The news hit the papers: a rookie pirate had just been instated as a Warlord of the Sea. A Logia user with sand powers... Crocodile.
I could practically see him now—sitting in a lavish chair, petting a giant cat, sipping expensive wine, and looking down his nose at everyone.
"That guy's a monster," I muttered. Sure, Luffy beats him later, but let's be real: if that man didn't have the "Arrogance Debuff" and actually took things seriously from the start, he'd be terrifying.
But enough about sand-crocodiles.
I've officially survived Zephyr's hell. He actually acknowledged me, and I've been promoted to Second Lieutenant. Lieutenant Krieg. It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
Now that I have some rank, I've got a plan. I need gear. I considered asking Zephyr, but he'd probably just tell me "Your fists are your best weapons!" and punch me in the face. No, I needed someone who understands the value of a good hobby. I needed Vice Admiral Garp.
A Certain Vice Admiral's Perspective
"You want armor and weapons?"
I turned around to find Krieg standing there. The brat had just cleared Zephyr's training and made Second Lieutenant.
I figured he was the type to rely purely on his physical body, though he did always lug around that oversized iron pillar.
Apparently, his current "weapon" was a wreck. Between Kizaru's lasers, Akainu's magma, Aokiji's ice, and Zephyr's Haki-clad fists—not to mention Krieg himself nearly crushing the grip with his raw strength—the thing was more scrap metal than mace. He wanted something thinner but twice as heavy, plus some heavy armor to act as training weights.
"Bwahaha! Fine, I'll give the Science Division a nudge for you."
I pulled out a scrap of paper and scribbled:
"Make Krieg some weapons and armor. - Garp"
Then, for good measure, I forged Sengoku's signature on the bottom too.
"Take this to the Science Division. They'll build you whatever you want. Probably."
"Yes, sir! Thank you very much, Vice Admiral Garp, sir!" He tried to use formal speech, though it sounded like a bear trying to chirp like a bird. "By the way, sir... are you planning to visit the East Blue anytime soon?"
"I'm heading out on an 'inspection' (vacation) in two months. Why?"
"Well... I came from the East Blue, but I've seen nothing but the Headquarters since I got here. I'd like to see the outside world again. Since you're heading that way, I was hoping to tag along..."
"Fine by me. I'll make it official. Wait for the paperwork."
"Thank you, sir! I'm off to the Science Division then!"
I watched him waddle off. "He looks like a damn bear," I chuckled. He's huge, he's gruff, and he walks with a heavy, deliberate gait. I don't think he realizes that 'The Bear of the Navy' is already his unofficial nickname around the barracks.
Still, the kid is a beast. Strength-wise, he's already on par with most field-grade officers. At sixteen, he's a prime prospect.
Zephyr wants him as an aide; Borsalino and Sakazuki are pushing for him to be sent to the front lines to rack up merits; and Sengoku thinks he should be sent to a remote branch to build 'character.' Kong wants to give him a ship and let him roam.
I figured I'd just keep him with me for a bit. Experience the world through the eyes of a 'vacationing' Vice Admiral. It'll be good for him.
At the Science Division
Krieg slammed the battered iron pillar onto a workbench and started barking orders at the intake officer.
"Okay, first, I need a mace. Thin enough to grip with one hand, but as long as I am tall. And I want it to explode whenever I hit something! Oh, and tip the ends with Sea-Prism Stone."
The officer blinked, staring at the 'Garp and Sengoku' note.
"Next, weight. This old pillar is about a ton, and it's starting to feel like a feather. Make the new one significantly heavier. And make it durable! I keep leaving handprints in the solid iron. Maybe a high-density alloy?"
"Sir, I—"
"Also, portability! I want the mace to be able to dock with my shoulder plates. Maybe it turns into a spear? And for the armor, just the upper body.
Make it heavy. Solid Wooterz steel or something. No helmet, no hip guards—too bulky. But I want gauntlets. Diamond-tipped knuckles would be great."
"..."
"Oh! And fire-throwers in the shoulder pads. And needle guns. Can you fit a gatling gun under the breastplate? Something with a high rate of fire? I don't mind if it takes time to build the 'Final Version,' but I need the iron pillar fixed and a basic set of heavy plates by my mission in two months. Just the torso for now."
The intake officer looked at the list, looked at the terrifying gorilla-faced teenager, and finally snapped.
"WRITE IT DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER, YOU IDIOT!!!"
He hurled a pen and a stack of forms at Krieg's face.
A Certain Technical Officer's Perspective
In a secure meeting room, several engineers were holding their heads in their hands.
"Alright, everyone... thanks for coming. We need to discuss the... 'request' submitted by this absolute moron."
The lead engineer pointed at the list.
"Do we have to make this?" someone asked.
"Unfortunately, he has a bypass note signed by Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Sengoku. Plus, the requester is the rising star, 'The Bear.'"
They all looked through the window at the hallway, where Krieg was hunched over a tiny desk, painstakingly drawing diagrams of hidden compartments and flamethrowers.
"Ah... Lieutenant Krieg. The one with the scary face."
"Let's focus on what he needs for his mission in two months," another engineer sighed. "The 'temporary' gear. Repairing that pillar is a waste of time; it's a miracle it hasn't shattered.
We'll forge a new one. High-density compressed iron. Thin grip, but let's make it... five tons? If he's been swinging a one-ton log like a toy, he can handle five."
"And the armor? He just wants 'heavy and tough.'"
"Fine. A solid tungsten-steel alloy breastplate. No weapons yet, just a slab of metal. It'll serve as his training weight and protection."
"And the 'Final Version'?"
"God help us. A spear that explodes, diamond fists, and a hidden arsenal... he's trying to become a walking battleship."
Krieg's Room
I returned to the barracks, feeling pretty good about myself. In two months, I'd be heading back to the East Blue to scout for Gin and Pearl—my future loyal commanders. Using the weapons-making as an excuse to get a ride from Garp was a stroke of genius.
Then, I saw the envelope on my bed.
Transfer Order: Second Lieutenant Krieg. Assignment: Assistant to Bogard, Aide-de-Camp to Vice Admiral Garp.
I stared at the paper. I was supposed to be a guest on the ship. A hitchhiker. Now I'm the Assistant to Garp's right-hand man? That means I'm effectively Garp's secondary babysitter.
"Wait... if I'm with Garp... I have to deal with his 'Fist of Love' every day?"
My dreams of a relaxing scouting trip evaporated instantly.
"How the hell did it turn out like this?!"