One Piece: Marine's Justice

Paradise, the First Half of the Grand Line.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Night had fallen, yet Fleet Admiral Kong was still hard at work in his office, buried in a mountain of documents.

The Reverie was drawing near, and recent weeks had brought a disturbing increase in reports of pirates attempting to kidnap kings from member nations. Though none had succeeded so far, the constant threat weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Compounding the pressure, the Navy had scaled back all military operations, redirecting its full strength to ensure the Reverie's security. This vacuum emboldened pirates across the seas. Even the monsters of the New World were growing restless, resulting in several recent clashes.

But what truly worried Kong was the Roberts Legion. Neither the Navy's Intelligence Division nor the World Government's CP agencies had located their exact whereabouts.

Knock knock knock—

Suddenly, a rapid knock interrupted the silence. The door burst open, and Jonathan rushed in, his expression alarmed.

Kong frowned. What could possibly prompt such urgency at this hour?

A sinking feeling gripped him as he asked, "What happened?"

"Fleet Admiral Kong, it's serious!" Jonathan panted. "Something's happened in the Kingdom of Flevance, something huge!"

"What?!" Kong stood up abruptly, eyes wide. "I thought Zephyr's warship had already arrived there today!"

"It has. But Zephyr-sensei and Amphitrite Cross have stormed the royal palace. They killed several members of the royal family!"

Jonathan's face was a mixture of shock and fury as he continued, "They say the royal family tried to poison Zephyr-sensei during tonight's banquet, but he saw through it, and flew into a rage. That's what triggered the attack."

Kong's face twisted in shock and fury. "What did you say?! The Navy's Chief Instructor attacked a World Government member nation's royal palace?! And the royals tried to poison a high-ranking officer of the Navy?! What the hell is going on?!"

...

A few hours earlier.

North Blue, Kingdom of Flevance.

Under the guidance of palace officials, Zephyr and Cross stepped into the grand, gilded royal hall. The space glittered with wealth, handsome attendants, beautiful maids flitting about, and burly guards standing vigilant.

"Your Majesty," Zephyr and Cross offered polite bows. "It's an honor."

Atop the throne stood a rotund man clad in white robes embroidered with gold and silver patterns, a golden crown perched atop his head. He raised a jovial hand in greeting.

"No need for such formality! Welcome, Zephyr-sama!"

This man was Aryel Fuku XIII, the thirteenth king of the Kingdom of Flevance.

Seated beside him was a graceful woman in a fitted white dress with green accents, the current queen, Bettinas. Her beauty had not faded with time.

Below the dais stood the rest of the royal family: princes, princesses, ministers, and generals, the entire upper echelon of Flevance gathered to receive their guests.

Zephyr gestured to the young man beside him. "This is my student, the most outstanding cadet of the Marine Academy, and also the Count of the Tobias Kingdom in North Blue: Amphitrite Cross."

Aryel XIII's eyes lit up. "Ah, I hadn't realized Count Cross hailed from North Blue as well! What a delightful surprise."

"Your Majesty," Cross said warmly, completely at ease, "this is my first time in the Kingdom of Flevance. Everything here is breathtaking. Truly, Your Majesty governs with extraordinary wisdom."

Flattery rolled off his tongue effortlessly, causing Aryel XIII's smile to stretch from ear to ear.

"Haha! You flatter me, Count Cross. Please, be seated! You must try the finest delicacies Flevance has to offer!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zephyr and Cross responded with perfect etiquette.

As the saying goes: a smiling face earns no slap.

Even if they'd have loved nothing more than to crush the king's skulls, their positions demanded restraint, action without provocation was not an option.

They took seats to the right side of the hall, beside several Flevance ministers and generals. Across from them sat Aryel XIII, Queen Bettinas, and the royal children, all direct blood relations.

With the guests seated, Aryel XIII clapped his hands. "Let the feast begin!"

At once, servants and maids streamed in carrying gleaming silver trays. They placed radiant white porcelain dishes before each guest, filling the air with the mouthwatering aroma of expertly prepared cuisine.

Dishes included plump North Blue Fat-Tail Fish, seared Fire-Spiced Chicken, sweetmeat stew, cheese-baked snails, and sugar shrimp, an opulent display of culinary pride.

Clink, clink, clink—

When all had been served, Aryel XIII tapped his crystal glass with a spoon, drawing everyone's attention. He raised his goblet with a beaming smile.

"Let us toast to the arrival of Zephyr-dono and Count Cross!"

The hall echoed with the sound of raised glasses and polite cheers as everyone drank in unison.

"Exquisite," Cross remarked after taking a sip of the ruby-red wine. "The aroma of the grapes blends perfectly with the oak. If I'm not mistaken, this is Tutar V Vintage, is it not?"

Aryel XIII's laugh boomed. "Hahaha! Count Cross, your knowledge of wine is impressive! You're absolutely right, it's Tutar V. I bought thirty-six bottles at an auction ten years ago. This vintage is one of my prized cellar treasures!"

Zephyr smacked his lips. "A fine red, no doubt. But I personally prefer white wine, a fine sherry is my favorite. This might be wasted on me."

"Only the best for our most honored guests," Aryel XIII replied graciously. "But I apologize, had I known of your preferences, I would have served our finest sherry instead. Next time, I promise to be better prepared."

"No need for apologies, Your Majesty," Zephyr said, his tone suddenly serious. "But I must ask, are these utensils made of amber lead? And the sweet seasoning... was it crafted from amber lead as well?"

The king blinked in confusion, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.

"Why, of course. Only the finest amber lead utensils and seasonings are used when entertaining esteemed guests. It's a Flevance tradition."

"Oh? Then I must say, Zephyr-sensei and I are truly honored," Cross said with a pointed smile. "But... why do I see that Your Majesty, Her Highness the Queen, and the princes and princesses are all using silver utensils instead? Do the royal family not care for amber lead cutlery? Or... perhaps they prefer their meals without amber lead seasoning?"

Aryel XIII froze.

He hadn't expected them to notice the difference, or, worse, deduce the absence of amber lead in their own meals.

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