It's been nearly ten years since I first crossed paths with him.
Not in some dramatic, fated way. We simply met as enemies—on a battlefield.
Back then, I was still wandering the Four Blues, though I'd briefly returned to the Grand Line for a bit of minor business. Since I was in the area, I decided to stop by Elena… and along the way, I happened to run into a pirate ship headed in the same direction.
It was Gasparde's ship.
Gasparde was an oddity among pirates: a former Marine officer. Within the ranks, his very existence had been treated as a disgrace—so much so that people reportedly called him "the greatest stain in Marine history."
His bounty was 95,000,000 berries, and he'd earned the nickname "Pirate General."
In the middle stretch of the Grand Line, a number like that was no joke. Some feared him. Others admired him as the very image of lawless strength. With followers like that at his back, he rampaged around like a proper pirate.
His Devil Fruit was the Syrop-Syrop Fruit. He was a Syrop Human—able to turn his body into a sticky, viscous substance at will. Ordinary attacks couldn't touch him, and back then, most people around him didn't have Haki. That alone made him terrifying.
…Still, even at the time—when I'd only just gotten the hang of Haki—he wasn't much of a challenge. I beat him down quickly.
Since he'd been heading toward Elena, I made sure the message was unmistakable.
Don't you dare lay a finger on my favorite town.
I sank one of the three ships under his command. The other two turned tail and ran, and I decided that was good enough. I let them go.
I'd thought I'd knocked Gasparde himself into the sea, but apparently his crew managed to fish him out.
That was our first encounter.
So why am I, of all people, calling someone like him to treat Saga?
The answer is simple.
After Gasparde's defeat, Papa took him—and his entire crew—under his wing.
These days, he commands multiple ships. Papa values him not just for his strength, but for his leadership and his experience as a former Marine officer.
Of course, I didn't know any of that back then. I hadn't even met Papa yet. So when we ran into each other later, it was awkward in the dumbest way.
"Wait… what are you doing here?"
That kind of awkward.
Still. Whatever happened in the past, he's more or less on our side now. He's learned Haki, grown far stronger than he used to be, and I've come to rely on him quite a bit.
"So, Gasparde," I asked, "what do you think? Can he be healed?"
"Don't ask me, miss. I'm not the one doing the exam." He turned, impatient. "Well? What's the verdict?"
"Y-yes," the doctor said. "Just as Lady Sue predicted, his nerves appear to be damaged… but at this level, a combination of surgery and medication should be enough to restore them."
"…!" Maya's breath caught. "Is that—really true?!"
We were aboard Gasparde's ship, anchored offshore.
One of his vessels was essentially a hospital ship, staffed mostly by underground doctors with exceptional skill. That was where Saga and Maya were examined.
Honestly, Gasparde's face is terrifying. He looks like the textbook definition of a pirate. After an actual pirate raid, I didn't think it was wise to have him stroll onto Asuka Island in person. For everyone's peace of mind—and to avoid unnecessary panic—I kept him offshore.
Even Saga visibly stiffened the first time he saw him.
I'd already explained everything to Saga, so he managed not to lose his composure, but the tension was obvious. It clung to him through the entire examination.
Now, Saga's arm.
The prognosis was excellent. A full recovery was expected—though nerve damage still takes time, of course.
Once the doctor finished explaining and obtained Saga's consent, we began immediately. Preparations were already complete, so it felt less like scheduling a surgery and more like being swept along in a current.
Saga was wheeled into the operating room, anesthesia took him under, and—
It was over shockingly fast.
Not even an hour. Honestly, it didn't feel like thirty minutes had passed before they were done.
And it wasn't just his arm. They treated his other injuries too. When he came out, he was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, the air heavy with antiseptic.
Impressive.
Even though he was no longer affiliated with Drum—the medical superpower—this doctor's hands were the real thing.
…Come to think of it, in the original story, Wapol got slashed by Dalton and received surgery on the spot outdoors, and the whole thing was played like a gag.
This world's medical standards can be absurd when the right people are involved.
About an hour later, the anesthesia wore off.
Saga woke to find his right arm wrapped and rigidly immobilized. He stared at it as if it belonged to someone else.
With Maya beside him, he listened as the surgeon calmly explained the next steps.
"Wait… so I don't even need to stay hospitalized?" Saga asked. "I can go back to the island and live normally?"
"Exactly," the surgeon replied. "You do need to keep the arm completely still until it's properly set. Rest at home. But you're young, and you're in remarkable condition. It shouldn't take long."
The surgeon sounded genuinely impressed. "You must train rigorously."
"Roughly speaking," he continued, "you should be able to move your hand in three to five days. Within two weeks, you'll be able to handle most daily activities without problems."
"So soon…?"
Maya's eyes shimmered. "Unbelievable… The doctor we saw before said it would never move again…"
"It's not that the previous doctor was incompetent," the surgeon said. "But my homeland was once called 'Drum, the Medical Superpower.' We had some of the world's most advanced technology… and we also have several new drugs."
(Gasparde… that "new drug" is probably not officially approved, is it?)
(Yeah, but it's effective and considered safe. No nasty trade-offs. No bizarre side effects. Don't worry.)
I nodded quietly. Good.
Besides, if pirates developed it, the World Government was never going to stamp it with approval anyway.
While I had the chance…
"Doctor—Saga's a swordsman, right? When can he start training again?"
"Sword training…" The doctor thought. "Light rehabilitation in about three weeks, as long as it isn't too strenuous. But what kind of training are we talking about?"
"His usual routine," I said. "Push-ups with a heavy rock strapped to his back, sword swings with an iron rod weighted with rocks, and swimming around the whole island for lung capacity…"
.........
The doctor went silent.
Wait. He actually does that?
This man trains like he's trying to become some three-sword-style monster.
"Well," the doctor finally said, very carefully, "given your body's resilience… it might be possible. But I still recommend you refrain for at least three weeks. After that, gradually increase the load and pay close attention to your body's response. You should be fine, but if you feel pain or discomfort—especially in the bones—stop immediately and rest."
"…Thank you," Saga said.
It was a short reply, but the joy under it was unmistakable.
The reality was sinking in.
He would be able to wield a sword again.
And he might already be looking forward to it.
Still, recovery came first. I didn't want him doing something stupid—like he did when he tried to intercept me while half-dead.
I'd have to make sure Maya watched him closely.
If he tried to throw himself into brutal training before he'd healed… and tore something worse this time… it wouldn't be funny at all.
"By the way," I asked, "what about the medical bills?"
"Since you were introduced by Miss Sue," Gasparde said, "I'll cover it. Just this once." He glanced aside, as if remembering something. "Oh. And I brought the thing you asked for."
"Huh? Really?" I brightened. "Thanks, Gasparde!"
He barked an order, and one of his men brought it in.
A sword.
It was a treasure Gasparde had taken from a pirate ship he'd sunk recently. He didn't use swords himself, and since it was a graded blade, it was too valuable to hand out to ordinary crewmen. He'd kept it locked away.
"I'm giving this to Saga," Gasparde said. "A gift."
"A-Are you sure?" Saga stared at it. "I'm grateful, but… this feels like an exceptional blade…"
"Don't worry about it." I grinned. "I got the Seven Star Sword too, remember? Hey, Gasparde—what's this one called?"
"It's a graded sword called Shidō. Or so I'm told. I'm not a sword guy. I had my men look it up."
Saga wrapped his left hand around the hilt, testing the balance with the care of someone who understood steel.
A smile—quiet, determined, almost boyish—spread across his face.
Wow.
He's practically glowing like a kid who just got the toy he's wanted his whole life.
Does he realize he can't swing it for at least three weeks?
Maya stood there watching him, her expression hovering somewhere between exasperation and fond amusement.
…Yeah. I should probably have Maya hold onto that for now.
"I owe you," Saga said. His voice was steady, heavy with sincerity. "Not just for my arm—also for the island, for Maya… and for dealing with that cursed blade. If there's ever anything I can do to repay you, just say the word. I'll give you everything I've got."
"Thank you," Maya said softly. "Truly… thank you."
They bowed together.
I waved it off, keeping my tone light. "It's fine, it's fine. I got what I wanted too—interesting stories, good material, and a surprisingly fun trip."
After dropping Saga back on the island, I took a ride with Gasparde and left Asuka Island immediately.
Unexpected treasure, and an unexpectedly enjoyable detour.
Not bad at all.
Ah—right.
Later, I should have the Seven Star Sword appraised by a proper swordsmith. I want to know just how exceptional it really is.
Its decorations are Japanese in style, but the blade is double-edged, and that vivid jade-green sheen gives it an oddly Western impression. I wonder if it has a grade of its own.
Either way, I can't just hand it off carelessly. Unless someone has solid Haki, they'd probably be cursed the moment they touched it.
For now, I'll store it inside my body.
I doubt I'll ever need to use it. I already have Floating Cloud—the blade Hancock gave me.
Still… as a spare weapon, it wouldn't hurt to have, right?
To be continued...