One Piece: Lost in the Tutorial #69

Law headed out onto the upper deck, feeling a familiar sense of eagerness to resume his training. The past three days had been unusually calm for him, despite the chaos of the transition of power in Lvneel.

He had expected to be swamped with tasks, overseeing the nobles and ensuring a smooth change in leadership. Instead, he found himself with an abundance of free time, which he used to double his training efforts.

Blake, surprisingly, hadn’t delegated the task of overseeing the transition like he usually did with anything requiring serious thought. Law reasoned that Blake felt personally responsible for any potential fallout from abruptly killing the king, even if the man had it coming.

The memory of that day was still fresh in Law's mind, the sheer brutality of it shocking him. He had half-expected Blake to simply restrain the king and put him on trial or at least force the nobles to administer justice themselves. It would have been the smarter move, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed and turmoil.

Blake’s usual demeanor was deceptive. He projected a carefree attitude, often shrugging off tasks that required serious brainpower and fooling around like he had no capability of critical thinking. Yet, Law knew better. Blake was clever, far more so than he let on. This sudden act of violence seemed out of character, more rash and brutal than Law had anticipated.

But then, knowing the full story behind the deaths of Blake’s family, Law couldn’t entirely blame him. He was merely confused.

Law sighed, stretching his limbs as he reached the deck’s edge. The sea breeze was a refreshing change from the heavy atmosphere of the lower decks. As he prepared to start swinging his sword, he paused, noticing Blake sitting on the deck, reading a piece of paper with one of those grave looks he rarely ever showed. Sif was behind him, resting her head on his shoulder as she curiously observed the parchment.

Letting out a sigh, Law released his grip on the sword and approached Blake. "What's going on?" he asked.

Blake grinned, the serious expression momentarily replaced by his usual carefree demeanor. "Just in time. I was getting tired of thinking about it so hard," he said, waving the paper. "Here, see for yourself."

Law felt a pang of exasperation. "Going back to your usual lazy shameless self, huh?" he muttered as he took the paper and began reading through its contents. His expression instantly stiffened.

"How did you get this?" Law demanded, looking up at Blake with a mixture of shock and concern.

Blake shrugged. "Some strange bat came flying with it. Once I took the message, it shriveled away and disappeared." He patted Sif's head, eliciting a gentle wag of her tail. "So, what do you think?"

The message was a conditional invitation for Blake to become a Warlord of the Sea, offering him a pardon for his crimes and an indirect promise of making him the king of Lvneel.

Law's frown deepened as he absorbed the implications. "By killing the king of Lvneel, we've stirred up a hornet's nest," he said. "The World Government clearly views us as a significant threat now, and this invitation is unmistakable evidence of that."

Blake shrugged his shoulders. "More or less."

Law's frown deepened further. "Why would they go out of their way to make you a Warlord if you're a threat? Why not just destroy you?"

Blake leaned back, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "They're probably understaffed," he began, explaining the delicate balance between the three forces. "The World Government likely can't muster the manpower to hunt us down without upsetting that balance."

Law nodded thoughtfully after a brief pause. "They probably think they can control us, considering our entire crew consists of rookie pirates. They might hope that you'll set your roots in Lvneel, making it easier for them to keep you in check."

Blake chuckled, agreeing with Law's assessment. "Exactly. So, what do you think we should do?"

Law took a moment to consider. "It's not such a bad deal, despite the World Government's subtle intentions. As long as we know their aim, we can work to sabotage their plans."

Blake smiled. "That's what I had in mind."

Law's confusion grew, and he asked, "Then why are you hesitating? Is it because you dislike Lvneel?"

Blake shook his head. "That isn't the case. In fact, I like Lvneel, especially the fresh air here." He paused, adding, "It would also give me a platform to make my dream a reality."

Law raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

Blake smiled, a rare spark of genuine warmth lighting up his eyes. "Imagine a place where orphans could live freely," he said, his voice low but brimming with passion. "A place where they don’t have to worry about their next meal or being sold into slavery."

Law's mind flashed to the boy, Asher, from Spider Miles. "Does this have anything to do with that kid, Asher?" he asked, a note of curiosity in his voice.

Blake nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I see too much of myself in Asher. I want to give him, and kids like him, what someone else once gave me—a place to belong. A chance at a decent future."

He paused, looking out at the vast, rolling expanse of the sea. The sun was rising, casting a golden glow over the water. "In my mind, I initially saw it as nothing more than an island in the New World, far from the reach of the World Government. A sanctuary I could protect myself, if need be."

Law's curiosity deepened. "And now?"

Blake shook his head, a newfound determination in his eyes. "Now, it could be so much more. My dream could extend to the entirety of North Blue. We could build something bigger, something that changes the balance of power in the world."

"North Blue consists mostly of Lawless island, unaffiliated with the World Government... with the legitimacy of a king's crown and the title of Warlord of the Sea, you'd be within your right to expand the borders of your country..." Law's eyes widened. "But you're talking about challenging the entire world, Blake-ya."

Blake smiled warmly at Law's comment. "Why not? As long as people continue to dream, everything is possible. And dreams... they don't end."

Law chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "You certainly don't lack confidence, if nothing else."

There was a pause before Law posed a more serious question. "So why are you hesitating, then, if you've thought this through so much already?"

Blake met Law's gaze, his expression thoughtful. "Because of you," he admitted quietly.

Law's brows furrowed in surprise. "Because of me?"

Blake nodded solemnly. "I haven't forgotten my promise to you, Law. To help you take down Doflamingo," he said, his voice tinged with earnestness.

Law's expression softened with understanding. "You're hesitating because you know your plan would take a lot of time. It could delay my own goal for years to come, maybe even make it impossible."

Blake shrugged, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Maybe. But I also know that with you by my side, we can accomplish more together than we ever could alone. Your goal is just as important as mine... and I've learned the hard way not to force my ideals on others."

Law mulled over Blake's words, the weight of their intertwined fates settling in. After a moment, he let out a sigh. "I'll need to consider this... I'd really like to see this dream of yours become a reality. I really do, but I'm not sure I can put it before fulfilling Rosinante's will..."

...

Inside the fleet admiral's office within Marine HQ, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at his desk, his brows furrowed in annoyance as Vice Admiral Garp's booming laughter filled the space. Garp was slapping his thigh, thoroughly amused by something he found immensely funny.

"Bwahahahahah! You know, Sengoku," Garp chuckled between breaths, "those Five Elders are a bunch of assholes! Bwahahaha!"

Sengoku shot Garp a sharp look. "Watch your mouth, Garp. You're treading dangerous ground."

Garp's laughter didn't subside. "Come on, Sengoku! You can't tell me you don't find it hilarious! Every troublemaker who attacks a marine nowadays gets a VIP invite to become a Warlord!"

Sengoku sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. He knew arguing with Garp when he was like this was futile. The old vice admiral had a knack for finding humor in the most absurd situations.

As Garp's laughter finally died down, he let out a sigh of resignation. "The world's changing too much for old men like us to keep up."

Sengoku nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "Indeed, it is."

Reverting back to his usual grinning expression, Garp stood up, swiping one of Sengoku's hidden rice cracker packets from behind a cupboard. "No wonder Zephyr left the Marines," he remarked casually. "His soul couldn't take it anymore."

Sengoku watched Garp leave with a mixture of exasperation and resignation. "I wonder How long my own soul will last?" he muttered to himself as the door closed behind Garp, leaving him alone with his thoughts in the quiet room.