Lucien Graves recalled the events from the original timeline. At some point, Sabo's father would hire a group of pirates to capture his son, and during that chaos, Luffy, Ace, and Sabo would all be caught together. That moment would be his best opportunity to strike.
From what he had observed, that incident hadn't occurred yet. In the canon, Sabo's capture marked the trio's final separation. He would later set sail alone, get shot by the Celestial Dragons, and only survive because Monkey D. Dragon rescued him. Before that happened, however, the Goa Kingdom would burn the entire Uncertainty Terminal to the ground to impress the Celestial Dragons during their visit.
Lucien stared at the filthy sprawl of the Uncertainty Terminal behind him. "Looks like I'll be stuck here for a while," he murmured. He needed to plan, not rush in.
He couldn't afford to recklessly attack the three boys. For all he knew, Dragon or Garp could be secretly monitoring them from the shadows. The odds of that were low, but not zero. And without absolute certainty, Lucien refused to act.
It was almost laughable — a seventeen-year-old teen hesitating to face a pair of ten-year-olds and a seven-year-old. But this was not his old world. In his previous life, he could've taken on ten kids his age without breaking a sweat. Here, even a single child could flatten him. These were future legends, prodigies molded by the most brutal seas on the planet.
Lucien knew himself well enough not to be delusional.
If he did succeed in killing them, he would instantly become a target of every Marine, Revolutionary, and pirate with a conscience — or a bounty to chase. He needed a way to escape the Goa Kingdom afterward. Until that route was secured, he wouldn't lift a finger against the trio.
He needed cover. Scapegoats. And the group that best fit that role was the Bluejam pirates, a small but vicious crew that had docked near the kingdom recently. If he could join them, he could use their chaos as a distraction — capture the boys during their mission, eliminate them, then disappear with the pirates' ship amidst the confusion.
The idea made sense on paper, but joining such a crew wouldn't be easy. They were known for their cruelty and paranoia. He'd need to pay his way in — or convince them he was worth keeping alive.
Lucien tapped the light screen that flickered before him. His inventory was pitiful: one pistol, ten bullets, and a small bottle labeled "60ml." It looked worthless, but it was the only tradeable item he had left. He smirked faintly. "Time to test my talk no jutsu."
---
Edge Town was chaos incarnate — a sprawling slum wedged between the Uncertainty Terminal and the cleaner streets of Central Town. It was where every thief, addict, and deserter came to hide.
Lucien had barely stepped through the gate when three rough-looking men blocked his way.
"Business again," one of them sneered.
They sized him up, ready to rob him — until they saw how scrawny and pale he looked. His sickly complexion and thin frame made him seem poorer than they were.
"Pathetic," another scoffed. "Not worth the effort."
Lucien kept walking, eyes downcast, every movement calculated. He had already hidden his pistol inside the system's inventory. Let them think he was harmless. The moment they lost interest, he slipped past and entered Central Street without incident.
The contrast was shocking. Central Street gleamed with order. People moved with purpose, wearing bright, clean clothes. Shops lined the street, filled with perfumes, fabrics, and trinkets. It was civilization perched right above squalor.
Lucien scanned the signs and found a store displaying "rare curiosities." Perfect.
He approached — but before he could enter, a clerk blocked his path, wrinkling his nose.
"Get lost, beggar," the man snapped.
Lucien feigned nervousness, lowering his voice. "I'm here to sell something valuable."
The clerk gave him a mocking look. "Something you dug out of the trash, maybe?"
Lucien smiled faintly and pulled a small, sleek bottle halfway out of his pocket before slipping it back in. "You tell me. It's something the nobles would pay a fortune for… especially for, let's say, enhancing their private experiences."
The clerk's eyes flickered with intrigue. "You mean—"
Lucien cut him off with a knowing smirk. "Exactly. But there's only one bottle in all of Goa Kingdom. If you're not interested, I'll take it elsewhere."
"Wait!" The clerk grabbed his arm, lowering his tone. "Come inside."
Lucien followed him into the dim shop. Shelves lined the walls, filled with bizarre items — whips, powders, oils, things that hinted at every kind of human vice.
A large, pot-bellied man emerged from the back. "You're the seller?"
"Yes," Lucien replied, placing the 60ml bottle on the counter.
The manager squinted at it, turning it over. "What does it do?"
Lucien recited smoothly, "It's transparent, hyaluronic, colorless, odorless, and water-soluble. Enhances sensitivity and smoothness. Try a few drops if you like."
The clerk volunteered eagerly. After testing it in the back room, he returned a minute later, trying — and failing — to suppress a grin. "Manager… it works."
The fat man's eyes gleamed. "One thousand Berries."
Lucien immediately reached for the bottle. "Forget it."
"Wait! Ten thousand!"
Lucien's expression didn't change. "Do you even know what this sells for on Sabaody Archipelago? Five hundred thousand Berries. You're robbing yourself."
The manager froze. "You're from Sabaody?"
"Used to be," Lucien said smoothly. "Got separated from my merchant ship. Otherwise, I wouldn't be selling this at all."
The manager frowned, uncertain. "Five hundred thousand is ridiculous."
Lucien sighed, clutching his chest as if in pain. "Fine. Two hundred thousand. Consider it charity."
"Fifty thousand."
"One hundred fifty."
"One hundred."
"One hundred eleven. Take it or I walk."
The manager grunted. "Deal."
Moments later, Lucien left the shop with a pouch of crisp Berries and a silent smirk. One hundred eleven thousand Berries wasn't a fortune, but it was a start. Enough to eat, change his clothes, and move freely for a while.
He stopped at a food stall, scarfing down a simple meal. His pale skin regained a hint of color. The taste of real food was almost intoxicating.
When he counted the coins again, he still had one hundred five thousand left. It would be enough for his next step.
If he had real strength, he wouldn't need to scheme. But power was a luxury, and intelligence was all he had left.
"Fine," he muttered, leaning back. "If brawn won't get me out of this, brains will."
He pocketed the pouch of Berries, his eyes already fixed toward the harbor. Somewhere out there, was the Bluejam pirates.
---