Crew

"I aim to fight Shiki the golden lion, and I feel that defeating him will satisfy your curiosity about me."

After hearing Gray's words, Beppo stuck his food in his throat, while Law looked at him as if he were an idiot. Shiki was a well-known pirate who sailed the seas during Roger's time. This was a natural reaction to these, Law was not like straw hats.

*Cough*

*Cough*

Law's opinion of him shifted drastically; he assumed he was speaking with an idiot or someone extremely powerful. Beppo instantly drank a glass of water and took a deep breath while looking at Gray with wide eyes.

Gray took a sip from the glass of booze that was waiting to be drunk. Law was wondering whether he should take his offer or simply quit.

Beppo began to continue his meal since he understood it was something he shouldn't get involved in. Law paused for a moment, staring at Gray and deciding whether or not to believe him.

"Does anyone else in your crew plan to join us for the battle in the future?"

Gray sneered for a second before finishing a glass of booze.

"You will be the crew's first member, and this is only the beginning of my pirate career."

Law determined that he was overestimating himself and underestimating pirates just because they were old.

Gray could tell what Law was thinking by the expression on his face. He couldn't take Shiki down with only two of them, and he had other plans for lack of manpower.

"Don't make that expression. I have a pirate crew in mind who will ally with us before we go after him."

He had a lot of doubts; he had no means of assessing him in any way, and he wasn't the kind to fight over little problems, but he couldn't get into a fight with Shiki foolishly. Law needed the base of making him think of them having a chance of winning against him.

"How will I know whether you're capable of defeating him or not?"

'We're not getting anywhere in this manner.'

Gray nodded, showing that he intended to demonstrate his abilities before doing anything else. Law and Beppo finished their breakfasts swiftly without wasting any food.

"Keep following me! I'll show you some of my abilities."

Gray rose from his seat and made his way to the beach. His techniques were too destructive to prove anything on such an island, as the island may cease to exist after his demonstration.

"After we defeat Shiki, you can officially join me. There's no need to rush."

"You are self-assured. I hope you have the necessary skills."

Soon after, they arrived at the beach, and Gray approached the shoreline, Law, and Beppo observing his every move.

Gray morphed one arm into a dragon claw and the other into blue armor-like scales. From his other arm, he formed a blood-red flame arrow and a blue-colored bow.

He inserted his flame arrow into his blue bow, which was spewing a dense mist. The blood-red flame arrow transformed into a purple flame arrow that flared much more fiercely than before.

Law was interested in his actions. He was even more amazed when his arm changed into dragon claws. He was glaring at Gray, a purple flame arrow burning on his bow, pointed at the massive flood of water that was approaching them.

"I can't use stronger attacks here since I don't want to destroy the island."

"Purple arrow!"

Gray shot the blazing purple arrow towards the huge tidal wave of ocean approaching them.

"Boom!"

When the burning purple arrow collided with the massive wave of water, it caused a gigantic purple explosion similar to an atomic blast, instantaneously converting the wave to water vapor.

The water flowed in all directions, leaving a massive hole that was shortly filled with water, and a large number of dead fish from the poison and explosion were later disposed of on the coast.

"The aquatic animals appear to be unhappy with the explosion."

Following the explosion, a powerful gust of wind blew across their face leaving a cool feeling.

"The real show now begins."

"Huh! Wasn't it the move you showed to us?"

Chain explosions began to occur one after the other, causing the water to rise and fall like rain; he was generating rain from the explosion. It was simply a short shower that lasted thirty seconds.

"Is this acceptable? If you want, I can destroy this island to show my powers."

"There will be no need; we will join your crew, and I will accept your offer as Vice-Captain."

"You have changed your mind, as well as how about we get down to business right now?"

They all left the location. Beppo went to fetch the nearby crew to meet the new Captain of the crew. Law followed along with Gray as he needed to discuss things with him.

Gray and Law walked into the bar and sat in one of the seats to continue their meeting. As a new captain, he needed to meet all of the crew members. He had no idea how many, law had with him for the time being.

Gray was still not satisfied after his first meal some minutes ago. He ordered a large amount of food as well as many jars of booze. His hunger was vast. Gray ordered virtually everything on the menu.

A stranger approached them and sat on the seat beside them while Gray was busy ordering his food. Law was taken aback by the sudden recognition of the unknown figure.

Law regained his composure and gently asked of the person who had just sat beside them.

"What brought you here?"

"Oh! I just noticed someone I recognized from earlier that day hanging around so I decided to say hello."

Ace was the person who had just settled next to them. He had met Gray once at the restaurant. He had to leave Water 7 after discovering that Blackbeard was no longer present here.

Gray gave Ace a light chuckle. He was meeting him for the second time in a row, and he had no idea why he had approached him in the first place.

'Could it be something important?'

*Growl*

*Growl*

"I was hungry and decided to join in on the fun considering eating with a company is always better than eating alone. Hahaha"

"Geez, be my guest."

Law could tell they knew each other, and he wasn't entirely incorrect. He recognized Ace the moment he saw him.

'What kind of relationship do these two have?'

Beppo and the other two members entered the bar. They approached Gray and sat by him, accompanied by Ace and Law.

"Captain! I brought the members with me."

"He is the captain now, not me."

Law glanced at Gray while saying such.

Beppo went into a depressive state. It's always been like that whenever someone complains to him about anything.

"I'm S...I'm sorry!"

'They are exactly as shown in the series. Whenever someone complains, he apologizes.'

"It will take some getting used to. Is this the whole crew?"

Beppo did a salute while responding to Gray.

"Yes, Captain!"

He knew how to get Beppo out of that state while he was still in it.

"Great job!" "Should we begin with an introduction?"

With such a small compliment, Beppo's face brightened up.

"My name is Beppo, and I am the Heart Pirates' first mate."

"My name is Sachi, and I came after Beppo."

"I am a penguin and the Heart Pirates' last member."

-----------------------------------------

"My name is Trafalgar D. Water Law. I am currently your crew's Vice-Captain."

"My name is Portgas D. Ace. I am the commander of Whitebeard's second division at the present."

Everyone turned to gaze at Ace, who was devouring his food while speaking. His eating speed was unusual, and his hunger was equivalent to Gray's.

"My name is Gray. I'm in the midst of putting together a pirate crew."

Everyone began eating a variety of items supplied at the table while chatting. Ace and Gray were eating as if it were the final meal of their lives, while everyone else was eating normally.

*Munch*

*Munch*

Gray's mouth was crammed with a mouthful of meat and a combination of various dishes.

"Why did you even come with us to eat, Ace?"

Ace replied with a mouthful of meat and other dishes that looked like a jumbled mess.

"I was running short on funds, but I can't say that."

Gray stuffed food down his neck and drank a jar of booze all at once before responding to Ace.

*Cough*

*Cough*

"Who would believe a Whitebeard's commander is running low on funds?"

Others looked at them as if they were starving beasts that ate after many years.

"That is why I didn't tell you. No one believes that answer."

-------------------

Ace fell asleep in the middle of eating, and everyone assumed he was dead. Gray was well aware of his habit of sleeping when eating.

"Is he dead?"

Other people began to notice Ace had fallen unconscious while eating.

'Is there poison in the food?'

After glancing at the suddenly dead Ace, the four members dropped their food.

Other people began to gather around him, whispering.

"He passed away while eating."

"The food must have been poisoned."

Gray didn't care about the others; he was too busy waiting because he knew the food wasn't tainted.

"I fell asleep."

"Asleep! You gotta be kidding me. "

Ace fell asleep again.