One Piece pirates salty life

"Colonel!"

A young base messenger burst into Smoker's office, panic evident in his voice and eyes. The sudden intrusion startled the usually calm marine officer.

"This is terrible, Colonel! We've just received reports that Buggy the Clown and his gang are causing chaos at the execution square!"

Smoker's expression tightened immediately. The messenger hurried on, "And that's not all! On the execution platform, the Straw Hat boy—who was just wanted on the marine bulletin—has appeared!"

Smoker's sharp eyes narrowed, weighing the situation carefully. The order he had received was clear: not to apprehend them outright, but to disperse and defeat their forces. However, as a marine loyal to justice, he knew the Straw Hat Crew had somehow slipped through and were now in the dangerous waters of the Grand Line.

He gritted his teeth in frustration. I can't just let them roam freely.

Without hesitation, he barked an order to the herald standing nearby, "Summon the elite troops to assemble immediately at the port. At the same time, have the secondary troops discreetly surround the execution square from the surrounding streets."

He smoothly slipped on his signature white coat as he continued, voice firm and authoritative, "Everyone else, prepare to stand by at the firing range near the square. Stay alert and ready for any command. Over."

The herald saluted briskly and was about to dash off when Smoker suddenly added, "Wait—where is Tashigi?"

"Report says Sergeant Tashigi is nearby, not far from the square," the herald answered promptly.

Smoker nodded, signaling the herald to leave. Then he strapped on his weapon, readying himself to head directly toward the tense scene.

This battle won't be like the usual skirmishes, he thought. I feel uneasy leaving Tashigi behind—her presence keeps me grounded.

---

Meanwhile, a short distance away, Leo stopped abruptly as a man cloaked in shadow appeared before him. The air thickened, and a strong gust of wind swept around them, as if nature itself acknowledged the gravity of their meeting.

"The inherited will... the dreams of mankind... the unstoppable tides of time," the cloaked man began with a solemn tone. "These are forces that no one can restrain. As long as humanity continues to seek freedom, these waves will never cease to rise—Pirate King Roger knew this well."

Leo's eyes flicked to the man, who wore a large cross emblazoned across his forehead—a striking and unusual mark.

The man's voice softened as he continued, "Ah, forgive me, I get carried away sometimes. It's a habit of mine to talk to myself."

Leo gave a small smile, sensing an opportunity for some banter. "Thank you for the compliment, uncle. You're quite handsome, even without eyebrows! That mark on your face—did your father punish you with a slipper for being disobedient as a child?"

The man's face twisted into a grimace, the wind suddenly falling silent, the awkwardness hanging thick between them.

"Little guy, didn't your parents teach you to keep your sharp tongue in check?" the man growled, teeth clenched.

Leo smirked, unbothered. "Uncle, don't you think that people who talk to themselves are just as 'low' as those with sharp tongues?"

The playful exchange devolved into silence. Originally, the man—named Dorag—had only come to verify the rumors about Leo's allegiance. To Dorag, it was inconceivable that a world-class fighter would join a fledgling pirate crew.

This kid's sharper than I expected, Dorag thought, feeling uncertain about his mission.

The tension between them thickened as time dragged on.

Breaking the silence, Leo spoke again, smiling. "Don't worry, uncle. I'm not as complicated as you think. And even if I am, you won't be able to stop me."

Their gazes locked, and in an instant, a terrifying aura exploded from both of them. The concentrated energies clashed violently within a five-meter radius, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.

Unable to gain the upper hand, their auras shot upwards, tearing a large hole in the thick, stormy clouds above. Through the opening, sunlight streamed down, illuminating the two combatants.

Dorag fell silent, recognizing the strength before him.

"Let's call it a day, uncle. We can spar again when time permits. My captain awaits," Leo said calmly, turning away.

Without hesitation, he headed toward the docked Merry Go, the ship that carried his crew and dreams.

---

Back at the ship, Luffy lingered, seemingly detached from the tense encounter between Leo and Dorag.

Since Dragon had arrived, Luffy felt no urgency to interfere in the ongoing affairs between these powerful figures.

Dorag, too, chose not to pursue Leo further. The brief skirmish had revealed his weakness against the young man—and his sincerity.

---

Suddenly, the skies darkened.

Snap!

A booming thunderclap echoed as heavy rain began to pour, each raindrop the size of a bean, driven by fierce winds. The storm battered Luffy and his group as they ran, the pelting rain striking their cheeks with a sharp crackling sound.

Nami, ever alert, immediately sensed something amiss.

"This storm… it's too sudden," she murmured, eyes narrowing.

Her instincts screamed that this was no ordinary weather—it was almost certainly man-made.

She had just manipulated a lightning strike herself, and the ease with which the bolt seemed to seek Luffy was unsettling.

Is someone hiding nearby, orchestrating this chaos?

There was no time to dwell on the thought.

"We have to move quickly," Nami declared. "I'm going back to the ship. Usopp alone can't manage the Merry in a storm like this."

Her voice was firm, commanding respect.

"Everyone else, hurry! We have to set sail immediately before this storm worsens!"

Before anyone could respond, Nami darted through the rain like a flash of wind, disappearing swiftly toward the ship.

---

With Nami gone, the remaining three—Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro—stood face-to-face with Smoker and Tashigi, ready for battle just like in the original story.

The only difference now was that Luffy and Sanji fought together in tandem, their teamwork sharper than ever.

Leo's unconventional "pervert training" plan had paid off—Sanji was no longer just a fighter; he was a formidable ally.

Meanwhile, Zoro and Tashigi engaged in a more lighthearted duel. Zoro, fully recovered, easily overwhelmed Tashigi, turning their sparring match into a kind of informal lesson.

Yet, no matter how strong Zoro became, he still couldn't gain the upper hand against Tashigi's familiar fighting style—and her personality remained eerily reminiscent of someone dear to him.

---

Watching from the shadows, Dorag waited patiently for the right moment to strike.

That moment came swiftly.

Luffy, frustrated and desperate, delivered a powerful punch to Sanji's forehead, knocking him to the ground.

Seizing the opening, Smoker pinned Luffy firmly, his other hand reaching for his weapon.

Dorag took this chance to rush forward decisively, ready to attack.

But just as he moved in, Luffy and Sanji suddenly appeared in the distance—safe and unscathed.

Further back, Leo stood on the ship's deck, smiling and nodding approvingly.

He had decided to return to aid the crew and allow Luffy to catch a glimpse of Dragon, his father—something he knew might not happen again for a long time.

Their eyes briefly met across the distance before quickly looking away.

The strange feeling Luffy experienced was difficult to explain.

Why does this feel so familiar?

Before Luffy could ponder further, Sanji pulled him up and urged him to run.

With their opponent momentarily thwarted, retreat was the only sensible choice.

As Luffy and the others fled, Dorag suppressed his awkwardness and muttered his signature line:

"No reason can stop a man from running to the sea!"

Øóffer going on for diamond tier

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