Daz Bones was soaking in the cold water, his whole body dazed and weak.
What Devil Fruit users feared, water, didn't refer to just seawater. Freshwater was just as bad.
The so-called curse of being rejected by the "sea" was actually a general term. It included rivers, swimming pools, bathtubs, any place filled with water.
Once fully submerged in such an environment, Devil Fruit users would lose their powers and control over their bodies.
If only half the body, or just limbs, were submerged, the symptoms weren't as severe.
As for getting caught in the rain? That wouldn't have much of an effect.
So when Daz Bones was thrown into the fountain with only his head above the surface, he was completely helpless, like a fish on a chopping board.
Not to mention he was already seriously injured and wrapped in heavy chains.
"Buck, go keep watch. Don't let anyone get close. I need to have a private word with this guy."
"Got it, Big Bro Jay."
Buck didn't ask any questions and quickly left.
Beside the fountain, Jay looked at Daz Bones, whose eyes were closed, and suddenly said, "Drop the act. I know you've been awake for a while."
No response.
Jay just smiled casually. "Last chance, either we talk, or you die here."
"Kill me. I won't reveal who hired me."
Daz Bones opened his eyes and replied slowly.
Jay nodded. "You've got principles. I like that. But you're overthinking, I don't care who paid you to do the job."
"I just want to ask if you're interested in becoming a Marine."
"Marine? Do you think that's possible? If you're trying to humiliate me, you can save it."
Daz Bones' expression was laced with mockery.
A killer drowning in blood, switching to the path of justice as a Marine? What kind of joke was that? Was this guy brain-dead?
But Jay's face remained deadly serious, his gaze locked on Daz.
Gradually, Daz fell silent too.
After a while, he asked, "Why me?"
"I need a right-hand man. Someone to handle things I can't be involved in directly. I think you're the perfect fit."
"What's your rank in the Marines? Lieutenant Commander? Major?"
"Neither. I'm just a Corporal."
"A lowly Corporal wants to recruit me? And what exactly can you offer? Do you even know how much I make per kill?"
Daz let out another cold laugh, thinking Jay was out of his mind.
It was like a waiter trying to hire a top-tier lawyer to deal with customer disputes, ridiculous and unnecessary.
But despite Daz's attitude, Jay wasn't angry.
He calmly said, "Exactly because I currently have nothing, that's why scum like you have the chance to receive my offer."
"To me, ranks like Major and Lieutenant Commander mean nothing."
"Even the titles of Admiral or Fleet Admiral, those will just be stops along my journey."
"People say the Marines are just dogs raised by the Celestial Dragons, but I don't see it that way."
"I don't know how much you earn for a hit, but I do know, no matter how much I pay you, you wouldn't dare assassinate a Celestial Dragon."
"But I would."
"You ask what I can offer? My answer: Opportunity. An opportunity you would never dare dream of in your entire life."
"So, are you planning to rot in the West Blue, only daring to kill a few women? Or are you coming with me, to take down the Warlords, the Four Emperors, the World Nobles?"
Shock.
At first, Daz was angry at being called scum.
But as he listened to Jay's ambition, he was left with only one feeling, shock.
It was like watching a nobody civil servant confidently declare they would become president one day.
This kind of person was either an idiot... or a clown.
But for some reason, staring into Jay's calm and determined eyes, Daz found himself unable to laugh.
Instead, a bizarre feeling crept into his heart, This guy... might actually be serious.
The Warlords... The Four Emperors... World Nobles... Admirals... Fleet Admirals...
These were all untouchable legends to someone like him.
The gap in status was just too vast.
"Do I... really have what it takes?"
In that moment, Daz Bones was lost.
But lost or not, if such an opportunity truly existed, how could he not want to try?
Forget reaching for the stars, if he could just take down one Warlord, the mere thought made him tremble with excitement!
Killing regular people? What's the fun in that? If he was going to swing a blade, it had to be at a Warlord!
Daz's eyes finally grew firm.
He didn't know if this decision was right or wrong, but he was willing to bet on this crazy Marine standing before him.
"From today on, the killer Daz Bones is dead. The man standing here now is Marine Daz Bones."
Jay smiled at those words. "Welcome aboard, Bones."
To erase all loose ends
Jay found a corpse to pose as Daz Bones, burned it publicly, and declared that the assassin had died under interrogation due to his injuries.
Just like that, the killer Daz Bones ceased to exist.
The reborn Marine Daz Bones was secretly let go by Jay to recover from his wounds.
Jay told him to come find him once he was fully healed.
As for whether Bones might escape or betray him? Jay didn't care.
Even if he ran, Jay wouldn't really lose anything.
After all, the guy was just a hitman, not even wanted, with no bounty on his head.
Besides, in the original story, Daz Bones was clearly a man of loyalty.
Not only was he utterly devoted to Crocodile, he even chose to follow him again after escaping Impel Down.
And don't say that's because of Crocodile's charisma, remember, Mr. 3 also escaped Impel Down...
But he chose to join Buggy the Clown instead.
(Of course, with the Cross Guild forming, Mr. 3 was once again "forced" back under Crocodile.)
Anyway, back on topic.
As the saying goes: Don't use someone you doubt, and don't doubt someone you use.
As long as Daz Bones hadn't done anything to betray him, Jay was willing to give him full trust.
Building his own crew, the sooner, the better.