The morning sky stretched endless and clean, a pale blue canvas over the East Blue.
A sharp cry broke the calm—
"Gyaaah! Gyaaah!"
A seagull swept low across the Eternal, dropping a folded newspaper sealed with the red crest of the World Government.
Makino caught it deftly. The sunlight painted her auburn hair gold as she scanned the front page. Her eyes widened.
"Jin!" she called. "You need to see this. The Navy's made a move—and a big one."
Jin, who'd been sitting cross-legged on the deck oiling his blade, raised a brow. "Another bounty increase?"
Makino shook her head, her face a mix of disbelief and irritation. "No. Something far worse." She handed the paper to him.
He took it lazily, glancing down. Then, with a quiet snort, he wrapped one arm around Makino's waist and drew her down to sit on his lap, the newspaper fluttering between them.
"Read it aloud," he said, smiling faintly. "Let's see what kind of comedy the Government's cooked up this time."
Makino obliged. Her voice trembled slightly as she read:
'To maintain balance in an age of rising chaos, the World Government and Marine Headquarters hereby establish the Seven Warlords of the Sea — seven pirates granted royal immunity in exchange for serving justice in the name of order.'
She stopped halfway, eyes still scanning the names listed below. "They're actually legitimizing pirates. Giving them… government status?"
Jin laughed quietly. "Of course they are. The Navy's just a dog on a leash, and the hand holding that leash is desperate."
He flicked the paper with a finger. "Four Emperors too strong to control. The Revolution brewing in the dark. The World Government panics, and when bureaucrats panic, they make stupid deals."
He leaned back, voice dripping with mock amusement. "Let's take the monsters we couldn't catch and give them medals. Bravo, Sengoku. Truly a masterpiece of stupidity."
Tina, who had been manning the wheel, heard the words and descended the steps. Her boots clicked on the deck. "What are you two so riled up about?"
Makino passed her the paper wordlessly.
Tina's eyes darted over the lines. She froze halfway through, then frowned hard. "They've lost their minds. You can't give pirates authority—this undermines everything the Marines stand for!"
Before she could spiral further, Jin reached out, snatching the paper from her hand. His voice turned low and even.
"You're not a Marine anymore, Tina. Stop letting them live rent-free in your head."
Her mouth opened—then closed. "I—"
He sighed and tapped her forehead lightly. "You're part of this family now. Forget that uniform. It forgot you first."
The words hit deeper than he intended. Tina's breath caught. "I wasn't—"
A sharp smack cut her off. Jin's hand landed squarely on her backside.
"Hey!" she yelped, face flushing scarlet.
He smiled without remorse. "That's for pouting. Marines are pawns, not saints. Don't waste your heart on a rotten system."
Makino tried to hide her laughter behind her hand. "Jin…" she chided softly. "You don't have to tease her every time."
"I'm not teasing," he said easily. "Just reminding her where she belongs."
Makino's eyes twinkled. "Mhm. Convenient excuse, Captain."
Tina, cheeks still burning, stomped away muttering under her breath, though her tone had softened. "Whatever… world government, marines—none of them matter anymore."
Jin watched her retreating form and smirked. Progress.
Makino shifted in his lap, her voice gentle. "She's trying, you know. The Navy was her whole life. Family, duty, pride… it doesn't vanish overnight."
"I know," Jin admitted, looking out at the sea. "But the longer she clings to that past, the harder it'll hit her when it turns on her."
Makino tilted her head. "You think her enemy's connected to them?"
He nodded slowly. "Almost certain. The kind of corruption that kills from the shadows wears a Marine badge, not a pirate flag."
For a while, neither spoke. The ship groaned softly as the wind shifted.
Then Makino stood, brushing down her skirt. "I'll go check on Kuina. She's been training since dawn again."
Jin grunted. "Tell her she's overdoing it."
"I already did," Makino said over her shoulder. "She didn't listen—wonder who she learned that from."
He chuckled, watching her go.
As the day bled into gold, Jin leaned back against the railing, staring at the sky. His thoughts drifted to the article again.
Seven Warlords…
The words echoed in his mind.
He could almost see it: seven powerful figures, each with their own agenda, standing under the banner of the Government. A delicate illusion of control—a system built on mutual deceit.
"The balance of the world," he murmured. "Held together by greed and fear."
He couldn't help but grin. "How entertaining."
He folded the newspaper and tossed it into the wind. "Let them play at being gods. We'll see who laughs last."
That evening, the Eternal sailed through tranquil waters.
From below deck, the rhythmic clang of Kuina's training echoed faintly. Makino's laughter drifted from the galley, mingled with Kuma's innocent humming as he helped set the table.
The scent of grilled fish and warm bread wafted through the air.
For all the storms they'd faced, moments like this were what Jin cherished most—the fleeting peace between chaos.
He closed his eyes, letting the hum of the ship lull him—until a sudden sound broke his calm.
"Land ho!"
Tina's voice rang from above. Jin looked up to see her pointing toward the horizon.
A small island lay ahead, shrouded in mist, its cliffs dark against the fading light.
"Finally," he said, stretching. "I was starting to think your navigation skills were getting rusty."
Tina spun around, hands on her hips. "Excuse me? I've followed the charts perfectly. Maybe you're just impatient."
"Just appreciating the view," he said innocently.
Makino appeared beside him, shaking her head. "You two argue more than an old married couple."
"Old married what?" Tina shot back.
Kuma, carrying a coil of rope, piped up cheerfully, "Boss said once—when people fight all the time, that means they're in love!"
Makino burst out laughing. "Oh, Kuma, where did you learn that?"
"From Boss!"
Jin barely had time to smirk before Kuina's voice cut in from behind. "And when love gets deep enough—"
She stepped forward, graceful as always, her sword sheathed at her hip. "—you kick him for it."
Before he could dodge, her foot connected squarely with his rear.
He stumbled forward, theatrically sprawling onto the deck.
"Ow," he said, looking up at her with a grin. "So that's how you say you love me, huh?"
Kuina crossed her arms, the faintest blush coloring her face. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," Jin said, getting to his feet, brushing himself off. "But you're smiling."
She turned away quickly. "You imagined it."
"Did I?"
Makino laughed softly, shaking her head as she gathered the plates from the galley. "Dinner's ready, everyone. Try not to kill each other before you sit down."
Night fell quietly.
The crew ate together beneath lantern light. The tension of the day melted into laughter and warmth.
Jin leaned back after the meal, content. Makino refilled his cup with calm, practiced grace, her hand brushing his.
He caught her fingers lightly, his gaze soft but teasing. "Careful, Makino. If you keep spoiling me, I'll forget how to fight."
She smiled, leaning closer. "Then I'll just have to remind you."
Their laughter mingled with the crackle of the lantern flame—subtle, fleeting, perfectly timed before the next storm.
Later that night, after everyone had retired, Jin stood alone at the bow.
The stars stretched endlessly above him, the ocean whispering below.
His reflection stared back—calm eyes, steady breath, the faint hum of power beneath his skin.
"The Seven Warlords," he murmured again. "The Navy's desperate attempt to chain chaos."
He smirked, the sea breeze tugging at his coat.
"They've no idea they've just created a new kind of storm."
The horizon shimmered with distant lightning.
Jin turned toward it, his voice quiet but certain. "And when it comes, the Eternal will be there to cut through it."
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T/N :
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