Chapter 17
[1 week later]
We arrived at an ordinary-looking town.
I looked at Sabo, Ace, and Deuce.
"Figure out who is going to stay behind and guard the ship and who is going to buy supplies."
I jumped off the ship and onto land. I started walking through the town.
'I wonder if he is already discharged.'
After searching for a little bit, I finally found the sheriff's office. I walked into the small office with one desk. It looks really clean. I looked around and saw a nameplate on the desk that said "Laffitte".
'It seems like he still works here. I guess he must be busy cutting people up. Even though he is excessively violent and unnecessarily cruel, that was only against criminals. So I have no problem with inviting him to my crew. I just need to keep him under control.'
I went to his chair and sat down. I placed my feet on his desk and waited for him.
[1 hour later]
I sensed someone coming towards the office. A tall and slim guy walked in. He looks incredibly pale. He is wearing an off-white collared long-sleeve shirt patterned with yellow crosses and navy jumper pants. He is also wearing a classic black top hat and red wooden cane, with which he also wears a pair of gold hoop earrings. His lips are abnormally dark red.
He looked at me and smiled.
"What can I help you with?"
I smiled back.
"Are you Laffitte?"
"Yes, I am."
"I heard that you like to go overboard on criminals."
He kept smiling.
"Tell your boss that that is just a false rumor."
'Does he think that I'm working for the marines or something?'
I pulled out my gun.
"I have done some research, and I have seen with my own eyes what you do."
He got a serious look on his face. He looked a little tense.
I put my gun away and smiled at him.
"But why should I care. I'm a pirate, after all."
He relaxed a little bit and smiled.
"Why have you come here looking for me? You know that I'm supposed to arrest you."
"I came here to give you an offer."
"An offer? Why should I take the offer of a pirate?"
I smirked.
"Because you have no other choice."
He tensed up again.
"Calm down. I'm not going to force you to do anything. But it won't be long before the marines find out about what you're doing."
"What is your point?"
I smiled at him.
"Join me, and you'll have enough people to do with whatever you want. But they have to be bad people or after our lives. So I won't accept hurting innocent people even if they're marines."
"Hahaha, as long as I have this job, I'm not interested."
"Are you su-"
I suddenly sensed a big group of people coming here.
*WOOSH*
I disappeared and appeared on the roof of a building on the other side of the street.
The big group stopped in front of the office.
A big muscular man stepped out in front of the other marines.
"Demon Sheriff Laffitte, come out!"
Laffitte walked out of the building.
"What can I help you with?"
"How can you let pirates dock at this town and do nothing about it! I had to send half of my unit to take care of your mess."
'He better start praying for his men.'
"Now, for the reason we came here. We've got orders from above. You're from now on removed of your position as sheriff, and you're exiled from this town."
'Perfect timing.'
He looked at me, and I smirked.
He smiled at me.
"Does your offer still stand?"
I nodded.
He gave a polite bow.
"I thank you for giving me a second chance."
The marines looked confused at first, and then they looked at me.
"Who are you?" asked the big guy
*WOOSH*
*BAM*
*BAM*
*BAM*
*BAM*
*BAM*
I knocked all of them out.
I looked at Laffitte and smirked.
"Now, you know that you aren't going to be following a weakling."
He smiled at me.
"From the moment I saw you, I could already tell that you are strong."
'Maybe his specialty lies in observation Haki.'
"Let's go. I'll show you to my crew."
"Do you think they're ok?"
I smiled at him.
"Don't worry. I'm sure that they won't be too harsh on the marines."
"Hahaha, I won't worry then."
When we arrived at the ship, we could see a pile of unconscious marines.
I jumped on the ship, and Laffitte followed me.
"Yo guys, come and say hello to your new crewmate, Laffitte."
"Yo, my name is Ace."
"I'm Sabo."
"And I'm the strongest of the three, Deuce!"
*BAM*
*BAM*
He got two punches on his head.
"Hahaha, you have a funny crew. I'm sure that I'll fit right in."
"Good to hear."
I threw him the log pose.
"Do you know what this is?"
"Yes, it's a log pose."
"Do you know how to use it?"
He had a proud look on his face.
"Of course, I know how to use it. I know a lot about navigation, and I haven't met anyone who can beat me in it."
"That's good to hear. Now let's finally start our real journey towards the Grand Line."
I walked towards my cabin.
"Laffitte, you are now our navigator, so tell them what they should do. Wake me up when it's time for dinner."
I went into my cabin and layed down on my bed.
'I need to keep my eye on him till I can trust him. But as long as I give him what he wants, I don't think that he'll do anything against me. If he becomes as loyal to me as he was to Blackbeard, he'll be extremely useful for my goal.'
"Sigh."
'Having a good crew is only the beginning. I will also need allies and something like a grand fleet. I already have people and crews in mind. I don't want to take anything from Luffy, but some things are necessary. Like Nico Robin. If I don't have her, my chances of becoming the Pirate King will be extremely low.'
I looked out of the window.
"If I want to do it without her, I will need to have the Voice of All Things. And that probability is extremely low. But I know that Luffy has it, so I trust that he can figure it out with his "armor"."
[1 week later]
We were back at Reverse Mountain. I sat back on the front of the ship.
"This time you don't have to do anything, Ace. Just let the current take us to the Grand Line."
He nodded.
We got onto Reverse Mountain, and we started to soar upward. A little bit later, we arrived at the top.
*WOOSH*
The ship flew into the air again. Everyone was holding on for dear life, but I kept sitting on the front.
(Chakra! Just kidding.)
"ONE PIECE HERE I COME!!!"