Loguetown's marketplace was as lively as ever.
Merchants shouted prices from their stalls, voices overlapping in a chaotic but familiar rhythm. Children ran between crowded streets, laughing as they dodged passersby. The scent of grilled seafood mixed with fresh fruit and spices, filling the air with an almost intoxicating warmth.
It was noisy.
Crowded.
Alive.
And right in the middle of it—
Kael Sylvarion walked at a relaxed pace, hands tucked casually into his pockets.
His sharp eyes moved across the endless rows of shops, scanning faces, goods, and movement with quiet awareness.
(Where the hell did those two go…)
(I only told them to buy supplies.)
(Not conquer the entire marketplace.)
He rubbed the back of his neck, already feeling a headache forming.
(Nami with money is dangerous enough.)
(But giving her money and letting her shop with Kaya?)
(…That might have been a strategic mistake.)
Kael exhaled slowly.
(I should at least check if they need more money…)
(Or stop them before they buy the entire town.)
Just as he turned a corner—
"Kael-san, wait!"
A familiar voice called out behind him.
Kael stopped mid-step and turned.
Pushing through the crowd toward him was Tashigi, slightly out of breath. A few pedestrians stumbled aside as she hurried forward, clearly determined not to lose sight of him.
When she finally reached him, she bent slightly, placing her hands on her knees as she steadied her breathing.
Kael blinked once.
Then his eyes narrowed just a fraction.
Something was… off.
He tilted his head.
"Where's your coat?"
Tashigi froze.
The question hit immediately.
The white Marine coat that had always rested proudly on her shoulders—
Was gone.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
"I—I…"
She took a breath.
Then forced the words out.
"I left the Marines."
Silence.
The noise of the marketplace continued—voices, footsteps, bargaining—but between the two of them—
Everything felt still.
Kael stared at her.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Then—
"…You did what?"
Tashigi straightened instantly.
Then—
She bowed deeply.
"Please allow me to join your crew, Kael-san!!"
Kael's eyebrows shot up.
"Huh??"
For a moment—
His brain simply stopped working.
Then instinct kicked in.
(System, what the hell is happening?)
The familiar mechanical voice responded without emotion.
[Host, I told you before.]
[The plot is changing because of your actions.]
(I know that already!)
(But this is just too damn absurd!)
Kael rubbed his temple slowly.
(She was supposed to stay in the Marines…)
(Train. Grow stronger. Appear later.)
(Not resign and ask to join my crew in the middle of a marketplace!)
(What kind of butterfly effect is this?)
Meanwhile—
Tashigi's confidence began to crumble under his silence.
Her shoulders slowly lowered.
Her voice softened.
"Y-You don't… want me to join…?"
Her gaze dropped to the ground.
"…I understand."
"I'm still weak compared to you and the others…"
"And I'm also a former Marine…"
Her voice grew quieter.
"…I probably wouldn't be much help anyway."
Kael looked at her.
Then sighed.
A long, tired sigh.
(This idiot girl…)
He raised his hand—
—and lightly tapped her on the head.
Tashigi blinked in surprise.
"Why would I refuse you, silly girl?"
Kael said casually.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Welcome to the Sylvarion Pirates, Tashigi."
For a moment—
Tashigi froze.
Her brain took several seconds to process the words.
Then—
Her eyes widened.
"R-Really???"
Her voice trembled with excitement.
Kael chuckled.
"Of course."
"If the former Marine sword nerd wants to join my crew, why would I say no?"
Tashigi's face lit up instantly.
A bright, uncontrollable smile spread across her face.
It was the happiest Kael had ever seen her.
Kael turned and began walking again.
"Come on."
"We should find Nami and Kaya."
He glanced around the busy street.
"Before Nami empties the treasury of an entire country."
Tashigi quickly followed behind him.
"Okay!!"
Her voice carried clear excitement now.
Then—
Without turning around, Kael added:
"Oh, and one more thing."
Tashigi blinked.
"Yes?"
Kael glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
"Tell me how the hell you managed to make Smoker agree to this."
Tashigi scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"Well…"
"…he didn't exactly agree."
Kael slowly stopped walking.
Then turned his head.
"…I'm almost afraid to ask."
Tashigi laughed nervously.
"It's… a long story."
Kael sighed again.
(Something tells me I'm going to regret hearing this.)
But despite that—
A small smile formed on Tashigi's lips as they continued walking together.
Unaware—
That somewhere else in the same marketplace—
Two girls were currently negotiating prices with the intensity of battlefield commanders.
And several unlucky shopkeepers were about to experience true terror.
The deeper parts of the marketplace were even louder.
Merchants competed aggressively for attention, waving goods and shouting deals. People pushed past one another in tight spaces, creating a constant tide of movement.
Through this chaos—
Kael and Tashigi walked side by side.
Kael had technically just accepted her into the crew.
But his brain still hadn't fully caught up.
(System… you really broke the timeline this time.)
Beside him, Tashigi walked half a step behind.
Every few seconds she glanced at him.
Then forward.
Then smiled again.
She still hadn't fully processed it either.
She was… a pirate now.
Suddenly—
A blur rushed out between two crowded stalls.
Someone overloaded with shopping bags stumbled forward.
Right toward Kael.
"Ah—!"
Before the fall could happen—
Kael stepped forward smoothly and caught them by the shoulder.
The bags nearly spilled everywhere.
He sighed.
"Sigh… what did I even expect from you."
The girl froze.
Then slowly looked up.
Bright orange hair.
A very familiar face.
A very predictable situation.
For a moment—
Both girls stared at him.
Then—
"Kael!!"
"Kael-san!!"
Nami and Kaya shouted at the same time.
Both looked genuinely happy to see him.
Kael reached forward and casually took most of the bags from Nami's arms.
Which—
Was a ridiculous amount.
Nami immediately relaxed.
She flashed a bright smile.
"Thank you!"
Kael raised an eyebrow while adjusting the weight.
(Was she planning to carry the entire market home?)
Then—
Nami and Kaya noticed someone behind him.
"Oh!"
Nami blinked.
"Tashigi, you're here too!"
She waved enthusiastically.
"Come shop with us!"
Kaya smiled warmly.
But then—
Both of them paused.
Their eyes drifted upward.
Then back down.
Nami tilted her head.
"Oh?"
She pointed slightly.
"Tashigi… where's your coat?"
Kaya's smile turned teasing.
"Trying a new fashion style?"
Then she added, with a playful tone—
"Or trying to impress someone… Tashigi?"
Tashigi instantly turned red.
"W-What?!"
"You're misunderstanding!"
The two girls only smiled wider.
Kael sighed.
"Stop teasing your new crewmate."
Nami nodded casually.
"Alright, alright."
Then paused.
"…Wait."
Both girls turned toward him slowly.
"What did you just say?"
Kael smiled faintly.
"Yes."
He gestured toward Tashigi.
"She's the fourth member of the Sylvarion Pirates now."
"Treat her well."
Silence.
Nami and Kaya stared.
"…How did this even happen?"
Tashigi looked incredibly embarrassed.
"I-I…"
She scratched her cheek.
"That's… a long story…"
Nami immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Perfect."
"Tell us while shopping."
Kaya chuckled softly.
"Welcome to the crew, Tashigi."
Tashigi nodded shyly.
But her smile—
Was unmistakably happy.
"Thank you."
Meanwhile—
Kael turned around.
"Alright, just come back to the ship before evening."
He began walking away.
Clearly attempting to escape.
But then—
He stopped.
A chill ran down his spine.
His body stiffened.
Slowly…
He turned back.
And froze.
Standing there—
Was Nami.
Staring at him.
Her expression—
Was terrifying.
The air around her felt heavy.
Dangerous.
(Dammit…)
(Was all that slander from the anime true?)
(Is this Conqueror's Haki or something?)
(Even Mihawk and Dragon weren't this scary.)
Behind her—
Kaya and Tashigi smiled awkwardly.
Clearly nervous.
Kael forced a smile.
"Uh…"
"Is something wrong, Nami?"
"If you need more money I ca—"
"You have two options."
Nami cut him off calmly.
"Go shopping with us."
She paused.
Then smiled sweetly.
"Or die."
Kael blinked.
(She's using my own dialogue against me!!!)
Then he laughed.
"Haha… that's it?"
"I was already planning to go."
He nodded.
"Sure. Let's go."
Instantly—
The terrifying aura vanished.
Nami's face lit up.
"Okay!!"
She grabbed his hand—
And dragged him into the crowd.
"Let's go!"
Kael didn't resist.
Behind them—
Tashigi and Kaya looked at each other.
Tried to hold it in.
Then—
"Pfft—!"
They burst out laughing.
Still giggling, they followed.
Kael glanced back with a deadpan expression.
(Seriously?)
(You're laughing at your captain?)
(No loyalty. No respect.)
That only made them laugh harder.
And just like that—
The four of them disappeared into the marketplace.
Leaving behind confused merchants…
And the beginning of a very expensive disaster.
By the time they returned to the ship—
The sun was already dipping lower.
The moment Kael stepped into his cabin—
He collapsed onto his bed without hesitation.
Thud.
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't think.
The man who could stand calmly before monsters like Dracule Mihawk and Monkey D. Dragon…
Now looked completely defeated.
He stared blankly at the ceiling.
"…Nami is too dangerous."
Silence.
Then—
He blinked.
"Oh right."
He raised his hand lazily.
"System."
"Show me the pending notifications."
[Ding!]
[Mission Completed: Make Smoker from the Marines your ally]
[Hidden Mission Completed: Make Monkey D. Dragon your ally]
[An Important Side Character from the Original Timeline has joined your crew]
[Rewards Available]
[Start Receiving?]
Kael's tired eyes slowly sharpened.
A faint smile appeared.
"…Go ahead."