One Piece: Awaken The Replication System

"Kuzan, that guy actually wants to join the Hunter's Guild?!" Buggy shouted, his eyes wide as he clutched the newspaper tightly. He scanned the article again, disbelief washing over him.

"Why? Is he crazy?" Buggy muttered. "Marine Vice Admiral, and he's choosing to come to East Blue? How's any pirate here supposed to survive now?"

Buggy's mind was a whirlpool of panic. The thought of a former Marine Vice Admiral coming to East Blue was a nightmare. The region was already under enough pressure with Garp stationed there. And now, the Hunter's Guild and a powerhouse like Kuzan?

Dark Ages... that's what it felt like.

Buggy's wild imagination took flight, picturing himself being crushed under not just one, but three giant mountains. The dreams of every pirate aiming to become King of the Pirates were buried beneath an insurmountable weight.

East Blue, the weakest of all the seas, had become a trap.

"If I steal a ship and escape now, I won't just be running from the Hunter's Guild," Buggy groaned. "I'll be hunted by a Naval Headquarters Vice Admiral!"

His face paled at the thought. Buggy, despite his reputation as a clownish character, had been through his share of battles—against Golden Lion, Whitebeard, even confrontations with legends like Garp and Sengoku the Buddha. Though he had always stayed on the periphery, the experience had granted him a sharp sense of danger.

"Being chased by a Naval Headquarters Vice Admiral? No way!"

Shuddering, Buggy shook his head vigorously. His hand rested on his chin, striking a thoughtful pose, but the look in his eyes resembled that of a puzzled husky. "Wait a minute… staying in the Hunter's Guild might actually be a good move."

He continued, his voice tinged with excitement. "Leno might be annoying, but his strength? Easily on par with Rayleigh, right?"

"And if you add Kuzan into the mix…" Buggy's grin widened. "With those two, they could go toe-to-toe with the Four Emperors in the New World! Maybe, just maybe, with their power, I could rise to become one of the Four Emperors! No… no… if I push harder, One Piece could be within reach!"

He chuckled darkly to himself. "I'm so despicable, aren't I? But wait… didn't Uta mention that Leno had a grudge against Shanks?"

As a gust of sea breeze tousled Buggy's hair, he looked out over the horizon, imagining a brighter future. "Haha! The wind of the world is neither east nor west… it blows towards me!!"

Nearby, the ship's doctor gave Buggy a strange look. Was the guy completely losing it? Laughing one moment, grimacing the next, and now looking all self-satisfied—Buggy's behavior was erratic at best. Could this be… his version of training?

"Ahem, Buggy," the doctor interrupted, "you should report this to President Leno quickly. Kuro mentioned something about a critical situation."

"Oh, right, right!" Buggy snapped out of his reverie. "What critical situation?"

"Kuro's phone bug is overloaded with calls—it's about to explode!"

Buggy blinked. "You take care of things here. I'll go find Leno!"

Without realizing it, Leno had wandered off somewhere, but Buggy knew exactly who to contact—Koushirou. After a few quick exchanges, Koushirou brought Buggy to a lighthouse on the reef where Leno was waiting.

"Pffft!" Leno spat out his drink upon reading the newspaper.

"I knew it!" Leno laughed. "Kuzan's joining us? Is this some kind of undercover Marine operation?"

The news had already shaken the world. Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, and several others had extended offers to Kuzan after his resignation from the Marines, but the former Admiral had disappeared for weeks without a trace. The Marines were scrambling to demonstrate their sense of 'justice,' with Admirals like Sakazuki and Borsalino cracking down on pirate crews left and right. Even the rising stars like Momousagi had stepped into the spotlight, her beauty and long legs catching the attention of many.

But as the world moved on, Kuzan had remained missing, his potential next move a topic of endless speculation.

Leno had his own plans, of course, focusing on securing his foothold in East Blue. Kuzan's sudden announcement, however, threw all of that into question. Leno couldn't believe it—had Kuzan really decided to join the Hunter's Guild?

"I've gotta give it to him. This guy knows how to make an entrance," Leno muttered. "Disappears for a month, and now the world's attention is back on him. Top-tier showmanship."

He glanced at Buggy with a grin. "Buggy, this is what it means to be top class. You go silent for weeks, and then when you reappear, the whole world is watching. Kuzan's playing a high-level game."

Leno stood, energy radiating from him. "We're heading back to Elegia. I'm going to issue a statement on behalf of the Hunter's Guild—Kuzan, and anyone with goals and dreams, are welcome to join us. We'll treat everyone equally, no special treatment, no Marine Vice Admiral privileges. Everyone starts from the E level."

With that, Leno gathered his crew—Kuina, Uta, Buggy, and others—and set sail for Elegia, his mind racing with the possibilities ahead.

The news spread like wildfire, stirring shockwaves across the seas. Kuzan, once a revered Marine Admiral, had chosen to join the enigmatic Hunter's Guild. It was a decision that left the world reeling. In the aftermath of the revelation, Leno was already deep in thought, his sharp eyes focused on the future.

The weight of Kuzan's joining was impossible to ignore, and Leno knew it well. East Blue was about to become the epicenter of attention, not only from the world but from powerful forces like the World Government and the Marines.

"It's fine," Leno muttered to himself, his gaze steely. "We'll make sure the Hunter's Guild resounds throughout East Blue in just a year."

It was a lofty ambition, but one that he believed in with unwavering conviction. The timing had to be right—Kuzan's arrival accelerated their plans. The rebuilding of Elegia, once a peaceful kingdom, was nearly complete, and it would soon be the perfect stage for new recruits to join their cause.

As the sun set over the horizon, Leno finalized his plan, his fingers brushing against the sword at his side. Soon after, Crowe's voice came through the communication device.

"Kuzan wants to talk to you."

"Sure." Leno accepted the call.

Kuzan's familiar voice broke through. "Leno, did my report with Morgans shake things up too much?"

Leno chuckled. "I'd say the world is pretty shaken. But no worries, we can handle it. You didn't scare me, but a little heads-up next time would be appreciated!"

Kuzan sighed. "Sorry about that. I couldn't get your contact details."

"Don't worry about it." Leno leaned back, his tone more serious now. "So, Kuzan, what's your plan? What brought you to the Hunter's Guild?"

Kuzan's voice grew thoughtful. "Justice… I thought Marine embodied justice. But after what happened at Ohara, I began to question everything. What is justice, really? Absolute? Passionate? Lazy? Everyone seems to define it differently. But now… I've found no hope within them. When I was in Foosha Village, your words sparked something inside me. You offered more than a dream—you gave me hope, and that's something I need to fight for."

Leno was silent for a moment, taking in Kuzan's words. The impact of Ohara's destruction weighed heavily on both of them. And now, their paths had aligned.

"You've got strength, Kuzan," Leno finally said. "And we're going to need it. I'm honored to have you here."

Kuzan's tone softened. "Thank you, Leno. I'm betting the future on you."

They ended the call, and Leno stood, rubbing his forehead. The Hunter's Guild had gained an incredible ally, but the world was already shifting because of it. The future was no longer as clear-cut as it once seemed.

"Kuzan's joining will change everything," Leno murmured, his mind running through the potential ramifications. Celestial Dragons, the Revolutionary Army, Roger's legacy—all of it intertwined with the chaotic wheels of history.

But Leno wasn't afraid. He looked toward the horizon, a determined glint in his eyes. "Whatever comes, we'll face it head-on. Even if I have to tear the tires off history's wheels myself."

Meanwhile, the news was spreading like wildfire across the world. In the West Blue, Robin couldn't believe her eyes as she read the headline.

"Kuzan… left Marine?" Her heart pounded with the weight of her memories. Ohara, her destroyed home, flashed before her eyes.

Farther north in the seas, Crocodile, cigar in hand, clenched his jaw as he scrolled through the news.

"Hunter's Guild? How does Kuzan have such luck?" His gaze darkened. "If we can't find Nico Robin soon, I'll have to make my move to the Grand Line and take my place among the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

Across the seas, in North Blue, Trafalgar Law sat among his crew, his thoughts no less turbulent. "Hunter's Guild... East Blue is too far, but this development could change everything."

And in the New World, the ever-scheming Doflamingo laughed coldly, holding a copy of the same paper. "So, Kuzan, you made your choice, huh?" His smile widened with malicious glee. "Sending a few scouts to East Blue wouldn't hurt, but we have our own plans to execute in Dressrosa."

At the top of the world, Mary Geoise, the Five Elders sat in quiet contemplation.

"Kuzan has betrayed Marine," one of them said calmly.

"He has abandoned his justice," another muttered.

"What about Leno?" the oldest of the group asked.

There was silence as the elders pondered the question. Finally, one of them spoke. "Perhaps Leno should be considered for the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

In the Paradise section of the Calm Belt, on Hydra Island, Gloriosa set down her newspaper with a concerned frown. She turned to the imposing figure of Hancock.

"Leno of the Hunter's Guild, Boa Hancock, you must be cautious."

But the Pirate Empress merely smirked, resting her chin in her palm. "Men are nothing to worry about. In the end, they will all kneel before my beauty."

As the world stirred with the news of Kuzan's defection, Leno prepared for the battle ahead. The tides were shifting, and the Hunter's Guild was now a force to be reckoned with, standing on the precipice of change in a world governed by chaos.

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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

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