As the Son of Mihawk in One Piece

The silence that followed Leon's bow was absolute.

Not a breath, not a whisper disturbed the air as Leon remained bent forward, blood from Arlong dripping from his face onto the cracked concrete of Arlong Park.

The villagers stood frozen, witnessing something none had expected - a Marine showing genuine remorse for their suffering.

"For what little that is worth," Leon concluded softly, finally straightening to his full height.

His golden eyes met the stunned faces of the villagers, who stared back with expressions ranging from shock to disbelief to the first fragile glimmers of hope.

Nojiko was the first to move. Tears streaming freely down her face, she stepped towards Leon. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around his massive frame, her head barely reaching his chest.

"Thank you," she whispered, voice breaking. "Thank you for seeing us."

Leon stiffened, momentarily caught off guard by the physical contact. His arms hung awkwardly at his sides before he slowly, carefully returned the embrace, one large hand patting her back gently.

"I'm glad I could help," he said softly as they separated, a rare, genuine smile briefly transforming his blood-spattered face.

Genzo approached next, his scarred features working through many emotions. He extended a weathered hand toward Leon. "What you did today... there are no words."

Leon clasped the offered hand firmly. "You deserved better from the Marines. From the World Government."

The elderly couple Leon had tried to protect earlier pushed through the crowd, the old woman clutching her husband's arm for support. Both bowed deeply to Leon, their frail bodies trembling with emotion.

"Our lives are yours," the old man said simply.

"No," Leon replied, his voice gentle but firm. "Your lives are your own again. That's all that matters."

The moment was shattered by the sound of Marine boots marching in formation. The crowd parted as Captain Nezumi stormed into Arlong Park, flanked by armed Marines. His rodent-like features contorted with rage as he surveyed the scene.

"What is the meaning of this?!" he demanded, voice rising to a squeak. "Who is responsible for this... this unauthorized action?"

Leon stepped forward, blood-spattered but composed. "I am."

Nezumi's eyes narrowed as he took in Leon's uniform. "A Marine? Identify yourself immediately!"

"Aurelius Leon, Marine recruit."

"A RECRUIT?!" Nezumi's voice reached new heights of indignation. "You dare to interfere with official Marine business? This area is under my jurisdiction! You have no authority here!"

Leon remained unmoved. "Your jurisdiction? You mean your corruption."

Nezumi's face paled slightly before his anger reasserted itself. "How dare you! I am a Captain of the Marines! You will be court-martialed for this insubordination! Men, arrest him!"

The Marines behind Nezumi shifted uncomfortably, none moving to follow the order. They glanced between their captain and the imposing figure of Leon, clearly uncertain.

"I said arrest him!" Nezumi shrieked, spittle flying from his lips.

Leon moved like lightning. Before anyone could react, he stood before Nezumi, towering over the corrupt captain. He - while controlling his strength - delivered a single open-handed slap that sent Nezumi staggering backward, blood spraying from his split lip.

"You struck a superior officer!" Nezumi wailed, hand pressed to his bleeding mouth. "That's - that's a capital offense!"

"Is it?" Leon replied calmly, reaching into his jacket. He produced a stack of papers, holding them up for all to see. "I wonder how the Marine Tribunal will weigh that against evidence of your arrangement with Arlong. The bribes you accepted. The falsified reports. The villages you sacrificed."

Nezumi's eyes widened in horror. "Where did you get those? That's - that's classified information!"

"From your own office," Leon stated flatly. "Security was remarkably poor. Almost as poor as your attempt to hide your corruption."

Nezumi's expression shifted from shock to calculation. "You don't understand how things work, recruit. There are systems in place, arrangements that benefit everyone. I can make this worth your while. Name your price."

"My price?" Leon's voice dropped dangerously low. "You think I can be bought like you?"

"Everyone has a price," Nezumi insisted, regaining some confidence. "And I have powerful friends. You're just a recruit. No one will believe-"

"He's Monkey D. Garp's grandson," Captain Jorgen's voice cut through the tension, clear.

The statement hit like a physical blow. Nezumi's face drained of all color, his mouth opening and closing without producing sound. The Marines behind him exchanged alarmed glances, some taking involuntary steps back.

"G-Garp?" Nezumi finally managed. "The Hero of the Marines? That Garp?"

Leon's expression revealed nothing, though internally he felt a surge of gratitude toward the merchant captain. He'd hoped to avoid using his grandfather's name, but couldn't deny the practical advantage it provided.

"Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp," Jorgen confirmed, stepping forward. "The Hero who captured Gold Roger himself."

Nezumi's demeanor transformed instantly from arrogance to terror. "There's been a misunderstanding," he stammered, backing away from Leon. "I was just about to arrest Arlong myself. These villagers will confirm I've been investigating his activities for months."

A ripple of angry muttering passed through the crowd. Genzo stepped forward, pointing an accusatory finger at Nezumi.

"You've been taking bribes from Arlong for eight years!" the scarred man shouted. "You watched our people die when they couldn't pay tribute!"

Other villagers joined in, years of suppressed rage finding voice as they hurled accusations at the corrupt Marine. Nezumi shrank back, looking desperately for escape.

"Enough," Leon said, his voice cutting through the cacophony. "Captain Nezumi, you are relieved of duty pending investigation. Your men will secure Arlong and his officers for transport."

He turned to the Marines who had accompanied Nezumi. "Unless any of you wish to join your captain in charges of corruption?"

The Marines straightened immediately, several shaking their heads. "No, sir!" one responded, stepping forward. "We'll handle the prisoners, sir!"

Leon nodded. "Secure them with sea stone cuffs if available, since those are stronger. The fishmen require medical attention - enough to keep them alive for proper justice, nothing more."

As the Marines moved to comply, Leon approached the transponder snail one of them carried. "I need to contact Loguetown headquarters."

The connection took several minutes to establish. When it finally connected, a female voice answered.

"Loguetown Marine Base, Master Chief Petty Officer Tashigi speaking."

"This is Marine Recruit Aurelius Leon reporting from Conomi Islands. I need to speak with Captain Smoker immediately regarding an emergency situation."

There was a pause before Tashigi responded, confusion evident in her voice. "Recruit? Did you say you're a recruit?"

"Yes. It's regarding the arrest of Saw-Tooth Arlong and the exposure of corruption under Captain Nezumi's command."

Another pause, longer this time. "Please hold for Captain Smoker."

Minutes passed before a gruff voice came through the transponder snail. "This is Smoker. Who is this and what's this about Arlong?"

"Marine Recruit Aurelius Leon, sir. I've apprehended Saw-Tooth Arlong and his officers at Arlong Park in the Conomi Islands. Captain Nezumi has been relieved of duty for corruption and collusion with Arlong's crew."

Silence followed, broken only by what sounded like cigar smoke being exhaled. "You expect me to believe a recruit took down a pirate with a twenty-million berry bounty?"

"Yes, sir. I have also collected evidence of Captain Nezumi's corruption, including falsified reports and records of bribes from Arlong."

"And you are...?"

'I just told you...' Thought Leon to himself, both to an extent amused and annoyed.

"Aurelius Leon, sir. Recently enlisted, awaiting formal assignment at Loguetown."

Another long pause, and the rustling of a couple of papers. "Any relation to Vice Admiral Garp?"

Leon hesitated only briefly. "He's my grandfather, sir."

A sound that might have been a chuckle or a groan came through the snail. "Of course he is. That explains a lot." Smoker's voice grew brisk. "I'll dispatch ships immediately for prisoner transport and to establish order. Maintain position and await reinforcements. Full report when they arrive."

"Yes, sir. There's one more thing, sir."

"What?"

"The people here have suffered under Arlong for eight years while the Marines failed them. They deserve better from us."

Another pause, shorter this time. "Understood, Recruit. Smoker out."

As Leon set down the transponder snail, he turned to find Nami watching him, her expression unreadable.

"Will they really come?" she asked, skepticism evident in her voice. "Or is this just more empty Marine promises?"

"They'll come," Leon replied simply.

"And Arlong? What happens to him?"

Leon studied her for a moment, noting the tattoo on her shoulder - Arlong's mark. "He'll face justice for his crimes. Impel Down, most likely."

Something flickered in Nami's eyes - not quite relief, not quite closure, but perhaps the first step toward both.

"Eight years," she murmured, more to herself than to Leon. "Eight years of saving, stealing, mapping... all for nothing."

"Not for nothing," Leon countered gently. "Your village is free. Your sister is safe. That's worth something."

Nami's eyes snapped up to his face, surprise clear in her expression. Then, slowly, she nodded.

----------------------

By evening, Cocoyashi Village had transformed. What began as stunned disbelief had evolved into the first genuine celebration in eight years.

Villagers from across the islands converged, bringing what food and drink they could spare. Bonfires were lit, music played on hastily retrieved instruments, and laughter - rusty from disuse but growing stronger by the hour - filled the air.

Leon sat somewhat apart from the main celebration, observing rather than participating. He'd washed away Arlong's blood and changed into clean clothes provided by the villagers, though he kept his Marine jacket on.

Nojiko approached, carrying two cups and a bottle. "You should join in," she said, settling beside him and pouring drinks. "This celebration is because of you."

"I'm not much for crowds," Leon admitted, accepting the offered cup.

"I noticed." Nojiko smiled. "But tonight isn't about what you're comfortable with. It's about what these people need - to see their savior, to thank him properly."

Leon took a measured sip. "I'm no savior."

"Tell that to them," she replied, gesturing toward the celebrating villagers.

They sat in silence for a while, watching the festivities. Children ran laughing through the village square, their carefree movements a stark contrast to the fearful scurrying of days before.

"Will you stay?" Nojiko asked eventually. "The Marines from Loguetown won't arrive until tomorrow at least."

"I gave my word to Captain Jorgen that I'd continue to Loguetown. The Dawn Trader sails tomorrow."

Before Nojiko could respond, Nami joined them, settling on Leon's other side. She'd been moving through the celebration with a strange expression - as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing.

"Everyone keeps talking about you," she said to Leon without preamble. "The golden-eyed Marine who defeated Arlong with his bare hands. Who brought light after dark times. You'll be a legend in these islands."

"Legends are overrated," Leon replied. "Reality is what matters."

"And what's your reality?" Nami asked, studying him intently. "What makes a Marine recruit take on a fishman pirate crew alone?"

Leon considered his answer carefully. "Justice isn't just a word on a coat. It's action when action is needed."

"Most Marines I've met don't share that view," Nami said bitterly.

"Then you've met the wrong Marines."

Genzo approached with a fresh bottle and additional cups. "Mind if I join you? Getting a bit loud over there for an old man like me."

Leon nodded, making room as Genzo settled heavily beside them.

"To freedom," the scarred man proposed, raising his cup after pouring for everyone.

They drank in silence, the weight of the toast hanging in the air between them.

"Have you fought many pirates before Arlong?" Genzo asked eventually.

"A few," Leon answered. "Though none quite like him."

"Pirates," Nami muttered, the word itself seeming to taste bitter on her tongue.

"My older brother is a pirate," Leon said suddenly, surprising even himself with the admission, but internally knowing its necessary - he can't have Nami hate pirates. She'd never join Luffy.

All three of his companions stared at him in shock. Nami's expression hardened instantly, her fingers tightening around her cup.

"You're joking," she said flatly.

"I'm not. And my younger brother plans to become one as well, when he's old enough."

Silence fell over their small group. Nearby celebrations continued unabated.

"How can you be a Marine when your brothers are pirates?" Nojiko finally asked.

"Because justice isn't about uniforms or flags," Leon replied, his golden eyes reflecting the distant firelight. "It's about choices. Actions. My brothers seek freedom and adventure, not conquest or cruelty."

"All pirates are cruel," Nami stated with absolute conviction. "They take what they want and destroy what they can't take."

"Some do," Leon acknowledged. "Just as some Marines take bribes and look the other way while villages suffer. People aren't defined by their titles but by their actions."

"That's... surprisingly philosophical for someone who just beat a fishman senseless with his own jaw," Genzo observed dryly.

A hint of a smile touched Leon's lips. "Violence and philosophy aren't mutually exclusive."

"Your brothers," Nami pressed, clearly unable to let the subject drop. "You really believe they're... different?"

"I know they are. My older brother would die before harming an innocent. And my younger brother..." Leon's expression softened slightly. "He sees the good in everyone. Sometimes foolishly so."

"And yet you became a Marine while they became pirates," Nojiko mused. "Different paths in the same family."

"Different paths, same ocean," Leon agreed. "We all find our own way."

The conversation expanded as other villagers joined them, drawn by curiosity about their savior.

Leon found himself explaining his views on justice to an increasingly large audience, his naturally reserved nature clashing with their desire to know him better.

Throughout the night, the celebration continued around them, villagers dancing, singing, and drinking away eight years of suppressed emotions.

Dawn was breaking by the time the last revelers sought their beds, exhausted but free for the first time in nearly a decade.

Despite the late celebration, Leon rose with the sun, beginning his training routine in a clearing near the village.

He moved through sword forms with a borrowed blade, his massive frame displaying grace as he executed each movement.

Villagers who woke early watched from a distance, whispering among themselves about the young Marine who had changed their lives overnight.

By mid-morning, he was helping repair damage in the village, his strength allowing him to lift beams that would require several men.

Captain Jorgen approached as Leon set a repaired door into place. "We sail with the afternoon tide," the merchant captain reminded him. "The men are eager to reach Loguetown."

Leon nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'll be ready. Just want to ensure a proper transition when Smoker's men arrive."

As if summoned by his words, Marine vessels appeared on the horizon around noon. They approached with caution, clearly prepared for potential conflict. Leon met them at the harbor, his imposing figure easily recognizable in his Marine uniform.

"Lieutenant Commander Ripper," the officer in charge introduced himself with a salute. "Captain Smoker sends his regards and these." He handed over a stack of official documents. "Temporary field authority until you reach Loguetown."

Leon accepted the papers with a nod. "Arlong and his officers are secured at Arlong Park. Captain Nezumi and his corrupt subordinates are being held separately."

"We'll handle the transfers," Ripper assured him. "Captain Smoker is... eager to meet you."

"I imagine he is," Leon replied dryly.

The transition of authority proceeded smoothly. Villagers watched with mixed emotions as Marine presence increased, their experiences making trust difficult despite Leon's assurances.

"These Marines answer directly to Captain Smoker," he explained to Genzo and other village leaders. "He has a reputation for genuine justice. You won't be abandoned again."

-------------------------

By late afternoon, preparations for departure were complete. Villagers gathered at the harbor to bid farewell to the man who had freed them. Genzo stepped forward, presenting Leon with a small ceremonial sword.

"It's not much," the scarred man apologized. "But we wanted you to have something to remember us by."

Leon accepted the gift with genuine appreciation. "Thank you. I'll treasure it."

Nojiko approached next, offering a basket of tangerines. "From our grove," she explained. "They were Bellemere's pride. Our mother," she added. "She died protecting us from Arlong when he first came."

"Then I'm honored," Leon said, accepting the basket carefully.

Nami was the last to approach, her expression still conflicted. "I still don't know what to make of you," she admitted. "A Marine with pirate brothers who actually delivers justice."

"This world isn't easy," Leon replied. "We all have to find our own path through it."

Something shifted in Nami's expression. "Maybe," she conceded. "Thank you. For everything."

The Dawn Trader's departure was marked by cheers from the assembled villagers. Captain Jorgen stood proudly at the helm, his attitude toward Leon transformed from reluctant acceptance to genuine respect.

Leon stood at the rail, watching Cocoyashi Village recede into the distance. Satisfaction filled his face.

"Two days' sail," Jorgen commented, joining him at the rail. "Fair winds should get us there quickly."

"Good," Leon nodded. "The sooner I can make my report in person, the better."

"About that," the captain said, somewhat hesitantly. "The photographer - he sent his pictures to the major papers via News Coo this morning. The whole world will know what happened here before we reach Loguetown."

Leon's expression remained neutral, though internally he was very much surprised. He actually was thinking on how to go about this, in case the Marines wanted to cover it up. "What's done is done."

As night fell over the East Blue, Leon remained at the bow, golden eyes fixed on the horizon. The stars above mirrored in the calm water below, creating the illusion of sailing through the cosmos itself.

"Loguetown," he murmured to himself. "Where the Grand Line begins... and where everything changes."

----------------------------

Across the world, News Coos delivered their papers with fast - like always.

In Foosha Village on Dawn Island, Makino unfolded the morning paper only to gasp at the front-page image - Leon standing victorious over a defeated Arlong, blood-spattered but unbowed.

"Mayor!" she called, rushing to show Woop Slap. "Look!"

The elderly mayor adjusted his glasses, eyes widening as he read the headline: "GARP'S GRANDSON ENDS ARLONG'S REIGN OF TERROR."

------------------------

In the mountain bandits' hideout, chaos erupted as Luffy bounced around the room, newspaper clutched in his rubbery hands.

"LOOK DADAN! IT'S LEON! HE BEAT UP A SHARK GUY!" Luffy shouted excitedly, thrusting the paper into the bandit leader's face.

"I can see that, you noisy brat!" Dadan snapped, though her eyes lingered on the image longer than necessary. Later, when no one was looking, she carefully cut out the article and tucked it away.

---------------------

In Marine Headquarters, Vice Admiral Garp's booming laughter echoed through corridors, causing junior officers to scatter in alarm.

"BWAHAHA! THAT'S MY GRANDSON!" he bellowed, slapping a table hard enough to crack the wood. "TAKING DOWN A TWENTY MILLION BOUNTY AS A RECRUIT! HE'LL BE A GREAT MARINE IN NO TIME!"

Nearby, Fleet Admiral Sengoku pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache already forming. "Another problem child from your family, Garp? As if we didn't have enough to worry about... At least this one isn't a pirate like the other one..."

-------------------------

Somewhere on the Grand Line aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard sat with his commanders as they read the news. Ace jumped up excitedly, brandishing the paper.

"That's my little brother!" he declared proudly to his crewmates. "I told you he was strong!"

Whitebeard raised an eyebrow with interest. "Gurararara! So your brother chose the Marine path after all. Interesting family you have, Ace."

"The best family in the world!" Ace grinned, genuinely proud.

------------------------

On a remote island far from prying eyes, Dracula Mihawk and Red-Haired Shanks sat drinking together, an unusual moment of peace between rivals.

Shanks unfolded the newspaper, taking a casual swig from his bottle. He read it for a long bit till he squinted his eyes, until his eyes suddenly bulged as he thought of something, sake spraying from his mouth in shock.

He looked at the paper, then at Mihawk, then back at the paper. The cycle repeated several times, his expression growing more comically exaggerated with each comparison.

"EEEHHHHH?!" Shanks finally exploded, pointing frantically between Mihawk and the photo. "THIS KID IS- YOU'RE- HE HAS YOUR EYES!" The Emperor finally managed.

Mihawk's typically stoic expression softened almost imperceptibly as he gazed at his son's image. He said nothing, but the slight upturn of his lips spoke volumes.

Shanks' crew gathered around in confusion as their captain continued his meltdown, demanding explanations that Mihawk had no intention of providing.

And aboard the Dawn Trader, unaware of the sensation he was causing across the world, Aurelius Leon sailed toward his future,eyes fixed on the horizon where Loguetown - and the future - awaited.

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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter. 

Do tell me how you found it.

So, Shanks finally found out Leon is Mihawk's son - he at first didn't know since Leon made sure not to get down the mountain and meet him, cause then Shanks still had Imu's Mark and Leon was afraid of being sensed by Imu through him.

Well, I hope to see you all later,

Bye!)