Perhaps it was the sound of waves that stirred him awake.
The gentle rocking, unfamiliar on land, was a sensation Luffy knew well—the ship riding the ocean's swell. Realizing this, he couldn't help but wonder.
His consciousness surfaced, and with bleary eyes, Luffy opened them to the sky. Sprawled flat on his back, he saw the faint light of dawn creeping in. The night had given way to morning. Seabirds wheeled overhead, their cries mingling with the tranquil waves, painting a serene moment.
Sitting up, he scratched his head and scanned the deck. Voices drew his attention—Usopp and Sanji, shouting about something.
"Why'd we leave the island?!" Usopp wailed. "It was such a great town! Who knows if we'll ever find another place that welcoming?!"
"Yeah, let's go back!" Sanji added. "A beautiful lady's waiting for me!"
"You two are too loud," Nami snapped, silencing them with a fist.
Luffy realized he was on the Going Merry, already sailing. His eyes widened in surprise. Setting sail without the captain's call was a first, and though he wasn't angry, it caught him off guard.
Standing, he glanced at Usopp and Sanji, now nursing their lumps, then spotted Kiri at the ship's bow, perched on a raised platform. Still groggy, Luffy called out, his voice low. "Hey, Kiri, we're sailing?"
"Oh, you're up," Kiri said. "Morning, Luffy."
"Something happen?"
"Sort of," Kiri said. "We've got business to handle. Also…"
Following Kiri's gaze, Luffy noticed Vivi and Igaram. Unaware of their true identities, he likely still thought of them as Miss Wednesday and Mayor Igarappoi. Tilting his head, he crossed his arms, puzzled but curious. Kiri shrugged with a wry smile.
"Why're they here?" Luffy asked.
"I'll explain now," Kiri said. "Was waiting for everyone to wake up."
"Huh," Luffy said.
The whole crew was gathered on deck—Usopp and Sanji sulking, Zoro, Nami, Silk, and now Vivi and Igaram, fresh from a nap. With everyone present, Kiri was ready to begin. Sitting on the railing, he scanned the group, his smile steady as he addressed them.
"So, where to start… Let's talk about our goal moving forward," Kiri said. "Luffy, sorry for the after-the-fact report. That okay?"
"Fine by me," Luffy said. "You're the vice-captain."
"Thanks," Kiri said. "Let's go step by step."
Straightening, he began, first looking at Vivi and Igaram. "Might as well start with introductions. Princess Vivi of Alabasta and her guard, Igaram."
"Miss Wednesday was a princess?!" Sanji exclaimed, eyes sparkling. "No wonder she's so radiant! I'm thrilled she's on board!"
"That's not the point," Usopp muttered. "A princess, really?"
"The real deal," Kiri confirmed.
Sanji turned to Vivi, beaming, clearly delighted by her presence. Usopp, skeptical, eyed her warily. Vivi, under their scrutiny, shifted uncomfortably.
"Why's a princess here? That's the question," Kiri said. "It's a bit complicated. Whiskey Peak was a trap for hunting pirates. An organization was targeting bounties for cash. These two infiltrated that group, posing as members, for their own reasons."
"What organization?" Usopp asked.
"Baroque Works," Kiri said. "A secretive outfit that keeps its info locked tight. They're after Alabasta, and Vivi and Igaram joined them to gather intel and stop their plans."
"Whoa, that's like something out of a story," Usopp said.
"What's 'after Alabasta' mean?" Zoro asked. "I can guess, but spell it out."
"Their endgame is building an ideal nation," Kiri said. "To do that, they plan to take over Alabasta itself."
Kiri spoke with calm certainty, his fluency almost unnatural. Even those unaware of the full context stiffened, sensing something off. Those who'd pieced together bits from Whiskey Peak grew more certain of their suspicions.
Tension gripped the deck, heavy and undeniable. Kiri maintained his smile, while Luffy fixed him with a serious gaze.
"We're heading to Alabasta," Kiri said. "It's not a straight shot from here, so first, we need a route to get there."
"Protecting the princess, huh?" Usopp said. "But why us?"
"I'm all for guarding Vivi-chan," Sanji said, "but yeah, I want a reason. And Kiri, you seem awfully clued in. What's the deal?"
Kiri sighed. "Yeah, figured that'd come up."
Their questions were expected, inevitable. Taking a breath, he steeled himself, ready to speak without hesitation. "I know a lot about Baroque Works," he said. "Even stuff no one should—like the boss's face, name, and who he is."
"What?!" Usopp gasped. "How? No one's supposed to know that!"
"The boss running Baroque Works is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Sir Crocodile," Kiri said, eyes lowering.
A pause, then, "Crocodile… is my savior."
The deck fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in.
The mention of a Warlord stunned them first. The Seven Warlords—only seven pirates in the world, allied with the government, their strength and fame enough to intimidate most. Knowing one led Baroque Works meant they'd likely face him as an enemy, a daunting prospect.
Then came the shock of "savior." Kiri's past was largely a mystery, and this revelation, tied to such a figure, hit harder than his connection to Brook. A Baroque Works member, saved by Crocodile himself. The crew froze, staring at Kiri in stunned silence.
"I lost my crew and was near death when he saved me on a whim," Kiri said. "I was twelve. He took me in, trained me, and turned my Paper-Paper Fruit ability from just turning into paper to manipulating it. He's an expert on Devil Fruits. He taught me plenty—blackmail, intel handling, even navigating the Grand Line."
The air grew heavy as Kiri opened his eyes. "The me standing here was shaped by him," he said. "Without him, I probably wouldn't be alive."
The crew held their breath, the gravity of his words palpable. Luffy broke the silence. "What's a Warlord again?"
"Are you serious?!" Usopp shouted. "Remember that!"
"Basically, a really strong pirate," Kiri said. "That's enough to know."
"Oh, got it," Luffy said.
"You're okay with that?!" Usopp yelled.
Luffy's carefree response, followed by Kiri's wry chuckle, eased the tension slightly. The crew, along with Vivi and Igaram, relaxed a fraction, though the situation remained charged.
"So this strong guy was your buddy?" Luffy asked.
"'Was' is the tricky part," Kiri said. "That's why we're going to Alabasta. Helping Vivi and Igaram is a side benefit for me."
"Huh?" Luffy said.
"Remember what I told Arlong?" Kiri said. "Those were the boss's words to me."
Luffy's face darkened, sensing trouble. Kiri pressed on. "We've got unfinished business. Right now, I'm technically still his. I joined you as your crew, but he's not letting that slide, and he's not someone I can ignore. Since I'm back in these seas, I need to settle things."
"Why bother?" Nami asked, flustered. "Just run! You were in the East Blue, right? That was you escaping. Do it again!"
Kiri shook his head, his expression serious. "I didn't escape—he let me go. He could've caught me easily, dragged me back, but he chose not to. That was his call."
"So you're the Warlord's property?" Silk said, her voice tinged with sadness. "You're not… our crew?"
"Technically, yeah," Kiri admitted.
Luffy's face twisted, baring his teeth as he recalled their promise. "That's nonsense!" he shouted. "You're my crew, Kiri!"
"That's why I need to go to Alabasta," Kiri said. "If you all accept me, that'd mean the world, but I can't call myself your crew with pride until I settle things with him."
"What do we do?" Luffy asked. "Beat this Crocodile guy?"
"Yeah," Kiri said. "That's the only way."
"Got it," Luffy said, slamming his fist. "I'll take down Crocodile! You're my crew, after all."
His nose flared with excitement, already fired up. Kiri's face softened, his voice shifting with a hint of pain. "He's a Warlord, though," he said. "I know his strength better than anyone. Facing him means risking our lives. This isn't an enemy we can beat on momentum alone."
He scanned the crew, his gaze lonely yet resolute. He had to say it, for their sake, despite the cost to himself. "You can still back out," he said. "If we keep sailing, I—"
"Kiri," Luffy cut in, his tone sharp. "Don't say boring stuff like that."
Kiri froze, regretting his words under Luffy's fierce gaze. He'd been caught—Luffy wasn't the type to abandon a crewmate, no matter the enemy. Kiri should've known from when Luffy saved Nami.
Staring at Kiri, Luffy declared, "I chose you as my crew. I don't care what you did before. Strong enemy or not, I'll handle it. So stay on my ship—always."
"It'll cause trouble," Kiri said.
"Don't care," Luffy said. "You're always saving my ass anyway."
"Hah… true," Kiri said, chuckling.
Luffy grinned broadly, and the crew finally smiled too. Every one of them—without exception—met Kiri's gaze with warmth, signaling their agreement with Luffy and their refusal to abandon him.
Kiri's wry smile erased the words he'd held back. He'd never voice them again, resolving to move forward. With the crew's support, the question wasn't whether to fight, but how to win. Knowing Crocodile as he did, victory seemed nearly impossible. Their current strength was too risky.
What did they need to triumph? As he pondered, Kiri turned to Vivi. "Beating Crocodile and Baroque Works won't be easy," he said. "We'll need Alabasta's royal forces. Our goals align—stopping their plan before it succeeds. That's our victory. So, will you work with us?"
"I… Can we trust you?" Vivi asked.
"That's for you to decide," Kiri said. "But think carefully. Crocodile's a pirate, like us, but as a Warlord, he's backed by the government. That's how he's pulled this off—public trust. The government's complicity weighs heavily here."
"T-that's…" Vivi stammered.
"With me, you've got an edge," Kiri said. "I know more about Baroque Works than you could've uncovered."
Vivi fell silent, knowing he was right. Her infiltration as a mere agent paled against Kiri's insider knowledge. Seeing her struggle, Igaram spoke gently but firmly. "Lady Vivi, we should accept their help. Our goals are aligned."
"Alright," Vivi said. "I understand."
"Thanks," Kiri said.
Trust wasn't guaranteed, but Vivi had little choice. The crew understood her hesitation. Still, she faced them resolutely. "Everyone," she said, "please forgive my rudeness during our infiltration. I ask, despite my impertinence, for your help to save my country."
"Man, you talk fancy," Luffy said. "Just say it simple."
"Simple?" Vivi said, confused.
"No need to beg," Luffy said. "We're pirates—we do what we want."
Vivi blinked, puzzled, but Kiri smiled. "He means we'll help," he said. "Luffy's just doing what suits him, so no thanks needed."
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed.
"Oh… okay," Vivi said.
"That's settled, but what now?" Nami asked, flustered. "The log hasn't set. The compass is useless. We can't navigate like this. What's your plan?"
Her concern was valid—Whiskey Peak's short stay hadn't allowed the Log Pose to reset, making Grand Line navigation impossible. Her urgency stemmed from her navigational instincts. Kiri nodded, answering easily. "Normally, that'd be a fatal mistake, but our destination doesn't need a log. We're going somewhere we can get an Eternal Pose."
"Where's that?" Luffy asked.
Kiri's smile widened, his expression almost gleeful. The calm waves and quiet sea carried his voice clearly. The crew looked up, their faces bright with anticipation, sensing his newfound energy. Picturing a nostalgic place, he declared to them all, "Pirate Island."
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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