Chapter 014: I want to join your crew.

Previous Chapter Recap:-

Lucius had dinner with Spandine and baptized him to betray the world government, Rokushiki is now available in the organization. Buggy eats his chop chop devil fruit. Lucius finds a suitable island the size of Austria but vaguely resembles Germany that they can use for their kingdom rebuilding. Omori becomes the first elected king.

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Lucius's gaze curiously stared at the pair of devil fruit that hung along a tall tree. Whenever He was free now, Lucius would occasionally take a stroll in his island in an attempt to find spots that exuded a dense amount of Fortune. Today perhaps he was lucky and he stumbled across this pair.

Right as Lucius stepped closer however, His stand that is usually unresponsive, burst out of his body and pointed to the left devil fruit. Feeling intrigued, Lucius asked "Do you want it?" The stand subly nodded but didn't utter a word and kept pointing at it.

Lucius after contemplating, decided to pluck them and let his stand eat it. Although he was aware of the obvious weaknesses, But His Stand's behavior caused him to reconsider.

After grabbing the one his stand didn't want, Lucius willed it to eat that devil fruit and under his now amazed eyes, The devil fruit's essence was sucked by his stand until it crumbled into dust.

Almost immediately his stand started glowing in a manner that Pokemon evolution happens and after a few moments, His stand now with a new pair of extra wings became visible to him. "So what did you gain?" Lucius asked but the stand didn't reply.

The corner of Lucius's mouth twitched but he didn't question it instead tried to find out what the devil fruit ability was. Eventually after some trial and error. He had found it. 'So it's luck luck no mi But better?..' Lucius deducted internally.

From what Lucius remembered after briefly reviewing his journal. It was a non-canon fruit from a one piece movie. The user, although arrogant and ultimately lost, was nearly invincible as long as they had gathered enough luck from others

Its original ability was to temporarily 'Borrow' other people's luck to enhance the user's own luck but its biggest flaw was the user couldn't control where they used this luck. His stand however seems to gain an even better form of it.

Rather than simply 'borrow', Lucius thought 'Extortion' Made more sense now. Because His stand didn't return the luck Instead It kept it and was slowly adding it into his own 'Luck'.

'But that still doesn't feel like it's enough to cause such a reaction from my Stand.' Lucius thought with a slight frown. After deep contemplation, He came to a logical conclusion. 'Awakening.. Yes that makes sense..' Aside from that, Lucius found out that he didn't gain the devil fruit's obvious Weakness to Sea. So overall Lucius felt glad.

Lucius' gaze fell on the other devil fruit that was in his hand now. He was internally debating on what to do with it. He knew from at least the fortune radiating from it that it would be immensely beneficial even more than the other devil fruits he had stored.

'I will.. give it to my crewmate' Lucius finally decided, He already had Haki and recently he was learning Rokushiki so he felt he didn't need any devil fruits right now. 'Hmm, Roger seems to produce Luck passively.. I wonder.' Lucius thought while rubbing his chin.

##

Omori rushed forward to land a hit on Lucius, but Lucius swiftly dodged and without losing momentum landed a precisely timed kick on Omori's ribs. Omori, after staggering, quickly used Soru to distance himself. Lucius didn't follow but merely kept his eyes closed.

After a moment to take a breather. Omori combined Soru with Geppo to move around Lucius like air itself. Spotting a weak spot, Omori lunged forward and tried to use Shigan but Lucius abruptly sidestepped and slapped behind Omori's head with practiced ease.

Yet it was made with resistance as Omori had reacted at the last moment and used Tekkei. Omori skillfully tried to land a roundhouse kick on Lucius, who's eyes still closed, used Soru to dodge and countered by trying to land a kick on Omori's stomach but Omori intuitively used Kami-e to become agile and dodged it.

"That's enough for today. You did well" Lucius said while rubbing his eyes. Omori, upon hearing that, relaxed his body and dropped on the ground. Mari, who had been observing this sparring session as usual, Quickly handed some water and towels to them.

"How are you so strong despite being only 9 years old?" Omori asked Lucius after gulping down some water and feeling mischievous, asking back "Are you sure, you aren't just weak?". Mari lightly giggled seeing her brother's reaction.

"Yeah right, I am sure, 9 year olds can easily beat up any adult." Omori said after getting out a groan, remembering the beat down he has received from Luke over the last three months since he became king.

Lucius tilted his head sideways at Omori and innocently said"All my friends can beat up an adult." Omori hearing those words felt his throat dry up despite having drank water. Mari seeing her brother's behavior said with a proud tone "Yeah! I can also beat up adults now!"

Omori didn't know whether to laugh or cry. In the end, he decided to be a doting brother and praised his sister while patting her head. "That's right, Become even stronger so you can protect me and Lucius-kun, Okay?" Mari hearing that smiled blissfully.

Lucius was about to say something but stopped himself after seeing the interaction between these two siblings. Soon however he received a call from his private transponder snail. Quite surprised by who it was.

"Spandine? Oh I see.. Okay, You are quite lucky to have called just now, we can talk in 30 minutes." Lucius muttered, Omori hearing that felt curious.

#

Spandine took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He was both amazed yet also terrified after learning more about this organization he had joined three months ago.

Anyone could join this organization, even kids but until they turn 15 they would be treated as a Trainee. So quite recently after Lichterheim's Construction was underway. People had started to voluntarily register much like he had seen People register to become a marine but he knew it wasn't that simple.

'This is what a proper army should be..' Spandine thought inwardly. He had come to that conclusion after looking through every mandatory customs Everyone had to follow.

Unlike the marines where they could laze around after getting an official position. Everyone needed to go through an yearly training boot camp. If their strength was deemed insufficient by the end.. then they would receive a warning along with a small fine.

Which didn't sound bad until they received three in a row. They would then be thoroughly Investigated by a secret Department only known as 'IRS'. Spandine shivered remembering the details that had been hinted at.

What he feared wasn't losing his comfortable position but rather because that Department could cease everything of value in credit they had earned from the organization if they were found to be guilty for being either a leech or a Rat.

For Spandine, That was a fate even worse than death now. Because he knew he couldn't just Jump ships that easily now. Especially since the organization had grown rapidly to have Tens of thousands of members.

Although most of them were Cadets, Which he initially thought meant a Marine soldier from one of the weak seas but that swiftly changed after Lucius adjusted their training based on the Rokushiki Training method Spandine had shared.

Spandine now held the rank of Commander, a 100-men crew. But they weren't filled with mere cadets. They were Paradise-Cadet. Meaning each of them were now powerful enough to Survive in the first half of the Grandline known as Paradise.

But Despite needing to go through a strict training schedule before Spandine could think of climbing the hierarchy. He actually wanted to increase his Ranking even further now.

Because aside from having a whole crew that only listened to him. He was getting a monthly supply of credits both as a form of salary but also each of his crew members had to pay a 2.5% based on their monthly credits.

The higher ranks had even more benefits. Spandine knew from the lack of valuable things in the market that this organization was still in it's infancy so he felt an urgency to solidify his position in a higher rank. Not only due to credits but rather because Spandine had learned positions were hereditary.

Initially Spandine planned to let his son grow up as a Cipher pol agent so they both could have a high-rank position in their respective organization.

But after learning that, He had commissioned Lucius to rescue his only son and as expected Lucius was somehow successful. Causing him to feel more assured about his decision.

Spandine after internally summarizing what he had learned so far glanced at the dense pile of documents he had meticulously gathered. What he had infront of him was every island coordinates he remembered which the World government used as the training ground for their cipher pol agent.

Spandine knew the best way to earn credit was to save a life. Especially Orphans who were being trained to become world class Assassins.. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, He finally called Lucius.

Puru~ Puru~ Puru~

"Hello?" Spandine heard Lucius's voice. Thankfully because he had been so willing to share information about the world government. Lucius had given his own personal den den mushi's number. "..I have something to report.. 30 minutes? Okay Thank you very much…"

#

Ju peter frowned slightly. He had just gotten a report that one of their Cipher Island had been raided by a group of pirates. Most of the agents had been killed while the kids they had meticulously gathered were now kidnapped, Their fate Unknown.

"Do you think it was planned?" Nusjuro asked with slight concern. Suspecting Foul play at hand. Ju peter replied after a moment of contemplation "It's hard to say.. Regardless, they should be hunted down for their heresy."

"Agreed." Warcury voiced his support. Followed by the other two.

##

"I want to join your crew." The Roger pirates paused whatever they were doing and looked towards Lucius, feeling surprised by something they didn't expect ever happening. "Why?" Instead of Accepting it as Roger usually would, He opted to ask a question due to his curiosity.

Lucius contemplated before he told Roger one of the reasons. "I will one day gather my own crew, So I wanted to learn how to do it from the very best." Roger, hearing that praise, Quickly let out a hearty laugh. "Bahahaha! Then I welcome you to my Crew!" Causing the passerby crewmates to cheer loudly especially Buggy and Shanks who had been constantly trying to make Lucius join Roger's crew after becoming close with him.

Roger looked around, when he noticed Amara and Crocus weren't nearby, He exclaimed "Let's have a party to welcome our new member!" Causing many to facepalm since they knew they would get in trouble for this. But their body that hurried towards the storage suggested their true thoughts…

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Word count: 1938

Author's Note:-

I felt this was the most natural way he could recruit Brook and meet certain characters he can recruit in the future, Either way.

I have selected few candidates that can become his love interest(s). They are in order of who I favor, I also included the chance of them accepting another lover for Lucius. So choose among them.

Gerd [She is a Giant beauty, Older than Lucius, Skilled Navigator. 30% chance ]

Stussy [Clone of a Rock's crew member. Around Lucius's age right now. 85% chance]

Boa [The most beautiful in the world according to Oda-sensei, 10% chance]

Viola [Most beautiful according to me, 25% chance]

Nico Robin [She is the most beautiful strawhat and a prodigious Archeologist,Younger than Lucius. She can read and possibly write the poneglyph. 70% chance.]

Charlotte Smoothie [She is a beauty and possible alliance with Big mom pirates/ Merger. 5% chance]

Bello Betty [She is a beauty and was part of the original revolutionary army. 0.1% Chance]

Black Maria [ She is a beauty, 90% Chance]

I didn't list Mira because I think nobody wants an Oc to marry Lucius lol. She would likely be 30%

Let me know who you think is the most deserving of Lucius. My pick is already listed because I listed them in order of how much I prefer them as Lucius's wife.