Chapter 3: Confrontation

I've finished dealing with all the criminals in the Grey Terminal. As I slowly leave this desolate place, I can feel the weight of my actions here. Behind me, whispers spread, stories traveling like the wind. A legend has been born among those I've saved. "The Shadow Spirit," that's what they've named me. The nickname has spread quickly, as fast as I eliminated the big shots in the area.

Even the most notorious bandits, like the Dadan gang, no longer dare to approach the Grey Terminal. It has become a cursed place for criminals. Everyone who once ruled these ruins, terrorizing the inhabitants, has mysteriously disappeared in a short time, and no one knows exactly how. I know. And those I've helped, those I've freed, know too. But no one speaks openly about what happened. They live in the shadow of this legend, a shadow that, for once, protects them.

The change is palpable. The people of the Grey Terminal, who once lived in fear and misery, are starting to find a glimmer of hope. Many have left the ruins to settle in nearby villages, looking for honest work, far from the darkness that once engulfed their daily lives. It's a relief for me, a small victory in a world that is often cruel. But this victory has a bitter taste.

Among all the men, women, and children I crossed paths with, there's one life I couldn't save. The woman Bobby had almost killed... she didn't survive the ordeal. I did everything I could to free her, to give her a chance. But she died in childbirth, her body too weakened by the abuse she had suffered. She hadn't even made it to a clinic in time. When I heard the news, I rushed to try and help, but I arrived too late. Without a potion or healing magic, I had nothing to save her. Her face haunts me, and the guilt eats away at me despite my efforts.

I hold the baby she left behind, tiny and fragile, close to me. His heartbreaking cries echo in my ears as I head back to the village of Fuchsia. This is all he has left, a cold and unfamiliar world, with no one to care for him.

When I arrive at the village clinic, I push the door open and approach the doctor, my gaze heavy with fatigue and sadness. "Take care of him," I say simply, my voice rough with emotion. I gently place the child in the healer's arms and pull out some Berry from my pocket. I hand it over without hesitation, using the money I've accumulated from hunting down the Grey Terminal criminals. At least, this dirty money will be used for something good. "This should cover his care."

The doctor nods without asking questions, and I leave the clinic, my heart a little lighter. But the weight, the weight of not being able to save the mother, is still there, buried somewhere.

I then head to the village tailor. I need new clothes, something that better reflects the person I'm becoming, someone who walks between darkness and light. I ask the tailor to make me an outfit in the style of Sora, but with a more mature touch. A dark coat over it, to mask the light and allow me to stay hidden when needed. An outfit that will let me navigate between shadow and light, as I've always done.

After I finished up, I headed towards Makino's bar, a discreet smile on my face. It was a place where I could finally relax, perhaps the only real peace I knew in this world.

As I pushed open the door to the bar, I was greeted by the warm smell of food and the calming ambiance of the place. Makino was behind the counter, smiling as always. Her bright face contrasted with everything I had been through, and it did me good.

"Hey, Makino," I said as I walked in, my smile widening slightly.

"How are you, Jordan?" she replied, handing me a well-filled plate.

I sat down at the bar, the hunger suddenly catching up with me. "I'm doing fine," I said, taking a bite of food. "I managed to take care of a few things here and there, but... I've got a little problem." I paused, searching for my words. "I took a baby to the clinic. Unfortunately, the mother didn't survive. I don't know what to do now."

I took a sip of water, trying to shake off the weight on my heart. Makino, always compassionate, sat across from me, her gaze filled with understanding and warmth. She knew that what I was carrying went beyond just words.

"You did what you could, Jordan," she said calmly. "It's not easy, but you saved that child. That's already a lot."

"Makino, I'm hungry!!" a cheerful voice shouted behind me as the person burst through the bar doors.

"Luffy, what have I told you before?" she replied with that smile that sent shivers down my spine without me knowing why.

"Sorry, Makino, can I have some food, please?" Luffy responded in a much more submissive tone.

I watched him out of the corner of my eye as Makino brought him plates of food. He ate like an ogre. After watching him devour the meal, I lost my appetite—but thankfully, I had already finished my plate. However, as I watched him get ready to leave without a care, I stepped in front of him with a cautious look.

"Excuse me, Luffy? Didn't you forget to pay Makino for your meal?" I asked as the other customers started watching the scene, and Makino made her way over to us.

"I never pay. Makino's always given me food. Why?" he asked, confused, as I looked at him and then at the pile of empty plates. Makino arrived beside me, holding onto my arm.

"It's okay, Jordan, Luffy is the grandson of Vice Admiral Garp, so it's fine," she said as I noticed Luffy tremble at the mention of his grandfather's name.

"Makino, you run a business. Feeding someone who can't help themselves is fine, but from what I see, Luffy is strong enough to go hunt some animals. If he doesn't pay you in Berry, your stock and your money aren't going to magically refill. The meal he just had is worth 20 of mine, and I pay you 50 Berry. If he comes just once a day without paying, he costs you 1,000 Berry—it's a lot for a small business," I said, feeling exasperated as I saw her bite her lip.

"You're right, but I've known him since he was little. He's like my brother," she said, clearly disturbed, while Luffy looked at Makino and saw tears forming in her eyes.

"Luffy, you're going to repay Makino by working for her. You're going to bring meat, fruits, and do various tasks to make up for the times you've taken a free King's meal without ever thinking of her," I said, patting the woman who I had come to care for like a sister.

(Nda: I know I'm tweaking the relationship between Makino and Luffy a bit, but I can't stand how Ace and Luffy always take the King's meal and run, especially when they could easily pay for it most of the time.)

After this little interlude, Luffy suddenly stood up, looking determined. Without a word, he sprinted towards the forest. I continued helping Makino with the dishes, throwing an amused glance at the door he had just rushed through. Looks like he took the lesson to heart, I thought, stacking the clean plates.

Not long after, I saw Luffy return, a huge grin on his face, carrying not only a boar but also a bear on his shoulders as if they were mere sacks of potatoes. He stopped in front of the bar, and without showing a sign of fatigue, he set the two animals down in front of Makino.

Makino, her eyes wide in surprise, looked at Luffy with a mixture of shock and delight, then turned her gaze to me, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"See? All you had to do was ask," I said with a satisfied smile, continuing to dry a plate.

Luffy, proud of himself, straightened up, hands on his hips. "Easy! I could bring even more if you want!"

Makino burst out laughing, a joyful sound that filled the room. She turned to me, gently nudging me away from the sink with a playful hip bump. "Jordan, why don't you go with Luffy to the butcher? You might learn a trick or two about preparing the meat and skin."

"Alright, alright," I replied, amused, raising my hands in mock surrender. I quickly wiped my hands on a towel before turning to Luffy. "Let's go, we've got some work to do."

Luffy nodded enthusiastically, and without wasting a second, he bent down to pick up the boar and the bear again, carrying them as if they weighed nothing. I followed him out, keeping pace as we headed towards the village butcher.

As we walked, a silence settled between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Luffy seemed to be deep in thought, his eyes focused ahead. After a few minutes, he suddenly turned to me, his face more serious than usual.

"Hey, I never really introduced myself properly, huh?" he said with a sheepish grin. "I'm Luffy. And you're Jordan, right?"

I nodded. "Yep, that's right. Nice to meet you, Luffy."

Luffy furrowed his brow slightly, as if contemplating something important. Then, with all the intensity he could muster, he declared, "My dream is to become the King of the Pirates."

I stopped for a moment, surprised by the confidence in his voice. I already knew Luffy was... a bit unusual, but this declaration was bold, even for him. I couldn't help but smile. "The King of the Pirates, huh? That's quite a dream. Why that dream, Luffy?"

Luffy turned to me, his eyes sparkling with determination. "Because it's what I want most in the world. I want to be free, sail across all the seas, and find the One Piece. Nothing's going to stop me!"

His enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but feel a certain respect for his ambition. This boy had no hesitation in his heart, just pure determination.

"Not bad," I replied, nodding. "That's a noble dream, but to become the King of the Pirates, you'll have to be really strong."

Luffy burst out laughing. "I am strong!" he declared with obvious pride. "And I'm getting stronger every day."

We arrived at the butcher's, and while we dropped off the animals on his workbench, the butcher showed us how to cut the meat and treat the skins. Luffy, as carefree as ever, seemed fascinated by the process, though he remained a bit distracted by thoughts of his next meal.

Once the work was done, I turned to Luffy, an idea crossing my mind. "Hey, Luffy, how about testing your strength afterward? A little fight, just to see what you're made of."

His eyes lit up immediately. "A fight? You serious?!" He seemed as excited as a kid on Christmas morning.

I smiled, nodding. "Yeah, after all this work, it could be fun to see what the future King of the Pirates has got."

Luffy cracked his knuckles, enthusiasm overflowing. "Alright, but I'm warning you, I won't hold back!"

I chuckled, standing up straight. "I wouldn't expect anything less. Let's finish here, and we'll find a quiet spot for it."

As we moved away from the village, we reached a secluded clearing, hidden from any prying eyes. The spot was perfect for a fight with no interruptions. I glanced at Luffy, who was practically bouncing with excitement, and out of reflex, I decided to scan him before we started.

Name: Monkey D. Luffy

Health: More resilient than a cockroach

Specialty: Close combat and willpower

Heart: Golden yellow, brave and kind

I stifled a nervous laugh. "More resilient than a cockroach, huh? Maybe I should've thought twice before suggesting this fight..."

I motioned for Luffy to start. Without wasting a second, he rushed towards me, his feet pounding the ground with boundless energy. "Gum-Gum Pistol!" he shouted, his fist suddenly stretching at lightning speed.

I tried to dodge, but his fist struck me squarely in the stomach... except instead of knocking me down, the blow bounced off like nothing had happened. Luffy stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide with surprise. I admit, I was just as surprised as he was.

"Huh?! What was that?!" he exclaimed, his mouth hanging open.

"I don't know, but it seems pretty useful," I said with a shrug, a amused smile on my face. It seemed like the Rondouillard's ability to cancel physical hits from the front had kicked in.

Luffy looked at me, a mix of astonishment and excitement on his face. "That's so cool! Do it again!"

I didn't give him a chance to react and dodged his "Gum-Gum Whip" by sinking into the ground, becoming a shadow. Luffy frowned, looking around for where I'd gone. "Hey, where'd you go?!" he shouted, clearly perplexed.

I reappeared behind him, canceling my merge with the ground, and tested another idea. I thought of a fireball... and there it was! A ball of flames shot out from my hands, flying straight at Luffy.

"Whoa!" he yelled, swatting the fireball away with his bare hand. But a moment later, he jumped into the air, holding his burned hand. "Ow, hot, hot, hot!!" He frantically blew on his hand, trying to cool it down. "That's not fair! Who uses fire in a fight?!"

I couldn't help but laugh as I watched him hop around, waving his hand wildly. "You're the one who wanted a fight, Luffy! You're not the only one with tricks up your sleeve, you know."

Luffy straightened up, still wearing that childish grin. "You're strong, Jordan. That was a great fight!"

I smiled, brushing off my clothes. "You're not bad yourself, Luffy. You've got some moves that come out of nowhere—literally." We laughed together, exhausted but satisfied from the fight.

As we walked side by side, heading back to the village, Luffy suddenly turned his head towards me, his expression unusually serious.

"Hey, Jordan… wanna join my crew?"

I stopped for a moment, caught off guard by the question. "Your crew? You mean the one for becoming the Pirate King?" I asked, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

Luffy nodded vigorously, his face lighting up with excitement. "Yeah! You're strong, and you've got awesome powers. If we fight together, we'll be unstoppable!"

I crossed my arms, thinking it over for a second. "I might consider it, but there's one condition."

Luffy furrowed his brow, curious. "What condition?"

I looked at him, my tone serious. "I get a say in decisions that affect the whole crew. If I think you're making a bad call, I want to be able to step in. We're a team, and that means respect and making decisions together."

Luffy blinked, processing my words. Then, without a moment's hesitation, he burst out laughing. "Alright! That works for me! I like you, Jordan. You've got good ideas. You'll be my first mate!"

I was caught off guard by the sudden promotion. "First mate?! That's a big role. Are you sure about that?"

Luffy grinned widely, his typical enthusiasm never wavering. "Of course I'm sure! We're gonna be the greatest pirate crew ever, you and me. I can feel it!"

I shook my head, amused by his endless energy. "Alright then. Deal, Captain."

And just like that, I had signed on for an adventure that I knew would change my life. Luffy gave me a hearty slap on the back, and we continued our walk back to the village, fully aware that a new chapter in our lives was just beginning.