"We have a report of a suspicious ship from Area E! Wh-what should we do—" a panicked Marine ran in, yelling.
"Calm down," I said, cutting him off. "If you panic, the people will panic too. Captain Vigle, Captain Collie."
The two officers saluted. "Sir!"
It has been a few days since we agreed to the truce.
This isn't good for us, but some of the West Blue's Marine forces have gathered here at Mogwa, using it as a temporary base. It's too close to Mopuchi for my comfort.
This means we have to crush the Pirate Alliance as fast as possible.
"Take your ships and hurry to Area E," I continued. "If it's an enemy, a battle should have already started. Rescue them immediately. If there's nothing, report back. Then, take those two ships and patrol the nearby member nations. It will be a show of force to the pirates and calm the people down."
"Understood."
"Excuse me, Captain Kuro!" another marine burst in. "We have an emergency request from the Kanan Kingdom! We just rescued them, but they're short on food and medicine!"
"How much do they need?"
"Sir... well... the request doesn't... say..."
Why am I commanding Marines!?
Where is Kuzan!
What are the other officers doing!? What is going on with the chain of command!?
Okay, let's see. I put that new officer in charge of Kanan. He was promoted after that incident, and Kuzan said he was "a good choice," so he must be serious, capable, and a good person...
So, he must just lack the education and experience of an officer. We're short-handed, but I should have given him more support!
"We have to assume they are too confused to even know what they need," I said, making a decision. "Amisu."
"Here." Amisu stepped forward from the side of the room.
"Pick two people from the Guard who are good at managing a site. Put extra supplies on a Marine ship and send them along. Have them organize the relief effort and report back. They can use the supplies, but tell them not to waste them."
"Sir!" she replied crisply.
"And remember," I added slowly so that only she hears it, "the Marines are the heroes here. Don't stand out."
"Understood."
Now, which of the Marines here can I send... I can't spare many doctors. I need someone with at least some medical knowledge... right, there was a Marine whose parents were doctors. His name was—
"Get a message to Captain Barsenji," I ordered the first marine. "Tell him to load up on medicine and food and head to Kanan. He is to provide extra aid and support the Marines already there."
"Sir! Right away!"
We have too many new officers. They're good soldiers, but terrible commanders.
At this point, I'd even take Akainu. Just bring me someone who can calm the soldiers down!
"Captain Kuro! Report of enemy contact from Area A!"
That's the grain-producing area! I knew they'd come! Good thing I put extra forces there.
And stop panicking! Don't let the fear show on your faces! If the people panic, we'll never get this under control!
"Enemy ship type and number?" I demanded.
"Sir! Two brigantines!"
Two. Maybe 10-20 men per ship...
That's too small, especially since they know the Marines are on high alert.
"It's probably bait," I ordered. "I want them captured if possible. Send in the two nearest ships, plus Captain Basset and Captain Samoyed. All other ships, stay on high alert. They might be a distraction for a landing party."
"Understood!"
"Messenger!" a messenger yelled. "A report of five pirate ships heading southeast!"
"Daz," I said, turning to him, "take Robin and Mihawk on ships two and three. I want to keep the Marine ships here. They can carry more supplies."
"Got it," Daz replied. "We're leaving now."
"Captain Kuro! Report from Captain Terrier! The villagers from the first attacks are getting ready to riot!"
"Give them food and try to calm them down. Bege's other team is gathering food, so we have some to spare. We'll replace what you use. If they still push back, report it. We'll show up, act like pirates, and scare them straight."
"Message from Commodore Husky!" a voice cried out. "A large fleet is heading for Area A! Ten ships! The types are—"
"Send half of the ships in Area A to stop them," I commanded. "And tell the commander in Area D to send help."
"Captain Kuro," another voice began, "we have a request from the refugees—"
"Have the admin team check the supply stocks—"
I am a pirate, damn it!!
Another day... another day I somehow managed to survive.
The sun is down. I've sent Marine units to the grain areas just in case.
We're not safe yet, but the branch bases have some extra men, so we're in a bit better shape... for today...
What should I do? Should I swap Robin and Perona? I need more firepower here.
But... Robin... I need to keep her close, where I can see her.
Perona is perfect for defense and scouting... and I don't want Marines at our main base...
We just... don't have... enough people...
And supplies... HQ keeps saying they'll send food and medicine, but it's slow, and we need more and more...
Thank god Bege is getting us food from the black market... but still!
"Hey, you look tired," Kuzan's lazy voice came from the doorway. "Heard you were a big hero again today."
"I'm going to punch you, you curly-haired bastard."
Oops. Did I say that out loud?
Stop laughing, you jerk.
"Why is an Admiral on the front lines anyway..." I sighed. "Just stand back and look important..."
He'd been gone all day, and it turns out he was out fighting.
Normally, this is where he'd send the pirates in to die, while he stays safe and looks good for the people.
Why is he doing the opposite?
Well, we are using the Marines to calm the people...
"The front line was looking pretty bad," Kuzan explained, walking in. "You know, that old officer got hurt yesterday."
"Ah... Commodore Taki," I recalled.
"Yeah. That old guy."
"He was a good officer," I said, frowning. "I don't know about his strength, but he was smart, and the men loved him... He helped me a lot, too."
"I was surprised to find someone like him in the West Blue," Kuzan agreed. "Luckily, your Vice-Captain was there to save him. But the men were taking it hard."
"...At least send a report next time. The Marines are worried."
We'd been working so closely these past few days that I'd started talking to Kuzan casually when no one was around. It wasn't good, but we'd been through too much together.
"The local officers won't follow me just because I tell them to," Kuzan said. "I have to show them what I can do."
"But... you're the one who should be giving orders..."
And then I remembered.
Kuzan was also a brand-new Admiral, promoted after that incident.
"...Are you in over your head?" I asked quietly.
I asked. He looked surprised, then he scratched his head and looked away.
Haha. Gotcha.
"I can't hide anything from you," Kuzan admitted. "Well, I'm not that overwhelmed..."
The sun was setting.
From the castle room, Kuzan looked down at the ruined town.
...It reminded me of Mopuchi when we first got there.
"I really thought Tsuru-san or Garp-san would be made Admiral," Kuzan mused.
"The Great Staff Officer and the Hero. That would have made sense..."
"But instead, it was me, Borsalino, and... Sakazuki. And sensei, who I trusted most, was made a 'Special Admiral' for training."
'Sensei' must be Zephyr.
Still, I never thought Kuzan would show me he was stressed...
But... he was promoted much earlier than in the original story. He must not have the experience yet.
"Seriously, Kuro, you've been a huge help. If you weren't here, I don't know how we would have handled this Pirate Alliance."
"I expect to be thanked."
"Haha."
And please, just get your branch officers under control. If they were more organized, my life would be so much easier.
"I thought I knew..." Kuzan said, taking a drink, "but this makes me realize just how amazing sensei and the others were."
Don't drink too much. We still have to catch those rioters who are heading for Mopuchi.
Though... they have no chance against Hancock and Perona.
"...I think the core of this is just a few people," I said.
"The leaders?"
"Yeah."
I think the Alliance itself was an accident. Just like I thought, they were just pirates who teamed up to get past the blockade at Reverse Mountain.
"The real leaders... the ones pulling the strings... are somewhere safe. We can't worry about them right now."
"That's annoying," Kuzan sighed.
It really is.
"We need to find the person who connects the planners to the fighters. If we stop him, this should end... "
Kuzan said. "...It's the cleanup, isn't it?"
"The government is sending aid, but..."
"Is it going to be okay? Kuro, what do you think?"
"The fact that an Admiral is asking me means it's probably not," I replied flatly.
"Ouch. Fair enough."
Do they even know what's going on?
Sengoku-san is getting orders from his bosses. Kuzan and I are sending him reports.
Something is wrong.
I've been sending copies of our reports everywhere to make sure everyone has the same information.
Or... maybe the government is just trying to look good by sending a ton of aid?
"The 'Paradise' half of the Grand Line is just as bad as here," Kuzan said. "And in the New World, the Yonko are fighting... The Marines are spread thin."
"...So we can't expect more ships."
We have to do this with what we have.
The enemy wants to spread the war.
We've built a defensive line. They will try to break it.
I have to... I have to think one step ahead...
--
"Sonia, Marie, how are the people?"
"Some are still scared, big sister," Sandersonia said, "but things are calming down. We've stopped every attack."
"If anything," Marigold added, "they're just happy to be preparing for a real harvest for the first time in years."
"Good," Hancock said. "Captain ordered us to gather firewood when we have time. It sounds like we can start."
While the rest of the West Blue was afraid, Mopuchi was calm.
It was ruled by pirates, but these pirates gave them freedom and safety.
The people had enough peace of mind to sing and dance for the harvest.
"Perona, no enemy ships?" Hancock asked.
"Nope," Perona replied, floating nearby. "I've checked all around the island. Nothing. Just our transport ship."
"I can't believe we have guests at the hidden base..." Hancock mused.
Hancock and her sisters were at the port.
The Fish-Men had reported that a guest had arrived.
They had quickly sent a ship, with Hack, to pick them up.
"But why would they want to see me?" Hancock wondered aloud. "We're so busy..."
"They said they brought Maple's childhood friend," Perona explained. "You know, the squid Fish-Man who's training to be a soldier."
"...?" Hancock was confused.
"The one who uses eight swords. You've seen her."
"Ah! The one trying to join the Guard?" Hancock remembered. "I didn't know her name."
Maple was a Fish-Man who was part of the settler team. She was the second-most important Fish-Man after Hack.
"Oh, I see them... our ship is... wait," Perona pointed. "Hancock, there's another ship behind it. It's not one of ours."
"Damn it, they were found!" Hancock ordered immediately. "Sonia, Marie! Get the soldiers on the ship!"
Her sisters ran to their positions.
"Perona," Hancock said, "be ready to hit them first."
"Leave it to me! Those losers are no—"
Perona stopped.
"What's wrong, Perona?" Hancock asked.
Hancock couldn't see the ship yet. Only Perona knew what was happening.
"The ship... it just... split in two," Perona reported, stunned.
"..."
"...That bastard Mihawk..." Hancock sighed. "he's at it again."
--
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