"…So, that's the situation. I need a new one."
The technician at the front desk looked up to see a "mummy"—or rather, the "Dull Bear" wrapped head-to-toe in bandages—looking dejected while clutching a jagged, broken piece of an iron mace.
"Whoa... what kind of monster did you fight to do this to five tons of reinforced iron?"
Krieg muttered something about a "muscle ghost" and explained that the Medical Bureau had wrapped him up like a gift against his will.
When the technician suggested that treatment was important, Krieg shivered, saying, "Those guys in the Medical Bureau are starting to look at me like I'm a lab specimen."
The technician wisely kept quiet. He knew the Weapon Development Bureau had been whispering about wanting to build a cyborg... and looking at Krieg's massive frame, it wasn't hard to guess who they had in mind as a prototype.
Since even a broken 5-ton mace is a hazard to carry, they loaded it onto a heavy-duty dolly.
"Give us a few days, Captain. We've already been working on that 'Enhanced Plan' you suggested. We'll implement it into the new build."
Krieg trudged away, looking smaller than his three-meter height. The technician pushed the dolly back to the Prototype Armament Bureau.
This was a specialized corner of the Technical Division where Krieg's wild ideas were turned into reality, tested in the field, and—if they didn't kill the user—simplified for mass production for the rest of the Navy.
Recent successes included the "Blue Shell" (anesthetic rounds) and the "Black Shell" (capture rounds with built-in steel nets).
The Black Shells were a hit—cheap, compatible with standard cannons, and surprisingly effective against Paramecia-type Devil Fruit users.
"The Captain's mace got wrecked," the technician announced to the five-man team.
"Wha? What monster did he tangle with?" "Man, he really liked that mace. He even named it." "Ugh... so much for 'indestructible iron'..." "So, do we give him the 'Special' one?"
"Alright, settle down," the lead tech said. "We're finishing the new mace immediately. And what about that 'thing' we finally got from the Sky Island?"
"The Dials? We only managed to get one of each. They're incredibly rare and, honestly, a bit dangerous. If a normal human used 'that' one, it'd probably shatter their arm from the kickback."
"Krieg isn't a normal human. He's the only one who can test it. Where did he even hear about Sky Island tech anyway?"
"He said he heard rumors from 'a friend.' Anyway, let's get to work. He's back on patrol in a few days."
A few days later, Krieg was seen at the training grounds giggling like a child with a new toy. He was swinging a massive, dull-colored mace with white tips at both ends.
Satisfied, he hoisted a seven-year-old Robin onto his shoulder and led his Independent Company back to sea.
But the peace didn't last. A year later, while sorting through the monthly stack of wanted posters, Krieg's face went pale.
"Wanted List Bureau! Explain this immediately!" he roared into the Den Den Mushi.
"C-Captain! That was a direct request from the World Government! They've labeled her a 'Person of Interest'..."
Damn it, Krieg thought. I managed to stop the 'Dead or Alive' warrants for archeologists, but they just changed the wording to 'Capture at all costs.'
"Fine. But why are both the Risk and Priority levels set to 'High'?"
"Orders from the top, sir. They wanted her found yesterday."
It was likely an Admiral or Vice Admiral aligned with the World Government's extremist wing.
"Lower the Risk level," Krieg commanded. "She has the combat strength of an average civilian. Labeling her as 'High Risk' dilutes the accuracy of our system for actual threats."
"Understood, sir."
Krieg hung up and immediately dialed another department. "This is M.C. 00919, Captain Krieg. Find me the current location of Vice Admiral Saul's ship."
"One moment... Ah, Vice Admiral Saul departed recently for the Western Sector. He's currently en route to Mary Geoise." Then, the voice dropped to a whisper. "Just a heads-up, Captain. Saul is on a direct mission from the Admirals. Be careful."
"Understood. Thanks."
Krieg hung up and stared at the poster. It featured a beautiful woman with white hair and eyes full of conviction: Nico Olvia. Robin's mother.
In the original story, Saul is the one who captures Olvia before eventually defecting. If Saul was on a mission, it was almost certainly for her.
"I started searching for her early to prevent exactly this... and now I have to tell Robin."
Krieg looked toward the cabin where Robin was likely studying. He had promised her they would find her mother before she became a criminal. He couldn't hide this from her.
His heart felt like lead.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/Master_Studios677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 60 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.