One Piece: Rising to Power as a Warlord of the Sea

"Yo, hello there, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. This is Monkey D. Natsu!" A cheerful voice rang out through the transponder snail as Natsu spoke, his tone brimming with satisfaction. After all, securing a bounty worth over 4 billion Berries was a reason to be in high spirits.

Indeed, there's no denying the age-old saying: to get rich quick, one must take bold risks. For a pirate like Natsu, the most lucrative targets were always the big fish. This experience had only reinforced his resolve to keep a close eye on bounty posters.

"Natsu?! You rascal! Why do you have access to the Navy's specialized transponder snails? Don't you dare do anything foolish!" Sengoku's voice turned cold, his mood souring instantly. Pirates—regardless of their background or rank—were a thorn in his side, and his strict adherence to absolute justice only heightened his disdain for their existence.

"Whoa there, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, let's not be so hostile. I've done you Navy folks a big favor," Natsu replied, unfazed by the admonishment. His tone carried a hint of mischief, but his true focus lay elsewhere: ensuring the Navy would make good on the hefty bounty for his latest catch.

"A favor? From you? Don't make me laugh!" Sengoku barked, his skepticism plain.

"Ah, but you're well aware of the Navy's warship tailing my Smile," Natsu countered, his voice confident. "Surely you're not ignorant of that, are you?"

"Hmph. And what of it?" Sengoku retorted dismissively.

"Well, as the Navy's sincere ally—being one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—I thought I'd lend a hand with that troublesome 'legendary pirate' you mentioned in the last meeting. Guess what? I caught him. How's that for a favor, Sengoku?"

"You caught who?" Sengoku demanded, his disbelief palpable. "You don't mean—"

"That's right: the Golden Lion, Shiki." Natsu's declaration landed like a thunderclap.

For a moment, Sengoku was silent, his disbelief battling with the evidence laid before him. "Impossible," he finally muttered. "You expect me to believe you defeated Shiki? The man is one of the last titans of the Roger era—on par with Whitebeard himself."

Unperturbed, Natsu simply called out, "Kumo, bring the Golden Lion over."

When Kumo dragged a battered Shiki into view, the reactions were immediate. The sight of the legendary pirate struck terror into the hearts of the Navy soldiers on the warship.

"Shiki the Golden Lion?! Is that really him?"

"Unbelievable! That's one of the great pirates of legend! Why does he look so... pathetic?"

"Didn't those falling islands earlier prove his defeat? It must be true if Natsu captured him."

The murmurs and exclamations swelled among the sailors as they stared in awe and disbelief.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Rear Admiral Onigumo confirmed, his voice carrying both awe and irritation. "It really is Shiki."

The image of Natsu standing nonchalantly with the transponder snail pushed Onigumo's patience to its limit. "This scoundrel really sees us as nothing more than tools," he muttered, shooting a venomous glare at the pirate.

Far away in Marineford, Sengoku clenched his fists. "So, what do you want, Natsu?" he asked, already dreading the response.

"Isn't it obvious? I want the bounty. Shiki's wanted poster puts him at 4.8 billion Berries. How about we settle this transaction now?" Natsu's grin was almost audible as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"Berries?! You pirates are all the same," Sengoku spat, veins throbbing on his forehead. "As a Warlord of the Sea, assisting the Navy is your duty. Don't expect a single Berry."

"Oh, really?" Natsu feigned disappointment. "Well, what a shame. Guess I was only joking about capturing Shiki. Kumo, let's release him, shall we?"

"Release him?!" Sengoku's voice thundered through the transponder snail. "You can't be serious!"

"Dead serious," Natsu replied with a shrug. "My grandfather always said: never accept something for nothing. Everything has a price."

"Garp!" Sengoku growled, his voice laced with frustration. "This is your grandson's doing!"

"Don't drag me into this, Sengoku!" Garp shot back, his expression one of confusion and rising irritation as he nibbled on a stolen doughnut.

Ultimately, Sengoku relented. "Fine. You'll get your bounty. But on one condition: you're responsible for escorting Shiki to Impel Down. Only once he's delivered will you be paid."

Three days later, news of the Golden Lion's capture spread like wildfire across the seas. The Smile Pirates were thrust into the global spotlight, their reputation soaring to new heights. Natsu, of course, had ensured this outcome by having his first mate record the battle on Skypiea using a den den mushi. Fame and fortune were his dual objectives, and this time he aimed for both.

In the New World, aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard Edward Newgate chuckled as he read the headlines. "Shiki, defeated? Gurararara! Monkey D. Natsu, eh? Quite the interesting brat. Too bad he's joined the Warlords. He could've been one of my sons."

Elsewhere, on Whole Cake Island, Big Mom's laughter filled the air. "Shiki, defeated by a brat like that? How pitiful. I remember when that fool strutted about on Rocks' ship. To think he'd fall so low…"

Big Mom paused, her expression momentarily thoughtful. "Natsu… why does that name feel familiar?" She shook her head. "No matter. Cake awaits!"

To be continued…

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