Chapter 15

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East Blue - Shells Town 

As soon as Zoro sees Luffy in front of him again, he says, "Look, man, I already told you I'm not joining your crew. I have more important things to do out there than playing pirate." 

"Hmm, I've already decided; you're part of my crew. And about being a pirate, I'm serious about it. I'm going to find the One Piece and become the Pirate King. Besides, I thought you'd like to know that the butt-chinned idiot lied to you. He's not going to keep his promise. He announced in town that your execution is going to happen in three days", Luffy says as he starts untying Zoro. 

"What the hell? That cum-guzzling son of a bitch... Hurghh... you know what, since they already consider me a criminal, instead of dying here in a pathetic way, why not accept this invitation and join your crew?" 

"Shishishi, my third crewmate, officially the second, but still, things are taking shape." 

"But know this, I'm going to become the world's greatest swordsman, and nothing will stand in my way of achieving that dream, not even you." 

"Shishishi, wonderful! Nothing less is expected from a crewmate of the future Pirate King. Besides, I'd be pretty embarrassed if you couldn't even keep up with me." 

"By the way, where's your sword? I don't think you can be a swordsman without a sword", Luffy asks, wondering if it's possible to be a swordsman without a sword. 

"It's with that idiot; they should be somewhere in this base", Zoro says, stretching a little. 

"Alright, I'm faster than you, so wait here while I search", Luffy says, starting to move toward the base. 

Despite wanting to go with him, Zoro decides to wait there. "I use three swords, just so you know." 

"Got it", Luffy says before disappearing after using Soru, leaving Zoro amazed at his speed. 

"I can't fall behind", Zoro murmurs, even more determined. 

=Scene Break= 

Nami planned to infiltrate the base once Luffy caused a distraction, but she noticed that the base seemed almost completely deserted, with not a soul in sight. Not one to waste an opportunity, Nami easily sneaked into the base. 

After entering, she stole a marine uniform to move around the base more easily. 

She then found the archives room where they kept the maps. There, she discovered that the map of the Grand Line was securely stored in Captain Morgan's office. 

She made her way there, and after checking to ensure no one was inside, she broke the door open and hurriedly began searching for the map. 

After finding a hidden safe in the floor, she cracked it open, only to be unpleasantly surprised. Inside the safe, she found only a paper with a drawing of a clown flipping the bird with the caption, "Buggy was here and stole this map, idiots." 

"Urghh, damn clown", Nami fumed for a while, and to calm down, she decided to steal all the money from the base. 

And just as she had gathered all the money and was ready to leave, the base suddenly turned into chaos with armed marines running around everywhere. 

"Sigh... what did he do this time? The worst part is I can't even complain this time. I asked him to cause a distraction", she whispered quietly as she sneaked through the base, noticing that the floor was marked with footprints in several places she passed. In the end, she arrived at the same field where Zoro was waiting, along with Coby, who had just arrived. 

=Scene Break= 

While Nami was infiltrating the base, the conversation between Luffy and Zoro was taking place, and the moment she went to steal the base's money coincided with the moment Luffy went to retrieve Zoro's swords. 

Using his Observation Haki, Luffy sensed a large number of people located at the top of the base. He then had the idea to ask if anyone there knew where the butt-chinned idiot's room was since he knew from his meta-knowledge that the swords would be there. 

So, using Geppo and Soru, he appeared directly on top of Captain Morgan's statue, landing on its shoulder and drawing the attention of everyone present. 

Looking closely at the statue he was standing on, Luffy said, "Wow, what an ugly statue", he then gave the statue a light tap, and it instantly crumbled into pieces. 

After landing, Luffy looked at the open-mouthed crowd in front of him and said, "Oops." 

"Anyway, does anyone know where the room of an idiot with a butt chin is?", Not receiving an answer because they were still stunned, Luffy decided to give more information. "He also has a ridiculous haircut... oh... and he's blonde." 

Seeing that no one was going to respond because they were in shock, Luffy muttered under his breath, "Well, looks like I'll have to go with the 'Sweet Dreams' style." 

Then, using Soru at maximum speed, he searched room by room for the idiot's room, leaving deep footprints wherever he passed. He even ended up passing by Nami, who was robbing the base, but she didn't notice him because he was in super speed using Soru. 

He soon found the idiot's room; it was completely pink, and filled with stuffed animals scattered around. 

In one corner of the room, he noticed three katanas leaning against the wall. After making sure they were the right swords, he grabbed them and started to leave the room, which was already surrounded by several marines aiming at the door. 

As soon as Luffy left the room, one of them shouted, "Don't move, hands up, and surrender peacefully." 

"Hmm, no thanks", Luffy said before continuing forward. 

Seeing that the intruder wasn't cooperating, they started shooting. Being shot at, Luffy dodged the bullets by dancing and doing a Moonwalk. 

Passing by all of them, Luffy waved with two fingers before jumping out of a window that faced the open field where Zoro and company were. 

While in the air, he saw Zoro, Nami, and Coby surrounded by marines who were about to shoot at them, led by a big guy with an ax hand. 

He then used Soru and Geppo to land in front of them, catching all the bullets that were fired. 

"I'm here, guys. Did I miss anything?", Luffy said, opening his hands and letting all the bullets that had been fired fall. 

"You really could've avoided causing trouble, you know, Luffy? It would've been much simpler to get out of the base if there weren't a bunch of marines wandering around looking for you", Nami said, stressed, just wanting to complain. 

"Well, you asked me to cause a distraction, and I did. Sometimes you're so confusing, Tangerine. Anyway, Zoro, this is Tangerine, our navigator. Tangerine, this is Zoro, our new crewmate", Luffy said, completely ignoring all the marines in the area. 

"Sigh... I haven't joined your crew yet, Luffy", Nami said, starting to get used to his persistence. 

"Pay close attention to the word 'yet,' shishishi. The charm of the future Pirate King takes time, but it never fails. It won't be long before you officially join the crew." 

"Ugh, it's more like you win by wearing people down", Nami said, exasperated. 

"YOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST AND SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DEFYING THE AUTHORITY AND JUSTICE OF THE MARINES!", Morgan shouted, irritated at being ignored. 

"Justice?", Coby, who had been trembling with fear until that moment, seemed to have a sudden awakening and gained courage. "You call this justice? Abusing the innocent, oppressing the needy, killing people at your whim, imprisoning a man who simply saved an innocent child." 

"Nah, this isn't justice; this is abuse of authority and corruption. You're exactly the type of marine that disgusts me the most, the kind that rots this organization by sucking at the teat of power, doing whatever you want without facing any consequences. No, you're not a marine; you're a tyrant", Coby said, looking Morgan directly in the eyes. 

What Coby said surprised everyone with his courage, especially Nami and Luffy, who knew him better. 

"And you", Coby continued, looking at the marines, "too scared to oppose this tyrant, aren't you?" 

The surrounding marines averted their eyes in shame. "Yeah, you should be ashamed. How can you sleep knowing what this tyrant and his idiot son are doing?" 

"You know, my dream is to join the Marines, but I was still very naive and had a rude awakening. So this is now a declaration: I'm going to join the Marines and show the world what a marine should be like. I'll practice true justice, not the manufactured justice of my superiors!" 

"Well said, Coby", Luffy said with a smile, and for the first time since they met, he used Coby's name instead of a nickname. 

"Your place is in prison, criminal," Morgan said with disdain. "MEN, kill this brat." 

Seeing all his men hesitate and not carry out his orders, Morgan said, "Hesitating, are you? Very well, all those who hesitated, kill yourselves." 

And when the marines were about to point their guns at their own heads, they remembered what Coby had said, and instead of following Morgan's orders, they all pointed their weapons at Morgan. 

Then the highest-ranking marine present said, "Morgan, you're under arrest for abuse of power and corruption. Surrender peacefully." 

Boiling with rage, Morgan shouts, "YOU ARE DEFYING THE AUTHORITY OF THE MARINES AND SIDING WITH CRIMINALS. AS A MARINE CAPTAIN, I WILL BRING YOU TO JUSTICE—" 

He doesn't have time to finish his sentence because Luffy punches him in the face, smashing him into the ground with the residual force of the blow. 

"Yeah, it's nap time, Crimson Chin", Luffy says, dusting off his hands. 

After seeing Morgan fallen and defeated, all the marines cheer for the end of his tyranny. 

Meanwhile, Helmeppo loses all his privileges and now has to learn to live properly as a real marine instead of a fraud. 

The marines also seem not to have noticed that Nami stole from them. 

=Scene Break= 

After a big feast, the marines enter the bar, politely asking Luffy, Nami, and Zoro to leave the island since they are pirates. Luffy then turns to Coby and says, "Alright, this is where we part ways, Coby. You know what? I'll do you a favor." 

Luffy then runs to his boat, grabs his Den Den Mushi, and returns to the bar. When he arrives, he sits down again and calls his grandfather. 

"Pero... pero... kacha... who is it?" 

"Hey Grandpa, it's me, Luffy. Makino gave me your contact." 

"Oh, it's you, Luffy. Makino told me you were back; I was already on my way to get you to join the Marines." 

"Sorry, Grandpa, but there's no way I'm becoming a Marine. But I found the perfect kid to replace me. He's in Shells Town, has pink hair, wears glasses, and wants to be a good Marine. His name is Coby, by the way. Well, that's all I had to say. Bye, Grandpa, see you in the Grand Line", he then hangs up and turns to his companions, and says, "Alright, let's go, guys. I told my grandpa about you, Coby, so it's pretty likely he'll train you." 

After that, Nami, Zoro, and Luffy say goodbye to Coby and company and head to the next island, now searching for Buggy to get the Grand Line map. 

Meanwhile, in the bar, a marine comes running in, holding a Den Den Mushi. "Sir, Vice Admiral Garp is on the line", he says, passing the Den Den Mushi to his superior. 

Coby is then quite surprised that the Marine Hero Garp, the Fist, is Luffy's grandfather. 

"Urgh, that brat hung up on me. Are you in charge of this base?" 

"For now, yes, sir. Captain Morgan was detained for corruption and abuse of power after being defeated by the Straw Hat kid." 

"Alright, is the kid my grandson mentioned there?" 

"Yes, sir, he's here." 

"Give him the Den Den Mushi." 

He then hands the Den Den Mushi to Coby, who says, "H-hello, sir." 

"Why do you want to join the Marines, kid?" 

"I want to show the world what a Marine should be, sir. I want to protect the innocent, the weak, and the needy. I want to follow the justice that I believe to be true justice, not the justice imposed on me by my superiors", Coby says with conviction. 

"BWAHAHAHAHA, get ready, kid. As soon as I get there, your training begins. Hey, you guys, enlist this kid right now", Garp says before hanging up. 

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(AN: 2,099 Words)

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