"War! I love war!" Bullet bared his teeth, revealing their stark whiteness.
"Very good! Then, from this moment on, Douglas Bullet, you are the Apocalypse Knight of the Chaos Ladder organization, War."
For some reason, Bullet felt a sense of belonging he had never experienced before. Perhaps it was because this title perfectly matched the meaning of his existence.
Bullet raised his palm and extended it towards Wayne: "A pleasure to work with you, Chaos."
"A pleasure to work with you, my War Knight."
At 9:47 AM on August 9, 1498, an "evil" organization that would make the World Government and the Marine tremble at its mention was born.
Cloud Villa.
"Ding~ [Commission Order: Rampaging Bullet] has been completed. You have gained Bullet's physique. Commission Points * 4000."
"Ding, the host's actions meet the requirements of [Lord of Chaos]. Chaos Level +2%. Commission Points * 20000."
Wayne could clearly feel his physique had become much stronger. Looking at his status, his physique had now increased from S+ to SS+. From now on, physique would no longer be his weakness.
However, after deciding to become a mastermind behind the scenes, Wayne would rarely act as "Wade" in the future, because the main account was for causing trouble, and 90% of problems could be solved by the Face-Face Fruit.
Wayne hadn't yet decided how his secondary account, his public identity as Wayne, would proceed in the future. Wayne's initial intention was to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Although their reputation wasn't great, the power they hold was very real.
Most importantly, it was currently 1498, which meant there were still 24 years left in the Seven Warlords of the Sea's "golden age".
Of course, all of this was just an initial idea; the specifics would depend on the situation...
Captain T-Bone felt his head was heavy, as if filled with lead. He struggled to sit up from the floor, rubbing his stinging eyes.
"Ugh..." He shook his head, trying to clear the dizziness.
Just then, a voice with a hint of a smile came from behind him:
"You're awake, Captain T-Bone?"
T-Bone's body stiffened, and he spun around to look behind him.
When he clearly saw the figure sitting in the armchair, leisurely sipping red wine, his pupils suddenly constricted.
"You, you are Griffin D. Wade, the most heinous criminal in history!"
Almost instinctively, T-Bone's hand went to the saber at his waist, but no matter how hard he pulled, the blade remained as if welded into its sheath, not moving an inch.
"Captain T-Bone," Wayne put down his wine glass, a hint of playfulness in his eyes, "no need to be so nervous."
"If I wanted to kill you, you would have died countless times already, so, why don't we sit down and have a good talk?"
"Hmph!" T-Bone suppressed the fear in his heart and straightened his back, "No need! I have nothing to talk about with a criminal!"
"Either kill me! Or let me go!"
"Alright, alright," Wayne gave him a thumbs up: "You've got guts. Then I'll do the talking."
Wayne took out a uniquely shaped Devil Fruit covered in fiery spiral patterns from his pocket—the Mera Mera no Mi.
T-Bone's gaze was instantly drawn to it; he, of course, recognized what it was.
"Captain T-Bone," Wayne's voice, like a devil's whisper, entered T-Bone's ears, "I noticed you during the Enies Lobby incident."
"When your soldiers fell in droves under the Haoshoku impact, your attempt to awaken and protect those unconscious soldiers moved me. You are a true Marine with a sense of justice." Wayne's tone carried a rare seriousness, "I appreciate that very much."
To be appreciated by the "most heinous criminal in history"? This made T-Bone feel incredibly strange.
"What exactly do you want to do?!"
Wayne raised the Mera Mera no Mi in his hand, letting its flame-like patterns shine even brighter under the light:
"Do you... crave power?"
"If it's power bestowed by you! Then I'd rather not have it!"
"Heh heh..." Wayne chuckled softly and shook his head, "Don't play tough with me, Captain T-Bone."
"You know very well..." Wayne's voice was full of temptation, "In this world where the strong prey on the weak, only with enough power can you truly pursue the justice in your heart! Only then can you protect the people you want to protect!"
"You know very well that the power you currently possess is too insignificant. You don't even have the qualifications to fight Bullet."
T-Bone's body trembled, and he clenched his fists. "Look at Sakazuki, Borsalino, who are both similar in age to you, and even Kuzan, who is younger than you. What do they possess?"
"They possess the power to change the tide of battle, protect a region, and even influence the world! Don't you want to be like them? To enforce justice with your own power? To help more people who need help?"
"..."
T-Bone fell silent. Every word Wayne spoke struck his deepest, most secret desires.
He craved power, but accepting a criminal's gift went against the principles he upheld.
Wayne watched T-Bone's struggling expression, knowing the time was right. He slowly handed the Mera Mera no Mi to T-Bone. "This is the Logia-type Mera Mera no Mi. Eat it, and you will have the capital to pursue justice."
Looking at the Devil Fruit within reach, T-Bone's breathing became heavy, and his inner conviction began to waver.
Finally, T-Bone suddenly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his eyes, which had been burning with desire, had regained their calm.
"No!"
"I do crave power, but power must never be an excuse to betray my faith! If I accept your fruit, then will I still be pursuing the justice in my heart? Such power, no matter how strong, would lose its soul. Such a me, no matter how strong, would no longer be Marine Captain T-Bone!"
T-Bone slowly raised his hand and pointed to his heart: "I would rather use this weak power to practice my justice step by step, even if I eventually fall along the way..."
"I will never defile this Marine uniform!"
T-Bone's words were forceful! Wayne's eyes flashed with surprise; it seemed he had underestimated the place of justice in this Marine Captain's heart.
"Interesting... But that only makes me want to give you this Devil Fruit even more."
Wayne grinned, making a grasping motion with his right hand towards T-Bone.
The various pieces of furniture in the room instantly engulfed T-Bone, leaving only his head exposed.
"What are you doing! Let me go, I don't want your Devil Fruit!"
Wayne pointed at T-Bone's nose and shouted: "No one can refuse me. If you don't eat it, do you believe I'll immediately go kill all your subordinates and then drop meteors on Marine Headquarters?"
"I believe you won't do that, because I can feel that you are not that kind of person."
Wayne: ...