On Nue's broad back, Ace lay tightly bound in shackles, his body shifting with each sudden movement of the beast. His face twitched faintly, but unconsciousness kept him silent. The wind roared violently at such heights, carrying the faint tang of salt from the endless sea below.
Lafitte sat with perfect posture, cane sword balanced across his lap, his pale, painted face calm despite the turbulent winds. His crimson-tipped hat tilted slightly in the breeze, yet he looked as composed as ever.
Beside him, Ryuk's crimson eyes were fixed on the horizon, his expression unreadable as if he were lost deep in thought. His long black hair whipped wildly in the gale, but his focus never wavered.
"Ryuk-san," Lafitte spoke suddenly, his tone polite but tinged with genuine curiosity. "May I ask you a question?"
Ryuk shifted his gaze slightly, calm and indifferent. "Hmm. Yes, you may. What do you want to know? If you're curious, go ahead and ask."
Lafitte tilted his head, his ever-present faint smile curling at the corners of his lips, though his thoughts remained unreadable.
"Actually, Ryuk-san," he began, "I was wondering why you insisted on taking this task yourself. You could have left the negotiations with the Marines to the Captain… or even to me. Yet you chose to take the burden personally. Risky, isn't it?" Lafitte's fingers brushed lightly against Nue's feathered back as he added with a small chuckle, "Though I suppose with this adorable creature of yours, you already have your escape route prepared."
Ryuk's lips curved faintly, his voice calm and deliberate. "Well, you're not wrong, Lafitte. Why would I put myself in danger without reason? The truth is, this is the core of our plan our main course. We can't afford mistakes here. Even if the future were known, even if fate itself showed you the path, it would still be your duty to make it smoother, more efficient." His smile sharpened slightly.
Ryuk continued smoothly, "Besides, I have personal matters to settle on Sabaody Archipelago."
"Oh, I see, Ryuk-san. I understand." Lafitte's tone remained respectful, but his brows furrowed slightly. "Though I must admit, I didn't quite follow that part about the future…"
Ryuk chuckled softly, his voice unusually warm, almost teasing. "Think of it this way. Even if you could know the future nothing is ever set in stone. A future is only a possibility, never a guarantee. If you can make it better, you should. That was all I meant."
"I see… yes, I understand now." Lafitte's eyes glimmered faintly as he tilted his head. "Then, if I may… another question. Why did you join the Blackbeard Pirates, Ryuk-san? And how did you meet the Captain?"
Ryuk gave Lafitte a long, searching stare, crimson eyes narrowing as if weighing how much to reveal. At last, he spoke.
"Well… what can I do if it was already written in fate? Perhaps it was inevitable," Ryuk said with a faint smirk. "An opportunity like this doesn't come often. After learning the Captain's backstory, I decided not to miss the chance. So, we made a plan… and here we are."
His gaze sharpened suddenly, locking on Lafitte. "And let me be clear with you, Lafitte. Pirates are loyal to no one. Teach doesn't expect loyalty because he knows better than anyone how hollow it is. Loyalty comes from bonds strong emotions, and yes… even love. That kind of crew exists, but it's rare. To create one requires patience, time, and devotion. Most pirates don't have that."
Ryuk continued , his smirk twisting darker. "But Teach? He doesn't care about love. He only cares about benefits. Interests. He understands he can never be loved, so instead he binds people through fear and power. And isn't that why you're here, Lafitte? You saw an opportunity just like me."
The wind howled around them, cold air whipping against their faces. Ryuk's long black hair lashed in the gale, crimson eyes gleaming like embers in the storm.
"Oh my… Ryuk-san, you truly are something else." Lafitte chuckled softly, tapping his cane sword with one finger. "Perhaps it is fate that we are here together, under the same flag."
"Fate?" Ryuk muttered, his eyes narrowing at the horizon. He gave no outward sign of emotion, but deep inside, he scoffed at the very word. Fate… destiny… what a joke. He believed in neither.
"So then, Ryuk-san," Lafitte asked after a pause, "where exactly are we headed?"
"To the G-1 Marine Base," Ryuk replied calmly.
"G-1 Base, I see… but I thought we were heading for Marineford, the Marines' headquarters. Why G-1 instead?" Lafitte asked, tilting his head slightly, his pale smile still fixed on his lips.
Ryuk's gaze didn't shift from the horizon as he replied calmly, "Hmm. Well, I'm not foolish enough to walk straight into the den of monsters. As I said earlier, I have certain personal matters to deal with at Sabaody Archipelago. Besides, G-1 will serve our purpose. We'll open negotiations with Sengoku through a Den Den Mushi. If they go smoothly, we hand Ace over there."
He paused briefly, his crimson eyes narrowing. "And if they don't… well, the chances of failure are slim. Let's not waste time imagining unlikely outcomes."
Lafitte's cane tapped gently against his leg as he chuckled lightly. "Oh, I see. A cautious plan indeed, Ryuk-san. Though I've heard that G-1 branch has Vice Admirals as well. Not that I doubt you… especially after seeing how you handled Ace."
Ryuk smirked faintly, his lips curling in amusement. "Hmm. Vice Admirals are no problem, Lafitte. If they move against us, I'll deal with them swiftly." His tone hardened slightly, though still calm. "The real problem lies with the Admirals. If one of them shows up, that's when things get… complicated."
The sea wind howled louder around them as Nue cut through the skies, its massive wings stirring violent gusts that shook the air. Below, the endless ocean stretched out like a mirror of dark glass, dotted with the faint silhouettes of ships too small to matter.
Lafitte's eyes lingered on Ryuk, intrigued. " Ryuk-san, your mind works differently than most pirates I've met."
Ryuk said nothing more, only smirked as the horizon came into view, his crimson gaze fixed far beyond it.
------
Sea waves were rolling steadily as a Marine warship cut its path across the waters of the New World. Seagulls wheeled overhead, their cries carried on the salt-stained breeze. The disciplined silence of the deck was broken when a lookout suddenly screamed from the mast.
"Vice Admiral Kain! There's there's a huge bird heading straight for us!"
"What!?" Vice Admiral Kain barked, his voice sharp as steel.
His head snapped toward the horizon. At first, there was only endless blue but then shadows rolled across the deck, blotting out the sun. The Marines' eyes widened as a monstrous figure tore through the sky: Nue.
On Nue's back stood Ryuk, calm as ever, his crimson eyes gleaming faintly. Lafitte sat beside him, posture flawless, cane sword balanced neatly on his lap, his eerie smile unshaken by the monstrous descent.
"Well, Lafitte," Ryuk said calmly, his voice carrying the weight of command, "you stay here. I'll return in a few moments."
Without waiting for a reply, Ryuk leapt from Nue's back.
Boom!
The warship groaned as he landed on deck, boots striking wood with a dull thud. Marines staggered, rifles snapping up instantly. In a heartbeat, ryuk was surrounded by gleaming steel and gun barrels.
Ryuk, however, seemed utterly unfazed. His long black hair lashed in the sea wind, his faint smile still painted across his face.
A cold, commanding voice sliced through the tension.
"Who are you? Why are you here? Do you even know what you're doing?"
It was Vice Admiral Kain himself. He stood tall at the deck's center, broad-shouldered and imposing, Marine coat draped over him like a cloak. His eyes were sharp as a predator's, locking onto Ryuk.
Ryuk inclined his head slightly. "You may call me Ryuk." His tone was calm, smooth, as if the rifles aimed at him didn't exist.
"As for why I'm here…" He spread his arms lazily, almost mocking the situation. "I've come to propose a deal with the Marines. Would you care to hear the details?"
The Marines exchanged uneasy glances, grips tightening on their rifles.
Kain's gaze sharpened. "What kind of deal?"
Ryuk's faint smile widened. His voice dropped lower, deliberate.
"Oh… nothing too complicated. You see, I've captured Fire Fist Ace. That's right the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."
The deck froze. Silence fell like a guillotine. Even the waves seemed to pause.
"What… what did you just say?" Kain demanded, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
Ryuk's voice cut through the heavy quiet like a blade. "That's right. Fire Fist Ace is in my hands. So tell me are you interested in making a deal?"
Weapons rattled nervously in the Marines' hands.
Kain's eyes narrowed. His tone was cold, suspicious. "Proof. Why should I believe you? Where is Ace now?"
Ryuk chuckled softly, crimson eyes glinting. "A fair question." He raised a hand, pointing toward the heavens.
"You see my pet up there? That's where Fire Fist Ace is." His smile deepened. "Wait a moment."
Ryuk's voice boomed across the sea.
"Nue!"
The colossal beast screeched in answer. Nue swooped lower, wind roaring from its wings as shadows swallowed the warship. And then, in an instant, its body dissolved into black mist its monstrous form fading into shadow as Ryuk leapt upward, seizing the chained body of Ace mid-air.
He landed back on the deck in one smooth motion, Ace's unconscious form slumped in his grasp, shackles glinting under the sun. The Marines gasped, horror flashing across their faces as the infamous Fire Fist lay before them.
At that moment, Lafitte descended gracefully. His cane tapped lightly against the wood as his polished shoes touched down beside Ryuk, as if he were a nobleman arriving at a ballroom rather than a battlefield.
"Oh, Ryuk-san, that was dangerous," Lafitte said lightly, a playful smile curving his lips. "You didn't inform me you planned something so dramatic."
Ryuk's smile remained faint, his tone as calm as ever. "Well, what can I do? The Marine asked for proof. I had no choice."
He turned his gaze back to Vice Admiral Kain, his crimson eyes sharp as blades.
"Well, now it's confirmed. Fire Fist Ace is in my hands. So how about you contact Sengoku… for negotiations?"
Kain's jaw clenched, his fists tightening. "Fine. But before that… what are you?"
"Oh my," Ryuk said, almost theatrically, as though he had simply forgotten. His smile curled wider. "I neglected to mention we are pirates. Blackbeard Pirates."
Kain's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Blackbeard Pirates? Never heard of such a name."
"Don't worry," Ryuk replied, his tone carrying a strange weight, "Very soon… you'll hear about us. And even if you wish to forget, you won't be able to."
"Puru puru puru puru…"
The Den-Den Mushi rang sharply, its eyes blinking as the Marines on deck exchanged uneasy glances. Vice Admiral Kain snatched it up quickly.
"Hello, this is Marine Headquarters. What's the matter, Kain? Did something happen?"
The voice was firm, commanding Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself.
"Ah,Fleet Admiral Sengoku, yes… there's an urgent situation here," Kain said, his tone stiff.
"What happened, Kain?" Sengoku pressed, the Den-Den Mushi perfectly mimicking his furrowed brows and sharp glare.
Kain exhaled, steadying himself. "Actually, Fleet Admiral… during our patrol in New World waters, we were suddenly boarded. A pirate calling himself Ryuk, along with another named Lafitte, forced their way onto our ship. They're demanding recognition as Shichibukai."
Sengoku's brows twitched slightly. "What?"
Kain continued grimly. "Yes, of course, they know the rules that no one receives such a title without proving their worth. And that's precisely what they came with. Fleet Admiral… they've captured Whitebeard's second division commander Fire Fist Ace. And… they call themselves the Blackbeard Pirates. A new group, apparently."
For a moment, silence.
Inside Marine Headquarters, Sengoku's expression froze.
The second division commander of Whitebeard's crew… Fire Fist Ace… in the hands of an unknown pirate crew?
His voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding. "Let me speak to him."
The receiver shifted. A faint clank of metal echoed before another voice came through smooth, calm, almost playful.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Sengoku. I'm Ryuk of the Blackbeard Pirates. An honor to make your acquaintance."
Sengoku's voice was sharp, no-nonsense. "Enough pleasantries. What do you want? What are your conditions?"
Ryuk chuckled softly, the sound cold yet charismatic. "Well, I don't think I need to explain in too much detail Vice Admiral Kain already briefed you. For now, all we want is simple: official recognition as Shichibukai, along with the benefits that title carries. Nothing more, nothing less."
He let the words linger in the air before adding, almost mockingly polite, "This is a humble and reasonable request, don't you think? You wouldn't refuse us… would you?"
The Den-Den Mushi's expression hardened, reflecting Sengoku's conflicted silence.
At last, Sengoku's gravelly voice came through, restrained but decisive. "…Ryuk. I accept your conditions."
A pause, then Sengoku added, "From this moment, the Blackbeard Pirates will be recognized as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
On the deck of the warship, Ryuk's smile widened faintly, crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Hehe… just as I expected. Happy cooperation, Mr. Sengoku."
The Den-Den Mushi clicked shut.
Around him, the Marines stood stiff, still frozen in shock.