One Piece: Three Devil Fruits, Beginning with Darkness

**Chapter 18 - Jiger's Arrangement**

Under Spandine's urging, Babs had no choice but to respond, though he did so with visible hesitation.

"I'm sorry, but I can't make that decision myself. If you wish to join the headquarters, you'll need to report to the recruitment office first. Admiral Zephyr has recently transitioned into an instructor role, and he is now responsible for the recruitment and training of new soldiers."

The moment Zephyr's name was mentioned, even Spandine's usual arrogance faltered slightly. He knew exactly what kind of man Zephyr was—strict, unyielding, and infuriatingly rigid.

To Spandine, Zephyr was what he called "stupid"—a man who refused to bend, who followed rules without compromise, and who couldn't be swayed by authority or bribery. He was the type of person Spandine hated dealing with the most.

But there was no denying Zephyr's strength. After all, he had once been an admiral.

Spandine, despite his bluster, had enough self-awareness to know his own limits. He could intimidate a rear admiral like Babs under the banner of the World Government, but Zephyr? That was another matter entirely.

However, as he sneaked a glance at Jiger, expecting to see some irritation or frustration at this bureaucratic roadblock, he was surprised.

Jiger didn't look upset at all. In fact, he was smiling.

To Spandine, there were only two possible explanations for this.

One, Jiger had an impeccable level of self-restraint, able to suppress any frustration even when facing obstacles like Babs.

Or two, Jiger simply didn't consider Babs worth his attention—because he was absolutely confident in the power of his family.

And considering the reputation of the Figarland family, Spandine found the second explanation far more likely.

After all, members of the Figarland family did whatever they pleased.

The moment he reminded himself of that fact, Spandine's hesitation and concern over Zephyr vanished completely.

So what if Zephyr was a former admiral?

In the face of the Figarland family, what was an admiral? For that matter, what even was the current Fleet Admiral, Kong?

The power of Jiger's lineage alone was enough to make even the highest authorities in the Navy and the World Government bow their heads.

With renewed confidence, Spandine straightened his posture, his back stiffening with an exaggerated sense of importance. He smirked and jabbed a finger toward Babs.

"It's an honor for the Navy that Mr. Jiger wants to join! Don't be ungrateful. You just mentioned Zephyr, right? Fine. Hand me the Den Den Mushi. I'll speak to him myself. Let's see if he dares to refuse a request from the World Government."

Babs hadn't expected Spandine to be so emboldened even after hearing Zephyr's name, but at this point, there was little he could do.

His fingers hesitated for a moment before reaching for the Den Den Mushi tucked inside his uniform. If Spandine wanted to dig his own grave, so be it.

However, before he could retrieve it, a hand pressed down on his arm, stopping him.

Jiger.

"That won't be necessary," Jiger said calmly. "Procedures exist for a reason. I'll follow them. All you need to do is take me and my friends to Marine Headquarters."

He nodded at Spandine, his expression unreadable.

To Spandine, however, that simple nod was everything. His momentary nervousness melted away, and he nearly teared up from sheer relief.

Jiger's words had given him an exit—one that allowed him to back down without losing face.

Babs, meanwhile, wasn't oblivious to what had just happened. Jiger had spared Spandine from making a fool of himself, all while maintaining control of the situation.

Realizing there was no further reason to delay, Babs gave a firm nod and said, "Understood. I will ensure that you and your companions arrive safely at Marine Headquarters."

Meanwhile, Kuma cast a glance back at the cross hanging on the central wall of the church, his eyes filled with concern.

Jiger, noticing this, immediately understood what was on his mind. Without hesitation, he motioned Spandine over and whispered something into his ear. Whatever Jiger said made Spandine nod rapidly, his usual arrogance momentarily replaced by eagerness to comply.

With that settled, Jiger turned back to his companions. He clapped a firm hand on Ivan's shoulder before calling for Kuma and Ginny. Together, they followed Babs out of the church—the place they had called home for six years.

As the heavy wooden doors creaked shut behind them, Ivan stood motionless for a moment, his heart pounding. Then, as if something within him had suddenly snapped, he broke into a sprint.

Bursting out of the church, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted after them,

"Jig, thank you! And Big Bear, Ginny-chan! You guys better take care of yourselves!"

His voice echoed down the street.

Jiger didn't turn around, but the corners of his mouth lifted into a small smile.

Beside him, Ginny was already sniffling, her eyes brimming with tears. Without a word, Jiger reached out and gently patted her head in comfort.

Then, turning his attention to Kuma, he suddenly asked,

"Kuma, you're worried about those old folks, aren't you?"

Kuma stiffened slightly, surprised that Jiger had seen right through him. But after a brief pause, he nodded.

"Yeah... They're all elderly. They can't do much heavy labor anymore. If they get sick, they don't have the money to see a doctor..."

Jiger stopped walking. He turned to Kuma, meeting his gaze with an expression far more serious than before.

"Kuma, there are countless people in this world like those old folks. You can't save them all. And their suffering? It's not your fault. You don't have to carry that burden alone."

Kuma lowered his head slightly. He understood what Jiger was saying, but that didn't make it any easier. He had spent years with those people, shared meals with them, listened to their stories—leaving them behind felt like abandoning family.

Sensing his lingering hesitation, Jiger's expression softened.

"Don't worry, Kuma," he said with a knowing smirk. "I've already made arrangements for them. Trust me."

Kuma blinked in confusion.

"Wait... what do you mean?"

Jiger chuckled and motioned towards Spandine, who was walking a short distance ahead of them.

"Whay do you think Spandine is doing?"

---

Meanwhile, back at the church, the ministers and nobles of the Solbel Kingdom stood in a rigid line before Spandine, their heads bowed like chastised schoolchildren. The atmosphere was tense, a stark contrast to the casual arrogance Spandine had displayed earlier in Jiger's presence.

Now, standing before these officials, Spandine had undergone yet another transformation—his demeanor was entirely different. A cigar dangled from the corner of his mouth as he paced leisurely in front of the gathered ministers, his expression one of exaggerated disappointment.

"You lot are pathetic," he scoffed, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. "You can't even run a tiny kingdom properly? How the hell did you let so many elderly folks go without basic medical care?"

The two suited men flanking Spandine exchanged confused glances. This was not the Spandine they knew. He was a man driven solely by personal gain—status, wealth, and self-preservation. Since when did he care about the plight of commoners?

A nervous minister finally mustered the courage to speak.

"Lord Spandine, it's not as if we wanted this to happen," he stammered. "It was the former King Beckley. He kept raising taxes to—"

"Enough!" Spandine interrupted with a sharp wave of his hand. "I don't want to hear excuses. If Beckley was so useless, then it's simple—we'll replace him!"

The room fell into stunned silence.

"...Excuse me?" one of the ministers blurted out, eyes wide in disbelief.

Spandine took another long drag from his cigar before flicking the ash onto the marble floor. His tone was nonchalant, as if he were discussing the weather.

"It's settled. I hear the old king—what was his name? Bulldog? Yeah, that guy. He was decent enough. Let's put him back on the throne."

"But... but the replacement of a king from an allied nation requires approval from Marijoa," one minister hesitantly pointed out. "Lord Spandine, are you saying you have the authority to make such a decision?"

Spandine's eyes narrowed in irritation.

"Hmph! Do you take me for a fool?" he snapped.

Internally, every single minister in the room had the same thought: *Yes, absolutely.* But none of them dared to say it out loud.

Spandine, however, was aware of their skepticism. He wasn't actually authorized to depose and appoint kings as he pleased. But he had no intention of backing down.

Because this wasn't *his* decision.

It was Jiger's.

Thinking of Jiger, Spandine's expression shifted from irritation to near-reverence. He exhaled one last puff of smoke before tossing his cigar aside. Then, without hesitation, he wiped his ash-stained fingers on the robe of the nearest minister, who stiffened but didn't dare protest.

"Listen carefully," Spandine declared, straightening his posture. "This isn't just *my* order. These are the wishes of Lord Jiger himself."

A hush fell over the room.

"Jiger is the sky itself—his words are law! His will is an imperial decree! Your only job is to obey. The rest? Not your concern."

With that, Spandine turned on his heel and strode toward the exit, his two suited guards following closely behind.

The ministers stood frozen in place long after he was gone, exchanging anxious glances.

The decision had already been made. Whether they liked it or not, they had no choice but to obey.