Inside the Foxy Pirates' ship cabin.
A victory banquet was being held, celebrating yet another win, another pirate crew swallowed up.
The "Silver Fox" Foxy had absorbed many pirate crews through the Davy Back Fight game, recruiting a good number of pirate elites.
Though they seemed like a small-time crew, with only a 13-million Belly bounty, only those who had fought him knew how troublesome that ability was.
Foxy raised his glass.
"Fuffuffuffuffu!"
"Let's welcome our new members!"
"Cheers!!!"
Though he had a vile personality, that was only toward outsiders.
Toward his own crew, Foxy was generous and tolerant.
Otherwise, after absorbing other pirate crews, there was no way he could win their loyalty so quickly.
The newly joined pirates were unwilling at first, but the enthusiasm around them was hard to resist. Even if they didn't want to, they still raised their glasses and drank with everyone.
...
Shua——
Suddenly, a figure appeared on the enormous rectangular dining table.
Karol, wearing casual attire, holding a stack of files.
"Silver Fox Foxy."
"Slow-Slow Fruit user."
Everyone was stunned at the sudden appearance. The cautious ones had already run to grab weapons.
Looking at Karol with the files, Foxy's face darkened.
"Who are you?"
Beneath the table, his hand formed a specific gesture, ready to activate his ability at any moment.
Karol shook his head at the little movement.
"Too slow."
Shua!
Karol suddenly vanished and reappeared behind him.
Puchi——
A sharp dagger pierced straight through his heart, and at the same time, the Fruit Reclaimer was driven into his body.
The crew was shocked.
"Boss!!!"
The pirates who had just lost today, on the other hand, were secretly pleased—now they could run!
Foxy's life drained quickly from the heart wound. His neck stiffly turned back, mouth opening and closing soundlessly. How… could this… happen…
Karol coldly twisted the dagger.
Foxy's heart was instantly shredded. His head drooped. He completely stopped breathing...
Inside the Fruit Reclaimer, a Devil Fruit slowly took shape.
Karol casually pulled out the dagger, grabbed a napkin from the table to wipe it clean, then glanced at the hesitant pirates who didn't dare to move.
He pulled out a cylindrical device, pressed a button on top, and tossed it onto the floor.
The surrounding pirates instantly backed ten meters away, watching Karol warily.
Karol gave them a small smile.
Shua——
Gone.
The pirates looked at each other in confusion.
It had been too fast—appearing, speaking, killing, disappearing—all in under ten seconds.
Before they even had time to react, the captain was dead, and the enemy had vanished.
Zzzt——
The cylinder Karol had tossed onto the floor crackled with electricity.
Zzzla——
Electric arcs swept across the entire pirate ship in an instant.
The high-voltage current inside the cylinder paralyzed every single pirate. Countless flammable materials on the ship caught fire...
Miserable screams rang out endlessly...
Later, when some brave souls came to investigate, they discovered that not a single person on the enormous pirate ship had survived.
A crew of nearly a thousand—none escaped. All were burned alive on the ship...
Because all the bodies were twisted in pain, lying on the floor with hideous death expressions.
The story grew more and more sinister until it became the later famous "Ghost Flame Revenge" tale across the South Blue.
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
At Vice Admiral Tsuru's home, Tsuru was leaning on a deck chair in the yard, flipping through documents and scanning the latest news from the seas.
Suddenly, a crisp voice came from outside the house.
"Tsuru——"
Gion pushed open the door.
"Eh?"
"Where are those two little ones?"
She was referring to the two little girls, Baby-5 and Sugar, brought back years ago from the Donquixote Family.
Since they had been pirates, after bringing them back, Tsuru had used her Devil Fruit ability to cleanse the evil in their hearts and had kept them close for guidance.
Baby-5's overly accommodating personality had also been largely erased by the Wash-Wash Fruit's power.
Huala——
Flipping another page of documents, Tsuru said,
"They're at the age to enroll now."
"They're in the Marine Academy."
Gion said in surprise,
"Eh——!"
"So soon?"
"They've already reached academy age?"
Gion laid down on the deck chair next to Tsuru, stretching lazily.
"When they graduate, let them join my ship."
"They're such good kids."
Now a Vice Admiral herself, Gion had always worried about her ship's combat strength.
Vice Admiral Tsuru said,
"Baby-5 you can have, but Sugar is off limits."
"Her power is too dangerous. She must stay with me at all times."
The Hobby-Hobby Fruit's terrifying part was that it erased people's memories of those turned into toys.
Though some written records wouldn't disappear, no one dared to gamble. If she developed evil intent and casually turned people into toys—
No one would even realize it happened. She had to be kept close and regularly brainwashed with the Wash-Wash Fruit's power.
To make sure nothing ever went wrong.
Even though one wash was technically enough, this wasn't something you could take lightly.
Gion sighed.
"Fine, fine."
"Forget it then."
"We can't separate the two of them anyway."
"I'll go check the Marine Academy to see if there are any good recruits this year."
...
Marineford, Marine Academy.
Inside the principal's office, Morris sat on the sofa.
On the coffee table lay a huge sheet of paper where he was writing down the names of this year's freshmen.
Koko——
The doorknob turned, and Zephyr entered, smiling broadly, sitting down on the sofa.
Morris, curious, poured him some tea and pushed it over.
"Oh?"
"Why so happy today?"
"Not like you at all."
Zephyr smiled.
"Am I?"
"I'm always serious, you know."
Morris shook his head.
"You might as well carve the word 'serious' on your forehead."
Zephyr didn't care, just laughed.
"There's a new recruit this year, quite impressive."
"Lots of potential."
Morris smiled.
"Your praise doesn't come often."
"What's his name?"
Zephyr took a sip of tea.
"Drake."
Morris said,
"Ah, that kid."
"An Ancient Zoan—the Allosaurus Fruit."
"Really suits your taste."
"Good kid."
"His evaluation report was glowing. Strong stance, loyal character, most importantly adaptable, not rigid."
"And the most important—tremendous strength."
"Tsk——"
"Kid's basically a younger version of you."
Zephyr let out a small snort, accepting the 'rigid' comment silently.
Looking at all the names on the table,
"Why are you writing all these down?"
Morris said,
"Just in case. This year, one of the recruits has that ridiculous Paramecia power. Can't be too careful."
Zephyr frowned.
"That little girl, huh…"
"Do we really need to be this cautious? She's one of us."
Zephyr didn't like suspecting allies.
Morris rolled his eyes.
"It's not suspicion. Tsuru's Wash-Wash Fruit works perfectly, we all know that."
"But a power like hers—you can't ignore it."
"Doesn't matter how strong your Haki is; it wipes memories directly."
"She's just a kid."
"But the Fruit froze her in time. She'll never grow up."
"The sea is full of smooth talkers and manipulators."
"Even a hypnotist could turn her into trouble."
A bug-level ability like that—you use it, but you guard against it too.
If you don't use it? What, lock a ten-year-old girl in Impel Down for life? No one at HQ would agree.
Well… except Sakazuki.
Zephyr sighed.
"Fair enough… Do what you think is best."
He stood up and left.
"I'll go check on that boy."
Morris chuckled.
"Go, go."
"You're so impressed—better recruit him quick before Garp steals him."
Zephyr snorted.
"He wouldn't dare!"
But his steps quickened as he left...
...
Late at night.
Grand Line, some deserted island.
Sakazuki scanned the surroundings with Observation Haki, confirming no one was nearby.
He took out a Den Den Mushi and spoke to Karol on the other side.
"Begin."
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total