Pirates: Seeing My Proficiency, I Became a Legend

Ten minutes later, Robin walked out of the cabin with Nami on her back.

Looking at Nami, who had fallen into a deep sleep, Robin furrowed her brows slightly. "Mr. Dongze, it was just two black-market merchants. Why did you push her into such a cruel choice?"

Inside the cabin, Dongze had exposed Nami's secret dealings. She had been blackmailed by the two traders, forced into working with them, and, in a desperate attempt to protect her village, had considered betraying her closest allies. The two merchants, feeling invincible under the protection of their powerful backer, had even boasted about their connection to none other than Heavenly Yaksha—Donquixote Doflamingo.

The name alone sent a chill through the room. As one of the Shichibukai, the most notorious underworld broker known as Joker, Doflamingo controlled a massive black-market trade network that spanned the world. Weapons, Smiles, slaves—his influence was terrifying. It was no surprise that these two merchants had been acting so brazenly.

Dongze, however, knew this was exactly why the pirates in East Blue had hesitated to act recklessly. They feared retaliation from Doflamingo's underground syndicate.

At this time, Doflamingo had already secured his seat among the Shichibukai, thanks to his connections and Celestial Gold dealings. His name carried weight, and even the World Government turned a blind eye to his actions. The merchants' threats had pushed Nami to the edge—what could an ordinary girl do against such an overwhelming force?

A cruel dilemma—kill or be killed.

And in the end, Dongze's cold words—"Kill them, and your family will finally be safe."—became the last straw.

Nami made her choice.

Robin, however, saw through Dongze's calculated manipulation. If he hadn't exposed Nami's involvement, she might never have faced such a grim decision. That was why Robin questioned him now.

"She's stronger than she thinks," Dongze murmured, glancing at the unconscious Nami.

His mind, however, was already on the bigger picture. He did not have the luxury of time—there were greater forces at play. Nico Robin's "father," the one man the World Government feared, was still out there. The looming threat of Monkey D. Dragon reminded Dongze that he needed to become stronger, fast.

But revolutions didn't happen overnight. The liberation of the mind was a slow, deliberate process.

For now, he could only plant the seeds.

The Arlong Pirates were a blight on East Blue, terrorizing Cocoyasi Village for a decade. As former slaves of the Celestial Dragons, their hatred for humans had twisted into blind racism. But instead of striking back at the World Nobles, they took out their rage on defenseless villagers.

The Celestial Dragons believed themselves divine, untouchable by mere mortals. Even a single strike against them could summon an Admiral.

But what about the Fish-Men? They had been broken by slavery, yet they turned their cruelty on East Blue instead of their true oppressors. Arlong forced an entire village to kneel, extorting them for ten long years. If Nami hadn't sparked the will to fight in the villagers, they might have remained slaves until their deaths.

Dongze scoffed at such cowardice.

Just like in this so-called "modern society"—where privilege is inherited, not earned. Where those at the top dictate who is superior and who is not. Where the powerful rewrite history while the weak remain shackled.

But history told a different story.

The world had seen true kings—men who carved their own legends.

The world had seen true warriors—men who fought until their last breath.

The world had seen true conquerors—men who dared to claim the impossible.

Even among the marines, there were giants. Garp, the Hero of the Marines, had once cornered the Pirate King himself. Admiral Sengoku, known as the Buddha, wielded power few could match. And now, a new generation was rising—Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji.

And yet, the common people still bowed. Still feared. Still submitted.

Dongze's goal was to change that.

Nami wasn't just one girl in a small village—she was a spark. A symbol. A flame that, if nurtured, could one day burn down the old system.

That was why he had done what he did.

When Robin returned to the ship, Dongze raised his sword.

With a single swing, a nearly 100-meter-long slash ripped through the air. The pirate ship split cleanly in half.

The once-mighty vessel sank beneath the waves.

Robin's eyes widened slightly. Though she was no swordsman, she had read enough to understand the art of the blade. Slashing techniques were an extension of a swordsman's will. They compensated for the close-combat limitations of swordplay, yet mastering them was a lifelong challenge.

Even Zoro, after years of battles, had only just begun to grasp its full potential—his feat of cutting a meteorite in two stood as proof.

But Dongze…

Robin had witnessed his power firsthand only days ago, when he cleaved into the depths of the ocean itself to strike down a Sea King.

And now, his slashes were nearly ten times larger.

Robin narrowed her eyes. Just how strong is he really?

Meanwhile, in the Red Line's Marine Headquarters—Marinford—Admiral Aokiji received an urgent call.

A voice on the other end whispered, "Sir Aokiji… she's on the move."

"…Yeah~~" Aokiji sighed.

An hour later, Aokiji boarded a warship bound for East Blue.

At the same time, in Windmill Village, Garp was in the middle of mercilessly pounding Luffy when his Den Den Mushi rang.

"Lieutenant General Garp, sir!"

It was a voice he recognized—Harry, the marine stationed in Loguetown.

Each Admiral had their own jurisdiction. Akainu led operations in the New World. Kizaru was the mobile force, responding where needed. Aokiji, meanwhile, handled all matters across the Four Blues.

Smoker's stationing in Loguetown made perfect sense—he was Aokiji's direct subordinate. But before Aokiji had risen to Admiral, Garp himself had been responsible for maintaining order in the Four Seas.

This marine, Harry, had served under Garp for over a decade.

And now, his call carried urgency.

"Sir, I've found a remarkable swordsman in East Blue…"

"Oh?" Garp chuckled, rubbing his nose.

"A swordsman from East Blue? Ha! What a joke!"

"The greatest swordsman ever—Dracule Mihawk—came from here, didn't he?"

"Alright, alright. Tell me about him!"

Garp grinned, completely unaware that history was already in motion.

The storm was coming.