One Piece: My code name is Green Bull

Jon transformed his body into a plant, specifically a type of aquatic plant.

Although he continued sinking, he did not feel any suffocation, because aquatic plants could survive underwater without the need for traditional breathing.

Aquatic plants have air cavities and developed ventilation tissues, allowing them to perform respiration in seawater with only minimal carbon dioxide intake.

Jon had mimicked these traits, enabling himself to breathe underwater without using his nose or mouth.

Of course, this was easier said than done.

To achieve this, Jon had spent years researching before finally managing to simulate the characteristics of aquatic plants, allowing him to survive underwater.

However, due to the limited amount of CO₂ he could use for respiration, and the fact that Devil Fruit users become weak in water, he was completely unable to move.

Even struggling would disrupt the balance, so he remained completely still.

Jon calmly sank deeper into the sea.

During this process, he continuously used Observation Haki to sense his surroundings.

Whenever he detected a large marine creature, he would control the surrounding seaweed and algae to move his body and change direction.

Strangely enough—

Perhaps because his body emitted the scent of a plant, most fish ignored him completely.

Only a few small fish occasionally brushed past him.

Jon wasn't in a hurry.

He simply waited quietly.

After several hours, he finally started moving.

Using underwater plants, he slowly lifted his body, ascending toward the surface.

This process took dozens of minutes—

Until finally, Jon resurfaced.

Back on the Surface

As soon as he emerged from the water, Jon stood up on floating plants, regaining his movement ability.

However—

He looked battered and miserable.

His clothes had been torn apart when he transformed into the Wooden Giant earlier.

It wasn't an issue while he was underwater, but now that he was on the surface, it was definitely a problem.

Using his powers, Jon created some plant-based coverings, wrapping them around himself to hide the important areas.

He then scanned the horizon—

But apart from the endless sea, there was nothing in sight.

When he had fallen into the ocean, he had no idea how far he had drifted from the battlefield.

Although he had Observation Haki, it wasn't a map—

It couldn't tell him his precise location in the vast ocean wilderness.

"I wonder what happened to Gion and the others…"

Jon frowned.

Although he had done his best to buy time, he didn't know if Gion and the others had managed to escape from Big Mom's pursuit.

He had survived, but his friends' fate was unknown.

Jon felt a deep sense of guilt.

He had no idea whether Gion and the rest had survival measures in place.

If they had perished, he truly didn't know how to face it.

They were his closest friends and long-time comrades.

Jon stood silently for a long time, lost in thought.

Eventually, he snapped out of it.

No matter how much he regretted things, nothing would change.

The only way to find out what happened was to search for the others as soon as possible.

Drifting Aimlessly

Jon had no Eternal Pose—

With no way to determine direction, he could only pick a random course and start moving.

He built a small wooden raft using his powers, but naturally, it couldn't match the speed of a warship.

Even though he created multiple paddles and used his abilities to row, the truth was—

It was painfully slow.

After several hours of paddling—

The scenery remained unchanged.

For the first time, Jon truly realized just how cruel this world was.

"Damn it… this world is mostly ocean. If you don't have the right abilities, surviving at sea is nearly impossible."

Jon had no idea if he was going in the right direction.

He had encountered several waves, which tossed his raft around—

Although he didn't capsize, the constant turbulence had disoriented him completely.

At this point, he regretted not having better knowledge of navigation.

If he had the right materials, he could have made a compass—

But unfortunately, he had nothing.

Now, he had to rely on gut instinct and pure luck.

But the truth was—

He had no damn experience in open-sea navigation.

Jon drifted aimlessly on the ocean for nearly a full day and night.

Finally—

He spotted a ship.

It was a merchant vessel, nothing special.

The crew was shocked to see a man alone at sea, and upon confirming he wasn't a threat, they rescued him.

Once onboard, they provided him with food, water, and shelter.

A Moment of Rest

After more than a day of wandering, Jon finally got to bathe, eat a full meal, and wear proper clothes again.

Although he had no money, he didn't sit around idly—

Instead, he helped out with the ship's daily work.

Jon also chose not to reveal that he was a Marine.

This was the New World—a dangerous and chaotic place.

Since he was alone, he wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.

He remained calm and patient, traveling with the merchant ship.

But when they finally arrived at their destination, Jon was shocked—

Because at the island's port, several flags were flying.

One of them—

Jon recognized immediately.

"The Whitebeard Pirates?!"

A black flag, marked with a white cross-shaped skull, surrounded by a curved mustache—

It was the unmistakable Jolly Roger of Whitebeard's crew.

In the New World, a pirate crew's flag was sacred.

No one dared to fly another crew's Jolly Roger unless they were under their protection.

For this island to be flying Whitebeard's flag—

It meant one thing—

This island was part of Whitebeard's territory.

Conversations with the Captain

Jon turned to the merchant captain, a burly man in his fifties, named Craig.

Craig's ship mainly traded alcohol, and Jon had grown familiar with him over the past few days.

Jon had even demonstrated some of his strength, earning Craig's respect and being treated as an equal.

"Captain, there's a pirate flag here… and you're still willing to trade?"

Craig laughed.

"Kid, that's the Whitebeard Pirates' flag! That's a good thing!"

Seeing Jon's confusion, Craig explained—

"I've been doing business here for years. It used to be chaotic as hell—pirates raiding constantly. But ever since Whitebeard took over, everything's changed."

"Changed? How?"

"Whitebeard doesn't allow looting on his turf. As long as you pay tribute, his crew protects you."

Jon's expression darkened slightly.

"You're saying Whitebeard's crew… is actually good?"

Craig snorted.

"Hell no. They're still pirates."

Glancing around cautiously, Craig lowered his voice—

"The only difference is—if you follow their rules, you're safe. But if you don't? You're dead."

Jon nodded silently.

He understood now—

In the end, pirates and the World Government weren't so different.

One used violence openly, while the other hid behind law and politics—

But in the end, both sought power and control.

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