The Strongest Lunarian in One Piece

"Captain Naguri—"

"Your bounty has increased to 468 million berries!"

"As expected of our captain! That's amazing!"

"Of course!" The young, bold-looking captain—his head wrapped in a bandage—beamed with pride. "I am Iron Hammer Naguri! This bounty is the real deal, earned by my own strength. It's not like those inflated rewards from the Fallen Angel Pirates!"

…

New World, First Half – Lutades Island

A pirate ship floated on the waters near the island, its mast displaying the flag of the Naguri Pirates: two crossed iron hammers behind a clenched fist. Over the past few years, this crew had built a formidable reputation.

Along the coast, a crowd of pirates gathered to cheer for their captain, admiring the new bounty poster of "Iron Hammer" Naguri.

"Hehehe…" Naguri basked in their praise, his chest puffed out proudly.

"If only I had gone head-to-head with a Marine Admiral, my bounty would've easily surpassed a billion berries!"

"Captain—"

A shout from the lookout at the ship's masthead cut through the cheers.

"Something's approaching on the horizon! It's the Marines!"

"The Marines?"

"Perfect timing!"

"Yeah! If we take them out, our bounties will skyrocket!"

"And don't forget, we can cash in their heads at the Hell Trading Company!"

Rather than fear, the pirates' eyes gleamed with excitement, brimming with battlelust. In recent years, they'd learned it was often more profitable to kill Marine officers than to rob merchant ships. After all, the Hell Trading Company—overseen by the Fallen Angel Pirates—paid hefty sums for captured Marine heads.

However, targeting the Hell Trading Company's own vessels was out of the question. Those ships flew the Fallen Angel flag, and any crew that dared attack them was swiftly annihilated.

Though bold, the Naguri Pirates weren't fools. They understood which targets were off-limits, and that caution was part of why they'd managed to survive and thrive in the New World.

"Hey, that warship looks pretty big…" Naguri licked his lips, watching the dark speck on the horizon grow larger.

"Is it a Vice Admiral's ship? That's a 500-million-berry head, boys!"

"No! Wait—it's…" The lookout's voice trembled.

"It's Steel Bone Kong's warship!"

"What!?"

"A Marine Admiral!?"

"That's… a 3-billion-berry bounty!"

"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Captain Naguri, are we taking him on?"

The pirates exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale with mingled fear and greed. All eyes turned to Naguri, waiting for his decision.

"An Admiral…? Well, well…" Naguri began to sweat but forced a confident grin. "Perfect timing!"

Deep down, he regretted his earlier boast. He couldn't back down now without losing face.

"Wait, Captain…" the lookout interjected again, his voice urgent.

"They're raising a negotiation flag!"

"Negotiation?" Naguri's eyes widened. Marines negotiating with pirates was unheard of unless hostages were involved.

"Let's see what these Marines want first," he said cautiously, masking his relief.

Before long, a Marine warship with a gorilla figurehead approached the coast. Steel Bone Kong—white-haired and visibly aged, having lost twenty years of his life to Charlotte Linlin's abilities—came ashore with two Marines, indicating no hostility.

"What a rare visitor…" Naguri, gripping his long-handled iron hammer, watched Kong warily. "To what do I owe the honor of a Marine Admiral seeking out a pirate like me?"

"Iron Hammer Naguri," Kong said calmly, tossing a letter to Naguri. "This is an invitation from the World Government."

"Huh?" Naguri instinctively caught the envelope. Opening it, he froze in surprise.

"The Shichibukai? The World Government wants me to join them?"

"You're no fool," Kong said, his voice steady. "You must understand the current dynamics of the New World."

"With the Rocks Pirates and the Fallen Angel Pirates dominating these seas, there's no room for a third power to rise. The New World has been carved between those two groups, and neither will tolerate another rival."

Kong's words landed heavily:

"You have only three possible paths ahead:

1. Capture. You and your crew will be arrested by the Marines and spend the rest of your days in the dark depths of Impel Down.

2. Submission. You join either the Rocks Pirates or the Fallen Angel Pirates, becoming a subordinate under their banner.

3. Defiance. You challenge these two dominant forces, only to be utterly defeated and perish at sea."

He let that sink in before continuing. "And I don't think you're the type to bow to anyone."

Kong's expression remained impassive. "Accept the World Government's invitation and become one of the Shichibukai. You won't just be a subordinate—you'll form a mutually beneficial partnership. It's a path of opportunity."

"Just yesterday, the Happo Navy leader, Chinjao—whose bounty exceeds 500 million berries—agreed to join. You're the second pirate to receive this invitation."

"If you're smart, you'll recognize the advantages. Becoming a Warlord can only benefit you and your crew; there's no real downside."

Kong didn't hide his disdain for collaborating with pirates. The Five Elders had issued these orders, and while it irked him as a Marine, the strategic value was undeniable.

Establishing the Shichibukai introduced a fourth pillar to compete with the three major forces of the Grand Line. In theory, this new balance could reduce the immense pressure on the Marines.

Naguri's face shifted as he scanned and re-scanned the letter. "This… this is a tempting offer," he admitted. He looked at Kong, trying to keep his voice even. "I'll need time to consider it."

He couldn't deny the advantages. The Naguri Pirates had reached a critical point. Advancing further into the New World without support was dangerous, but retreating spelled failure.

He already knew the Rocks Pirates were keeping tabs on him, even sending envoys to recruit him.

Joining them meant being overshadowed by legends like Rocks D. Xebec, Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and Captain John.

Refusing both dominant sides would incite their wrath. His crew would be squeezed between two great forces with no way out.

The World Government's proposal offered refuge and freedom from Marine pursuit—as long as they didn't plunder allied nations. Wielding the Warlord of the Sea title would grant legitimacy and safety for his crew. The only obligation was to respond occasionally when summoned by the government—a price Naguri could handle.

Unfazed by Naguri's hesitation, Kong said flatly, "Take three days to consider it. Then give me your answer."

"Sure thing. Take care, Admiral~!"

~~~

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