"Sorry, but I'll have to turn you down."
Figured as much...
"May I ask why?" I prompted.
"Krieg, I appreciate the offer, but it just doesn't sit right with my way of thinking," Shanks said. He looked out over the railing at the horizon. "We became pirates because we wanted freedom.
If I take your deal, sure, the annoyance of being chased by the Navy or hunted by bounty hunters would vanish.
But could you really call that freedom? Being a pirate by someone else's permission... that's not true freedom, is it?"
"We fly our flag, we hunt for treasure, and we seek adventure," he continued, raising his voice so his crew could hear.
"Sometimes bounty hunters come for us, and sometimes the Navy gives chase. But that's just something we have to overcome with our own hands! Right, boys!?"
A roar of agreement erupted from his crew.
"Well, you're right. It wouldn't be absolute freedom," I admitted. "To put it bluntly, being a 'Sanctioned Pirate' under the Navy's guarantee could also be seen as being on the Navy's leash."
"Exactly. So, I'm sorry to let your hard work go to waste, but we're refusing the offer."
"Ah, well. Can't say I didn't try. You seem like you're going to be a big deal one day, so I wanted to get a foot in the door while I could..."
"Heh. An endorsement from a Headquarters Captain? I'm flattered."
Of course, you're flattered, you're a future Emperor of the Sea.
"Just a hunch. You've got the skill, and your crew clearly adores you. Well, since I've been rejected, I suppose I'll head back."
"Yeah. Let's meet again somewhere, Krieg. Maybe the next time will be in the Grand Line."
"Hmph. If that happens, I might actually be serious about arresting you."
"Try it if you can! I'll be sure to resist with everything I've got next time."
Thinking back to our brief exchange, even with a nameless sword, his power was terrifying. I could only imagine what he'd be like when he truly got serious.
"Fine. I'll look forward to it. Consider this a parting gift—that sword of yours won't last much longer." I unbuckled one of the swords from my waist and handed it to him, sheath and all.
"Are you sure?"
"Think of it as an apology. You did say you liked your old one."
"Fair enough. I'll take it with thanks... Whoa! Heavy!!" Shanks' arms dipped significantly the moment he took the weight.
"It's custom-made. It's heavy, but in exchange, it won't break for anything."
"I mean, there's 'heavy,' and then there's this... Oh well. I accept the gift."
"The durability is guaranteed. Farewell, Shanks. We'll meet again in some sea or another."
"Yeah. See ya, Krieg. I'll find a way to pay you back for the sword someday."
With those words, I used Geppo to kick off the deck and head back to the Beatrice. It was a shame he declined, but I'd known it was a long shot.
The Woman of the 48th Branch
Despite the slight disappointment, the Beatrice moved on to its next objective: recruiting the "Golden Pirate" Woonan as a Sanctioned Pirate.
However, the East Blue is vast. Aimlessly searching would be a waste of time, so I decided to stop at the nearest Marine branch—the 48th—to gather intelligence.
"So, you're the famous Leader of the Seagull Platoon? You're younger than I thought."
After meeting with the mild-mannered Branch Chief and explaining my situation, he agreed to let one of his Marines join me as a guide. That's when she walked in.
"Belle-mère, show some respect to your superior..." the Chief sighed.
"Sir! Lieutenant Belle-mère, Marine 48th Branch, reporting!"
And there she was, giving a perfect, crisp salute. I knew she had been a Marine, and I figured I might run into her in the East Blue, but seeing her in the flesh was a shock.
Belle-mère. In the original story, she was the adoptive mother of Nami and Nojiko. Ten years before the story began, she was killed by Arlong for refusing to deny she was a mother, even to save her own life.
Her sacrifice defined Nami's life and character. Right now, though, she was just a sharp-eyed Lieutenant.
I knew she was an ex-Marine, but I hadn't realized she reached the rank of Lieutenant. Then again, she did manage to pin Arlong down with a single rifle in the original timeline.
Time to snap out of it.
"Krieg, Commander of the Marine Independent Company, Headquarters. Rank: Captain. I'll be in your care for a short while, Lieutenant Belle-mère." I extended my hand.
"Krieg, huh? Nice to meet you! So, what's a Headquarters elite doing in a backwater place like this?"
"Well..." I explained the Sanctioned Pirate system, my interest in Woonan as a candidate, and my need for local intel.
"I see. Piracy has definitely been on the rise lately. Though it galls me a bit that we have to rely on pirates at all." She patted the long rifle at her hip.
"Are you a sharpshooter, Lieutenant?"
"I'm decent with a gun, but I prefer using it for close-quarters combat. It's a self-taught style, but I can hold my own."
"Is that so? I'd love to see it in action later."
"Oh? You want to go a round with me? ...Though against a Headquarters Captain, the odds aren't exactly in my favor."
"How about testing yourself against my newest recruit? He joined recently, and I think you two would be a good match."
"Hmm... Alright! A woman needs guts. Let's do it!"
We moved to the branch training grounds—a wide, open space perfect for a spar. While Belle-mère got ready, I headed back to the Beatrice to fetch the one who had been house-sitting.
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