Duval's Ambitions #108

As the stolen pirate ship, the Black Fang, continued its descent into the depths of the sea, Cedric stood at the helm, surrounded by the vast expanse of blue. The water pressure intensified, and the ship's groaned under the tension, yet Cedric remained resolute.

Cedric's thoughts swirled with annoyance and frustration in the eerie silence of the underwater world. The memory of his efforts to dismantle the slavery ring and disrupt Doflamingo's business weighed heavily on his mind. He had fought tooth and nail to shut down the human auctioning house and get Disco arrested, but it all crumbled in the face of the Celestial Dragons' intervention.

The celestial beings, who saw themselves as gods among men, had taken matters into their own hands, undoing Cedric's hard-earned progress. Their actions had brought him to square one and pissed him off enough to act, forcing him to leave the Marines earlier than planned.

Cedric clenched his teeth, his eyes burning with anger. Deep down, he knew something like this might happen, but he chose to be naively optimistic. The Celestial Dragons wasted no time showing him the error of his ways.

Despite the setback and the realization of the Celestial Dragons' influence, Cedric refused to leave things be. He couldn't change the past, but he could shape the future.

He might have failed to accomplish what he set out to do on Sabaody as it was right under the noses of the Celestial Dragons, but he might be able to do something about slavery from Fish-man Island.

Cedric's mind raced with possibilities. While the Celestial Dragons thwarted his efforts to dismantle the slavery ring in Sabaody, Fish-Man Island offered hope. It was free from the direct influence of the World Government's corrupt rulers.

Now, more than ever, he realized slavery wouldn't end so long as the Celestial Dragons remained in power. By working the fishmen and their struggle, he could work towards lessening the impact of slavery on their lives, amd make an allies in the process. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

However, he couldn't ignore the complexity of his motives. Cedric found himself in a precarious situation, torn between his desire to brutalize every Celestial Dragon to cross his path and the need to navigate the treacherous waters of the New World. Cedric and the people who followed him weren't ready for the New World, and he knew it.

"I'm getting ahead of myself..." Cedric muttered under his breath as the waters grew darker and darker with the passing moment. He knew the fishmen wouldn't accept his help if he suddenly showed up and offered it.

He needed to earn the royal family's trust before anything else, and Cedric knew how, but that was for the future, near as it was.

As Cedric focused on his thoughts, a commotion erupted from behind in the main deck, shattering the silence of the underwater world. He turned around to see Duval, Baby Five, and Kieran engaged in their usual antics while Chuchun ran around them, seemingly enjoying the chaos.

"Return to the depths from whence you came, creature!" Duval exclaimed, shooting Kieran straight in the face, having been startled by the latter's unnaturally pale face resembling that of an undead. "The power of my handsome face compels you!" He exclaimed, his words overflowing with the resolution of a devoted exorcist as he brandished a small crucifix.

Cedric sighed, shaking his head at the antics of his crewmates. While their presence provided some much-needed frivolity, he couldn't help but worry about their readiness for the challenges ahead. The New World was unforgiving, and their journey to Fishman Island was only the beginning.

"Duval, Baby Five, Kieran," Cedric called out, his voice cutting through the commotion. The three turned their attention to him, their playful expressions fading as they noticed the seriousness in his eyes. "We're entering dangerous territory. Stay focused and prepare for whatever awaits us in Fish-Man Island."

Cedric turned his gaze toward Duval, his brow furrowing with confusion. "In the first place, I don't even understand why you all decided to follow me, the least of all you, Duval..." He said with a frown.

"You escaped your hometown and came to Sabaody to avoid Marines and bounty hunters... you got a fresh start with a new face, so what are you doing following a wanted man?" He asked, unable to resist the urge to sigh.

Duval monetarily paused, a hint of graveness crossing his face as he looked Cedric in the eye. "Well, you see, my friend," he began, his voice laced with pride, "it's all about the bounty."

Cedric raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Duval's response. "The bounty?" he repeated, seeking clarification.

Duval nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! You went through the trouble of giving me this handsome face! It would be a waste if the world couldn't see and admire my handsome face!"

"For that to happen, I need a tremendous bounty, and following you will get me there sooner or later!" Duval concluded, sounding too proud of himself and his genius plan.

Cedric's confusion turned into a mix of shock and amusement. "So, you're following me to increase your fame and show off your handsome face to the world?" he asked, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.

Duval nodded again, a determined glint in his eyes. "Exactly! With you, Cedric, I have the perfect opportunity to embark on grand adventures, defeat powerful foes, and earn an even larger bounty. The whole world will see my handsome face and admire it!"

Despite himself, Cedric couldn't help but chuckle at Duval's outrageous words, finding humor in them.

Before Cedric could say anything, Kieran, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, his voice serious yet tinged with curiosity. "Regardless of the narcissistic idiot's reasoning, I have my own motives for following along," he said, his unnaturally pale face solemn.

Kieran took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding. "Back then... I told you I wanted to get my pound of flesh from that guy, and I wasn't lying..." he began, his voice carrying the weight of his past experiences.

"Unlike you... I couldn't do something so stupid and illogical, especially if they didn't get in my way..." Kieran blankly stated, as if he didn't insult Cedric, much to the latter bemusement.

Still, Cedric listened intently, driven by curiosity more than anything else.

"I've spent my life seeking answers," Kieran confessed as he scratched his head. "Answers about why I am the way I am. And why people like you are the way they are..."

"I have a feeling I'll get my hands on the answer sooner or later if I follow you, and until I do, you're stuck with me..." Kieran concluded.

Cedric couldn't help but feel a mixture of surprise and curiosity at Kieran's words. He'd heard those words from Kieran before but didn't think much of them. He assumed Cedric would grow bored and leave eventually, but the former assassin seemed more earnest than Cedric thought.

"Answers, huh?" Cedric muttered, his gaze meeting Kieran's. "Well, I can't promise you the answers you seek, but feel free to tag along. Just don't get your hopes up too high. The world is vast and complicated, and sometimes the answers we're looking for aren't easily found."

Kieran nodded in response, accepting Cedric's offer without saying another word. His eyes conveyed a quiet determination as if he had already decided on his chosen path.

Upon hearing Kieran's explanation, Baby Five straightened her shoulders, a determined look on her face. "My reasons aren't as complicated," she said confidently. "I'm here because I am needed...! If there's one thing that makes me happy, it's helping others!" She added as she looked at Kieran with an earnest expression, causing him to grimace and look away.

Cedric couldn't help but smile at Baby Five's words. He knew about her past. If tagging along with them could help her, he didn't mind. "Well, I'm glad to have you on board, Baby Five," Cedric replied, his voice filled with appreciation. "We'll need all the help we can get in the journey ahead.

Chuchun chirped as he walked up to Cedric, pushing his head against the latter's back. "And what about you, big guy?" he asked playfully. "Why did you decide to join us on this adventure?"

Chuchun chirped happily and nuzzled against Cedric's back, expressing its loyalty and camaraderie. While Chuchun couldn't speak like the others, Cedric had developed a special bond with the creature, understanding its gestures and sounds to some extent.

Cedric smiled warmly, his gaze shifting from Chuchun to the others. "Well then, it seems we have quite the diverse group here," he said, addressing everyone. "Everyone might have their own reasons for being here, but I guess we're stuck together for now..."

Duval straightened his posture, a determined look on his face. "Captain, you can count on me! I'll use my looks to charm our enemies, distract them, and give you the opening you need to strike!" He said, and the flying fish rider who followed him began cheering in agreement.

In that manner, Cedric continued conversing with the crew, blissfully unaware of the two gigantic shadows approaching the ship from the depths of the sea.

...

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