare—"

SWISH!

Before he could finish, his arm was severed clean off. His axe clattered to the deck.

"AAAAAH!"

Morgan screamed in agony.

Just as he was about to speak again, Akame stomped on the metal mask on his face, shattering it as she ground his head into the deck.

"Should I kill him?" Akame asked, raising her Murasame.

"Yeah, end him," Lu Yu said calmly.

To the shock of every navy soldier present, Morgan was instantly cut down.

He didn’t even get a last word before being sent to the underworld.

The surrounding soldiers were frozen in place, fear painted across their faces.

It wasn’t just about Lu Yu’s strength.

It was the terrifying calmness in his voice. The way he took lives like it meant nothing.

He didn’t seem like a pirate—he seemed like a demon.

"Can anyone here give me the bounty?" Lu Yu asked, his voice smooth.

"If not, I’ll head into Shells Town myself and collect it. And if you all prove useless…"

"I’ll kill you too."

"After all… I am a pirate."

He smiled brightly as he said it—but to the navy, it sounded like the devil himself whispering from hell.

"I-I’m a righteous navy officer… I won’t—"

SHH!

Before the man could finish his sentence, Lu Yu’s sword, Ame-no-Habakiri, flashed—and another head hit the floor.

Lu Yu didn’t feel any guilt anymore.

After so many kills, he’d grown numb.

He knew—if he didn’t kill first, the enemy would.

That’s the brutal law of the sea.

The anime makes it all look fun and adventurous.

But reality?

Slavery. Civilian deaths. Navy ships mercilessly blasting pirate crews to pieces.

Those horrors wouldn’t make it past any TV censorship.

That’s why they needed a feel-good idiot like Luffy to go around "causing trouble" for a living.

"If I exchange the bounty for you," a trembling middle-aged navy officer asked, "will you stop killing us?"

He was clearly terrified—but also prepared to die.

"Yeah," Lu Yu nodded. "I’m a pirate. I keep my word."

That answer might’ve sounded a bit corny, but he said it with confidence.

The navy officer took a deep breath and nodded.

"I’ll take you to collect the bounty. Just… please don’t kill anyone else."

He bowed his head.

Justice? Screw that.

You can’t talk about justice if you can’t even save your own damn life.

"Lieutenant Cross!"

"No—"

"Shut up!" Cross snapped at the soldiers trying to object.

"I’ll take full responsibility. If they send me to a military court for this, so be it. It’s on me!"

With that, Cross led Lu Yu away to claim the reward.

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Chapter Text

Under Cross’s leadership, Lu Yu soon received his reward.

Oh, and he also casually used a warship to haul away a full load of supplies.

Keeping his word, Lu Yu didn’t continue his assault on the navy.

As the terrifying black and red ship faded into the horizon, many naval officers collapsed onto the deck, their legs weak.

“We survived...”

Looking at the bodies of Captain Morgan and another officer nearby, the surviving marines had only one thought echoing in their minds.

Just then, a voice broke the silence.

“Cross, you actually assisted the pirates. Prepare for a formal investigation by headquarters!”

“I’ll be reporting everything to them immediately!”

“Captain Morgan is dead, and Shells Town currently has no commanding officer. I, Captain Nezumi, will take temporary control!”

Out of nowhere, Captain Nezumi popped up—opportunistic as ever—with a bold declaration of authority.

Technically, with Morgan dead, Captain Nezumi, as another branch officer, had the right to temporarily take charge.

But then—

“Where were you just now?”

The question came in a deep voice.

“Who’s there?! Who dares talk like that to me?!” Nezumi snapped, turning red with fury.

After all, he was the highest-ranking officer on-site now, yet someone dared to question him.

“When Lu Yu killed Captain Morgan and was about to wipe us out—where the hell were you?”

“If it weren’t for Lieutenant Cross, we’d all be dead right now!”

“You stayed silent the entire time, and now you want to send Cross to military court?”

“I don’t agree with this crap!”

“I support Lieutenant Cross! We’re people too—not cannon fodder to be thrown at a monster!”

“I don’t recognize you as our leader, Captain!”

Voices of protest rose one after another.

Cross’s courage had moved them deeply.

He risked his life, reputation, and even his future in the Navy to keep them alive.

Now this bootlicker Nezumi wanted to use the situation to grab credit and throw Cross under the bus?

Hell no.

As tension boiled over, Captain Nezumi began to panic.

Sure, he was stronger than the average officer—but going up against an entire unit? That was suicide.

Click-click-click...

Suddenly, countless rifles were aimed at him.

“W-What are you doing?!”

Before things could go sideways, Lieutenant Cross stepped forward and shouted.

“I did what I had to do to save all of you!”

“But that doesn’t mean you should point your guns at fellow marines!”

“Put them down!”

“Captain Nezumi, I’m willing to accept whatever punishment is handed to me.”

Cross walked calmly to the front, a relieved expression on his face.

“This is what he wants... Let’s go.”

Captain Nezumi, trembling, took Cross into custody.

But a group of marines followed closely behind.

If he dared do anything shady to Cross, they’d react instantly.

Back at the port, the remaining marines began sorting through the aftermath and awaited new orders from Navy Headquarters.

That’s when two figures approached.

“Why were you released?”

“Is that guy a pirate?”

Yep, it was Luffy and a tied-up Zoro.

To the marines in Shells Town, Zoro was still a criminal.

“Huh?”

“Have we been found out?”

“Coby, we’re leaving!”

Luffy’s arm snapped out like a whip, grabbing hold of a ship. With his other hand, he snagged Zoro and launched them both out of sight.

His Devil Fruit powers left the marines stunned. After all, Devil Fruit users were rare in the East Blue.

Luffy didn’t know it, but thanks to Lu Yu, his future journey would become a whole lot smoother.

A week later, Lu Yu and his crew reached the waters off Cocoyasi Village.

With Captain Nezumi too busy and Arlong severely injured by Lu Yu, the village was enjoying a brief period of peace.

“Brother Lu Yu, there’s someone floating in the water up ahead!”

Akame pointed toward the bow.

A young, orange-haired woman was lying unconscious on a piece of driftwood.

“Nami?!”

Lu Yu’s eyes narrowed. The moment he saw her, her name popped into his head.

They were near Cocoyasi Village, so it made sense she’d be here.

Clearly, she was eyeing their ship.

And it made sense—their current warship looked badass.

For a money-hungry thief like Nami, this was prime loot.

But with her lack of power, she had no choice but to resort to tricks.

Gotta admit—she was smart.

“Pull her aboard,” Lu Yu ordered. “Let’s see what she’s up to.”

He already knew why Nami was doing this.

She was trying to buy back Cocoyasi Village from Arlong, which pushed her down the path of thievery.

But Luffy was already on the move. Her days of struggle were nearing their end.

As for recruiting her?

Nah, Lu Yu had no interest.

She was Luffy’s crew, not his.

Under Akame’s guidance, Roelki fished Nami out of the sea.

No sooner had they laid her on the deck than she coughed up a mouthful of seawater and slowly opened her eyes.

“Where... am I?”

She asked, blinking with an innocent, almost naive expression.

“A pirate ship,” someone replied flatly.

The moment she spotted their flag, terror spread across her face.

“Alright, enough acting,” Lu Yu said, crouching beside her.

“Nami, from Cocoyasi Village. Navigator of the Arlong Pirates. In charge of drawing sea charts.”

“I’m heading to Cocoyasi Village now—planning to slaughter everyone there and move on.”

His voice was cold, and his eyes gleamed with a twisted sense of humor.

The murderous aura around him was so dense it felt like a physical weight crashing over Nami.

She was terrified.

She’d only boarded the ship to steal something—but now, she realized she’d boarded the wrong damn vessel.

What kind of monster was this guy?

Seeing her so scared, Lu Yu’s inner troll was thoroughly satisfied.

Nami was still too green—whether in strength or acting.

And clearly, her fear response was hardwired in.

She was nearly in tears from just a few words.

“Brother Lu Yu! A merchant ship just appeared ahead!” Akame called out from the deck.

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Chapter Text

"Merchant ship?"

Hearing Akame’s words, Lu Yu stood up and walked to the side of the ship. He picked up the telescope and spotted a luxurious merchant ship floating in the nearby sea.

But this didn’t look like any ordinary merchant ship.

As a pirate, Lu Yu never considered buying supplies if he could just steal them. And from the looks of it, this ship was definitely carrying something worth stealing.

Justice had nothing to do with Lu Yu—he was a pirate, through and through.

After spotting the merchant ship, Lu Yu left Nami behind and immediately gave the order to attack.

Seeing this, Nami felt a sudden urge to escape.

It was too dangerous to stay on this guy’s ship.

Not to mention, the fact that he knew every detail about her earlier made it pretty clear—he came here to attack Cocoyasi Village.

She had to get back before they reached the village. Warn everyone. Get them out. Because for the first time in a long while… she genuinely felt the presence of death hovering around Lu Yu.

"Ms. Nami, please remain on the ship for a while."

Just as Nami was about to sneak away, Akame appeared in front of her, blocking her path. Her tone was calm but firm.

Akame’s wasn’t as naïve as she looked. She was experienced—sharp enough to lead the Night Raid’s newcomers and run missions. Underestimating her would be a mistake.

"I-I wasn’t trying to leave," Nami said awkwardly.

"I just—"

"Ms. Nami," Akame interrupted coldly, "Don’t say anything unnecessary. If I feel even the slightest threat, I only have one response—eliminate it."

She sat down on the deck, resting her hand on the hilt of her Murasame. The message was clear.

Seeing how unshakable Akame was, Nami could only sigh in frustration.

Meanwhile, Lu Yu stood at the bow of the ship, his eyes locked on the massive, extravagant merchant ship now just ahead.

Such a lavish vessel was bound to have guards.

And the closer they got, the more off it felt. This wasn’t just a merchant ship—it was something else entirely. No regular trade vessel had this kind of defense, nor this level of luxury.

Even weirder, when the people aboard spotted the approaching pirates, they didn’t panic. No screaming. No running. No signs of fear.

Some of them, dressed like nobles, were casually sipping wine and chatting like nothing was happening.

One of them, a fat noble with a goblet in his pudgy hand and a voice that cracked like a rooster, smirked and said, "Didn’t expect pirate entertainment today."

He turned lazily to his guards. "Take care of them. Kill all the pirates... except the leader. That one looks nice. If his face isn’t scarred, he might be useful."

"Understood, Duke Carrosa," the captain of the guard squad responded immediately.

"Everyone, prepare for combat! Wipe out the pirates!"

"But don’t kill the leader!"

The guard captain unsheathed his sword and barked the order.

But before they could make a move—

"Hey, hey, hey. Did I just hear you say you’re gonna attack my ship?"

A voice came from behind him.

Cold sweat instantly formed on the captain’s forehead.

He didn’t dare move a muscle.

It wasn’t just the voice—it was the pressure. A suffocating, murderous aura washed over him, more intense than anything he’d ever felt.

As someone who’d escorted high-profile targets across dangerous waters, he’d met desperate men before. Killers. Pirates. Assassins. He’d seen that kind of aura… but never this strong.

This was something else entirely.

Then—

Clang!

A sword whistled past his ear. One of his own swordsmen had leapt into action, slashing at the intruder.

The captain instinctively rolled out of the way and looked up.

Standing there, smirking, was Lu Yu—the same man who had been on the pirate ship just moments ago, now casually standing aboard the merchant ship.

How the hell did he get here?!

This was Lu Yu’s assassination technique.

"A swordswoman?" Lu Yu muttered, glancing at the attacker. "Strong one, too... and a woman."

But before he could finish the thought, another fierce attack came at him.

Every move she made felt familiar—but something was off.

That sword style… he’d seen it before.

"Isshin-ryu?" Lu Yu narrowed his eyes. "A disciple of Koshiro?"

And then it hit him.

Zoro. The way she fought was reminiscent of that green-haired swordsman he’d battled before. But her form was more refined, her swordplay sharper, with an understanding of swordsmanship that surpassed mere technique.

It was something deeper—instinctive. Spiritual.

Thanks to his fusion with Akame’s abilities, Lu Yu’s own swordsmanship had evolved too.

"Kuina?"

He suddenly blurted the name out.

And just like that, the swordswoman froze.

Her sword wavered.

One simple name had exposed the truth.

"So this ship really isn’t what it seems," Lu Yu said, stepping forward. "No way someone like you shows up just to guard a merchant vessel. Tell me the real reason you’re here."

With a sudden surge, Lu Yu unleashed his Armament Haki, forcing the distracted Kuina back with a single blow.

He smiled.

And that smile broke her stance more than any attack could.

Her eyes softened.

"The Great Sword —Wado Ichimonji," Kuina replied softly.

Lu Yu nodded slowly. Now he got it.

Kuina had trained with Wado Ichimonji since she was a child. There was no way she was here just for a greatsword.

This sword, this Wado Ichimonji—it held a meaning. Just like her technique.

"Alright then," Lu Yu said, cracking his knuckles. "Kill the rest of these bastards. I want the treasure and supplies. The sword’s yours."

He turned and made his way toward the captain of the guard team.

Kuina stood there stunned. That Sword Wado Ichimonji had been promised to her as a reward. But now…

Now it didn’t matter.

(TL: In fhis Fanfic her sword got stolen)

Besides, she had no love for these nobles.

Originally, she planned to take action only after the reward was hers.

Now? She drew her sword.

Blood painted the deck crimson.

The nobles watched the massacre unfold like it was a theater performance. Unfazed. Entertained.

They’d seen this kind of slaughter before.

But this time… none of the guards remained standing when it was over.

Only Lu Yu and Kuina stood on the blood-soaked deck, drenched in red.

Between the two of them, they’d painted a masterpiece of death.

And for all of Lu Yu’s ruthlessness—his killing finesse still lagged behind Akame’s.

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Chapter Text

“Boom… Boom…”

Suddenly, the entire merchant ship trembled violently.

The deafening noise and fierce shaking reached their ears instantly.

“Two little devils?”

“I gotta admit, kids these days are bold as hell.”

“And brutal too.”

At that moment, a towering figure appeared before them.

Chains clinked and dragged across the floor with a metallic hiss. Dried blood still clung to the cold iron links, giving off a faint stench of death.

From the man’s body, a terrifying aura radiated outward.

“Heavenly Dragon Guard—Yakazhuo!”

“Remember that name. It's the name that'll haunt your nightmares!”

Yakazhuo bellowed, then charged straight at Kuina.

To him, both of them looked weak—insignificant even. So, picking a target felt totally random.

Boom!
Crack!

Just as Yakazhuo lunged, Kuina swung her sword in rhythm with her breath. But her sword shattered under the sheer force of his attack.

Still unable to fully control Armament Haki, Kuina froze for a split second—just long enough to take a full-powered punch to the gut that sent her flying.

She crashed to the ground but rolled to her feet immediately, clutching her broken sword and keeping her stance.

But anyone could sense it—Kuina was hurt.

And not just minor scratches either.

Multiple fractures. One arm out of commission.

For a swordsman, that’s like losing half your power.

Of course, monsters like Zoro or Luffy don’t count. Those guys pull out their ultimate moves with 1 HP left like they’re Ultraman or something.

“Damn… he’s strong.”

Lu Yu’s eyes narrowed as he analyzed the fight.

Then, the Armament Haki around him erupted.

A deep black sheen quickly covered his sword, Ame-no-Habakiri.

The sword itself was incredibly sharp—on par with the Supreme Great Swords—but even that wouldn’t be enough. Not against this guy. He needed Haki to stand a chance.

More than the raw power, what caught Lu Yu’s attention was Yakazhuo’s earlier introduction.

Heavenly Dragon Guard.

That kind of title wasn’t something a random thug could claim.

Just looking at those blood-stained chains told Lu Yu this guy wasn’t normal.

And anyone bold enough to appear in front of nobles—hell, to ignore nobles—was someone you had to take seriously.

“Kuina, let me handle this.”

Lu Yu stepped in front of her, standing tall with Haki-infused confidence.

This girl actually wanted to keep fighting?

From the clash earlier, it was obvious—Kuina couldn’t handle Yakazhuo.

“Someone’s looking to die, huh?”

“How long do you think that brat’ll last?”

“Shame, really. Yakazhuo gonna ruin that pretty body.”

The surrounding nobles began chattering, their voices dripping with mockery and detachment.

To them, this was nothing but entertainment.

Lu Yu and Kuina weren’t people in their eyes—just playthings.

Even Yakazhuo was no exception.

Swish—

Lu Yu launched himself at full speed.

His slash came down hard, aiming straight for Yakazhuo’s neck.

He put everything into it—speed, power, precision—nearly 80% of his full strength.

But…

A massive fist came flying toward him in response.

Yakazhuo had completely ignored the slash.

Lu Yu barely dodged, frowning as he landed. Something felt off.

He saw it coming.

Yakazhuo had predicted the strike and covered his neck in Armament Haki just in time.

Observation Haki.

That’s what it was.

The bastard didn’t just use Armament—he combined it with Observation Haki.

No way this guy was a regular guard.

“Heavenly Dragon Guard… could it be he’s one of those guards for the Celestial Dragons?”

“Did I just win the worst lottery ever?”

“Wait… are there Celestial Dragons on this ship?”

Lu Yu’s grip on Ame-no-Habakiri tightened as his stance shifted.

His movements became light—almost ethereal—as he slowly circled Yakazhuo.

“The World Nobles? Guys like you have no business protecting scum like that.”

“Today, you’re dying here.”

Yakazhuo growled in irritation.

Lu Yu’s pacing was getting to him.

The arrogance and indifference from earlier? Gone.

Now, he was getting pissed.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Yakazhuo launched a barrage of violent punches, but Lu Yu’s body seemed untouchable.

Every fist hit nothing but air or a fading silhouette.

Even when Yakazhuo swore he had him, Lu Yu’s figure vanished like mist.

“RAAAGH!”

Yakazhuo roared in rage, loud enough that the nobles winced and covered their ears.

Swish—

Suddenly, Lu Yu’s sword slashed through the air.

A single clean strike.

Yakazhuo’s wrist hit the floor.

Blood splattered in thick droplets.

“You’re just a half-baked brute.”

“Now die slowly… in the dark.”

Lu Yu’s voice echoed like a whisper from the void.

His body blurred and vanished, then reappeared again—slash after slash raining down from all directions.

Every cut dug into Yakazhuo’s body.

Blood flowed freely.

His strength began to fade.

His breathing slowed.

Even his Haki weakened.

“Impossible… how can I lose to a damn bug like you!?”

“DIE!”

“WHY WON’T YOU DIE!?”

Yakazhuo screamed like a madman, fists flailing wildly.

But the fear in his eyes was undeniable.

He was losing.

And he knew it.

Bang!

Finally, Yakazhuo collapsed, his body trembling.

His severed arm hung limply beside him.

“You ready to die now?”

Lu Yu appeared behind him, sword raised for the final blow.

“Gotcha.”

Before he could strike, a massive hand clamped down on Lu Yu’s ankle.

No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t shake it.

“Oh shit—”

Puchi!

Panic shot through him.

If Yakazhuo landed a hit while dying, Lu Yu would be seriously injured—or worse.

He was too careless.

But just then, a broken sword pierced through Yakazhuo’s eye.

Blood spurted.

Yakazhuo’s grip loosened.

Kuina.

Despite her injuries, she had rushed in and stabbed him in the face with her shattered sword.

That one blow ended it.

Yakazhuo collapsed completely, lifeless.

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Chapter Text

After Yakazhuo death, Lu Yu cast an admiring glance at Kuina.

He had to admit—her timing was impeccable.

It almost felt like Lu Yu had baited Yakazhuo on purpose. The moment Yakazhuo managed to grab Lu Yu, his psychological guard completely dropped. That false sense of victory made him lower his defenses.

That mistake got him killed.

If not for that moment of carelessness, even in Kuina’s current state, a sneak attack wouldn’t have been enough to take him out in one strike.

“What a damn good battle,” Lu Yu muttered.

“But this guy, this so-called former Heavenly Dragon Guard... he really was just someone who got tossed aside.”

“Died to two kids. How pathetic.”

Suddenly, an arrogant voice cut through the air.

“Hey! How about it? Do you two want to become my personal guards?”

They both turned their heads to see a man in lavish clothing step forward on the deck. He oozed aristocratic arrogance. Even the other nobles around him seemed overly respectful, almost groveling.

Clearly, this guy had the highest status among them.

Lu Yu ignored him entirely and looked back at Kuina.

“Kuina, want to join my crew?”

She blinked. “Crew? Wait… you're a pirate!”

They had just fought together seamlessly, but now Kuina finally remembered—Lu Yu was a pirate. And based on how he jumped aboard earlier, it was pretty damn obvious his goal was to rob this merchant ship.

She didn’t like that. Not one bit.

“Sorry. I’m not interested in becoming a pirate.”

She refused him on the spot, no hesitation.

Her home country was a mess, plagued by pirates. Her hatred for their kind ran deep.

“Zoro’s already become a pirate,” Lu Yu said calmly. “He’s out at sea right now.”

“Not all pirates bring disaster. Some of us have our own reasons.”

“I’m Lu Yu, captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. And I’m officially inviting you to join.”

The mention of Zoro stopped Kuina in her tracks.

She had always wondered—how the hell did Lu Yu even know about her?

She had faked her death and gone into hiding, training under a different name. Yet somehow, he’d recognized her immediately. Not just that—he even knew about her connection with Zoro.

Now that got her curious.

And as the saying goes, curiosity kills the cat—and the girl.

The moment Kuina’s curiosity was piqued, Lu Yu had already won.

“My ship’s over there,” he said. “Go rest up. I’ll return your sword.”

“If you don’t like what pirates stand for, fine. I won’t make you do pirate shit.”

He smiled, then casually walked up to her.

“Hey, what are you—wait—let go! I haven’t even—ah!”

Before she could finish, Lu Yu picked her up and yeeted her off the ship.

“Akame, catch her! She’s a full member of the crew now!” Lu Yu shouted toward his ship.

Then, he turned back around and locked eyes with the nobles.

“Well?” he said. “Made up your mind yet?”

“I’ll pay you 100 million berries a year!” the fancy noble said proudly. “Come be my personal bodyguard!”

“Pirates are just jokes. If you want to live easy on these seas, pirates are a dead-end.”

“Work for me. I’m Prince Onis, noble of the Allied Kingdom of Yacoslan!”

He spread his arms wide like he was the damn king of the world.

To him, everything had a price. If someone said no, that just meant the number wasn’t high enough.

Lu Yu looked young—too young to have killed someone from the Heavenly Dragon Guard. But that only meant his future was full of potential.

And 100 million berries? To Prince Onis, that was pocket change.

“I refuse,” Lu Yu said, dragging his sword across the deck, each step heavy and deliberate.

“Protect Lord Onis!” a voice shouted, and the guards rushed forward to shield their master.

“Two hundred million!” Onis yelled, brushing the guards aside like they were in his way. “Is that still not enough!?”

Money meant nothing to him. The goods on this ship alone were worth over a billion berries.

“Knock... knock... knock…”

Lu Yu didn’t say a word, just kept dragging his sword, the metallic sound grating against the wood.

“Three hundred million—no—five hundred million!” Onis screamed.

“Do you even understand how much that is!?”

“You’re a pirate! You could rob ships for your entire life and still not make that much!”

“All you need to do is guard me. That’s it!”

Shhhk!

Before Onis could finish his pitch, Lu Yu’s sword flashed through the air.

In one clean arc, every guard between them was decapitated.

Blood sprayed across Onis’s face, and heads rolled at his feet.

“I already said I refuse,” Lu Yu muttered.

“And your money? Doesn’t mean shit to me.”

He raised his sword again.

“No… You can’t!” Onis panicked. “I’m a noble of the Allied forces!”

“If you dare lay a hand on me, the Navy will send Admirals to hunt you down!”

“Haha! That’s right, I’m a noble—you wouldn’t—”

Swish!

Thunk!

Onis didn’t get to finish.

Lu Yu’s sword sliced through him like paper. The prince’s head hit the deck, his eyes wide in disbelief.

Even in his final moment, he couldn’t believe Lu Yu actually went through with it.

“Prince Onis is dead!”

“No way… This has to be a dream. A noble of the Allied Forces, killed by a pirate?!”

“Yes! It’s just a dream, haha!”

“I must’ve seen wrong… That can’t be—”

The nobles who had been standing around, smug and elegant, instantly broke into a panic.

But Lu Yu’s sword showed no mercy.

In the blink of an eye, screams filled the air.

All that talk of status and power? Meaningless in the face of death.

One by one, the nobles fell.

Soon, the deck was silent.

---

Ding!

You attacked the merchant ship belonging to a great noble of the Allied Kingdom. Information has been automatically sent to Navy Headquarters. Gained 8,000 reputation points.

As the system prompt echoed in Lu Yu’s mind, he felt a rush of energy flow through his body.

The reputation points weren’t just numbers—they also strengthened him.

But that little auto-report feature to the Navy?

Yeah, that was going to be a pain in the ass.

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Chapter Text

After feeling his body growing stronger, Lu Yu noticed that the small wounds he had received during the battle had completely healed.

"This is..."

As he processed the changes, a strange sensation washed over him. Suddenly, his surroundings became clearer, more defined.

"The awakening of Observation Haki?"

That was his first thought. He quickly opened his panel, and sure enough, [Basic Observation Haki] was now listed among his abilities.

It must have awakened during the fight just now.

Testing his newfound power, Lu Yu spread his Observation Haki throughout the ship. Almost immediately, he sensed other lifeforms onboard. Following his intuition, he made his way toward them.

A few minutes later, he reached the storage room below deck.

"Let me go home..."

"I miss my mother..."

"Wahhh... Wahhh..."

"My lord, please spare my child! I will be your slave! I’ll do anything, just let my child go!"

"Bad guy, don’t bully my mom!"

Countless voices filled the air.

"Slaves?"

Lu Yu's expression darkened as he took in the sight before him.

"This is a slave ship..."

Although he was a pirate, he despised the slave trade. Slavery wasn’t uncommon in the world of One Piece, but seeing hundreds of people locked away like cattle was still jarring.

As someone who had reincarnated from another world, he still carried the modern belief in human rights. He didn’t feel anger or hatred—just an innate disgust.

With a swift motion, Lu Yu unsheathed his Ame-no-Habakiri and slashed through the chains of the nearest cage.

"The people above are dead," he announced casually. "By the way, I’m not a good person—I’m a pirate. Can you make it back on your own?"

At that moment, the woman who had just been begging for her child’s safety froze. Her face, which had been filled with hope moments ago, twisted into despair.

"Mom, this big brother saved us! We can go home now!" the little girl said excitedly, unaware of the heavy atmosphere.

But her mother didn’t share the same optimism. Instead, her face grew even paler.

"Bang!"

The woman collapsed to the floor, drained of all strength and hope.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

One by one, others followed, dropping to the ground as if their last thread of will had snapped.

"Huh?" Lu Yu frowned. This wasn’t the reaction he expected. Shouldn’t they be overjoyed at regaining their freedom?

Moments ago, the room had been filled with cries and desperate pleas. Now, there was only silence.

"It’s useless... We’re going to die anyway..."

"We can’t go back. Those nobles are dead. They’ll blame us for it."

"We’ve been marked as slaves. Even if we return to our villages, we’ll be hunted down... And we might bring disaster upon our loved ones."

Laughter mixed with sobs as a man clutched his head, muttering in despair.

Lu Yu finally understood. Because he had killed the nobles, these former slaves believed they had no future. Even if they escaped, society would still see them as slaves. And since they had been registered, the deaths of the nobles would likely be blamed on them.

Even with their freedom, they felt doomed.

"The Kingdom of Yacoslan?" Lu Yu muttered to himself.

He thought for a moment before stepping forward.

"If you truly believe you can only die, then I’ll send you to your deaths," he declared coldly. "But if you want to live with dignity, then recognize that you are not slaves. You are people!" His voice grew sharper. "When you think of yourselves as slaves, you will always be slaves."

The murmurs slowly faded.

Then, one man hesitantly stood up. "I want to go home. My mother and children are waiting for me."

"I want to go back too! I refuse to live as a slave!"

"I’m not afraid of death! Why should I keep living like this?!"

More and more people began to rise, their spirits reigniting.

Lu Yu smirked. "I already told you—I’m a pirate," he reminded them. "I’m taking this ship. If you want to return home, I’ll drop you off at Cocoyasi Village. After that, figure it out yourselves."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and left.

As he stepped back onto the deck, Lu Yu took a deep breath. The stench of the slave quarters still clung to him.

Shaking it off, he made his way to the ship’s treasure room. It didn’t take long to find the massive sword, Wado Ichimonji, among the riches. As for the rest of the valuables, he simply tossed them into his system space.

Returning to his warship, he leaped onto the deck and called out to Kuina. "Here!" He tossed her the Wado Ichimonji without hesitation.

To him, this so-called great grade sword was nothing special. He already possessed Murasame and Ame-no-Hazan, both of which were far more powerful—comparable to the supreme-grade swords.

Kuina caught the blade and frowned. "I already told you—I won’t become a pirate!" she said firmly. "I don’t care how you know about me, but I have my own path. I’m going to Wano Country... I’m going to defeat Kaido!"

Before she could finish, Lu Yu cut her off with a chuckle. "What? Do you even know what you’re saying?"

Kuina’s face flushed in anger. "You may be strong, but you’re nowhere near Kaido’s level. He’s one of the Four Emperors—the Captain of the Beast Pirates and the current ruler of Wano!"

Her disbelief spilled out in rapid succession, her flushed cheeks making her look unexpectedly cute.

Lu Yu grinned. "Of course, I know that."

He turned to face the sea, his expression shifting into something more determined. "That’s why I’m inviting you to join my crew."

Kuina blinked in surprise.

"Unlike Kaido, we’re still growing. We’re constantly getting stronger, while he’s already at his peak."

He gestured toward the slave ship. "Look at them. Wano Country is suffering the same fate right now. If you want to defeat Kaido, you need power. I can give you that."

He turned back to her, his voice unwavering. "I want the world to tremble at the name of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. I want our mark to be carved into the history of this era."

Holding out his hand, he asked once more, "Are you willing to join me?"

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Chapter Text

After hearing Lu Yu's words, Kuina was momentarily stunned.

There was no denying that what he had just said was incredibly compelling. She found herself drawn to his charisma and vision. The future he described wasn't just some vague ambition like becoming the Pirate King or finding the legendary One Piece—it was clear, direct, and purposeful.

"I'm in!" Kuina declared after a brief moment of thought.

Lu Yu was right. Their strength might not be overwhelming now, but they had the will to grow stronger. Given enough time, they could very well shake the world to its core.

"Sister Kuina, I'm Roelki, an apprentice crew member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates!" Roelki introduced himself enthusiastically. "Those guys over there? They're our ship's handymen. And this here is Akame, our enforcer. And finally, this is our esteemed and great Captain, Lu Yu!"

His enthusiasm left Kuina slightly bewildered. Was this how pirates typically interacted? Did she need to start introducing newcomers like this in the future?

Fortunately, Lu Yu interrupted before Roelki could continue. "Roelki, do you know anything about the Kingdom of Yacoslan?"

The sudden question snapped Kuina out of her thoughts and redirected Roelki’s focus, preventing him from rambling any further. While Lu Yu appreciated the flattering introduction, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was a little excessive.

"The Kingdom of Yacoslan?" Roelki repeated. "Captain, that’s one of the World Government’s allied nations—one of only three in the East Blue. Why are you bringing it up? Their military force isn’t weak. They have a massive trade network and a well-trained army. The private guards of the high-ranking nobles are said to be as strong as Marine Headquarters officers."

Roelki had been a pirate in the East Blue for a while. He might not have extensive knowledge of the Grand Line or the New World, but when it came to his home waters, he knew plenty. Any pirate hoping to survive long in the East Blue needed to understand who they could afford to mess with—and who they absolutely couldn't.

"That powerful, huh?" Lu Yu mused before turning to Akame. "You have more experience dealing with nobles. I need a strategy."

Akame, who had been munching on a box of candy, looked at Lu Yu with an innocent expression. "I’m just the executioner. Najenda was the one who handled the planning."

"Is that so?" Lu Yu raised an eyebrow before turning back to Roelki. "How deep is your understanding of the Kingdom of Yacoslan? Tell me about their combat capabilities, the nobles’ personal guards, and, most importantly, the country's overall situation."

Before making any moves, Lu Yu needed solid intelligence. Only fools acted without proper information.

"I know a fair bit," Roelki replied. "I’ve been to Yacoslan before. It’s like most allied nations—the rich drown in luxury while the poor freeze to death on the streets. They not only pay regular taxes but also have to contribute extra every year for the Heavenly Tribute. Life for the common folk is miserable. The only upside is that, as an allied nation, the World Government offers them protection. No sane pirate would dare attack one of these kingdoms."

He paused before adding, "For more detailed intelligence, I’d need to make a purchase. A thorough report on an allied nation would cost around ten million Berries."

Lu Yu appreciated Roelki’s initiative and execution ability. He was proving to be a valuable asset.

"Here, take twenty million," Lu Yu said, tossing a box of money at him. "I have to make a stop at Cocoyasi Village. You handle the intel gathering. Be back in five days, and when you return, you’ll officially be a full-fledged member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates."

Roelki's face lit up with excitement. "Got it, Captain! The honor of the Dragon Hunter Pirates will always shine upon me!"

He quickly disappeared, eager to complete his task.

With Roelki gone, Lu Yu turned his gaze toward Nami, who stood frozen in shock. Her mind raced. What kind of pirate crew was this? They were openly planning an attack on a World Government ally! This wasn’t just some small-time raid on a defenseless village—this was an assault on a kingdom. Even the Marine branches in the East Blue wouldn’t be as formidable as a nation’s army!

She realized with growing dread that she had chosen the wrong group to steal from.

"Nami, you can steer a ship, right?" Lu Yu asked with a smile. "Take that merchant vessel and bring us to Cocoyasi Village."

Though his words were polite, Nami sensed there was no room for refusal. If she refused, she might not make it off this ship alive. Given how ruthlessly these people handled nobles, killing her would be nothing to them.

"I can!" Nami quickly replied, scrambling onto the luxurious merchant vessel. The group set sail for Cocoyasi Village without further delay.

---

Meanwhile, in Marineford…

A report landed on Fleet Admiral Sengoku's desk. He skimmed through the contents, his brows furrowing.

"The Dragon Hunter Pirates?" he muttered. The descriptions in the report raised several concerns. Since when had such a dangerous crew appeared in the East Blue? He vaguely remembered Garp mentioning something about this Lu Yu before.

He flipped through his files and found the original report Garp had submitted on Lu Yu. The contents didn't quite match up with the new intelligence. There was a significant discrepancy between the initial assessment and the latest developments. Worse yet, the Dragon Hunter Pirates had acquired a new swordsman— a female one at that.

Just then, Garp strolled into the office, munching on a rice cracker. "What’s up, Sengoku?"

Sengoku slid the report across the desk. "The Dragon Hunter Pirates just looted a merchant vessel from the Kingdom of Yacoslan. No survivors."

Garp paused mid-bite. "That brat’s got some guts! Attacking an allied nation’s ship? Hah!" He burst into laughter.

Sengoku’s face darkened. "Why is it that every major problem in the East Blue seems to be connected to you?! First, your son Dragon becomes the leader of the Revolutionary Army. Then, your grandson Ace joins Whitebeard’s crew. Now, this Lu Yu appears out of nowhere."

Garp merely grinned. "Guess the East Blue breeds interesting people."

Sengoku clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to smack Garp over the head. If they weren’t in the office, he might have done it already.

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Chapter Text

Just as Sengoku clenched his teeth in frustration, Staff Officer Tsuru stepped into the office.

“We’ve received intelligence on the Dragon Hunter Pirates—three times in a row,” she said calmly.

“Sengoku, I believe we need to strangle this threat in the cradle… before another uncontrollable force emerges in the East Blue.”

Without wasting time, Tsuru got straight to the point.

She was a woman of action—once she made up her mind, she acted on it swiftly. Unlike that old rascal Garp, who never seemed to care about anything these days.

But to be fair, Garp had endured far too many setbacks. His son became the leader of the Revolutionary Army, and his grandson turned into a pirate. His disillusionment with the World Government had slowly eroded his sense of duty.

Frankly, it was a miracle that Garp still remained at Marineford as a naval hero and the face of the Marines.

So Tsuru didn’t hold it against him. After all, Garp had always been unpredictable since his youth.

“Who should we send?” Sengoku asked, voice tinged with hesitation. “His bounty is only 30 million berries. That’s not enough merit to warrant the deployment of an admiral-level.”

“I’ll go,” came a soft but determined voice from the entrance.

“Gion?” Sengoku blinked in surprise as he turned to see her walk in.

Then he glanced at Tsuru, who gave him a subtle nod. It became clear: she had already chosen the right person for the job.

With Gion’s strength, there was no doubt the mission could be completed.

But even so… she was a Vice Admiral of Marineford. Wasn’t sending her after a 30-million bounty pirate a bit excessive?

“It’s already decided,” Tsuru said firmly. “The seeds of evil must be uprooted before they grow.”

“Back then, when Roger and the Golden Lion were just starting out, the Marines hesitated because of this obsession with so-called fairness. And look what happened—they became kings of the sea.”

Her tone held a trace of bitterness.

Of course, Sengoku hadn’t made those decisions. Back then, he was just a high ranking Officer.

“I understand,” Sengoku replied, nodding solemnly. “Here’s all the intel we have on the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Gion, proceed with caution.”

“I’m issuing a full pursuit order—target: the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Commanding Officer: Vice Admiral Gion of Marineford!”

“Understood!” Gion said crisply. “Vice Admiral Gion will not fail!”

She turned on her heel and headed off to prepare her ship. After all, the East Blue was quite a distance from here.

Once she left, Sengoku’s expression turned grave.

“Still no leads?” he asked quietly.

“No,” Tsuru replied. “We’ve locked down the entire port. We even searched the surrounding area, but no suspicious figures were found.”

“Sengoku… are you sure that intelligence just appeared on your desk out of nowhere?”

Her voice held a hint of concern.

Tsuru had just returned from investigating the origin of the documents. Despite using observation Haki, intelligence channels, and even checking all surveillance snails multiple times, there was no trace of anyone delivering the message.

This was the Fleet Admiral’s office—deep within Marineford.

For someone to bypass all surveillance and drop classified intelligence on Sengoku’s desk… without leaving a single clue…

It had to be a special Devil Fruit ability. That was the best-case scenario.

Because if it wasn’t—

The implications were terrifying.

Someone who could come and go from Marineford undetected… was a threat unlike any they had ever seen.

---

Meanwhile, the entire Marineford base was thrown into chaos.

Security was ramped up. New surveillance bugs were installed. Every Marine’s identity was re-verified.

Surprisingly, several spies from the Four Emperors’ crews were uncovered during the sweep—an unexpected bonus.

And then…

Lu Yu’s bounty was updated.

From 30 million to 50 million berries!

At that moment, Lu Yu was lounging in Cocoyasi Village, happily eating oranges.

The oranges here really were top-quality.

“Ding! Congratulations to the host for increasing your bounty to 50 million berries. You’ve earned 20,000 reputation points.”

“Ding! Total reputation has reached 50,000. You have unlocked Observation Haki!”

“Ding! You now have two crewmates. God-level Pirate Group Halo unlocked!”

The system chimes echoed in Lu Yu’s ears.

He had been steadily building up his reputation—killing pirates, evading the Marines, destroying corrupt merchant ships along the way.

Now, his panel appeared before him.

---

Host: Lu Yu [21 years old]
Abilities:

Advanced Swordsmanship

Advanced Assassination

Intermediate Armament Haki

Basic Observation Haki

Items:

Ame-no-Habakiri

Extremely Evil Battleship

God-level Pirate Group Halo: When equipped on the ship, boosts all crew members’ strength by 20%

Reputation: 51,500

Crew:

First Squadron: Akame (from the Akame ga Kill world)

[Night Raid Group recruitment available]

Special Crew: Kuina

Title: Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates

---

Lu Yu exhaled deeply as he read over the stats.

Now that his reputation had reached 50,000, he could summon one member from the Night Raid squad.

He already knew who he wanted.

“System…” he said calmly.

Then, raising a hand, he activated the recruitment.

---

Three Days Later — Yacoslan Kingdom

“What?!”

“Onis was killed!?”

“In the East Blue, someone actually dared to lay a hand on one of our people!?”

Wendis, a high-ranking noble of the Yacoslan Kingdom, was livid.

The Yacoslan Kingdom was one of the three major World Government affiliates in the East Blue.

Onis had been in charge of transporting slaves—an incredibly lucrative venture. That one shipment alone would have netted Wendis at least 500 million berries.

Now, it was all gone.

This wasn’t just an insult—it was a massive loss.

“Who did it?” Wendis snarled.

“A new pirate crew, sir,” a trembling guard reported. “They call themselves the Dragon Hunter Pirates. They’re still in the East Blue.”

He handed over Lu Yu’s bounty poster and intelligence file with shaking hands. Even as a guard, he knew—if Wendis was in a bad mood, a life could be snuffed out just like that.

There was no concept of justice under these nobles.

“Lu Yu…?”

Wendis’ eyes narrowed.

“Good. Very good.”

“Contact the World Government immediately. Pressure the Navy. We’re paying that damn Heavenly Tribute for a reason!”

“I want him alive.”

A cruel grin crept across his face.

If Lu Yu had dared to challenge the Yacoslan Kingdom, then he would suffer a fate worse than death.

As preparations were made, Wendis picked up a Den Den Mushi and dialed a special number.

A pirate’s number.

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Chapter Text

Lu Yu, of course, remained unaware of what was happening behind the scenes.

Five days later, Roelki returned to Cocoyasi Village with the information in hand.

The moment they received the intel, Lu Yu and his crew set sail once again. During their stay in Cocoyasi, the villagers—especially Nami—had been living in constant anxiety.

Even though Lu Yu repeatedly promised he wouldn’t harm them, Nami had witnessed his brutal methods firsthand. Deep down, she couldn’t fully trust someone that dangerous.

What if one day he just woke up in a bad mood and decided to wipe out Cocoyasi Village?

To Nami, that kind of massacre felt entirely possible.

So, when Lu Yu finally left with his crew, she exhaled in relief for the first time in days.

But just that same afternoon, a Marine warship arrived at Cocoyasi.

That’s right—it was Captain Nezumi.

From there, the story would continue with Luffy and Nami’s fateful meeting...

---

Back on Lu Yu’s ship...

With the intel now in hand, Lu Yu had a much clearer understanding of the Kingdom of Yacoslan’s strength.

And frankly, if it came down to a direct confrontation, even with Lu Yu’s immense combat power, there was a very real chance they’d all die on the spot.

“Captain, do you have a plan?”
Kuina asked as she looked over the stack of intelligence reports.

Everything pointed to one thing: this wasn’t a battle they could win head-on.

If they wanted to avoid the kingdom altogether, they could. But if they faced them directly, odds were high that their pirate crew would be the one wiped out—while the kingdom remained intact.

“I do,” Lu Yu said calmly. “Decapitation strategy.”

“Decapitation?” Kuina echoed, confused.

It sounded simple, but reality wasn’t so kind. The nobles might not be strong themselves, but their guards were another matter entirely.

Just look at Yakazhuo —he was only a personal guard of one of the nobles, yet incredibly powerful.

There were bound to be more like him in the Kingdom of Yacoslan.

Taking out a noble wasn’t just risky—it bordered on suicidal.

“Najenda, I’ll leave the detailed planning to you,” Lu Yu said, turning to the newest member of the crew.

That’s right. After accumulating 50,000 reputation points, Lu Yu had used them to summon Najenda.

She wasn’t just a military strategist with razor-sharp intellect—she also wielded the humanoid Imperial Arm: Susanoo. The perfect balance of brains and brawn.

“Kuina, Roelki,” Najenda said confidently. “I’m Najenda, Captain of the First Division.”

“The captain has briefed me on your backgrounds. Let’s jump into our primary concern—the Kingdom of Yacoslan’s actual military strength.”

She unrolled a set of documents onto the table, speaking with cool precision.

Professionals really were different.

In just minutes, Najenda broke down the distribution of enemy forces, their expected tactics, and the general outline of their next battle strategy.

What’s more, since Najenda was new, neither the Marines nor the Kingdom knew of her existence.

That made her their ace—perfect for launching a surprise assault.

“We also need to consider the time factor,” Najenda added. “The captain says the Marines are watching us closely.”

“That gives us, at most, one month,” Lu Yu confirmed. “Whatever we do, we need to wrap it up quickly and head for the Grand Line.”

He no longer believed they could destroy the Kingdom of Yacoslan in one swift strike.

But if they could inflict serious damage—cripple the leadership, disrupt command structures—it would be enough.

After all, this was also about building the reputation of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

Lu Yu pointed to one document in particular.

“We start with this guy—the noble Wendis.”

Wendis was a high-ranking aristocrat involved in the slave trade. He’d been gunning for Lu Yu and his crew since day one.

---

As Lu Yu and his crew set sail toward the Kingdom of Yacoslan, another ship was cutting across the sea in their direction.

A heavily modified pirate ship.

“Boss, are we really gonna waste time on some rookie?”

“He’s probably already dead—picked off by other pirate crews before we even get there.”

“Yeah, and the Kingdom’s making such a big deal out of him. Just for a newbie?”

The crew voiced their doubts one after another.

This was the Mondost Pirates—a notorious crew who had once dared to challenge the Big Mom Pirates in the New World, barely escaping with their lives before returning to the East Blue.

They no longer bothered with petty crimes like robbing merchant ships or villages.

Now, they took on secret assassination missions for world governments and underground factions.

When kings wanted their hands clean or towns refused to pay the Heavenly Tribute, they were the ones sent to "solve the problem."

Their pirate status gave them cover, and their strength kept them in demand.

“Ster, if both the Marines and the kingdom are after this Lu Yu, maybe we can profit from both sides,” said Mondo, the First Captain of the Mondost Pirates, eyes gleaming with greed.

“Already ahead of you, brother. I’ve sent a few small pirate crews to test the waters,” said Ster, the Second Captain. “We should be getting solid intel soon.”

“Honestly, though—if the Kingdom of Yacoslan is this desperate, don’t you think it’s time?”

Mondo raised an eyebrow. “You mean...?”

The two brothers had been together for over a decade, founding the Mondost Pirates from scratch. They didn’t need to explain things twice.

With just a glance, Mondo understood.

By the time night fell, they had reached the outer seas of the Kingdom of Yacoslan.

Within a day, they landed—walking boldly into the heart of the kingdom.

Before long, they stood outside a lavish mansion.

It belonged to none other than the noble Wendis.

“What the hell are you two doing here?” Wendis demanded, visibly annoyed.

The mission he’d assigned them didn’t require setting foot in the kingdom. They were supposed to eliminate Lu Yu—discreetly and efficiently.

Now they’d appeared right at his doorstep.

“Lord Wendis,” Mondo said, ignoring the irritation. “My brother and I have spent long enough drifting on the seas.”

“We want noble status.”

“I’m sure you, of all people, can make that happen.”

He didn’t mention Lu Yu at all.

Because deep down, no matter how much people romanticize freedom on the seas—how many pirates really want that life?

Real power was on land. In titles. In privilege.

And the nobility of the Kingdom of Yacoslan? That was the real prize.

So now, under the guise of a contract, the Mondost brothers had come to seize something greater than gold or territory.

They wanted to transform.

And Wendis… might be their ticket.

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Chapter Text

After hearing what Mondo said, Wendis's face twisted with anger.

“What kind of joke is this?!”

“You're just a pirate—how dare you try to negotiate with me?”

“If you’re so capable, then prove it!”

“If not, get lost!”

Wendis had already been suppressing a lot of frustration from recent events. Just a few days ago, a furious buyer had called to scold him, forcing him to cough up hundreds of millions of Berries. And now, these two pirates dared to show up and talk about negotiations?

To him, they were nothing more than stray cats and dogs stirring up trouble.

“Lord Wendis,” Mondo spoke calmly, “the mission you posted has now been accepted by the Mondost Pirates.”

“In the entire East Blue, are there really other pirates brave enough to take on your job?”

He glanced at the guards standing nearby and smirked.

“Besides, you don’t seriously believe that these guys can protect you, do you?”

Ster added with a wicked grin, licking his crimson tongue slowly.

“What… what are you implying?”

“Mondo! Ster! You—!”

“Lord Wendis,” Mondo interrupted coldly, drawing attention to the gleaming hilt of the sword at his waist. “We need a clear answer. Now.”

Wendis suddenly stood up, his expression livid. These two were threatening him—openly! Worse, they were the very people he had called for help. He’d practically invited wolves into his own house.

“Lord Wendis,” Mondo said with a charming yet dangerous smile, placing a hand on Wendis’s shoulder, “once we become nobles of the Kingdom of Yacoslan, we’ll back you fully.”

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

“The king of Yacoslan won’t be on the throne much longer.”

“Are you really planning to remain a noble forever?”

Wendis’s heart skipped a beat.

A coup?

The thought instantly crossed his mind.

The Kingdom of Yacoslan wasn’t a democracy—it followed a strict hereditary system. Even his position as prince had been passed down from his father.

To suddenly push for a regime change? It was a bold idea, one that made Wendis instinctively hesitate.

But the throne…

The allure of absolute power was hard to resist. If no one had ever brought it up, maybe he would have remained a noble for life.

But now, the opportunity was staring him in the face.

“Let us handle the Dragon Hunter Pirates,” Ster said, stepping forward with a devilish smile. “During the battle, the king might unfortunately die at the hands of Lu Yu—the infamous pirate.”

“Then you, Lord Wendis, noble of the Kingdom of Yacoslan, rise up to lead the troops and heroically slay Lu Yu.”

“And in the chaos, you become the new king.”

Wendis's anger slowly faded as he listened. The plan... it sounded insane. But that was what made it so perfect.

If it worked, he wouldn’t just be Lord Wendis anymore.

He’d be His Majesty Wendis, ruler of the Kingdom of Yacoslan.

“I’ll leave it to you, then,” he said at last, his voice calm once again. “And once the task is complete, your noble seats will be secured.”

The room filled with an eerie silence as the conspiracy took root.

“Then it’s settled,” Mondo said with a grin. “Your Majesty Wendis, do make sure our titles are prepared.”

With that, he turned and left.

Ster licked his lips and followed.

---

Once outside, the two hurried toward the port.

“Captain, you’re back,” a crew member reported. “We’ve got an update.”

“All the men we sent were wiped out,” he said grimly. “Even the ship was sunk.”

“Hah, so they’re stronger than expected,” Ster replied, smirking. “But that’s even better.”

“The stronger they are, the more valuable they become.”

“Yes,” Mondo nodded. “But keep your eyes on Wendis too. If he makes even one wrong move…”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Kill him.”

They weren’t the type to entrust their fate to anyone—not even a prince.

“Set sail!” Mondo shouted, stepping onto the bow. “Our next target—Dragon Hunter Pirates!”

With Lu Yu heading straight toward the Kingdom of Yacoslan, tracking him down would be easy.

Aboard Lu Yu’s ship

“The Mondost Pirates?” Lu Yu raised a brow. “Who are they again?”

“They once challenged Big Mom in the New World—and lived to tell the tale,” Roelki answered quickly. “Now they’re one of the biggest underground forces in the East Blue.”

Sometimes, Roelki thought Lu Yu was a walking encyclopedia. Other times, he seemed completely clueless.

Either Lu Yu genuinely didn’t know, or he just didn’t care about anything short of the New World. When it came to the major players there, Lu Yu knew everything—even the secret stuff.

He was definitely aiming to become a top-tier pirate.

“I see,” Lu Yu said flatly. “Keep sailing. If we run into the Mondost Pirates... just wipe them out.”

He had no time for small fry. If the navy got involved during a prolonged fight, things would get complicated.

---

Three days later

“Brother Lu Yu! A pirate fleet up ahead!”

Akame called down from the mast. “Six ships—looks like the Mondost Pirates.”

Lu Yu stood at the bow, a wide grin spreading across his face.

“Finally.”

He hadn’t had a real fight since his power-up.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Dozens of cannonballs fired toward them instantly.

“Najenda, Akame, Kuina!” Lu Yu barked. “Handle your positions!”

“Roelki, intercept the shells. Use everything—we’re not saving ammo today!”

With those words, Lu Yu launched himself forward like a cannonball.

Behind him, Susanoo materialized around Najenda as she and Akame took flight toward the enemy ships.

The battle had begun.

“Bang!”

In a flash, Lu Yu landed squarely on the deck of the Mondost’s flagship.

He stared at the stunned pirates.

“Hey... looking for me?”

With Ame-no-Habakiri resting casually on his shoulder, Lu Yu grinned.

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Chapter Text

“Hey, are you here to see me?”

The voice echoed in the ears of Mondo and Ster.

For a moment, the two were stunned.

Usually, when pirates clash, shouldn’t it begin with cannon fire? Isn’t it the one with superior firepower who gets to board the enemy ship and initiate combat?

But this guy—he wasn’t following any rules.

More importantly, they weren’t even close. How did he get here so fast?

“Boss, I’ll go cut him down!”

“That guy’s just a rookie, and he dares to board our ship? He’s asking for it!”

One of the more hot-headed members of the Mondost Pirates charged at Lu Yu with a massive sword.

Shh...

Lu Yu’s blade flashed. In a movement too swift to follow, his sword pierced straight through the pirate’s heart.

The fight hadn’t even started properly—and it was already over.

“Bastard! You dare kill one of us!?”

“Screw this! He’s dead meat—I’ll eat him alive!”

“Brothers, attack! Kill him!”

The crew of the Mondost Pirates had all been to the New World. They weren’t greenhorns. They’d seen plenty of battles.

Blood didn’t scare them—it only excited them.

One by one, they raised their weapons and charged at Lu Yu with bloodthirsty grins.

Mondo and Ster didn’t stop them. In their minds, sure, Lu Yu could kill one guy—but he couldn’t possibly survive being mobbed by their entire crew.

Or so they thought.

“These punks actually think I need to take this seriously?”

Lu Yu raised his hand.

“Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto.”

A jade pendant appeared in his palm. As it began to glow, a towering figure materialized behind him.

The being wore a flowing black-and-purple robe. Her face was sharp and beautiful, with floating magatama and ethereal blue flames dancing around her.

The humanoid Imperial Arm—Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto—had arrived.

Yes, this was one of the rewards Lu Yu obtained after extracting Najenda’s power. Not only had he gained immense strength, but he had also earned a humanoid Imperial Arm equal in power to Susanoo—one that had its own will and consciousness.

A true force to be reckoned with.

“What... what the hell is that?”

“Is he a Devil Fruit user? No, that’s not it...”

Ding...

“No way... That’s...”

Puff...

The moment Tsukuyomi appeared, the charging pirates froze in fear.

Some dropped their weapons altogether.

But Tsukuyomi wasn’t interested in their hesitation.

With a long halberd forming in her hand, she charged forward.

The magatama orbiting her morphed into deadly scythes, cutting through the pirates like reapers harvesting souls.

Blood sprayed. Limbs flew. Screams filled the air.

And amidst it all, Lu Yu calmly walked across the deck toward Mondo and Ster, who could only watch in disbelief.

“I asked you something earlier, didn’t I?”

He stopped a few feet away, his voice calm but cold. “You—did you come here to find me?”

Though his expression held a smile, his words were ice.

Gulp.

“Uh—this... this is all a misunderstanding!” Mondo stammered.

“We’re from the Mondost Pirates,” he continued, trying to sound sincere. “Our men had a bit of a... conflict with your crew earlier. So, we came to apologize. Really!”

“I didn’t realize it was your group. We acted rashly. Please—please forgive us. We’ll leave right away.”

Mondo swallowed hard, bowing slightly, face drenched in sweat.

“Ahahaha, yeah! That’s right!” Ster chimed in quickly. “We came here to apologize. Those guys who offended you—they deserved what they got! No hard feelings from us.”

The two were practically groveling now.

Because Tsukuyomi had finished slaughtering every last one of their crew.

Now, she stood silently behind Lu Yu, her overwhelming aura pressing down on the remaining pirates like a tidal wave of despair.

What kind of monster is this? they thought.

Is he really just some newcomer to the Grand Line!?

They had faced monsters before. Even when they crossed paths with Big Mom’s crew, they had escaped with their lives.

But this time, there was no escape.

No time to react.

Lu Yu had wiped out their entire force in minutes—no, seconds.

“You said you came to apologize?”

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow.

“Then you’d better show it.”

As his words fell, the air around him shifted—thick with power.

Tsukuyomi moved in a flash, now standing behind Mondo and Ster.

Bang! Bang!

Two spinning magatama appeared around them, exerting crushing gravitational pressure.

Unable to resist, the two pirates collapsed to their knees in front of Lu Yu.

“This—this is what a real apology looks like.”

“So, tell me again,” Lu Yu said, his tone now playful, “what exactly was the misunderstanding?”

“Did you misjudge my strength… or did you overestimate yours?”

His grin returned—but it wasn’t friendly.

It was terrifying.

“I-I’ll fight you...!” Mondo clenched his fists, his pride trying to push back the fear.

But before he could do anything—

“Brother Lu Yu!”

A familiar voice called out as Akame landed gracefully on the deck beside him.

“The pirate ship nearby has been dealt with,” she reported casually.

“Captain,” she added, “these guys are strong, but nothing special.”

Then Najenda appeared, sitting confidently on Susanoo’s shoulder.

“The combat strength in this world isn’t bad,” she said, “but that’s about it.”

When Mondo heard their words, his will to resist crumbled completely.

Just moments ago, he had at least hoped to escape Lu Yu.

Now, he realized they had backup—terrifying backup.

Akame and Najenda alone were enough to level his entire crew.

And now this—another humanoid Imperial Arm just like Tsukuyomi.

Is this the end? Mondo thought, eyes wide in disbelief.

All that effort… all the battles… and it ends like this?

Despair consumed him.

“You want to live?”

Lu Yu’s voice cut through the silence.

“Then how about becoming my handyman?”

“H-Handyman!?” Mondo looked up, stunned.

“Who the hell do you think I am?!”

“I’m a great pirate! I’ve been to the New World! I survived the Four Emperors!”

He stood proudly for one moment—

—and then knelt again.

“Thank you, Captain, for granting me the honor of being a handyman of the mighty Dragon Hunter Pirates!”

Lu Yu blinked. “...Huh?”

This guy changed his tune so fast it gave him whiplash.

What a bootlicker.

“I-I also thank you, Captain!” Ster added quickly, bowing so low his forehead touched the deck.

“It’s an honor to serve under you!”

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Chapter Text

After seeing the reactions of the two, Lu Yu revealed a satisfied expression.

He hadn’t heard of this pirate crew before, but after getting some details from Roelki, he realized they weren’t exactly weak.

However, compared to Lu Yu and his team…

Forget it. There’s no point comparing them to a group of cheaters.

Still, there was something interesting about them—their influence in the East Blue was surprisingly strong.

The reason they hadn’t crossed paths with Luffy and his crew was probably just fate—or the lack of it.

“How many pirates can you summon right now?” Lu Yu asked bluntly.

Earlier, he had wiped out the main fighting force of the Mondost Pirates aboard the three ships. That left their leadership hanging by a thread.

“In a short amount of time, we can gather a crew of over 500,” Mondo replied nervously. “But... in terms of quality, we can't be too picky.”

He understood clearly: Lu Yu was gauging their worth. If they didn’t prove useful, they’d be disposed of without hesitation.

Power ruled the seas—especially in Lu Yu’s pirate crew.

“Five hundred, huh? That should do,” Lu Yu nodded. “Try to call as many as possible—the more, the better.”

He paused for a beat.

“Oh, and by the way, you’re not qualified to officially join my Dragon Hunter Pirates. Once this temporary work is done, you’re free to go.”

With that, Lu Yu leapt onto Tsukuyomi’s back and returned to his warship.

“Ara ara… What’s the captain planning now? He’s always so mysterious,” Najenda said with a playful smile.

Now that she was free from the pressures of the empire, her real personality started to shine. Gone was the strict, serious Najenda from the world of Akame ga Kill.

“Brother Lu Yu, you really can do everything,” Akame said dumbly, tilting her head.

Akame had always been a bit dense, but with Najenda around, her silly side became even more natural. Their bond ran deep.

“It doesn’t seem all that difficult to bring Night Raid back into the world,” Najenda said with determination. “And more importantly… I see a real path for growth in this world.”

She clenched her fists—and dark Armament Haki coated her skin.

As a member of Lu Yu’s crew, Observation Haki came standard. Upon arriving in this world, she had automatically awakened the power.

Najenda understood strength. This black energy was no joke.

By the time Lu Yu and the others left, Mondo and Ster were still frozen in shock.

If not for the strong stench of blood still lingering in the air, they might’ve thought it had all been a dream.

“Brother, what now?” Ster asked, his voice shaky.

Usually calm and clever, Ster’s brain had all but shut down. It was impossible to process everything that had just happened so quickly.

“How would I know!?” Mondo snapped. “Just follow the orders that guy gave us. If we want to live, we don’t have a choice.”

Mondo was just as confused, but there was no time for it. If they failed to deliver results, Lu Yu wouldn’t hesitate to kill them.

That much, he was absolutely sure of.

“I get it,” Ster nodded, gritting his teeth. “Let’s start reaching out.”

“Even if we only made loose arrangements before, they should still come in handy now.”

He picked up the Den Den Mushi, and soon, the sound of purururu echoed across the waters of the East Blue.

---

Back on Lu Yu’s ship...

“Brother Lu Yu, are you sure it’s okay to let them handle this?” Akame asked, looking puzzled as Lu Yu relaxed on the deck.

To her, the Mondost Pirates were enemies. Trusting them with anything felt... strange.

“They’re familiar with the Kingdom of Yacoslan and probably have existing ties,” Lu Yu replied. “That makes them more likely to earn their trust.”

“This way, our plan will go more smoothly.”

“With Najenda, Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto on board, our combat strength has skyrocketed.”

Lu Yu was confident.

It might seem like he had only added Najenda, but the actual upgrade in power was far more significant.

With the Mondost Pirates aiding them, their decapitation mission in the Kingdom of Yacoslan would be much easier.

“As expected of our captain!” Roelki chimed in, turning into a one-man cheer squad.

“Only you could come up with something like this—using the enemy’s hands as our weapon! Captain, you’re amazing!”

Lu Yu chuckled. “Roelki, you’ve been doing well.”

“But I’ll need you to keep it up. You’re a formal member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates now.”

Roelki beamed.

Lu Yu opened his system panel again to double-check something.

But—Roelki’s name still didn’t show up.

When Kuina had joined, she was instantly listed as a special crew member. Roelki, however, wasn’t showing up at all.

Was something off?

After all, having more official crew members increased the system’s passive bonuses. That was one of the reasons Lu Yu believed his crew would become a powerhouse in the future.

But now, the requirements seemed a little... unclear.

“System, what are the conditions for joining the Dragon Hunter Pirates?” he asked directly.

The system responded quickly:

[“Crew member must have a strength rating above A, or talent above S, to be registered as an official member.”]

Lu Yu nodded, finally understanding.

So that’s how it works.

This was a god-tier pirate system with its own personality and standards.

Otherwise, Lu Yu could’ve just recruited 10,000 weaklings and boosted his crew’s power through sheer numbers.

As Roelki celebrated, night fell.

Everyone headed off to rest—they needed to prepare for the battles ahead.

---

Meanwhile, across the East Blue...

Countless pirate ships began sailing in the same direction.

Even pirates who rarely ventured out into deeper waters started moving.

The Navy grew anxious.

What were these guys up to?

Were they planning to attack some major figure?

Or had a legendary treasure appeared?

Whatever it was, the scale of the movement was clearly beyond the Navy’s ability to handle.

And to make things worse—

They had no clue what was going on.

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Chapter Text

"Purururu..."

"Navy Headquarters."

"Yes, I understand. The pirate group involved is—"

"Purururu..."

"Navy Headquarters."

...

All night long, the Den Den Mushi at Navy Headquarters kept ringing nonstop.

And all of it was because of the East Blue.

You see, the East Blue is a very special sea.

Things there are a lot more complicated than they appear on the surface.

Now, with this incident breaking out, it’s clear a powerful force is behind it.

The worst part? Vice Admiral Gion has already been dispatched to the East Blue.

But even at her speed, it'll take at least four days to get there.

By the time she arrives, the Navy might already be cleaning up a mess—cold and rotten.

If they try to handle things with just the East Blue’s current forces, it could lead to massive casualties.

And if that happens, it would be an utter disgrace for the Navy.

At such a critical moment, allowing this kind of situation is completely unacceptable.

"Garp!"

"I thought you said the East Blue was stable!?"

"Then what the hell is going on!?"

Sengoku slammed the table, clearly frustrated.

He remembered how Garp always insisted on going to the East Blue for “vacation” and always claimed things there were under control.

With Garp constantly going back and forth, the pirate activity in the region stayed relatively tame.

Sure, there were occasional problems, but nothing ever escalated.

But this? This was like a full-blown uprising.

If the East Blue descends into chaos, what part of the world could be considered stable?

That delicate balance they’d maintained for so long—if it gets torn apart starting from the East Blue—it could ripple out and destabilize the entire sea.

"Ahahaha..."

"Sengoku, you're overreacting again," Garp replied with a grin. "They're just pirates out for a midnight stroll."

"No need to get so worked up."

"Here, have some senbei."

"Hahaha..."

Sengoku’s eye twitched. “A stroll!?”

He was already on edge, and Garp’s casual response only made it worse.

Typical Garp—saying the dumbest things with the most serious face.

It was infuriating… and completely in-character.

"Forget it. Talking to you is useless anyway."

"Let’s just focus on stabilizing the East Blue—"

"The Kingdom of Yacoslan is moving," Garp interrupted casually.

Sengoku froze.

"The Kingdom of Yacoslan?"

What did their allied nation have to do with this pirate outbreak?

"Remember the report on the Dragon Hunter Pirates?"

"That’s who Vice Admiral Gion dealing with."

Garp leaned back, seemingly nonchalant—but Sengoku knew better.

He might act like a fool, but this was the man who once chased the Pirate King Roger across the world.

The so-called Hero of the Navy wasn’t an idiot—far from it.

"You’re saying the Kingdom of Yacoslan is involved with these pirates?"

"If that’s true... then maybe we don’t need to interfere too much?"

Sengoku tapped his fingers, deep in thought.

If the Kingdom of Acoslan was behind this, then the Navy might be better off staying out of it.

They didn’t want to offend their allies, after all.

Incidents like this had happened before. As long as it didn’t get out of hand, the Navy often turned a blind eye.

"You think the pirates gathered by Yacoslan can really deal with the Dragon Hunter Pirates?"

Garp gave Sengoku a long look, then chuckled.

"Sengoku, you’re too idealistic sometimes."

"If those Dragon Hunters aren’t handled properly, we’ll have an even bigger mess on our hands..."

He paused and smiled meaningfully.

In his mind, he was already thinking about Luffy, who had just set sail.

These youngsters... such a headache.

"Hahaha..."

Sengoku sighed, rubbing his temples.

Why did working with Garp always end like this?

"Garp, go get some rest."

"I need to think."

“Alright~!”

“But I’m taking leave tomorrow.”

“I’ll be heading to the East Blue.”

“As for how long… I’ll confirm that after I return.”

With that, Garp walked out cheerfully.

Sengoku didn’t even argue. He was used to Garp’s last-minute leave requests.

Besides, as a Vice Admiral, Garp had the authority to deploy forces to the East Blue.

For now, Sengoku had one mission—contain the situation.

Whether for the Navy’s honor or East Blue’s stability, this couldn’t be allowed to spiral further.

---

Three Days Later...

"As expected of Boss Mondo! Even though we ran into a bunch of Navy ships, none of them dared chase us!"

"Hahaha! They must be scared of the mighty Mondost Pirates!"

"It’s the East Blue! What can those useless Navy dogs even do?"

More than thirty pirates stood proudly aboard the ship of the Mondost Pirates, laughing and boasting.

They were high on adrenaline and full of arrogance.

“No, this success was thanks to the great Dragon Hunter Pirates,” Mondo said with a forced laugh.

Ster nodded in agreement, a bit awkwardly.

Lu Yu had made it clear—they couldn’t reveal the true source of their orders to the other pirate crews.

So the two could only play along and take the credit.

Still, being respected felt pretty damn good.

They were used to acting anyway, and slipping into these roles was second nature now.

"This plan is called the Kingdom Replacement Plan!"

"The Kingdom of Yacoslan will soon be ruled by pirates—us!"

"And you... yes, you!"

"All of you will have the chance to become nobles! Throw away your pirate rags!"

"But remember this well!"

"Even dressed in noble clothes, standing aboard a ship..."

"We’re still pirates!"

Mondo’s voice boomed across the deck, instantly silencing the crowd.

"Boss Mondo is mighty!"

“Nobles!”

“Long live the Mondost Pirates!”

The crew erupted in cheers, their morale surging.

At that moment, their ship sailed into the inland sea of the Kingdom of Yacoslan.

A massive group of pirates, entering allied territory—yet not a single cannon fired.

The Kingdom’s army had received orders: allow them to dock.

They were confused, of course, but orders were orders.

And they would follow them—unless the pirates attacked civilians.

The Kingdom was on high alert, but for now, there was no conflict.

Once the pirates landed, they marched straight toward the palace.

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Chapter Text

Nearly a thousand pirates had gathered in front of the grand palace, their ragtag presence clashing with the elegant architecture.

“Lord Wendis!”

“We’ve done what you asked.”

Mondo stepped forward, arrogance written all over his face. Behind him, several captives were tied up tightly with thick ropes.

It was Lu Yu and Akame—at least, that’s what it looked like.

“Hahaha… Mondost!” Wendis laughed. “As expected from the top dogs of the East Blue underworld!”

Wendis turned toward the regal man seated on the throne, dressed in extravagant royal robes.

“Your Majesty Valonar, these are the ones who attacked the royal caravan of our great Yacoslan Kingdom! If we let this go unpunished, we’ll have more pirates trying their luck. It’s a disgrace to the crown!”

Valonar, the king of the Yakoslan Kingdom, stood up with theatrical flair. He spread his arms wide, basking in the spotlight like a seasoned performer.

“Such wicked souls must not be allowed to live in my kingdom!” he declared.
“As your king, I, Valonar, shall personally deliver justice to these criminals from the Dragon Hunter Pirates!”

“Sword of Justice!”

At his command, a royal attendant walked forward, holding a golden sword embedded with dazzling gems.

Valonar grabbed the sword and stood tall. With a single motion, he shrugged off his royal cloak, revealing gleaming armor underneath.

And this wasn’t just ceremonial armor.

Wendis’s expression darkened.

He knew that armor—it was no ordinary protection. Forged by a now-missing user of the Diamond Fruit, it was an indestructible battle suit created through Devil Fruit powers. And Wendis had seen its power firsthand.

(TL: This Diamond Fruit is different from jozu)

Can these rebels really take down the king… even with that armor protecting him?

If not, all his careful planning would mean nothing.

Among the crowd, Najenda watched the king closely, brows furrowed in confusion.

“There are imperial arms in this world too?” she muttered, sensing a strange energy from Valonar’s armor.

To her, it felt like the power of an imperial arms—something she thought only existed in her world.

“No,” Lu Yu answered calmly beside her. “That’s the power of a Devil Fruit. A product unique to this world, like I told you before.”

The so-called “captives” tied up earlier? Mere stand-ins. Fakes.

“Devil Fruit, huh?” Najenda mused, eyes glinting. “If we got our hands on one, it’d boost the crew’s strength big time.”

Coming from a former general and the boss of Night Raid, her mind naturally drifted toward how to use power strategically.

Lu Yu chuckled. “They do boost strength fast, no doubt. But honestly? I don’t need them.”

Compared to his own cheat ability, Devil Fruits were child’s play.

Back in front of the throne, Valonar approached Mondo and Ster, standing before the fake Lu Yu and Akame.

“You dared provoke the Yacoslan Kingdom,” Valonar said with mock sympathy. “You must’ve been ready to face the consequences, right?”

“Today, die with pride!”

He raised his jeweled sword high—only for a blur to flash past him.

“Hey, hey…” a voice said coolly. “Are all nobles in this world this full of themselves?”

Before Valonar could react, his golden sword was snatched from his hand.

“Who the hell are you?!” he roared.

The man grinned. “Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates—Lu Yu.”

“Feel honored. You’ll be the first king I kill.”

Without warning, Lu Yu released his Armament Haki and slashed down with full force.

Clang!

Instead of slicing through flesh or armor, the sword snapped.

Shards flew.

Even with Haki reinforcement, his blade shattered like glass.

His arm vibrated from the backlash—proof the armor wasn’t just tough, but dangerously reactive.

“I told you... just a filthy pirate—”

Boom!

Before Valonar could finish, Lu Yu sent him flying with a brutal punch.

“Protect His Majesty!”

“Wendis, where are the guards?!”

“Get the kingdom army! Get—urk!”

“Wendis... what are you—?!”

Shhk!

As the nobles screamed and panicked, Wendis made his move.

All the guards in the palace had been replaced with his own loyal men, without arousing any suspicion. After all, he was the one managing the situation.

The kingdom army stationed outside couldn’t get in.

Which meant, at this moment, Wendis held the lives of every noble in his hands.

And he didn’t waste time.

One by one, the nobles were silenced.

Back near the throne, a coughing, bloodied Valonar rose from the rubble, a dark smile on his face.

“I see…” he muttered. “So this was your plan all along, Wendis…”

“Get the pirates to take the fall, then swoop in and steal the kingdom for yourself.”

Valonar dusted himself off, standing tall despite the injuries.

Vendis stepped forward, arrogant as ever. “Give up the throne now, Valonar. Since you’ve always treated me kindly, I’ll let you live. I’ll even grant you noble status if you behave—”

“What’s that...?”

Suddenly, the ground shook.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

“Hehehe… Hahahaha…”

Valonar’s laugh echoed as the dust cleared.

“You think this is why I’m king?” he sneered.

“I murdered my own father to wear this crown, Wendis. You think I’ll lose it to a rat like you?”

As he raised his arms, the tremors intensified.

From behind him, metallic warriors with a gleaming diamond-like shine began to rise from the ground, forming a defensive phalanx in front of the palace.

“No… no way...” Wendis gasped, eyes wide. “This can’t be… That Devil Fruit user vanished!”

But the truth stood tall behind the king.

The armor itself transformed—shifting, twisting—until it took on a human shape.

And standing there, emerging from the shimmering armor, was the long-lost user of the Diamond Fruit...

Valen.

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Chapter Text

With the sudden appearance of a massive steel army, the tide of battle shifted dramatically.

At least, that’s how it looked to Wendis and Valonar.

“I see now... this must be the power of a Devil Fruit,” Wendis muttered, eyes wide.

“Warriors forged entirely from special metals,” Valonar added, awe in his voice. “And under complete control—absolutely loyal.”

Najenda narrowed her eyes as she watched the army form up. A glint of understanding flashed across her face.

“So this is what you've been hiding.”

Meanwhile, Lu Yu stood calm and motionless. There wasn’t even a flicker of concern on his face.

Not awakened, he assessed silently. This isn’t some sudden transformation... this army was built up over time.

Against ordinary forces, it would’ve been overwhelming.

But this wasn’t just any opponent.

This was Lu Yu.

“Oi, oi, oi… You guys sure you’re not mistaking who you’re up against here?”

He stepped forward, facing the thousands of steel soldiers without a hint of fear.

“You’re standing against the Dragon Hunter Pirates!”

“Oh boy… you’re a reckless captain,” Najenda sighed, arms folded as she walked up beside him. “But there’s no way we’re just gonna sit back and watch.”

With a flash, her Imperial Arms—Susanoo—burst onto the battlefield like a raging titan.

“Brother Lu Yu,” Akame said quietly, joining his side. “Looks like it’s time to fight after all.”

“I figured we wouldn’t have to step in, but guess I was wrong. Letting others dig their own graves really is dangerous.”

Next came Kuina. She drew her sword in one swift motion, her stance screaming readiness.

“For a swordsman, once the sword’s drawn, there’s no turning back.”

“I—I—I… I’m Roelki!” the stammering recruit shouted, moving into formation. “Official crew member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates!”

Despite his trembling knees, Roelki stood tall. Fear lingered, but his resolve burned hotter.

Valonar’s heart pounded as he stared at them. There were only a few standing there… but their presence was overwhelming.

That same crushing sense of dread—he’d seen it before. Long ago, when his father stood against a monster and lost. That same hopelessness, that same despair...

And now—it was his turn to feel it.

“KILL THEM!” he screamed. “VALEN!”

Panic. Rage. Trauma. They all came crashing down, clouding Valonar’s thoughts. All he wanted now was blood—every last one of them dead.

All of them. Wiped out.

“Attack!” Valen commanded, raising his hand.

The steel army surged forward, a wave of metal crashing down.

Clang—Clang—Clang!

The thunderous sound of metal-on-metal echoed as the steel soldiers advanced, rigid but powerful.

“They’re strong, but slow,” Lu Yu muttered. “Their movements can’t compare to humans.”

“Leave them to me!” Najenda said with a smirk. “Fighting armies is what I do best.”

“Akame, let’s go!”

With Susanoo charging ahead like a mad berserker, Najenda carved a path through the metal army. Each of her steps was a death sentence for those unfortunate enough to stand in her way.

Susanoo’s entire purpose was to protect what mattered most—and it did so with ruthless precision. These steel warriors never stood a chance.

“What the hell!?” Valen gasped.

“Who are these people?! That girl’s insane!”

He could hardly believe it. These iron soldiers were the ultimate product of ten years of work—an army forged from the best metals collected by Valonar.

And now? They were being dismantled like junk.

“USELESS!” Valonar screamed. “Why are you just standing there!? Kill them! I raised you for this!”

But before he could keep ranting, Valen snapped.

“SHUT UP!”

His voice cut through the chaos like a blade. All his years serving Valonar meant nothing now. Not when his own life was on the line.

“Worthless trash like you—”

Schlick!

Before Valonar could react, Valen’s arm morphed into a spear and pierced straight through his chest.

“Heh… Didn’t you say you’d kill the king?” Valen sneered. “Well, I already did. Now can I go?”

He barely finished his sentence before a shadow passed by.

Schlick.

Blood flicked from Akame’s blade as she slid Murasame back into its sheath.

Valen’s pupils contracted, and his breath caught.

“Lu Yu’s orders were clear,” Akame said flatly. “You, the Devil Fruit user… are included.”

With that, Valen dropped.

And just like that—so did the steel soldiers.

“So once the user dies, the creations vanish too?” Najenda murmured, taking notes. “Good to know. Definitely useful intel.”

As captain of the first division, she had a duty to observe and learn—especially in battles like these.

“Well, looks like it’s over,” Lu Yu said with a lazy grin, walking forward.

He’d planned to fight, but clearly, there was no need. His crew had handled everything.

They really were monsters—handpicked from across the worlds.

“Mondo! Get to work!”

“R-Right away!” Mondo stammered.

He turned to his pirates.

“Alright, boys! Take Wendis down! The Kingdom of Yacoslan belongs to us now!”

“Kill the guards too!”

“YEAHHHH!”

The pirates still weren’t sure what just happened—but orders were orders.

They swarmed Wendis like locusts. The poor man didn’t even get the chance to scream before he was sliced into pieces.

“Boss Mondo, what now?!”

“Are we really… robbing an ally?!”

“This is wild!”

“We’re standing in a damn palace, man!”

“This is the Kingdom of Yacoslan!”

They were ecstatic. Shouting, laughing, celebrating their wild luck.

But while they were partying, Mondo and his top officers looked anything but proud.

Instead, they stood stiff, nervous… pale.

Because in Mondo’s trembling hand, there was a card.

Not a playing card, not a map.

But an order.

[“Temporarily assume the throne of the King of Yacoslan.

Use every resource to build my intelligence station.

Failure = death.”]

Just two sentences.

Yet they were more terrifying than anything Mondo had faced.

Because he knew—if he failed, there would be no warnings.

No second chances.

Only death.

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Chapter Text

The warship cut across the inland sea of the Kingdom of Yacoslan, leaving the coastline behind.

Najenda stood at the railing, watching the kingdom fade into the distance. She turned to Lu Yu, her brow slightly furrowed.

“Captain… are we really doing the right thing here?” she asked, voice unsure. “Handing over a whole country to pirates? I mean, yeah, we’re pirates too, but this just doesn’t sit right with me.”

Despite her absolute loyalty to Lu Yu, she still had a mind of her own—and on a human instinct level, this felt wrong. Still, she didn’t oppose him. Just... questioned it.

Lu Yu glanced at her and replied calmly, “People live within whatever limits they’re given. Pirates are no different.”

He paused, watching the sea ahead. “Right now, they’re the acting agents of the Kingdom of Yacoslan. A chess piece I left in the East Blue.”

He turned back to her, his voice steady. “Justice and evil... they’re just perspectives based on where you stand.”

Najenda thought it over and nodded. “That’s true... every country’s got its own version of justice.”

She understood now. For the sake of the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ future, this was a strategic move.

“Roelki,” Lu Yu called, turning his attention. “Head to Loguetown. Once we’re outside its waters, stock up on supplies. After that, we set sail for the Grand Line.”

“Aye, Captain!” Roelki replied quickly, but then hesitated. “Oh, and one more thing—I almost forgot!”

He jogged over, pulling something from his bag. “I found this earlier when I was sorting through the fruit baskets.”

He held up a devil fruit.

Everyone on deck instantly turned toward him, wide-eyed.

“You’re kidding... A devil fruit?” Najenda asked, eyes gleaming.

“This thing could be useful for research,” Lu Yu said, intrigued. “But we don’t really have any genius scientists onboard.”

“Let me cook it!” Akame chimed in, grinning.

“You can’t cook a devil fruit,” Najenda groaned, rolling her eyes.

Lu Yu chuckled. “If I’m right, this is the Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that belonged to Valen—the guy Akame just killed. The Diamond Fruit.”

He looked at the fruit thoughtfully.

“There’s a legend... Devil Fruits don’t disappear when the user dies. They reincarnate into the nearest fruit around. Looks like that legend’s true.”

Najenda raised an eyebrow. “That’s wild. It’s like these things are alive.”

“Yeah, it’s not like an imperial weapon at all... this thing feels organic,” Akame muttered.

Lu Yu turned to Roelki and held out the fruit. “It’s yours.”

Roelki froze. “W-What!?”

He stumbled back a step, eyes wide.

“N-No way, Captain! This is a devil fruit we’re talking about! Even if it’s Paramecia, it could create powerful fighters! It’s got potential—it should go to someone more deserving!”

He was clearly panicking now, waving his arms as he rambled on. “I mean, I just joined! How can I eat a devil fruit when the senior members don’t even have one yet?!”

He looked up—and saw everyone staring at him with soft smiles.

Wait... did he just say something dumb?

Lu Yu walked forward and rested a hand on his shoulder. “We’re partners, aren’t we?”

“If you think being a partner means always standing behind us... not fighting alongside us... then yeah, you can refuse it.”

Roelki eyes welled up.

He dropped to his knees. “Captain... I get it.”

He looked at the fruit, took a deep breath, and bit into it.

“Bleghh... tastes like crap,” he coughed. “What the hell is this taste?!”

Everyone laughed, but soon, a strange energy began to flow through Roelki's body.

He raised his hand. The sword he was holding started to shift and change—its edges warping and reshaping until it became a discus.

“I can manipulate metal?” he muttered, shocked.

“Seems like it,” Lu Yu observed. “But there’s probably a range or condition tied to it. Still, this ability’s dangerous—almost like the Rust-Rust Fruit. It can completely neutralize swordsmen unless they’ve reached the level of a great swordmaster.”

“Or unless they use Armament Haki,” Najenda added.

Lu Yu nodded. “Roelki, you’ve got potential. Start developing your ability. Someone else can handle navigation.”

With that, he walked off to the ship’s helm, his coat billowing in the wind.

---

Status:

Host: Lu Yu (21 years old)

Abilities: Advanced Swordsmanship, Advanced Assassination, Intermediate Armament Haki, Basic Observation Haki

Items: Ame-no-Habakiri, Extreme Battleship (God-tier Pirate Group Halo Equipment), Destroying-the-Kingdom Gift Pack

Reputation: 28,500

Crew:

First Team: Akamei (from “Akame ga Kill”)

Special Crew: Kuina, Roelki

Title: Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates

[Night Raid group recruitment conditions: active]

Lu Yu opened his system panel and let out a deep breath.

Sure enough, after eating the Devil Fruit, Roelki strength had jumped to an A-rank evaluation from the system.

Though his potential score was also A, it was enough to officially make him a core crew member.

Lu Yu could feel a surge of power resonate with him—the bond strengthening.

Every time a new core member joined, or an existing one grew stronger, he could feel it. As captain, he received the greatest feedback.

The stronger his crew, the closer he was to his ultimate goal.

“System,” Lu Yu said, his eyes sharp. “Open the ‘Destroying the Kingdom’ Gift Pack.”

Ding!
Congratulations, Host: +10,000 Reputation Points. Basic Attributes +50.

A wave of power rushed through his body.

The higher one’s basic attributes, the more potential there was for growth—and once you hit a certain threshold, every point became a huge leap in power.

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Chapter Text

Three days later.

East Blue — Loguetown

"Vice Admiral Gion!"

A Marine officer rushed forward, saluting as he spoke urgently.

"We've completed our investigation. The Dragon Hunter Pirates never appeared in the Kingdom of Yacoslan."

He paused, catching his breath, then continued with more troubling news.

"Additionally, a high-ranking noble of Yacoslan—Wendis—has appointed pirates as nobility. The Mondost Pirates, in particular, have now become part of Yacoslan’s official military."

Gion narrowed her eyes, flipping through the report in her hands. The absurdity of what she was reading made her frown deepen.

"A kingdom… legitimizing pirates?"

It made no sense. But then again, for those desperate enough, anything was possible.

“If that’s true, no wonder the pirates are swarming there,” she muttered. “Most of them turn to piracy because their lives back home are a mess or they’re hungry for more power. Now there's a kingdom handing out noble titles like candy? No pirate would pass that up.”

She tossed the report onto the desk.

"Do we know where the Dragon Hunter Pirates are now?"

The officer stiffened under her gaze, clearly uncomfortable in the presence of her overwhelming aura.

"They haven’t made any moves since the last incident. But if their goal is to enter the Grand Line, they’ll definitely stop by Loguetown to resupply."

“‘Definitely’? ‘Probably’?” Gion repeated, unimpressed. “I want confirmed coordinates. Track them. Now.”

"Yes, ma'am!"

The officer saluted, and Gion added with a faint smile, “Also, your term here is over. Captain Smoker will be replacing you as the head of this branch.”

The officer exhaled a breath of relief and left the room in a hurry.

Not long after, the door creaked again.

“Hey, Smoker,” Gion said without looking up, “can you not smoke in here? It’s cramped, and I hate the smell.”

Smoker, who was mid-puff, raised an eyebrow.

"Huh? I thought you were gonna ask me about the Dragon Hunter Pirates."

"Nope. I just want you to put that out," Gion replied flatly. "Seriously. It's disgusting."

"Tch. Fine."

He turned and walked out, trailing smoke behind him.

Gion chuckled softly, then moved to the window. Just as expected, Smoker had already rounded up Tashigi and a squad of Marines.

“That guy can’t sit still when pirates are involved,” she murmured to herself.

---

Somewhere at Sea

"Are we really letting Roelki go off on his own like that?" Najenda asked, eyeing the now-vanished ship on the horizon.

She didn’t hide her doubts. To her, Roelki was a terrible excuse for a pirate. His farewell had been ridiculous—something like ‘I am now a true pirate!’—and his awkward movements didn’t inspire much confidence either.

Lu Yu, however, didn’t seem bothered.

“It’s fine,” he said with a shrug, swinging his sword—Ame-no-Habakiri—through the air. “Besides, the Navy's eyes are on us now. Not him.”

Even while speaking, he never paused his training. Each slash was crisp, precise.

Najenda watched him, then sighed. “If you say so.”

“As the captain,” Lu Yu said, pausing to adjust his stance, “I’ve gotta stay sharp. Can’t let anyone outpace me.”

“Still,” Najenda said with a smile, “I can never keep up with that brain of yours.”

"Yup. Just let the genius handle it," Najenda added, waving off the conversation. “With a captain like ours, we’ve got it easy.”

Lu Yu stopped mid-swing and turned to Najenda. “Actually… I’ve got a request.”

“Oh?” she raised a brow.

“Let your Susanoo spar with me. I’m done with drills. I need real combat.”

He cracked his neck and stepped back. “I won’t be using Tsukuyomi, just my raw strength. So tell him to come at me like he means it.”

“Alright.” Najenda smiled faintly. “You heard him, Susanoo.”

"Got it," the spirit answered, stepping forward and pulling out his massive weapon. “But don’t blame me if I knock you out.”

“Try it,” Lu Yu grinned. “But don’t hold back.”

With that, his body vanished.

Assassination Technique — Dark Step!

Lu Yu hadn’t truly disappeared—he was moving through blind spots, dancing unpredictably across the battlefield.

This technique, inherited from Akame, had become more refined as his power increased.

CLANG!

Their weapons collided a moment later.

“Captain, you may be quick with your Dark Step,” Susanoo said, calm and analytical, “but don’t forget—I’ve mastered Observation Haki.”

“Which means…”

BAM!

Before Susanoo could finish, Lu Yu’s foot smashed into his gut, sending him flying.

“Damn… That was a feint,” Susanoo muttered, recovering midair. “The slash was just a distraction.”

He landed hard, but his aura flared.

A magatama appeared, swirling into a vortex of energy.

"Vortex Soul — Activate!"

Susanoo tapped into his hidden skill. According to the system, this consumed 1000 reputation points per hour—nothing Lu Yu couldn’t afford for a good fight.

"Yasakani no Magatama!"

The name was similar to Kizaru’s technique, but this was Susanoo’s own. His speed skyrocketed, and his stave-like weapon called Wolf Fang Mace—glowed with power.

Lu Yu narrowed his eyes, releasing his full Armament Haki.

Every strike and counterstrike threatened to destroy the ship beneath them—if not for the evil battleship’s self-defense protocols kicking in, they might’ve torn the entire thing apart.

---

A little while later...

“Time to eat!”

Akame and Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto walked out carrying trays of food.

The clashing of blades and booming impacts still echoed as the two warriors continued their duel.

“Brother Lu Yu sure works hard,” Tsukuyomi remarked.

“No wonder he’s so damn strong,” Akame said, watching with admiration.

“Is this how he trains every day?” Najenda added, chuckling. “Insane.”

The three women stood together, watching as the captain and spirit continued their violent dance, strength and strategy on full display.

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Chapter Text

The next morning.

At this time, the Dragon Hunter Pirates were already nearing the waters just outside Logue Town.

“Brother Lu Yu! A navy warship has appeared ahead!” Akame’s voice rang out from the mast.

“It’s one of those standard navy patrol ships. Probably stationed in Logue Town. Should we avoid it?”

Since Roelki had gone ashore to purchase supplies, Akame had once again taken over as lookout.

Lu Yu stood calmly on deck, smiling. “We’re here to cover Roelki’s supply run, aren’t we? Naturally, we need to draw some attention from the navy.”

“Let’s go, then!” Najenda added cheerfully.

“You got it, Captain!” Akame replied with a grin.

Kuina, watching the exchange, covered her face in disbelief.

She’d been part of the Dragon Hunter Pirates for a while now, but she still couldn’t get used to how fearless—or reckless—these people were.

Any other pirate crew would’ve avoided the navy entirely. A pointless fight like this? Most would steer clear.

But Lu Yu had explained it to her once.

"This is for the reputation of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. We're going to be a crew that stands at the very top of the world. How can we be afraid of the navy?"

That answer had completely shattered Kuina’s understanding of how pirates were supposed to behave.

If it weren’t for certain reasons, she probably wouldn’t have been so easily swayed by Lu Yu’s conviction.

---

On the Navy warship...

“Captain Smoker! We’ve spotted a pirate ship!”

The lookout saluted and spoke quickly. “Judging by the flag, it’s the Dragon Hunter Pirates.”

“But...”

He hesitated.

“But what?” Smoker asked, frowning impatiently.

“They’re sailing toward us… It looks like they intend to attack.”

The lookout looked visibly nervous.

Lu Yu didn’t have a huge reputation yet in the East Blue, but the fact that he had killed a navy Captain back in Shells Town had made him infamous. He clearly didn’t care about the power or authority of the navy.

Now he was charging straight toward them, even though Smoker himself—an elite from Navy Headquarters—was on board.

Still, the sailors were worried.

“You’re saying that as a captain from Navy HQ, I should retreat? Go back, call Vice Admiral Gion, and wait for reinforcements before fighting?” Smoker’s voice was cold, his tone serious.

Even though the lookout hadn’t said it outright, it was obvious from his face what he was thinking.

“Captain Smoker... The Dragon Hunter Pirates are far stronger than intelligence suggests,” the lookout said finally. “One of them reportedly wiped out an entire navy fleet alone. Their individual combat ability is off the charts.”

“If you’re restrained by just one of them... the rest of us could be wiped out instantly.”

It was bold to say such things to a superior officer, but it was the truth.

They were just standard patrol troops—capable of handling small-time pirates, sure, but utterly unprepared for opponents like this.

Smoker, initially irritated, quickly calmed down.

Charging in recklessly now could lead to everyone on this ship dying. Even if he somehow managed to capture the Dragon Hunter Pirates, it would be a hollow victory if his men were slaughtered.

“…I understand,” he said at last.

“Return to the main ship. Leave me a daughter ship.”

“Tashigi, you’ll evacuate with the rest of the crew and report everything to Vice Admiral Gion through Den Den Mushi.”

“Once you link up with her fleet, come back here and rescue me.”

Smoker gave the orders without hesitation.

Letting the Dragon Hunter Pirates flee—or worse, retreating in front of them—would be a stain on both the Navy’s reputation and his personal sense of justice.

So he made his choice.

He would stay behind. Alone.

Vice Admiral Gion’s warships were fast—at most, she’d be here in half a day. Smoker was confident he could hold out.

“But—”

“No buts,” Smoker interrupted. “That’s an order, Master Chief Petty Officer Tashigi. Execute it.”

Tashigi wanted to object, but when she saw the look in Smoker’s eyes, she could only nod solemnly.

“…I’ll be back as fast as I can.”

“Leave a daughter ship for Captain Smoker!” she called out.

As someone who’d trained with Smoker back at Navy HQ, she knew how powerful he truly was.

He could handle it.

As the main warship began to retreat and contact Vice Admiral Gion, Smoker stood tall and alone on the daughter ship, waiting for Lu Yu and his crew to arrive.

---

Back on the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ ship...

“Huh?” Kuina furrowed her brows. “Aren’t we the ones they’re supposed to be chasing? Why are they retreating?”

“Because they’re afraid,” Lu Yu said calmly.

“Kuina, you still don’t realize it. The Dragon Hunter Pirates… we’re no small fry anymore.”

His voice carried pride, and Akame and Najenda raised their chins in agreement, standing tall beside him.

“Afraid?” Kuina echoed.

“Why would the navy be afraid of rookie pirates?”

“…Because we’re strong,” she realized.

It wasn’t about being new or not having a big name. What truly mattered was power.

And the Dragon Hunter Pirates… their record was terrifying enough to strike fear into even experienced naval crews.

Soon, a single daughter ship appeared on the sea not far ahead.

Lu Yu recognized the man standing at the front.

“Smoker, huh…” he murmured, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. “Figured it’d be him.”

According to the timeline, Smoker should be the current Captain stationed at Logue Town.

If he was the one making the call, then this kind of cautious—but righteous—approach made perfect sense.

Even though the main warship had backed off to a safe distance, it hadn’t left completely.

There was definitely someone important backing him up.

Someone bigger than Smoker...

Could it be a Navy admiral?

Or worse—could that old bastard Garp be on his way?

If Garp showed up, Lu Yu wouldn’t hesitate to retreat—no matter what it took.

Lu Yu stepped up to the bow, arms crossed, wind brushing past his coat.

“Hey, Captain Smoker! You planning to arrest us here?”

Smoker looked up, slightly surprised. “You know who I am?”

Lu Yu smirked. “Looks like you know a lot about us too.”

“You're a criminal,” Smoker snapped. “Turn yourself in and come quietly, pirate!”

As he spoke, white smoke curled from his mouth.

But even as he issued the challenge, Smoker’s expression grew tense.

He could feel it.

Killing intent.

Not just from Lu Yu—but from every single person on that ship.

Each of them radiated an overwhelming, suffocating bloodlust. Even the ship itself felt like a beast, ready to devour anything in its path.

What kind of monsters are these people?

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Chapter Text

Chapter 29: Smoker's Nightmare!

At that moment, Lu Yu squinted his eyes at Smoker.

This guy... isn’t he just like Luffy? A big, stubborn idiot.

What’s he even doing here on the smaller ship?

Could it be that the momentum of the Dragon Hunter Pirates is so overwhelming that even Smoker, this fool, is paralyzed with shock?

“Heh…”

“As a Captain of the Navy Headquarters, this is how you act?”

“Shouldn’t you at least try to greet me properly?”

Without another word, Lu Yu unsheathed Ame-no-Habakiri.

Between a Marine and a pirate, the most sincere form of greeting… is a fight.

Honestly, Lu Yu had been itching to test this guy out—Smoker, who’d been hounding Luffy from the start.

Fighting him would give Lu Yu a good gauge of his own current strength.

Plus, Smoker’s character setting was a bit strange. His growth and combat power seemed to mirror Luffy’s.

Might as well beat him down while the opportunity’s here.

Just like in Foosha Village—Lu Yu used to bully Luffy all the time back then.

Buzz!

The moment Lu Yu drew his sword, Smoker finally snapped. He pulled out his Jitte and launched forward with a burst of white smoke.

Clang!

The force behind the strike transferred heavily into Lu Yu’s sword.

“Oh? That’s your strength?” Lu Yu grinned. “Not bad.”

“But I’m not a Devil Fruit user. That Jitte of yours? Not much of a threat to me.”

With a light twist, Lu Yu deflected Smoker’s weapon and countered with another slash from Ame-no-Habakiri.

“Smoke!”

Smoker’s body immediately dispersed into thick smoke.

Lu Yu’s attack passed right through—completely ineffective.

The battle escalated quickly, both sides trading moves in a flurry of action.

But internally, Smoker was panicking.

He could feel it clearly—Lu Yu wasn’t using anywhere near his full strength.

If this guy got serious… he could end the fight in an instant.

That terrifying realization nearly shattered Smoker’s will.

Desperate, he used his Smoke-Smoke Fruit to create distance.

Huff… huff…

Just that short clash had left him mentally and physically overwhelmed.

This fight… was pointless!

Unless he fought like his life depended on it, he wouldn’t even be able to tap into half of his potential.

“No way…” Lu Yu mocked. “White Chase? Is this the strength of a Navy Headquarters Captain?”

“Come on, let loose. I promise you—I won’t kill you.”

Just as he said that, a powerful wave of energy erupted behind Lu Yu.

Smoker instinctively backed away.

That was it—the same presence that had just now made his knees weak.

Was this the strength of the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ captain?

This young guy… had already reached such terrifying heights?

No doubt about it—this was the Era of Extreme Evil.

Monsters were rising from every corner of the seas.

“Tsukuyomi!”

Lu Yu activated his ability. A massive armored figure materialized behind him—Tsukuyomi.

The giant gently lifted Lu Yu onto his shoulder and soared into the sky, hovering in midair while staring down at Smoker.

“What… is that thing…?”

Smoker’s hands trembled uncontrollably.

His Observation Haki screamed at him.

He didn’t know what Tsukuyomi was exactly… but he knew one thing for certain:

This being could kill him.

“Ah…”

“You ready?” Lu Yu asked coldly.

“If you're stalling just to wait for reinforcements, then I’ll lose all respect for you.”

Despite his words, Lu Yu didn’t make a move.

This guy in front of him—he had already lost the will to fight.

And when Lu Yu saw that, he didn’t even feel like bothering to finish him off.

White Hunter… what a joke.

“Lose your respect…?” Smoker muttered, breathing hard.

“Yeah… I’ve always resented being bound by orders and rules.”

“Time, plans, chains—screw it all!”

“LU YU! LET ME FIGHT YOU!”

With a wild shout, Smoker charged in again.

This time, he was faster—driven by desperation.

But in Lu Yu’s eyes, it was still nothing more than a predictable straight-line attack.

Even if he was smoke...

BOOM!

Just as Lu Yu prepared to counter, Smoker exploded.

That’s right—he literally burst apart into countless wisps of smoke, swarming Lu Yu and Tsukuyomi from all directions.

Though Tsukuyomi’s force field kept the smoke from physically touching Lu Yu, his visibility was completely blocked.

The fruit’s ability... was impressive after all.

“Chaos Force Field!”

Lu Yu extended both arms.

Waves of energy pulsed outward in all directions, instantly clearing the surrounding smoke.

Smoker’s Jitte came slicing back in from the edge.

Clang!

The fight resumed, now even more intense than before.

A hint of excitement finally surfaced on Lu Yu’s face.

---

“Why didn’t the captain just finish that Marine off?” Najeta muttered, scribbling in her notebook. “Strategically, that would’ve been the best move, right?”

“Maybe Brother Lu Yu thinks that guy has some value,” Akahime replied with her usual deadpan tone.

“That’s very Lu Yu,” Kuina added with a knowing smirk. “If that Marine was useless, he would’ve been cut down like the others on that merchant ship.”

Their captain wasn’t just strong—he was a wild card. An enigma.

A brilliant, egotistical anomaly.

“Captain! Another Navy ship approaching!”

Akame’s voice rang out from the mast.

“And this one’s way bigger than the last!”

Another warship had entered the area in the short time they’d been watching.

“I wonder if any of these ships are actually worth our time,” Najeta mused.

“Captain,” she said, looking toward the battlefield, “what’s your criteria for judging whether the Navy deserves to exist?”

“You think the captain needs a reason?” Kuina teased.

Najeta had gathered tons of data, but none of it could help her understand Lu Yu’s decisions.

Why spare Smoker?

He came to them, ready for battle. Normally, that meant death.

Wouldn’t killing him have established their dominance more effectively?

Her curiosity about Lu Yu only deepened.

He was a mysterious and overwhelming force.

“Brother Lu Yu will end it before those other ships arrive,” Akame said calmly as she landed beside Najeta.

The situation was crystal clear.

Lu Yu hadn’t even used Tsukuyomi’s offensive power in this fight.

Only the passive force field to counter Devil Fruit abilities.

That meant…

He was holding back.

Not just a little.

He was letting the water—no, letting the sea.

If Lu Yu wanted to end this fight, he could do it at any time.

Chapter Text

Chapter 30: SS-Class Crew, Gion Is Here!

At this moment, Smoker was exactly as Akame had predicted.

He had seen the approaching warships in the distance.

But now, he didn’t even dare to look away, let alone signal for reinforcements.

In fact, if he could, he would’ve warned Vice Admiral Gion to turn back.

Because the monsters in front of him...
They were far beyond anything he could handle.

Right now, it was just Lu Yu facing him alone—

No, this wasn’t even a proper fight anymore.

To Smoker, it felt more like being toyed with.

And yet, Lu Yu still wore a serious expression, as if this was a genuine duel.

That made it even more confusing for Smoker.

What exactly was this guy trying to do?

One thing was certain—Lu Yu’s strength wasn’t inferior to a vice admiral.
And the person standing on the warship beside Lu Yu radiated the same dangerous aura.

Which meant… there was at least one more combatant with vice admiral-level power on that ship.

Just like the Navy lookout had reported earlier—

If Vice Admiral Gion got tied up, the rest of the Navy would be left defenseless.

They’d be slaughtered.

Even he wouldn’t survive.

---

"Smoker, I'm taking this fight seriously," Lu Yu said with a faint smile, though there was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "You flailing around like this—makes things boring."

He tightened his grip on the Ame-no-Habakiri, now coated with Armament Haki.

Smoker’s face darkened.

"Oh no..."

He quickly retreated, smoke trailing behind him.

There was no choice.
He couldn’t match Lu Yu in a head-on fight.

“Running away?” Lu Yu’s voice followed him like a shadow. “Is that what your teacher taught you?”

He narrowed his eyes, tone growing cold.

“If you're going to disrespect me like that, then it’s time I get serious.”

In the blink of an eye, Lu Yu was right in front of him.

He slashed down instantly.

Smoker’s body reacted on instinct—turning into smoke to avoid the strike.

But before he could reposition, another slash came.

Then another.

And another.

A flurry of blinding attacks filled the air with afterimages.

Even with his Logia powers, Smoker couldn't recover fast enough to counterattack or escape.

---

Swish!

His body trembled. He couldn’t keep this up.

Staying in his smoke form while maintaining high alert—

It was draining him fast.

And finally, slash!

A sword cut through his chest.

Bang!

Lu Yu followed up with a vicious kick, sending Smoker flying.

He crashed onto the deck of the evil warship and didn’t get up.

He had fainted—body and mind completely overwhelmed.

The fight hadn’t lasted long.
But Smoker was already done.

Lu Yu landed lightly back on the warship.

“Brother Lu Yu! A new Navy ship is approaching!” Akame quickly reported.

“I saw,” Lu Yu said calmly, folding his arms. “And it’s someone I know.”

“Vice Admiral Gion—future candidate for admiral.”

“Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters? Reserve admiral?” Najenda echoed as she finished jotting something in her notebook. “In this world, that sounds like someone strong.”

“She’s not bad,” Lu Yu nodded. “But she’s not top-tier either.”

He turned to her with a grin.

“Wanna try it out? Test your current strength?”

Najenda’s eyes lit up. She closed her notebook and stood tall, a spark of fighting spirit in her gaze.

“Sure,” she said. “Let’s see where I stand.”

As for Lu Yu’s standards of measurement—she could always ask later.
Or maybe she’d discover them herself through battle.

“Alright then, I’ll leave it to you for now.”

Lu Yu casually dragged a recliner over and lay down.

Najenda. Akame. Kuina.

The three of them were already on the system panel.

Potential: S.
Current Combat Power: S.

But once Najenda or Akame activated their Imperial Arm, they could reach SS-Class.

Still, Lu Yu wanted to see how that actually played out in real combat.

If none of them could take down a vice admiral… he’d need to reevaluate his future plans.

In this world, the major forces could be roughly divided into seven camps:

The World Government

The Navy

The Four Emperors

The Seven Warlords of the Sea

The Revolutionary Army

Allied Nations

Independent Kingdoms

And as Lu Yu rose to infamy, each of these camps could potentially provide reputation points.

So far, the most efficient source seemed to be the nobles.

In other words, the best way to farm reputation… was to attack the nobles directly.

If he had the chance, killing a few Celestial Dragons wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

After all, their pirate crew was called the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

If they didn’t take out at least a few Celestial Dragons, what kind of name was that?

Right now, Lu Yu needed over 20,000 reputation points to recruit new crew members.

If he recruited now, he could bring in two.

And if he was lucky enough to draw two S-class or above… it would make a huge difference in the upcoming fight.

“System,” Lu Yu said aloud, “Recruit two crew members randomly!”

Even though Lu Yu had just said Gion wasn’t a serious threat, he wasn’t taking chances.

Defeating her here would definitely put him on the Navy’s radar.

And if someone like Sengoku decided to step in…

Or if Garp personally hunted him down across the world…

That would be a huge headache.

Killing Gion was out of the question.
Not because of the original timeline or plotline.

But because she was Tsuru sister.

If she died, the Navy wouldn’t just send an admiral—they’d probably send retired monsters from the old era too.

---

As the system responded, two glowing summoning circles appeared in front of Lu Yu.

Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained B-Class Crew Member: Mario.

Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained SS-Class Crew Member—

Lu Yu sat upright immediately.

“Captain!”

Two figures materialized before him.

And Lu Yu’s eyes lit up in shock.

SS-Class Crew Member: Chrollo Lucilfer.

And… wait, was that Mario?

Why was he here?

Wasn’t he supposed to be off rescuing a princess somewhere!?

Fighting dragons or something!?

Ahem—
Forget that. The point is:

It’s CHROLLO standing right in front of me, okay?!

Chapter Text

Chapter 31: Phantom Troupe, Chrollo!

Kuroro Lucilfer—known as Chrollo in the Hunter World, written by the old thief Togashi—is no ordinary character.

He’s the leader of the Phantom Troupe.

---

"Ding! Activating the Second Division."

"Phantom Troupe unlocked!"

"Extracting abilities..."

With a string of system prompts, a new team appeared on Lu Yu’s system panel.

A powerful wave of energy surged through his body like a tidal wave.

Nen.

That’s right—Chrollo’s overwhelming Nen abilities were now fusing with Lu Yu’s body.

"Ding! Skill obtained: Snatch!"

"Ding! Additional abilities obtained..."

Along with stat boosts, Lu Yu extracted one of Kuroro’s most terrifying skills—Snatch.

[Snatch]: Trigger condition—when touching or killing a target, you may forcibly seize one of their abilities for storage.

[Note: Can store up to 10 abilities. Each can only be used once, but duplicates of the same ability can be stored multiple times.]

Lu Yu grinned as he read the description.

This kind of skill... is basically a golden finger!

“This God-Tier Pirate System is insane!” he muttered to himself.

Then, he looked at the newly arrived Chrollo.

"Chrollo, from this moment on, you're the captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates' Second Division."

"Mario, you're now the official shipwright of the Dragon Hunter Pirates."

Lu Yu closed the system panel and reviewed his new skills. But there was no time to relax.

They were about to face a Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters.

And unlike the weaker fleets of the East Blue, Vice Admiral-led fleets were on a whole different level.

---

"Captain, are we about to engage an enemy?"

"Is that why you summoned me?"

Chrollo knelt on one knee in front of Lu Yu, his voice calm and composed.

"Also..." he looked up, "can our Second Division have its own name?"

Lu Yu chuckled.

"Chrollo, standing over there is the First Division—Night Raid."

"As for your division, even though you're the only member for now, I grant you the right to name it..."

"You may call it the Phantom Troupe."

A rare smile touched Lu Yu’s lips.

Chrollo’s attachment to that name ran deep—so deep that the very concept of the Phantom Troupe had long surpassed his own personal identity.

Allowing him to keep the name was the right decision.

"Thank you, Captain."

"Then... may I participate in the upcoming battle?" Chrollo asked, placing a hand to his chest.

"I want to show our crew what I can do."

This wasn’t just about volunteering. It was Chrollo’s way of showing his loyalty for being allowed to retain the name Phantom Troupe.

Lu Yu nodded.
"Alright."

"But Chrollo, remember—you’re one of us now."

"Don’t let arrogance cloud your judgment."

"Understood." Chrollo rose to his feet, his aura immediately swelling with overwhelming psychic pressure.
Mario, who stood nearby, instinctively went silent.

Then, without another word, the oddball shipwright pulled out a large water pipe and connected it to the evil warship.

"Captain, I’m going to inspect the hull."

He dove into the pipe and disappeared below.

---

"Huh?"

Najenda stepped forward, visibly surprised.

Just moments ago, her attention had been focused entirely on the warship across from them. But then, a sudden, immense aura drew her gaze to the two men kneeling before Lu Yu.

"Another monster... He’s one of us too?"

Lu Yu nodded.

"This is Chrollo, Captain of the Second Division: Phantom Troupe."

"From today, he’s one of our own."

The look in Najenda’s eyes changed instantly.

Recruiting Chrollo felt like hitting the jackpot.

"Nice to meet you, Chrollo."

"I’m Najenda, Captain of the First Division—Night Raid."

"Looking forward to working with you."

She extended her hand.

Chrollo shook it without hesitation.

"Likewise. We exist for the same goal—serving the captain."
"We’ll get along just fine."

---

While Lu Yu was enjoying the new additions to his crew, things weren’t quite as cheerful on the opposing side.

Gion—Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters—stood with a stern face.

"Vice Admiral Gion, current intel shows seven individuals aboard the Dragon Hunter Pirates' ship."

"This doesn’t match the reports we received, which mentioned only two."

"They appear to be chatting casually. Almost... cheerful."

The marine lookout relayed the report with a shaky voice.

Roelki had been completely disregarded in earlier intel, considered too weak to matter. But even with that accounted for, their numbers had tripled.

Gion’s expression darkened.

"Where is Captain Smoker?"

"He’s been thrown onto the enemy deck. Still alive... but unconscious and unable to fight."

The lookout's voice dropped even lower.

Everyone knew how strong Smoker was. He’d been called a genius among his peers—his Smoke-Smoke Fruit made him a formidable opponent.

But now, he lay crumpled like a ragdoll on a pirate ship.

A disgrace.

"Everyone—be alert!"

"This Dragon Hunter crew isn’t some bunch of rookies!"

"The East Blue... tsk..." Gion muttered.

Despite being the weakest of the four seas, strange monsters always seemed to come out of the East Blue.

Still, she had no choice. She was Vice Admiral. And the pirate in front of her had already humiliated one of her own.

---

"Vice Admiral Gion!" a marine shouted, running over in a panic.

"There’s someone... walking toward us from the sea!"

"Walking?"

Gion’s eyes widened, and she immediately raised her telescope.

Running across water was possible for strong enough martial artists or Devil Fruit users with the right abilities.

But walking?

There were only a few ways that could be possible. Either he wasn’t a Devil Fruit user, or he was doing something like freezing the sea—like Aokiji.

What she saw stunned her.

A tall, black-haired man in a windbreaker was casually walking toward her fleet like he was out for a stroll.

And behind him... the Dragon Hunter ship followed slowly, not even trying to join him.

He’s coming alone?

He plans to fight us alone!?

Gion’s face twisted in fury.

She wasn’t just a Vice Admiral. She was once a star cadet at boot camp—rose from a lowly sergeant to her current position. Her pride was immense.

Not to mention—her sister was the Navy Headquarters’ Chief of Staff, Tsuru.

To be so blatantly disrespected by some pirate upstart... it was unacceptable.

"All gunners, prepare to fire!"

"Target the man walking on the sea!"

"Kill him immediately!"

She drew her beloved sword—Konpira—and pointed it directly at the oncoming enemy.

"Let’s show this ‘Dragon Hunter’ what the Navy’s made of!"

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Chapter Text

Chapter 32: One Man Stops the Vice Admiral's Fleet!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The Vice Admiral’s fleet wasted no time.

The moment they spotted their target, the order to fire was given—
And a barrage of cannonballs filled the skies.

"Convenient Big Pocket!"

But in the face of such chaos, Chrollo remained calm.

Without hesitation, he pulled a black cloth from behind his back and covered his eyes.

The moment he did, the shells disappeared—vanishing midair without a single explosion.

"What the hell…?"

"What is that thing?!"

"Are we really supposed to fight someone like that?"

Panic swept through the marines of the local Navy Branch.

The man before them was no ordinary pirate.
He was a monster.

Meanwhile, aboard Vice Admiral Gion’s warship, the atmosphere was tense.

Marines scrambled into position.
Some gripped their blades, while others raised long rifles and took aim from the railings.

Since their heavy artillery was useless…
They turned to small arms instead.

But the gunners didn’t stop firing.

They simply changed targets—
Now aiming for Lu Yu’s black warship, The Extremely Evil Warship.

“As expected of a Vice Admiral’s fleet... Their discipline is on a whole different level compared to a branch base,” Lu Yu muttered.

"Swish..."
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Lu Yu leaped into the air, slicing through every cannonball headed his way.

At the same time, Chrollo had already reached the deck of one of the marine warships.

"Damn pirate! Die!!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Even Headquarters marines felt the pressure bearing down on them.

As soon as one pulled the trigger, the rest followed.

A hailstorm of bullets rained toward Chrollo.

But he didn’t flinch.

“Bandit's Secret: Indoor fish.”

A book appeared in his hand, and a pitch-black space opened beside him.

From it, a strange fish leapt out and swallowed a marine whole, dragging him into the darkness.

Inside the space, other marines could see what was happening—

White, spectral fish swam through the darkness, devouring their comrade.

Yet he didn’t seem to feel any pain.
Only terror.

"Ahh! Get away! What are you?!"
"No! Vice Admiral Gion, help me—"
"AAAAHHH—!"

The screams echoed—not from pain, but from fear.

One by one, the fish tore through him—until nothing remained.

Chrollo Lucilfer lifted his head, smiling gently.

“The people of this world have such strong life energy inside them.”

“My fish are very pleased.”

He spoke the most horrifying words… with the calmest, most tender voice.

Even Gion couldn’t hide her shock.

What kind of pirate was this?

Was there not a single normal person in the Dragon Hunter Pirates?

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

The fish surged forward again, attacking more marines.

"Swish!"

Gion reacted instantly.

Drawing her blade—Konpira—she unleashed a flurry of sword slashes, cutting down every single fish in one clean motion.

She then leapt to the bow of her warship.

“All personnel below the rank of captain and without mastery of the Six Styles—
Fall back immediately!”

“captains and lieutenants —stand with me!”

“The enemy before us isn’t just some pirate... He’s a super pirate!”

Without waiting, Gion dashed forward, slicing through the air.

She didn’t understand how Chrollo could stand on the sea.
But she had learned one thing:

Armament Haki-imbued slashes could hurt him.

That was all she needed.

“Threefold Slash!”

Three massive arcs of sword light flew toward Chrollo.

Meanwhile, the remaining navy captains and Lieutenant launched small ships and charged toward The Extremely Evil.

Their goal was clear—

If Chrollo was the enemy’s strongest fighter…
Then they would clear the rest of the enemy first,
And then surround and overwhelm him.

After all, they couldn’t let Gion’s fight be in vain

---

“If I let you lay a finger on my captain, I’d be too ashamed to show my face.”

Chrollo calmly flipped a page in his book.

“By the way—let me introduce myself.”

“I am Chrollo Lucilfer, captain of the Second Division of the Dragon Hunter Pirates... and leader of the Phantom Troupe.”

“Bandit's Secret: Undead.”

He sidestepped Gion’s attack and activated a new ability.

The black space began to boil.

Countless swimming fish burst out, and from the dark portal, twisted shadows began to rise.

Figures emerged—twisted, undead things.

They were the marines who had been devoured earlier.

Twisted by their own fear into dark, soulless husks.

“What the hell are those?!”

“Is this… a Devil Fruit ability?”

“Wait—how can he use it on the sea?!”

The sea beneath them grew darker.

Red-eyed undead stood on its surface like shadows rising from hell.

Gion’s face paled.

The creatures targeted the officers on the smaller ships.

“Watch out!”

“Shave!”

“Moon Step!”

With a burst of speed, Gion shot into the air. Using Moon Step, she took to the skies.

She had to defeat Chrollo quickly.

If she didn’t…

They were doomed.

The Dragon Hunter Pirates are monsters.

That was Gion’s only thought now.

And this was just one crewmember.

She was already considering retreat.

If the fight continued, they would be annihilated.

---

“Chrollo, I'm back.”

Just as Chrollo prepared to turn another page—ready to finish Gion off—
A familiar voice called from behind him.

“Yes, Captain!”

Chrollo smiled.

“Before I go… a parting gift.”

He threw the black cloth in his hand.

A torrent of cannonballs exploded out of thin air, raining onto the enemy fleet.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

In the chaos, Kuroro leapt back onto The Extremely Evil Warship.

Gion stood on the bow of her ship, staring up at the towering black warship ahead—
And the terrifying pirate flag flying atop its mast.

Her expression turned grim.

Captain Lu Yu had arrived.

Could this situation possibly get any worse?

---

“Vice Admiral Gion,” Lu Yu called out, standing at the edge of his deck.

“You’ve been chasing the Dragon Hunter Pirates, haven’t you?”

“So if you die in the process... that’s part of the job, right?”

He smiled as he said it.

“You insult me,” Gion replied coldly.
She knew she couldn’t win—
But she still had her pride.

“No, no. That’s not my intention at all.”

Lu Yu’s expression remained casual.

“But we’ve only been active for a few months now.”

“You’re just standing behind the biggest power, calling it justice…
You turn a blind eye to the crimes of the nobles. Talk about justice to civilians, and call it crime when pirates do the same things?”

“That’s... quite the overreach.”

The moment he finished speaking, Lu Yu’s aura erupted.

And as if answering the call—

Najenda.

Akame.

Chrollo.

Kuina.

Each of them released their powerful presence, all focused on one target—

Vice Admiral Gion.

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Chapter Text

According to the schedule they had agreed on earlier, Roelki should have finished purchasing supplies by now.

Of course, Smoker had already been tossed back to the Navy ship by Najenda.

Carrying a Navy officer like that was a liability—it would only attract trouble.

Lu Yu had no plans to kill any of the Navy, either. If they started down that road, there’d be no turning back—the Navy would see them as full-blown enemies.

And that was something he wanted to avoid for now.

Meanwhile, back on the Navy ship, Gion watched as Lu Yu’s terrifying warship finally disappeared from view. Her strength gave out, and she collapsed onto the deck.

“Vice Admiral Gion!”

“Are you alright?!”

“Were you injured in the fight?!”

A group of officers quickly surrounded her, their faces filled with worry.

“I’m fine,” she said weakly. “Return to Logue Town.”

She stood up with effort, issued her command, and walked alone back to her quarters.

[You’re just standing behind the biggest power, calling it justice…
You turn a blind eye to the crimes of the nobles. Talk about justice to civilians, and call it crime when pirates do the same things?]

Lu Yu’s words echoed in Gion’s mind like a curse.

Her belief in justice—shaped since childhood under the guidance of Vice Admiral Tsuru—had begun to crack. She had always known about the ugly side of the world. She’d seen glimpses. But this time… she felt it.

The justice they fought for had holes—gaping flaws that couldn’t be fixed.

The sins of the World Government… the corruption of the Celestial Dragons…

The Navy had no jurisdiction over any of it.

So, what was justice?

Was it the justice of the nobles? The privileged?

Or was it the justice of the common people, those who suffered under the very same laws?

The word “Justice” emblazoned on the back of her cloak now felt like a cruel joke—a mockery of everything she believed in.

“Purururu ”

Her Den Den Mushi rang.

“…Sister Tsuru?”

Gion took a deep breath, steadying her emotions before answering the call.

“Gion, were you defeated?” came Tsuru’s voice, calm but concerned.

“…Yes.”

“There was no way I could’ve won. The Dragon Hunter Pirates… they’re incredibly strong.”

Gion didn’t try to sugarcoat it.

A loss was a loss.

Even though Lu Yu had spared her, the truth was undeniable—she had been outmatched.

“…Did something else happen?”

Tsuru immediately picked up on the strange tone in Gion’s voice.

She knew Gion well. Despite her usual bluntness, Gion was proud—unyielding. Raised under Tsuru’s care, she had a strong spirit and a clear sense of right and wrong.

But now, she sounded… shaken.

The Gion she knew wouldn’t just admit defeat so easily. Something must’ve happened out there—something more than just a lost battle.

---

Meanwhile, on the other side...

Lu Yu and his crew had finally arrived at Loguetown.

The starting point of dreams—the place where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had been executed.

To any pirate with ambition, this town was legendary. A place to visit. A place to reflect.

“Pirate King Roger was executed here?” Najenda asked, staring at the town with wide eyes. “The guy who found the One Piece and kicked off the whole damn Age of Pirates?”

She looked both impressed and curious.

“Well, if we're gonna be a real force, maybe we should start recruiting some crew members,” Chrollo said casually, scanning the streets. “My second squad’s just me right now.”

“Yeah, you’ve got a point,” Najenda added. “If we want to form a super crew, it can’t just be the main combat team.”

“We also need territory,” she continued, tapping her chin in thought. “We can’t just float around forever. Everyone from the Four Emperors to the Warlords has land they operate from.”

Kuina nodded. “Exactly. Having a base may make us a target… but it’s necessary.”

“Ababa ababa…”
“Ababa ababa…”

Akame and Mario were off to the side, mumbling nonsense—they clearly had no clue what to contribute to this kind of discussion.

Lu Yu chuckled. “Alright, let’s hold off on the territory thing for now. Ideally, we’ll get two bases—one in the Grand Line, one in the New World.”

“As for recruiting squad members, that’s up to you guys,” he continued, shrugging. “You’re the captains of your squads. Pick your people.”

He wasn’t about to micromanage—this wasn’t that kind of crew. Just like Whitebeard left it to his captains, Lu Yu trusted them to build their own teams.

“Sounds good to me,” Chrollo said. “This town’s the last stop before pirates enter the Grand Line. Should be a ton of strong guys hanging around.”

Without another word, he vanished into the crowd.

Najenda waved and followed suit—time to find potential recruits for her squad.

Mario also walked off, asking Lu Yu for a bit of cash to buy tools and repair gear.

In the end, only Lu Yu, Akame, and Kuina were left.

“Well, let’s go check out the execution platform,” Lu Yu said, stretching lazily. “Then we’ll grab a bite and wait for the others.”

Being the captain had its perks—delegation was a beautiful thing.

They made their way through the streets until they reached the tall execution platform towering above Logue Town.

“This is where Roger died,” Lu Yu said, glancing up. “The end of one Pirate King…”

“…And the start of something much bigger.”

The energy of the place was palpable. A strange atmosphere hung in the air—part reverence, part excitement, part dread.

As Lu Yu stood there, taking it all in, a sudden sensation brushed past him.

He narrowed his eyes.

Someone was watching.

He reached out with his Observation Haki and instantly locked on to a small, unassuming shop just across the square.

An old man sat inside, seemingly harmless…

But that strange pressure he’d just felt—it came from him.

Lu Yu’s eyes sharpened.

‘There’s someone powerful hidden in there…’

Chapter Text

Chapter 34: Roger’s Ship Doctor, Erwin!

“Kuina, take Akame shopping.”

Lu Yu handed her a small box. “Here’s 30 million Berries. Buy whatever you like.”

Since Kuina was a native of this world, she understood the local customs and shops far better than Akame did. Letting her take the lead made perfect sense.

“Shopping?” Akame tilted her head, confused. “You mean… purchasing supplies?”

She looked at Lu Yu blankly, her tone slow and uncertain. For someone like her, the idea of shopping was alien. That sort of task had always fallen to others—Maine, Leone, or the rest.

“Nope,” Kuina chuckled. “Shopping is when us girls go out to buy stuff we want, not just the stuff we need.”

She leaned down slightly, grinning. “You’re adorable, Akame. Let’s go pick out some cute clothes or something, yeah?”

Without waiting for a response, Kuina grabbed her hand and led her away.

Kuina still carried the weight of her past, but ever since she’d joined the Dragon Hunter Pirates, something in her had shifted. This crew was different. They weren’t just chasing power or chaos—they were building something real. And if they stayed on this path, maybe… just maybe, she could complete those things she once thought impossible.

Her heart felt a little lighter these days.

Once the two girls were out of sight, Lu Yu turned and walked into a nearby shop on his own.

“Welcome, young man. What are you looking for?” an old man greeted him politely as he stepped through the door.

It was a cozy little store, filled with antiques and hand-crafted trinkets. Honestly, a lot of it looked pretty high-quality.

Lu Yu glanced around, then met the man’s gaze.

“Old sir, I want to know about Raftel,” he said, taking a seat on one of the chairs near the wall. “How much do you think information like that would be worth?”

His tone was casual, but his eyes were sharp.

Lu Yu had a feeling this old man wasn’t just some harmless shopkeeper. This store? Definitely a front. As for the guy’s real role… well, Lu Yu wasn’t sure yet. He only knew that men like this—leftovers from the previous era—often had a lot more going on than they let on.

Just like Rayleigh, who worked as a boatman on the Sabaody Archipelago. When he was broke, he'd go auction himself off to nobles, then kill whoever bought him, take their money, and go drinking.

Why did he do it? Who knew. Maybe just to watch how the world changed—how Roger’s so-called Age of Pirates would play out.

The old man waved a hand. “Raftel? You’re joking, kid. I’m just a shopkeeper. I might know a few things about Loguetown if you’re interested, but Raftel? That’s beyond me.”

His voice was calm, steady, and a little too practiced.

Lu Yu smirked. “Oh? But… you just said Raftel isn’t in Loguetown. How would you know that if you didn’t know where it is?”

The old man froze for a split second.

“Hahaha…”

He laughed heartily, shaking his head.

“I didn’t expect a sharp young man like you to catch that slip. Alright then. You said you wanted to know about Raftel?”

The calm aura around him shifted in an instant. The frail old man was gone—replaced by someone alert, strong, and brimming with presence.

Lu Yu watched, impressed. If he hadn’t been paying close attention, he wouldn’t have believed a person could shift their demeanor that quickly.

“The world’s greatest treasure... the one Roger found at the end of the Grand Line—One Piece,” Lu Yu said casually. “I’m guessing you were on that ship. You followed Roger to that final island.”

No point hiding it now. Lu Yu had already figured it out.

“Haha… You’re an interesting kid,” the man chuckled. “How’d you know I was part of Roger’s crew? From a hunch to full certainty—that’s not a leap most can make.”

Lu Yu leaned back and smiled. “You started probing me with your aura the moment I walked in. That wasn’t a test on my part—I genuinely wanted to know about Raftel. But you gave yourself away. From that moment, I was sure.”

He tapped the side of his head. “I’ve got… let’s just say, a very solid knowledge base.”

The man stared at him, then laughed again.

“Not bad. You remind me of Roger in his prime. No, maybe you’ve even surpassed him…”

He looked up thoughtfully. “I wonder how pissed he’d be if he heard me say that.”

Then he turned back to Lu Yu and smiled.

“Name’s Jero D. Erwin. I was the ship’s doctor aboard the Pirate King’s ship.”

Lu Yu blinked. “Ship’s doctor?!”

That wasn’t what he expected.

If this guy had treated Roger, then his medical skills had to be insane—top-tier, even in a world full of monsters. Maybe… just maybe, he knew why Roger had been terminally ill. That man who conquered the seas had eventually turned himself in—not for fear, but for the sake of his unborn child.

“Yeah,” Erwin nodded. “I was the first one to spot something wrong with Roger’s health. It happened right after we left Raftel.”

That raised even more questions for Lu Yu. In the original story, the ship doctor was supposed to be Crocus—the same old man who now looked after Laboon, the whale at Twin Capes.

Could there have been two doctors on the ship?

“Did you work with Crocus?” Lu Yu asked carefully.

“Yeah. That guy was good at holding Roger’s condition in check for a while,” Erwin admitted. “But Raftel... that place was the cause of it all.”

He looked at Lu Yu seriously. “So, kid, want to hear the whole story?”

Honestly, Erwin had made up his mind the moment Lu Yu stepped into the store. The Pirate King had jump-started the Age of Pirates, but that didn’t mean the old crew had to vanish into the shadows. They could still do something.

After all, Roger didn’t just want to flip off the World Government—he wanted to leave behind hope.

Lu Yu straightened up. His expression grew serious.

“I’d love to hear it.”

He was all ears now. Whatever secrets this man had—about Raftel, about Roger, about the world’s greatest treasure—he wanted them.

This was the beginning.

Erwin’s gaze drifted to the past.

“Well then… let me take you back. To the day we first set sail in search of the mysterious island—Raftel.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 35: Terrible Information!

Roger's crew was truly something else.

Some were scattered across their hometowns, others remained at the starting point of the Grand Line, and a few were in special places like the Sabaody Archipelago. Some had risen to become the Four Emperors—those shining titans ruling over the New World. And then, there were those who had simply vanished, leaving no trace behind.

But what really caught Lu Yu’s attention was the information Erwin had just shared.

Before Roger entered that mysterious sea, his health had been perfectly fine—by all medical standards, he was in great shape.

But once he stepped into that final, unknown sea?

That’s when everything changed.

Only Roger was affected. None of his crewmates suffered any physical issues. Not one.

Realizing something was wrong, Erwin—who was the ship’s doctor at the time—immediately began treating him. But no matter what methods he tried, Roger's condition kept getting worse.

By the time they reached Raftel, Roger's body had already deteriorated significantly.

That’s when they invited Crocus to join them. And thanks to the combined efforts of both doctors, Roger’s condition was stabilized—just enough to delay his inevitable decline for five more years.

And then... Roger made the world-shaking decision everyone knew today.

He sparked the Golden Age of Pirates.

If Roger had lived, the sheer weight of the treasure he carried would’ve made his pirate crew the world’s number one target. That, combined with certain other mysterious factors—even Erwin didn’t know what those were—led Roger to make his final choice.

To die. Publicly.

And pass the torch to a new generation.

---

"So," Lu Yu asked, his voice serious, "what exactly did you guys encounter in the seas around Raftel?"

He had to ask. Whatever harmed Roger had to have appeared there. But then... why was Roger the only one affected?

That didn’t make sense.

Lu Yu still had hopes—no, expectations—for that final island. If he reached it, the world would recognize him as the Pirate King.

And the reputation boost alone? Worth it.

Erwin smiled.

"I don’t know," he said simply. "Maybe only the next person who makes it there will be able to bring back answers."

He leaned back, eyes locked onto Lu Yu.

"If you really do make it there, I hope you come back and tell me what you find."

So that was his condition.

The reason Erwin was willing to tell all this to some random young pirate? Just that simple: he wanted the truth, someday, from someone who’d been there.

Lu Yu narrowed his eyes. “Why me? Why do you think I’ll come back and tell you?”

Erwin chuckled.

"Hahahaha… interesting question. But I think you already know the answer."

The old man gave him a knowing smile, full of that unshakable wisdom you only find in the legends of the last era.

They were built different.

Their judgment, their decisiveness, their aura—all screamed that they'd lived lives far beyond ordinary.

Lu Yu smiled back.

“If I make it there, I’ll definitely come back and tell you everything.”

“But you better live a few more years, Mr. Erwin. I don’t want to end up talking to a gravestone when I do.”

Erwin burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! I was the ship’s doctor on the Pirate King's crew! I’ve got a lot of faith in my body, kid. A few more years? I can handle that."

Then he stood up, heading over to a wooden locker in the corner of the room.

"By the way," he added, "I’ve got something for you. Might be useful on your journey."

From the locker, Erwin pulled out a weathered old box, worn and scratched by time. The marks on it made it clear—this thing had survived decades.

“What is this?” Lu Yu asked, eyes lighting up with curiosity.

Erwin opened the box slowly.

Inside were two tightly rolled scrolls, preserved with extreme care.

“Treasure maps,” Erwin said with a grin.

“One is a map to the treasure of the Rocks Pirates—the very same treasure from the Valley of the Gods battle. The other is a map to an Eternal Pose pointing to a mysterious island.”

He handed the maps over without hesitation.

“If you really plan on reaching Raftel, you’ll need your own strong pirate crew. That island could be the perfect base for them.”

Lu Yu’s eyes gleamed.

Whether it was the Rocks Pirates’ treasure or the island base, both were massive opportunities. If he could secure them, the Dragon Hunter Pirates would see a huge jump in power.

“Thank you, Mr. Erwin,” Lu Yu said with a respectful bow. “I promise, I’ll be back with the answers you want.”

These old legends weren’t just strong—they were full of charm, wisdom, and stories deeper than any sea.

They weren’t like the young upstarts nowadays.

Time had carved depth into them. And no amount of talent could match that.

---

“Oh, right—do you know anything about the Rumbar Pirates?” Lu Yu suddenly asked.

“The Rumbar Pirates?” Erwin looked puzzled, then said, “You mean the crew Laboon's waiting for?”

Lu Yu nodded.

“Yeah. There’s a guy on that crew—goes by the name Brook.”

Erwin’s expression shifted.

“The Rumbar Pirates... disappeared a long, long time ago,” he said softly. “Do you know how old Laboon is?”

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow. “How old?”

“Almost nine hundred years.”

That made Lu Yu freeze.

Wait, what?

That didn’t add up.

According to Brook’s own stories, he wasn’t that far removed from the current era. Maybe a few decades, sure—but not centuries.

And yet, Erwin seemed so certain.

“Incredible, isn’t it?” Erwin said, seeing Lu Yu’s reaction. “The Rumbar Pirates must’ve existed hundreds of years ago. There’s no way we’d run into them now.”

He paused, then added with a sigh, “But Crocus and I—we never told Laboon the truth. Because the only thing keeping that whale alive… is hope. The belief that someone will return for him.”

There was a long silence.

Lu Yu clenched his fists.

“…Do you know Brook?” he asked again, this time more carefully. “Ever heard of him?”

Erwin shook his head.

“No. If someone like that was active in our time, and had any connection to Roger’s crew, I’d definitely know.”

Lu Yu frowned.

So Brook’s identity was even more mysterious than he thought.

And right now, there was no way to find out the truth.

---

“Sorry for bothering you,” Lu Yu said as he stood up. “Thank you for everything, Mr. Erwin.”

He took the box, bowed once more, and turned to leave.

Erwin watched him go, his expression calm but thoughtful.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 36: Current Situation Analysis – Changes on the Ship!

After stepping out of the shop, Lu Yu didn’t look back.

Even though a million questions were still swirling in his head, he resisted the urge to return and pester Mr. Erwin. Whatever Erwin had hinted at… Lu Yu figured he'd only understand it after living through it himself.

So, he left without hesitation.

Once he made it back to the street, Lu Yu headed straight for the port. Shopping wasn’t really his thing.

When he arrived at the harbor, he was surprised to see a large crowd hauling supplies onto the Evil Warship. Standing at the side, calmly directing the whole operation, was Kuroro.

(TL: IDK why the author put the word Evil on Lu Yu’s ship is it because it can devour other ships to grow? What Do you all think about the reason comment here)

“Captain!” Chrollo greeted him with a rare smile as soon as he spotted him.

Even though this guy was the textbook definition of black-bellied schemer, Lu Yu trusted his loyalty.

And honestly, Chrollo’s personality had shifted a bit—he seemed more open now, like he'd finally found his element.

“Chrollo, who are all these people?” Lu Yu asked, a little confused.

Chrollo grinned. “Them? Pirates who were planning to set sail from here.”

He paused dramatically. “Then they ran into me… and lost.”

He pulled out his infamous Bandit's Secret Book. Instantly, a list of names appeared in glowing letters.

“This… is an oath-based restriction?” Lu Yu raised an eyebrow.

Some kind of specialized Nen technique, no doubt—binding the losers through a contract. With their names engraved in the book, they were now bound to Chrollo. The restriction enforced loyalty, much like the absolute obedience enforced by Lu Yu’s system.

Chrollo nodded. “Captain knows his stuff.”

“They’re now temp workers for the Dragon Hunter Pirates. We can toss them if they outlive their usefulness. For now, they’re great for handling chores.”

He shrugged. “A pirate crew needs this kind of practicality, right?”

Lu Yu chuckled. “Fair enough.”

Honestly, Chrollo ditching the Phantom Troupe and becoming a pirate didn’t feel out of place at all. The guy might’ve been born for this life.

“Alright, I’ll leave this part to you,” Lu Yu said, giving Chrollo a nod before heading back to the ship.

He noticed there were over sixty new additions, and none of them looked weak. Clearly, Chrollo had cherry-picked the strongest from the various crews docked at Loguetown.

“Next up is the Reverse Mountain…” Lu Yu muttered to himself.

Once they crossed it, they’d officially leave the East Blue behind and enter the Grand Line—the real stage for legends.

The other side of the Red Line was the true playground: the first half of the Grand Line. Powerhouses and alliances ruled that stretch of sea. Even the Four Emperors had carved out territories.

Lu Yu knew what he had to do now—make his name echo across the Grand Line.

Reputation, stronger crew members, new abilities, and expanding power… None of that could go further in the East Blue.

He’d already stirred enough chaos here. If there were secrets left to uncover, he should've found them by now.

“Time to head into the Grand Line,” Lu Yu murmured, eyes scanning the horizon.

“With our current strength, we’re still no match for the Navy or the World Government. Hell, even the Four Emperors would squash us.”

He opened up his system panel, checking on his progress.

From what he could tell, an SS rating probably put him around the strength level of a Yonko.

Of course, he still wasn’t on Red-Haired Shanks’ level yet. And even Red Hair wasn’t crazy enough to take on the World Government directly.

Lu Yu recalled the so-called Celestial Guards he encountered on that noble merchant ship—not Navy, but clearly top-tier enforcement.

Those guys weren’t mentioned in the anime, which meant the world he was in had a few surprises of its own...

---

“Brother Lu Yu, are you okay?” Akame’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

He turned around—then froze.

Akame Stood there in full-blown Lolita fashion: white over-the-knee socks, short frilly skirt, cute little top…

Lu Yu’s nose practically exploded.

For the record, Akame usually dressed in a long black dress. This was an ambush. A goddamn fashion ambush.

As a time traveler—and an unashamed anime fan—Lu Yu’s defenses were nonexistent against this kind of nuclear-level cuteness.

“Uh… Brother Lu Yu, why’s your nose bleeding?” Akame blinked innocently.

“It’s… nothing!” Lu Yu wiped his nose hurriedly. “You just… look really cute. That’s all.”

“I told you Akame would look adorable in that!” Kuina appeared beside her, smugly grinning.

She herself had changed into something casual yet stylish—her hair tied up, a form-fitting tee, a light jacket draped over her shoulders, and black pants that hugged her legs just right.

Lu Yu suddenly had an epiphany—girls really were a whole different species when they dressed up.

Different outfit, whole new person.

No wonder all the best tailors were pervy old dudes—they were on to something.

“Ahem… Kuina, you look great too,” he said, quickly changing the subject. “But, uh… won’t these outfits affect combat?”

“Not at all. Akame and I tested them out already,” Kuina replied. “But… we kinda spent all our money on clothes.”

She rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

“Hahaha… That’s fine. Sounds like we need to install some proper wardrobes in the cabin,” Lu Yu said with a grin.

Right then, Chrollo stepped forward and bowed slightly.

“I can build wardrobes. Using my Nen.”

He raised his hands. “Dark Box.”

Two shimmering black cubes materialized behind Kuina and Akame.

“This space inside is as big as the Evil Battleship. Should be plenty of room for their outfits,” Kuroro explained.

“Also, this materialization technique only requires a one-time payment of Nen. After that, it’s fully functional.”

He then showed the two girls how to use their new storage spaces.

Yeah… helping women build walk-in closets? That’s peak diplomacy right there.

Suddenly, the vibe on the ship got a lot more relaxed.

When Najenda returned that evening, she brought along a dozen people with her. Not as many as Chrollo, but each one of them looked fiercely loyal—like they’d follow her to hell and back.

Clearly, she hadn’t become a rebel army commander for nothing. Her charisma alone could match Chrollo’s mind abilities.

Once everyone had regrouped, Lu Yu looked around at his crew and smiled.

“Alright, let’s go. Time to head into the Grand Line!”

And just like that, the ship set sail—straight into the unknown.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 37: Marinford’s Reaction – The Seven Warlords of the Sea Take Action!

At that moment, in Loguetown —

"A new generation of pirates is really coming in strong this time," muttered a middle-aged man, standing atop a tall building, gazing out at the pirate ships sailing toward the Reverse Mountain.

Leading the charge was Lu Yu’s infamously Evil warship.

Behind it trailed ships belonging to pirates subdued by Chrollo and Najenda—vessels that had all been united under Lu Yu’s banner.

A massive pirate fleet stormed into the Grand Line together, an imposing sight not seen in a long while.

"This was inevitable," another middle-aged man beside him said with a faint smile. "The pirates of the new era were bound to replace the old. Those clinging to power while doing nothing should be swept aside. That’s just how progress works."

"The Navy’s operation completely flopped," he continued. "One of their vice admirals got taken down by a bunch of rookies. They’re not gonna sit still after this."

As he finished speaking, a strange grin crept onto his face—before he faded into nothingness, vanishing into thin air.

"Tch… that old bastard…" the man beside him muttered, then glanced one last time at Lu Yu’s terrifying flagship. In the next instant, he too disappeared.

The East Blue—so deceptively calm—hid many monsters beneath its surface. No one truly knew what ancient horrors might be lurking there.

---

Meanwhile, in Marineford—

"What?!"

“Vice Admiral Gion was defeated?! How badly was she hurt? Is she okay?” Sengoku’s voice rose sharply as he reacted to the report from Vice Admiral Tsuru.

Gion had grown up right under Sengoku’s watch. She was like a little sister to him—not to mention the strong bond he shared with Tsuru herself. Even in his role as Fleet Admiral, this wasn’t something he could ignore.

“She’s fine,” Tsuru said calmly. “The damage to her and her fleet wasn’t critical.”

“Gion said the Dragon Hunter Pirates utterly overwhelmed her squad. The only reason she’s still alive is because they chose not to kill her.”

“If they had gone for the kill,” she added grimly, “her fleet would’ve been wiped out, and they would’ve escaped without a scratch.”

Though it pained her to admit it, she couldn’t deny the facts. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Dragon Hunter Pirates…” Sengoku repeated, his brows furrowed in thought.

“We should mobilize the Seven Warlords,” Tsuru suggested. “Hawkeye Mihawk and Crocodile are already near the area where the Dragon Hunter Pirates were last seen. Having pirates deal with pirates is our best option right now.”

“Besides, we can use the Shichibukai to collect intel on this group without risking more of our own forces.”

Sengoku nodded slowly. “The admirals are too valuable to send after some rookies whose captain only has a bounty in the tens of millions. It’s not worth the effort. The Warlords should handle this.”

“They’re not exactly easy to manage,” Sengoku muttered under his breath. “But fine. Let’s put them to work.”

He pulled out a thick folder and handed it to Tsuru. “This just came in from Morgans. Cost us a hundred million berries for these photos.”

Tsuru opened the folder and began reading.

“A new member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates—Chrollo Lucilfer. Doesn’t have a Devil Fruit, but can use bizarre and deadly abilities.”

“Captain of the First Division: Najenda. Right hand and right eye injured. That girl with the Katana—Akame—is her subordinate.”

“Then there’s Susanoo—Najenda’s bodyguard. Huge physical strength and frightening combat ability. Capable of explosive power surges.”

“Tsukuyomi—Lu Yu’s personal guard. Unusual attack patterns, deadly power.”

“Roelki—a swordswoman. Strength approaching that of a top-level swordmaster…”

Finally, the last photo.

Lu Yu, alone on the ship’s bow, grinning arrogantly—confident, sinister, and commanding.

This was the man leading the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

What kind of person could gather such monsters under one flag?

And more importantly, what kind of power did he wield?

“Should we raise the bounty?” Tsuru asked quietly.

Sengoku shook his head.

“Not yet. If we raise it now, Crocodile and the others will just go through the motions. We need them motivated. Make it a hundred million for Lu Yu. The crew members? Bump them from sixty to eighty million.”

“If the Warlords enjoy so many privileges, then they better start earning them.”

“Send out the orders. Contact every Shichibukai currently in the Grand Line. Assign them missions.”

Tsuru gave a silent nod. She agreed—this was the best approach for now.

“Oh, by the way,” she added, “Garp’s already arrived in East Blue. Should we have him pursue the Dragon Hunter Pirates too?”

Sengoku sighed heavily.

“Garp… might already know Lu Yu. If he wants to chase him, he’ll do it on his own terms. Just assign Gion to shadow him. That way, at least we’ll know where he is.”

Just thinking about Garp gave Sengoku a headache.

If that old fool would just stick to the Navy properly, things would be so much easier to manage.

“I’ll take care of it,” Tsuru said before leaving to make the arrangements.

Issuing orders to the Warlords, though—that was Sengoku’s job.

He glanced down again at the information on Lu Yu’s crew.

A weary expression came over his face.

Garp once claimed he’d bring Luffy, Ace, Sabo, and Lu Yu into the Navy.

And now? None of them stayed.

Ace became Whitebeard’s second division commander.

Lu Yu founded his own pirate group—already a rising threat.

Luffy just set sail and is already raising hell in East Blue.

And Sabo? Missing in action.

If Sengoku found out Sabo was now part of the Revolutionary Army, his stress would probably send him to the infirmary.

“Damn Garp… reverse prophet, that’s what he is.”

With that, Sengoku picked up the Den Den Mushi and began dialing.

---

Grand Line — Kingdom of Alabasta

“Dragon Hunter Pirates, huh…”

Crocodile stared at the report in front of him, deep in thought.

Just another rookie crew, yet the Navy was moving so aggressively.

Was there more to them than meets the eye?

Still, Crocodile didn’t feel too threatened. He wasn’t about to underestimate anyone though—not when his own plans were nearing a critical point.

“Get Baroque Works on this,” he ordered. “I want everything on these newcomers. Names, powers, weaknesses. Don’t miss a damn thing.”

Even if they were just rookies, he’d treat them seriously.

That’s how you stayed alive.

---

Elsewhere on the Grand Line, atop his iconic coffin-ship, Dracule Mihawk calmly ended his call with Marineford.

He had other matters to tend to.

He’d deal with this later—if he had the time.

After all, the Seven Warlords of the Sea weren’t Navy dogs.

Still, the Dragon Hunter Pirates had caught his attention.

They were worth remembering.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 38: The Squad Becomes Independent, Chrollo Leaves!

Lu Yu had officially arrived at the Grand Line.

“So this is the Grand Line, huh?” he muttered, gazing out at the unpredictable sea.

Najenda stood beside him, holding up a small device. “Here’s the log pose we bought earlier,” she said calmly. “Shall we follow its direction for now?”

Log pose weren’t exactly rare in these waters, but they were necessary for navigation.

“Yeah, let’s stick to the pointer for now,” Lu Yu nodded. Then, he reached into his coat and handed Najenda another device. “Also, take this eternal pose. It points to the treasure location of the Roger Pirates. We’ll need it later.”

“Got it,” Najenda replied, tucking it away.

Just then, Chrollo stepped forward, his eyes full of determination. “Captain,” he said seriously, “can I go explore this world on my own?”

Lu Yu raised a brow. “Thinking of striking out solo?”

Chrollo nodded. “Yeah. I’ve got my own goals. There are still members of the Phantom Troupe I haven’t gathered yet. If I’m always following you, I’ll be too limited. As the captain of the second division, I think it’s time I formed my own crew.”

Lu Yu was silent for a moment, then gave a small smile. “An independent squad, huh? That’s not a bad idea.”

He looked Chrollo in the eye. “But listen—whatever you do, don’t tarnish the name of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Got it?”

Chrollo smirked. “Of course, Captain. I’d never disgrace our name. There’s so much out here worth chasing… and I plan to make all of it part of our legacy.”

Seeing Chrollos enthusiasm and confidence, Lu Yu couldn’t help but be a little proud. This guy felt like someone born for this chaotic sea.

“Alright. Go for it,” Lu Yu said with a firm nod.

“Thank you, Captain!”

With that, Chrollo took a log pose, jumped overboard, and landed gracefully on a nearby ship. Without wasting time, he gave the order to sail in the opposite direction of Lu Yu’s course. That way, they wouldn’t overlap, and both squads could expand their name across the seas.

Suddenly, a system notification echoed in Lu Yu’s mind:

[Ding! The second division of the Dragon Hunter Pirates has officially become independent. Designated name: The Phantom Troupe.]

[Reward: +20,000 Reputation Points. All crew members receive a 20% increase to max health. Multiverse Roulette unlocked!]

Lu Yu blinked. Wait—there’s a reward for letting divisions operate independently?

He instinctively glanced at Najenda. If Night Raid separated too… I’d probably get another reward. But then he looked into her bright red eyes and shook the thought away. Nah, she’s way too cute. I’m keeping her close—whether it’s for battle or just eye candy.

With that, he opened the newly unlocked Multiverse Roulette feature.

> [Multiverse Roulette: Spend 10,000 Reputation Points to spin for random items or abilities from across the worlds.]

Skimming through the prize pool, his eyes widened. Demon bloodlines? That was practically cheating—definitely a game-changer.

Just then, Roelki returned.

“Captain, the supplies are stocked,” he reported. “Our next stop is Valos Island. It’s a small town, mostly a supply outpost. No major power controls it. It’ll take about ten days of sailing.”

Even though they didn’t really need more supplies, Roelki had taken the time to scout the area and gather intel, which impressed Lu Yu.

“Alright, let’s stick to the usual route,” Lu Yu replied. “That way, we won’t give the Navy a reason to forget about us.”

He turned to Najenda. “Let’s make Alabasta our first major destination.”

Najenda gave a small nod. “Understood.”

Alabasta wasn’t just any island—it was Crocodile’s territory, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. More importantly, it was where the ancient weapon Pluto was rumored to be.

Crocodile had been searching for Pluto for years. Lu Yu intended to pay him a visit. He was curious about the man’s true strength.

Fans often joked Crocodile was like the “Lao G” of the One Piece world—always showing up to fight, no matter the opponent. Yet somehow, he got beaten by a newbie Luffy who didn’t even know Haki yet. That defeat was still hard to accept.

“Let’s set sail!” Najenda announced, snapping everyone back into action.

And so, the Dragon Hunter Pirates officially began their voyage across the Grand Line.

—

Meanwhile, a group of captured pirates and Roelki’s old crew had gathered on deck, murmuring among themselves.

“Is this really a newly formed pirate crew?” one of them, Maki, asked suspiciously. “It feels more like one of those legendary crews from the stories.”

Maki had been dragged into the crew by Najenda. With a bounty of 23 million Berries, he used to think he was hot shit. Now? He was doing grunt work, not even recognized as a proper crew member.

He wanted to complain—but after seeing the terrifying strength of the official crew members, he kept his mouth shut.

Chrollo had just sailed off with some of the scariest people Maki had ever met—folks he never would’ve dared to cross before. And yet, they followed Chrollo like loyal dogs.

The ones who stayed behind? Even more intimidating. Especially those on the so-called "Evil Battleship."

“I didn’t know much at first,” an older man named Wells said. He was part of Roelki’s original group. “But when I joined, there were only two people in the Dragon Hunter Pirates—Captain Lu Yu and the leader, Akame. The rest came later.”

“Joined later?” Maki frowned. “Doesn’t seem that simple…”

Roelki walked over, arms crossed. Though he was officially part of the crew now, he still handled most of the chores and labor.

That’s what happened when the core members were always off training or planning battles.

“Roelki!” someone called. “Do you know more?”

“Yeah, spill it!”

“Even if we’re just handymen, we still wanna know what kind of crew we’re following!”

The crowd looked at Roelki, full of curiosity.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 39: Roelki’s Propaganda!

Seeing the eager eyes around him, Roelki couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.

After all, he was the only official crew member here personally acknowledged by Lu Yu.
Even better—he’d been gifted a Devil Fruit by the captain himself.

“You know, I started off as a nobody. Just a small-time pirate with a bounty of barely over 10 million,” Roelki began, puffing out his chest.

“Now? I’ve got a Devil Fruit. I don’t know what my current bounty is, but it’s gotta be way higher than before.”

He grinned smugly. “And this fruit? Given to me by the captain.”

“Damn, I’m jealous!”

“When’s the captain gonna hand us a Devil Fruit?”

“Are you kidding? You think Devil Fruits grow on trees or something?”

“Still… are all the higher-ups Devil Fruit users?”

“Don’t think so. I’ve seen the captain dive straight into the water.”

The group broke into a low, excited chatter, everyone throwing out questions and guesses, envy clear on their faces.

Roelki, standing off to the side, wore a proud smirk.

“Ahem!” he cleared his throat dramatically.

The noise died instantly. All eyes turned to him.

“You guys ever find it odd?” he asked, lowering his voice for dramatic effect.
“The strength of our captain… the strength of the other full-time crew members... they don’t match a rookie pirate crew.”

The others nodded slowly.

“Yeah, the Dragon Hunter Pirates feel way too elite to be a new crew.”

“Their strength is beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”

Roelki grinned. They were taking the bait.

“You know Najenda, right? The new First Division captain? Its Called Night Raid.”

“And the Second Division captain, Chrollo, is called Phantom Troupe.”

“You think the captain just handed those names out randomly?”

That hit the curiosity button hard. The handymen stared at him, practically shaking with suspense.

“Boss Roelki, come on! Just tell us already!”

“Damn, I’m dying to know. Is our crew hiding some kind of insane backstory?!”

“Boss, spill it!”

Roelki pretended to hesitate, then finally leaned in, voice low.

“I’ve got a theory—our Dragon Hunter Pirates used to be one of the top pirate crews in the world.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

“Something must’ve happened. A major event. They disbanded... laid low for years. But now, the captain’s making a comeback. He’s regrouping.”

He pointed around.

“Look at all of you. Each of you had your own pirate crew once, right? And now you're just handymen.”

A few heads dropped in frustration.

“I had a bounty of 18 million… now I’m scrubbing floors.”

“Same. I was worth 17 million. Now I do laundry.”

“Join the club.”

They sounded defeated, but Roelki’s voice turned sharp.

“That’s because you haven’t earned the right to be full crew yet!”

“I started just like you—cleaning, carrying supplies. A nobody.”

“But the captain saw my potential. Gave me a Devil Fruit. Promoted me.”

He paused, letting the moment sink in.

“You all have a chance. Every last one of you can make it. But you’ve gotta earn it. Get stronger. Prove yourself.”

“Think about it. If my level is the bare minimum to become an official member… what does that say about the standard of our crew?”

“That means…” someone muttered, eyes wide, “…we’re not even qualified to be trainees.”

Roelki nodded. “Exactly. Which tells you just how strong this pirate crew really is.”

“But why did they disband in the first place?”

“That doesn’t matter,” Roelki shrugged. “What matters is that we’re back—and this time, we’re going all the way to the top!”

Excitement bubbled up in the crowd like a wave.

“Damn, this is huge!”

“Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!”

“Even as handymen… we’re part of this.”

They weren’t just nobodies anymore. They were soldiers in the making—future elite members of a crew on the rise.

Their captain wasn’t just some upstart. He was a man who once ruled the seas—and now he was gathering his strength again, aiming to conquer the world once more.

Even the Navy Vice Admirals were nothing to him.

The atmosphere shifted. No one complained about being a handyman anymore.

They were fired up—determined. With time, effort, and loyalty, any of them could rise through the ranks.

Maybe even become a cadre one day.
Stand at the top of the world. Look down from the peak.

And damn, that felt like a dream worth chasing.

---

At that moment, Lu Yu was lying on a lounge chair on the deck, towel over his face, still catching his breath from a long training session.

Ding!
Congratulations, host. Your reputation has spread far and wide. Reputation +100.
Ding!
Reputation +200.

Lu Yu blinked in surprise.

What the hell? He hadn't even done anything major lately—just trained in peace.

How was his reputation skyrocketing?

So even staying put and training is boosting it?

That was good news. No slacking off from now on.

After all, reputation points were the fastest route to power.

The moment he had that thought, his fatigue vanished. He sat up, eyes sharp again.

---

“Ugh…”

A flutter of wings caught everyone’s attention. A news bird descended from the sky.

Roelki spotted it and quickly stepped forward—it was his job to collect the daily paper.

He handed over a few coins, grabbed the rolled-up newspaper, and opened it.

What he saw made his breath hitch.

Right there on the front page: Lu Yu, confidently holding his long sword, Tsukuyomi standing just behind him.

A full-blown bounty poster.

Roelki’s eyes widened as he read the figure beneath it.

“One hundred million… Berries?” he whispered.

His hands trembled slightly.

Even though he’d just been boasting about Lu Yu’s legendary past, seeing it in print—official, undeniable—was a different feeling.

It hadn’t even been that long since the Dragon Hunter Pirates were formed. Yet Lu Yu’s bounty had already rocketed to 100 million.

And not just him—Najenda and Akame had also jumped to 70 or 80 million Berries.

That kind of growth wasn’t normal. There had to be history behind them.

There was no way they were nobodies before this.

Roelki clutched the paper, eyes burning with conviction.

This crew… Lu Yu…

They were going to the top.

And he’d be right there with them.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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Chapter Text

Chapter 40: Rinnegan!

At that moment, Lu Yu heard the system’s prompt ring out again.

Yep—another wave of reputation gain.

Thanks to the Navy’s top-tier PR machine, there was no way Lu Yu wasn’t getting a boost in popularity. Gotta admit, they were actually doing him a solid.

Glancing at his system panel, the reputation value had already climbed past five digits.

Time to consider: who should he recruit next?

For now, the fighting force was stacked. Handling the current level of conflict wouldn’t be a problem.

So, what kind of talent did they need now?

Actually… not much. There were no urgent needs at the moment. Just keep training, keep growing, and steadily level up the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

"System, Multiverse Roulette!"

With a flick of his hand, Lu Yu summoned the Multiverse Roulette.

A massive, glowing wheel appeared in front of him—visible only to him, of course.

---

“What’s the captain doing?”

Najenda, freshly showered and drying her hair, walked onto the deck. She tilted her head, watching Lu Yu mutter to himself while making strange hand gestures.

“No clue,” someone shrugged.

“Brother Lu Yu is always so mysterious. He’s probably like that before we even got here,” another added.

“Looks like some kind of ritual or summoning ceremony,” Akame commented flatly, wearing a JK uniform that clashed hilariously with her deadpan tone.

“Maybe we’re getting a new crewmate,” Kuina said as she approached, towel around her shoulders. “The captain’s powers are beyond what any of us can guess. Just hoping it’s not another Chrollo situation… dude bailed the moment he showed up.”

---

Meanwhile, the roulette wheel spun.

Ten thousand reputation points per spin.

Ding! Congratulations, host! You have obtained the SSS-level item: Twelve Magatama Rinnegan Eyes from the Naruto World!

As the announcement hit, a powerful energy surged into Lu Yu’s eyes. His vision blurred for a second as his pupils began to morph—rings forming layer by layer, magatama beads appearing along the outer edges.

His entire body was flooded with an overwhelming wave of power.

[Rinnegan Abilities Unlocked: Heavenly Hand Power, Shinra Tensei, Banshō Ten'in, Elemental Absorption, Dynamic Vision...]

Soon, the transformation completed.

And the system had more good news:

Ding! Through the aura amplification, all crew members have unlocked Intermediate Observation Haki!

Ding! Dragon Hunter Pirates' strength has significantly increased. You’ve gained 10,000 additional reputation points!

Lu Yu grinned.

Now that’s what you call an SSS-level pull.

Not only had he gained terrifying new power, but the system had refunded his spin and boosted his entire crew.

---

Roelki, who had been about to report something, felt the change instantly.

He used to be the weakest member of the crew—even after getting a Devil Fruit. But now? With Observation Haki suddenly unlocked in him, his senses expanded like never before.

For the first few seconds, it was overwhelming. He couldn’t control it at all.

But the clarity—the awareness—it was wild. He could sense every movement on the ship, from footsteps to breathing patterns.

And in battle? This would be a game-changer.

---

“Captain!”

Roelki ran over, holding a rolled-up newspaper.

“Here’s today’s news. You and Big Sis have updated bounties. Also... the Navy just issued a public statement. The Seven Warlords are being deployed to come after us.”

Lu Yu’s eyes lit up with interest as he took the paper.

“The Seven Warlords, huh?”

“Now this is getting fun...”

His eyes scanned the bounty posters and headlines.

“So, Crocodile might make a move?”

Using the Warlords as stepping stones wasn’t a bad idea. Not only would it bring more attention from the Navy, but it would also put the Dragon Hunter Pirates on the global map.

Destroying a country in the East Blue… going toe-to-toe with Vice Admiral Gion and winning… those feats had mostly been reported internally, to places like Marineford or even Mariejois.

But in this era, it wasn’t just the government’s recognition that mattered. Pirate reputation was just as important.

Once their name really got out there, their influence and strength would snowball together—and that, for Lu Yu, was the true path to power.

---

“Captain, should we go confront these so-called Warlords head-on?” Najenda asked, feeling the new strength pulsing within her.

The "ritual" Lu Yu had just performed clearly wasn’t just summoning. It had strengthened everyone. Najenda could feel it in her bones.

“The Seven Warlords?” Akame tilted her head, hugging her Murasame. “Want me to bury them all?”

The way she said it—so sweet and serious—was both adorable and mildly terrifying.

Kuina, however, looked a little more serious.

“The Seven Warlords of the Sea… officially known as the Shichibukai. They’re seven infamous pirates chosen by the World Government and given legal rights to plunder. In return, they work to balance the power of the Four Emperors.”

“In short, they’re strong. Really strong.”

She paused, glancing around at the others. Something about this crew still felt weird.

They were powerful—absurdly so—but when it came to general knowledge of the world, most of them were clueless.

Besides Lu Yu, they all acted like fresh rookies. Even Chrollo, who was cold and ruthless, felt more like a newcomer than a seasoned pirate.

The contrast bugged her.

---

“They sound like fun!” Akame grinned. “Should we go hunt them down, Brother Lu Yu?”

“No need,” Lu Yu replied, waving her off casually. “Since the Navy gave them orders, let’s see if they come to us.”

“And Crocodile’s in Alabasta anyway. That’s already one of our next destinations. We’ll let fate decide.”

He stretched his arms, clearly not worried.

After all, most of those arrogant Warlords wouldn’t bother chasing down some ‘newcomer’ pirate crew—especially one they didn’t understand.

Except maybe Crocodile. That guy was probably bored enough to make a move.

---

The rest of the crew was buzzing with excitement.

They weren’t scared—far from it.

Thanks to Roelki’s relentless brainwashing campaign, fear was no longer in their vocabulary.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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Chapter Text

Chapter 41: The Identity of the Pirate, Kuina’s Purpose!

A week later, Lu Yu and his crew arrived at Valos Island—three days earlier than expected.

Despite the journey being smooth, Lu Yu couldn't help but feel a bit bored during the days at sea.

As soon as they docked, he stepped off the ship, eager to stretch his legs and see the island.

Valos Island was ordinary—no major powers ruled here. But due to its unique geographic location, pirates had an unspoken rule not to cause trouble on this island.

“Brother Lu Yu, Kuina and I are going shopping!”

Akame announced with a straight face before vanishing into the crowd with Kuina at her side.

Najenda wandered off in search of a place to drink.

Meanwhile, Lu Yu entered a lively bar on his own. The place buzzed with chatter, overflowing with all kinds of rumors.

“Have you heard? A pirate crew called the Dragon Hunters just entered the Grand Line!”

“I heard they’re total rookies, right?”

“Yeah, but apparently they’re strong. The Navy’s already paying close attention to them!”

“Pfft, a bunch of newbies. They don’t even understand what it means to be pirates. Just winging it.”

“Exactly! They’ll be in Impel Down before long!”

Laughter followed. The bar was filled with pirates discussing recent news. Alongside talk of Lu Yu’s Dragon Hunters, the Seven Warlords of the Sea came up—especially Hawkeye Mihawk.

His rampage from the Grand Line into the East Blue had shaken many. Anyone who stood in his way had been mercilessly cut down. The title of "World's Greatest Swordsman" wasn’t just for show.

Lu Yu sat down and ordered a meal. Each island had its own flavors, and he always enjoyed trying something new.

Nearby, another conversation caught his ear.

“Did you hear? That guy Kidd showed up in the Grand Line.”

“Yeah, and I heard he’s recruiting crew already. Maybe we should join him—they’re aiming to challenge the Four Emperors!”

“You mean Eustass Kidd’s crew?”

Lu Yu paused mid-bite.

Kidd... So he’s already making moves?

And with a decent reputation, recruiting becomes easy.

Lu Yu realized he needed to raise his own notoriety fast. Otherwise, even these low-tier pirates would continue calling him a "rookie" behind his back.

“Boss!”

“Check, please.”

He tossed a stack of Berries on the counter and stood up to leave. The bar was a good place for rumors, but nothing useful today. These guys hadn’t even seen the wider world.

Just as he turned to leave, a large, muscle-bound man stepped in front of him, blocking the way.

“Hey, kid—you seem to be loaded. Why don’t you share some of that with me?”

“Robbery?” Lu Yu raised an eyebrow. “Since when did pirates stoop to petty theft?”

“You’re a disgrace to real pirates,” he muttered, stepping aside to walk around the man.

It wasn’t that Lu Yu feared conflict. This kind of person just wasn’t worth his time—driven by nothing but desire, with no ideals or purpose. Killing him would only stain his hands.

“What the hell did you just say to me?!”

“I’ve been roaming the seas for four years! You think you can disrespect me?!”

“Pretty boy, you’re dead meat!”

The brute swung a massive fist at Lu Yu.

Shhh...

Lu Yu barely moved. A surge of sharp energy burst from his body, slicing clean through the man’s arm like a blade.

It was the energy he’d gained from Chrollo —now completely under his control.

“You dare call yourself a pirate?”
Boom!

The man’s body exploded into a bloody mist.

Lu Yu calmly stepped out of the bar, unfazed.

“Wait... that guy...”

“Wasn’t that Lu Yu, the captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates?!”

“No way—that was him?!”

“He’s a monster...”

“Just one move...”

“Now I kind of want to join them, but... they’re just a rookie crew, right?”

“Still... did you see that power?!”

The bar buzzed with fear and awe.

Outside, Akame and Kuina had just returned.

“Brother Lu Yu, look! I bought so many cute clothes!” Akame grinned, her hands full of bags.

The town was small, so they had quickly finished exploring and shopping.

Lu Yu smiled. “Glad you found what you liked. Let’s get ready to head out—there’s nothing more to learn here.”

He then glanced at Kuina.

“By the way... your appearance in the East Blue—it wasn’t just to find that sword, was it?”

Kuina raised an eyebrow, but smiled knowingly.

“Well, picking up Wado Ichimonji was just a bonus. Are you finally curious about my real reason for being here?”

“You’ve never asked until now.”

“Because back then, it didn’t concern the crew. But now,” Lu Yu replied, his voice calm but firm, “you’re part of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Your business is our business.”

Kuina stopped walking.

A strange look flickered across her face. Then, her eyes brimmed with tears.

“Captain... thank you.”

She stepped forward and hugged Lu Yu from behind, her voice trembling slightly.

“Kuina, you—”

“Don’t move. Just let me stay like this for a moment.”

Lu Yu fell silent as she sobbed quietly against his back.

Eventually, her sobs faded.

“My father... is Kozuki Koshiro.”

“Yes. He’s part of Wano’s royal family and head of a renowned sword-forging clan.”

“Besides swordsmanship, our family also carries ancient forging techniques... But all of it was ruined when Kaido appeared.”

“Kurozumi Orochi conspired with Kaido to seize control of the Land of Rivers.”

“That’s why I fight.”

“As for why I came to the East Blue... it’s because of a secret transaction happening here—one involving the Four Emperors, especially Kaido.”

Lu Yu nodded. “So the deal was happening here. And the Donquixote Family’s behind it, aren’t they?”

“Doflamingo—the Warlord of the Sea.”

“He runs the underground arms deals.”

“If you want to trace the network, Doflamingo’s your guy.”

Kuina nodded. “I know. But it’s not just about what’s on the surface. There’s something deeper.”

“The Donquixote Family handles the trade, but the distribution? That’s controlled by a massive web of underworld networks. Those hidden channels... they’re the real threat.”

Lu Yu understood now.

Kuina’s real plan wasn’t just to intercept the arms—it was to sever the financial lifeline of the Beasts Pirates.

Crush the trade networks, and force Kaido to redirect his attention away from Wano.

A bold plan.

And one Lu Yu would help see through.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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Chapter Text

Chapter 42 – Ace!

After hearing what Kuina said, Lu Yu fell into deep thought.

Most of the arms deals going around were purchased by powerful allies—and even the World Government was a customer.

The central figure behind this web of illegal trades was none other than Donquixote Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

If Lu Yu made a move against Doflamingo now, it wouldn’t just be about taking down a Warlord. The ripple effect would reach the World Government itself.

And once that happens, they’d slap a bounty on his head without hesitation.

If the Navy sent an Admiral, combined with the World Government’s influence and might, the Dragon Hunter Pirates wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Kuina, don’t worry about that for now,” Lu Yu said calmly. “When the World Government created the Warlord system, they already chose to abandon the Allied Nations and other kingdoms.”

“What they care about is balance—keeping the three major powers in check. But outside of that structure, new pirate groups like us… we’re the wild cards.”

“Of course, the Revolutionary Army is also a factor,” he added. “But even with their strength, they’re still hiding in the shadows.”

“That’s why we need to move carefully, step by step.”

“When we reach the New World, I’ll take you to tear down the so-called underground empire. But not yet.”

Lu Yu’s voice was steady, but firm.

Kuina’s determination was admirable—but the path she was eyeing was one that touched the very core of this world’s power balance.

Anyone who poked at that power structure too early was marked for elimination.

And Lu Yu wasn’t planning to spend his life being hunted across the seas.

“…I understand, Captain,” Kuina said softly.

She let go of him, wiping away the last of her tears with a smile.

Seeing her like this, Lu Yu nodded in approval.

Together, the three of them made their way back to the ship.

“Captain! We found an incredible pirate!”

Just as Lu Yu stepped on deck, Roelki rushed over, visibly excited.

He had stayed behind to guard their warship—the Evil Warship. After all, a ship this magnificent couldn’t just be left unguarded.

“Incredible pirate?” Lu Yu raised a brow. “Aren’t there already enough incredible pirates on this ship?”

Roelki froze for a second before scratching his head.

“Well… yeah, I guess we are kinda amazing too.”

“But seriously, Captain—we found the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Fire Fist Ace!”

Lu Yu’s expression shifted.

“Ace? The son of Gol D. Roger… and the godson of Whitebeard?”

“Also a member of the D. clan,” he muttered. “The one who’ll trigger the Summit War in the future…”

Lu Yu quickly sifted through everything he remembered about Ace.

Why was Ace near the East Blue?

Could he be trying to visit Luffy before chasing down Blackbeard?

Or… more likely, knowing Ace’s direction-challenged personality, he just wandered here by accident.

As for tracking Blackbeard—it probably depended more on dumb luck than any real plan.

“Fire Fist Ace, huh?” Lu Yu smirked. “Invite him aboard. We’re old friends.”

Back in Foosha Village, he used to mess around with those three troublemakers all the time.

Everything back then was to save money and prepare for their own journeys to sea.

During that time, he’d grown close with Luffy, Sabo, and Ace—and almost became a regular victim of Garp’s love-fueled training.

Since Ace was here, why not catch up?

“But Captain… he’s the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates,” Roelki said hesitantly. “His bounty is 550 million berries. You really think he’ll come?”

Roelki didn’t doubt Lu Yu’s strength—he knew their captain could take on monsters.

But still, Ace’s connection to Whitebeard added a dangerous layer.

Lu Yu simply grinned.

“He’s my brother. He’ll come.”

Then he turned toward the ship.

“Susanoo, Tsukuyomi—get a feast ready. We’re having a guest tonight.”

“Understood, Captain!” the two chefs responded in unison.

Both had become the culinary backbone of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Their skills were top-notch—far better than Akame’s, though hers wasn’t bad either.

“Alright, I’ll go get him!” Roelki said, bolstered by Lu Yu’s confidence.

Lu Yu’s easygoing smile made it clear—he wasn’t joking.

Roelki set off to bring Ace to the ship.

---

“Huh? Dragon Hunter Pirates?”

Ace raised an eyebrow. “That new pirate crew? Never heard of ‘em.”

His main priority right now was Luffy.

Well, that and chasing down Blackbeard—though that idiot was annoyingly hard to pin down.

Blackbeard had been laying low for a while now. Maybe he was hiding because of internal Whitebeard politics—or maybe he was scared.

Either way, Ace wasn’t interested in dealing with other pirates.

“Mr. Ace, our captain said you’re his brother,” Roelki pressed. “He’s invited you to dinner—please don’t refuse!”

Roelki had expected to be intimidated, maybe even grovel a little in front of Ace.

But as he stood there, all he could feel was pride.

He was a member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

And that meant something.

“His brother?” Ace blinked. Then he laughed. “Haha! I’m my old man’s son!”

“Wait—did Whitebeard adopt this guy too?”

“Well, now I’m curious. Let’s see who this ‘brother’ is.”

Ace followed Roelki back to the Extreme Evil Warship7.

After all, his old man had a habit of picking up sons like seashells on a beach. Maybe this crew was one of them?

---

“Damn… this is a nice ship,” Ace said, admiring the sleek design.

“Your captain’s got good taste.”

Then, something hit his nose.

“Whoa—what is that smell?!”

He turned and saw a massive feast laid out across the table.

“Is this all for me?!”

Ace’s eyes sparkled. Food was always the way to his heart—and right now, his stomach was winning.

He forgot all about pirate crews and rivalries.

Some things never changed—Ace, Luffy, and Sabo were still gluttons at heart.

“Yo, Ace! Long time no see!” a familiar voice called out.

Ace froze.

“…Lu Yu?!”

He turned and burst out laughing. “You’re the captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates?!”

“When did you become one of the old man’s sons?”

Roelji blinked in shock. Wait… Lu Yu was Whitebeard’s son!?

But if that were true, why start his own pirate crew?

Lu Yu waved off the idea.

“Nah. I’m not Whitebeard’s son.”

“Your old man’s just getting old and forgetful.”

“I heard that,” Ace joked. “Say that again and I’ll punch you.”

Lu Yu chuckled. “Alright, alright. Come eat.”

Ace grinned and plopped down at the table.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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Chapter Text

Chapter 43: Ace Joins the Crew!

After that, the two didn’t talk much.

Ace was focused on the food in front of him, and Lu Yu followed suit, digging in.
There was still that old saying—no talking while eating, no talking while sleeping.
And surprisingly, Ace had picked up some manners from Miss Makino back in the village.

Soon enough, the entire table was cleared. Plates emptied. Bottles drained.

“Burp~~”

Ace leaned back, patting his full stomach as he let out a satisfied burp.

Normally, after a big meal, he'd be knocked out and snoring within minutes.

But Lu Yu's food? Nah, it didn’t make him sleepy—it was too damn good.

“Lu Yu! Who’s your chef?” Ace sat up, eyes gleaming. “Can I buy them off you? I’ll pay 100 million!”

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow, lips twitching. “Oi, are you half-asleep or just dreaming with your eyes open?”

He put down his chopsticks and let the ship’s crew clear the table. “My people aren’t for sale, you idiot.”

Then his tone shifted slightly. “Anyway… have you found any leads on Blackbeard?”

Hearing that name, Ace’s expression darkened. Meanwhile, the crew cleaning up gave subtle glances toward the two.
Seeing their captain casually chatting with Fire Fist Ace, a man with a 500 million bounty, was surreal.

Some of them couldn’t believe their eyes.

This was Ace. That Ace. And he’d even said thank you to the ship’s handymen.

They were floored.

That single word, coming from someone of his caliber, made them feel like their role on the ship mattered.

Of course, what they didn’t know was—Ace was just that kind of guy. Polite by nature.

“You know what’s crazy?” Ace muttered. “That bastard Teach… I can’t believe what he did.”

“I haven’t tracked him down yet, but word is, someone spotted him in Alabasta. I’m heading there next.”

“Alabasta, huh?” Lu Yu leaned back. “Crocodile’s turf. If you go poking around there, you’ll end up on the sand gator’s radar.”

Ace snorted. “Crocodile? Whatever. I’m not there to stir up shit with him. I just want to find Teach.”

“By the way, when did you head out to sea?” he asked, glancing around at the impressive crew. “And you already formed such a strong group?”

“Your crew’s no joke. That girl with the sword, the one with the red eyes… even those who just served the food gave me chills.”

Lu Yu smiled, watching Ace take it all in.
Gone was the kid from Foosah Village who needed protection. Now, Lu Yu’s strength was something even Ace couldn’t fully grasp.

“I left the same day Luffy did,” Lu Yu said casually. “If my guess is right, he should be nearing the Grand Line by now.”

Ace blinked. “Luffy… he really went out to sea?”

Lu Yu nodded. “Yep. And he’s not alone. That idiot’s got a solid crew behind him.”

Ace stared for a moment, stunned.

So both Lu Yu and Luffy had set out on their journeys… damn.
Even that fool Luffy was carving his own path now.

“Heh… that little troublemaker actually got himself a crew,” Ace said with a laugh. “That’s wild.”

“Speaking of dreams,” he added, “you became a pirate… are you aiming for the Pirate King title too?”

He didn’t finish the thought but locked eyes with Lu Yu.

Lu Yu grinned. “Raftel? Nah. My goal’s pretty simple.”

“I want the Dragon Hunter Pirates to reign supreme over the entire sea.”

“The one who’ll become Pirate King… is Luffy.”

Ace froze for a beat—then burst out laughing.

“Hah! You really said that with a straight face. Reign over the sea, huh?”

“Actually…” Ace paused, eyes twinkling. “Since you’re also chasing Blackbeard, wanna tag along with me?”

“We could sail together. Maybe even go check in on Luffy.”

Though Ace considered the Blackbeard hunt a personal mission, sailing alone had started to feel… empty.
Sure, he’d met cool people here and there, but he always ended up parting ways.

Lu Yu, though? They were practically brothers.

“Sail with you?” Lu Yu raised a brow. “You just don’t wanna steer your own damn ship, do you?”

Ace grinned sheepishly.

Lu Yu sighed. “Fine. You can come with me. But listen up—on my ship, you’re part of my crew. You make that clear to anyone who asks.”

“I don’t want people confusing us with the Whitebeard Pirates.”

His voice was firm.

The Dragon Hunter Pirates were building their own name. He wasn’t about to let that reputation be split or overshadowed.

“Yeah, yeah, got it!”

“Besides…” Ace smiled. “Sailing with my brother again? Hell yeah!”

“Get lost.” Lu Yu rolled his eyes. “You just can’t stay away from my cooking.”

“Oh, and don’t forget,” he added, “you’re paying for your meals.”

“Pfft—hahaha!” Ace laughed so hard he nearly choked. “You saw right through me!”

The two of them stood there, cracking up like a couple of fools.

From a distance, Kuina, Najenda, and Akame watched silently.

“When… did the captain get this side to him?” Najenda asked, genuinely puzzled.

“I thought he was the super serious type—always calm, always steady.”

Kuina smiled softly. “Maybe this is his real personality. And honestly, I kind of like it.”

Seeing Lu Yu loosen up like this made him feel less like some untouchable powerhouse—and more like a real, young man.

“Brother Lu Yu is so handsome when he laughs…” Akame said dreamily.

Kuina and Najenda exchanged a quick look, both sighing internally.

They admired Lu Yu too, of course.

But Akame? She was blatant about it.

Still, they couldn’t blame her. Young, powerful, skilled—and with a personality like that?

How could anyone not be drawn to him?

But most of the time, they kept those feelings buried. He was their captain, after all.

On the other side of the ship…

“You hear that?” one crew member whispered.

“Ace—the Fire Fist Ace—called our captain ‘brother’!”

“Isn’t he the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates?!”

“I also heard the captain is related to Vice Admiral Garp—the Navy Hero himself!”

“No wonder the captain’s so damn strong. Even his background is next level!”

Excitement rippled across the crew like wildfire.

Their respect and loyalty for Lu Yu—already high—just skyrocketed.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 44 – New Plan: Join Forces to Hunt Down Blackbeard!

Soon, Lu Yu and Ace stood at the bow of the ship, catching up and sharing stories from their recent adventures.

Ace, in particular, talked a lot about the Whitebeard Pirates. It was clear he had only one goal—recruit Lu Yu into the crew.

But in the end, he gave up.

Lu Yu had no interest in joining another pirate crew. He made it clear—he wanted the Dragon Hunter Pirates to rise and stand atop the world.

With a dream like that, how could he possibly join someone else’s crew?

Still, Ace wasn’t ready to give up hope just yet.

What if Lu Yu met Whitebeard and was captivated by the old man’s charm?

Ace thought it was possible.

“Roelki! Go buy out every damn drink you can find on this island!” Lu Yu suddenly shouted.

“We’re throwing a party—Ace is officially aboard! Let’s celebrate!”

“It’s about damn time we had a real banquet, anyway. We’ve been together this long and haven’t even had a proper one!”

As he spoke, Lu Yu tossed out a few heavy boxes.

Inside was a whopping two billion Berries.

More than enough for a legendary party.

“As for the rest, Roelki, you handle it.”

“Got it, Captain!” Roelki grinned wide.

“You heard the Captain, boys! Go grab some drinks! It’s party time!”

“Hell yeah, Captain’s the best!”

“Long live the Captain!”

The crew roared in excitement and scattered toward the island, ready to raid every tavern and market.

Soon, they set up a barbecue grill right on the beach by the port.

They began grilling every type of food they had, with Susanoo and Tsukuyomi taking the lead behind the flames. The rest of the crew helped however they could.

Soon, the scent of roasted meat and spices filled the air.

It had to be said: being a pirate—having the sea as your playground, your strength as your backbone—you could live as freely as the wind.

Of course, only as long as no danger loomed nearby.

But even if you stayed landlocked in some village, town, or kingdom, you weren’t necessarily safe. These days, many nations were just puppets controlled by corrupt nobles.

The common folk? They had no rights at all.

That’s part of the reason so many people flooded to the seas after the Golden Age of Pirates. Becoming a pirate was often their only shot at true freedom.

And so, the banquet raged on—for three full days.

---

On the fourth day, Lu Yu turned to Ace with a serious look.

“Ace… do you have any intel on Blackbeard?”

“If you’re planning to hunt him down, you need to know what you’re walking into.”

Ace clenched his jaw. “Blackbeard… That bastard wouldn’t have stood a chance if it weren’t for a sneak attack.”

“If I can just find him… I’ll take him down. No doubt.”

He spoke with confidence.

After all, Blackbeard had always been a background figure in the Whitebeard Pirates. Quiet, unassuming, not someone who ever stood out.

Whitebeard’s crew was built on trust. Betrayal was unthinkable.

So to Ace, the only logical explanation was that Blackbeard ambushed Thatch.

Lu Yu, however, shook his head.

“You’re underestimating him.”

“Blackbeard’s way stronger than you think.”

“He’s got insane Armament Haki, monstrous physical strength, and now… he’s got the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit.”

Lu Yu’s voice was calm but heavy.

“I’m not trying to rain on your parade, but right now? You don’t stand a chance against him.”

Ace’s eyes narrowed.

He wanted to protest. Ace was talented, and he trained like hell.

But Lu Yu continued.

“Don’t forget, Blackbeard’s been hiding in the Whitebeard Pirates for decades. He’s from the same generation as Red-Hair Shanks. The guy’s been lurking in the shadows longer than you’ve even been a pirate.”

Ace’s fists tightened. “Lu Yu, are you serious?”

“How could someone that powerful stay hidden? I lived with the guy. He’s just some average crew member!”

“If he really had all that strength, how come nobody noticed?”

Lu Yu met his eyes.

“Because nobody was looking. The Whitebeard Pirates trusted each other too much. Blackbeard played the long game.”

“Plus—your Flame-Flame Fruit? The Dark-Dark Fruit can completely absorb any elemental attack. Your flames won’t mean jack.”

“Add his physical abilities and potential backup… if you go alone, you’re walking into a slaughter.”

There was no hesitation in Lu Yu’s tone.

Ace stayed silent for a long moment… then exhaled.

“…Damn. I guess you’re right.”

“Maybe I do need to go back to Dad. Talk to the old man about this.”

Lu Yu rolled his eyes. “What, you gonna run back with your tail between your legs now?”

“As my brother, if you embarrass yourself, that’s my reputation on the line too.”

He smirked.

“Since you’ve run into me, why don’t we handle Blackbeard together?”

Ace froze. Then burst into laughter.

“Lu Yu! Just come with me to meet Dad! You’d fit right in. He’d love you!”

“We could be brothers again under Whitebeard!”

“Hell no!”

Lu Yu snapped.

“You’ve been brainwashed, haven’t you?”

“That old man adopts sons like he’s collecting Pokémon. What, you planning to take Luffy to him next?”

“Gonna make him Whitebeard’s ‘third son’ or some crap?”

Ace blinked in surprise.

“…How’d you know?”

Because, yeah. That was the plan.

“You’re hopeless,” Lu Yu sighed. “Whatever. Let’s stick to the plan for now—hunt down Blackbeard. We’ll worry about your ‘dad’ issues later.”

He waved his hand dismissively.

Ace, still grinning like a kid, asked, “Alright, but uh… what’s for dinner tonight?”

The rest of the Dragon Hunter crew had been watching from the sidelines, completely lost.

The conversation between Lu Yu and Ace had touched on some seriously deep stuff—secrets of the sea, betrayals, power struggles.

Yet they’d come to such a major decision so casually.

Roelki, on the other hand, looked like he’d just seen a god.

His eyes sparkled with admiration.

His captain had just rejected the Whitebeard Pirates.

Whitebeard—the man known as the strongest in the world.

And Lu Yu turned him down without blinking.

From that moment on, Roelki didn’t just respect Lu Yu.

He worshipped him.

And of course, he wasted no time spreading that hype to the rest of the crew.

This method? Wildly effective.

Lu Yu’s reputation points started ticking upward like crazy.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 45: The Shrewd Miss Valentine, Ace, and Lu Yu!

As the Evil Battleship made its way toward the Grand Line, another ship appeared in the surrounding sea—this one belonging to Mr. 5 Gem, a member of Baroque Works.

"So the Dragon Hunter Pirates are actually connected to the Whitebeard Pirates?" Gem muttered, brows furrowed. He turned to the girl beside him. "Miss Valentine, report this to boss."

"If these guys were sent by Whitebeard, then the Navy’s just trying to use us as cannon fodder," he added with a sigh.

Even with Crocodile’s backing—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—and their own solid combat strength, Gem knew the harsh reality.

Compared to a giant like the Whitebeard Pirates, they were ants. Worse, the intel they’d gathered said the captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates, Lu Yu, already carried a bounty worth of 100 million.

Baroque Works agents like them were only worth a little over 10 million each. They weren’t even in the same league.

And now? They had Fire Fist Ace on the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ ship—a man with a staggering bounty of 550 million.

Gem sighed. “We’re not fighting them. That’d just be asking to die.”

“I know,” Mikita—aka Miss Valentine —nodded and immediately contacted Crocodile.

At that moment in Alabasta, Crocodile was still buried in his investigation of the ancient weapon, Pluto.

That was his only reason for staying there.

---

"We’ve tracked the Dragon Hunter Pirates," Miss Valentine reported. "But it seems like they’re connected to Whitebeard. Fire Fist Ace is onboard their ship now. Do we proceed?"

Nico Robin appeared beside Crocodile, smiling faintly.

She and Crocodile had a working arrangement—he protected her, and she translated the Poneglyphs for him.

Robin was well aware of Crocodile's ambitions, but she had no other options. No matter where she went, people who knew her true identity would try to turn her in for the bounty. She’d seen too many betrayals to trust anyone now.

There was no loyalty between her and Crocodile—just mutual benefit.

"Whitebeard?" Crocodile paused.

Though he wasn’t afraid of the Emperor himself, he didn’t want his plans disrupted by one of the Four Emperors—not now, when he was so close to securing Pluto.

Once he got his hands on the weapon, he planned to destroy everything in his path.

Such power had to belong to him—and only him.

“Forget the Dragon Hunter Pirates for now,” he finally said. Then his gaze shifted toward Robin, a calculating smile on his lips. “Nico Robin… I think it’s about time you pull your weight, don’t you think?”

Robin stiffened.

That name—Nico Robin—was one she kept buried. Crocodile had never called her that before. He always referred to her as “Miss Sunday.”

Ever since she accepted his protection, she’d gone by her alias. Hearing her real name now? That was a threat.

He was done being patient.

“The intel I provide comes from you, remember?” Robin responded coolly. “If you give me better information, I’ll deliver better results.”

Even though she knew if Crocodile ever got Pluto, it would bring destruction across the world, she didn’t have the luxury to care right now.

"Fine," Crocodile said, waving a hand. "Contact them. Tell them to return."

"And don’t worry about the Navy," he added. "I’ll handle those bastards."

Robin exhaled silently, then turned and left the room.

---

Back on the Evil Battleship...

“They’re gone,” Ace said, standing beside Lu Yu at the bow of the ship. “Looks like we won’t be fighting today.”

He sounded disappointed.

Since setting out, they’d known someone was tailing them. But now? Their stalkers had disappeared.

"Kind of boring, honestly."

Lu Yu smirked. “You’ve gotten pretty strong, huh? Fire Fist Ace. A 550 million bounty. Whitebeard’s second division captain. You’ve come a long way.”

Ace blinked. “You think you’ve changed less?”

He glanced at the crew behind Lu Yu, then shook his head. “Alright, what are you getting at? Spit it out. You’ve got that scheming look again.”

The two had grown up together—Ace could see through him easily.

Lu Yu grinned. “I am older than you. So you should be calling me ‘big bro,’ right?”

Ace raised an eyebrow.

"How about this?" Lu Yu said, eyes gleaming. "Let’s fight. If you win, I’ll call you big brother from now on. If you lose, no more excuses. Deal?"

Ace’s gaze sharpened.

He remembered saying the same thing to Lu Yu years ago—to settle who the big brother was with fists. Back then, Lu Yu had refused.

But now he was the one bringing it up?

“Alright,” Ace said without hesitation. “There’s a deserted island up ahead. Let’s settle it there. And don’t you dare back out.”

Lu Yu chuckled, the corner of his mouth curving into a sly smile.

He knew Ace was proud of his brothers. If Lu Yu beat him here, Ace would have no choice but to recognize him publicly.

Having someone like Ace—famous and powerful—talking him up? That’d be a huge boost to Lu Yu’s rep.

Before long, the two disembarked and made their way to the small island.

---

Back on the ship, the rest of the crew watched from the deck.

“Najenda, who do you think’s gonna win? Lu Yu or Ace?” Akame asked, eyes fixed on the two figures in the distance.

Najenda smirked. “Come on. You think our captain would ever pick a fight if he thought he’d lose?”

“Even if there’s only a one percent chance of losing, he’d never take the risk,” she added confidently. “Just wait—he’s got this.”

Akame looked thoughtful, but Kuina chimed in with a more cautious take.

“Don’t underestimate Fire Fist Ace,” she said. “He’s one of the top new-generation pirates. In just a few years, he’s already faced the Red Hair Pirates and went after Whitebeard himself.”

“Sure, he lost—but he still earned the second division captain spot afterward. That’s huge.”

“The Flame-Flame Fruit is a Logia-type Devil Fruit. That fire power has turned him into a nightmare for other pirates.”

Kuina had more knowledge about the seas than the others, and she couldn’t help feeling a little nervous for Lu Yu.

Najenda, meanwhile, just smiled.

“Sounds like he’s got a pretty legendary journey of his own,” she said, sitting on the railing with a cup of coffee from Susanoo in hand.

“But either way, those two… I don’t think either of them plans to lose.”

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Chapter Text

Chapter 46: Calm, Ace Explodes!

On a quiet, isolated island, two figures stood facing each other. The air between them crackled with tension.

"Lu Yu, I know you've made serious progress," Ace said, his eyes narrowing.
"You’ve built a solid pirate crew too. But if you think you can take me down easily… you’ve got another thing coming!"

As he spoke, flames ignited in his palm—just a small ball of fire, but the heat it radiated distorted the surrounding air.

This wasn’t just for show. The temperature alone could burn an ordinary person to ashes.

"The power of the Flame-Flame Fruit, huh?" Lu Yu muttered with interest.
"Ace… show me what that Fire Fist of yours can really do."

Without waiting, Lu Yu unsheathed Ame-no-Habakiri.
With a single, clean slash, the surrounding grass and trees were cut down, clearing the battlefield instantly.

"A swordsman, huh?" Ace raised a brow.
"I wonder who’s stronger between you and Vista from the Whitebeard Pirates."

"But you’re losing today, Lu Yu. And after that, you’re coming with me. Join my crew, and maybe then you’ll find the answer."

He grinned and mimicked a pistol with his fingers.

"Fire Gun!"

Toot toot toot…

Flames exploded from his hand, turning into countless bullets of fire that flew at terrifying speed, each packed with deadly force and piercing power.

"Rinnegan!" Lu Yu activated his ability instantly.

Thanks to the enhanced dynamic vision and his Observation Haki, every single flame bullet’s path became crystal clear to him.

He didn’t dodge. He didn’t flinch.

He just stood tall, calm, and walked straight toward Ace.

The fire bullets whizzed past him, deliberately missing his body as if the flames themselves feared to touch him.

"You... didn’t dodge at all?" Ace muttered, stunned.

"Fire Fist!"

Ace’s signature move roared to life—an enormous fist of flame surged forward like a runaway train.

Lu Yu’s body shifted in an eerie motion, slipping past the fire with ease.

Then, in a flash, he charged straight at Ace.

"Firefly Flame Buddha!"

Just before Lu Yu could strike, sparks danced into the air.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions erupted all around. Smoke and dust swallowed Lu Yu whole.

Ace took a few cautious steps back, chuckling nervously. "Heh… I didn’t overdo it, did I?"

But deep down, Ace felt something he hadn't expected—pressure.

He hadn’t even landed a proper hit on Lu Yu yet, and from the speed and fluidity of Lu Yu’s movement, Ace knew this wasn’t the same guy they once protected.

Lu Yu’s strength might not be greater than his—but it was dangerously close.

One mistake… and it could end badly.

"Honestly? That was kind of weak," Lu Yu’s voice rang out.

He stepped out from the cloud of dust, completely unharmed. Not even his clothes had a speck of soot.

"Seriously, Ace, is this what you’ve done with the Flame-Flame Fruit since you got it?"

"Feels like you're just trying to warm me up."

"The Flame-Flame Fruit is about more than fire. It’s about heat, combustion, and sticking power."

"So what are you playing at?"

Ace’s eye twitched. "Yo, Lu Yu… We’re sparring here. Isn’t that a little arrogant?"

"Fire Fist: Big Explosion!"

Ace had enough. Lu Yu’s trash talk got under his skin.

This time, when he launched a Fire Fist, it detonated mid-air—just before reaching Lu Yu—to prevent him from sidestepping again.

The explosive shockwave rippled across the battlefield, heat and force swirling together for maximum destruction.

"You better start using Observation Haki properly, Ace," Lu Yu’s voice came from behind.

"Or I might just take your head."

Ace turned just in time to feel a sharp slash at his neck—Lu Yu’s blade had struck clean.

But instead of blood, a burst of flame replaced Ace’s body.

His elemental transformation saved him.

He leapt back, sweat forming on his brow.

"Lu Yu, are you serious right now!?"

"That was Armament Haki! You actually tried to kill me!"

"If I hadn’t transformed fast enough, I’d be dead!"

Lu Yu scratched his ear, unfazed.

"You're not dead though, are you?"

"Come on, let’s keep going. I believe in your strength."

"And hey, I warned you. If you can’t react fast enough, you don’t deserve to win."

Ace’s expression hardened.

At first, he thought Lu Yu had just gotten stronger.
Now, he realized—Lu Yu was on a whole different level.

His fighting instincts, strength control, and even his ability to manipulate an opponent mid-battle…

When the hell did Lu Yu become this damn strong?

"Alright then," Ace said through gritted teeth.

"I won’t hold back anymore. Get ready for the full force of my rage!"

In an instant, his body turned to flames, rocketing into the air.

The ground beneath them scorched as the flames around him burned so hot that even the stones started to melt.

Ace wasn’t just throwing out fancy moves—he’d been working hard on developing his fruit’s potential.

Finally, the heat felt real. Dangerous.

Still, it wasn’t enough to faze Lu Yu.

"Flame Emperor: Cage!"
"Flame Emperor: Cage Destruction!"

Ace flew higher, then slammed his palms together.

Two massive orbs of fire formed—his most powerful attack: Entei.

BOOM!

The explosion obliterated everything nearby—trees gone, the sea erupting into waves from the force.

Watching from afar, Kuina's jaw dropped.

"Are they really brothers?" she asked.
"They’re fighting like enemies ready to kill each other!"

Najenda chuckled. "Well, Kuina, don’t you have Observation Haki?"

"Yeah, but the captain—"

Najenda cut her off, her tone more serious now.

Kuina activated her Haki, eyes scanning the battlefield.

There, emerging from the aftermath of the explosion, was Lu Yu—walking out completely unscathed.

A translucent shield surrounded him, untouched by flame or debris.

Not even a fleck of dust clung to him.

Then, oddly enough, Lu Yu bent down and rubbed some ash and soot on his face and clothes.

Kuina blinked. "Wait… is he… dirtying himself on purpose?”

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Chapter Text

Chapter 47 – You Are Developing in the Wrong Direction!

“Pah! Pah! Pah!”

A terrifying force erupted from Lu Yu’s body, instantly blowing away the surrounding flames and dust.

He clapped his hands together and stepped forward with a smirk.

“Ace, this kind of attack… it’s just the basic move of the Flame-Flame Fruit, right?”

He glanced at the scorched battlefield. “That flashy crap from earlier? That’s not your style. Not at all.”

“There’s gotta be more. Something deeper. Show me what you really got!”

As Lu Yu finished speaking, the air around him rippled with power. The pattern in his eyes spun wildly—Rinnegan in full activation.

Then—boom!—a massive skeletal arm appeared behind him, gripping a long sword. It came crashing down in a single slash.

“Fire Fist!”

Ace shouted, launching a fiery punch with everything he had. But he was already running on fumes.

Those two “Flame Emperor” moves earlier had drained most of his stamina. And now, with Lu Yu unleashing this freakish power, Ace didn’t dare hold back anymore.

The fire clashed with the skeletal sword—and was sliced clean in half like it was nothing.

Ace's eyes widened. He couldn’t believe it. The flames didn't even slow it down.

Faced with such terrifying force, Ace did the only thing he could—retreat.

“Tsukuyomi!”

Lu Yu raised a hand. In the blink of an eye, a tall humanoid figure materialized in front of Ace.

“Bang!”

Before Ace could even react, Tsukuyomi’s fist smashed into him—launching him across the battlefield.

“It’s over.”

The direction Ace flew in just happened to be right where Lu Yu was standing.

Lu Yu raised Ame-no-Habakiri, his hand cloaked in swirling black Armament Haki.

“Oh my god, you’re really gonna kill me!?”

“Bro, chill!”

“I give up! I was wrong, okay?!”

Right as Lu Yu was about to strike, Ace cried out in surrender.

No joke, man—what was he supposed to do? Wait until Lu Yu actually clobbered him before tapping out?

Hell no.

Getting beaten to a pulp just to save face? Not worth it.

Ace knew when to fold. Better to swallow some pride than a mouthful of dirt.

“Bang!”

Tsukuyomi appeared right where Ace landed, catching him mid-fall and gently placing him down on the ground.

Then it calmly walked back behind Lu Yu.

“That thing… is also your ability?”

Ace stared at the tall, armored spirit standing behind Lu Yu. It looked human, sure, but his Observation Haki told a different story.

That wasn’t a person.

And that same eerie aura? It matched the one coming off the ship—Susanoo.

No wonder Ace had that weird gut feeling during their fight.

“My guardian spirit weapon,” Lu Yu said casually. “His name’s Tsukuyomi.”

“Anyway, I think the fight just now cleared up a few things, yeah?”

“Whether it’s strength or age—I’m clearly the big brother here.”

He grinned. “You better go tell Luffy that, or I might have to knock some sense into him too.”

“Haha… That kid Luffy, huh?”

Ace chuckled, shaking his head.

“But for real—why didn’t you show this kind of power earlier? If I’d known how strong you were back then, we could’ve gone to sea together! Hell, we might’ve even had a shot at taking down Dad!”

Lu Yu waved him off.

“Nah. You still need to be Whitebeard’s son.”

“But hey—even if you’re not on my crew, even if you sail a different path…”

“You can still shout to the sea: Lu Yu, captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates, is my brother!”

Ace rolled his eyes, smirking. “Man, you really love hyping yourself up, don’t you?”

The two of them laughed and walked side by side back to the Extremely Evil Warship.

But as soon as they stepped aboard, Lu Yu’s tone turned serious.

“Ace,” he said flatly, “you’ve been developing in the wrong direction.”

That caught Roelki’s attention. He was carrying supplies nearby and immediately froze.

Lu Yu rarely spoke about Devil Fruit abilities—especially his own. Most people on the crew figured he didn’t even have a Devil Fruit, since he wasn’t affected by seawater.

Roelki had assumed Lu Yu’s power came from something else entirely.

So hearing him talk about development direction now? Yeah, that was worth stopping for.

“Wrong direction?” Ace raised an eyebrow. “I mean… I feel like I’ve been doing pretty well. My strength’s gone up a lot.”

“But lately… yeah, I’ve hit a wall. Feels like my Flame Emperor techniques just drain me too fast.”

“Way too much stamina burn. I can’t keep them up in a drawn-out fight.”

He scratched his head, frustrated. “I’m stuck, man.”

If anyone else had said that, Ace would’ve brushed it off.

But Lu Yu? He clearly knew what he was talking about.

During their fight, he’d picked apart Ace’s ability usage almost instantly—and kept pointing out its flaws.

There was no denying it now.

“Your fruit is Logia-type—Flame-Flame Fruit,” Lu Yu said. “Its core is simple: control and enhancement of flames.”

“But you focused way too much on control.”

“You barely scratched the surface on enhancement.”

He leaned back, voice calm and precise.

“The true strength of fire can be summed up in two things: temperature and burning.”

“High temperature brings destructive force.”

“And burning—true burning—means leaving damage that lingers.”

Ace tilted his head. “Temperature and burning?”

“But my Flame Emperor already has insane heat.”

“And my Fire Fist? It sticks to enemies and explodes. Isn’t that burning?”

He looked puzzled. This wasn’t news to him.

He had thought of these things before when developing his moves.

So why did it sound different coming from Lu Yu?

“You’re not wrong,” Lu Yu nodded. “You’ve developed both.”

“But you’ve been chasing style over substance.”

“All your moves—they’re flashy, huge, overwhelming. You could call it ‘violent aesthetics.’”

“But Ace—have you ever stopped to think about efficiency?”

“In real battles, it’s not about how cool your moves look. It’s about survival.”

“It’s about putting down your enemy—fast, clean, absolute.”

“Only after that can you worry about flair.”

His tone was low, but firm.

And Ace knew he was right.

His journey had been… smooth. Too smooth.

After defeating a few strong opponents, Whitebeard himself had offered to take him in.

From there, Ace became the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.

With that title alone, most people wouldn’t even dare fight him—even if they could win.

That status gave Ace a sense of invincibility. False confidence.

He didn’t need to push himself. He didn’t have to evolve.

But now?

Ace clenched his fists.

It had been years since he became Second Division Commander.

And his strength?

It hadn’t changed much at all.

No breakthroughs.

No growth.

He’d been floating. Stagnating.

And Lu Yu just slapped him in the face with the truth.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 48: Ace Wakes Up and Is Released!

Ace was silent.

Lu Yu, standing beside him, calmly analyzed the characteristics of his Devil Fruit ability. He pointed out a few flaws in Ace’s development so far—quirks and potential he hadn’t fully tapped into.

“Are you just gonna keep denying yourself?” Lu Yu asked, his tone growing sharper. “You realize developing a Devil Fruit isn’t some walk in the park, right?”

Ace’s silence lingered.

“You scared or something!?” Lu Yu suddenly shouted. “Don’t forget who the hell you are! You’ve got Conqueror’s Haki!”

The words hit Ace like a slap to the face, snapping him out of his daze.

“Conqueror’s Haki...?” Ace looked at Lu Yu, confused.

He remembered using it once—back when he was a kid. But that was just a glimpse. Later, no matter how hard he trained, he couldn’t seem to awaken it again. Maybe his method had been off. Maybe he’d given up too soon.

But now Lu Yu was bringing it up again?

“What’s your dream?” Lu Yu cut through his thoughts.

Ace blinked, stunned.

“My dream...?”

He paused, then slowly spoke. “At first... I wanted to surpass that man. I wanted to be the strongest pirate in the world—so people wouldn’t just see me as his son.” His voice turned firmer. “But now... I want to protect the Whitebeard Pirates. My place is with Dad.”

Lu Yu shook his head.

“You’ve gone off course, Ace.”

“What?”

“You’re heading the wrong direction—your ability, your mindset... even your dream. You forgot why you went to sea in the first place.”

Those words struck deep—like a blade through fog. Everything suddenly felt clearer.

Ace let out a chuckle that grew into a loud laugh.

“Heh... hahahaha! Damn, bro, you really know how to hit someone where it counts.”

“I get it now. No point developing a half-assed ability!”

“No destruction, no creation. Time to show you what real flames look like!”

Ace stood tall, clenching his fist. A burst of flame exploded in his hand—but it wasn’t the usual orange blaze. Hidden within it was a trace of white flame, faint but distinct.

Neither Ace nor Lu Yu noticed the change just yet.

Ding!
Congratulations, host! You’ve been recognized by Fire Fist Ace as his big brother.
You have gained 8,000 reputation points and unlocked the ability: Flame Frenzy.

Lu Yu grinned. “Knew he’d cave eventually.”

Being acknowledged by Ace was no small feat—especially considering who he was. Just this recognition earned Lu Yu 8,000 reputation points.

If I send him back to the Whitebeard Pirates to brag about me... I might rake in tens of thousands more...

But for now, Ace had another mission: tracking down Blackbeard.

And if I catch Blackbeard first... or even take him out myself...

No war at Marineford, no Whitebeard’s death. Plus, a whole new wave of reputation points.

Hell yeah, I’m living good.

“Brother Lu Yu!” Akame’s voice called out. She dropped from the mast and landed smoothly beside them. “Several pirate ships just appeared ahead. Should we take them down?”

“Pirates?” Lu Yu raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah.”

Ace stepped forward, his eyes flashing. “Hold up. Let me handle this.”

He cracked his knuckles, itching for a fight. “I got my ass handed to me just now. Time to blow off some steam.”

Lu Yu waved him off. “All yours. I’m not wasting energy on small fries.”

---

Meanwhile, on one of the enemy ships…

“Captain! It’s the Dragon Hunter Pirates up ahead!” the lookout shouted. “Intel was right—they’ve only got one main ship and a bunch of trashy ones.”

“Probably just came from East Blue. Their gear looks outdated.”

“If we take them down, we might get noticed by the World Government!”

“We could even be candidates for the next Seven Warlords of the Sea!”

Their captain, a hulking man with a mace and a cruel grin, laughed. “This is our shot! The Birudo Pirates are finally gonna make a name for ourselves!”

He twirled his weapon, its head wrapped in Armament Haki.

“With a 170 million bounty under my belt, it’s about time they start recognizing me!”

“Seven Warlords of the Sea, here we come!”

“Seven Warlords of the Sea! Lord Birudo!”

“Lord Birudo!”

The crew chanted in unison, fired up by delusions of grandeur.

But then—

“Captain, someone’s coming!” another lookout cried, eyes wide in fear.

“It’s him—it’s really him!”

“Who?!” Birudo snapped.

“Captain of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates… Fire Fist Ace!”

Birudo froze.

“No way… Why the hell is he here!?”

Panic started to set in.

If Ace is here… is Whitebeard nearby too!?

“He’s probably just passing through,” Birudo said quickly, trying to reassure himself. “We can—”

BOOM!

Before he could finish, a wave of searing flame shot across the sky, engulfing several pirate ships in an instant.

“C-Captain! What do we do?! He’s coming right for us—!”

BOOM!

Another blast.

This time, the fire engulfed their own ship.

In just seconds, the entire Birudo Pirates—ambitious scum with delusions of grandeur—were reduced to ash.

Their 170 million bounty didn’t mean shit. It came from crimes, not strength. They mistook infamy for power… and paid the price when they ran into a truly furious Ace.

A man with something to prove.

Ace landed back on deck, flame still flickering around him.

“Whew... now that’s what I needed,” he said, cracking his neck with a grin. “Blasting fools like that... really helps clear the head.”

With that, he turned, walking calmly toward Lu Yu’s ship.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 49: The World Government’s Help, My Stupid Brother!

Seeing the scene unfold before her, Najenda clapped her hands and grinned.

“Captain, Ace’s fighting style isn’t half bad, huh?” she said playfully. “With that kind of momentum, he can wipe out small fry in seconds. Plus, it’s good for building up your reputation, right?”

Lu Yu nodded slightly, his tone calm. “Yeah, flashy attacks like that do give off the illusion of being strong.”

“But there are plenty of people out there way more powerful than Ace,” he added. “Take Akame, for example. No fancy moves—just pure, lethal efficiency. Anyone she kills knows better than to question her strength.”

Najenda raised a brow. “So you’re saying all the flash is just for show?”

“Exactly,” Lu Yu replied. “It looks good, sure. It wins fans. But when you're burning that much energy to control a weak flame? That’s just style over substance.”

He paused, then added with a small smirk, “Me? I focus on ending fights quickly. That’s the best way to prove all this training wasn’t for nothing.”

Just then, Roelki walked over, holding a sheet of paper.

“The pirate ships we took down earlier? They belonged to the Birudo Pirates. Bounty’s at 170 million Berries. And… looks like they were coming for us.”

He handed the report to Lu Yu. “Got it from the Newsbird. Looks like our Dragon Hunter Pirates are attracting quite a bit of heat.”

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow. “Coming for us? Why? What’s their angle?”

He glanced at the document—and a smirk spread across his face.

“So, the World Government’s already making moves, huh?” he murmured.

Printed on the front page was big news: The Seven Warlords of the Sea – Bartholomew Kuma – to Step Down!

Though the article didn’t spell it out directly, one line caught Lu Yu’s eye:
Anyone who eliminates Lu Yu will be given priority for the vacant Warlord seat.

He chuckled darkly. “Heh… clever bastards. They’re using the Warlord position as bait now.”

It was a classic move by the World Government—redirect attention, control chaos, and dangle power to lure out the ambitious.

And it was working.

The Birudo Pirates weren’t random. Without the Government’s push, they probably wouldn’t have even noticed a rookie crew like his.

Most of the big names in the Grand Line had already carved out territory and weren’t wasting time on new blood. They’d been through the grinder and knew the danger that lurked across the seas.

But the Warlord title?

That was a different story. Too tempting to ignore.

“Pfft… hahaha…”

Lu Yu suddenly burst into laughter, his body trembling from how hard he was laughing.

Roelki blinked in confusion. “Uh… Captain? You good?”

He had never seen Lu Yu react like this—even when facing Ace. Usually, his captain was composed. Calm. In control.

But this… this was excitement.

“I’m fine,” Lu Yu replied, still grinning. “Honestly, we should thank the World Government. They just gave us one hell of a boost.”

Ding!
Congratulations to the host! You’ve been targeted by the Carlos Pirates. +500 reputation points!

Ding!
More pirates are targeting you. Reputation increased!

The notifications echoed in his mind.

With the Newsbird just starting to spread the info, Lu Yu’s fame was only going to skyrocket from here. And with that… more enemies would come.

But that’s exactly what he wanted.

This… this is the One Piece world.

Adventure. Danger. Freedom.

It was nothing like the dull world he’d left behind. This place—this sea—was exactly what he craved. To rise to the top, to see a view no one else ever had… this was the dream worth chasing.

“Yo, what are you grinning about?”

Ace strolled back onto the ship, brushing soot from his clothes. “Those pirates are toast. You’re just standing here smiling like a weirdo.”

“Nothing,” Lu Yu said casually. “By the way, weren’t you chasing Blackbeard?”

Ace tilted his head. “Yeah. Why?”

Lu Yu crossed his arms. “Stick with me for now. Work on my ship. Trust me—Blackbeard’ll come to me.”

Ace narrowed his eyes. “Come to you? What are you talking about?”

Before he could press further, Lu Yu handed him the newspaper.

As Ace read the headline, his eyes widened.

The Government was offering up the Warlord seat to whoever killed Lu Yu. That meant Blackbeard, the ambitious bastard that he was, might try to use Lu Yu as a stepping stone.

And if that was the case… then sticking around might actually be the best way to catch him.

“Alright, I’ll stick around,” Ace said finally.

“Roelki,” Lu Yu called out, “Ace is yours to manage. Give him the odd jobs.”

“Huh?!” Roelki blinked. “Uh… yes, Captain!”

He still looked a little dazed. After all, Ace was Lu Yu’s brother. And now Lu Yu wanted him scrubbing the deck?

But Roelki quickly understood. This was a setup. A trap for Blackbeard.

“Odd jobs!?” Ace shouted, clearly pissed. “Lu Yu, don’t push it—!”

But Lu Yu just laughed and walked off.

“Oh, my stupid brother,” he called back, “You can hate me all you want—but until you beat me, you’re still just that. My stupid little brother.”

Ace stood there fuming, fists clenched.

But deep down, the fire in his gut was already pushing him to get stronger.

He would master the Flame-Flame Fruit.

And next time... he wouldn’t be the one left behind.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 50: Food Crisis!

As Lu Yu and his crew set out to sea, the News Birds quickly broadcasted the shocking development—Lu Yu and his crew had taken down the notorious Birudo Pirates.

Naturally, Ace’s unexpected stint aboard Lu Yu’s ship was also part of the scoop.

---

Meanwhile, on an island in the New World…

“Interesting… way too interesting.”

“The Dragon Hunter Pirates and the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, huh? Who would’ve thought they’d be connected like this?”

“If the Navy finds out about this, things could get very messy.”

“…No, maybe I shouldn’t leak this. Where’s the fun if the Navy screws it all up?”

“Gugaa gaga…”

Morgans—the infamous Minister of the News Department, underground emperor of the New World, and perhaps the most powerful journalist in the world—grinned to himself as he read the fresh intel.

In times like these, with chaos brewing everywhere, a wildcard like Lu Yu made things incredibly entertaining.

And for someone like Morgans, chaos meant money.

As long as he had the exclusive, the profit would be massive.

His News Bird fleet numbered in the millions. Every major story raked in hundreds of millions in revenue.

This—this was the reason Morgans stood at the top of the information food chain.

His news empire was a juggernaut. Untouchable.

---

Back on the Grand Line…

Clang!

Sparks flew as Lu Yu’s sword clashed with Akame’s. Both swords glowed faintly with Armament Haki, so there was no worry about either blade snapping under pressure.

Akame pulled back, eyes sharp. “Brother Lu Yu, your swordsmanship’s getting tight. You’ve almost mastered my Assassination Sword and Burial Blade.”

She withdrew her blade, Murasame, coating it with Haki before sheathing it.

“We don’t need to keep sparring. You’ve already caught up.”

Over the past several days, their voyage had been relatively peaceful. When they weren’t fighting pirates or wild beasts, they spent their time training and sparring.

Lu Yu often practiced with his crew. It helped kill time, kept everyone sharp, and allowed him to test the results of his own progress.

Lu Yu cracked a smile and turned. “Alright then… Najenda, you’re next.”

“Hey! Hold up!” Ace jumped in, clearly annoyed. “Ain’t it my turn already?!”

He’d been stuck on the ship for days—cleaning, carrying, fetching. Nothing fun. No real fights either.

Every time they clashed with pirates, Lu Yu or his crew took care of it before Ace could even warm up.

Sure, he’d been training and developing his Flame-Flame Fruit, and yeah, he’d made decent progress, but still… he was bored out of his damn mind.

He glared at Lu Yu. “C’mon, man! Let me fight already!”

Lu Yu looked over at Rolki. “How long till we reach the next island?”

As an official crew member, Roelki was in charge of navigation aboard the Extremely Evil Battleship.

Roelki adjusted his goggles. “About three days. We’ll hit Whiskey Peak next. Word is the people there are very welcoming to pirates. Should be a good spot to resupply.”

He glanced sideways at Ace. “Assuming we have supplies left. Our handyman here eats like three people combined.”

“Huh?!” Ace turned sharply. “The hell did you just say!?”

“I work my ass off for you guys, and now you’re whining about how much I eat?! Seriously?!”

He turned to the rest of the odd-job crew, eyes narrowing. The look on his face screamed: Say something and you’re next.

---

For the first time, Lu Yu was beginning to understand just how expensive sailing could be.

No wonder the big-name pirates went around pillaging and raiding—without money, there was no way to keep a ship and crew afloat.

He sighed and called out, “Ace, you better work harder! If you can’t control those flames soon, we’re feeding you charcoal for dinner!”

Laughing, Lu Yu peeled off his shirt, revealing his well-defined physique.

He wasn’t bulky like a bodybuilder, but lean, powerful, and athletic—built for speed, precision, and control. The perfect body for combat.

Those bloated muscle types? Yeah, they looked intimidating, but they’d slow you down in a real fight.

With that, Lu Yu leapt into the sea, diving in smoothly as the rest of the crew began prepping the deck.

Soon enough, a massive grill was set up on the Extremely Evil Battleship—a floating barbecue on the Grand Line.

Ace stood by the railing, watching Lu Yu swim effortlessly.

“That guy… he’s not a Devil Fruit user, huh?”

“But what is he then? Is it… something about his race?”

“He looks totally normal.”

Ace furrowed his brows. Ever since their last battle, he’d been trying to figure Lu Yu out.

But the guy was like a damn puzzle with missing pieces.

From what he’d observed, Lu Yu’s training focused heavily on building physical strength.

He pushed that same mentality onto his crew. Everyone practiced constantly, sparring with Haki active—even during casual sessions.

And the results?

Terrifying.

Every single official member of Lu Yu’s crew had both Armament and Observation Haki—and they weren’t half-baked users either.

Akame and Najenda in particular… those two were monsters.

Akame turned into a silent killing machine when she entered combat mode. That eerie calm, that cold, ruthless energy—yeah, it scared even him.

And Najenda? She fought alongside a massive armored guardian, Susanoo. Like Lu Yu’s, but maybe even more refined.

Her control over it made their fights look like deadly choreographed dances.

What kind of crew is this?!

Then there was Kuina.

A freakishly talented swordswoman. She was already at the level of a high-class swordsman, and she was only getting stronger.

Ace had no doubt—someday, she’d be up there with legends like Dracule Mihawk.

All of them… monsters.

Where the hell did Lu Yu find these people?

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Chapter Text

Chapter 51 – The Attention of the Revolutionary Army

The sea suddenly began to churn.

Massive waves surged skyward, roaring with wild energy.

“Bang!”

The next moment, Lu Yu landed back on the deck, holding a massive fish over ten meters long in one hand.

Catching something of that size wasn’t a problem for him. The only challenge was tracking it down in the vast ocean. Once he locked on, it only took a single strike.

“Kuina, it’s all yours.”

Without hesitation, Lu Yu tossed the fish to Kuina.

“Got it,” Kuina replied, unsheathing her blade—Wado Ichimonji.

She walked forward calmly, and in just a few swift movements, the huge fish was cleanly sliced into half-meter-long slabs of meat.

On the side, Susanoo and Tsukuyomi grabbed iron skewers and began threading the meat expertly.

With a flick, they tossed them over to Ace.

Yeah, that’s right—when it comes to grilling, the Flame-Flame Fruit is unmatched.

Ace fired up the skewers with precise bursts of flame, roasting the meat while Susanoo and Tsukuyomi handled the seasoning. Within minutes, the savory aroma spread across the entire ship.

“It’s chow time!” someone shouted.

“We should throw a banquet!” Ace said, eyes sparkling. “We’ve still got some wine left, right?”

“You drank it all,” Lu Yu replied flatly, covering his face in mild frustration.

He never liked the rum from this world anyway—it lacked punch. He had even considered building his own brewery just to fix that. But for now, he made do.

Unfortunately, since Ace came aboard, the guy had basically become a food and drink vacuum. Half the ship’s liquor was gone, and if anyone had been a bit slower, Ace probably would’ve finished it all himself.

“Aw man… no wine left?”

---

While the Dragon Hunter Pirates were feasting and relaxing, far away in the East Blue, a very different storm was brewing—in Loguetown.

“Boom!”

A bolt of thunder crashed down, blasting away the Marines who were moments away from executing Luffy.

“Hahahaha!”

“I am the man who’s gonna become the Pirate King!” Luffy laughed, leaping off the execution platform and sprinting across the square.

He had been caught by Smoker, and honestly, after getting his ass handed to him by Lu Yu last time, Smoker had taken things seriously. He’d trained like crazy and his strength had leveled up a lot.

“You think I’ll just let you escape!?”

“Boom!”

Smoker transformed into white smoke and launched himself at Luffy.

Justice had to be served.

But suddenly, a strong wind blew through the square.

Out of nowhere, a shadow appeared behind Smoker.

“Wha—?”

A deep, cold voice whispered in his ear, “What do you think you’re doing… to my son?”

Before Smoker could react, a terrifying pressure crashed down on him.

Boom.

Smoker hit the ground hard—knocked out instantly.

The man behind it all stood calmly atop a tall building, wind blowing his cloak like a flag.

It was Monkey D. Dragon.

He watched Luffy escape the chaos below, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

He had originally come just to observe—see how far Luffy had come.

But to find his son nearly executed?

He couldn’t just stand by.

If not for the complications it would cause with his old man, Dragon might’ve razed Logue Town to the ground in his fury.

“Go, Luffy. The sea ahead holds more trials… and more allies.”

With that, Dragon disappeared into the wind.

---

Back on the Revolutionary Army’s ship.

“Chief, is Luffy alright?!”

“I can’t believe that kid actually went out to sea on his own,” Sabo said with a grin. “Looks like he’s grown up.”

Ever since he learned Luffy set sail, Sabo had wanted to see him. But the Revolutionary Army had been far too busy. If Dragon hadn’t ended up in the East Blue for other missions, who knows when he’d get the chance?

“He’s still green. Almost didn’t make it today,” Dragon said quietly.

He glanced toward the horizon.

“By the way… this Lu Yu you mentioned. He’s the same one leading the Dragon Hunter Pirates, right?”

Sabo raised a brow. “Brother Lu Yu?”

“I’m not totally sure. He didn’t show much talent in combat when we were younger,” Sabo said, thinking it over. “But it’s not a common name in the East Blue. It’s gotta be him.”

“Contact him,” Dragon said. “Ace of the Whitebeard Pirates is already connected to him. I want to see if he’s open to working with us.”

“Understood,” Sabo nodded. “If he’s really my childhood friend, I’d love to have him on our side.”

Plus, with Ace on Lu Yu’s ship, it was the perfect excuse to visit.

Sabo smirked to himself.

He wondered how Ace would react when he found out he was still alive.

Would he cry?

That thought made Sabo chuckle.

Soon after, Sabo set sail on a small boat of his own.

Dragon watched him leave, silent.

Then, he too prepared a lone vessel.

He was heading out to meet someone.

Someone he couldn’t avoid any longer.

His father.

The Hero of the Navy—Monkey D. Garp.

---

Back on the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ ship…

After eating and drinking their fill, the crew collapsed onto the deck under the stars.

“Ace, if you don’t pull your weight tomorrow, you’re off the ship.”

Lu Yu’s voice cut through the peaceful night.

“You’re good at nothing but eating. I swear, at this rate, you’re gonna eat the whole crew out of supplies.”

“Hahahaha!” Ace laughed. “C’mon, Big Bro! What’s wrong with a younger brother eating a little extra?”

He clearly didn’t take it seriously.

To him, freeloading off Lu Yu was only natural.

But what none of them realized… was that they were being watched.

Far away, in the shadow of the waves, a pirate ship lurked.

“Lord Hawkins… are we really going after the Dragon Hunter Pirates?” one of the crew asked hesitantly.

They were part of the Hawkins Pirates, led by Basil Hawkins—the Magician.

Undefeated so far, they had a reputation for brutal efficiency in battle.

But this time, facing off against a newcomer crew, Hawkins had hesitated.

He’d changed his orders multiple times.

Now, even his own men weren’t sure what to expect.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 52: Battle, Hawkins!

Hawkins was baffled.

His divination was all over the place—and that was a problem.

Under normal circumstances, he’d retreat immediately when faced with uncertainty. No hesitation. That’s how he’d survived and climbed the ranks, relying on his cards to guide every step.

But this time? The readings fluctuated wildly between great fortune and disastrous death.

Even more bizarre, this inconsistency occurred when he simply thought about attacking the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

That made him uneasy.

How could a rookie pirate crew cause such chaotic interference in his predictions?

The more Hawkins thought about it, the more curious he became. He found himself wanting to follow them, to see what made them tick.

Just then, a crew member rushed up with an urgent report.

“Captain! We've confirmed the guy who took down the Birudo Pirates—it was Ace the Fire Fist! That handyman who looked like him on the Dragon Hunter ship? That was actually Ace!”

Hawkins' expression turned grim.

The second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates... working as a handyman on a no-name crew?

It didn’t make sense.

None of this made sense.

The erratic divinations, the bizarre revelations, the outrageous coincidences—everything about the Dragon Hunter Pirates was unnatural.

"Captain," one of his men said nervously, "maybe we should just back off. This crew is way too weird."

"Yeah,” another added. “They've got Ace as a handyman. If we go after them, we might end up scrubbing their deck too."

“They don’t even show respect to Whitebeard! This guy’s gotta have something huge backing him. Charging in sounds like suicide.”

A chorus of agreement followed. Hawkins stayed silent, frowning deeply.

“I don’t need you to tell me what to do,” he said coolly. “Just take care of your own duties.”

The pirates exchanged uneasy glances but backed off, grumbling under their breath.

Hawkins turned back to his cards. “One more divination…”

He drew the result.

Death.

His eyes narrowed. “What? I haven’t even done anything yet...”

“Captain!” another pirate shouted. “We’ve been spotted! The Dragon Hunter Pirates are sailing straight toward us!”

“Leading them is their so-called handyman—Ace the Fire Fist!”

“What do we do, Captain? Fight or retreat?”

More panicked reports flooded in.

Hawkins’ crew wasn’t exactly top-tier. He’d taken them in because they were manageable and useful for basic tasks. Pirate crews had a ton of logistics to handle, and sailing alone—unless you were a freak like Hawkeye—just didn’t work.

“Is this how I die?” Hawkins muttered, staring at his cards.

But just then, the reading flipped.

Good fortune.

His eyes widened. “Wait... good luck?”

Did that mean they'd gain something if they fought?

Then what about the death result earlier?

The contradictions were maddening.

For the first time, Hawkins truly doubted the cards he had always trusted.

Still, he made his decision.

“We fight!” he declared. “We’re pirates, dammit. What’s the point of sailing if you run from every challenge?”

“Counterattack! Defeat the Dragon Hunter Pirates!”

“Ace or not, we’ll take them down!”

With that, Hawkins pulled out a handful of straw dolls and began fusing them into his body. One after another, over a hundred scarecrows merged with him.

---

Meanwhile, on the sea—

“Looks like it’s Hawkins’ crew,” Ace grinned from the Dragon Hunter ship’s deck. “Not bad... guy’s got some strength. And he’s a Devil Fruit user too.”

“Looks like we’ve got ourselves a fun one today.”

He turned to the others with a smirk. “Take your time, boys. I’ll go say hello.”

With that, he tossed his small boat overboard and leapt after it, propelling himself forward with a burst of flames.

Hawkins’ crew had three ships in total. The flagship held Hawkins himself, while the other two carried supplies and low-ranking crew members.

That wasn’t just logistics—it was strategic. Hawkins’ powers depended on his subordinates. Every scarecrow he used transferred his damage to someone else.

“Portgas D. Ace...” Hawkins muttered.

“Demon-Subduing Aspect!”

With a flash, a towering avatar emerged behind Hawkins, wielding a massive blade.

Ace shot forward and landed directly on the giant sword’s back.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he said with a grin. “A sneak attack without even saying hi? That’s rude, man.”

“Sparks.”

Tiny glowing embers floated out from Ace’s body and drifted toward Hawkins.

Hawkins frowned, ordering the giant avatar to dodge.

With a twist, the avatar flung Ace off the blade.

“You think you can take me down with that weak fire of yours?”

“Fire Fist Ace, your—"

BOOM!

A massive explosion erupted before Hawkins could finish his sentence.

Flames engulfed the Demon-Subduing Aspect instantly.

On one of the nearby ships, a subordinate suddenly burst into flames and screamed as he was consumed—one of Hawkins’ substitutes.

The avatar reappeared, lunging toward Ace again.

But Hawkins didn’t look as confident anymore.

Just one strike. That’s all it took for Ace to destroy his Demon-Subduing Aspect.

Without the scarecrow, that would’ve taken him out of the fight entirely.

Summoning it again would drain his stamina fast.

Hawkins narrowed his eyes.

“This guy... is seriously strong.”

Ace cracked his knuckles. “Round two?”

His arm turned into a raging inferno.

“Fire Fist!”

A giant flaming fist launched toward Hawkins with terrifying speed.

“Demon-Subduing Slash!”

Hawkins responded immediately. He knew Ace had the upper hand in terms of offense.

But that didn’t matter.

Hawkins wasn’t trying to win through brute force. His strength came from endurance. His ability let him transfer damage, fatigue, and injuries to his crew.

As long as his dolls held up, he could outlast anyone.

That was the plan.

Yet even as he clung to that strategy, his confidence wavered.

Because no matter how strong Ace was...

He was still just the handyman of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

What the hell is going on with this crew?

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Chapter Text

Chapter 53: A Sign of Great Death, the Handyman Hawkins!

(TL: Changing Lu Yu name to Ryuunosuke)

Hawkins had been lucky before—at least, according to his fortune-telling.

But now, he probably understood why.

Because it couldn’t possibly get any worse.

In other words, when you’ve hit rock bottom, the only place left to go is up—so the reading showed "good luck." But it was all a lie, just a misleading illusion.

The reality? Hawkins was already standing in death’s shadow.

Whether it was Ace standing in front of him or the looming ship of the Dragon Hunter Pirates slowly approaching from the horizon, the signs were clear.

He recalled the intel he had on the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

Other than the so-called “handymen,” every single crew member was a full-on combatant.

In other words, if the main force of the Dragon Hunter Pirates arrived, he was done for.

"Shit..."

BOOM!

Another massive blast of flame engulfed his demon-subduing phase.

In less than ten minutes, Ace had already forced Hawkins to burn through three of his straw scarecrows—and that was with Ace barely trying.

"What the hell do I do now...?"

"How do I get out of this!?"

At this point, Hawkins had no thoughts of fighting left.

All he wanted was to run.

Suddenly, the word “DANGER” appeared above a pirate’s head nearby.

"Huh...?"

SHING!

Before Hawkins could finish processing it, a flash of silver light streaked past.

The pirate was instantly cut down.

The attacker? One of the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ warriors—Akame.

Her slender sword gleamed with a deadly sheen—coated in poison.

One cut was all it took, even if it didn’t hit a vital spot. As long as you were touched by that sword, you were a goner.

One-Hit Kill: Akame.

That was her nickname across the seas.

“Captain Hawkins,” Akame said in a cheerful tone, lifting her skirt and offering a playful bow. “We, the Dragon Hunter Pirates, humbly greet you.”

Hawkins' brow twitched violently.

"Greet me?"

"THIS is how you say hello!?"

"Should I be thankful you only killed one!?"

He was fuming.

He’d known this was a bad idea from the start.

But he just had to test his luck.

And now... it looked like he was about to pay the price.

"Captain—!"

BANG!

Just as one of his crew shouted from the other side, Hawkins turned his head—only to see a giant hand grab two pirates like they were ragdolls.

Their skulls were crushed, twisted like wet cloth.

Not even the tough bodies of this world could bounce back from that.

“Captain Hawkins, I am Najenda, Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ First Division. Pleased to meet you.”

Najenda greeted him as if she were shaking hands at a banquet.

But the towering Susanoo that loomed behind her said otherwise.

Every pirate within its range was being annihilated.

And Hawkins could sense no trace of life from either Najenda or that monstrous avatar.

He knew it instantly—he couldn’t beat these two.

There was no way out from this side.

“Captain Hawkins,” Najenda continued sweetly, “I’d suggest not making any sudden moves.”

“Our captain thinks you’re a very powerful man.”

“But if we see you move even a little after we board, we’re allowed to take it as an act of aggression.”

“And if that happens, we’re allowed to retaliate. And kill you.”

Just as Hawkins was considering backing off, a sharp wave of sword aura slashed in from behind.

The blade hadn't touched him yet, but he could feel the lethality in the air.

If he so much as twitched, he was dead.

In front of him: Ace, the man with the Fire Fist.
To his left: Akame, the one-hit-kill swordswoman.

To his right: Najenda, commander of Susanoo.

And now behind him… another killer.

Even Hawkins was starting to sweat.

"How the hell do I survive this?"

As his thoughts raced, the warship finally pulled up.

Standing at the bow, calm and composed, was the captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates—Ryuunosuke.

“Nice to meet you, Captain Hawkins,” Ryuunosuke said with a smile.

“I’m the captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.”

“I figured you might want to work as a handyman on our ship.”

“Ace’s been grumbling about doing all the grunt work himself.”

“So I thought—why not find him a few buddies?”

He smiled again, warm and friendly—like he wasn't surrounded by death incarnate.

Hawkins was stunned.

But not because Ryuunosuke wanted to make him a handyman.

No, what truly shocked him... was that his fortune-telling—just moments ago marked with black death—was now showing auspicious signs.

After Ryuunosuke appeared and made the offer, it flipped.

Could that really be the “good fortune” from the reading...?

Becoming a handyman... on someone else’s pirate crew?

What a joke!

He had a bounty over 100 million!

He had pride!

He had never lost since setting sail!

Ryuunosuke raised a brow.

“Of course, I’m not gonna force you to be a handyman,” he said casually.

“I mean, I might just fire Ace anyway. Guy eats too damn much.”

“He does odd jobs here and there, but honestly, he’s not pulling his weight.”

“He’s got a bottomless pit for a stomach.”

Ryuunosuke grinned.

Suddenly, a terrifying pressure exploded from him.

Behind him, a massive skeletal hand materialized.

With one swing of a long blade, it cleaved through Hawkins’ demon-subduing phase like paper.

And as it split open, dozens of scarecrow substitutes died instantly.

“What the hell...?”

“This guy... that was just one attack...!”

Hawkins’ panic exploded.

Ryuunosuke had only taken a single swing, but it had wiped out most of his life-saving cards.

The attack paused briefly, but the demon-subduing phase had been marked by some strange intent—Hawkins didn’t understand it, but he felt it.

If he kept resisting... he was going to die.

Dead serious.

He gulped.

“I—I, Basil Hawkins, am honored to join the Dragon Hunter Pirates... as a handyman!”

“Captain Ryuunosuke, please accept me!”

“I swear I’ll be a valuable asset to your crew!”

“As for food, my pirate group has plenty of reserves—we’ll donate everything to you!”

In that moment, Hawkins got it.

The “luck” and “doom” he read earlier weren’t wrong.

They were dead accurate.

The Dragon Hunter Pirates may be newcomers on the sea—

But they were monsters.

And more terrifying than anything—

They were young.

They weren’t old veterans at their peak.

They were still growing.

Still leveling up.

In time, the Dragon Hunter Pirates would rise to the top of the world.

And being a “handyman”? Hawkins didn’t care anymore.

Because if Ace, someone as strong as he was, had no complaints doing grunt work—

Then maybe in this crew, being a handyman... didn’t mean a damn thing.

If you were on this ship—

You were one of them.

“Well done,” Ryuunosuke said, nodding in approval.

“Welcome aboard.”

“You’ll be the captain of the Second Division Handyman. Keep your crew in line.”

He smiled once more.

Conquering without bloodshed—

Now that was the kind of power that told the world:

The Dragon Hunter Pirates have arrived.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 54: Even Odd Jobs Have Divisions!?

With the addition of the Hawkins Pirates, the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ reputation soared once again.

[Dragon Hunter Pirates Reputation = The total sum of all reputation points earned by Ryuunosuke. This value will never decrease.]

Furthermore, with Hawkins appointed as the Captain of the Handyman Division's Second Squad, he brought along a solid group of his own.

These pirates followed Hawkins and pledged their loyalty to the Dragon Hunter Pirates—and more importantly, to Ryuunosuke.

Other pirates might scoff at such loyalty, but for Ryuunosuke? It was gold.

Each follower meant more reputation points.

Right now, a crowd had gathered on the deck of the Extremely Evil battleship.

Ryuunosuke stood at the front, addressing the crew with a casual yet commanding air.

“Hawkins, first of all—welcome to the Dragon Hunter Pirates. You’re officially the captain of the Second Division Handymen.”

He turned and gestured to a nearby crewmember.

“This is Roelki, the First Division Captain of the Handymen and a core member of the crew.”

“As for the rest… I’m sure you’ve already gotten their profiles. And I don’t think I need to introduce our legendary handyman, Ace.”

Ryuunosuke smirked.

“Now listen up—there’s only one standard if you want to become a full-fledged Dragon Hunter Pirate: you work.”

“This ain’t a charity cruise for lazy pirates. Anyone who just eats and slacks off? Not qualified.”

The message was clear, blunt, and absolute.

Ace, who was nearby munching on an apple, immediately protested.

“Oi! Do you have to use me as the damn example every single time!?”

He pouted.

“Ryuunosuke-nii, come on, I’m your little bro! Don’t do me like this!”

Everyone chuckled. Ace, the former Captain of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, was now reduced to being a literal handyman—and Ryuunosuke kept dragging him into speeches like this.

“Stupid little bro,” Ryuunosuke muttered, smirking.

“Anyway, back to business.”

His gaze turned sharp as he locked eyes with Hawkins.

“Hawkins. Are you ready to be a part of this crew?”

“Because if you’re not committed, I’d rather kill you now.”

He said it with a smile, almost like a joke—but the weight behind his words was unmistakable.

“The Dragon Hunter Pirates have zero tolerance for betrayal. If you ever turn on us... trust me, you’ll regret not dying when you had the chance.”

Everyone went quiet.

Hawkins swallowed hard. He knew Ryuunosuke wasn’t bluffing. There was no threat in his tone—just cold, dangerous honesty.

“I understand.”

Hawkins stood tall, placing a hand over his chest.

“Captain. From this day forward, I’ll give everything I’ve got to become a core crew member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.”

“I, Basil Hawkins, will treat the pride of this crew as my personal code from now on!”

He declared it solemnly, like an oath.

And honestly, no one was surprised.

First of all, he wanted to live.

Refusing here would basically sign his death warrant. He knew damn well that everyone on this ship would tear him to pieces if he said the wrong thing. Not even his stand-ins could save him from that.

But more than that—he was intrigued.

That woman, Najenda... she made him want to take the gamble.

Hawkins had never seen a 100% fortune reading before—not once since he’d first set sail.

This? This might be the turning point of his entire life.

You only get a better view of the world when you’re standing on a giant’s shoulders.

Hawkins was well aware of his own limits. If he relied only on himself, he’d never reach the top.

Joining a rising crew like this—one with potential—was way smarter than selling himself to the Yonko out of desperation later.

“Good,” Ryuunosuke said with a grin. “That’s exactly what I want to hear.”

“Now let’s see what you can do.”

Ryuunosuke had always seen Hawkins as a rational, composed type. Even his Devil Fruit ability suggested he was no idiot.

So, when Hawkins made that vow, Ryuunosuke knew the guy was serious.

And naturally, with their captain bowing his head, the rest of the Hawkins Pirates fell in line without complaint.

---

A week later...

---

“Fire Fist Ace has become a handyman for the Dragon Hunter Pirates?!”

“Hawkins and his whole crew have joined too? He’s the captain of the second handyman division now?!”

“What kinda cracked-out intel report is this!?”

“Even handymen have divisions now?!”

In the Marshal’s office at Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku held the report with a baffled expression.

When the Ace news first dropped, Sengoku had asked Garp for answers. After learning that Ace and Ryuunosuke were like brothers, he chalked it up to personal ties.

But Hawkins? What the hell was he doing?

From what they knew, Hawkins had no prior relationship with Ryuunosuke.

This had to be their first meeting.

So why would he fall in line so fast?

“Perurururu”

Ring ring.

“Marshal Sengoku speaking.”

“What’s that? The Husky Pirates? Bounty of 87 million?”

“…Defeated by the Dragon Hunter Pirates?”

“Who handled them?”

“Hawkins?”

“…Got it.”

He hung up and stared blankly at the pile of intel.

Was the sea losing its damn mind?

Or was Sengoku just getting too old for this?

Was this how the new generation rolled now?

“They’re strong,” a calm voice said from the corner.

Sengoku looked up and saw Gion, standing in the office without so much as a knock.

“At the very least,” she continued, “I don’t think he’s weaker than any of our admirals.”

“Gion?” Sengoku raised a brow. “Weren’t you on vacation? Why’re you here?”

He quickly and subtly gathered the files on his desk. He knew what she was here about.

“I want to go,” she said bluntly. “Kuzan’s moving. I want to go with him.”

Being one of the Navy’s inner circle, Gion naturally caught wind that Admiral Aokiji had been dispatched.

“No,” Sengoku started. “After what happened last time, you’re not in the right—”

“If I don’t go,” she interrupted quietly, “I’ll never get better.”

Her voice was strained, her expression weary.

After her humiliating defeat last time, she hadn’t been able to let it go.

Even during her so-called break, she’d been pushing herself—relentless training, day after day.

But no matter how hard she tried, the memory of Ryuunosuke’s mocking expression haunted her.

That dismissive gaze, the smirk that said you’re nothing—she couldn’t shake it.

It gnawed at her.

And unless she faced him again, she knew it would keep eating away at her forever.

Sengoku let out a long sigh.

“You…”

“Fine.”

“You can go.”

“But take the Vice Admiral with you.”

“And with Kuzan there, things shouldn’t get too out of hand.”

He paused, then added with a frown, “And take a Buster call-class warship.”

The Dragon Hunter Pirates were getting out of control. If the Navy didn’t step in soon, it’d be a goddamn embarrassment.

But knowing Garp… and Kuzan’s slacker attitude…

If those two screwed around again, Sengoku was going to have a damn heart attack.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 55: Eating for Free

After hearing what Sengoku said, Gion instantly perked up.

She knew the significance. If two Vice Admirals and one full-fledged Admiral led a warship at the level of the Buster Call.

Even Ryuunosuke would have no chance of escape, right?

If that were the case, the nightmare festering in her heart might finally be laid to rest.

"Thank you, Marshal!" she said, her expression now completely different from when she had entered the office.

Sengoku narrowed his eyes. “But Gion, I have some conditions before I let you go this time.”

“First, no reckless moves. If things take a turn, you withdraw immediately—no hesitation.”

“Second, no matter how this mission ends, don’t pull the same act you did just now. I know you were faking it.”

He sighed, rubbing his forehead.

This girl was obviously acting. And the worst part? Even knowing she was pretending, it still got under his skin. That was the truly frustrating part.

“Got it!” Gion said cheerfully and leapt away without waiting for a reply.

Sengoku could only shake his head with a helpless smile.

This girl... seriously.

Still, the Navy had mobilized serious power this time to capture Ryuunosuke.

And if this still failed?

Then the hit to their credibility would be worse than ever. The World Government would come down hard on them for incompetence. Worse, even the pirates who used to fear the Navy might get bolder, spiraling everything out of control.

Sengoku had already braced himself for that possibility. Which was why he assigned a special operative to this operation.

As long as that man didn’t screw up, taking down the captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates should be no problem.

---

At that moment, Ryuunosuke and his crew had arrived at Whiskey Peak.

As expected, the welcome was extremely enthusiastic.

“Ryuunosuke, are you sure it’s okay to eat like this?” Akame asked while stuffing her face.

“These people definitely poisoned the food.”

Despite the warning, she was still eating like a starved beast.

Though Akame had a killer figure, her appetite was something else entirely. The stack of plates next to her was already over a meter high.

“You’re still chomping down even after calling it poisoned,” Ryuunosuke said, laughing. “Anyway, those toxins won’t do anything to us.”

“As for the cooks? With Hawkins watching over them, there won’t be any funny business.”

“So relax and enjoy the feast.”

The rest of the crew didn’t need to be told twice. They were scarfing down food like there was no tomorrow.

Ever since Ace had burned through their food supply, they hadn’t eaten properly in two whole days.

---

In the kitchen…

“Hey! What the hell is going on!?”

“We’re down to half our food reserves!”

“Did the poison expire or something!? Why are those pirates still up and walking around!?”

A middle-aged man with a kind face—who was now anything but kind—was on the verge of flipping a table.

Their entire operation relied on this system—serve poisoned food, let the pirates drop dead, and then cash in their bounties at the local Marine branch.

But these pirates? They were monsters. Immune to everything.

“We’ve been increasing the dosage, big bro,” one of the chefs said, panic creeping into his voice as he scrambled with the next batch of food. “But nothing’s working! They’re not even dizzy!”

They were pirate hunters, sure, but over the years, most of them had forgotten that part. These days, they were glorified cooks waiting for victims to show up.

“Brother!”

A younger pirate hunter ran into the kitchen, out of breath.

“We just got confirmation on who we’re dealing with!”

“The guy doing the dishes? That’s Fire Fist Ace, second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Bounty—550 million Berries!”

“The rest? It’s the Dragon Hunter Pirates! Their captain, Ryuunosuke, is a new face with a bounty of 100 million!”

“And that scary dude handling the poisons? That’s Basil Hawkins, captain of the Hawkins Pirates!”

Dead silence filled the kitchen.

The lead pirate hunter blinked, stunned.

“Shit…” he muttered.

They’d seriously messed up. These weren’t your everyday pirates.

They were the real deal.

---

At that moment, a voice called out behind them.

“Hey, don’t stop cooking. We’re not done yet.”

Everyone froze.

Hawkins stepped into the kitchen, calm as ever, an eerie grin on his face. One of the scarecrows in his hand suddenly burst into flames.

“Tsk. If the captain hadn’t told me not to kill you all, I’d have torched you by now for wasting one of my scarecrows.”

He stepped forward slowly.

“You’ve already blown your cover, so now you work for us. Got it?”

He extended his hands, touching each of the cooks.

One by one, scarecrows appeared in Hawkins’ hands—symbols of his power.

From that moment on, every one of them was bound to him. If they wanted to die? Fine. But it’d be their own pain.

And to Hawkins, wasting resources was the greatest sin of all.

“U-Understood, Lord Hawkins!” the kitchen crew shouted in unison, fear etched on every face.

They’d all heard of Basil Hawkins. A monster in his own right.

After what just happened, they were just grateful to still be breathing.

“Smart decision,” Hawkins said, turning back toward the dining hall. “But let me be clear—you’ve already seen your death. Try anything stupid, and you will die.”

As soon as he was gone, the pirate hunters all exhaled in relief.

“Hey, don’t just stand there!”

The boss barked orders at the staff.

“Cook like your life depends on it—because it does! Forget the poison! Just make the food delicious, you hear me!?”

The Den Den Mushi was already buzzing as he ordered extra ingredients.

These people weren’t just pirates. They were bottomless pits.

---

Back in the dining area, Ryuunosuke leaned back in his chair with a grin.

“See? Told you the food wasn’t poisoned.”

Akame giggled. “Ryuunosuke, you’re totally scamming them into feeding us for free.”

She flashed a playful smile.

The rest of the crew laughed along with her.

It was hard to say whether these poor bastards at Whiskey Peak were unlucky for trying to mess with them…

…or lucky they hadn’t all died yet.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 56: Confirm the First Territory!

After finishing our meal, we spent the night resting.

I gotta admit, after being stuck on the sea for so long, finally stepping onto land just hits different. All I wanted was to soak in the scenery and enjoy a bit of peace.

Ryuunosuke climbed to the highest peak nearby.

He stood there, gazing out at the endless sea stretching to the horizon and the rugged beauty of the island beneath him.

“So… this is the world of One Piece?” he muttered.

“Every place has its own charm.”

As he took in the view, emotions stirred within him. Back in his old life, he never had the chance to experience something like this.

“Brother Ryuunosuke! This world’s amazing!” Akame beamed as she plopped down on a rock behind him, her eyes wide with wonder. “There are so many weird and wonderful things! Is this what you're after? Is this what you’ve been chasing?”

Ryuunosuke smirked. “Is that what I’m after?”

He turned around and faced her, eyes calm but sharp. “Honestly, I’m a pretty simple guy. I chase strength, power, reputation, and status. That’s it.”

He paused, then added with a grin, “And anything in this world I don’t like—I’ll change it. My way. How’s that for ambition?”

At the start, Ryuunosuke had only wanted to explore this world, to see it for himself. But even that simple desire required preparation—serious preparation.

The most important thing? Strength.

Without power, you’re just another name on the obituary list, swept away by the chaos of the so-called "free sea." Just like the pirates he’d crushed. Just like Hawkins, now reduced to a grunt. Like Blackbeard, hunted by Whitebeard. Like Ace, who was destined to be executed.

They were all caught in the web of their own weakness.

But if you’re strong enough—strong enough to bend the rules—then you can call yourself truly free.

“Brother Ryuunosuke wants to do so much,” Akame said softly. “But I’m different. I just wanna stay by your side.”

He chuckled at her words but didn’t respond. Some things didn’t need words.

---

Three Days Later

“Captain, we’ve finished gathering supplies,” Roelki reported. “And we packed extra, just in case Ace gets hungry again.”

He arrived just as Ryuunosuke and Susanoo finished sparring.

These past three days had been all about logistics—meat, vegetables, fruits—you name it. Ryuunosuke hadn’t handled it personally, but he knew how much work it was.

“Good,” Ryuunosuke nodded. “Let’s get ready to set sail.”

Then, as if it were an afterthought, he added, “Oh, and put our pirate flag up here.”

Roelki froze.

“A flag?”

Even Hawkins, who had been passing by, came to a dead stop. His eyes widened with disbelief.

Everyone in the Grand Line knew what that meant.

Planting your pirate flag on land wasn’t just decoration—it was a declaration. You were telling the entire sea: this is my territory.

Only the Four Emperors had the right to do that openly. The Seven Warlords? Sure, they were government dogs with a free plunder pass—but claiming land? That crossed the line unless you were someone like Hancock or Kuma, who already had their own countries.

Guys like Hawkeye and Moria? They just squatted on unclaimed islands, which didn’t count.

But Whiskey Peak?

That was a crucial point in the Grand Line.

Leaving their flag here meant issuing a challenge to every pirate out there.

“Do the people here even know what that means?” Roelki asked hesitantly.

“They don’t need to,” Ryuunosuke replied coolly. “All they need to know is this—Whiskey Peak now belongs to the Dragon Hunter Pirates.”

Ding!
Congratulations! The Dragon Hunter Pirates have officially claimed their first territory!
+1,000 Reputation Points!
Maintain control for five years to earn an additional 10,000 Reputation Points!

A pirate flag materialized in Ryuunosuke’s hand—clearly a reward from the system.

Roelki’s expression turned serious. This wasn’t just talk.

The captain meant it.

Why Ryuunosuke had picked this place, Roelki didn’t know. But what mattered was simple—Whiskey Peak was now theirs.

“Roelki.”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Gather everyone in Whiskey Peak.”

“Right away!”

He slammed a fist to his chest—a salute from the heart. Najenda had taught them that.

To be in the Dragon Hunter Pirates meant more than just standing under a flag. It meant loyalty—body and soul.

---

Soon, the people of Whiskey Peak were gathered in the square.

“What’s going on?”

“Weren’t they leaving?”

“Wait… is that their captain, Ryuunosuke? What’s he doing with that flag?”

The crowd murmured nervously.

“Silence!” Hawkins barked as he stepped forward.

Everyone fell quiet instantly.

Seeing Hawkins and Ace casually lying nearby reminded them of the terrifying reality—they were dealing with pirates worth hundreds of millions.

Some folks began to panic.

Was this about what happened a few days ago? Were they about to be executed?

Fear spread like wildfire.

But Ryuunosuke stepped forward, calm and composed.

“From today forward,” he announced, “Whiskey Peak is under the protection of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.”

“You were all pirate hunters before. That ends now.”

“Starting today, you're citizens under our flag. This symbol—” he held up the pirate flag, “—is what you will protect with your lives.”

“It will bring you peace and stability.”

Najenda stepped up and backed him, her voice firm and clear.

“You are not part of our crew. But your lives, your safety, your future—they’re tied to us now.”

Murmurs swept through the crowd.

“So… we’re part of the Dragon Hunter Pirates?”

“Not exactly. They’re just claiming this place as their base…”

But they weren’t dumb. They understood what this meant.

“Any objections?” Ryuunosuke’s eyes flashed with a terrifying aura as he released his spirit pressure, instantly silencing the crowd.

Everyone dropped to their knees under the overwhelming force.

“We’re willing! We accept the Dragon Hunter Pirates as our lords!”

“We’ll serve as your vassals!”

One by one, voices rose until the entire crowd echoed the same words.

Kneeling before Ryuunosuke, the people of Whiskey Peak pledged themselves to their new rulers.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 57 - Ryuunosuke’s Purpose!

Although the people here stay low-key, they often cross paths with pirates who come to resupply.

When that happens, they put on a friendly face, serve them food laced with poison, then hand them over to the nearest Navy branch in exchange for bounties.

That’s how they’ve been surviving.

But after living like this for so long, it’s hard to feel any sense of belonging.

Worse, there’s always the risk of encountering a powerful pirate crew that won’t fall for their tricks—and would rather wipe them all out instead.

Just like this time—if Ryuunosuke and his crew hadn’t shown up, they’d be dead already.

They’re not idealists chasing dreams of revenge or justice. They’re not out to conquer the world or chase fame.

They just want to survive.

But surviving on this sea? That’s no easy feat.

Now, with a powerful pirate crew offering them protection, it's like a miracle.

They don’t know what Ryuunosuke sees in them, but for the first time, they feel like they have something to rely on.

And really, what's wrong with that?

Is the only alternative to beg the World Government for protection? To build a nation just to pay that outrageous "Heavenly Tribute"?

That kind of life sounds even worse than what they’ve got now.

They don’t care about rulers or power struggles.

As ordinary folks just trying to get by, all they care about is whether the person offering them protection can actually keep them safe.

And the Dragon Hunter Pirates, Ryuunosuke’s crew, seem like the perfect choice.

Despite being a relatively new force on the seas, their reputation is skyrocketing.

Even more shocking is that the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates is out here doing chores for them!

No one in their right mind would believe that the Dragon Hunter Pirates have nothing to do with Whitebeard.

To outsiders, this looks like they’re protected by not one but two powerhouses—the Dragon Hunter Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates.

Who in their right mind would attack territory under Whitebeard’s protection?!

Let alone with Ryuunosuke’s rising fame.

So when the Dragon Hunter Pirates claimed this island as their territory, no one protested. No one even hesitated.

Ryuunosuke stood tall before the crowd and raised a flag.

"This is the banner of the Dragon Hunter Pirates!" he announced. "Our very first planted flag!"

"Take good care of it—it’s your honor… and your protection."

He gazed at the sea of people kneeling before him, a strange emotion swelling in his chest.

He couldn’t name it, but damn, it felt good.

Then, with a firm motion, he stabbed the flagpole into the ground.

In that instant, a stone platform rose from the earth, locking the flag firmly in place.

“Long live the Dragon Hunter Pirates!”

“Glory to the Dragon Hunters!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for earning the trust and respect of the local population! You’ve gained 5,000 reputation points. Every year, based on the local population, you’ll earn an additional 5,000 reputation points!]

Just as the flag settled into place, the system’s voice echoed in Ryuunosuke’s mind.

So that’s what it wanted—to push him to lead the Dragon Hunter Pirates to the top of the One Piece world.

Honestly? That didn’t sound bad at all.

If the system’s backing it, why the hell not?

He turned to the villagers.

“From now on, Whiskey Peak will build its identity around tavern culture!”

“No more bounty schemes. No more poisoning visitors.”

“Just run a damn good tavern. Open your doors to everyone.”

“If you need funds, contact us.”

He pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his coat and handed it to the man standing at the front of the crowd.

“Thank you, Captain!” the man said, visibly trembling with gratitude.

“What’s your name?” Ryuunosuke asked, curious. After all, this guy would be in charge here—it felt wrong not to even know his name.

“Donald, sir!” he replied excitedly.

Having the captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates know his name—that alone was enough to make Donald’s chest swell with pride.

“Donald, huh?” Ryuunosuke gave a slight nod. “I’ll remember you.”

“Whiskey Peak is in your hands now.”

“But don’t forget—never do anything that would bring shame to the name of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.”

With that, Ryuunosuke turned and walked away, his coat fluttering in the wind.

Najenda, Akame, Kuina, and the rest of the crew followed closely behind.

Donald watched their silhouettes fade into the distance, eyes full of admiration and fire.

He believed—no, he knew—that Whiskey Peak would rise to glory under the banner of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

---

Back aboard the Extremely Evil Battleship…

“Captain,” Najenda began, “why did we plant our flag in a place like this?”

“I mean, it’s not exactly a prime location, strategically or geographically.”

She wasn’t questioning his decision—just genuinely curious. She knew better than to challenge Ryuunosuke after he’d made up his mind. Still, she wanted to understand.

Ryuunosuke turned, calm and collected. “Najenda, we came here using the Log Pose.”

“That means more pirates will come through here—following the exact same path.”

“This is one of the most traveled commercial routes in the Grand Line.”

“If I can help it, I want every island and country along this path under our protection—our banner.”

“Even if they’re allies for now, I want them to become part of our territory eventually.”

Whiskey Peak. Little Garden. Drum Island. Alabasta. Jaya. Even Sabaody Archipelago.

All stops on the Grand Line. All hubs of activity. All crucial.

Right now, he didn’t have a business empire or industrial network.

But laying the groundwork was the smart move.

Unlike the Four Emperors, who seize land only when it benefits their own selfish goals, Ryuunosuke was thinking long-term.

He didn’t just want land—he wanted value.

Strategic locations. Trade hubs. Reputation boosters.

Because growing reputation meant growing strength for the entire Dragon Hunter crew.

And that, more than anything else, was what mattered.

“I see…” Najenda nodded slowly. “You’ve really thought this through.”

“But Captain,” she added with a soft smile, “next time you make a move like this, could you let us in on the plan?”

“At least give us a heads-up so we know what to prepare for.”

She wasn’t mad—just teasing.

Ryuunosuke smiled. “Yeah… you’re right.”

“We’re partners. I trust you all completely.”

“The only reason I didn’t bring it up sooner is because it seemed simple—didn’t think it’d need the whole crew mobilized.”

He looked at her seriously for a moment.

“This bond we share—it’s not just a chain of command. We’re beyond that.”

“We’re partners.”

And that was something no title or rank could replace.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 58 – The Admiral Meets Chrollo!

At the same time, a fleet was moving swiftly along the Grand Line.

On the deck of the leading warship, sprawled out lazily, was none other than the Navy Headquarters Admiral—Aokiji Kuzan.

“Brother Kuzan,” Gion said with a hint of frustration, arms crossed, “are you seriously going to sleep like this the whole time?”

“We’re supposed to be hunting the Dragon Hunters, y’know. They’re no joke.”

“They might not be as strong as you, sure—but if we keep cruising like this, how the hell are we supposed to catch up to them?”

Kuzan shifted slightly, lifting his blindfold with a sigh. “We haven’t caught up to them yet, have we?”

“I’m not the helmsman, navigator, or lookout,” he added lazily. “So tell me, Gion… should I be running around all anxious too? Asking why we haven’t found them yet?”

Even Sengoku himself had to tread lightly around Gion’s temper. And Kuzan, as powerful as he was, wasn’t immune either.

Normally, Gion was composed and reserved around her subordinates. But when it came to them—her equals—she didn’t hold back.

“But we can’t just nap out in the open like this!” Gion snapped. “What if we’re ambushed by pirates?”

Some of the nearby navy crew stifled laughter as she made her point, clearly enjoying the show.

Kuzan just sighed again.

“Miss Gion…” he muttered. “Do you know who we are?”

He sat up slowly, a tired expression on his face.

“We’re the Navy.”

“But navies get attacked too!” Gion shot back, hands on her hips. “Just look at the Dragon Hunter Pirates—they didn’t hesitate to go head-to-head with my fleet. If we’re not ready, we could get sucker-punched.”

Despite the logic in her words, Kuzan just gave her a helpless look.

“Gion, come on… We’ve got a fleet led by an Admiral. Three warships at Buster Call Order level. Six standard warships. Who in their right mind would come looking for trouble?”

Sure, her argument was exaggerated—but Kuzan still humored her.

Any pirate with half a brain would run the moment they saw a fleet like this.

Unless they were a stubborn idiot like Jack.

That guy really was insane.

“I guess you’re right…” Gion murmured, then narrowed her eyes. “Still! You shouldn’t be sleeping!”

Their bickering would’ve gone on if not for a sudden shout from the lookout.

“Admiral Kuzan! A group of pirate ships spotted dead ahead! Their route matches ours!”

“They’re headed straight for us!”

Kuzan was about to respond to Gion when the news hit.

“I told you!” Gion said triumphantly. “Keep slacking off, and boom—pirates!”

She didn’t even look mad. In fact, she looked pleased. Like the arrival of this pirate group had just proven her right.

If it wasn’t for them, Kuzan would’ve kept sleeping—and she’d still be the “uptight one.”

“Pirate ships?” Kuzan asked, ignoring her. “How many?”

“There are seven ships in total,” the lookout replied. “The fleet’s not massive, but their flag… it's still too far to make out clearly.”

A second lookout rushed up. “Admiral! It’s the Dragon Hunter Pirates!”

The distance had closed enough that they could now see the distinct pirate flag clearly.

Kuzan’s eyes narrowed.

“The Dragon Hunters? That doesn’t make sense,” he muttered. “Their ship’s supposed to look different.”

The first lookout nodded. “Yeah, the intel said nothing about them changing ships. And even the Hawkins Pirates were recently taken down—no sign they engaged in any battles that would’ve required a new ship.”

“That man…” Gion cut in, lifting her telescope. “That’s Chrollo Lucilfer! He’s standing right at the bow.”

“He’s the captain of the second division of the Dragon Hunter Pirates,” she said, tone serious. “Last time, he wiped out one of my fleets—alone.”

Chrollo stood confidently at the front of the pirate ship, facing down the imposing naval fleet without a shred of fear.

Instead, he smiled.

Calm. Confident. Dangerous.

Was he insane?

Sure, he was powerful—strong enough to beat Gion in a one-on-one.

But still—this wasn’t just a single warship he was facing.

This was a damn armada.

“Second division captain? And he’s this arrogant?” Vice Admiral Momonga, also known as Huoshaoshan, stepped forward, frowning.

In all his years serving the Navy, he’d never seen a pirate this bold.

Even the cockiest ones had enough sense to turn tail when faced with this much firepower.

“Gion, Momonga—you two will handle interception,” Kuzan ordered, eyes still locked on the approaching fleet. “Don’t let them slip away.”

“As for the real fight… I’ll handle that.”

He’d already used his Observation Haki.

And what he sensed from Chrollo

Danger.

Pure, undeniable danger.

This wasn’t even the captain of the Dragon Hunters.

Just the second division.

And yet—he gave Admiral Kuzan a sense of threat.

What kind of monstrous pirate crew was this?

Could Garp have trained them?

No… if that were the case, they wouldn’t be pirates.

After confirming what he needed, Kuzan leapt from the warship, landing on the sea with a sharp crack.

“Buzz…”

A burst of freezing power radiated from him, spreading outward like a tidal wave.

Instantly, the ocean between them began to freeze—ice crawling rapidly across the waves.

A world of frost and silence quickly formed, separating the Navy fleet from Chrollo’s crew.

And in the distance, Chrollo kept smiling.

Like he was waiting for this.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 59: Chrollo’s Fighting Style!

Ten minutes earlier…

“Captain Chrollo! We’ve spotted navy warships ahead!”

“A whole fleet, in fact!”

“There are at least three Buster Call Order-level ships, plus several standard warships!”

“We should change course. It’ll be too dangerous to run into them head-on.”

One of the younger crew members rushed over, panicked and breathless.

As pirates, they weren’t exactly shy about fighting. They’d take on anyone who crossed their path at sea.

But this was different.

This wasn’t just any fleet—it was a Buster Call Order-level navy formation. That meant a Vice Admiral at the very least.

Maybe even a full Admiral.

Even though their captain was strong as hell, fighting the navy’s elite? That was a death wish.

“Navy warships, huh?” Chrollo tilted his head, thinking. A wicked grin tugged at the corners of his lips. “Those ships look pretty damn valuable.”

He wasn’t worried about danger. No, Chrollo was thinking about profit.

As the leader of the Phantom Troupe, at his core, he was a thief. The kind who didn’t hesitate to steal from anyone—noble, pirate, or marine.

Now, he had his eyes on a warship.

“If we manage to jack one of those navy ships, we could sell it for a fortune,” he muttered, his red eyes glinting with greed and madness.

“There’s definitely a market for navy ships,” chimed in Kahunt, the former captain of the Greedy Pirates.

The name Greedy wasn’t just for show. Kahunt’s obsession with treasure was straight-up psychotic. Chrollo had respected that.

Respected it so much that he killed everyone else on Kahunt’s crew and kept him around as his number one follower.

“If we can pull off stealing a Buster Call-level ship…” Kahunt grinned, practically drooling, “we’re talking tens of billions of berries. Easy.”

“Tens of billions?” Chrollo’s eyes lit up. “That should be enough to trade for a Devil Fruit... I’m definitely interested.”

Without hesitation, Chrollo decided to approach the fleet.

---

“Ka ka ka…”

A wave of frigid air suddenly surged across the sea.

In an instant, the ocean around them froze solid.

“What the hell!?”

“Captain Chrollo! That’s Admiral Aokiji—Kuzan!”

“He’s one of the Navy’s three Admirals! Ice-Ice Fruit user. Insanely strong!”

The crew recognized the terrifying cold without question.

Aokiji might not be as bloodthirsty as Akainu, but he was still a monster. Becoming one of the three Admirals wasn’t something you could fake.

To the crew, fighting him was suicide.

Well—excluding Chrollo. No one really knew how strong he was yet.

Chrollo furrowed his brow. “An Admiral, huh? That complicates things…”

“All I wanted was a warship. Just one. For some cash.” He rubbed his temples like he had a headache.

But it was clear he had no intention of backing down.

“Stay here,” he ordered his crew. “I’ll handle this.”

He leapt from the ship, landing lightly on the frozen sea below.

The sheer scale of the ice was impressive—even to Chrollo. It had frozen solid in mere seconds.

“This guy really is a monster…”

He walked across the ice toward the source of the overwhelming presence. He could feel it—the Admiral was coming to meet him halfway.

Neither of them wanted their subordinates caught in the crossfire.

A chill wind blew, clearing the mist off the ice.

They finally saw each other.

Chrollo stopped, looked at the towering figure across from him, and spoke first.

“Leader of the Phantom Troupe, Second Division of the Dragon Hunter Pirates—Chrollo Lucilfer.”

“I’m here to steal one of your warships.”

“To be honest, I need it to trade for a Devil Fruit. If you’re willing to give me one of those instead, I’ll leave the ship alone.”

Kuzan blinked.

Was this guy for real?

“... Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, Kuzan,” he responded with a calm voice. “Currently tasked with hunting down all Dragon Hunter Pirates.”

“Since you’ve shown up, let’s start with you.”

Without another word, Kuzan conjured an ice blade in his hand and launched himself forward.

Kuzan wasn’t just a Devil Fruit user—his hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship were deadly too.

“Ding!”

Their weapons clashed in a blinding flash.

Chrollo blocked the attack with a short sword.

The weapon was called Bian, and it was laced with a toxin strong enough to paralyze a whale.

“Impressive reflexes,” Kuzan noted, keeping pace. “That speed… Wait—huh!?”

Before he could finish, he felt a strange presence—a swarm of Nen-fish circling him.

They hadn’t even touched him yet, but the threat they carried was undeniable.

He jumped back instinctively—but it was too late.

They were already gnawing at his legs.

Chunks of flesh were gone before he even noticed.

He’d been too focused on Chrollo.

“Ka ka ka…”

Kuzan unleashed a wave of freezing air, instantly encasing the Nen-fish in ice before shattering them.

“Nice reaction.”

“Observation Haki, huh?” Chrollo said casually. “Sneak attacks are hard with guys like you.”

“I don’t really want to fight. You give off a dangerous vibe.”

“Just hand over the warship, and I’ll be on my way.”

He smiled like he was proposing a business deal.

Kuzan was now visibly annoyed.

He just tried to ambush me, admitted he can’t win, and still wants a damn warship!?

“Chrollo Lucilfer, huh?” Kuzan growled. “I don’t know how strong you really are—but I’m about to show you—”

“Kuzan!”

A new voice interrupted. It was Gion, another Navy officer, arriving out of breath.

She was supposed to be guarding Chrollo’s retreat path.

“I can’t control my body!” she shouted. “He did something to me—left some kind of trap!”

She pulled out her sword—Konpira—and charged straight toward Kuzan.

“Stop!”

Chrollo raised his hand lazily.

Gion’s blade suddenly stopped—resting against her own throat.

Fear flickered in her eyes.

“You win,” Kuzan said quickly, raising a hand to halt her. “We’ll give you a ship. Just release Gion.”

Chrollo smiled, bowing slightly. “Thank you. I’m a man of my word, you know.”

“Once I’m in a safe zone, her mind control will fade. Promise.”

With that, Chrollo turned and walked back to his ship.

Moments later, one of the Buster Call Order warships was sent to his crew.

All the navy could do was watch as Chrollo and his crew sailed away.

Even after he was out of telescope range, no one dared pursue.

Gion finally lowered her sword and collapsed on the deck, gasping.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 60: The Navy Is Shocked, Pain Team Unlocked!

Previously, when Chrollo fought against Gion, he had secretly left a trace of his telekinesis on her.

At the same time, he activated a unique restriction ability—Chain of God.

As long as Gion appeared in front of him again, the Chain of God would trigger automatically. Once activated, it would strip away her control for one hour and transfer it to Chrollo’s mind.

Of course, such a powerful and restrictive ability came with limitations.

First, it could only be used on one person once. Second, after one hour, the control would end. And finally—the most important condition—the target had to approach Chrollo of their own will.

That was why Kuroro made the move to hijack the warship when he saw Gion on the opposing ship.

He wasn't some dumb brute charging into a fight with a Navy admiral without a plan.

No—he understood the Navy now.

He knew full well that capturing a Vice Admiral, especially someone like Gion, would cause far more disruption than simply seizing a warship.

Besides, there was something special about Gion’s identity.

So, Chrollo played his cards right—timing, setting, all of it—and lured her in perfectly.

He had tricked Kuzan.

---

Back on the warship...

“Brother Kuzan... I’m sorry. The warship was taken because of me,” Gion said, voice low with guilt. “I’ll get it back myself.”

“This isn’t your fault,” Kuzan replied calmly. “That guy’s dangerous—strong, composed, smart. Exactly the kind of pirate the Navy doesn't want running loose.”

He sighed. “Let’s report what happened here.”

Kuzan felt frustrated—not because of a lack of strength, but because he’d underestimated Kuroro.

If he had just unleashed his full power—Ice Age, Ice Blast—right from the start, none of this would've happened.

As the commanding officer, he had to take responsibility for the failure.

When the report reached Marineford, Sengoku fell silent.

Even Kuzan got outplayed.

If Sakazuki had been there instead, Gion might’ve been killed.

And this was just the Second Division Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

What if they faced the entire crew?

They couldn’t treat these guys as rookies anymore.

Not only were they powerful—they were cunning as hell.

“What are the chances we win if we go head-to-head with the Dragon Hunter Pirates?” Sengoku asked after a pause.

“The Second Division Captain acts alone,” Kuzan replied. “If we prioritize hunting the main crew now, I’m 80% confident we can take them down.”

“Eighty percent, huh?”

Sengoku nodded slowly. “Alright. Continue with your plan. I’ll handle the missing 20%.”

Then he hung up the Den Den Mushi and immediately made another call.

---

Out at sea...

“What?! You robbed Kuzan?!”

“Haha, I knew something wild was happening!”

Ryuunosuke laughed out loud, nearly blurting out the secret behind his system’s reputation points.

Just moments ago, he’d received 10,000 reputation points out of nowhere—then Chrollo called.

Hearing Chrollo had bested an admiral? That made his day.

They were just a pirate crew with a total bounty of 100 million—and now, they’d repelled a Navy HQ admiral and jacked one of their warships.

That was a slap to the Navy’s face.

“Captain, if possible, let Hisoka join us next time,” Chrollo said, finally making a request.

He’d earned it after pulling this off.

“Hisoka?” Ryuunosuke checked the unlocked members list of the Phantom Troupe. “He’s not even on here. Not a real member, huh?”

“No?” Chrollo paused, then chuckled. “Heh... That guy really is something else.”

“Whatever, do what you want,” Ryuunosuke shrugged. “You’ve earned it. Go sell the warship. Maybe trade it for some Devil Fruits. That’d be a hell of a haul.”

Chrollo laughed. “Got it, Captain. Time to go treasure hunting!”

Apparently, Chrollo hadn’t even realized Hisoka wasn’t an official Troupe member when he brought him up.

Ryuunosuke opened his own system panel.

Right now, he had 80,000 reputation points stored up.

Over time, his rep had kept increasing nonstop.

He could use 1 Designated Recruitment, and 8 Random Recruitments, but... he wasn’t pulling the trigger just yet.

He had something more important to unlock.

“System,” Ryuunosuke called, “Use 50,000 reputation points to activate the Pain Team!”

The moment he said it, the interface changed—and a new list appeared under the Naruto World - Pain Team:

Deva Path Pain [Not recruited – 50,000 reputation points]

Hell Path Pain [Not recruited – 50,000 reputation points]

Human Path Pain [Not recruited – 50,000 reputation points]

Animal Path Pain [Not recruited – 50,000 reputation points]

Asura Path Pain [Not recruited – 50,000 reputation points]

Preta Path Pain [Not recruited – 50,000 reputation points]

This was the team he had unlocked after acquiring the Rinnegan last time—but back then, he didn’t have enough rep to activate it.

Now, though... the timing was perfect.

The threat from the Navy was growing.

After losing a Buster Call-level warship, the Navy wouldn’t just sit around. A counterattack was guaranteed.

It wouldn’t be long before Kuzan showed up again—and Ryuunosuke wasn’t confident he could win with his current lineup.

Maybe it wouldn’t be just Kuzan, either.

So, he needed to prepare.

As for Chrollo’s obsession with collecting rare items and Devil Fruits? Let him enjoy himself.

The more Chrollo conquered other pirates, the more rep Ryuunosuke would earn in return.

That was a win-win.

Later, with enough rep stacked up, he planned to recruit a few more Phantom Troupe members anyway. Chrollo had earned it.

---

“Captain, the Navy’s targeting us now?” Najenda approached after overhearing Chrollo. “That seagull in the sky is collecting intel on us, right? Should I take it down?”

She glanced up sharply.

Being watched in a situation like this... didn’t sit right.

“News birds from Morgans?”

“Yeah.”

Ryuunosuke narrowed his eyes. “If we wanna become a super pirate crew—one that rules above the rest—then it’s time we put Morgans in his place.”

He looked up, locking eyes on several news birds soaring overhead.

“Banshō Ten'in.”

His Rinnegan spun—and in the next instant, the news birds were yanked from the sky by an invisible force.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 61: Grill the Newsbird!

"Ugh..."

A lone seagull flapped its wings and escaped into the sky.

The rest of the News Birds weren’t so lucky—they’d already been roasted by Ace.

Technically, the one who actually killed them was Najenda, but Ace did the honors of grilling.

"Bro, I gotta say... I’m seriously impressed with you," Ace muttered, chewing on a crispy wing.

"This is one of Morgans’ News Birds, y’know? I’ve always kinda wanted to taste one, not gonna lie. But still... the power that guy’s built in the underground world is no joke. Even my old man wouldn’t mess with him."

Ace sniffed the air, savoring the aroma.

"Hell, it does smell amazing though..."

"Morgans, huh?" Ryuunosuke raised a brow. "That guy’s always the first to know anything happening at sea. His birds fly around, spying on people, and then he sells that info as ‘intelligence.’"

Ryuunosuke took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. "Honestly, how do you eat this without thinking twice about how shady it is?"

Ace paused mid-bite. Suddenly, the grilled meat didn’t taste as good anymore.

Now that he thought about it, Ryuunosuke had a point.

Whether it was the Four Emperors or small-time pirates, the News Birds always managed to find them without fail—and deliver info right to them.

Ace used to think that was cool. Like, a sign of status. But now... it felt wrong.

How did the News Birds always know where they were?

Did that mean Morgans was tracking everything they did?

Sure, it seemed mutually beneficial—until it wasn’t. In a crisis or when someone wanted to stay hidden, this could turn deadly.

"Call your old man," Ryuunosuke said casually. "The World Government and Navy have been eyeing the Whitebeard Pirates for a long time. You guys have been operating under their noses like it’s a game. Reckless doesn’t even begin to cover it."

Ace’s expression tightened.

He remembered how Ryuunosuke once called Whitebeard brainless, and he’d jumped up ready to fight him... and got beat down hard.

But now Ryuunosuke's words made disturbing sense. After the Marineford War, how did Weevil manage to hunt down all of Whitebeard's remnants so quickly?

Simple—they were never not being watched.

And those territories they held? They clung to them even after Whitebeard died, basically inviting the vultures to feast.

"I got it," Ace nodded, stepping away to call Whitebeard.

"What!?"

"You ate the News Bird!?"

Before Ace could even explain, Whitebeard’s booming voice rang out through the Den Den Mushi.

Clearly, his first concern was not picking a fight with Morgans.

"Dad, wait—listen to me!" Ace rushed to clarify. "This was Ryuunosuke’s idea. You remember him, right? He’s the guy I grew up with—my big bro, basically. He’s started his own crew now, the Dragon Hunter Pirates. I’m on his ship right now, and he’s helping me track down Blackbeard."

"...And about the News Bird thing—"

Ace babbled his way through the explanation until he finally got Ryuunosuke’s full point across.

On the other end, Whitebeard fell silent.

"...That... actually makes sense," he said after a moment. "I hadn’t thought of it that way."

"Anything else?"

"Dad, my bro Ryuunosuke’s super strong—probably stronger than me, honestly—"

"Uncle Whitebeard! Hello!"

Before Ace could start gushing too much, Ryuunosuke jumped in, snatching the snail phone.

No way was he letting Ace go full fanboy on him.

"Ryuunosuke, huh?" Whitebeard chuckled. "Young man, you’ve done well. You’ve already set sail on the Grand Line, haven’t you?"

"Maybe we’ll cross paths one day. When we do, we’ll share a drink aboard my ship."

"Thanks for looking out for Ace."

"Nah, don’t thank me. Ace hasn’t caused much trouble—other than eating all my food and drinking all my booze," Ryuunosuke joked. "Uncle Whitebeard, you’ve done enough. You deserve some peace."

The two talked like old friends, casually and warmly—meanwhile, Ace stood off to the side, completely ignored.

"Man, you should’ve seen Ace as a kid," Ryuunosuke laughed. "Little guy had a constant snot trail. Back then—"

"HEY! I’m still here, you know!"

Ace snatched the Den Den Mushi, face red.

"Do you have to air my embarrassing childhood stories like that!?"

From the other side, the laughs of Marco, Joz, and the rest of the crew echoed through the snail phone.

"So Ace was a little snot-ball, huh?"

"Hahaha, Ace, you’re done for!"

Ace wished the earth would swallow him whole.

"A-anyway... I’m bringing Blackbeard back. Count on it."

With that, he ended the call.

"...I take back what I said earlier," Ryuunosuke said, shaking his head. "Uncle Whitebeard’s pretty solid. Took all that in stride without even flinching."

"Yeah!" Ace grinned. "He’s the best, right?"

"Bro, with your strength... if you joined the Whitebeard Pirates, you’d definitely be a captain. And once Dad steps down, we could take care of him together! You and me, ruling the seas as new Four Emperors!"

The flames around Ace flickered in his excitement—he was still working on his fire control, and it tended to leak out when he got hyped.

Ryuunosuke raised a hand. "Chill. I’ll support Uncle Whitebeard in his old age, sure. But joining his crew? Nah. I don’t have a kink for calling someone else ‘Dad.’"

"...Tch. You’re such a pain," Ace muttered.

—

Meanwhile, in the New World...

"What... did you just say?"

Morgans stared at the report with a face full of disbelief—and rage.

Someone had actually killed his News Birds?

This... newcomer? This nobody!?

Since the day Morgans founded the World Economy News Paper, no one had dared lay a finger on his birds. Not even the World Government.

But now, some upstart brat had roasted them for lunch.

To make it worse—they even sent a surviving bird back with a message: "Come near us again and we’ll keep killing them."

Morgans’ hand trembled as he crushed the report.

If he didn’t respond, if he let this slide—then other pirate crews would follow suit. His power, his reach, everything would start to crumble.

The News Birds were his eyes, ears, and lifeblood.

And someone just gouged one out and barbecued it.

"The Dragon Hunter Pirates must die."

Morgans’ eyes narrowed with murderous intent.

This wasn’t just a threat to his business—it was a declaration of war.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 62: Morgans = Noble Person!

Soon, the entire world caught wind of the clash between the Dragon Hunter Pirates and Morgans.

"Oh my god, these Dragon Hunter Pirates are savage!"

"That new pirate crew’s fearless! They even roasted Morgans’ news birds!"

"Yup. They’ve poked the beast. Their golden days are over."

"Remember that one pirate crew that came out hot, made a big scene—then vanished after pissing off Morgans? Never even made it to the New World."

Talk of the incident swept across the seas like wildfire.

---

Aboard the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ Ship

“Ding! Congratulations to the host. You've been recognized by the Quark Pirates and gained 100 reputation points.”

“Ding! Congratulations to the host for being—”

As the system notifications rang out, a sly smile crept across Ryuunosuke’s face.

Yeah… taking down those news birds wasn’t just because he thought they were snooping.

It was all about the reputation points.

Morgans was the top dog when it came to spreading news across the seas. Even the World Government and Navy couldn’t claim they were better. When global news needed delivering, people counted on Morgans.

Hell, that’s why his news birds could fly right over the Red Line and not get blasted by the Government.

“Heh heh heh…”

“If things keep going like this, I’ll be able to set everything up soon,” Ryuunosuke muttered, eyes gleaming with excitement.

There were some plays he had to prepare ahead of time. This sea… it was way more twisted than what the average person saw on the surface.

If he wanted a ton of reputation points, hiding in the shadows and grinding slowly wasn’t an option.

But going public had its own price: danger. Real, deadly danger.

---

“Captain, what are you laughing at?”

Najenda approached with a plate full of fruit, watching Ryuunosuke sit on the deck and chuckle to himself.

Lately, he’d been acting a bit off.

He’d just sit there, alone, laughing.

It wasn’t too serious at first… but now, it was happening more and more often.

“I dunno,” Kuina chimed in, glancing at Ryuunosuke. “But he looks really happy.”

“Maybe he remembered something funny?”

There was a certain mystery to Ryuunosuke that kept everyone guessing.

Kuina often found herself feeling like her brain couldn’t keep up with his logic. Just being around him made her question her own intelligence.

---

“Alright everyone, dinner time!”
Susanoo popped out wearing an apron, holding a big spoon like a staff.

“Sweet!”

“Captain, time to eat!”

“I’m starving—did we get a lot of meat tonight?”

“I want booze!”

The whole crew gathered like nothing was wrong and prepared to dig in.

Tonight’s special? A bird feast.

They’d roasted all the news birds that had gathered the past few days. Especially today—dozens were taken down in one go.

These birds had been specially trained to fly long distances. So, yeah, maybe not the most tender meat… but flavor-wise?

Ace was hooked from the first time he tried roasted bird. After that, it became a full-blown addiction.

And honestly, at this point, offending Morgans was way lower on Ace’s list of concerns than satisfying his stomach.

---

“Hey bro… did we really offend Morgans?”

“They say he can call on the World Government’s special forces.”

“What if they come after us?”

Ace said all this while chewing through a bird leg, not stopping for a second.

“Whitebeard mentioned Morgans before… and he looked serious.”

“If even Dad finds him troublesome, the guy’s gotta be legit.”

“But I don’t think it’s worth stressing over.”

Ryuunosuke smiled as he replied, “Besides, Morgans is a noble person!”

Far away on News Island, Morgans sneezed violently.

Someone was clearly talking about him… and calling him a noble person?

Yeah, he wasn’t buying it.

---

Later That Night

“Bro… I don’t get you sometimes.”

Ace leaned back after dinner, full and thoughtful.

“You’re out here making enemies left and right. That’s not good for the Dragon Hunter Pirates, is it?”

“You’re smart—way too smart to do something that dumb.”

“So what’s the real deal? You hiding something from me?”

“Secrets?” Ryuunosuke raised a brow. “Yeah. Plenty.”

“But I’m not telling you.”

“As for why I do what I do… there’s a lot behind it, stuff your dumbass wouldn’t understand.”

He said it casually, but with enough sharpness to leave Ace speechless.

Truth was, whether it was fighting or arguing, Ace had never won against Ryuunosuke.

And if Ryuunosuke hadn’t advised him to rethink how he developed his Flame-Flame Fruit… Ace would’ve still been plateaued.

Now, he was growing stronger by the day.

So yeah, when Ryuunosuke called him a “dumb brother,” Ace couldn’t even argue.

---

“Alright, that’s it—fight me!”

Ace stood up, blue-white flames igniting between his palms.

“Damn, you went with the blue-white flames? Stylish!”

Ryuunosuke grinned. “Good. I’ve been meaning to test myself too.”

He drew Ame-no-Habakiri, and the sword hummed in the air.

Even before he moved, the pressure from the sword made the space around it feel… cut.

“Holy crap… bro, you powered up again?! When the hell did that happen?!”

“Are you on some kind of secret training diet or what?!”

Ace was stunned. He originally wanted a spar, but after feeling the sheer cutting force in the air, he backed off.

“Yeeeah… I think I’ll go beat up Hawkins instead.”

He still had his pride, but even he knew when a fight was a lost cause.

---

“You should probably eat one of these,” Ryuunosuke said, tossing Ace a pill.

“Also, since you’re an element-type user, I’ve got something new I wanna try.”

“I picked it up from Chrollo. Pay attention.”

As he spoke, Armament Haki coated his body, slowly darkening.

But then, something new happened—telekinetic energy began to swirl around him, wrapping him in a strange aura.

Ace’s expression shifted instantly.

No more jokes. No more snark.

He was all serious now.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 63 – Pure Fire!

“Chrollo?”

“That’s the second division captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates?”

“What kind of freak body do you even have, big bro?! I seriously wanna know!”

Ace couldn’t hold back his excitement. After speaking, he leapt into the air.
Flames burst from his hands, jetting beneath his feet as he rocketed away toward a nearby deserted island.

He knew better than to fight Lu Yu aboard the Evil Warship—if they went all out here, the entire ship would be wrecked.

“We’ll be back soon if we just sail normally,” Ryuunosuke said casually as he turned to Najenda. Then, with a crackle of lightning, he vanished from sight.

Najenda leaned over the railing, smirking. “I’m curious… We can still set sail, right? This won’t delay us or anything?”

Every time Ryuunosuke fought, it lit a spark in her. No matter how many battles she saw, she never got tired of it. His power seemed bottomless. Even now, after all the time she’d spent with him, Najenda had never seen Ryuunosuke go all out.

---

“What power… That lightning!”

“Brother Ryuunosuke’s gotten stronger again.”

Akame raised her hand.
Sparks flickered across her palm—tiny bolts of electricity dancing between her fingers. It wasn’t much, and she couldn’t control it nearly as well as Ryuunosuke, but the lightning was real.

And that made no sense.

She had no training, no innate talent for this. So why…?

“I’ve noticed it for a while now,” Najenda said with a knowing smile, raising her own hand.
“It’s like everyone’s growth is linked somehow. And more importantly… humanoid Teigu seem to be evolving in this world.”

It was common knowledge that a Teigu’s strength was tied to its user. Most weapons were fixed in power unless the user broke through their own limits. But now… Susanoo seemed to be training, evolving—growing stronger—on his own.

The crew gathered on the deck, staring off toward the distant island, watching the sparks and fire on the horizon.

Meanwhile, Hawkins began to divine the outcome of the battle.

The result?

Ace’s chances of victory: 0%.

---

On the deserted island, Ace stood opposite Ryuunosuke.

“Lightning, huh?” Ace smirked. “Another flashy trick.”

“But my flames now—no matter what you bring—can burn through everything!”

“White Flame: Azure Emperor!”

A wave of scorching blue-white fire erupted around Ace, enveloping his body in a blazing aura. The air warped around him.
This wasn’t just him controlling fire—it was pure heat radiating from the flame itself.

The pressure was immense. The temperature alone altered the air’s density, distorting the atmosphere.

Ryuunosuke, unfazed, smiled. “It’s stronger than before, sure… but still too focused on the flash.”

“One day, when you stop limiting yourself to the shape of your flames, and instead focus all your will on the heat itself… that’s when you’ll truly be strong.”

“Like this.”

SuddenlyRyuunosuke’s body surged with electricity.

“Pzzzzzz…”

Arcs of lightning exploded from his hands. His hair stood on end, crackling with electric energy. A glowing aura of voltage encased his body.

“Bang!”

In a flash, he vanished.

“Boom!”

Before Ace could even react, Ryuunosuke’s punch slammed into him. He flew backward, flames trailing behind him. Some of Ace’s white-blue fire clung to Ryuunosuke’s fist.

“Huh… These flames are pretty sticky,” Ryuunosuke muttered, shaking his hand.

With a wave, he used telekinesis to strip the fire away and flung it to the ground. Then—he vanished again.

---

What followed wasn’t a fight.

It was a one-sided beatdown.

Ace kept pushing himself, and his Observation Haki began to evolve under pressure.

He started catching glimpses of Ryuunosuke’s movements—predicting them even.

But it didn’t matter.

His body simply couldn’t react fast enough.

This was the first time Ace felt… slow.
Weak. Outclassed.

He’d always been among the top five in close combat among the Whitebeard Pirates.

But now?

Now he felt like a punching bag.

---

“I give up…” Ace dropped to the ground, breathing hard. “You’re not human, are you, bro?”

If it were a close match—if he’d even had a chance—he wouldn’t have quit. But this wasn’t even a contest. He couldn’t do anything.

No point in continuing.

“You’ve grown a lot, Ace. Your strength now… even Whitebeard might be impressed when you get back.”

“But here—let me show you something. Watch carefully.”

“I can’t use this too many times.”

As he spoke, the lightning around Ryuunosuke faded.

In its place, an orange-golden flame began to burn.

It wasn’t flashy—but it was intense.

Behind Ryuunosuke, a giant fireball began to form—pure, condensed flame energy. It crackled with terrifying power.

It wasn’t just heat. It was wild, violent, alive.

Even from a distance, Ace could tell—it far surpassed the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit.

“Looks like the captain won again.”

“Well duh, even if it’s Ace the Fire Fist, he’s still just the captain’s goofy little brother!”

“Honestly, I think our captain could take on Whitebeard next.”

“Captain’s too badass…”

Onboard the ship, the crew’s resident hype squad started shouting again, chanting Ryuunosuke’s praises like a pack of cheerleaders.

Thanks to their powerful Observation Haki, both Ryuunosuke and Ace could hear every word.

Ace ignored them. His attention was fixed on the flame.

“That fire… does it have a name?” Ace asked, walking toward Ryuunosuke with awe in his eyes.

As a flame user himself, he could feel it.

Not fear in his heart—but fear in the fire within his body.

His own flames… were scared.

Even his Devil Fruit felt afraid.

Ryuunosuke smiled.

“This is the base form of Pure Fire.”

“It can still evolve. I believe one day, your flames will surpass even this.”

Then, with a wave of his hand, the fireball vanished.

This flame—Pure Fire—was a prize from the roulette system. A limited-use power-up.
Ryuunosuke had three chances to use it.

And he thought this was the perfect time—to inspire Ace.

Ace nodded solemnly… and flew back to the ship.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 64 – The Dragon Guards Are Coming!

Ryuunosuke activated his electric powers once more and instantly returned to the ship.

With the combined boost of Armament Haki and electricity, his speed surpassed even the Navy’s Soru technique.

After that brief interlude, everyone returned to their routine of training and sailing.

A week later, the crew arrived at the waters surrounding Little Garden.

At the same time, a massive Navy fleet appeared on the opposite horizon.

“Admiral Kuzan, we've locked onto the Dragon Hunter Pirates' location.”

“Also, Crocodile has officially withdrawn from pursuing them.”

“At our current pace, we should intercept them by tomorrow.”

The navigator and lookout quickly updated Kuzan on the situation.

Kuzan slowly sat up from his recliner and removed his eye mask.

“So it’s finally time to meet them, huh?”

“I wonder just how powerful this so-called ‘Super Rookie’ really is…”

Gone was the lazy expression. In its place was a rare seriousness.

Kuzan had been closely monitoring the Dragon Hunter Pirates for some time. He’d read through all available intel—again and again.

And with each new piece of information, his unease grew.

In just a few months, the Dragon Hunter Pirates had risen from an obscure crew in the East Blue to their current level.

Their numbers. Their strength. Their cohesion.

All of it had developed at an astonishing rate.

But what shocked him most was their quality.

The previous battle with Chrollo said it all—this wasn’t just a pirate crew. It was a gathering of monsters.

Which led him to wonder—what kind of monster was their captain, Ryuunosuke?

“Brother Kuzan,” a voice called gently.

Gion approached him with a worried look. “We’ll be facing their captain tomorrow… Honestly, I’m a little scared.”

“Scared we might lose.”

Though such words might kill morale, her concern was valid.

She hadn’t bothered Kuzan throughout the voyage, but seeing his expression grow darker by the day told her everything.

Kuzan replied calmly, “I can’t guarantee we’ll take them down.”

“But I can guarantee—we won’t fail this mission.”

“Stop the fleet,” he ordered.

The entire navy force came to a halt by a small, deserted island.

Kuzan stood, picked up his recliner, and looked toward the shore.

“Fire Mountain, we’ll rest here for a while.”

“We’ll wait—for the intel, and for that person to arrive. Only then will we move.”

“Until I give the order, we train and rest here. No time limit.”

Without another word, Kuzan walked onto the island and set his recliner down on the sand.

He lay there quietly.

A Den Den Mushi sat on his chest, proof that while his eyes were closed, he wasn’t truly asleep.

He was waiting.

Waiting for someone important.

The others followed orders and began setting up camp, training, or preparing for what came next.

---

Meanwhile, back on Ryuunosuke’s ship…

“Looks like some interesting guests are arriving,” Najenda said with a soft smile, leaning on the railing.

“Yeah… and that emblem looks familiar,” Ryuunosuke added, squinting at the ship anchored near the distant shore.

A distinct flag flew from the mast—the World Government’s insignia, along with another unique symbol.

A group of figures stood waiting on the beach.

“The Heavenly Dragon Guards,” Ryuunosuke said casually, recognizing the emblem.

He remembered meeting one of them before, back in the East Blue—on that luxurious merchant ship guarding the nobles.

Now, here they were again.

And that symbol left no room for doubt.

“Heavenly Dragon Guards? As in… those guys who protect the Celestial Dragons?” Ace asked, raising an eyebrow.

“What are they doing here?”

“Morgans,” Hawkins said flatly.

“I always knew the ‘Big News’ family had serious connections… but I didn’t expect this.”

“They actually sent the Heavenly Dragon Guard because of him?”

Hawkins had done a divination earlier and only received one clue: a news bird.

Which could only mean one thing—their current trouble likely stemmed from that recent incident with the news birds.

“Morgans, huh…” Ryuunosuke chuckled.

“That guy really is our biggest benefactor.”

“Najenda, Kuina—stay on the ship and guard the Evil Warship.”

“The rest of us… let’s go meet our guests.”

With that, Ryuunosuke stepped off the ship.

Behind him, Tsukuyomi, Akame, Ace, Hawkins, and the others silently followed, awaiting his signal.

But interestingly, the Heavenly Dragon Guards didn’t attack immediately.

They simply waited on the beach.

Soon, Ryuunosuke reached the soft, sunlit shore.

“Captain Ryuunosuke of the Dragon Hunter Pirates,” he called out with a grin.

“I take it you’re here for me?”

There was a gleam of anticipation in his eyes.

This was the combat force of the World Government.

If he could defeat them here—in broad daylight—then both the World Government and the Navy would recognize him as a genuine threat.

And once Morgans spread the news…

Lu Yu would go from being notorious to being legendary.

He could almost see the reputation points raining down.

And that made him smile.

---

One of the guards stepped forward.

“I’m Morski, Captain of the Sixth Squadron of the Heavenly Dragon Guard.”

“I’m here to offer you a deal—come with us quietly. It’s the only way you might live a little longer.”

A heavy pressure radiated from his body as he spoke, his aura flaring.

At the same time, his form began to shift.

Ryuunosuke tilted his head, still smiling.

“So… you already know my answer?”

“Then let’s not waste any more time.”

Lightning exploded from Ryuunosuke’s body as he dashed forward.

“Swish!”

But the moment he moved, chains shot out from the trees and wrapped tightly around his body.

“Gotcha!” Morski laughed triumphantly.

“Still a rookie at heart!”

“Even if I don’t know what your Devil Fruit is exactly, you’re definitely a Devil Fruit user.”

“And these chains? Specially made for people like you.”

“Seastone. Just for you.”

He stood proud, radiating arrogance.

But Ryuunosuke didn’t weaken. Didn’t collapse.

Instead, he looked at Morski like he was an idiot.

“Wait… Is that seriously the intel Morgans gave you?” Ryuunosuke asked, his tone dripping with mockery.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 65 – Cleaning Up the Minor Characters!

Ryuunosuke stood there, bound in seastone chains, yet his expression remained calm—almost indifferent.

There was even a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

That smug look only fueled the fire in Morski’s chest.

This was supposed to be his moment to shine!

Normally, no matter how strong a Devil Fruit user is, once they’re chained with seastone, they panic—fear, despair, and begging for mercy were the usual reactions.

But Ryuunosuke… was different.

His calm defiance shattered Morski’s expectations. He hated losing control.

“You really think you’re walking out of here alive?” Morski sneered. “Let me remind you… the Celestial Dragon Guards have a very special way of dealing with pests.”

He took a step forward, pulling a slender steel needle from his coat pocket.

“You think torture is beneath us? Think again. The World Government may authorize it, but we carry it out!”

Suddenly, a shadow emerged behind Morski—dark, grayish-black, flickering ominously.

Ryuunosuke’s eyes narrowed.

“So that’s your Devil Fruit power?” he muttered. “Too bad.”

“Tsukuyomi.”

In an instant, a spectral figure appeared behind Ryuunosuke.

Tsukuyomi grasped the Ame-no-Habakiri and, with a clean slash, shattered the seastone chains.

“Hell Cross Shackles!”

Ryuunosuke clapped his hands together, and a black crucifix burst from the ground—chains whipping out and wrapping around Morski, pinning him to the cross.

The chains? The very seastone ones that had just been cut.

But now, they were infused with Tsukuyomi’s special ability—amplifying Morski’s senses dozens of times over.

“Is this what you call torture?” Ryuunosuke asked coldly. “Tch… Just a dog of the Celestial Dragons, acting like you’re someone important.”

“If you love torture so much—then enjoy it.”

With that, he grabbed Ame-no-Habakiri from Tsukuyomi, then turned his gaze toward the remaining Celestial Dragon Guards.

The real fight hadn’t even started yet, but Ryuunosuke was already on full alert.

He knew—arrogant as they might be—anyone qualified to serve as a Celestial Dragon Guard couldn’t be weak.

“Move!”

His voice was calm, but the air around him crackled with electricity.

In a flash, he vanished.

“Ding!”

Just inches before Ame-no-Habakiri could sever a guard’s neck, a long metal staff intercepted the blade.

“A mere pirate dares to act so arrogantly?” a long-haired man sneered.

“You’re not even a Devil Fruit user, are you? Then let me show you the true power of a Celestial Dragon Guard!”

As he spoke, the staff twisted unnaturally—wrapping around Ryuunosuke’s sword.

Then came a sharp kick, aimed straight at Ryuunosuke’s chest.

Seeing the purple-black coating of Armament Haki around the attacker’s foot, Ryuunosuke’s expression darkened. If that connected, it would definitely hurt.

Bang!

Their kicks collided, sending shockwaves through the air.

Meanwhile, the Dragon Hunter Pirates crew clashed with the rest of the Celestial Dragon Guards. Though outnumbered, they fought fiercely—each one going toe-to-toe with a guard.

At first, they held the advantage.

But as more guards joined the fray, the tide began to turn. It became several-on-one, and tension began to rise on Akame's side.

“Not bad…” Ryuunosuke muttered, smirking. “You guys aren’t as useless as I thought.”

“But the warm-up’s over.”

“Now it’s hunting time.”

A strange aura began to build around Ryuunosuke, growing heavier by the second.

Then—the Rinnegan opened.

“Banshō Ten'in.”

Before the guards could react, a powerful suction force yanked them forward.

Seawater rushed in as well, pulled by the same gravitational force—slamming toward the battlefield like a tsunami.

“I don’t know what kind of fruit ability you think I have,” Ryuunosuke said, raising his hand, “but I do know this—”

“Now, you die.”

A black sphere appeared in his palm.

He threw it into the long-haired guard’s mouth just as the sea engulfed him.

The moment it entered his body, a crushing gravitational force erupted.

The water held him in place, immobilizing him, while the pressure inside his body mounted.

His limbs contorted… his torso twisted… until finally—

Boom!

A ball of blood mist exploded inside the water sphere.

“What the hell…? Is that even human?”

“Isn’t he a Devil Fruit user? Why isn’t the seastone affecting him?!”

“He’s controlling seawater!? That’s impossible!”

“A monster… this guy’s a monster…”

Fear took hold of the remaining guards.

They were all Devil Fruit users—some stronger than others—but none could fight someone who could manipulate the sea itself.

They knew the truth now.

In front of Ryuunosuke… they were helpless.

“Tsk.”

“Burn.”

With the guards distracted, Akame drew Murasame and made a few clean slashes.

Blood marks bloomed across the necks of several enemies.

And then—the curse struck.

In an instant, those guards collapsed, cursed into death.

Elsewhere, Hawkins and Ace handled the rest, while the minor crew members got to work cleaning the battlefield.

Ace picked his nose lazily. “So these were the Celestial Dragon Guards? Lame.”

“They were strong,” Hawkins said. “If not for the Captain, we wouldn’t have made it out so easily.”

He looked over at Ryuunosuke with calm admiration in his eyes.

For someone who had once been unsure, Hawkins now felt nothing but respect.

He was proud to be a part of the Dragon Hunter Pirates—even if he was just in charge of chores.

He was still part of the crew.

He still shared in their glory.

“Hey, Mr. Chores Captain,” Ace suddenly said, turning to Hawkins. “Didn’t you say this place was dangerous? What happened to that?”

“When we showed up, you said some bad omen crap, but we just mopped the floor with these losers.”

“Danger?”

Hawkins frowned and pulled out his cards once more.

He performed a quick divination—and his expression darkened.

“Seventy percent chance of death,” he whispered.

“Captain…”

He looked at Ryuunosuke.

A probability that high… couldn’t have come from these guards.

Which meant—

“We’ve been discovered.”

A new voice echoed out.

“I have to say—you guys are impressively calm.”

“Even in this situation, you can stay relaxed?”

Ryuunosuke turned toward the island with a faint smile on his face.

As his voice faded, four figures slowly emerged from the shadows—each one radiating an overwhelming aura.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 66: Curse the Scarecrow!

Unexpectedly, there were people secretly watching the area where the battle had just ended.

Considering how sharp Ace and the others’ Observation Haki was, this was unusual.

None of them had noticed the presence of these four individuals—until Hawkins' divination revealed it, and the group revealed themselves.

If it weren’t for that, Ryuunosuke and his crew might still be unaware of their presence.

“The Dragon Hunter Pirates live up to the legend,” one of them sneered. “Strong… and arrogant.”

He took a step forward with a mocking smirk. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Di Rodner—a special-class member of the Celestial Dragon Guards.”

Despite standing before one of the most infamous pirate crews on the sea, Rodner remained calm, almost relaxed, like he had the upper hand.

This wasn’t because they underestimated Ryuunosuke and the others. No, quite the opposite.

They had been observing from the sidelines. After witnessing Ryuunosuke’s strength firsthand, they still showed no fear.

That could only mean one thing—they were confident their own strength was greater.

“Wells.”

“Cachino.”

“Bester.”

The other three casually introduced themselves, stepping behind Rodner. They looked thoroughly bored, as if this mission was beneath them.

“Boss, can we finish this fast?” Wells said with a frown. “The air outside stinks.”

Clearly, they didn’t believe it took this much effort to deal with newcomers.

Morgans had stirred up trouble, so the Celestial Dragons sent them out to clean it up. But to them, dealing with rookie pirates was a job for the Navy, not the elite Celestial Dragon Guards.

“This should’ve been the Navy’s mess,” Rodner said with a shrug. “We were just forced to come check things out.”

He turned his cold gaze to Ryuunosuke. “So, what’ll it be? Come quietly? Otherwise, I can’t guarantee you’ll reach Mariejos in one piece.”

“Confident, aren’t you?” Ryuunosuke grinned, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

He reappeared instantly behind Rodner.

“What—?!” Rodner’s eyes widened.

He had been tracking Ryuunosuke’s every move with Observation Haki, anticipating a sneak attack.

But even so—he hadn’t seen a thing.

Not just Rodner—Wells was stunned too. Ryuunosuke now stood exactly where he’d been a second ago.

When did they switch places?

There hadn’t even been a ripple of energy from Ryuunosuke’s body.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed.

Wells appeared in front of Ryuunosuke—his chest impaled.

“You talk big,” Ryuunosuke said coldly. “But that just means you get to die first.”

With a twist, he kicked Wells’ corpse aside, the lifeless body thudding against the ground.

“Is that where all your arrogance came from?” he asked, smirking. “Pathetic.”

“You bastard!” Rodner’s calm cracked as rage twisted his features.

“You dare lay a hand on a Celestial Dragon Guard?!”

“Do you know what that means?!” he roared. “Everyone connected to you will vanish from this world!”

Rodner’s fury was real—but not because of honor or duty.

He, like the others, had grown soft living in the lap of luxury in Mary Geoise. Missions like this were rare—only carried out when the Celestial Dragons demanded it.

Now they were actually being forced to hunt pirates?

Ridiculous.

“You sure talk a lot,” Ryuunosuke said, unfazed.

Ace yawned and picked at his nose. “Man, you guys really are like those spoiled Celestial Dragons—trash in uniform.”

He didn’t care if he offended them. Even if a Celestial Dragon stood here, Ace wouldn’t give a damn.

“So that’s the attitude of the Dragon Hunter Pirates?” Rodner sneered. “Fine. Then let’s fight.”

A surge of violent energy exploded around him.

Rodner wasn’t a special-class just because of his title—he had power to back it up.

BOOM!

He launched forward—and the other two joined the assault.

“Hawkins!” Ryuunosuke called out calmly. “Take care of them. From now on, you’re an official crew member.”

He sat down on a nearby boulder, wearing a grin.

Hawkins froze for a second, stunned.

An official member?

It was what he’d been working toward all along.

Every divination, every mission—was for this moment.

“With pleasure, Captain!”

A demonic figure loomed behind Hawkins as he summoned his power. A massive demon-slaying image rose, sword raised.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

He swung his blade, forcing the three attackers back.

Their original plan had been to take them down one by one.

But now Ace and Akame had returned to Ryuunosuke’s side, leaving Hawkins to stand alone in the middle of the battlefield.

And he was relentless.

The three enemies were forced to shift their attention to him.

“Scarecrow Reversal!”

Hawkins drew a card, and a brilliant light flashed behind him.

Two more demon-slaying spirits emerged, surrounding him.

Now it was three versus three.

The tide had turned.

“Hawkins, that’s enough,” Ryuunosuke said lazily. “We’ve got bigger enemies ahead. Materials are collected. Don’t overdo it.”

“Got it, Captain.”

“You three are lucky,” Hawkins said, his voice eerily calm. “This ability—was granted to me by my great captain.”

“Be honored to die under it.”

He pulled three scarecrows from thin air.

They dripped with blood, clothed in torn fabric—fragments from the enemies’ clothes, hair, and flesh he’d collected mid-battle.

“What the hell is that…?”

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Three long needles stabbed into the scarecrows.

“AAAAHHH!”

Agonized screams erupted as the three opponents clutched their chests.

Blood gushed from their mouths, and their bodies fell, lifeless.

Ryuunosuke chuckled. “That’s more like it.”

“This… is what a scarecrow should really be doing.”

This technique—he had only casually suggested it to Hawkins once.

“If you can read fate, you can curse it too, right?”

He never expected Hawkins to actually develop such a deadly method.

But clearly, the results spoke for themselves.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 67: Official Crew Member, Hawkins!

After the three enemies were eliminated by Hawkins, the handymen of the Dragon Hunter Pirates moved in to clean up the battlefield once more.

To them, it was no different from taking out the trash.

Yet just moments ago, those same enemies were powerful and prestigious individuals. While not Celestial Dragons themselves, they served as their guards—status-wise, they ranked even higher than many royal nobles.

In fact, the three people Hawkins killed were special-class elites. Even a principality’s king would’ve bowed his head in their presence.

Who would've thought they'd end up dead on some random island?

Killed by newcomers, no less.

Despite their strength and status, they were wiped out as easily as garbage—now being cleared away by mere handymen of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

“Brother Ryuunosuke, all this just because we ate a few of their birds!?” Akame asked, scratching her head in confusion.

Anyone could tell those men were big shots from how they spoke and acted. It made no sense that something so trivial would bring them here.

“They’re pretty stingy, huh?” Ryuunosuke replied with a grin. “Anyway, go call Najenda over. I’ve got something to discuss.”

Akame nodded and quickly left.

Just then, Hawkins walked up, his face lit with excitement.

“Captain, am I...?”

His eyes gleamed with anticipation.

“Let’s do your evaluation.”

Ryuunosuke raised his hand, and the system interface appeared before him.

[Name: Hawkins – Character from the One Piece World.

Fruit Type: Paramecia – Straw-Straw Fruit User

Combat Power Evaluation: S

Potential for SS if powers are used without restraint.

Potential Rating: S

Status: Meets recruitment conditions.]

A robotic voice echoed in Ryuunosuke’s mind.

“As expected,” Ryuunosuke muttered. “As a Supernova, Hawkins passes both the strength and potential benchmarks.”

“Hawkins,” he said, turning toward him with a confident smile, “I hereby appoint you as the Captain of our Special Squad—K Squad. Your own crew will now operate under your sole command.”

“And from this moment on, you’re an official member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.”

“K... K Squad Captain!? Thank you, Captain! I... I will—what's happening!?”

Before Hawkins could finish, a powerful force surged through his body.

“Feeling stronger already?” Ryuunosuke asked with a smirk.

Hawkins’ eyes widened in awe. “Yeah! Is this… is this a gift from the crew? Or a miracle from you, Captain?”

Originally, Hawkins had felt respect and admiration toward Ryuunosuke. But now, that respect was evolving—shifting into something deeper.

Faith.

Though the system left a faint mark of loyalty on every recruit, it wasn’t enough to bind native One Piece world inhabitants completely. Yet Hawkins was now truly integrated into the crew—mind, body, and soul.

Then, Ryuunosuke noticed something even more interesting.

Hawkins’ power had grown not only because of his recruitment—but also due to the halo of the Evil Battleship.

Apparently, once a member is officially recognized by the system as a crew member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates, they can benefit from crew-wide bonuses—regardless of location.

It was a major discovery.

“Perururuuru”

Ryuunosuke’s transponder snail rang.

It was Chrollo.

“You feel that power boost too?” Ryuunosuke asked.

“Captain… was that you?” Chrollo responded. “I’ve awakened a new Nen ability—Angel’s Curse.”

[Angel’s Curse – A Nen ability that allows the user to summon a cursed angel puppet. After acquiring a drop of the target’s blood, it can enact an irreversible curse within three days.]

Chrollo excitedly explained the details of the ability.

“What!?” Ryuunosuke was stunned. “That’s the exact ability Hawkins just developed and activated!”

Yet now… Chrollo had it too?

He turned to Hawkins. “Can you still use the curse you just used?”

“Of course,” Hawkins replied, a bit puzzled. “Why do you ask, Captain?”

“No reason,” Ryuunosuke muttered. “I get it now.”

He returned to Chrollo on the call. “Chrollo, use that power wisely. It might be a game-changer in the future.”

“Got it, Captain.”

Ryuunosuke assigned him a task and ended the call.

Then, he asked the system, “Hey, what’s going on here?”

[After extracting an ability, the system automatically distributes it to the most compatible crew member. If multiple members have potential synergy, more than one may receive it.]

[The host already possesses various powers and does not require redundant skills like curse-based abilities.]

Ryuunosuke nodded. That made sense. It was even better this way—having a few people specialize in unique abilities instead of everyone sharing the same tricks.

He didn’t want his crew to be another Whitebeard Pirates clone.

Power diversity mattered more.

Just then, Najenda and Kuina arrived.

“Captain, the battle’s over, right?” Najenda asked. “Should we start moving out?”

“That’s what you told us before, isn’t it?” Kuina added, looking around.

“Not yet,” Ryuunosuke said calmly. “There’s a Navy unit lying in ambush.”

Everyone instantly activated their Observation Haki, spreading their senses across the surrounding sea.

“…Nothing,” Kuina muttered. “No trace of any Navy presence.”

They all looked confused.

Their combined Haki easily outclassed Ryuunosuke’s. If the Navy were around, they should’ve sensed it first.

“I didn’t sense them with Observation Haki,” Ryuunosuke said, then pointed upward. “Look at the sky.”

Everyone looked up.

Nothing but clouds.

“…You mean that poop-shaped cloud up there?” Ace asked with a straight face.

The crew stared at him in disbelief.

This guy…

Was definitely dropped on his head as a child.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 68: Found the Clue, Stupid Ace!

Everyone turned to look at Ace, who responded with an awkward smile.

Compared to Ryuunosuke’s detailed analysis, his earlier guess did seem a bit far-fetched.

“Think about our food these past two days,” Ryuunosuke said with a grin.

“The news birds!?” someone quickly realized.

Everyone caught on instantly—except for Ace.

“Wait, what do you all know?”

“Why am I still so confused?!”

Ace looked around at everyone, feeling left out. The more they nodded and whispered among themselves, the more lost he felt.

If he was the only one who didn’t get it right now… well, that just sucked.

“Ace, seriously? You haven’t figured it out yet?”

“Just like the captain said, you're really his dumb little brother!”

“It’s so obvious—heck, even Akame figured it out.”

Everyone burst into teasing laughter, their faces full of gossip and amusement.

“Come on, are you guys for real?”

“Can we not have fun at my expense here?”

“Brother, just tell me already. Don’t keep me guessing!”

Ace figured now was the perfect time to play the little brother card.

He had to admit—around Ryuunosuke, he definitely wasn’t the older one.

Ryuunosuke chuckled and explained, “The reason we were able to catch and eat so many news birds recently is because they had to monitor us. Even if it meant getting caught, they came anyway.”

“That means someone needed to track our location accurately and constantly.”

“But now,” Ryuunosuke pointed to the sky, “take a look—see any news birds up there?”

Ace’s eyes widened as realization finally hit. He smacked his palm against his forehead.

“Of course! That’s it!”

“We can safely assume someone’s waiting for us up ahead.”

“And if I had to guess—it’s probably Kuzan, the admiral Chrollo encountered a few days ago.”

“One of the Navy Headquarters’ top three.”

“Chrollo may have escaped using a trick and avoided a direct fight… but that only pissed the admiral off more.”

“The Navy’s higher-ups definitely won’t let that slide. And since we’re the Dragon Hunter Pirates, we’ll be the target of that frustration.”

“If we just charge ahead now, there's a high chance we’ll walk straight into an ambush.”

Ryuunosuke’s tone turned serious as he laid it all out.

Kuzan wasn’t someone to underestimate.

He might seem laid-back and distant—like he doesn’t give a damn—but he had his own kind of justice and personal beliefs.

And more importantly, he had the strength to back it all up.

To put it bluntly, Kuzan was just a big ol’ tsundere.

The cool attitude? Just his way of trying to look stylish.

But after being outsmarted by Chrollo, there’s no doubt he’d take it personally and come at them with everything he had.

If they ended up fighting, it wouldn’t be a light skirmish—it’d be an all-out clash.

“Captain, what do we do then?”

“You gathered us all here—you must have a plan, right?”

Najenda stepped forward, already flipping open her small notebook. She had a habit of taking notes every time Ryuunosuke spoke.

He always had some fresh perspective or clever insight that caught her off guard.

Sometimes, she even suspected he could see into the future.

“I don’t think there’s any need to overthink it,” Ace suddenly spoke up.

“Dad’s almost here, right? I’ll just contact him and ask for backup.”

“That way, we’ll have some serious firepower on our side!”

Ace grinned confidently. “See? Not so dumb now, am I?”

In his mind, it was a flawless idea.

If the Whitebeard Pirates showed up, the Navy would have no choice but to retreat. After all, an admiral couldn’t go head-to-head with both them and the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

Between the flashy Celestial Guards and the battle-hardened Navy Admiral, the admiral was clearly the bigger threat.

But even the Navy couldn’t stop Whitebeard.

“Whitebeard’s really coming?” Ryuunosuke asked, his expression darkening.

Ace blinked, caught off guard.

“Probably in the next day or two,” he answered nervously. “W-Was that wrong?”

“I told him where we are…”

This was the first time Ryuunosuke had looked at him that seriously, and it rattled Ace.

“Ace, I need you to do something for me,” Ryuunosuke said calmly.

“Contact Whitebeard again. If he’s coming for a drink, great—he’s welcome anytime.”

“But if he’s coming to fight on our behalf, tell him not to bother.”

“The Dragon Hunter Pirates can handle this ourselves.”

Ace froze.

That wasn’t the reaction he was expecting.

He glanced at the rest of the crew—but instead of doubt, all he saw was unwavering confidence in their eyes.

“Brother!” Ace said in disbelief.

“Are you serious? We’re talking about a Navy admiral here!”

“This isn’t the time to act all proud!”

Ace knew better than anyone—Whitebeard didn’t fight other people’s battles.

He wasn’t the type to randomly challenge the Navy. Doing so would bring massive heat on the entire crew.

But if it was for Ace, Whitebeard would make an exception.

Still, the consequences would be huge.

“Captain just means we haven’t hit the point where we need outside help yet,” someone said.

“You don’t get it, Ace.”

“Sure, an admiral’s strong—but we’re monsters too!”

“This is our moment. Letting the Whitebeard Pirates fight for us would cheapen our glory.”

Other crewmates chimed in, backing Ryuunosuke without hesitation.

Their confidence wasn’t arrogance—it was belief.

And just like that, Ryuunosuke smiled again. The heavy tension lifted.

Sure, Ace had made a dumb suggestion—but his crew?

They were rock solid.

No panic. No fear. Just resolve.

Exactly the kind of people the system would recognize as official crew members.

“Roelki,” Ryuunosuke said, turning, “take the handymen and head to Alabasta.”

“Everyone else—combat units, stay here.”

“Oh, and Roelki—meet us on the next island. Make sure there’s plenty of wine and meat ready.”

“Got it, Captain!” Roelki saluted and set off with the ship.

The rest of the crew stayed behind, preparing and discussing their next move.

They had a rough battle plan forming already.

Now, all that was left… was to meet the infamous admiral of the Navy Headquarters head-on.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 69: Being Watched!

Before leaving, everyone gathered to prepare dinner on the spot.

With Tsukuyomi and Susanoo present, there was no need to worry about food. Everything was handled with ease.

Now, the crew’s focus was training and internalizing the powers they had already mastered.

Bit by bit, they’d build on their foundation—polishing the old and developing the new.

But for Ryuunosuke, development wasn’t a priority right now.

He already had too much on his plate, and integrating everything would take time.

“Lord Ryuunosuke, dinner’s ready,” Tsukuyomi called softly as he was organizing his system panel.

“Got it.”

He closed the interface and joined the group by the fire.

“You nervous?” Ryuunosuke asked with a grin, scanning everyone’s expressions.

“I mean… I’m about to fight a Marine Admiral,” Hawkins muttered, his voice slightly shaky. “It’d be a lie to say I’m not feeling a little tension… maybe even excitement.”

“But hey—if I can get his blood and hair, even an Admiral won’t survive my curse.”

He looked up with a twisted confidence.

“And besides, I trust the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Just an Admiral? Please.”

Akame chimed in, cheerful and oblivious. “The Marine Admiral sounds strong and all, but in my eyes, Brother Ryuunosuke is the strongest!”

“Honestly, though,” Najenda interjected, tone serious, “our situation is pretty bad.”

“The Navy has our intel. They probably know everything about us already.”

“Even with the Captain’s careful planning, we can’t ignore the possibility that they’ve got backup strategies in play.”

“The appearance of an Admiral isn’t just a threat—it’s a warning. We just killed a Celestial Guard. You think the World Government’s just gonna let that slide?”

She looked around, and silence followed.

“The Navy will respond. It’s not a matter of if, but how.”

Ryuunosuke nodded, face lit by the fire’s glow.

“Najenda’s right. We can’t afford to get cocky.”

“I’ve got a trump card, sure—but if we can take down a Marine Admiral with our own strength, the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ reputation will skyrocket across the seas.”

---

Meanwhile, on a nearby island...

“Captain, should we move now?” Burgess asked, tearing into a hunk of meat. “If we take out the Dragon Hunter Pirates, becoming a Shichibukai is basically guaranteed.”

He was speaking to none other than Blackbeard—Marshall D. Teach.

“The Dragon Hunter Pirates…” Teach mused, stroking his chin. “Ace is on that ship now.”

“Plus, it sounds like Pops might be showing up too.”

“Let them fight first. We’ll clean up what’s left.”

A twisted grin spread across his face.

“Hehahaha… we might just walk away with a prize or two.”

“Captain,” Laffitte said from the side, voice calm and calculating, “if we’re just sitting back and watching, we should still make preparations.”

“This Dragon Hunter crew isn’t a bunch of pushovers.”

“According to our intel, their captain—Ryuunosuke—managed to beat Ace.”

Laffitte, once a member of the escort team, now served as the navigator and tactical advisor on Blackbeard’s crew.

After all, you couldn’t exactly trust Burgess to come up with a coherent plan—his only strategy was “punch it.”

Blackbeard chuckled.

“Alright. Set things up so we’re ready for either side—the Navy or the Dragon Hunters.”

“But remember—when the fight starts, don’t kill Ace.”

“He can die, but not by our hands.”

“Let the Navy take care of that. It’ll serve our purpose better.”

His tone was icy, and his smile said more than words ever could.

Their goal was clear: hunt the Dragon Hunter Pirates. The World Government had dangled the bait—Shichibukai recruitment was underway.

And for a man like Teach, desperate for status and identity, that was a carrot he couldn’t ignore.

Ace? Just a pawn. A sacrifice to be made at the right time.

“Teach!” Van Augur called out. “News bird just arrived.”

“Update says the Dragon Hunter Pirates have split into two groups.”

“Handymen and lower-ranked crew are sailing on a regular pirate ship, led by official member Roelki.”

“Roelki—user of the Paramecia-class Diamond Fruit. Decent strength, not exceptional.”

“Should we intercept them?”

“Roelki, huh? Hehahaha…”

“Forget the handymen. They’re not worth our time.”

“If we know this, the Navy knows it too. Let them deal with it.”

Blackbeard leaned back, clearly content with his plan.

All they needed now was patience.

Once the Navy and Dragon Hunters clashed, everything would fall into place.

---

Elsewhere...

Other pirate crews were circling too, lying in wait like vultures.

Their goal?

Simple.

See who wins, then swoop in to take advantage.

If the Dragon Hunters lose, they’ll side with the Navy or make a name for themselves by stabbing the victors.

If the Navy loses, maybe they’d join the Dragon Hunters instead.

Win-win either way.

That’s why so many pirate crews were converging on the Grand Line.

And of course, where pirates gather—fights break out.

The sea had turned into chaos.

---

Cake Island – Big Mom Pirates’ Territory

“Dragon Hunter Pirates?”

Charlotte Linlin’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Now that’s an interesting bunch.”

“Perospero—keep an eye on them. Any updates, report directly to me.”

“If they survive Kuzan… extend an invitation.”

She licked her lips at the thought.

“Oh, and Morgans…” she chuckled, eyes twinkling with hunger. “I didn’t expect someone would roast a news bird just for you.”

“I wonder how your bird tastes—probably delicious, yeah?”

Food thoughts took over, and her cravings surged.

After all, she’d eaten a news bird before—straight from Morgans himself.

And it was good.

---

Somewhere on the Grand Line…

“The Dragon Hunter Pirates, huh?”

“That kid Ryuunosuke…”

The red-haired man stared down at the newspaper, a fond smile on his face.

“Always causing trouble.”

He leaned back, remembering the boy who used to serve drinks at Makino’s bar.

It was hard to believe that same kid was now going head-to-head with a Marine Admiral—and shaking up the whole damn sea in the process.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 70: All Parties Take Action!

“Shanks, should we go help out?”

“Whitebeard already made a move.”

“That rookie... he’s kind of connected to us, right?”

“Shouldn’t we at least try to contact him?”

Ben Beckman raised the question, frowning thoughtfully.

Even though the Four Emperors ruled the seas like giants, their lives weren’t any less dangerous than your average pirate. Hell, half the time, they were more dangerous.

And that’s exactly why they constantly needed fresh blood—newcomers with raw power and talent. Give them the right environment, let them grow under pressure, and they could become pillars of the crew.

Given that Ryuunosuke was already an old acquaintance of theirs, Beckman figured now was the right time to reach out.

“Whitebeard’s not going anymore,” Shanks said with a slight smile. “Ace called him just now—told him not to bother. Said they’ve got things handled.”

If Ryuunosuke was bold enough to turn down Whitebeard’s help, there was no point in Shanks stepping in. He wouldn’t gain anything from it, and worse, it’d put a big red target on his back from the Navy.

Not that Shanks cared much about being labeled an enemy of the Navy Headquarters... but it just wasn’t necessary right now.

“This Dragon Hunter crew… they’re something else,” Beckman muttered, rubbing his chin. “If they actually survive this siege, and show up at the Final Island…”

He didn’t finish his thought, but both men knew what he meant. If Ryuunosuke made it through all this, he wouldn’t just be another name on a bounty poster—he’d be a problem.

“Hah! You were the one who said those kids didn’t have what it took to become pirates,” Shanks teased. “What, changed your mind now?”

Ben Beckman didn’t respond. He just turned to the sea, eyes narrowed. This world never ceased to surprise him.

Ryuunosuke, Ace, Luffy… They were all just scrappy little brats once. Now? They were rising stars. Threats.

---

Elsewhere, the other Four Emperors had already made their moves—except Kaido, who was still busy drowning in sake in Wano.

But his top officers weren’t in the dark.

“Ryuunosuke, huh?” Queen chuckled, swirling his drink. “Interesting little punk. Should we try to contact him?”

“Contact him?” Jack laughed, shaking his head. “Queen, you’re the dumbest of the three of us. If that guy survives a fight with an admiral, you think he’s gonna need us to contact him? Even the Captain isn’t keen on fighting admirals right now.”

“Hah!? When did I become the dumb one? King's supposed to be the idiot here!”

Queen deflected instantly, tossing the insult toward King.

King, who had been quietly observing, narrowed his eyes. “Tch. I should’ve ignored you both.”

But now that they dragged him into it, he wasn’t staying quiet.

“You two are barking up the wrong tree,” King said coldly. “Every year, new pirates like this pop up. Most get crushed before they even hit the New World.”

“They die at sea. Or the Navy snatches them and throws them in Impel Down. Instead of wasting time fantasizing about Ryuunosuke, we should focus on building our own strength.”

Then a voice rumbled from behind them.

“King.”

The three snapped to attention immediately, dropping to one knee.

“Captain!”

They hadn’t expected Kaido to be awake, let alone speaking so clearly. Given how deep he was into his drinking binge, he should’ve been passed out cold.

“Launch a surprise attack on Impel Down,” Kaido ordered flatly. “Rescue any prisoners with Zoan-type Devil Fruit abilities. The Navy’s distracted. Now’s the time.”

The command was simple, but the implications were huge.

“Yes, Captain!”

The three responded in unison, no hesitation. Orders like this didn’t come often—and if Kaido was serious, then it was a golden opportunity.

As the Beasts Pirates began mobilizing, ripple effects spread across the Grand Line. Pirate unrest flared up in different territories, but the Navy only sent local branches to handle the commotion.

---

Back in the Little Garden Sea Area…

“It’s about time,” Ryuunosuke said, standing on the deck. “Everyone’s probably done what they needed to do by now.”

“We should get moving. It’s time to meet Admiral Kuzan.”

Morning sunlight washed over the water. One night had been plenty—more than enough for various factions to scramble and reposition themselves.

Some had probably started moving the second the news broke.

Opportunistic bastards. Once they caught the scent of blood in the water, they swarmed like sharks. Ryuunosuke knew that all too well.

“Captain,” Najenda called out as she approached, holding a Den Den Mushi. “Chrollo just checked in. He’s ready—waiting for your signal.”

“Of course he is,” Ryuunosuke grinned. “That guy never lets me down. Alright, time to set sail!”

He leapt up onto the deck of the Evil Warship, the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ flagship. As the ship cut through the waves, Ryuunosuke stood at the bow, staring out at the vast sea.

This wasn’t just another battle.

It was their first real clash with the World Government. Their first head-on collision with the Navy.

The skirmish with Gion? That didn’t count. That was a one-sided beatdown.

This was the real deal.

The sails caught the wind. The Evil Warship roared forward.

---

Far ahead, aboard a naval warship, Admiral Kuzan opened his eyes.

“They’re coming.”

He stood slowly, feeling the air around him chill.

“No subtlety at all. Captain’s leading the charge himself.”

Kuzan stared into the distance.

He remembered his last run-in with Chrollo—it gave him a glimpse into just how dangerous the Dragon Hunter Pirates really were.

If their entire crew was made of monsters like that…

…this wasn’t going to be a smooth mission.

Hell, there was a real chance they might lose.

---

Time passed.

By noon, a massive black pirate ship sailed straight into the Navy’s attack range.

“Admiral Kuzan!” a soldier shouted. “They’re within range!”

And then, a voice echoed across the sea.

“You’re not seriously planning to fight me on the water, are you, Kuzan!?”

Kuzan’s lip curled into a slight smirk.

“That’s him… Ryuunosuke.”

It had been a long time since a pirate stirred something in him.

Kuzan exhaled slowly… and leapt into the sky.

The sea froze instantly beneath his feet as thick sheets of ice spread outward, turning water into battlefield.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 71: Garp Arrives and Faces the Admiral!

Ryuunosuke and Kuzan slowly made their way toward the center of the battlefield.

The moment their eyes met, the tension in the air thickened.

"The aura of a Navy Admiral really is something else," Ryuunosuke muttered with a smirk. "But with strength like that... why waste it being a lapdog for the World Government?"

He leaned back on a large chunk of rubble, casually sitting down. "Sure, you’re not directly under their command, but in the end, it’s all the same."

Everyone on the seas knew it.

The Navy was the face of the World Government—their sword and shield. From a pirate's perspective, calling them government dogs wasn’t far off the mark.

"Are you done talking?" Kuzan asked coolly. "If that’s all you’ve got to say, we can skip the banter."

"Ryuunosuke, Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates…"

"The Navy, under direct orders, has officially decided to arrest you. You’re free to resist—but I wouldn’t recommend it."

As he spoke, Kuzan let out a slow breath, and with it, cold mist swirled around him. Ice spikes began to form midair, glittering like deadly spears.

There was no doubt—his control over the Ice-Ice Fruit had reached terrifying levels.

Fighting Kuzan in a battlefield shaped by his own element? Not a good idea.

“Let’s do this!” Ryuunosuke called out, unsheathing Ame-no-Habakiri in one smooth motion.

At that same moment, the ice spikes around Kuzan launched toward him.

Najenda, Akame, Ace, Hawkins, and Kuina sprang into action too, following their captain without hesitation.

“Watch out!” Kuzan barked to the Navy soldiers behind him. “These people aren’t your average pirates!”

He wasn’t bluffing.

With Gion and Vice Admiral gone, the rest of the navy would struggle to last even a few moves against Ryuunosuke’s crew.

Najenda in particular—her massive Susanoo loomed behind her like a demonic guardian. Even Kuzan felt a chill that had nothing to do with his powers.

Where the hell did these monsters come from? he thought. There was nothing about them in any intel reports...

And the fact that all of them had chosen to follow Ryuunosuke? That wasn’t luck or coincidence.

Could it be... this young captain had been planning everything in secret for years? And only now, he’d decided to set sail?

“Admiral Kuzan,” Ryuunosuke said mockingly, “you’re fighting me—yet you’re still worried about my crew?”

“Isn’t that a bit disrespectful?”

Without waiting for a response, Ryuunosuke unleashed a flurry of Magatama, purple projectiles slicing through the air like a storm of blades.

Sensing danger, Kuzan raised his hand, instantly forming a thick ice wall.

But it shattered a second later.

And from the smoke, a long blade slashed straight toward him.

“Ice Time Capsule!”

Kuzan’s eyes narrowed in shock.

This strength—this wasn’t what the intel said about Ryuunosuke at all.

Either the reports were dead wrong… or Ryuunosuke had been hiding his true strength until now.

But there was one more terrifying possibility.

That in just a few months, this man had grown this powerful.

If that were the case, Kuzan knew—he needed to take Ryuunosuke down today.

Because if he didn’t, the day might come when he couldn’t face the Dragon Hunter Pirates alone.

Clang!

Ryuunosuke was knocked back by a wave of freezing force.

“Not bad,” he muttered, steadying himself. “But ice, huh?”

“I wonder if you can handle—”

BOOM!

Before he could finish, a massive fist came out of nowhere.

Tsukuyomi leapt in front of his master, but it didn’t matter.

Both were blown back together, crashing hard into the ground.

“Urgh—” Ryuunosuke staggered to his feet, coughing up blood.

“Damn it, Vice Admiral Garp! Did you have to hit so damn hard!?”

“You trying to kill me!?”

He glared up at the man who’d just arrived—Monkey D. Garp, the Hero of the Navy.

Garp scratched the back of his head. “I was in the East Blue, wanted to check in on Luffy.”

“But I got called over for a mission and ended up taking the wrong route.”

“Took a nap and missed the action,” he grinned. “But I made it just in time.”

“Ryuunosuke, come with me to Navy Headquarters.”

“I’ll make sure you live. Do a few years in Impel Down, maybe even join the Navy someday!”

His voice was loud, direct—like he was giving an order, not an offer.

And his face made it clear he meant every word.

Ryuunosuke smirked. “Vice Admiral Garp… don’t you think my tone already told you my answer?”

“Ace!” he shouted. “That old man’s yours. Don’t let your grandpa drag you back!”

The air around them flared with heat as a sea of fire erupted, engulfing Garp.

“I’m not going back with that old fossil!” Ace roared. “I’ve come too far!”

But before he could finish—

BOOM!

Garp punched through the flames like they were smoke, his fist slamming into the ice Kuzan had created.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the battlefield.

If Kuzan hadn’t stabilized it immediately, Garp would’ve shattered everything with one hit.

“Admiral Kuzan,” Ryuunosuke said calmly, “Looks like Vice Admiral Garp’s a bit busy now.”

“Which means it’s time for us to finish this.”

“Navy Admiral? Heh—nothing special!”

Ryuunosuke's body erupted with a powerful life force.

Tsukuyomi, who had been obliterated earlier, was completely restored, his aura even stronger than before.

The Magatama floating around Ryuunosuke shimmered with strange, new light.

Kuzan clenched his jaw.

He didn’t know what was happening, but he could feel it—Ryuunosuke was evolving mid-battle.

“Shit,” Kuzan muttered. “His attacks are getting weirder.”

“Ice Pheasant Flock!”

Waves of ice-birds surged toward Ryuunosuke, but before they hit—

“Don’t get distracted, Admiral.”

The voice echoed directly in Kuzan’s mind.

And in a flash—his body vanished.

When he reappeared, he was locked in Tsukuyomi’s arms.

“What the—!?”

His blood began to drain rapidly, his strength fading.

Even the ice creatures he’d just summoned shattered into nothing.

“This… this thing swapped places with me?!”

“Is it a space-type Devil Fruit?”

“But the reports said he wasn’t a Devil Fruit user!”

Panic and confusion swirled through Kuzan’s mind.

He tried to fight back—ice spikes burst from his body, stabbing into Tsukuyomi’s limbs.

But it didn’t matter.

Tsukuyomi’s form was made of layered, durable materials. As long as the core remained intact, it couldn’t be destroyed.

Worse—every drop of life force it absorbed from Kuzan only made it stronger.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 72 – Najenda's Betrayal!?

---

"Ice Age!"

Kuzan’s body began to crystallize, slowly turning into solid ice. A bone-chilling cold instantly spread across the battlefield, freezing everything in its path.

Even the flames on Tsukuyomi were snuffed out by the frost.

Ace, who was still engaged in combat, stumbled back as the freezing aura engulfed the area.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me, old man!” Ace barked, gritting his teeth. “You really needed an Admiral just to fight me?”

“Tch. I’m out. I’m not dealing with this bullshit.”

The moment Kuzan activated Ice Age, Ace quickly backed off, retreating from the battle. Fortunately for him, Garp’s attention wasn’t on Ace right now, which gave him the perfect chance to escape.

Given Ace’s identity and the current situation, chasing him down wasn’t a priority. The real threat was the man standing calmly in the middle of the icy fog—

Ryuunosuke.

A strange, otherworldly energy swirled around him, creating a protective barrier that kept the frost at bay. Had it not been for that, Ice Age would've frozen him solid.

“Oh? That was your big move?” Ryuunosuke smirked as he slowly stepped out of the mist, completely unaffected. “Not gonna lie—recycling these tired-ass attacks? Kinda boring.”

Kuzan, who had just returned to his elemental form, moved quickly to distance himself from Tsukuyomi. But before he could react further, Ryuunosuke casually strolled up beside the frozen creature.

Raising one hand, he placed it gently on the ice.

BOOM!

The massive sculpture shattered like glass under his touch.

In the blink of an eye, Tsukuyomi reformed behind him—completely intact, as if Kuzan’s attack had never happened.

Kuzan’s expression grew darker. He’d clearly sensed Tsukuyomi’s aura vanish during the earlier exchange… but now it was back. As if nothing had happened at all.

“Dammit,” Kuzan muttered.

“Hold him off, Kuzan!” Garp suddenly barked from a distance. “I’m going after the others. I’ll come back and help you when I’m done.”

Without another word, Garp turned and sprinted toward the other battlefront, where Gion and the other were locked in a fierce fight.

They were being stalled by Hawkins and Najenda, while Kuina and Akame tore through the Navy like they were slicing paper.

If Garp didn’t step in now, the entire naval task force could get wiped out.

Despite being women, Kuina and Akame were ruthless in battle—cold, calculating, and efficient.

But then again, who wouldn’t fight back when the Navy came knocking to take your head?

“Najenda! Garp’s heading your way!” Hawkins shouted in warning. “Keep your guard up—don’t get killed!”

“Thanks for the tip!” Najenda yelled back, continuing her relentless assault on Tokikake.

With Susanoo backing her up, she was absolutely overwhelming the veteran Vice Admiral. Despite his rank and experience, Tokikake couldn’t keep up.

If he hadn’t been tough as nails, Najenda would’ve crushed him by now.

Suddenly, Garp landed on the warship with a loud boom, immediately locking eyes on Akame.

He had been using Observation Haki throughout the fight and had already identified her as a top threat.

Akame was infamous for her one-strike kill technique. If you let her swing that sword, you were done.

Garp had one goal—get that blade out of her hands.

“Death,” Hawkins muttered grimly.

His cards had already predicted it.

Whether it was Akame, himself, or even the Dragon Hunter Pirates as a whole… the future showed only death.

But it was strange.

The vision was absolute death, yes—but hidden within it was a bizarre glimmer of life. As if something was quietly defying fate.

When Hawkins looked back at Ryuunosuke, he noticed something strange—the man looked calm. Completely unbothered.

For some reason, seeing that expression gave Hawkins a sense of peace. If Ryuunosuke wasn’t panicking, then maybe… just maybe, it wasn’t over yet.

Still, he turned back to face Gion. He had to keep her occupied, no matter what. She was strong—too strong for him to take lightly.

Even after taking a hit from Chrollo earlier, Gion’s battle prowess remained terrifying.

Right now, if the Dragon Hunter Pirates had a weak link… it was Hawkins himself.

“This is it, little girl,” Garp said, grabbing Akame’s wrists with terrifying force.

“You’re not a Devil Fruit user. This is the only way I can catch you.”

CRACK!

Without hesitation, he snapped her arms, then slapped seastone cuffs onto her wrists.

With the chain looped tightly, he tossed her aside like trash.

“One down,” he said coldly. “Next up—Kuina.”

Though Kuina’s swordsmanship was elite, she couldn’t break through Garp’s Armament Haki. His fists were like iron.

Before long, she suffered the same fate—arms broken, chained up, and dumped on the deck.

As Garp finished cuffing the second woman, Najenda smiled faintly.

“Well then,” she said, backing away from Huoshaoshan. “If I defect right now… do I still have a chance?”

Before anyone could respond, she teleported—reappearing instantly behind Hawkins.

Susanoo materialized and seized him by the head.

THWACK!

With a sickening crunch, Hawkins collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.

Everyone froze.

Gion’s eyes widened. Tokikake stood in stunned silence.

What the hell just happened?

“You’re betraying the Dragon Hunter Pirates… hoping to cut a deal?” Garp asked slowly, voice low and dangerous.

His expression darkened.

That was her partner—murdered right in front of him.

“Not enough?” Najenda raised a brow. “Then how about one more?”

Before anyone could react, Susanoo grabbed another figure—Ace.

The poor bastard had barely escaped one fight, only to be captured again.

This time, Najenda bound him with a seastone chain as well.

“Old man! What the hell?!” Ace shouted, panic creeping into his voice. “Why is she betraying us now?!”

He looked at Garp desperately.

He’d spent enough time aboard Ryuunosuke’s ship to know everyone’s personalities. Sure, they were all eccentric as hell… but loyal?

They were die-hard loyal to Ryuunosuke.

So why now? Why was she doing this?

“He’s just a pirate,” Garp said, almost mechanically. “Why do you—"

CRACK!

Before he could finish, Ace’s head was crushed like a melon in Susanoo’s hand.

Blood sprayed across the deck.

Two kills. Both her own crewmates.

“If that’s still not enough…” Najenda said, her eyes cold and empty, “I’ll kill my captain next, if that’s what you want.”

Just then, Akame and Kuina reappeared in front of her—teleporting without a trace.

No sound. No warning.

Just cold silence.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 73: The Death of Members!

Even Garp, a seasoned veteran who had witnessed countless brutal battles, was frozen in place.

What just happened?

Ace—his grandson in all but name—was dead.

Killed by a pirate.

Right in front of him.

The man he raised. The man he loved like family.

And that bastard… that bastard dared to—

“Vice Admiral Garp! What should we do!?” Tokikake asked, panic creeping into his voice.

Everything had gone off the rails.
The situation was a complete disaster.

If someone that powerful had been fighting with them, maybe they could’ve taken down Ryuunosuke.

But instead, they were watching a massacre unfold.

And this so-called ally?
He just killed his own crewmates like flipping a switch.

How the hell were they supposed to trust someone like that?

“I don’t accept your surrender,” Garp growled, teeth clenched.

“You... killed Ace.”

“Get ready... to die.”

In an instant, a terrifying pressure exploded from Garp’s body.

“Boom. Boom. Boom—”

Lower-ranking marines collapsed on the spot. Even the wounded, who had been clinging to consciousness, fell like dominoes.

“Conqueror’s Haki!”

“Of course... He’s Garp. The Hero of the Marines. The face of the Navy.”

“Having Conqueror’s Haki is only natural.”

As Garp’s overwhelming aura swept the battlefield, Najenda didn’t hesitate—she went straight for Akame and Kuina, killing both with precision and reclaiming their swords.

But the moment they fell, Garp appeared in front of her like a ghost.

“BOOM!”

One punch.

Before Susanoo could even react, Najenda was sent flying. Blood sprayed through the air.

Susanoo lunged forward, catching her midair.

“Najenda!”

“I’m okay... Just be careful—”

“Be careful? Babe, it’s already too late.”

Before she could finish her sentence, Garp was already there again. Another punch was coming fast.

This time, Susanoo intercepted the blow.

“Is Vice Admiral Garp... really this terrifying?” Gion muttered, her eyes wide.

To her, Garp had always been the goofy, unreliable type.

She had trained under him when she was young, knew his lazy, joking demeanor all too well.

He never got mad. Always chill, always patient, even when they screwed up during training.

But this?

This was a side of Garp she’d never seen before.

“He’s back,” someone whispered.

“Back then, Garp was the guy chasing the Pirate King all over the world,” Tokikake said, dragging his exhausted body over.

“Even compared to the current Admirals, he’s not much weaker.”

“Hell, I doubt even the Admirals would want to fight him head-on.”

Najenda, who had just overpowered Tokikake minutes ago, now looked completely helpless against Garp.

“So this is the gap... between us and the Navy’s top combat power?” Gion whispered, gripping her weapon tighter.

She had thought she was strong.
She was already a Vice Admiral, after all.

But now?
She realized just how wide that gap still was.

“Why is that guy so calm?” Tokikake muttered.

He glanced at Ryuunosuke, still locked in combat with Kuzan.

There was no fear on his face.

No anger.

No panic—even after losing several crewmates.

He was smiling.

Still smiling.

“What the hell is this guy?”

“A monster.”

“This is the scariest pirate I’ve ever seen,” Gion whispered. “Most pirates... they at least feel something.”

“But this guy... he has no emotions.”

Just minutes ago, they were actually fighting this crew.

“Kuzan,” Ryuunosuke called out casually, “if this is all you’ve got, then the Navy’s about to lose an Admiral.”

“Pure Yang Flame.”

Ryuunosuke held up a card. A pillar of fire shot into the sky, condensing into a massive fireball that rushed straight toward Kuzan.

Feeling the searing heat, Kuzan’s eyes narrowed. He immediately launched a counterattack.

“Ice Age.”

Glacial waves surged from his palms, surrounding the fireball with bone-chilling cold.

He watched carefully, finally letting out a breath.

“Crisis averted—wait.”

“BOOM!”

Too late.

Kuzan’s eyes widened.

He had taken his attention off Ryuunosuke for a second—and that’s all it took.

BAM!

Tsukuyomi and Ryuunosuke struck him in unison, sending Kuzan flying across the battlefield.

Ryuunosuke stood calmly on the ice.

Because Garp was approaching.

And in his grip was Najenda—limp, unconscious.

“Ryuunosuke,” Garp said coldly. “What exactly are you trying to do?”

“Ace was just killed by this woman!”

“And your crew—she killed them too!”

Ryuunosuke tilted his head. “Ace is dead?”

“Really?”

“Old man, don’t be mad. Weren’t they all just pirates?”

“Why are you, a naval hero, mourning pirates?”

“Where’s the justice you always talk about?”

His voice was light, mocking. But his words hit hard.

Garp stopped in his tracks.

His grip tightened. His jaw clenched.

Justice.

Yes, by the Navy’s standards, everyone who had just died was a pirate. Criminals.

There was no reason to mourn them.

But still...

They were his family.

How could he not be angry?

How could he not grieve?

And worse—Ryuunosuke, the one standing in front of him now—he’d changed.

Garp didn’t recognize this man anymore.

“Yo, old man. Are you sad for me?”

A voice cut through the air.

Garp’s eyes widened.

“...Ace?”

He turned.

There, standing beside Ryuunosuke, was Ace.

Grinning like an idiot.

“Come on, old man. I thought you didn’t care when I died,” Ace said, scratching his head.

“Thanks... but I’m still a pirate.”

Flames danced around his body as he smirked.

He didn’t hesitate—he stood right beside Ryuunosuke.

“Brother Ryuunosuke... that sucked,” Ace muttered, dusting himself off. “Let’s not use that trick again unless we have to.”

Akame walked up next, her expression still shaken.

Najenda appeared beside her, holding out their swords.

“Here, Akame. Your sword. Kuina’s too.”

Garp glanced down at the body he had been holding.

Najenda.

Except now, it had already crumbled into dust.

And standing before him... were all the crewmates he thought had been killed.

Including Ace.

What the hell just happened?

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Chapter Text

Chapter 74: Resurrection!

Garp’s Observation Haki had clearly confirmed it—those people were dead.

Even if Najenda had pulled off some strange trick when killing them, she herself had definitely been beaten to death. Garp had held her lifeless body in his own hands just moments ago.

And yet... there she was, standing right in front of him.

The bizarre scene made even the experienced Garp hesitate in disbelief.

“Well… to be fair,” Ryuunosuke said with a calm smile, “I don’t think our Dragon Hunter Pirates have really done anything that bad, right?”

“In the East Blue, your Navy came after us first. We just defended ourselves, plain and simple.”

“Then your guys didn’t fight back, and yeah, they got killed.”

“And Vice Admiral Gion? She came at us on her own. We didn’t provoke her.”

“In fact, we let her go out of respect. Didn’t want any beef with the Navy.”

“And now you’re here trying to block our path again. What, do you think we’re easy pickings?”

From the day Ryuunosuke and his crew set sail, they hadn’t done anything particularly evil. Sure, they hit some merchant ships—but only those tied to corrupt nobles. They even liberated a ship full of slaves.

Hell, they’d done unpaid work for the Navy. Helped them out and didn’t get a single reward in return. Now that they were on the Grand Line, they hadn't even gotten a chance to stir up any real trouble, yet the Navy was already coming after them.

As for the situation with Morgans—well, the guy was a big-shot in the underground world, not some government official. He didn’t fall under World Government or Navy jurisdiction.

Given all that, even Garp was starting to think Ryuunosuke might not be as guilty as everyone assumed.

“If that’s really the case,” Garp asked, his voice calm, “then why form a pirate crew at all?”

“Ryuunosuke, with your strength, if you came to Marineford—”

“Stop.”

Ryuunosuke cut him off cold.

“Old man, I’ve got my own beliefs. My own path.”

“I’m not gonna be some dog for the World Government.”

That last word—dog—hung in the air. Garp let out a deep sigh.

Yeah, that was how most people saw the Navy these days. No matter how righteous they claimed to be, no matter how many pirates they captured, at the end of the day... they served the World Government.

That’s also why Garp had never accepted a promotion to Admiral—he didn’t want to be some bureaucrat’s puppet. But there were limits to how far he could go. If he pushed too hard, it wouldn’t just be insubordination—it would be full-on rebellion.

And his own sense of justice wouldn’t let him take that step.

“In that case,” Garp said, his tone now resolute, “I’ll do what I must. I’ll bring you in using my own power.”

As soon as he said it, an overwhelming pressure erupted from his body—pure, unrelenting Haki.

“Conqueror’s Haki, huh?” Ryuunosuke chuckled. “As expected from you, old man.”

“But you might want to hold off for a sec. I’ve got help arriving.”

Ryuunosuke pointed up toward the sky.

A distant caw broke the tension. Garp looked up and saw a News Coo—one of the newspaper delivery birds—circling overhead before landing in front of him, dropping a sealed report.

“What the hell is this…?”

Garp unfolded the paper and began to read. His expression went from puzzled to shocked... then to furious.

“Ryuunosuke… You actually—!”

BOOM!

Before he could finish, Garp slammed his fist into the frozen sea. The impact shattered the ice beneath them.

Meanwhile, Ryuunosuke and his crew leapt back aboard their sinister-looking warship.

“Mr. Garp,” Ryuunosuke called out casually, “we don’t want to keep fighting. If I really wanted to push this, I could probably keep you tied down here for a while.”

“Not that I’d enjoy it. I mean, Ace is your dumbass grandson and Luffy’s your idiot of a grandson too. So fighting you? Honestly, just a pain.”

“You expect me to believe you’ll leave this kingdom untouched?” Garp demanded, ripping the paper in half, his fury unhidden.

Ryuunosuke gave a small nod.

“I give you my word.”

“And hey, I’ve still got a bit of credibility left. So relax, Vice Admiral. No need to worry.”

“Oh—and by the way. I’m not the only one in the Dragon Hunter Pirates.”

“There are other monsters in my crew.”

“So if the Navy ever wants to make another move… maybe think twice, yeah?”

Just then, Ace stepped forward and launched a wave of scorching flames onto the ice, melting a path through the sea.

Their warship set sail once more, slowly disappearing from view.

Garp remained there, standing on a lone chunk of ice, still in shock.

The sea had already begun to thaw from the heat of his attack.

“Vice Admiral Garp, why…?”

Kuzan approached cautiously, but before he could finish, Garp handed him the report.

“The Kingdom of Baruto was being held hostage?”

“Dragon Hunter Pirates... Second Division Captain... Chrollo?”

Kuzan’s expression shifted. Now he understood why Garp had let them go.

If the fight had continued, the whole kingdom would’ve gone up in smoke.

“This makes sense now,” Kuzan muttered. “Vice Admiral Garp truly is the coolest man alive.”

Because truthfully, Garp could’ve taken them all out.

But he didn’t.

He made the hard choice—for the people.

“No…” Garp said with a weary tone. “Even if there weren’t a kingdom at stake, it wouldn’t be easy to bring them down.”

“You saw it too—those dead crew members were resurrected.”

“I don’t know what ability that is, but judging by Ryuunosuke’s condition, there doesn’t seem to be any real drawback.”

Garp sighed again.

He didn’t want to believe it… but it was true.

And Ryuunosuke… he was already at a level where he could go toe-to-toe with a Navy Admiral.

His crewmates weren’t far behind either—some of them might even be stronger than Ace.

A pirate crew like that… it wouldn’t be long before they ruled the seas.

Maybe that man’s prediction would come true after all.

Garp stared out in the direction the ship had vanished, his thoughts spiraling.

Peruru... Peru...

His Den Den Mushi buzzed to life.

“…Sengoku.”

“Failed, huh?”

“Come back,” Sengoku said simply.

Garp was surprised at how calm his voice was.

But he understood. Sengoku already knew—this was the only choice they had.

“Back to Marineford, then.”

Garp turned and walked back to the warship, then laid down with a heavy sigh, already half-asleep.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 75: Squad 3, Pain Group!

On the deck of the evil warship, the atmosphere buzzed with energy as a new face stepped forward.

“Let me introduce you all,” Ryuunosuke said, gesturing toward the quiet man behind him. “This is our new third-division member—- Jigokudo - Naraka Path!”

“The actual captain of the third division is still on their way,” he added, “but for now, Jigokudo will be joining us directly under my orders.”

Ryuunosuke turned back toward the others. “His ability is called King of Hell.”

He pointed toward the eerie, gaping mouth of a massive King of Hell statue behind Jigokudo.

“If any of us stores our blood inside that thing’s mouth, Jigokudo can bring us back to life when we die.”

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

“And there’s more. If we capture enemies alive and feed them to King of Hell, it’ll extract all their intel.”

Ryuunosuke grinned. “He’s the first practical support unit of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Our ace in the hole.”

[Jigokudo: Originally part of Pain’s squad in the Naruto world—revived and reborn as a new man after joining Ryuunosuke’s crew.]

“Wait, so the reason we came back to life just now… was because of Brother Jigokudo?” Kuina asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Yeah… although the whole thing was creepy as hell,” Najenda said, rubbing her head with a wry smile. “Still, no real issues with the resurrection.”

“But if I can help it, I’d rather not go through that again.”

This was part of a contingency plan Ryuunosuke had laid out from the very start—one that only the Dragon Hunter Pirates could pull off.

Each of them had left five drops of blood in the King of Hells's mouth. That meant every member could be revived five times.

Those five lives bought time—enough time for Chrollo to make his moves in the background.

If Garp really didn’t give a damn about the citizens of the kingdom… fine. Ryuunosuke had a backup plan for that, too. He’d melt the ice covering the sea and force the Navy’s hand.

Jigokudo would retreat with the warship while the crew distracted the Navy—then resurrect everyone again if needed.

It sounded dangerous, but Ryuunosuke had accounted for everything.

And the payoff?

Just this one battle had earned Ryuunosuke a cool 30,000 reputation points.

And that was before the news of the fight with a Navy Admiral even spread.

Once word got out that Ryuunosuke held his own against an Admiral? His rep would skyrocket.

At that point, he might even be considered on par with the Shichibukai—or higher.

With the Navy upping his bounty, and his name spreading across the seas, who knows?

Maybe some wild fanboy like that freak Bartolomeo might try to join the crew.

Reputation equals growth. The stronger their rep, the more fame and points Ryuunosuke earned.

And more points meant more power.

It was a cycle—a damn good one.

“Captain, is there anything you want me to do?” Jigokudo asked, stepping up. “I mean… is there even anything I need to be doing here?”

In his old life, Jigokudo had been just another puppet—literally.

Nagato’s tool, without will, without freedom. Now? Now he had a second shot.

Ryuunosuke had already explained what kind of world he’d landed in—pirates, chaos, the sea.

But aside from being a backup during battles, Jigokudo wasn’t sure where else he fit in.

“Hm…” Ryuunosuke paused, then nodded. “Your job now is to get familiar with your powers. Adapt to your new abilities. Work on your physical training, too.”

“You’re our lifeline on the battlefield, Jigokudo. You’re not allowed to die.”

“I understand, Captain!”

Before Jigokudo could ask any more questions, Najenda stepped forward.

“I’m Najenda, captain of the first division. Since your own captain hasn’t arrived yet, I’ll be handling your training.”

She glanced at Ryuunosuke. “He’s got bigger things to worry about right now.”

She was right.

After that last battle, things were going to heat up.

There’d be eyes on the Dragon Hunter Pirates—powerful ones.

Only Ryuunosuke could handle the planning needed to deal with what was coming.

He had access to information no one else did—intelligence that would give them the edge.

A crew could be strong, but without strategy? Without intel?

They’d be dead in the water.

“Got it,” Jigokudo nodded, following Najenda to begin his training—and to learn about things like Haki and the sea’s rules of combat.

Ryuunosuke watched them go with a faint smile.

It really was good to have reliable crew members.

Then he glanced at Ace—currently face-deep in a hunk of grilled meat, sauce all over his face.

He sighed.

“Ace! Get your ass over here.”

Ace looked up, startled. He quickly wiped his greasy mouth and jogged over.

“What’s up?” he asked, blinking. “Didn’t we just finish the fight? I thought this was break time.”

Ace honestly didn’t care too much about what the Dragon Hunters were doing.

He was just a guest, tagging along for a bit. His real place was with Whitebeard’s crew.

“Blackbeard’s here,” Ryuunosuke said bluntly. “Somewhere in this sea.”

“And he’s definitely watching us, waiting for the right time to strike.”

“You seriously forgot what you came out here for?”

Ryuunosuke gave him a tired look.

What started as Ace’s problem was slowly becoming his headache, too.

“Blackbeard? Nah, no way,” Ace scoffed. “He’s a pirate now, same as us. He wouldn’t dare show his face here.”

“If he runs into Pops, he’s screwed. Old man would beat him to a pulp.”

He paused.

“…Though yeah, Pops is probably pissed as hell right now.”

Just thinking about Garp’s furious expression made Ace’s head throb.

Back when they were kids, Garp used to beat them black and blue.

Those memories weren’t fun.

“No, trust me. He’ll come,” Ryuunosuke said flatly. “The Dragon Hunter Pirates haven’t fully established themselves yet.”

“And Blackbeard’s the kind of guy who thrives on opportunities like that.”

“Besides, the World Government’s offering a Shichibukai seat to anyone who can capture me.”

He smiled coldly.

“You think Blackbeard’s the kind of guy who’d pass up a golden ticket like that?”

“Shit,” Ace muttered, eyes narrowing.

“And now that he knows who you are? That you’re Whitebeard’s son?”

“He’ll try to use you. Set something up to distract the Whitebeard Pirates and throw them off his trail.”

Ryuunosuke’s tone dropped, serious.

“If he lets himself get caught, he’s dead. This is his only move.”

Ace clenched his fists.

“…Alright. So where do we find him?”

He was finally getting serious.

Originally, Ace had a whole plan. But ever since he started hanging out with Ryuunosuke, it felt like his brain stopped working.

He was relying more and more on his big bro to figure things out.

Not that he minded. That’s what older brothers were for, right?

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Chapter Text

Chapter 76: The Aftermath

After hearing what Ace said, Ryuunosuke couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment wash over him.

Now he truly understood why Garp couldn’t hold back from beating the crap out of these guys sometimes.

Faced with such a clueless brother, Ryuunosuke also felt the urge to throw hands.

"Let’s just keep sailing," he said flatly. "Just wanted to give you a heads-up."

With that, he turned and headed back to the cabin for a bath. If he stayed any longer, he might actually lose control and punch Ace in the face.

---

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

"Ugh… I just realized how damn annoying it is without that news bird delivering the paper."

Ryuunosuke had been waiting for a week to see the updated bounty posters, eager to know how much their heads were worth now.

Then it hit him.

They’d eaten the news bird.

And pissed off Morgans.

Now, the damn bird wouldn’t even fly near their ship. The moment it spotted the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ flag, it did a full U-turn and vanished.

Can’t blame it. No one wants to end up as bird stew.

"Peru-peru..."

At that moment, Chrollo's call came through.

"Captain, I’ve seen the new bounty posters," Chrollo said. "I took a shot with the Video Den Den Mushi and sent it over."

Ryuunosuke picked up the Mushi and watched.

[Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates – The Evil Captain, Ryuunosuke – Bounty: 600 million berries.]

[First Division Captain – Iron Hand Najenda – Bounty: 450 million berries.]

[First Division Member – Akame, One-Strike Killer – Bounty: 380 million berries.]

[Second Division Captain – The Controller, Chrollo – Bounty: 480 million berries.]

And finally…

[Whitebeard Pirates, Second Division Captain – Fire Fist Ace – Bounty: 800 million berries.]

Ryuunosuke blinked. Not only had his own bounty increased, but Ace's had skyrocketed.

“Chrollo, you got any clue why Ace’s bounty suddenly jumped?” he asked, frowning. “If it’s because of his identity, it should be even higher. But Garp wouldn’t just expose that, right?”

“No idea yet,” Chrollo replied. “I’m on my way from the Kingdom of Baruto. Strange things are happening lately.”

“How so?”

“Every pirate crew we run into turns tail the second they see our flag,” Chrollo said, calm as ever. “Also, I recruited some new crew... but had to kill them. Navy plants.”

Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow.

“The Navy tried to infiltrate us?”

“Yeah. Sent pirates undercover. But they came to me.” Chrollo chuckled darkly. “I sniffed them out easy. Mind abilities are real handy.”

Ryuunosuke leaned back, exhaling slowly. The Navy actually tried to sneak spies into the Dragon Hunter Pirates? That was a bold move… and one he hadn’t seen coming.

“Got it. Keep sailing. Find us a decent stop. And Chrollo,” he added, “head to Alabasta. Be there in a month.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, Captain,” Chrollo said, voice laced with curiosity. “I’ve seen a lot of interesting things lately. If I like something… can I keep it?”

Ryuunosuke narrowed his eyes. “You mean Devil Fruits and ability users?”

“Exactly.”

“You can collect Devil Fruits, sure. But there’s no need to keep the people. Their powers vanish when they die, and the fruits get reborn.”

“I see. Still, forming a Devil Fruit unit could be useful. I’ll look into it.”

“Fine. Do as you please.” Ryuunosuke ended the call there.

He glanced at Ace, who was fast asleep nearby.

With a bounty of 800 million on his head, the idiot was still snoring like a baby.

---

Elsewhere, on an island deep within the Grand Line…

"Teach, are you hesitating because you’re not confident you can take down the Dragon Hunter Pirates?" Lafitte asked, his expression puzzled.

He hadn't expected Blackbeard to change plans so suddenly.

“Take them down?” Teach scoffed. “Even Garp had to step in. You think I’m stupid? The government’s been hiding their real strength.”

He shook his head.

“Six hundred million berries? Please. Their actual power might rival the Four Emperors.”

Lafitte's brow furrowed. “So if we go after them now, we’re just walking into death.”

“Exactly,” Teach said coldly. “Back when I was on the run from Whitebeard’s crew, things were already dicey. Now, with the Dragon Hunters in play, we’re up against two monsters.”

He paused, fear flickering in his eyes.

“Most pirates can’t see it yet, but I can. These guys are not to be messed with.”

“So you want to go to the Navy Headquarters?” Lafitte asked. “You really think they’ll agree to team up with pirates?”

“If something goes wrong, the Navy’s the one that’ll take the heat,” Teach replied. “And honestly, it’s our safest bet.”

Burgess wandered over, scratching his head. “You sure Pops would attack the Navy just to get you back?”

“Not sure,” Teach said with a shrug. “But at least in the Navy’s custody, I won’t get stomped by Whitebeard.”

Doc Q walked over, smiling faintly. “No complaints here. I actually respect your guts, Teach. Let’s see how it plays out.”

The rest of the Blackbeard Pirates nodded. Whether they fully agreed or not, they recognized Teach’s leadership.

Before heading to the Navy Headquarters, though, Teach had one more thing to do—something that would prove his value to the Navy and ensure they took his offer seriously.

---

Meanwhile, chaos erupted in the world once more.

The Navy was in crisis.

Kaido had taken advantage of their battle with the Dragon Hunter Pirates to launch a sneak attack on Impel Down.

He’d broken in and freed countless criminals before being stopped by Magellan. But even Magellan couldn’t contain everything. The Three Calamities had overwhelmed the jailers, and many inmates had escaped in the chaos.

Restoring Impel Down—and hunting down the escapees—became the Navy’s top priority.

For a time, the Grand Line descended into pure chaos… all thanks to the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Chapter Text

Chapter 77: Arrival at Alabasta!

Another week had passed.

Ryuunosuke and his crew finally arrived at the desert kingdom of Alabasta.

For most people, it would be hard to understand how a place like this could become an ally of the World Government—especially since it was originally established by one of the Celestial Dragons. But if you knew the secret this kingdom held—the ancient weapon Pluto—it would make a whole lot more sense.

Right now, though, Alabasta had practically become the private domain of Baroque Works.

It all started when Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, used the infamous Dancing Powder incident to discredit and dethrone the king. After that, he set his sights on locating Pluto, hidden somewhere in this land.

And yet… after all this time, the bastard still hadn’t found a damn thing.

Clearly, Crocodile’s goal was Pluto. That much was obvious. But when Ryuunosuke considered the years Baroque Works had been in Alabasta without any progress, he couldn't help but feel a bit baffled. Weren’t they supposed to be digging for clues all this time?

“Hey, bro,” Ace suddenly said, squinting at the sun-scorched coastline ahead. “Didn’t you say Blackbeard was gonna meet up with us here? It’s been days—where the hell is he?”

Ryuunosuke shrugged, landing effortlessly on the port. “If he hasn’t shown up by now, then he’s probably not coming. He must be working on something else. But don’t worry—Blackbeard’s not the type to just sit around. He’ll move when he’s ready.”

They had finally reached their destination. And since they were here, Ryuunosuke figured it was time to pay Crocodile a little visit.

After all, this was pirate territory—and in the pirate world, you always split things fifty-fifty.

Plus… they were running low on food again. Ace was a bottomless pit, and if Ryuunosuke didn’t handle their supply problem soon, the infamous Dragon Hunter Pirates might end up starving out at sea.

That’d be a hell of a joke.

“Captain!”

Roelki came running up, his face slightly flushed from the heat.

He’d arrived in Alabasta ahead of the others to prepare supplies. Nearly a month had passed since their last major battle, and he’d been working nonstop to make sure the crew had what they needed.

Ryuunosuke gave him a nod. “How’s the situation? Anything we should keep an eye on?”

Roelki sighed. “Yeah. This place doesn’t even feel like a kingdom anymore. Baroque Works is running things from the shadows now. No pirate raids, sure—but the people are still being oppressed.”

He paused, then added, “What’s weird is that Baroque Works, the rebels, and the royal army are all active at the same time. It’s like a power struggle on three sides. Captain… should we get involved?”

Ryuunosuke thought for a moment before shaking his head. “Nah. For now, we stay out of it. This is Warlord territory, and I’m not looking for trouble—yet. Everyone can rest and enjoy the pirate world for a bit. Hawkins, you’re with me.”

With that, he turned and started walking into Alabasta.

The crew knew what that meant—free time. A break from sailing, training, and fighting. A rare vacation.

“Let’s grab a drink!” Najenda cheered. “It’s been forever since we had a real break!”

“I heard there’s a great casino in town,” someone else said.

“And the desert animals here? Supposed to be delicious,” Jigokudo added with a grin.

And just like that, most of the crew split up to explore the city, leaving behind Roelki, the handymen, and Hawkins.

As for Roelki? Najenda claimed he’d already had his fun prepping for everyone else. Poor guy had worked himself to the bone getting supplies—and now he got stuck with ship duty.

At that same moment, deep within Baroque Works’ hidden base...

“The Dragon Hunter Pirates have arrived,” a subordinate reported. “And it doesn’t look like they’re planning to leave anytime soon.”

Robin stepped into the room, her expression unreadable. “Should we take them out, Crocodile?”

The World Government had ordered the capture of the Dragon Hunter Pirates, but Crocodile had chosen to ignore it. Now that they were on his turf, though, things were a bit more complicated.

“Take action?” Crocodile snorted. “The Navy couldn’t even handle them. Why the hell would I go pick a fight?”

He leaned back in his chair. “Still… we should treat them properly, don’t you think? Miss All-Sunday, perhaps it’s time you made yourself useful.”

Robin didn’t react, but she wasn’t surprised.

He’d been growing impatient.

Their progress in deciphering the ancient texts had slowed to a crawl, and Crocodile knew she wasn’t giving it her all. But she was still the only one who could read those damn Poneglyphs, and he needed her—for now.

“I understand,” Robin said calmly. “But if we leave them alone, they might stumble upon our plans.”

She handed him a notebook, her expression thoughtful. “Here.”

Crocodile didn’t even look up. “Just focus on your job.”

He flipped through the pages, his mind racing.

If he could unlock Pluto’s location and claim that weapon... the entire world would tremble.

The Four Emperors, the Marines, even the World Government itself—they’d all be nothing compared to him.

At that point, the so-called Raftel and the Grand Treasure wouldn’t even matter. He would be the one holding all the cards.

That was Crocodile’s dream.

Robin quietly left the room and climbed to the top of a nearby tower. The wind tugged at her cloak as she gazed across the city.

“The Dragon Hunter Pirates, huh...?”

Her voice was barely a whisper, lost in the desert breeze.

She needed to meet them. She needed to see for herself what kind of man this “Ryuunosuke” was—the one being called the strongest newcomer on the Grand Line.

Because Robin knew something: once Crocodile got his hands on Pluto, she’d outlived her usefulness.

And Crocodile? He didn’t keep liabilities around.

Back in the desert, Ryuunosuke shielded his eyes from the scorching sun.

“Hey Hawkins… are you sure your fortune-telling’s reliable?” he asked, eyeing the endless stretch of yellow sand.

“This doesn’t exactly scream 'hidden treasure' to me.”

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Chapter Text

Chapter 78: The Underground Kingdom!

Hawkins looked a bit annoyed by Ryuunosuke’s request.

Divination was usually his go-to for predicting good or bad fortune. But now, Ryuunosuke was asking him to find something using it?

That wasn’t exactly how his powers worked.

“Captain, this is kinda weird,” Hawkins muttered, furrowing his brows. “No matter where we go, it’s like… there’s something we need all around us.”

Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow. “All around us? You saying there's more than one thing?”

“I don’t even know what I’m looking for,” Hawkins admitted. “But according to my divination, the things around us... they’re all somehow connected to your goal. It’s never happened like this before.”

Ryuunosuke folded his arms, puzzled. “Wait… could there be more than one Poneglyph here?”

Hawkins blinked. “Captain, mind telling me exactly what you're searching for? If I had something specific, the results would be more accurate.”

Ryuunosuke didn’t hesitate.

“Pluton. The ancient battleship.”

“…Pluton?” Hawkins’ face paled the second he heard it.

That name wasn’t thrown around lightly. One of the three ancient weapons, something countless pirates dreamed of chasing. And now—here, in Alabasta?

An ally of the World Government, ruled by a king backed by the Warlords of the Sea… and yet Pluton might be hidden in its sands?

Before Hawkins could fully process the implications, the straw figure in his hand suddenly burst apart with a snap.

Blood spurted from his mouth.

His knees buckled, and it felt like his whole body had been drained of life.

“Southwest… It’s in the southwest,” he gasped. “But I’m done for now. No way I can do another reading for a while.”

Ryuunosuke glanced at him, unimpressed. “Tsk. Burnt out already?”

Then he grinned and added, “You need to work on your stamina, man. Can’t even divine a few times before you start coughing up blood. You better not be wasting it all at night.”

Without waiting for a reply, Ryuunosuke grabbed the lizard that had been casually spectating from the side and tossed it in front of Hawkins.

“Take a load off. Sit on the lizard. Rest.”

“I’m heading southwest. Once you’ve recovered a bit, do another reading if you can.”

Ryuunosuke set off across the desert, sand shifting beneath his boots with each step. On the sea, there was no north, south, east, or west. But on an island like this, those directions had meaning—especially with maps drawn by brave navigators who often paid with their lives.

He didn’t have to go far to realize something.

Alabasta was no paradise.

The scorching sun here didn’t feel like a blessing—it felt like divine punishment. The endless expanse of desert made every movement exhausting.

Eventually, Ryuunosuke found a hollow beneath a massive rock and decided to rest.

He pulled out water and food from his system space, tossing some to the lizard too. It had been carrying Hawkins around, after all.

As they rested, Hawkins finally spoke up again, voice weak but serious.

“Captain… there is information about Pluton here. But it’s... dangerous. That divination almost killed me. If I push it again, I might not make it back.”

He paused, then looked Ryuunosuke in the eyes.

“But if it’s for you, I’ll risk everything. Even my life.”

Ryuunosuke glanced over. “No need for dramatics. I already know you’re loyal.”

He stood up, scanning the area with sharp eyes.

“Besides, you’re not totally useless. I picked this spot for a reason.”

Activating his Observation Haki, Ryuunosuke had already sensed something buried deep below the desert sands.

“I didn’t just stop here to eat.”

He pulled out Ame-no-Habakiri, his blade gleaming in the desert light.

With one clean slash, the ground split open, revealing a massive hole.

“There it is. What I was looking for.”

“If someone actually set this all up… damn, they’re on another level.”

Without hesitation, Ryuunosuke jumped in.

Hawkins blinked in confusion but followed anyway.

The lizard? It tried to protest, but Hawkins yanked it down with him.

Inside the cavern, Ryuunosuke pulled out a luminous stone and lit up the chamber.

And there it was.

A massive Poneglyph, right in front of them.

“A Poneglyph…?”

Hawkins stepped forward in awe. “Wait, could this be the one that talks about Pluton?”

The thing was real. No longer legend—just standing right there in the dark.

But the text on it was incomprehensible. Those twisted, ancient symbols weren’t something just anyone could read.

You either had to possess the power to “hear the voice of all things,” or track down one of the few surviving scholars of Ohara.

But Ohara had been wiped out long ago by a Buster Call from the World Government.

As far as the world knew, only Nico Robin had survived. The so-called "Demon Child."

And she’d been off the radar for years.

“Assuming we’re in the right spot, this has to be it,” Ryuunosuke muttered, stepping closer.

“This thing is what we came for.”

He pressed his palm against the Poneglyph’s surface.

In a flash, the massive stone vanished.

Hawkins and the lizard stared, stunned.

Ryuunosuke turned toward the corridor ahead. The place wasn’t just a vault—it was an entire underground structure.

Probably ancient Alabasta, long buried beneath the sands of time.

He followed the path slowly, taking in the preserved architecture.

Eventually, they reached a chamber that looked like a throne room.

A single chair sat atop a dais, regal and commanding despite the dust.

And when Ryuunosuke saw it… his heart skipped a beat.

There was a pull—a sense of power, of dominance. Of belonging.

“This…” he whispered, stepping forward, “is what it feels like… to stand at the top of the world.”

He climbed the steps and stared down at the throne.

This must’ve been part of Alabasta’s original palace—back when the kingdom still stood proud, before it sank into the sand.

“Captain,” Hawkins called out behind him, eyes wide. “You think this is the real Alabasta?”

“That would explain everything…”

“Maybe the reason Alabasta gave up its status as a Celestial Dragon… maybe the reason they left the World Government…”

“…was for this. For Pluton.”

Ryuunosuke stood still, the weight of it all sinking in.

Alabasta had secrets.

And they were just beginning to uncover them.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Chapter Text

Chapter 79: Ryuunosuke—That’s My Big Brother!

Once a kingdom of immense power, now reduced to this... all because of a Shichibukai.

Time really is something else.

It can take the weak and make them strong, and it can crush the mighty until they crumble.

"Hawkins, let's go. We’ve got company," Ryuunosuke said calmly as he stepped out of the corridor, with Hawkins following.

They exited through another path, and before long, a lone figure stood waiting in the desert ahead of them.

Even with dusk creeping in, the remaining light was enough to clearly make out the silhouette.

"The person we’re looking for... Nico Robin, right?" Ryuunosuke said with a slight grin.

Nico Robin walked up to meet them.

"Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates—Ryuunosuke," she said, her tone cautious. "And... Basil Hawkins. Former captain of the Hawkins Pirates, now one of your crew."

"I assume your appearance in Alabasta isn’t just for sightseeing. What exactly are you investigating?" she asked, getting straight to the point.

Robin had been tracking movements across the seas. Escaping Crocodile wasn’t easy, after all.

Most assumed Crocodile was just a cruel man with average strength. But Robin knew better.

His Sand-Sand Fruit ability, his command of Haki—he kept those well-hidden. She’d seen it firsthand during his training sessions. The man was far more dangerous than he let on.

With Crocodile still searching for Pluto, she had to be extremely cautious. The only way to get ahead was to understand the sea’s shifting intelligence networks.

"Miss Sunday... or should I call you Miss Nico Robin?" Ryuunosuke said casually. "Not that it matters much."

"You’ve got knowledge about Pluto, don’t you? I’ve got a Poneglyph here. I was hoping you’d translate it for me."

"And just so you know... I can help make your dream come true too."

He raised his hand and pulled out a massive Poneglyph stone from his system space.

"You... you’re also after Pluto?" Robin asked warily. She stepped forward, then froze as her eyes fell on the Poneglyph.

"This one... it doesn’t talk about Pluto. It’s Alabasta’s historical record."

Robin had meant to say more, but the content etched onto the stone completely stole her attention.

This was a piece of lost history. Information never seen on any other Poneglyph.

In that moment, Nico Robin forgot about Ryuunosuke, Hawkins, and even the desert lizard behind them. She was utterly consumed by the stone.

“She just ignored our captain...” Hawkins muttered.

“Let her be,” Ryuunosuke said calmly, pulling out his blade, Ame-no-Habakiri, and starting his own training.

Hawkins sighed and leaned back. He was still tired from his earlier fortune-telling session.

After all, using Devil Fruit powers consumed a lot of stamina. If one’s body wasn’t up to par, overuse could leave you completely drained—or worse, suffering side effects like kidney failure.

So, Hawkins took the chance to rest.

Time passed slowly.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Alabasta—

Luffy’s ship had just docked.

He was starving. The kind of hunger where he couldn't even remember what life felt like anymore.

Back at Whiskey Peak, he’d eaten like a monster, but his fight with Zoro had drained him badly. Add that to the lack of food during their sea voyage, and Luffy was in a full-blown emergency.

The first thing he did upon hitting land?

Find food.

He burst into a restaurant, eyes wild and stomach growling like a beast. In doing so, he sent two men flying—crashing through several walls in the process.

The room went silent.

The people eating stared, slack-jawed.

After all, the ones he’d just knocked over were not nobodies.

One was Portgas D. Ace, second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.

The other was Smoker, White Hunter from Navy HQ.

Neither of them were the kind of people you wanted to mess with.

But Luffy didn’t care. He pounced on the food like a demon possessed, scarfing it down with zero regard for the worried shopkeeper.

“Ha! Luffy!” a familiar voice laughed.

Ace got up, brushing off some dust, and walked over with a grin.

He’d been planning to meet Luffy earlier, but he’d run into Ryuunosuke on the way. One thing led to another, and he ended up traveling with the Dragon Hunter Pirates for a bit.

Still, fate had brought the brothers together again.

“Ace!!” Luffy shouted joyfully, his mouth still full of food. “Wait... aren’t you with Ryuunosuke?”

“Huh? You came here alone?”

Seeing Ace meant Ryuunosuke had to be nearby. And for Luffy, that was huge.

Outside of his crew, only a few people mattered that much to him.

Ace. Sabo. Ryuunosuke.

Garp didn’t count—he was family, sure, but in a whole different category.

Sabo had disappeared long ago, presumed dead. So seeing Ace—and knowing Ryuunosuke might be here too—filled him with happiness.

“Yeah, Ryuunosuke’s here too,” Ace nodded.

"Straw Hat... what’s your connection to that damn Dragon Hunter captain?" Smoker stepped into the room, still dusting himself off. His tone was sharp, and his eyes narrowed.

The fear... the trauma of dealing with the Dragon Hunter Pirates hadn’t left him.

The last time they crossed paths, Ryuunosuke had stood toe-to-toe with Kuzan.

Only the combined force of Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Aokiji had managed to force Ryuunosuke to retreat.

Since then, Smoker knew better than to underestimate them.

“Ryuunosuke?” Luffy grinned, swallowing a chunk of meat. “He’s my big brother!”

Smoker's eyes widened, his expression darkening.

“Big brother?!”

He came here to chase after Straw Hat, but now things had taken a sudden, dangerous turn.

The Dragon Hunter Pirates were here.

And the situation just got a whole lot more complicated.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Chapter Text

Chapter 80: Sister!

While Smoker was busy pondering things, Luffy sat there looking just as confused.

“Wait a minute... isn't this the part where he’s supposed to chase me like a madman?”

According to everything he knew, Smoker should’ve charged straight at him the moment he saw him. But instead, the guy was just standing there… spacing out?

“Eh, whatever. Food first, problems later.”

With that thought, Luffy went right back to stuffing his face.

Smoker finally snapped out of it.

Sure, he couldn’t beat Ryuunosuke—but Luffy? That was a different story.

Even with Fire Fist Ace nearby, Smoker had a plan. And Ace didn't seem too eager to fight anyway.

But the real kicker? He had just received a new piece of intel—Luffy wasn’t just Ace’s little brother… he was also the younger brother of that menace, Ryuunosuke.

If he captured Luffy and handed him over to Marineford, there was no way those two wouldn’t show up to rescue him. And with the right trap?

They could wipe out both Ryuunosuke and Ace in one move.

Smoker's eyes narrowed.

"Straw Hat... you—"

"I'm outta here, Smoker!"

Before Smoker could even finish, Luffy grabbed an armful of meat and bolted.

"Luffy! Wait for me!" Ace shouted as he ran after him. “I still have a ton of stuff to talk to you about!”

Smoker stood frozen for a second, mouth half open.

"...Did they just run away?"

"CHASE HIM!" he barked. "Tashigi, you take care of things here!"

Without another word, he took off with a squad of marines in tow. His mind was laser-focused—capturing Luffy now meant everything. That connection to Ryuunosuke changed everything.

---

"Aah... why is it always me?" Tashigi muttered, watching them disappear.

She sighed and turned to the shopkeeper. “Sorry about the mess. How much did they eat? And, uh… I guess we’re paying for the broken wall too.”

“The food comes to 300,000 berries,” the owner said, surprisingly calm. “And the wall and furniture repairs will run about 50,000 berries —we’ll handle the labor ourselves.”

“350,000 total, huh…” Tashigi rubbed her head. “I don’t have that much on me right now—”

“I’ve got it,” a soft voice interrupted.

She turned, startled. “No, I couldn't possibly let you—wait, you are...?”

Her eyes widened when she got a good look at the two women standing behind her. They looked familiar… eerily familiar.

“Kuina? What’s up with your clothes—and your attitude?” Akame blinked.

It was Akame and Najenda. The pair had gotten separated from Ace earlier—he’d ditched them during a shopping trip, sneaking off to grab food, which is how he bumped into Luffy.

“You two—you're Najenda, the first squad captain, and Akame, a combat member!”

Tashigi had always been bothered by the rumors of a pirate who looked just like her. So when she heard that name, the pieces clicked instantly.

Akame narrowed her eyes and drew her blade. “You’re not our Kuina,” she muttered, her aura shifting dangerously.

At that moment, a squad of navy officers rushed in and surrounded the place—just as another figure stepped through the entrance.

Kuina.

“Akame, don’t,” she said calmly. “Let’s go.”

Without another word, she pulled her two crewmates away and led them through the hole left behind by Ace and Smoker. Najenda dropped a pouch of berries onto the counter on the way out.

Back inside, Tashigi just stood there, still in a daze.

“They really do look alike...” one marine mumbled. “Are they sisters?”

“But Tashigi-san never said she had a sister.”

More murmurs followed.

After all, they had entered the building with Kuina earlier—thinking she was Tashigi. If not for the real Tashigi being there, complete with her unique sword, they would've never known.

Well… there was one difference.

Kuina’s chest was definitely… bigger.

Outside the town, the three Dragon Hunter members moved quickly.

“Sis Kuina, who was that chick?” Akame asked while munching on a lollipop, clearly still irritated.

Najenda didn’t ask out loud, but her eyes showed curiosity. The resemblance was impossible to ignore.

“She’s... my sister,” Kuina said softly.

She didn’t elaborate. “It’s complicated.”

Then, changing the subject, she asked, “By the way, have we heard from the captain?”

“It’s been almost two days. Shouldn’t we check in?”

“Nope,” Najenda replied. “He said he’d find us when he was done. Besides, I think he’s got something going on in Alabasta.”

“Guess we just enjoy the downtime, then.”

Kuina smiled. She agreed—Ryuunosuke’s strength gave their crew enough breathing room to take things slow.

Meanwhile, after talking with Luffy and understanding his goal, Ace decided to stick with the Straw Hats for now.

Since they were all heading after Crocodile, staying close to Luffy would eventually lead him to Ryuunosuke as well. Plus, the three brothers hadn’t met in ages—what better time than now?

The Straw Hat crew, however, had mixed feelings.

Ace was polite, strong, and composed… and Luffy?

Well, he was Luffy.

They could barely believe these two were brothers—they were like day and night.

But still, Ace quickly became a favorite among the crew. His easygoing nature and strength were a big hit.

Just as they set a new course to track down Crocodile, a small boat docked at the port.

One of its passengers spotted the massive warship belonging to the Dragon Hunter Pirates.

He jumped on board, eyes gleaming.

“This is... Ryuunosuke-nii’s ship!”

“It really is—!”

Beep beep...

Before he could even finish his sentence, a flash of silver light cut through the air.

Metal projectiles shot toward him with deadly precision.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 81: Another Younger Brother!

The man dodged the steel spikes with ease, then looked at his attacker with a calm, amused smile.

Roelki stood opposite him, his stance guarded.

After all, he had one job here—to protect this place.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don’t ask questions. If you’re gonna make a move, just do it!" the man teased with a grin.
"What’s with all the Dragon Hunter Pirates being so damn impatient?"

The man adjusted his hat casually. “Roelki, right? Official crew member, captain of the handymen team?”

Roelki narrowed his eyes, sizing up the stranger. “Who the hell are you?”

He could feel the pressure coming off this guy. It wasn’t something to take lightly. Roelki might not be one of the stronger members, but he had enough self-awareness to recognize a gap in power.

The man smiled wider. “Ah, right. Forgot to introduce myself.”

“My name’s Sabo.”

“I’m… Ryuunosuke’s younger brother.”

He looked up, that same sunny smile spreading across his face.

Roelki blinked, stunned. "Younger brother!?"

He already knew about Ace, the Fire Fist, being Ryuunosuke’s younger brother. Then came Luffy, the Straw Hat kid—also called Ryuunosuke big bro.

And now this guy, Sabo?

How many damn younger brothers does his captain have?!

Sabo chuckled, like he could read the confusion right off Roelki’s face. “It’s not that complicated, is it?”

“Can you tell me where my big brother is? Or at least lend me your Den Den Mushi?”

Roelki stared at the guy for a moment longer, then sighed. The way he smiled, that dumb but confident energy... he looked exactly like Ace and Luffy.

Yeah, this guy had to be their brother.

“I got a Den Den Mushi,” Roelki finally said. “I’ll call the captain for you…”

---

Meanwhile, back with Ryuunosuke.

Nico Robin was still hunched over the ancient stone slab, deciphering its Poneglyph script. A whole day and night had passed.

To Ryuunosuke, this kind of work was a nightmare.

If he ever had to pick a career, archaeologist would be dead last. He’d rather be chased across the Grand Line by every admiral in the Navy than sit in a dusty room staring at stone.

“Captain, you think Robin’s actually making any progress with that thing?” Hawkins asked, arms crossed, voice skeptical. “She hasn’t moved in hours.”

“This ain’t like a fight,” Ryuunosuke shrugged. “You can’t just throw hands and get instant results.”

“Deciphering that stuff… hell, I don’t get it either.”

Then his expression hardened. “But don’t try changing the subject. Get back to your 500 sit-ups.”

Hawkins groaned. “But I just finished the 500!”

“Did I stutter?” Ryuunosuke shot back.

With a frustrated sigh, Hawkins dropped down and resumed his training. He couldn’t believe this was his life now. Once a feared pirate captain, now reduced to the Dragon Hunter Pirates’ training dummy.

Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi rang out.

“Perururu click.”

“Yo, Roelki. What’s up?” Ryuunosuke asked, eyeing the snail’s face.

“Brother Ryuunosuke! Long time no see,” a familiar voice responded.

Ryuunosuke’s eyes narrowed. “Sabo…? You little bastard, you’re still alive.”

His tone wasn’t angry—just surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Given the state of things, Sabo should’ve been buried in paperwork and operations. Dragon sure as hell couldn’t run everything solo. And as Chief of Staff, Sabo had no shortage of responsibilities.

Yet here he was, in Alabasta of all places.

“I just wanted to see you,” Sabo said lightly. “Ace is with you, right?”

“Figured I could catch up with him too. Oh, and Luffy’s heading to this sea area soon—if he arrives in time, I’d like to see him as well.”

Ryuunosuke chuckled. “Ace should be with Luffy now. I’m not with them.”

“I’m in the desert. You’ll find me soon enough.”

And with that, he ended the call.

On the other end, Sabo blinked at the cut-off line and gave a helpless smile.

Typical.

Ryuunosuke had always been like that—even back in the Goa Kingdom. Always doing his own thing, never following the crowd. Even though he wasn’t the strongest back then, he was still their big bro. Ace just refused to acknowledge it at the time.

But with how powerful Ryuunosuke had become, Sabo was sure Ace had come around.

"Roelki, right?" Sabo turned to the crewmate. "Thanks for the help. I’m off to find my brother."

He leapt off the ship, landing on Alabasta’s sandy ground. As he disappeared into the distance, black crows soared overhead—agents of the Revolutionary Army, helping Sabo scout the area.

---

The Next Morning

“Ryuunosuke!”

Sabo finally found him, nearly a full day later. He was greeted by the sight of Hawkins, panting and drenched in sweat.

Was this… their rest time?

Damn, the Dragon Hunter Pirates don’t mess around.

Ryuunosuke stood, brushing off his pants as he approached Sabo. “You come all this way to talk?”

“Why the hell aren’t you surprised!?” Sabo blurted. “I’m alive, man! Didn’t you all think I was dead?”

“If it were Luffy, he’d be bawling right now!”

Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow. “But you’re clearly not dead, are you?”

He crossed his arms, smirking. “Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, Sabo. You think I wouldn’t know?”

Sabo froze, then gave an awkward chuckle. “Guess I underestimated you, big bro.”

“Since you already know I’m with the Revolutionary Army,” Sabo said, getting serious, “then you probably have an idea why I’m here.”

Ryuunosuke didn’t say anything. He just sat down in the warm yellow sand, waiting for Sabo to speak.

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Chapter Text

Chapter 82: New Political Ideas!

Sitting cross-legged on the warm yellow sand, Ryuunosuke looked calm and ready to listen.

“Bro,” Sabo began, glancing at him seriously, “you’re strong now, right?”

“I heard from the leader that you actually escaped from Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Kuzan of the Navy Headquarters.”

“With that kind of power… if you could just—”

“If you joined the Revolutionary Army, it would be a huge boost, right?”

Before Sabo could finish, Ryuunosuke cut him off sharply.

“You already know my answer, don’t you?”

Sabo looked at him expectantly. If he could use his relationship with Ryuunosuke to bring him—and maybe even Ace and Luffy—into the Revolutionary Army, it would massively strengthen their forces. With that kind of support, the movement could gain real momentum.

“I’m not interested,” Ryuunosuke said flatly, raising a hand to shut him down.

He had no intention of joining the Revolutionary Army.

After all, he was aiming to lead the Dragon Hunter Pirates to the very top of the world.

Why the hell would he serve someone else’s cause?

On top of that, the Revolutionary Army operated in the shadows. Ryuunosuke needed fame, a lot of it, to grow stronger and draw more powerful crewmates. Sneaking around wouldn’t get him the reputation points he needed.

“Bro, I—”

“Save it,” Ryuunosuke cut in again. “It’s not just me. Go ask Ace. Hell, even ask the dumbass Luffy. None of us would say yes.”

People like them—who carried the Conqueror’s Haki—had unshakable wills and personal dreams. They wouldn’t kneel to anyone. Even Ace, who served under Whitebeard, did so out of love and family, not submission. Garp, for all his faults, stayed with the Navy because he believed in his own kind of justice.

No matter who Sabo asked, the answer would be the same: No.

“Tch… I figured it wouldn’t be that easy,” Sabo sighed. Then his eyes lit up with curiosity. “By the way, big bro, what’s the deal with your Dragon Hunter Pirates? Where the hell did you find so many monsters?”

He gave up on the pitch for now. Better to keep the relationship strong—if the Revolutionary Army ever got into deep shit, maybe Ryuunosuke and his crew wouldn’t stand by and watch.

Besides, Sabo truly valued their bond.

“They’re my crew. My partners,” Ryuunosuke replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “As for where I found them…”

He trailed off intentionally, letting the suspense hang.

Nearby, Hawkins perked up, clearly curious too. The longer he stayed with the Dragon Hunter Pirates, the more he realized how terrifyingly strong Najenda and the others were. It made him question his own standing. Once a proud Supernova and captain, Hawkins was now just a regular crew member—maybe slightly above a deckhand.

“Same way I got Hawkins,” Ryuunosuke said with a grin. “They were all drawn in by my overwhelming charm.”

Sabo stared at him, speechless.

Ryuunosuke’s confidence was off the charts—and somehow, it always felt legit. That was the crazy part.

“Alright, alright… help a little brother out, will you?” Sabo tried again. “You know how desperate things are for us right now. We need fighters—people who’ll stand up to the World Government without hesitation.”

He wasn’t giving up. Even if Ryuunosuke wouldn’t join, maybe he’d lend a hand.

“I’m not sure I can help in the way you’re hoping,” Ryuunosuke said, shrugging. “What you guys really need isn’t brute strength. It’s leadership—real management talent.”

Sabo paused, thinking it over.

That… actually made a lot of sense.

Right now, the Revolutionary Army was still in its infancy. Everything they were doing was uncharted territory. They were fumbling around in the dark, making mistakes, then correcting them. That kind of process was slow and painful.

They needed structure. Guidance. A system.

“Wait… Bro Ryuunosuke—don’t tell me… you’re actually gonna join us?” Sabo’s eyes lit up.

“I—no, no. Absolutely not,” Ryuunosuke waved him off, deadpan. “But I can give you something better.”

He leaned back and pulled out a thick notebook.

“I’ll give you a full action plan. A political system—one that’s been tested and improved over generations.”

Sabo’s hopeful excitement froze.

“Wait, what?”

He blinked as Ryuunosuke began scribbling furiously into the notebook.

One by one, he wrote down concepts and ideas from all the political textbooks he’d studied back in his past life—elementary school to university. Things like “Ideology and Morality,” “Political Science,” “Ethics and Law”… anything he could remember, he jotted down.

What he was giving Sabo wasn’t just some half-baked theory. It was a blueprint forged from centuries of blood, reform, and progress—straight out of his old world.

Compared to the One Piece world’s political mess? This was revolutionary.

“Bro Ryuunosuke… you came up with all this?” Sabo asked in disbelief, flipping through the pages.

The content stunned him.

It talked about abolishing aristocracy. Implementing democratic elections for rulers—chosen by the people. Systems of accountability and oversight. Even the king wouldn’t be exempt from checks and balances.

It was bold. Radical.

It shattered everything the current world structure was built on.

“This… this is too much,” Sabo muttered. “You’re talking about stripping nobles of their power. Rewriting the system. If we push for this, we’ll face even more resistance.”

He hesitated. The ideas were incredible. Revolutionary, even.

But the risks? Also massive.

As someone born a noble, Sabo understood how much power they held. To challenge them this directly… it would be war on another level.

Still, he couldn’t deny it—Ryuunosuke’s plan lit a fire in him.

“Yeah,” Ryuunosuke said casually, “but if you’re gonna change the world, you better be ready to shake it from the damn roots.”

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