The sea was calm, the air warm, and the Merry sliced through the waves with a soft whisper.
Heading toward Loguetown, everyone was slowly recovering from the battle at Trump Castle.
Charles, nervous but proud, stepped onto the deck, clutching his transponder snail tightly.
"Jordan, Luffy… I need to contact HQ. Do you want to listen in? And… tell me if there's anything I shouldn't say?"
Luffy immediately turned his head toward me."Jordan, come with me. I need a second opinion."He placed his hand on my shoulder and led me toward my cabin.Charles followed behind, practically standing at attention.
The room still smelled of shadow and magic.On the table, the heart-crystals of my Heartless rested in a metallic box.Charles gulped as he stepped inside.
I raised a hand to signal him to wait before activating anything."As far as I'm concerned… you can say everything.Except for little Merry and… my trick for reaching the top of the mechanical island."
Luffy nodded, more serious than usual."Yeah. They shouldn't know about that. Otherwise, they'd get annoying."
I raised an eyebrow.Translation: the World Government might try to capture Merry or investigate my darkness-based powers.
Charles took a deep breath."Alright."He activated the communicator.
The transponder snail woke up, its antennae sparkling, its eyes opening like an old man dragged from sleep.Charles entered his connection code — a long string of numbers and encrypted tones.
BLOOP—BLOOP—BLOOP…
Then the call connected.
Marine Headquarters – Briefing Room
The room was large, lit by harsh white light.The walls were lined with archives, world maps, and recent bounty posters.
At the center sat Sengoku, Fleet Admiral, as straight and imposing as a mountain, arms crossed.His goat was quietly munching on a file atop the table.
To his right, Tsuru sat impassively, her piercing eyes stripping away any lie.To his left, Zephyr stood, arms crossed, with a stern look glued to his face.
Leaning against the back wall:
Akainu, unmoving, jaw clenched like he was already imagining someone's destruction.Kizaru, half-slouched, blowing on a cup of tea, looked either exhausted… or just slow.One seat remained empty — Aokiji, currently on assignment in the New World.
They straightened as the transponder snail came to life.Charles's voice rang out:
"Intelligence Officer Charles de Gaulle, reporting in!"
Sengoku placed his hands on the table."You may speak, officer.What have you learned about the Straw Hat Pirates?"
Tsuru opened a notebook.Zephyr narrowed his eyes.Akainu's lip curled in something close to a snarl.Kizaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"After leaving Kotzia, I joined the crew as instructed. Not long after, we encountered the Trump Family's fleet.After a short fight, two lieutenants escaped with two of the crew members…But the other nine ships were sunk in under five minutes.Mostly by Vice-Captain Heartless D. Jordan, using fireballs."
Silence.
Inside the Marine briefing room, glances were exchanged.
Akainu was the first to react.He grabbed a sheet from the table — a freshly printed wanted poster with Jordan's face on it. His red eyes scanned the lines.
"A pirate capable of sinking an entire fleet in East Blue…That's no ordinary case."He spun the sheet between his fingers like he was snuffing out a spark.
"Do you know if his Devil Fruit is unusual…Other than the fact that he turns into a giant crocodile?"
On the Merry – Communication Room
I motioned for Luffy to stay silent.He scratched his cheek, worried, but nodded.Then I nodded to Charles.
Charles swallowed hard, then answered:
"Yes, Admiral. It appears the vice-captain's fruit is a Mythical Zoan, not an Ancient one.When he transforms, his body is covered in purple flames."
The silence was shattered by Akainu's icy voice:
"Then you'd better poison those pirates in their sleep.We CANNOT allow a Mythical Zoan to grow stronger over time."
Charles's jaw tightened.His face darkened.You could almost hear his teeth grinding.
He gestured to Luffy and me not to speak.Then, politely but with barely restrained fury, he asked:
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku… do you agree with that order?"
Marine Headquarters – Briefing Room
In the room, Tsuru raised her head, already concerned.Sengoku took a long breath.
"If you think you can do it… then do it."
Tsuru abruptly stood up."You're not serious! You know what'll happen if Garp finds out about this?Assassinating young pirates in their sleep?And the allies of his grandson, no less?!"
Sengoku looked away, jaw clenched.Akainu, however, remained unmoved.
"Pirates deserve NO mercy.No matter their age.No matter their face.No matter what Garp thinks."
Kizaru blew on his tea, oddly thoughtful.
"Ooooh… it's kind of scary how eager some people are to kill kids, isn't it…?"But no one really took him seriously.
On the Merry – Communication Room
Charles took a deep breath.His heart was pounding so hard that even the transponder snail seemed to tremble.
Then, calmly, clearly, irrevocably:
"I… Officer Charles de Gaulle… hereby officially resign from the Marines."
He paused.The entire room fell silent.
"The Straw Hat pirates have helped everywhere they've been.Like the mechanical island — bastion of the Trump Family — which had been exploiting its people for years.Even the bounty hunter HQ was crawling with scum harmful to civilians.The Marines did nothing.THEY did.I refuse to harm people who are doing the job we should've been doing all along."
Marine Headquarters – Briefing Room
In the room, Tsuru slowly closed her eyes, realizing the weight of what had just happened.Zephyr let out a long, heavy sigh.He didn't approve… but he understood.
Sengoku remained silent, face closed off, the weight of the world on his shoulders.
But Akainu—
Akainu exploded.
"DON'T YOU DARE HANG UP, YOU INSOLENT—YOU'LL—"
CLICK.
Charles ended the call.
For perhaps the first time in his life, an Admiral was left roaring into nothing.
Akainu slipped halfway into his magma form, his shoulder melting into a miniature volcano.The ground beneath him began to steam.
But before he could erupt any further—
Tsuru, Zephyr, and Sengoku descended on him like three living mountains.
Tsuru locked eyes with him, icy and sharp.Zephyr laid a massive arm—coated in Armament Haki—on his molten shoulder, stopping him cold.Sengoku crossed his arms.
His voice was a guillotine:
"Watch where you are.There are Marines on the lower levels.I don't want any needless deaths because of your temper tantrums."
Akainu, despite his explosive nature, swallowed his rage with difficulty, crushed under the combined pressure of three living legends.
The heat dissipated.His arm solidified.The magma stopped dripping onto the tiles.
Sengoku sighed, rubbed his temples, then declared:
"The meeting is over.Leave.I need to check if Garp has arrived in Loguetown… to potentially intercept those kids."
Kizaru stretched like a lazy cat and left the room with a soft, thoughtful whistle.Akainu was the last to leave, boiling with rage, fists clenched.
Tsuru and Zephyr, however, remained seated.Before Sengoku could even ask them to go, Zephyr spoke up, his deep voice filling the room.
"Sengoku.What are you playing at?I know you too well to believe you really want to go against Garp over his grandson…Let alone order someone to kill kids who haven't caused that much chaos."
Sengoku closed his eyes for a moment.He hadn't expected to be found out so quickly.He exhaled slowly.
"I wanted to judge the officer accompanying them.To see if he would become a pawn… or a man of principle. Now I know."
Tsuru raised an eyebrow.Zephyr let out a small, amused breath.
"Ah.So you made sure he cuts ties with the Marines…So he can integrate better with them.And not be influenced by the World Government anymore."
Sengoku gave a rare, tired smile."Exactly.And if they continue helping civilians like he said… I might one day propose a Warlord status. Not to control them — to protect them.The way the Marines should have protected civilians, instead of signing deals with monsters like Doflamingo."
Tsuru let out a dry laugh."Still the king of schemes, Sengoku.When are you going to stop? When you raise a black flag over a Marine warship?"
Zephyr nodded, serious."I hate pirates.But if what that kid said is true… they're just young people looking for freedom and adventure. Not criminals.So you have my support, Sengoku, if one day you want to back them."
The two veterans left the room, leaving Sengoku alone with his thoughts…And his goat, quietly chewing on a wanted poster.
On the Merry – Communication Room
A deep silence fell on the Merry.Only the sound of waves against the hull, Charles's nervous breathing, and the soft creaking of the floor filled the air.
Then Charles exhaled.Trembling.But determined.
"There. It's done."
Luffy placed a warm, broad hand on his shoulder."Awesome, Charles!And you can stay with us!You can even help Belmère with her newspaper!"
Charles blinked, moved.As for me… I smiled.A faint, almost imperceptible smile.
I knew.I knew Sengoku hadn't given that order to kill. He'd given it to test Charles.He's known for his strategic mind — Sengoku the Buddha — he'd never give such a stupid order.He freed Charles from his reporting duties, which is very convenient for me.Now all I have to do is make him proud to be part of our crew.To turn him into someone who, even later on, would never betray us.
"Luffy, can we go up? I'd like to clarify our next destination."
Luffy tilted his head."Aren't we going to Loguetown?"
"Too predictable. The Marines will be waiting for us right there.Let's head to the deck first."
I climbed the stairs, and once on deck, I called everyone — even little Merry, who trotted over holding her tiny azure dragon like a living stuffed animal.
At the center of the deck, I spread out a world map…A blank one, with no islands — just oceans, the Grand Line, the Red Line, and the Calm Belt.A map to be reimagined.
The crew gathered around, curious.I turned to Charles.
"First of all… I'd like you all to welcome Charles, who has officially joined us after resigning from the Marines."
All eyes turned to him.He blushed instantly, stiff like a rabbit caught in a lantern's light.
Usopp patted his shoulder with a big grin."Welcome aboard! And I can promise you one thing: you'll NEVER be bored with us!"
"Never ever!" added Koby with enthusiasm.Kaya, gentle as always, gave a polite bow."Welcome."
Nami and Sanji simply nodded in his direction, smiling.Kazuki waved at him.Kuina gave a small smile.Even Zoro raised two fingers without lifting his head — a casual "yo."And Elise, nervous, gave him a shy wave.
Charles, emotional, took a deep breath."Thank you for having me. I intend to become stronger… to help make this world a better place."
Luffy and Nami turned their heads toward me at the same time, sharing a mischievous smile.
"Sounds like Jordan's dream, doesn't it?" Luffy said, laughing.Then he mimicked my voice (very badly):"Dreeeestroy evil and maaaaake peaaaace reign!"
Everyone burst out laughing —Except me, who gently tugged on his ear.
Charles, for his part, looked at me with fresh eyes — admiring.I tapped the map with my finger.
"Back to business… We're here, north of Loguetown.And Loguetown is probably crawling with Marines. I'd even bet Garp is there."
Luffy froze.His pupils shrank.
"G-Grandpa… is waiting for us?"
Charles nodded seriously."Most likely. Before I joined you, I heard Sengoku order him to head toward East Blue."
Luffy turned as pale as cold rice.
"JORDAN!! FIND ANOTHER WAY!!WE GOTTA ESCAPE!!!"
He ran around the deck like a chicken being chased by a fox, yelling,"I DON'T WANT HIM TO CATCH ME AND GIVE ME THE FIST OF LOVE!"
Kuina barely held back her laughter.Sanji silently smoked, clearly entertained.Zoro muttered, "What a coward…"
I pointed at a specific spot on the Red Line.
"Here."
Nami leaned in, one eyebrow raised."That's… narrow. But it's still a mountain several kilometers thick."
"Exactly. If you give me a bit of time, I can use my little trick to get us through the Red Line discreetly.Without running into Garp."
Merry raised her tiny hand, full of confidence."It's stone! So Merry can help!I can dig through the mountain!"
I gently patted her head."Alright, Merry. We'll go that way — to help your big brother Luffy calm down a bit."
Luffy froze."I'M CALM!!"(His legs were shaking like castanets.)
The whole crew burst out laughing again — until I said, very naturally:"Besides, even all together, we couldn't beat Garp."
Silence dropped instantly.They all stared at me with wide, round eyes.Even Zoro stopped sharpening his blade.Luffy was already lying on the ground, mentally crushed by the idea.Only Charles nodded solemnly.
(Author's Note: next destination — North Blue ^^ Don't worry, the crew won't be filled with useless characters like in many stories. Let's just say ideas come to me as I write. I also use a world map and the wiki to help navigate, so I may skip islands that aren't officially mentioned.)