One Piece Law Light Novel

When we get home, we each take a shower and change our clothes for the sole purpose of recovering from our emotions. Then Wolf emerges and we all sit down to eat.

We first try to tell him what happened while he was unconscious, but the atmosphere is heavy. Even though we have a multitude of things to say to him, the power of the shock is still felt. The four of us struggle to put words into the events.

- Sorry to have embarrassed you so much. Wolf is the first to break the silence.

His serious face, with drawn features, speaks for him. Perfectly aware that it is necessary to discuss in order to put his ideas in order, he does not however know where to start.

- Are you going to tell us who these guys are, Mister Junk? What is the real relationship between you and Bacca?

- Yes, I know ... I can tell you ...

Bepo and the others remain silent and listen silently to the conversation. I imagine they know full well that the things that are about to be revealed are fraught with meaning.

-Bacca is my son, Wolf announces clearly, lifting his face downwards. Since his earliest childhood, he has always had a violent temper. In the process of stealing and fighting in town, he ended up being looked upon only with contempt. He who, twenty-five years ago, told me he wanted to become a pirate. While initially I strongly opposed it, I then began to hope that adventures at sea will make it happen and maybe change. I believed that by leaving to discover the world and by accumulating experiences, he would become a worthy and responsible man ... But it did not take me long to realize that I was wrong on the whole line. I went to sea with him as part of his crew. First, because I thought it was necessary to watch him. Two, because I had always dreamed of watching him. Two, because I had always dreamed of seeing with my own eyes the various inventions that could exist beyond the oceans.

At this point in the story, Wolf pauses and swallows a mouthful of tea. I am very well placed to know how difficult it is to evoke with others the dark past that lies dormant in us. So I do not rush him and I wait for him to resume.

- But in fact, far from softening it, the harshness of the pirate world has further perverted Bacca. In his eyes, the fact of injuring, killing and stealing has gradually become the norm. Then finally, by swallowing the fruit of the dissolution, he reached a level of unforgivable cruelty.

. The fruit of dissolution ... So like that, he is one of the holders of power ...

- Yes quite. Thanks to this fruit, Bacca and his crew gained influence and saw the bounty offered for their capture increase. They have even become strong enough to want to brave Grand Line ... And I am not talking to you about the perversity of Bacca which never ceases to grow.

He used to stop at Swallow to steal anything of value there. At that time, I decided to leave his crew. Since then, I have been working alone on my inventions.

That's it, I see it a little more clearly.

- Now I understand why you live outside the city. You try at all costs to atone for your past mistake.

To my disguised question, Wolf said nothing. But his silence is eloquent.

- The first time we went to Pleasure Town together, you mentioned that the town was almost wiped out in the past. Did you want to talk about this time Bacca landed?

- Yes exactly. At the time, I couldn't do anything to stop it. It was not for lack of trying, but I was defeated and many people perished. I then used the money I had to rebuild the city, but the dead never returned. I do not deserve the recognition that the inhabitants show against me, nor even the right to live near them. Pfiou …

Wolf lets out a deep sigh. Since I have known him, he has never seemed as fragile to me as he is now.

I am beside myself.

I have a grudge against this Bacca, this man capable of ravaging a city with a smile on the teeth. I also blame myself for making Mister Junk so weak by pushing him to tell us his whole story. Above all, I really blame myself for being unable to find the words that will give courage to my friends who are about to cry.

Although ... If it is, the problem is not there. My exhortations would probably not change the situation. In that case...

- Mister Junk.

- What?

- I am going to fight.

I announce my intention to Wolf with a cold, imperturbable look. No need for encouragement. Instead, he'll help him my way. Wolf and I are "now" that we need to move on. To stop always postponing to "later" what frightens us or what makes us hesitate, and take action without further delay.

Make up your own mind "now".

Deciding to go head to head in a battle against an opponent against whom I do not know if I will be able to win, and this, for all the people who took so much care of me.

If I can't do it, then no matter how much time passes, I will keep putting off what I have to do "later". And my wishes will never be granted.

Accepting to look to the present and face it as it is "now" is the only thing that can move us forward.

I am convinced that this is also the first step towards making Cora's dearest wish come true.

- I don't know what you're thinking or what you want to do. But I don't care, because I've made up my mind. With Shachi, Penguin and Bepo, we're going to go back to town and give Bacca and his gang a good beating.

- Law ...

- You are free to stay locked in your home, I will not blame you. But you have to know it's now or never. You must take the opportunity to free yourself from this feeling of guilt that weighs you down for so long. Am I right, Mister Junk?

Ten seconds, twenty seconds.

Wolf remains silent, head down.

Then suddenly he gets up and walks towards me. Then he waves his right hand high and slams it down on my head.

- Pah! Stop looking down on me! I don't need you to tell me, anyway, I didn't mean to run away! I just had a little slack, that's all. Basically, you're right. I am the only one who can liquidate my pass once and for all. I'll show them how I protect my city.

Without mercy, Penguin points to the detail that kills:

- But ... Didn't you tell us that Bacca had put you in misery when you fought against him?

- Huuh ...

And Bepo to add more:

- Since his time as a pirate, he must probably be even stronger than before, right?

- Mmmh …

Finally, like a coup de grace, Shachi concludes:

- How do you think you go about beating him?

- Argh ...

Each of these remarks having apparently hit the nail on the head, Wolf starts blushing like a tomato and stammering incomprehensible sounds without being able to retort a word.

- You usually spend your time teaching us, Mister Junk, when it comes to the essentials, we can't hear you anymore.

- H... How ?!

- Alone, you have no chance of winning. Without help, you will be unable to protect the inhabitants. But what I'm telling you here, you already know. It is for this reason that we are with you.

- Hmm ...

- We don't mean to let you down. We're going to square off with Bacca and his henchmen, and protect the city. Nothing could be simpler, Mister Junk, you see? We are no longer kids, we are no longer those kids you took in and took care of. This time it's up to us to play, up to us to protect you and what is dearest to you. Friends are good for that.

Wolf sniffles, then a slight smile appears on his face.

- Tss, listen to these pretentious little ones. You only need to grow a little taller to deliver president speeches. But hey, at least you helped me make up my mind. I trust you enough to put my life in your hands.

Without making it clear that he is submitting to our will, Wolf raises both arms in the air.

Everyone laughs.

The house finally finds its own atmosphere.

- And so, old man, now that we have decided to fight, we have to carry out some checks. First of all, can you tell us what is this fruit that Bacca swallows?

If we do not come to the end of Bacca, peace will never return to the city. This is why it is essential that we know as much as possible about his powers.