"Captain, just as you predicted, the number of marines has suddenly increased. It seems they're searching for someone."
"That's likely... Let's both keep an eye on the rumors. We should be able to read the direction of the marines' movements from there and take advantage of that opportunity to make our move."
"Aye, Captain."
It's been a month since that fateful encounter, and after one more battle, young Daz Bones has seriously become our ally. I can't help but wonder why, but the result was exactly as I intended.
Yeah, I felt like if I didn't do something that would really shake up the world, people would think I'd betrayed them, so I had to do something that would make the world say, "Wow!" But how do you make a scene amazing?
Well, that's not the issue right now.
Once again, something unexpected has happened. One of the major turning points in the original work is the destruction of Ohara by the Buster Call. Wait, isn't Ohara an island on the Grand Line?
I don't know the details, but in Robin's flashback, the Marines were everywhere. Various people were reporting sightings, and even when she was picked up by pirates, the Navy was still chasing her. I had assumed it was on the Grand Line, but with so many personnel mobilized in the West Blue, I thought I could read their movements, and sure enough, I was right.
Although they may lack accuracy, rumors can be heard in bars and at the waterfront about where captures or naval battles have taken place. Okay, so it looks like I'm not the topic of conversation.
Over the past month, Daz and I have been hunting down some small bounties, and since Daz doesn't have a bounty on his head yet, he's been able to cash them in. Really, Daz, I'm glad you followed me. Moreover, he's properly supported me as captain, so I need to ensure we have a steady income.
Well, to be honest, bandits and pirates who used to just strip people of their belongings have suddenly become rich, so there's plenty of money flowing around.
"So Captain, what's next?"
"I plan on building a proper ship in the East Blue."
"A ship that can get through the Calm Belt? Are you sure?"
"That's right. In fact, the seastone I possess was obtained from the bottom of a naval ship."
I intend to join the Grand Line eventually, but at the same time, I want to make sure I have a way to make money from it. For example, trade in specialties, local products, or technologies unique to some of the islands on the Grand Line. As before, I want to plunder as many of the bad guys as possible. It's a matter of ethics, but it also concerns the morale of both myself and Daz. That's good policy.
"After all, we couldn't move around with all that seastone."
"Is it possible that the hiding place has been discovered and retrieved?"
"There's plenty, but... well, it's not a problem."
Either way, I want to go to the East Blue. In the end, I wasn't able to find him on my own, but I want to recruit Django. Just like with ambition, I think the basic rule in this world is that "if you strongly believe you can do it, you truly become strong." Well, of course, there's also the effort and training that's typical of shounen manga.
That's why I want to gather people with mind-altering abilities. Of course there's the hypnotist Django, but also Miss Goldenweek, who uses powerful paints to create hypnotic effects... or was it Marianne? I want to keep this group of people and others with similar powers under my control as much as possible.
If I'm Kuro, the flow of the original story is basically nonexistent! I'll just do what I like! And I don't like going out of my way to make a cute, younger girl cry and then getting headbutted with a hard block of rubber.
"I have some plans prepared. What we need now is food and weapons, and the money to buy them... but let's put that aside for now."
"Manpower?"
"Quality over quantity."
If we gather too many, we might have to resort to full-scale plundering due to food issues. That's a no, absolutely a no. Although this is a pirate manga, the world is harsh on evil, so in order to navigate this world successfully, it's extremely difficult, but the best approach is to stick to a small, elite group.
"Was that your purpose from the beginning, when you risked your life to come to this West Blue from the East Blue?"
"That's right. I'm sure there are useful people in the East Blue as well, but I decided it's too early to gather people there."
I've looked around quite a bit, but I can't find Django anywhere. That means it will be a while before that happens. In the first place, in the original story, Kuro probably wouldn't even be a pirate yet.
"Well, we'll just have to be patient about that. Let's get the immediate problem out of the way for now."
The place we're currently heading to in a small boat is an island ruled by certain pirates. Normally the navy would be dispatched to suppress them, but the navy is slow to act right now. They're probably dedicating most of their manpower to searching for Nico Robin, putting other things on the back burner. That's just how the World Government operates.
"Pirates? The total bounty, including the captain, is 4 million berries... considering the number of people and the amount, it doesn't seem like a very good deal, so why here?"
"One reason is the lack of outside influence. It wasn't just ravaged by pirates, it's practically occupied and remains that way, so it's probably not in anyone's territory. If possible, I'd like to use it as a base for a while after liberating it."
"I see... What's the other reason?"
"We make a name for ourselves by liberating places where neither the Mafia nor the Navy, nor the government, will come to our aid quickly enough."
"You mean as a wanted captain?"
"Exactly. Because I'm a wanted person."
Naturally, the more notoriety you have, the more dangerous you become, or at least the more important you are to the Navy. The higher the importance, the faster the Navy can act when it comes to taking action. It's inevitable that this will happen as long as we survive, but it's too early now.
Although I won't be able to master Haki, I don't want to stand out until I've mastered the "Moonwalk" technique. If possible, I'd also like to learn the "Storm Kick" technique before entering the Grand Line, but...
"Well, anyway, let's take down the pirates and get some supplies. Then we'll negotiate with the people on the island... and if possible, we'll use it as a base for a while."
"Understood, Captain."
"Something's different from the others out there."
"Captain."
"Yeah?"
"What is this?"
"I can predict it. But I can't believe it..."
When I landed on the island, I was greeted by both the pirates and the villagers who had been enslaved by them, all of them with their heads hanging low. They were muttering things like "I'm trash" and "I'm worse than a cockroach."
Um, maybe this is...
"Captain."
"Yeah?"
"What are those translucent things staring at us over there?"
"Those are ghostly things. If you don't touch them, they won't harm you."
"Right, something ghostly."
"Ah."
"What do you mean, ghostly things?"
"Well, first let's tie up those guys who look like pirates. We can talk after that."
Perona?! You were in the West Blue too?!
----
Author notes:
Current Crew:
- Captain: Captain Kuro
- Combatant: Daz Bones
When the Alabasta story was still ongoing, there was a Game Boy Color game where you could gather your favorite companions and create your own Straw Hat Pirates! I wonder if they'll make a game that includes the Grand Line as well. There are just too many characters now.