World Government – Marineford Headquarters.
Inside the commanding halls of Marineford, a steady rhythm of boots echoed down the corridor as a young marine hurried toward the Chief Commander's office. He clutched a report tightly in his hands, his face slightly flushed from the urgency of his task.
Bursting through the office doors, he stopped just short of Kong's desk and saluted sharply. "Chief! We've received a report concerning your grandson!"
Chief Commander Kong, a towering figure known for his stern demeanor and commanding presence, immediately looked up. He put aside the documents he had been reviewing and gave the young marine his full attention. "Zino?" he asked with a calm, but expectant tone. "What's the report say?"
"Yes, sir!" the marine replied. "We've received word from the Shell Town branch. Your grandson, Zino, was seen there. He's alive and well."
Kong's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of relief flickering behind them. "Go on."
The marine flipped through the report. "Zino was seen confronting and defeating Morgan—striking him down in front of the base. He's also reported to have given orders-"
"Hang on. Who is this Morgan?"
"Uh sorry. It's Captain Morgan." The Marine answered, correcting his mistake of not mentioning Morgan's rank. "He is a marine Captain that preside our marine base in Shell Town."
"I see. Alright, continue the report."
"Yes sir." The marine once again read the report. "Accordin to this report, sir Zino was said to have given orders to the soldiers there, instructing them to tie up both Morgan and his son, Helmeppo, and prepare a full report to send to headquarters. He left shortly after."
"So, the boy is already shaking things up." Kong let out a faint sigh, half amusement and half concern. "Where is he now?"
"He was last seen leaving Shell Town by ship," the marine explained. "He was accompanied by two people. One of them is Roronoa Zoro, a known pirate hunter with a growing reputation. The other is a woman described as very beautiful, but there's no record of her in our database. She doesn't match any known criminals or affiliates."
Kong frowned. "Zoro, huh? That swordsman has made a name for himself hunting pirates across the East Blue. What is Zino doing with someone like that?"
"We're not sure, sir," the soldier admitted.
Kong leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin. His thoughts drifted for a moment. Zino had disappeared without warning. No notice, no mission trail. He had simply vanished. Now he'd reappeared—stronger, bolder, and making bold moves against corruption.
"Alright," Kong said finally. "Keep tracking him. I want updates on his movements, and who he interacts with. But don't interfere. Observe only, unless absolutely necessary."
"Yes sir!" the soldier saluted once more, then turned and exited the room.
Left alone, Kong slowly rose from his seat and walked toward the wide window behind his desk. The sky above Marineford was bright and clear, but his heart remained clouded with questions.
"Zino… Just what are you up to now?" He murmured. "Should I do something for him?"
He stared into the horizon, the wind gently shifting the curtain beside him. Whatever his grandson's path was now, Kong could not decide whether to get involved or not. Maybe, just maybe if Zino asked help, then he might be able to help. For now, he could only watch silently from afar.
...
On the ever-changing sea, a modest ship sailed gently along the calm currents. The sun shone brightly overhead, casting a warm golden hue across the deck. Inside the small cabin, Zino, Alvida, and Zoro were seated around a makeshift table, deep in conversation.
"Now that I've joined your crew," Zoro began, crossing his arms as he leaned back slightly, "can you finally tell me more about this so-called pirate group of yours?"
Zino smirked lightly and nodded. "Right now, our group is… well, just the three of us. You, me, and her," he gestured toward Alvida, who was lounging casually beside him. "As for the rest—crew roles, hierarchy, responsibilities—we'll figure it out once we recruit more members."
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "So, you don't even have a proper crew structure yet?"
"Not really," Zino admitted with a shrug. "But that's the plan. Every strong crew starts small. We'll build it up as we go."
Alvida leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "So, what kind of crew members are you looking for?" she asked, genuinely curious. Although she'd already decided to follow Zino, she still wanted to understand his vision.
"Well," Zino began, "we definitely need a navigator. Someone who knows how to read the sea currents, weather patterns, and avoid dangerous waters."
"Makes sense," said Alvida with a nod.
"We also need a doctor. Someone who can treat injuries and keep us alive if things go south," Zino continued. "Then a shipwright—someone to maintain and repair the ship. And, of course, a cook. We can't be eating plain dry rations forever."
Alvida tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm. Don't we already have some of those skills covered between us?"
"I know a bit of cooking and basic medicine," Zino admitted. "But I wouldn't trust myself in a real emergency. I can keep someone alive, but I'm not a real doctor. And don't expect any gourmet meals from me either."
"I know a little about navigation," Alvida offered. "I've spent years at sea, after all. But I'm no expert either. In stormy weather, I'd be just as clueless."
The two of them then turned simultaneously to Zoro, who blinked, confused by their sudden attention.
"What?" he asked.
Zino sighed and shook his head. "Well, compared to us, you're... not exactly helpful in any area outside of swinging a sword."
Alvida smirked. "You're kind of the muscle of the group."
"Huh!?" Zoro's eye twitched. "Why are you both looking at me like I'm some useless luggage!?"
"It's just your imagination," Alvida said smoothly, sipping from a cup.
"Yeah," Zino added without missing a beat. "You're overthinking it."
Zoro scowled and turned away. "Tch... Lousy liars."
"Anyway," Zino said casually, "we'll aim to recruit a few more crewmates before heading to the Grand Line."
Both Zoro and Alvida froze.
"What?" Zoro blinked. "You want to go to the Grand Line?"
Alvida's expression mirrored the shock. "Are you serious? That place is chaos. It's where the most dangerous pirates and strongest Marines roam."
Zino turned to face them, his expression calm but firm. "Let me ask you something," he said. "Do either of you have a strong ambition?"
"Ambition?" Alvida asked, puzzled.
"What do you mean by that?" Zoro followed up.
Zino folded his arms across his chest. "I'm talking about something big. A dream that pushes you beyond your limits. If you have that kind of ambition, then going to the Grand Line is inevitable. It's the only sea where dreams like that can be tested. Otherwise..." He shrugged. "You're better off just drifting around the East Blue."
Zoro's eyes narrowed slightly as he fell into thought. Then, without hesitation, he declared, "I want to become the strongest swordsman in the world."
Zino smiled. "Good. That's the kind of ambition I'm talking about."
He then turned his gaze toward Alvida. She hesitated for a few seconds, almost uncertain if her goal counted as one. But then she straightened her back, confidence returning as he decides to voice it out.
"I want to become the most beautiful woman in the world."
Zino chuckled. "That sounds exactly like something you'd say."
Alvida pouted. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing bad," he reassured her. "Actually, both of your goals are more connected than you think."
The two looked at him curiously.
"Did you know," Zino continued, "that the current strongest swordsman in the world and the woman known as the most beautiful both reside in the Grand Line?"
"Really?" Zoro asked, intrigued.
"Yeah," Zino nodded. "To top it off, they're both part of the Shichibukai."
"The what?" Alvida tilted her head.
"The Shichibukai," Zino explained, "are the Seven Warlords of the Sea. They're powerful pirates, and individual, who were given permission by the World Government to operate freely. They're strong enough to rival even the Yonko—Emperors of the Sea."
Zoro's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "So who's the swordsman?"
"Hawk Eyes. Dracule Mihawk," Zino replied. "They say he can slice a ship in half with a single swing."
Alvida raised an eyebrow. "And the woman?"
"Boa Hancock. The Snake Empress," Zino said, smirking slightly. "She's considered the most beautiful woman in the world… and she's deadly too. In fact, she is the only woman among the Shichibukai. Don't let her looks fool you."
"Snake Empress, Boa Hancock…" Alvida repeated the name softly to herself, her brow slightly furrowed as if she were etching it into her memory. The title carried weight, and it stirred something within her. If that woman was considered the most beautiful in the world, then Boa Hancock was the very rival Alvida had to surpass.
Zoro, however, was more focused on the other name.
"Hawk Eyes, Mihawk…" he muttered, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes. "I know that name. I've been searching for him. I want to challenge him."
Zino turned to Zoro and raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Challenge him?" he repeated, his tone almost mocking as his gaze sharpened. "I believe you have potential to become a powerful swordsman, Zoro. But if you're thinking of challenging Mihawk now, then you're far from ready."
Zoro's eyes narrowed in irritation, and a visible tick mark formed on his forehead. "Are you looking down on me?"
"Looking down on you? Not at all," Zino replied calmly, shaking his head. "I'm just stating facts. Let me ask you something."
Zoro said nothing, but the way he stared back was enough of an answer.
"Can you cut through metal with your swords?"
"…No," Zoro admitted reluctantly.
"Can you unleash a flying sword slash—something that can cut your enemies from a distance?"
Zoro clenched his jaw. "…I'll be able to, eventually."
"So, that means you can't do it right now," Zino replied plainly.
Zoro went silent again, forced to confront the truth in Zino's words.
"Even if you could cut through steel or unleash a flying slash, that still wouldn't make you worthy to challenge Mihawk," Zino said, his voice firmer now. "He's on a level far beyond that. He's not just a master of technique—he's a monster on the battlefield. You don't reach the top of the swordsman world by being average at best."
Zoro's fists tightened. "A swordsman doesn't back down just because the enemy is stronger. If I don't challenge him, how will I know how far I still have to go?"
Zino gave a small sigh. "There's a difference between being brave and being reckless," he said. "A reckless swordsman charges into battle blindly, thinking they can win against anyone, no matter the gap in skill. A true swordsman—a strong one—knows when to fight and when to grow. They can see the difference between themselves and their opponent. More importantly, they use that knowledge to train harder, to improve, to overcome their weaknesses."
Zino looked Zoro dead in the eyes. "Don't be the reckless kind. Be the kind that survives long enough to stand at the top."
There was a pause. Then Zoro clicked his tongue in annoyance and looked away. "Tch. I get it. You don't need to spell it out like that."
But in his heart, Zoro had already taken those words seriously. He knew that everything Zino said was true—and that one day, when he did stand before Mihawk, he wanted to be strong enough to earn that battle.