One piece :I open the locks of the heart

As Luffy and I finished laughing after sending Alvida flying off the ship, a small, trembling voice came from one of the ship's doors.

"E-Excuse me?" it said, barely audible.

We both turned, and I saw a skinny boy with pink hair, dressed simply, trembling slightly, his eyes wide with terror. He seemed both impressed and terrified by the scene he had just witnessed.

Luffy looked at him with his usual curious smile, while I calmly stepped forward.

"Hi," I said, trying to sound friendly. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

The boy swallowed hard and replied, his voice still shaky, "M-My name is Koby. I… uh… I was forced to work for… for Alvida." He glanced nervously at the spot where she had disappeared into the sky. "She kidnapped me two years ago and… and I've never been able to escape."

Luffy leaned forward, observing the boy with unexpected intensity. "She forced you to stay here?"

Koby nodded frantically. "Yes! She made me do everything she wanted… She always said if I tried to leave, she'd… she'd kill me." His eyes shone with gratitude but also nervousness as he looked at us. "I-I never imagined someone could beat her!"

Luffy burst out laughing. "Well, it was easy! She was a bit big for a flight, but she took off just fine, right?"

Koby's eyes widened at Luffy's carefree laughter, as if he couldn't comprehend how someone could be so relaxed after such a fight. He hesitated, then asked, almost in a whisper, "Are you… pirates?"

"Of course! We're the crew of the future King of the Pirates!" I said with a smile, pointing proudly at Luffy. "My name is Heartless D. Jordan, and that's my captain, Monkey D. Luffy!" I then pointed at Nami, who was docking our ship near Alvida's. "And the lovely young woman over there is our navigator, Nami," I added in a slightly teasing tone.

Nami looked up at the compliment, and even from a distance, I saw a faint blush on her cheeks as she climbed onto the deck with a smile.

I winked at Luffy, who noticed and burst out laughing, before turning back to Koby with a more serious smile, scratching my chin as if deep in thought. "So, Koby… what should we do with you, huh?"

Luffy, hands on his hips, shrugged with a big grin. "We throw him overboard with the others, right?" he joked, stepping toward Koby with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Koby, utterly terrified, stepped back, panic in his eyes. "N-No!! Please, no!"

"Stop it, Luffy, you're really going to scare him," I said, shaking my head, amused, before smiling at Koby to reassure him. "We're kidding, Koby. We'll drop you off at the next island. But we're keeping all the loot from the ship for ourselves. Deal?"

Koby let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders finally relaxing. "Oh… thank you! You're…" He paused for a moment, his eyes bright with hope. "Actually… you know, I've dreamed for years of becoming… becoming a Marine! A soldier to protect the innocent!"

Luffy and I exchanged an amused look, then Luffy burst out laughing. "A Marine, huh? Why would you want to join those guys?"

Koby straightened up, mustering all his courage. "The Marines are justice! They're heroes, the true protectors of people!" he said proudly, his voice slightly emotional. "They catch pirates like… like you!" Koby added, before blushing, flashing an awkward but determined smile.

Luffy raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Well, good luck, then. The only Marines I've met, apart from…" Luffy stopped for a moment, as if holding back a name he didn't want to mention. "Anyway, they mostly cared about themselves, not so much about the innocent."

I shook my head, laughing, but my tone became sharper. "My back still remembers, Koby. Some Marines are just as rotten as the pirates they claim to fight. One of them, just last week, tried to rob an entire village, thinking it was perfectly fine. The Marines are far from as pure as you imagine. But hey... I won't try to talk you out of it."

At that moment, Nami, who had joined us on the deck, burst into laughter. "Kid, do you really think all Marines are angels?"

Koby blushed but straightened up, a sincere conviction shining in his eyes. "Maybe not all, but I want to become someone good. I want to make a difference, no matter what you think about the Marines!"

I nodded and adopted a more serious tone. "I'll give you two choices, Koby." He froze, waiting for my words as if they would determine his fate. "The truth is, right now, you're weak and… completely pathetic. Alvida is just a pirate with a five-million-Berry bounty—basically nothing in this world—and yet, she kept you under her thumb without you doing anything about it." My voice was harsh but honest, and Koby lowered his head, clenching his fists, his cheeks reddening with shame.

I continued, my gaze piercing. "We're pirates, but unlike many others, we never target the innocent. Bad people? Whether they're bandits, Marines, nobles, or regular civilians, if they're corrupt, we'll take them down. That's my rule. That's where we differ from the Marines, Koby. There, they'll always put the powerful and the nobles above regular folks." I paused, letting him digest my words. "So choose. Stay with us, and I'll train you until you're strong enough to face this world as it truly is. Or, go on your way, and we'll drop you off at the next island."

Koby remained silent, his eyes fixed on the ground as he thought deeply. His fists clenched tighter, his thoughts almost audible as they raced through his mind, weighing every word and possibility. Slowly, he raised his head, a new determination shining in his eyes.

"I accept your offer, Jordan," he declared with unexpected energy. "I… I want to become stronger. If I'm going to protect those who need it, then I can't stay weak like I've always been!" His words resonated with newfound vigor, a conviction born from my proposal.

I smiled and nodded. "Alright, Koby. Get ready, because you've just committed to something bigger than anything you know. Defending the innocent doesn't need a side, only action," I said before turning to Luffy.

"What do you think, Luffy? We keep him on probation while I train him, and we'll see if he can join our crew."

Luffy crossed his arms, taking on a thoughtful expression before responding with his usual grin. "I'd say he has a dream kind of like yours, Jordan. So train him and figure out what he really wants to do. But until he's officially part of the crew, no special training, okay?"

I nodded. "Fair enough. We'll start by looting this ship for anything useful, and the training will begin right after."

Koby, for his part, seemed both surprised and curious to learn that my dream might be similar to his, intrigued by this "special training" Luffy mentioned. Together, we gathered all the cannonballs, gunpowder, treasures, and some food provisions. As soon as our little crew moved away from their ship, Alvida's pirates, still soaked but having returned to their vessel, hurriedly sailed off, visibly terrified of encountering us again.

"Nami, what's the next island?" I asked, knowing it would be best to avoid Lamini after the chaos we had caused there.

Nami glanced at the map. "Shells Town. There's a Marine base there. Apparently, Colonel Morgan rules it with an iron fist. A real despot, from what they say. Koby might get to see what his 'heroes' look like up close," she added with a sly smile.

Koby, while focused, tensed slightly at the mention. I assigned him basic exercises: push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. "Alright, let's get started, Koby. I want to see you give it everything you've got!"

Luffy gave me an amused wink before addressing Koby. "You'd better work hard if you want to keep up with Jordan's training. He's pretty strict, you know!" Koby nodded with a determined look.

"Luffy, keep an eye on him for me," I added as I tied the rope to the front of the ship. "I'm going to resume my own training." Then, diving into the water, I began pulling the ship as part of my workout, the rope taut in my arms as I swam forward, focused.

The journey passed uneventfully, except for a hungry Sea King that I managed to scare off before it got too close. No other predators dared to attack me this time.

A few days passed in this routine, and one night, I teleported aboard Alvida's ship, transforming all the pirates into Ombres. There was no need to leave that kind of scum free to cause more harm to those weaker than them.

The ship even became a Sans-cœur galleon, smaller than the massive one I had in my own shadow but larger than the ones from the game. It seemed like the "lock" on a ship depended on its crew and perhaps on time. That's a hypothesis I'll have to confirm.

Marine Headquarters, Command Room

The tension in the Marine Headquarters command room was palpable. Admirals and officers stood around a central desk, where a photo of Sora, taken by Marine officer De Gaulle, was prominently displayed. The image of the young man surrounded by dark creatures had alarmed the high-ranking officials. Sengoku, seated at the head of the table, adjusted his glasses in silence, while Garp appeared via a Den Den Mushi call from his ship.

"So, Garp," Sengoku began gravely, "you encountered this Sora in... let's say, unconventional circumstances, didn't you?"

Garp grunted, nodding. "That kid… he trapped me and another kid in a strange space. He had a whole army of creatures under his command, different from the ones I've seen elsewhere, like on Oykot. The smaller ones appeared in the hundreds, and he had four massive ones as strong as vice admirals! And his power... the ability to manipulate time. He froze me in mid-air! If it weren't for Jordan stepping in, I would've been at the mercy of those beasts."

A murmur of concern rippled through the room as officers exchanged anxious glances. Sengoku tapped the table lightly to regain their attention.

"This is a serious matter," Sengoku declared. "So far, three islands have been infested with these creatures. On two of them, under Marine jurisdiction, Sora's creatures roam freely, seemingly hunting down certain inhabitants without rest. One of these islands is the Goa Kingdom, directly under World Government protection. The nobles there are furious and are demanding immediate action."

A visibly nervous vice admiral stood and spoke sharply, "We cannot allow someone like this, capable of commanding creatures, to roam freely! Think of the Marine's image if such threats multiply! He could undermine our prestige in the eyes of the entire world."

Other officers nodded in agreement, their brows furrowed. Sengoku acknowledged the point with a slight nod.

"That's a valid concern. He must be located and captured before he creates more chaos. However, his teleportation ability complicates matters. Garp, how much would you estimate his bounty should be?"

Garp paused, putting down his snacks and adopting a grave expression. "Honestly? He escaped me, released hundreds of creatures… the kid's a real threat. I'd say at least 200 million Berries. He hasn't even shown the full extent of his abilities yet."

At the other end of the room, an officer shook his head in disagreement. "200 million? But we don't even know his individual strength. Maybe 80 million would suffice. That should be more than enough to attract bounty hunters. We need to avoid exaggerating and making the Marine look weak."

Akainu, who had been observing the discussion silently, tapped his finger on the table with a faint, enigmatic smile. "I think Garp isn't wrong. It's not just his physical strength we need to consider but his influence. On Goa and Lamini, not a single civilian was harmed—only bandits and criminals. Unlike the yellow-eyed creatures Garp mentioned, the blue-eyed ones seem to only target bad people. This guy could undermine the prestige of the Marines... Why would people join us if he can accomplish our mission without us?"

Concerned murmurs spread again, but some officers rolled their eyes in frustration.

"What? You think this kid is going to replace the Marines?" one officer scoffed, arms crossed. "If we assign him too high a bounty, it'll make the Marines look weak. That would be an insult to our rank."

The debate raged on, opinions fluctuating between 80 and 200 million, as they carefully weighed the implications of assigning too high a bounty. Finally, Sengoku raised his hand, commanding silence with a stern look.

"The decision isn't final," he stated firmly. "The matter remains under deliberation, but be ready to act. This Sora must be closely monitored, and I want reports on every incident. His appearances and actions are to be tracked and relayed to our offices."

The room slowly emptied, leaving Sengoku and Garp to continue their conversation privately via the Den Den Mushi. Sengoku's typically stoic expression bore a hint of fatigue and contemplation after the heated debates. Garp, in contrast to his usual jovial demeanor, remained uncharacteristically serious.

"Sengoku, before you end the call, there are two more things I need to report," Garp said, his voice grave and devoid of his usual levity. Sengoku straightened, alerted by the uncharacteristic tone of his old friend.

"The blue-eyed creatures… they can board ships." Garp paused, letting the information sink into Sengoku's mind. "I saw two of them on Oykot. They boarded my ship, and you won't believe this—they helped me root out a scumbag and an infiltrator."

Sengoku's eyes widened in disbelief. "Creatures… helping you root out a spy? Garp, are you sure that wasn't just a coincidence?"

"Coincidence, my foot!" Garp bellowed, his visible fist clenching slightly on the Den Den Mushi's projection. "These creatures knew exactly where to look. They led me straight to their target. It's like they're programmed to hunt down bad people."

Sengoku remained silent, his fingers resting on his chin in a gesture of deep thought. "And the spy? What did he say?"

Garp let out a heavy sigh. "Not much. He killed himself before I could interrogate him. A real bastard, but smart enough not to leave anything behind." He paused, his gaze piercing even through the Den Den Mushi. "Listen, Sengoku, I'll be honest. These creatures… they could serve the Marines if we used them correctly."

"Serve the Marines?" Sengoku repeated, taken aback.

"Yes. Imagine," Garp continued, his voice full of gravity, "we could use them to clean up our ranks. If these things really can track down corrupt individuals, they could help us restore some semblance of honor and efficiency. And trust me, with all the talk of corruption in our ranks, it wouldn't hurt."

Silence filled the room as Sengoku stared at the Den Den Mushi, visibly taken aback. He removed his glasses and began cleaning them absentmindedly, a gesture he only made when deeply troubled.

"Garp..." Sengoku murmured, carefully choosing his words. "Do you realize what you're suggesting? If these creatures turn against us, if they become uncontrollable... it could be disastrous."

"I know, Sengoku, I know." Garp leaned slightly closer to the Den Den Mushi, his face visible on the shell. "But I'm telling you, these creatures are dangerous, yes, but they seem to have a code. A purpose. They don't attack innocents—at least, not the blue-eyed ones. And frankly... we could use them to do something good for a change."

Sengoku closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a deep sigh. When he opened them, he fixed Garp with an intense stare. "I'll consider your proposal. But be cautious, Garp. These creatures are not tools. They serve Sora. And he remains an unpredictable threat."

Garp nodded, a rare but sincere smile crossing his face. "Of course. But let's not forget that sometimes even darkness can be used to reveal the light."

Sengoku, still leaning over his desk, raised an eyebrow as he noticed Garp suddenly grinning widely and mischievously through the Den Den Mushi. There was something particular about his expression—a spark of mischief that boded ill.

"Alright, Sengoku, on to the second thing," Garp began, his tone light and almost sing-song.

Sengoku, already on the defensive, let out a deep sigh. "And what is it now, Garp?"

Leaning a bit closer to the Den Den Mushi, as if to make the exchange more personal, Garp adopted a mock-serious tone. "My grandson, Monkey D. Luffy, has completely disobeyed me. Guess what? He's become a pirate."

Sengoku remained still for a moment, staring at the Den Den Mushi, a mix of exasperation and resignation on his face. "I'm not even surprised," he muttered, rubbing his temples.

"Wait, there's more!" Garp continued, his grin widening as if he found the situation incredibly amusing. "Not only has he become a pirate, but he already has a vice-captain. A kid named Heartless D. Jordan. And guess what? These two are the most stubborn brats I've ever met! They escaped right under my nose."

Sengoku, already feeling a headache coming on, raised a hand to interrupt Garp. "What's your point, Garp?"

Still jovial, Garp let out a booming laugh. "What I want, Sengoku, is for you to put a bounty on them! A good one! Something that'll catch attention—but not too much, okay? Just enough to let them know I'm serious."

Sengoku furrowed his brow, crossing his arms. "You want me to put a bounty on your own grandson and his vice-captain?" he asked incredulously.

"Absolutely!" Garp replied with a wide grin, as if suggesting a brilliant idea. "After all, they want to play pirates, right? So they might as well play for real! But give them an interesting bounty—something that reflects their potential. Let's say... 30 million for Luffy, since he's still cutting his teeth. And for Jordan, let's go generous: 50 million. That kid has a lot up his sleeve, I guarantee it. He can fly, detach parts of his body, and even use a bit of elemental attacks. I don't even know how to classify him since he also fights with some strange sword."

Sengoku rubbed the bridge of his nose, clearly at his wit's end. "Garp, do you realize how absurd this is? You're asking the Marines to hunt down your own grandson, and you're laughing about it?"

"Of course, I'm laughing!" Garp bellowed, his laughter echoing through the room. "You know, if Luffy wants to become Pirate King, he'll have to face real obstacles, not just some two-bit soldiers. And besides, I plan to kick his butt myself someday. But for now, a bounty is perfect to spice things up!"

Sengoku remained silent for a moment, staring at the Den Den Mushi with profound exhaustion. "Sometimes, I wonder why I continue to put up with your antics, Garp."

"Because you love me, Sengoku, that's why!" Garp replied, laughing uproariously before abruptly hanging up, leaving Sengoku no time to retort.

(NDA: I'm posting this chapter, and I won't make any comments about Koby ^U^)