One Piece: Luffy's Vice Captain wants to be a Marine

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari

----------

When Luffy returned to the restaurant, he eagerly told his friends what he had just witnessed.

"You're telling me that Curly Eyebrows made fried rice for that Gin?" Fullbody exclaimed, his expression full of disbelief.

Fullbody looked absolutely horrified. Capturing Gin was already a near-impossible task, but now that he was full, it would be even harder. With a growing sense of despair, he glanced at Ikki, his eyes filled with silent resentment.

Noticing Fullbody's reaction, Ikki chuckled. "Didn't I tell you? There's a big fish about to bite."

"Are you talking about Krieg?" Fullbody asked, his voice trembling with fear.

"Exactly," Ikki replied casually. "If you catch Krieg, think of the promotions and rewards you'd rack up. It's the opportunity of a lifetime!"

Ikki's words left Fullbody petrified.

Krieg—the infamous "Pirate Fleet Admiral"—was no ordinary villain. He was the overlord of the East Blue, and despite countless Marine operations to capture him, Krieg had always escaped, his fleet growing larger and more dangerous with every battle.

As Fullbody contemplated bolting from this increasingly hazardous situation, the restaurant door creaked open once more.

This time, two figures entered: Gin, looking as menacing as ever, and supporting him was none other than Krieg himself. The notorious pirate wore a tattered coat over gleaming golden armor, but he looked far from the fearsome reputation that preceded him. Weak and trembling, Krieg swayed with every step, as though the slightest breeze might topple him.

"H-h-help me…" Krieg stammered, his voice barely audible. "I haven't eaten for days... Please... Just some water... and food…"

The moment those words left his mouth, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.

As Krieg lay motionless, murmurs rippled through the room.

"Is that the Pirate Fleet Admiral Krieg? He looks so pathetic!" someone whispered.

"I heard his crew barely escaped the Grand Line," another added. "They say it's the pirate's graveyard."

"That makes sense! No wonder he's in such bad shape. After facing the Grand Line, I doubt he has any will to continue being a pirate," a patron speculated.

Hearing this, Luffy's eyes lit up with curiosity. "The Grand Line? So, this guy came back from there?"

"Hmph." Zoro crossed his arms and sneered. "Escaped is more like it. Anyone who steps into the Grand Line without the resolve to die is just a small fry."

Zoro's disdain was palpable. He was the type of person who would face death head-on in pursuit of his dreams, and he had no respect for those who turned back after tasting defeat.

While the room buzzed with chatter, Sanji emerged from the kitchen carrying a bowl of fried rice. Without hesitation, he placed it in front of Krieg.

Krieg's eyes lit up at the sight of food. He reached out with trembling hands, but before he could take a bite, Ikki snatched the bowl away.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Gin roared, his fury evident. "That food was made for the captain!"

Sanji's frown deepened as he glared at Ikki.

Ikki, however, remained unfazed. Smiling, he said, "Meals aren't free. Look at the captain's fancy gold armor—it's got to be worth something."

"That's not your decision to make!" Sanji snapped, his tone sharp. "That's the food I cooked!"

"Yeah, I know," Ikki replied with a smirk. "But you're the chef on our ship, and as the deputy captain, I have every right to handle business transactions involving the crew's meals."

Sanji froze, utterly baffled. "What the hell are you talking about…?"

"That's right!" Luffy chimed in with his trademark grin. "Sanji's the cook on our ship!"

Sanji's face turned red with anger as he growled, "You idiots! Who said I'm joining your stupid crew?!"

Ikki ignored Sanji's protests, leaving the cook to deal with Luffy, while he turned his attention to Krieg, who was still sprawled on the ground.

Ikki knew that once Krieg was full, his true nature would surface—he wouldn't hesitate to attack anyone in his way. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Ikki decided to prepare in advance.

Why not just take out Krieg now? Simple: it was about leaving a good impression on Sanji.

Both Sanji and Zeff had a strict moral code—they would never refuse to help a starving person. If Ikki were to beat Krieg senseless while he was still weak and hungry, it would certainly sour Sanji's impression of him. It was better to let Krieg reveal his true colors so Sanji could see what kind of person he really was.

After all, if you're going to offend anyone, don't let it be the chef—especially a chef who makes incredible food.

When Ikki suggested Krieg remove his golden armor, Krieg hesitated for only a moment before agreeing. With what little strength he had, he scanned the restaurant, assessing potential threats.

His gaze landed on Fullbody , the so-called "Iron Fist." Having spent years in the East Blue, Krieg was no stranger to Fullbody's reputation. The stories painted Iron Fist as an unstoppable force who crushed any pirate foolish enough to cross his path—particularly near the Goa Kingdom, a known no-go zone for pirates.

However, Krieg quickly noted that the Iron Fist before him seemed far weaker than the legends suggested. 'If I can just regain my strength, this guy won't be a problem', Krieg thought.

With his decision made, Krieg instructed Gin to help him remove his golden armor. The glistening gold plates, along with his diamond-studded gloves, were carefully set aside. This equipment, worth millions of berries, was handed over to Ikki, who promptly stored it in a secure spot.

Once the golden armor was safely stowed, Ikki handed Krieg the bowl of fried rice.

Krieg snatched the bowl eagerly. Too impatient to use utensils, he grabbed handfuls of rice and stuffed them into his mouth. In less than five minutes, he had devoured the entire meal.

The transformation was immediate. With his hunger sated, Krieg's strength returned, and his eyes gleamed with malice. The murderous intent radiating from him made the air feel heavy.

"Thank you for the meal," Krieg said coldly, lowering his head in mock gratitude. Just as Sanji reached for his cigarette, Krieg lashed out with a sudden kick, slamming his foot into Sanji's chest. The force sent the cook flying several meters, crashing into a table.

Luffy's cheerful demeanor darkened as he frowned. "So this guy really is scum."

"Exactly," Ikki replied, nodding. "You think someone like him could survive on the Grand Line? Of course not. He's too despicable, with no sense of honor. That's why he gets chopped down wherever he goes."

"Oh!" Luffy exclaimed, a new thought dawning on him. "So despicable people can't make it on the Grand Line?"

Ikki nodded solemnly. "That's right. So don't imitate him!"

Their conversation wasn't exactly quiet, and Krieg heard every word. His face turned red with anger. He couldn't believe these two brats were openly mocking him, especially the one who had swindled him out of his golden armor.

Pointing a finger at Ikki, Krieg roared, "You! Give me back my equipment!"

Feigning fear, Ikki ducked behind Fullbody , who looked at him in shock. Fullbody had assumed that the private Marines would deal with Krieg, but now this troublemaker was using him as a shield.

Fullbody glanced around for help and locked eyes with Luffy. Surely this kid, who had beaten him so easily earlier, would handle the situation, right?

But instead, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku all stood behind Fullbody , grinning mischievously. Their message was clear: This is your moment, Captain Marine!

(T/N: It Was At This Moment That He Knew... He Fucked Up)

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Fullbody . Even the chefs and guests at the restaurant waited with bated breath. Reluctantly, Fullbody stepped forward.

Adjusting his collar and puffing out his chest, he declared in a stern voice, "Krieg! I am Captain Fullbody of the Marine branch! If you intend to cause trouble here, you'll have to answer to my fists first!"

The room erupted in cheers.

"Captain Fullbody , you're amazing!"

"Show that pirate who's boss!"

"Fullbody is so cool!"