One Piece: Lost in the Tutorial #70

Blake stood at the port with Sif by his side, watching as the crew bustled about, preparing the ship for departure. The sea breeze ruffled his hair, and he took a deep breath, savoring the salty air.

As the last of the supplies were loaded and the gangplank was raised, he turned to Sif, giving her a reassuring pat on the head.

"I guess it's time to say goodbye then," he said, his voice carrying a strange mix of finality and reluctance.

Law, standing nearby, gave him a puzzled look. "Why are you making it sound like we won't see each other again? I'm only going out to hunt pirates to create a reputation befitting a warlord for you..." he stated, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

Blake shrugged, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "I don't know why I said it that way. Just felt compelled to, I guess... for some reason it seemed the funny thing to do..."

Law shook his head and let out a tired sigh. "I really can't figure you out sometimes... are you clever, stupid, or just insane?"

Blake chuckled, the tension in the air dissipating. "I'm your captain."

As the crew finished their preparations, Law placed his foot on the railing and crossed his arms. "So you keep reminding. In any case, I'll be back soon and when I do, I'll give you a definitive answer."

Blake grinned shrugging his shoulders. "I'll be waiting. Just don't take too long."

With a final nod, Law turned and made his way onto the ship. Blake watched him and the others go, a sense of anticipation swelling in his chest. Sif nuzzled against his leg, sensing his emotions.

The ship's sails unfurled, catching the wind as the crew shouted commands and set their course. Blake stood at the edge of the dock, waving as the ship began to move.

Law stood at the stern, not bothering to wave back with his arms still crossed.

Blake took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of excitement and longing. He knew Law would return soon, and when he did, he'll know if they were meant to continue their journeys together, or if was simply not meant to be.

Turning away from the port, Blake walked back toward the bustling streets of the town, ready to face his own challenges that awaited him in Lvneel. He had control to impose his will upon, and he had no intention of relying solely on the influence of the World Government to take the reins.

...

The throne room of Lvneel's royal castle was filled with an air of anxious anticipation as the nobles gathered for the coronation. Elaborate tapestries adorned the walls, and the room was filled with the murmurs of finely dressed nobles.

At the center, near the throne, stood the eldest of the nobles, holding a bejeweled golden crown, a symbol of the kingdom's ancient traditions.

Everything was prepared as custom demanded; they only awaited the arrival of Blake, their new king. Suddenly, the grand doors of the throne room were pushed open with a loud bang, and Blake strode in unceremoniously.

He was a stark contrast to the regal surroundings, clad in his usual attire of black pants and a long brown coat with no shirt beneath it, his brown leather boots echoing against the marble floor. Sif trailed behind him, her low snarls causing the gathered nobles to shift uneasily.

Before the nobles could voice their outrage at his lack of his decorum, Blake used Soru, appearing in a blur beside the throne. He snatched the crown from the hand of the eldest noble and took his seat on the throne,

a smirk playing on his lips as he looked at the appalled faces before him. Sif moved to stand protectively by his side, her eyes scanning the room warily.

"Now that the coronation is complete," Blake declared, placing the crown on his head, "my first act as king is to get rid of this old crown because I simply don't like the way it looks." His tone was mocking, yet there was a steely edge to it that silenced any potential objections.

With a casual flick, he tossed the golden crown, adorned with jewels, across the room. The nobles gasped as it clattered to the floor. From within his coat, Blake retrieved a simple crown made of bones, the very bones of the Sea King he had defeated on Toturial Island.

He placed it on his head with a sense of finality, the stark white of the bones contrasting sharply with his dark hair.

"Now," Blake said, leaning back in the throne, "let's get down to business. Does anyone have an issue with me taking charge of the kingdom?"

The nobles, still in shock, exchanged nervous glances but remained silent. Sif's growl served as a reminder of Blake's power and unpredictability.

Blake's eyes scanned the room, satisfied with their compliance. "Good. Now, I want everyone to piss off and try to make himself useful. I'll be watching you all for the next couple of days, and if I find anyone lacking, they won't have a place on this island."

One of the nobles couldn’t take it anymore and stepped forward, his face red with indignation. “This is an outrage! You cannot simply—” His sentence was cut short as Sif jumped right in front of him, her loud growl echoing through the throne room. The noble stumbled back, falling flat on his rear, his eyes wide with fear.

Blake watched with thinly veiled amusement as the noble scrambled backward, another noble rushing to help him up. The terrified noble glanced between Blake and Sif, then gritted his teeth and made for the exit. The other nobles exchanged uncertain glances before following suit, their collective pride shattered.

Before they could all leave, Blake called out, “Aldric, stay.”

The room quickly emptied, leaving only Blake, Sif, and Aldric. Aldric approached the throne, a mix of concern and curiosity in his eyes. “Do you think it’s wise to antagonize the most important people in the kingdom on your first day?”

Blake shrugged nonchalantly. “Nobles are leeches. I don’t need leeches.”

Aldric frowned, his brow furrowing as he watched Blake stand up and stroll past him, gazing at the now-empty throne room. “Your parents were also nobles, Blake.”

Blake chuckled, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. “My parents were good people. They were the exception.” He paused, the smile fading as a shadow of old memories crossed his face. “Tell me, Aldric, are you a leech?”

Aldric straightened, meeting Blake’s gaze with unwavering resolve. “I’ve been your father's friend for years. I’ve done my best to uphold what he stood for. If that makes me a leech in your eyes, then so be it.”

Blake turned around studied Aldric for a moment, then nodded. “Good answer... at the very least it's not one that a leech would give... their first instinct would be to flatter,” he trailed off before turning away again. ”You know, if I didn't fancy taking the throne for myself, it would have been either you or that idiot who fell on his ass taking it instead... is that a problem?”

Aldric let out a sigh. “I can't deny that I had designs for the throne. In fact, I had intended to ask your help to claim it...” he stated honestly. ”I would be a liar if I said I'd be unresigned, but I don't want the throne badly enough to attempt to take it from my friend's one and only son."

Blake smirked, walking back to the throne and taking a seat. “I believe you wouldn't try to usurp the throne...” He gave Aldric an appraising look. “But would your earlier design stop you from doing my bidding? Would your pride allow it?“

Aldric took a moment to consider. “So long as your bidding serves the interests of the kingdom, then I will do it gladly...“ The look on his face was firm and filled with determination. “I can set my pride aside if need be, but in the end, I'm also a man. I would need to be properly compensated for my efforts. and sentiment.“

Balling his fist, Blake leaned his head on it and smiled. “You can rest assured. I reward loyalty as well as I punish animosity. Maybe even better...“ he casually remarked. “You can go now. I'll call you when I have need of you..."

Aldric bowed his head. "Then I will take my leave, Your Majesty..." he bid farewell, turning around and exiting the throne room.