The sea breeze, carrying the lingering smell of smoke, blew over the blood-stained deck. The battle had stopped, and the sea was a mess. The silence after the fire had been extinguished was suffocating.
Gin was kneeling on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold wooden planks, his entire body soaked in sweat and blood. His knuckles were gripping the ground so tightly that his nails had almost embedded themselves in the wood. He knew that he had no way out.
Ace stood in front of him, flames dancing on his fingertips, the red light reflecting on his profile, like a judge from hell. "What about you?" his tone was indifferent, as if announcing a death sentence. "How do you want to die?"
Gin didn't answer immediately. The wind, carrying the smoke from the sea, blew past. He was still kneeling on the deck, his fingertips trembling, blood seeping from his palms, but he slowly straightened his back. He slowly looked up. That face, which was once feared in the East Blue as the "Demon Man," now held an unprecedented calm and a clarity that came after a struggle. "I don't want to die." His voice was low and hoarse but each word was as if it had been cast. "I surrender."
A brief stir went through the crowd. Even Zeff and Sanji, who had been standing to the side on high alert, both looked at him, their expressions of astonishment. Ace raised an eyebrow, the flames slightly pausing.
Gin looked at him directly, his voice steady. "Young man, I want to join the Marines."
That sentence fell like a clap of thunder in the ruins. Ace turned to look at Roy.
Roy walked slowly from the side of the broken railing, his hands in his pockets, his military uniform fluttering in the wind. His calm gaze fell on Gin, and he asked quietly, "Why?"
Gin slowly stood up, his gaze holding a stubborn clarity. "Krieg is dead. I thought I should have gone with him." His tone was low but carried a certain sense of severance. "But I saw you..."
"I watched Krieg's fleet be sunk by you, one punch at a time."
"The chief we had once regarded as invincible was actually like a stray dog, burned to death." His gaze paused, a hint of undeniable pain and brokenness on his face. "In that moment, I finally understood... we were not the strong ones at all."
"We were just thugs, wrapped in his arrogance, dominated by his lies."
He took a deep breath, and his gaze on Roy changed from confusion to determination. "I want to live according to my own will for once."
"I want to get stronger."
"So strong that I no longer blindly follow, no longer at the mercy of others."
In that instant, he was like a beast that had broken free from the silent shadows, finally breaking the chains.
Roy quietly looked at him, his expression unreadable, a memory flashing through his mind—"At this time, the Krieg Pirates had not yet grown to 5000 people..."
"In the original story, Krieg had led a fleet of fifty ships into the Grand Line, and in just seven days, after witnessing Hawkeye cut a ship with his black sword, Yoru, he was chased all the way back to the East Blue."
"Only a few remnants remained. After escaping back to the East Blue, they still chose to do evil. Gin, this person, was clearly loyal and righteous, but in the end, he sank into desire."
"And the Gin of this moment, perhaps there is still a chance."
The wind blew over the sea, and a silence pressed down on everyone's heartbeat. After a moment, a faint, ambiguous smile appeared on Roy's lips. "...Interesting." He seemed to be playful, and also to be seriously weighing the matter. He finally turned around, his back calm and sharp, his voice carried by the wind. "Go to the Marine branch in Loguetown and turn yourself in."
"You were once a pirate. You must be judged, and you will not escape any of your crimes."
"After you have served your sentence, if you still remember what you said today—" he turned, his back steady, his steps clear on the wooden planks. "—come find me."
As his words fell, the wind lifted the corner of his military robe, carrying away his slightly low last words.
Gin was stunned. He did not cry, nor did he shout, but he suddenly kowtowed. "Thud!"—his forehead hit the deck, making a dull sound. Another sound. "I will." His voice trembled but was unprecedentedly firm. "I will definitely reform."
The sun broke through the clouds and fell on the deck, illuminating Gin's thin but straight back. In that moment, he was no longer Krieg's "Demon Man," but a man who was truly beginning to atone.
Seafaring Restaurant, Baratie
The three of them stepped onto the restaurant deck. Zeff and Sanji were still standing there, as if they had not yet recovered from the world-shaking battle. Over thirty pirate ships, in less than ten minutes, had been turned to ash in the hands of these three.
Zeff's gaze was deep as he looked at Roy's back and murmured, "These brats... are they even human?"
Sanji swallowed. Just as he was about to speak, a familiar voice came over. "Hey! Curly-brow!"
Luffy smiled brightly, his eyes shining as he stared at him. "Join the Marines! Your cooking is so delicious."
Ace stood to the side, for once putting away his jokes, his tone sincere. "When you stood up in front of everyone, you were very cool."
Sanji was taken aback for a moment, his gaze wavering slightly. He then subconsciously looked at Zeff, his eyes filled with hesitation and reluctance. "Join the Marines... but what about the old geezer? The Baratie is my home, my kitchen, the place where I survived."
Zeff didn't answer immediately but just slowly walked to his side. After a moment of silence, he placed a hand on his shoulder. "You brat," he said in a low voice. "Do you know why I've never scolded you for wasting food all these years?"
Sanji was taken aback, a hint of astonishment in his eyes.
Zeff looked at the churning waves in the distance, his tone low but with an unconcealable emotion. "Because the way you look at a hungry person is exactly the same as the way we looked at each other on that deserted island back then."
"It's a despair that's deep in your bones, a despair where you'd even want to give your life to someone else."
"You haven't forgotten... and I haven't forgotten either."
Sanji's throat tightened, and his nose burned. He remembered the memory of sharing his own leg on that deserted island, remembered the old man who had limped but had left all the food for him.
Just then, Roy's voice suddenly sounded. "Sanji, what is your dream?"
Sanji was slightly taken aback and instinctively blurted out, "I want to find—the All Blue." His eyes lit up. "I want to find the legendary sea where the ingredients of the four seas meet! So that no one will ever have to suffer from hunger!!!"
A slight smile appeared on Roy's lips, his expression calm. "Then who do you think is the most widespread force on the seas?"
Sanji subconsciously blurted out, "That would have to be the Marines."
"That's right," Roy nodded. "Joining the Marines will not only allow your talents to improve faster but also allow you to use the Marines' intelligence system to gather clues about the All Blue."
"You can travel the four seas, enter and leave various islands, and have the most comprehensive sea charts and exploration resources, and get any ingredients you want."
The more Sanji listened, the more moved he was. He subconsciously clenched his fists, his gaze fervent. But in the end, he looked back at Zeff, that tall but slightly stooped figure, who was the softest support in his heart. "Old geezer... if I really leave, what will you do?"
Zeff was slightly silent, but just gently patted his back. "You brat, you should take this step."
"You don't belong in this small kitchen." He smiled, but his eyes held a hint of relief. "You are destined to go to further places and do greater things."
At this time, Roy looked at Sanji and added, "You can continue to hone your cooking skills here. When you've thought it through, go to Loguetown and find Branch Chief Smoker."
"We will reserve a table for you on a warship."
Sanji was stunned for a few seconds, then finally gritted his teeth and nodded. "I... I'll think about it."
The wind filled the military flag. The three of them, Roy, Ace, and Luffy, turned and walked towards the warship that was docked not far away. Just as they were about to board—a voice that only he could hear suddenly sounded in Zeff's ear. "This kid Sanji... his identity is not simple, you know~"
Zeff suddenly turned his head and looked at the direction Roy had left in astonishment, but he only saw that back gradually receding, stepping into the sunlight, shining brightly. He stood on the spot, his expression complex, a ripple in his eyes. "Identity... could it be..." He looked in Sanji's direction and murmured, "You brat... your future is much further than I imagined."
....
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