The Goa Kingdom, renowned as the most beautiful country in the East Blue.
"Why did you grab me? A big shot like you shouldn't have any interest in me!" Gin asked with a sour expression, holding a glass of rum inside a bar.
"For the East Blue, your strength is quite impressive. Otherwise, Krieg wouldn't have made you his Combat Commander," Aeridar said flatly.
"Captain Krieg!" At the mention of his captain's name, Gin tightened his grip on the glass, glaring at Aeridar.
"However, in the Grand Line, your strength is nothing special," Aeridar continued, ignoring Gin's glare. "I have a special unit (Elite Strike Team). Any one of them, even the most common member, could beat you."
Gin stared at Aeridar in shock, but he didn't doubt his words. He knew that someone of Aeridar's status had no reason to lie.
"I'm interested in your talent and loyalty," Aeridar's voice held a hint of persuasion. "You have talent. If your strength is lacking, you can train. Staying in this 'countryside' of the East Blue will leave you stuck here forever."
"With Haki, Rokushiki, and Devil Fruit abilities, you can become strong—a famous powerhouse. Krieg was nothing more than a local 'country' ruffian. A person seeks a higher position, and water flows to a lower place. He's dead; you can think about yourself now." Aeridar's words were like the whispers of a demon, constantly swaying Gin's thoughts.
"But... you killed Captain Krieg! He saved my life!" Gin said in a low, dazed voice.
"There was nothing I could do. He died at my hands because he was too weak. Weakness is a sin. In this world, the strong reign supreme. And you know his despicable personality. You were just his tool," Aeridar continued. "Besides, your many years of loyalty are enough to repay the life debt you owed him. There's no need to continue serving a dead man."
Gin slowly raised his head, looking at Aeridar with a new light in his eyes.
"Aeridar... Captain. Make me strong!" Gin said, clenching his fists in a firm voice.
He's right. The many years I served him were enough to repay the life debt. I didn't betray him when he was alive, and now that he's dead, it's my turn to live for myself.
"Welcome aboard. I'm sure you won't disappoint me," Aeridar grinned with satisfaction.
Gin was a self-taught fighter. No one had instructed him, and his strength came from fighting tooth and nail. In the original story, he was even able to defeat Sanji. While Sanji was injured and not at full strength, it was also true that Gin, out of gratitude for the food, wasn't fighting with everything he had, or Sanji would have died.
Sanji was born into the Vinsmoke family and had his genes modified. He was trained by his father Judge in his youth and later learned kicking techniques from Zeff. His strength was already formidable, yet he was no match for Gin. Gin had earned his nickname "Man-Demon" through years of constant fighting and living on the edge, making his combat experience unmatched by a rookie like Sanji.
It was clear that if Gin were to receive systematic training and more experience in the Grand Line, his strength would grow by leaps and bounds. With his strong foundation, learning methods like the Rokushiki and Haki would be quick. In just a couple of years, the Chris Pirates could have another captain-level officer.
....
Redline, Mariejois.
Inside a magnificent palace in the Holy Land of the World Nobles.
"You moron! Who told you to attack the Revolutionary Army's base?!"
"We haven't even handled the Chris Pirates yet, and you've already picked a fight with the Revolutionary Army. Are you trying to get yourself killed, you scum?!"
Smash!
Along with the angry voice, a white jade bowl was thrown to the ground, shattering into a thousand pieces.
A blond, blue-eyed middle-aged man stood on a high platform, enraged. He had a handsome, stern face and wore a luxurious white outfit with golden stripes. He held a golden scepter about half a meter long, with a gold gem the size of a child's fist inlaid at the top. The bubble helmet on his head showed his identity as a World Noble.
"My apologies, Sir Aldrich Gustav," a black-haired man in a black trench coat stood in the middle of the hall. The coat had a gray skull pattern, and he had a black centipede tattoo on his right cheek and four claw marks on his left. He had a sinister aura. "It was an accident."
"An accident?" Aldrich Gustav sneered at the man. "Don't give me that nonsense, Malha. An accident can't erase this. The Revolutionary Army is now hunting down Benson and his men, and according to the latest intelligence, Golden Ring Aeridar has appeared in the East Blue, so his purpose is obvious. How do you plan to solve this?"
"It's no use. As long as the Black Ghost, Mando, is alive, they won't catch Benson and his crew. All Benson has to do is retreat from the East Blue and disappear from the sight of the Revolutionary Army and the Chris Investigation Bureau," the man called Malha said, flicking his nails indifferently.
"Hmph, easier said than done," Gustav coldly snorted. "We had seventeen bases in total, and the Chris Pirates destroyed six of them, and the Revolutionary Army destroyed one. The loss of regular personnel is secondary, but the loss of our officers, combatants, and intelligence networks is a huge blow. Even if Benson disappears, the Revolutionary Army and the Chris Investigation Bureau will not stop their investigations so easily."
"You are a dignified World Noble. You are responsible for the intelligence. Don't try to pass the blame to me," Malha said, lazily looking up at Gustav.
"Hmph, you think you're blameless? If you hadn't taken it upon yourself to send someone to kill Oliver, we wouldn't have been put into direct opposition with the Chris Pirates!" Gustav said angrily. "I'm telling you, while Golden Ring Aeridar is alone in the East Blue, you will find a way to kill him!"
"That's a real problem," Malha said, his brows slightly furrowed. "Even if I were to act myself, I wouldn't have any confidence. His title as a 'monster' is not an exaggeration."
"Don't tell me you want to try, too? Wait, your ability... how far have you developed it?"
"My ability... I don't know," Gustav said, a strange smile forming at the corners of his mouth. "But my whole body is filled with vigor! Not just my body, but my spirit, too!"