Hanafuda spat out a mouthful of blood, eyes fixed on the calm sea before him. It was a stark contrast to the treacherous waters of the Grand Line. A breath of relief escaped his lips.
"So this is the East Blue, huh? No wonder they call it the weakest sea. What kind of powerhouse could be raised in such a gentle place?"
He wiped the blood from his chin and glanced behind him.
"That old bastard weapon is busted. He won't be chasing me here anytime soon."
He paused, expression darkening.
"Besides... aside from that madman, how many in the Navy would actually dare defy the World Government's will?"
The thought barely left his lips when—
Boom!
A shell tore through the air. Hanafuda reacted on instinct, his hand snapping up to catch it mid-flight.
Boom!
The damaged pirate ship rocked violently as red flames burst from the impact. Smoke and dust engulfed the deck.
Then came the next wave.
Artillery shells screamed in from the sea, landing around the pirate ship with precision, sending columns of water into the sky.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Saltwater rained down, soaking Hanafuda. But his gaze had already locked onto the distant warship—the one responsible for the bombardment. His expression turned grim.
"Is this really the end?"
"This is just the East Blue!"
"Do you even know who I am?!"
"Come closer!"
As if fueled by fury, the battered pirate ship surged forward, charging toward the approaching warship.
And then he saw him.
A lone figure stood tall on the enemy deck—white-haired, eyebrowless, two cigars clenched between his teeth, and an enormous jitte in his hand.
Smoker, the Marine Captain stationed in Loguetown.
"I am a Shichibukai, authorized by the World Government!" Hanafuda roared. "Does the Navy really dare to defy their orders by attacking me!?"
But Smoker remained unfazed.
"Shichibukai or not. Even with the Government's permission to plunder, the East Blue isn't your playground."
"Go back to the Grand Line... or I'll personally send you to Impel Down."
Smoker had yet to recover fully from the injuries Gawain had inflicted on him—and now, with no outlet for his rage, he glared at Hanafuda with unfiltered hatred. The Shichibukai's unauthorized incursion into the East Blue was the final straw.
Hanafuda's eyes narrowed. His voice turned icy.
"You're asking for death!"
Without warning, his body began to expand. In mere moments, he transformed into a towering carnivorous dinosaur—shoulders rising more than eight meters tall. The sheer weight of his transformation pressed the ship lower in the water.
Then, with a thunderous stomp that nearly submerged the bow, Hanafuda launched himself like a living cannonball toward the Marine warship.
Mouth agape, teeth gleaming, he radiated murderous intent—a beast bent on devouring all in its path.
But then—he froze.
A vast plume of white smoke erupted across the sea, rising like a wall.
"A Logia-type?!"
Hanafuda's eyes widened. Then his fury spiked.
"So what if it is?!"
"You little runt!"
"Only the strong can decide who dominates this sea!"
As he shouted, a layer of pitch-black Haki enveloped his razor-sharp teeth.
Boom!
The monstrous dinosaur slammed into the warship's deck—only to be instantly swallowed by the swirling smoke.
And then, chaos.
A brutal battle erupted at sea.
Smoker—injured but fueled by vengeance—clashed with Hanafuda, a Warlord of the Sea driven by bloodlust and pride, still bearing the wounds left by Zephyr.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Explosions echoed across the water.
The roars of battle and crashing waves blurred together. The pirate crew, watching from afar, were frozen in fear. None dared to approach the storm of violence.
One wrong move, and Hanafuda would reduce both them and their fragile ship to floating debris.
And just when they thought they were at a safe distance...
Shells burst from the white smoke—deadly, precise.
They struck the pirate ship.
Flames erupted. Screams followed.
It didn't last long.
Though Smoker's mastery of both Armament and Observation Haki made him formidable—especially combined with his Logia fruit—he was still in the East Blue, where such power could easily overwhelm most opponents.
But his enemy wasn't just anyone.
A Shichibukai. One of the World Government's chosen three to counterbalance the Marines and the Four Emperors.
Their clash was one of raw might and refined skill—of authority, ambition, and bloodshed.
Half an hour later.
Hanafuda slumped on the warship's deck, his massive frame marked by fresh wounds, blood trickling steadily.
Smoker lay nearby—unconscious, pinned to the deck by his own jitte laced with Kairoseki.
Hanafuda reached out toward Smoker's throat, ready to crush it—
But he stopped.
His hand hovered in hesitation.
A memory surfaced—vivid and unshakable.
The towering, tyrannical figure of Kaido.
"The Navy's attack on me isn't the same as killing one of their own."
"You should be thankful. Lord Kaido's orders were clear—I'm to keep the Shichibukai's image intact."
Days Later
East Blue, Loguetown
The port was on high alert.
Navy patrols doubled. Rifles gripped tight. Every newcomer was scrutinized.
The news had already spread—Smoker defeated by the Warlord Hanafuda. His fate uncertain.
With their commanding officer gone, the local branch was in disarray.
Yet despite the turmoil, the nobles of the East Blue remained undeterred, eager for the upcoming auction.
At the port—
The docks were packed with ships of all sizes, each one exquisitely crafted and adorned. Nobles in ornate clothing disembarked slowly, flanked by servants and guards. The air buzzed with chatter and decadent excitement.
"They say there are rare goods from the Grand Line this time—even fishmen might be up for sale."
"I once had the pleasure of tasting the flesh of a mink tribe member. That sensation... it was simply... simply—"
"Indescribable."
A rotund noble waved his hands dramatically, regaling his companions with vile tales that drew laughter and nods of approval from the crowd around him. Moments later, lascivious chuckles echoed through the port.
Gawain stood silently to the side, a suitcase in hand, his brows furrowing as he listened.
"So even the East Blue isn't spared from this filth," he thought grimly. "And these people... they've grown used to it."
"What a hopeless world."
With a quiet shake of his head, Gawain tightened his grip on the case and descended from the ship.
This rot at the heart of the world wouldn't change just because he disapproved—not yet, at least.
For now, his focus returned to his goal: the auction.
His aim was simple—obtain a treasure valuable enough to draw eyes at the East Blue's upcoming martial arts conference. Be it famed weapons, rare artifacts, or Devil Fruits, anything that could elevate his standing or strength was fair game.
More importantly, Gawain had noticed Gin's growing anxiety about his own power.
If there was anyone among his subordinates who embodied absolute loyalty, it was undoubtedly Gin. Gawain understood that true strength often required not only conviction but opportunity—and while spiritual breakthroughs relied on luck and resolve, Devil Fruits offered a guaranteed leap in power.
"If I can find a suitable Devil Fruit… Gin will have first pick."
As he stepped into the bustling port, Gawain was immediately swarmed by a crowd of eager guides, their eyes gleaming with opportunistic smiles.
"Sir! I know every street in Loguetown! For just five thousand Berries, I'll take you anywhere you want to go!"
"I'll do it for four thousand five!"
"Three thousand!"
Arguments erupted instantly, the would-be guides jostling for position.
Amid the chaos, Gawain's eyes were drawn to a frail girl on the outskirts of the crowd. She looked to be around twelve or thirteen, her clothes tattered and patched over many times, barely concealing her skinny frame. She watched the others timidly, clutching something to her chest.
Noticing Gawain's gaze, a spark of determination lit in the girl's eyes. She pushed her way through the older men with all her strength and stepped forward.
"S-Sir! My name is Mira… I'll do it for just two thousand!"
"When my father was alive, he served in the Marines nearby. I used to follow him everywhere. I know every corner of this town. I even know where every manhole cover is!"
Gawain could tell at a glance how desperate she was. For him, it didn't matter who served as guide—but he appreciated honesty and courage. He pointed at her calmly.
"You. You'll lead."
As soon as he spoke, the crowd dispersed like scattered birds, moving on to hound the next arriving passenger. The area around Gawain cleared in an instant.
"Follow me!"
Mira wiped the grime from her face with a sleeve, a bright smile blooming across her cheeks as she turned and led Gawain into the heart of Loguetown.
Though it wasn't as grand as the cities in Gawain's previous life, Loguetown still carried the rustic charm of a coastal hub—the final stop between the East Blue and the Grand Line.
The salty sea breeze filled the air. Vendors lined the streets, and nearly every specialty of the East Blue could be found here. Gawain even spotted the oranges native to Cocoyashi Village.
"Looks like Nojiko has managed the orchard well since Nami left," he thought to himself.
"This beer is from Yharnam. They say the taste is legendary—rich, full-bodied, and with the most satisfying foam!"
"And that strawberry pie shop? The best in town. Not cheap, though—it's mostly for scamming tourists. Locals rarely go there."
Mira chattered away as they walked, clearly familiar with every corner and crack of the town. It was evident she hadn't lied earlier.
Gawain listened in silence—until something caught his eye.
He stopped abruptly, his gaze drawn to a nearby toy shop. The small store had a glass window crammed with plush toys—dragons with four legs and two wings in every size imaginable. A small group of children had gathered outside, mesmerized.
For a brief moment, Gawain felt as though he saw his dragon form.
"A red dragon…?"
Mira noticed his interest and turned toward the shop. She smiled sheepishly.
"Now that you mention it... I used to dream of riding on a dragon's back."
"They say dragons guard mountains of treasure. I always thought that if I could just get my hands on some of it… maybe I could get kidnapped and taken away."
Gawain's lips twitched slightly. He wasn't sure whether to laugh or sigh.
"If I had money," she went on with a chuckle, "Mom wouldn't have to work all the time, and my little brothers and sisters could go to school."
"I could even chase my own dreams. You know, sir... I sing really well!"
When Gawain didn't respond, Mira quickly changed the subject.
"Oh! Right—speaking of dreams. The auction house here in Loguetown—it changed hands recently. The new owner came from the Grand Line."