The Silent Orca cut smoothly across the waves, her sails billowing as the crew enjoyed a brief moment of peace. The sky was clear, and the sea calm—an ideal day for sailing. Their next destination loomed ahead in the distance: Loguetown, the last stop before the Grand Line.
On the deck, a quiet breeze stirred as the crew rested or trained. Nami, arms folded and brow furrowed, finally broke the silence.
"Zino," she said, voice firm but curious. "Why did you let Hatchan go?"
The question caught everyone's attention. Usopp looked up from his fishing line, Kaya paused from reading, and even Zoro stopped mid-swing in his solo training. The rest of the crew gathered loosely around, also curious.
Zino leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Not all Fishmen are criminals," he said at last, his voice steady. "Hatchan wasn't like Arlong or Kuroobi. He didn't enjoy hurting people. He was just… following orders."
"He was part of the crew that ruined Cocoyashi Village," Gin pointed out.
"He was," Zino admitted, nodding. "And he's not innocent. But compared to Arlong and the others, his hands are less bloody. He showed mercy more than once—and that means something."
Nami stayed silent, staring at the planks beneath her feet.
Zino continued. "You all need to understand something. The world isn't fair—especially to the Fishmen. For generations, people on land have enslaved them, hunted them, treated them like property. In some parts of the world, they're still bought and sold like animals."
Everyone went quiet.
"That kind of cruelty doesn't just disappear," Zino said. "The hatred it creates… it festers. That's what gave rise to people like Arlong. He wasn't born evil—he was shaped by a world that rejected him. His actions were wrong, no question. But the pain behind them? It came from somewhere real."
Sanji lit a cigarette, his expression unreadable. "So you're saying Hatchan was just caught in the middle?"
Zino nodded. "In a way. He wasn't innocent, but he wasn't beyond redemption either. Locking him up with Arlong would only push him further into darkness. Letting him go might give him a chance to be better."
Nami didn't respond right away. Her fingers lightly touched the tattoo on her shoulder—the windmill and tangerine flower, a symbol of her past and her hope for the future.
Finally, she exhaled. "I still hate what they did. But… I understand."
Zino looked at her. "That's all I ask."
The ship sailed on in silence for a while, the waves gently crashing against the hull.
Loguetown drew closer.
But for now, the crew of the Silent Orca simply stood together on deck—carrying both the weight of their pasts, and the hopes for something better ahead.
...
While the Silent Orca sailed steadily toward Loguetown, a storm was brewing—not in the skies, but in the world of men.
Unbeknownst to Zino and his crew, their names had already begun to spread like wildfire across the East Blue. Whispers turned into headlines. Headlines turned into official government notices. Marines, bounty hunters, and even other pirates were now keeping an ear out for one name in particular.
"Orca Pirates."
A new pirate crew had seemingly emerged overnight—bold, powerful, and unlike any other. The reports coming in to Marine Headquarters were filled with contradiction and chaos. Some reports claimed they operated under justice. Others swore they were ruthless, tearing down anyone who stood in their way. But one thing was certain: they were shaking the balance of power in East Blue.
And at the center of it all was a single figure.
Monkey D. Zino.
A former Marine Lieutenant, gone rogue. Some said he had betrayed the Marines. Others whispered he was chasing justice the government had long abandoned. His vessel was described as a black warship shaped like a whale, called The Silent Orca, and its silhouette had already become a symbol of fear… or hope, depending on who was watching.
A special report was circulated among marine officers across the seas. It read:
New Threat Alert – East Blue
Pirate Group: Orca Pirates
Captain: Monkey D. Zino
Notable Details:
- Former Marine Lieutenant, defected under mysterious circumstances.
- Known to have defeated multiple powerful pirate captains including Arlong, Don Krieg, and Captain Kuro.
- Ship identified as "Silent Orca" – black, whale-shaped hull.
- Believed to operate with high combat efficiency and discipline.
Confirmed Members & Current Bounties:
1. Monkey D. Zino – *[Bounty to be determined – initial threat level under review. Estimated range: 30–50 million Berries]*
2. Alvida – *[Estimated bounty of 12 Million Berries – confirmed reappearance; formerly operated near Goat Island. Last seen allied with Zino.]*
3. Roronoa Zoro – *[Estimated bounty of 15 Million Berries – formerly independent bounty hunter. Now confirmed member. Extremely dangerous swordsman.]*
4. Gin – *[Estimated bounty of 10 Million Berries – ex-lieutenant of Don Krieg Pirates. Defected and allied with Zino's crew.]*
5. Nami – *[Estimated bounty of 5 Million Berries – ex-navigator of the Arlong Pirates. Her role in Zino's crew has raised red flags.]*
The bounties were still being finalized, but the damage was done.
Alvida's presence had helped validate the threat level. Her past piracy, especially her reign of terror across Goat Island and nearby routes, had resurfaced with a vengeance. While she had been forgotten in recent times, her name was now attached to the fastest-rising crew in the East Blue.
The announcement of this new pirate group left many officials stunned. Not because pirates existed—there were always pirates—but because this crew was *different*. They weren't raiding towns for treasure. They were defeating other pirates. Capturing dangerous criminals. Disrupting the Marines' own narrative.
And led by a man who used to wear their uniform.
To the government, that made them dangerous. Unpredictable.
Possibly… revolutionary.
As the sun set over the sea, the Silent Orca sailed on peacefully—its crew unaware of the names and numbers now floating across the world, with their faces printed on wanted posters, carried by gulls, and soon to be nailed to walls across East Blue.
...
On a certain Island in Grandline.
Two man in black cloak were resting, while having a meal. One of them tall, said, "About that guy, do you think his grandfather will break down if he knew what we want to do?"
"It doesn't matter." Said the man. "Revenge is what we are pursuing. So, it's inevitable."
Just then, another guy, short, with a sword on his hip run over, bringing news. "Guys, we have news."
He handed the paper to the guy, whose shadow is flickering. The man received the news and started reading it. As he turned the pages, he saw the article on Zino's turning into a pirates.
"Huh? He is now a pirate?" The men was a little surprised. "How did he end up from a marine, then into a pirate?"
His eyes squinted, his expression unreadable. He then said, "Well, this would be easier then."
"Alright, time is up." The man said. "Let's continue moving."
The two nodded. The three black cloaked guy then boarded their small ship, and sailed out.
...
A few days later.
The Silent Orca glided smoothly across the waves, her sail filled with wind and her crew scattered across the deck—some relaxing, others training or chatting.
Zino stood at the ship's bow, hands tucked behind his back. His eyes scanned the horizon before he turned to Nami, who was leaning against the railing with a weathered map in hand.
"How much longer until we reach Loguetown?" he asked.
Nami glanced at the sun's position, then back to her compass. "Two to three hours, at most. We're right on course."
Zino nodded. "Two hours huh. Good. We will stop there for a while, restock, and after that we will head toward Grandline."
He then stepped away and found a quiet spot near the helm, sitting cross-legged with his back against the mast. Taking a deep breath, he opened his *Status Window*—a unique ability he had ever since eating the *Nomu Nomu no Mi*, the Swallow Swallow Fruit.
[STATUS]
*Name:* Monkey D. Zino
*Age:* 17
*Lineage:* Grandson of Monkey D. Kong
*Devil Fruit Ability:*
*Nomu Nomu no Mi (Swallow Swallow Fruit)*
- *Primary Power:* Ability to swallow and control elemental substances.
- *Current Limitation:* Can only control one element at a time.
- *Unawakened Power:* Grants partial transformation into the currently swallowed element.
*Swallowed Elements:*
1. *Air* – *Level 47*
2. *Medicine* – *Level 18*
*Skills:*
- *Rokushiki Techniques*: Soru, Geppo, Shigan, Rankyaku, Tekkai, Kami-e
- *Hokoken*: Roaring Tiger Fist, a self created technique.
- *Hokokyaku*: Kicking technique counterpart to Hokoken.
Zino exhaled slowly, a hint of pride forming on his lips as he looked over his current status. His mastery over Air had reached level 47—close to full control. With it, he could amplify his movement, enhance his attacks, and create powerful bursts of force.
But it was the second element that interested him now: *Medicine*. At level 18, it was nearing a crucial threshold. Once it hit *level 20*, he would unlock the ability to *swallow a third element*, expanding his versatility even further.
"I'll need to choose that third element wisely…" he murmured to himself.
Glancing down, his eyes landed on the list of Rokushiki techniques. He had successfully learned all six. However, he have no idea how tough his training was to learn it. The only thing he knew was that his body instincts have a muscle memory on the technique, and he only followed that instinct to be able to use all of them.
Knowing all six technique, he was not going to stop just at that. Like what he had promised his crews, he want to be able to show them the mythical seventh technique, Rokuogan!
Before, Zino had only ever seen it a few times, when Rob Lucci performed it in the anime and manga back on Earth.
Now, it was no longer fiction.
Now, it was a real goal.
"I'm not strong enough yet," he admitted under his breath. "But I will be. I have to be."
Just then, a breeze swept across the deck. The familiar hum of training echoed from the crew—Zoro clashing with imaginary foes, Gin practicing finger jabs, Sanji tried to bounce lightly midair, trying to succeed in learning Geppo.
Zino stood up, stretching his arms with a slight grin.
"Everyone is motivated to learn the Rokushiki." Zino turned to look at the horizon, smiling. "It's good this way."
Two hours later, the Silent Orca sailed into the harbor of Loguetown.
The morning sun cast a golden shimmer across the port city, bustling with life as fishermen hauled in their catch and merchants opened their stalls. The Orca's arrival, however, changed the atmosphere in seconds.
As the ship approached the main dock, some townspeople caught sight of its black whale-like hull and distinctive figurehead. Their eyes widened in fear.
"P-Pirates!" someone yelled, pointing toward the ship. "It's the Orca Pirates!"
Within moments, the docks descended into chaos. Civilians screamed, scattering like birds as the name spread like wildfire. Doors slammed shut, stalls were abandoned, and the once-busy harbor turned eerily empty.
The Orca crew stood on the deck, frozen in confusion.
"What the hell just happened?" Zoro muttered, eyes narrowing.
Zino frowned deeply, his instincts immediately on alert. Something was off. He stepped to the edge of the ship and watched the fleeing crowd. "This isn't normal," he said.
"I found something!" Usopp called out, pointing on the ground a distance away. "That guy dropped some paper. Before he run, he glanced at the paper and us."
Sanji upon hearing Ussop leapt down from the deck and grabbed the papers. It was a slightly crumpled but still fresh paper news.
As he opened the front page, the color drained from his face. "You've got to be kidding me…"
The others gathered around as he read the headline aloud:
"Orca Pirates Terrorize East Blue — Ex-Marine Leader on the Loose!"
The article painted them as a newly emerged but dangerous pirate group wreaking havoc across East Blue. Their supposed crimes included destruction of public property, aiding former pirates, and insubordination against Marine officials.
Nami clenched her fists. "This is nonsense!"
Kaya's voice trembled. "We were doing the right thing… weren't we?"
"It's a setup," Zino said coldly, staring at the paper. "This stinks of Nezumi."
Usopp flinched. "That rat bastard…"
Zino's jaw tightened. "He's trying to cover his own tracks by painting us as the villains. Quiet smart of him."
"Captain," Gin said, scanning the now-deserted port, "we need to move. It's only a matter of time before marines come."
Zino nodded sharply. "Right. We're not docking here."
He turned to Nami. "Find us a more discreet spot — somewhere hidden, away from the main harbor."
Nami snapped out of her anger, quickly analyzing the coastline with her navigator's eye. "There's a smaller cove west of the city. It's secluded and shielded by cliffs. We can anchor there without being seen."
"Good," Zino said. "Everyone, let's stay sharp. Until we figure this out, we move like ghosts."
With practiced coordination, the crew redirected the Silent Orca away from the main docks. As they sailed toward the hidden inlet, a tense silence hung in the air.
They were no longer just a ragtag group on a mission.
Now, they were wanted pirates!