Chapter 1: What Vice-Captain? I'm Just Logistics
Sea Circle Calendar 1520, East Blue, 153rd Marine Branch Base.
Two figures were perched atop the wall surrounding the Marine base, their gazes fixed on the training ground below, where a battered-looking man was tied to a cross.
"Reiner, is he the three-sword style swordsman you mentioned?"
Luffy glanced at the man beside him.
The man had short golden hair and wore a sky-blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, paired with beige trousers – looking very much like a sharp office worker.
"Green hair, three golden earrings..."
Reiner carefully studied the figure in the training ground for a moment. "That's him, alright. Let's go."
Francis Reiner.
He had transmigrated into the One Piece world a year ago and met Luffy in Foosha Village. Today was their first day setting sail.
Reiner had brought Luffy straight to the 153rd Branch, his purpose being...
Naturally, to collect the beginner's bonus: Three-Sword Roronoa Zoro.
Luffy grinned, pushed off the wall with both hands, and jumped into the base, swaggering straight in.
Reiner calmly lit a cigarette and followed behind him.
"Are you here for me?"
Zoro had already noticed their arrival, his eyes cold and wary. "Who are you people?"
"My name is Luffy! I'm the man who will become the King of the Pirates! I came to ask you to be our nakama!"
Luffy grinned, stating his intentions very directly.
As he spoke, he reached out and started trying to untie Zoro himself.
Zoro was stunned by this. Were people nowadays always this nonsensical?
"Are you kidding me! Hey, don't just untie me!"
Zoro hurriedly tried to stop him.
He had let himself be captured voluntarily to save a mother and daughter.
He had made a deal with the Marines: if he could survive for a month without food or drink, they wouldn't harm the mother and daughter.
They would also let him go.
However, Luffy wasn't one to listen to warnings, his hands nimbly working away.
Except...
"It's getting tighter, dammit!"
Zoro couldn't help but roar as the ropes bit painfully into his wrists.
Reiner: "..."
Killing off a teammate on the very first day at sea... That would be too ridiculous if word got out.
"Forget it, Luffy, let me handle this."
With a thought from Reiner, a void-like crack appeared in mid-air, and a grim, pale skeleton holding a dagger stepped out.
Zoro was startled by the sudden appearance. "What the hell is that thing!?"
"I'm a Devil Fruit user, I can summon undead creatures."
Reiner took the skeleton's dagger, gave the ropes a light slash, and they fell away. He then grinned:
"Long story short... *cough cough*... We're awesome! Stick with us, and you'll have no problems."
"Huh???"
Zoro was completely baffled, his brow furrowed tightly.
He didn't know what Reiner was talking about, but he said it with such baffling confidence.
Reiner casually stuck the dagger into the skeleton's skull and retracted it, then spoke seriously:
"I heard about your situation in town when I arrived. You don't really think you can survive a month without food or drink, do you?"
"Tch, none of your business."
Zoro scoffed but didn't refute it. In truth, he was already nearing his limit, and it was only the ninth day!
"Anyway, after today, you'll be wanted soon enough. Either become a pirate, or wait here to die..."
Reiner dropped his cigarette butt and stamped it out, saying flatly:
"Or, if you don't have any ambitions, you could just find a place to hide. We'll just consider today's trip wasted."
"If I have to just scrape by to survive, I might as well die here."
Zoro spat, rubbing his wrists. "I still have important things I need to do."
He knew his situation was exactly as Reiner described. Once wanted, even if he didn't call himself a pirate, he'd be treated like one.
He still had goals to achieve. Besides, they *did* save him. Maybe he should just go with them?
Thinking this, Zoro's expression turned serious as he met Reiner's eyes. "You came prepared, seems like you were set on recruiting me. Are you the captain?"
"No, the captain is him."
Reiner gestured with his thumb towards Luffy beside him.
Zoro followed his gaze. Luffy was looking at him with a wide grin, his eyes filled with 'clarity'.
"He doesn't look very reliable?"
Zoro didn't know why he asked that, just had a strange feeling. He turned back to Reiner. "Then are you the Vice-Captain?"
"No, no, no, I'm just a logistics member."
Reiner waved his hands dismissively, his expression full of refusal. Vice-Captain? No way!
That title sounded way too attention-grabbing, didn't fit his style. He wanted to develop quietly, then amaze everyone.
Would people react the same way hearing he was the Vice-Captain versus hearing he was just logistics?
He was the type who liked taking cheap shots from the shadows. Nobody understood combat better than him.
What, you say that's despicable?
Yes! That's me, correct!
"Logistics member?"
Zoro looked skeptical. "Sounds pretty weak."
He was a legendary Devil Fruit user, but actually wasn't strong?
Seeing Zoro's expression, Reiner rejoiced inwardly.
Yes! That's it, that's the effect I wanted!
If he were to use his powers now, he could easily land a few hits on Zoro instantly.
Just then, a group of unwelcome guests arrived on the training ground.
"Prepare to fire!!!"
A rough shout echoed from the distance.
The three looked towards the sound. The one shouting was a burly man built like a bear, with a giant axe attached to his arm – the Captain of the 153rd Branch, Axe-Hand Morgan!
Behind Morgan was a large troop of Marine soldiers, raising their rifles to aim at them.
Seeing this, Luffy quickly spread his arms, shielding the other two.
*BANG!*
*BANG!* Gunshots erupted, and dozens of bullets flew towards them.
"Watch out!" Zoro couldn't help but shout in alarm.
However, the next moment, something completely unexpected happened.
The bullets hit Luffy and simply dented into his body, stretching the flesh on his back like a pincushion.
The next second, all the bullets shot back out, catapulting towards the Marines.
"What kind of monster is he!?"
"Get out of the way!"
Facing the panicked Marines, Luffy put his hands on his hips and laughed proudly, "Shishishi, I ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, I'm a Rubber Man! Bullets don't work on me!"
Zoro had a look of utter disbelief. "What's going on? He's also a Devil... huh? Where'd he go?"
Before he could finish, he realized Reiner had disappeared sometime during the commotion.
"Damn it, the Marines took my swords!" Feeling the empty space at his waist, Zoro scowled.
Meanwhile, Morgan stared grimly at Luffy.
He had been the base commander for three years; he wasn't entirely clueless. He immediately roared at his men:
"Don't panic! Try using swords! Everyone, attack!"
Even if swords didn't work, they could just swarm and pin him down.
"Yes, sir!"
Receiving Morgan's command, the Marines drew their swords and charged, engaging Luffy in a melee.
Zoro also jumped in, taking down several Marines barehanded before snatching swords and starting to display his astonishing skill.
Watching the two figures fighting like wild beasts in the training ground, Morgan frowned deeply.
*"I'll let my men wear them down first, then I'll launch a sneak attack when the time is right."*
What a coincidence!
Reiner was thinking the exact same thing!!
Just then, a sneaky figure suddenly appeared behind Morgan!
Somehow, Reiner had stealthily circled around and was now quietly creeping up on Morgan.
*Click-clack!*
Suddenly, the sound of a gun being cocked rang out.
Morgan jumped, a chill running down his spine. With a sense of foreboding, he whipped his head around.
He saw a golden-haired man pointing a gun straight at him. Staring down the dark barrel, Morgan was terrified.
"Eat shit, Captain!"
"Wait—"
*BANG—!*
Reiner pulled the trigger without any hesitation, watching mockingly as Morgan fell into a pool of blood.
"Can't wait, Captain. What if there's a plot twist?"
He said it himself, nobody understands combat better than him!
He walked over, placed his hand on Morgan's body, and a surge of blue flame erupted from his palm, covering the corpse.
After about 30 seconds, the flame flowed back into his hand, coalescing into a single, flickering spark.