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When Aero asked who wanted to challenge Gin, the deck fell utterly silent.
No one stepped forward.
After all, over the past few days, many had tried to join the Hurricane Pirates only to be rejected by Aero himself for being too weak. He didn't sugarcoat things. If he didn't like you, you didn't make it aboard.
But Gin had made the cut.
Which meant one thing:
He was dangerous.
No one volunteered to fight him, and Aero sighed, facepalming.
With a helpless expression, Aero turned to Gin, who stood ready and serious.
"Guess I've got no choice. From now on, you're officially one of us," Aero declared.
"Wait… what?" Gin blinked, confused.
Aero grinned. "Everyone, welcome our new crewmate!"
A few awkward claps echoed across the deck. It was… an unconventional welcome but pure Aero style.
In this world, if you wanted to become a core member of a pirate crew, you had to be strong.
Being an officer wasn't just about title or perks.
It meant putting your life on the line in every major battle.
But in pirate culture, strength was everything.
If the captain said someone strong enough could join, the rest of the crew wouldn't object.
Besides, this was a ship of warriors.
Just like Dylan and Eddie, each with bounties in the 12-million range, Gin had now earned his place.
(Note: In the original canon, Gin had a bounty of 12 million, just like Eddie in this adaptation.)
Gin hadn't expected it to be that easy.
He thought he'd need to prove himself by delivering the head of a renowned pirate with a bounty in the millions.
He never thought he'd be invited onboard.
"Alright, enough standing around. Follow me," Aero said.
He turned to Dylan and Eddie. "You two, too."
They followed Aero into the captain's quarters. Dylan closed the door behind them as Aero lit an oil lamp and took the seat at the head of the table.
Whenever serious decisions or future plans came up, Aero held private officer meetings.
He opened immediately.
"We've caught the attention of the World Government."
Dylan added, "We haven't encountered any warships yet. But Bugsy, who's got ties with the Marines on Rubber Island, told us the local commander wants to use his kingdom's militia to hunt pirates."
Aero nodded. "True. Krieg's public recruitment campaign, claiming 5,000 pirates, is a bigger target right now. We're still under the radar."
He continued, "After we defeated Arlong, the Marines deployed three full warships just to escort him to Enies Lobby for trial. They're taking us seriously."
Gin, listening quietly, began to realize just how much weight this crew carried. There were unseen alliances… military connections… and raw power that far exceeded what was visible.
He made a mental note:
I need to learn everything about this crew. Quickly.
Eddie then spoke up with rare seriousness.
"Our total bounty is already over 60 million. It's only a matter of time before the Navy sends real trouble our way."
"Exactly," Aero said. "That's why our next target… is Krieg."
The name stirred the room.
"Bugsy already made a move on his ships," Aero continued. "Which means Krieg's probably furious with us already."
"If we want to rule these waters, Arlong is down. Krieg's the only real threat left."
Gin spoke for the first time. "Krieg isn't much. I met him once. He tried to recruit me as his combat commander. I refused."
Everyone turned to him. He continued,
"The only challenge is his numbers 5,000 pirates under his command."
Eddie snorted and grinned. "Numbers mean nothing to our captain."
And for once, Aero didn't correct him. He simply nodded.
"Krieg thinks 50 ships make him invincible," Aero said coldly. "But in truth, it just means his death will take a little longer to arrive."
Gin was stunned.
He'd seen Krieg's fleet himself and found it overwhelming. Even the Marines hadn't made any progress against him.
But here was a young pirate captain dismissing Krieg's entire force like it was nothing.
Excitement and a bit of anxiety flooded Gin's chest.
Maybe this captain… really is that strong.
"Have you all heard?" Aero asked suddenly. "Fire Fist Ace turned down the World Government's offer to become a Warlord."
The room fell silent.
They waited for him to continue.
"Many pirates scoff at the title, calling it a government leash," Aero said. "But I want it."
The officers blinked.
"I need the 'legal pirate' title to buy time to prepare for the coming storm."
Dylan was the first to respond. "I support whatever you decide, Captain."
Eddie grinned. "Like I could stop you anyway."
All eyes turned to Gin, the new guy.
Realizing he hadn't spoken, he scratched his head awkwardly and said, "…I was just trying to remember who the Seven Warlords are."
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