One piece: Black Cat

Author notes: Apparently he was different when he was younger, and Bege is like this now... it's hard to find the right balance, honestly.

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"Pirate."

"Yeah?"

"Is that... compassion I'm seeing?"

To be honest, well... that's exactly what it is.

Most of these Marines are just kids—teenagers or barely in their twenties. It cuts deep watching them, both men and women, sobbing and thrashing so violently that blood seeps from where the ropes bite into their wrists and necks.

"I'd be lying if I said no."

"This world isn't one you can navigate with compassion alone." Bege's voice carries the weight of hard-earned experience.

I know that! How many sleepless nights have I spent wrestling with the decision to just raid some town or village for supplies? When you can't afford food, you starve. I understand it would be infinitely easier to toss all morals overboard and take what I need.

But if I go down that path, the chances of everything crashing down in ten or twenty years skyrocket. The guilt would eat me alive.

"Sneaky little bastard." Bege's eyes narrow as he studies me. "You're not the naive brat you pretend to be. You've got people under your command capable of neutralizing every man on this ship. That subordinate from earlier follows you like a true leader. You and your crew—you're some kind of organized outfit."

From what I can tell, Bege boarded this vessel alone. He definitely wasn't part of the original crew, or Perona's ghosts and Robin's surveillance would have spotted him by now.

Good thing I brought Daz back as backup.

Even if the enemy launches a surprise attack, Perona only needs someone to buy her a few precious seconds to turn the entire situation around with her powers.

Though teaching Robin offensive techniques feels wrong somehow.

In the original series, Robin specialized in joint locks and submission holds, but she seems unable to use those techniques right now. For this mission, she's purely support, eavesdropping and reconnaissance with her many ears and eyes, serving as our communications hub with her extra limbs.

If this man has already consumed a Devil Fruit and gained supernatural abilities, there might be additional forces waiting outside. Having Daz ready for combat is essential insurance.

I need one more person though.

"Bege."

"What?"

"The Celestial Dragons are the very reason I became a pirate."

Surprise flickers across Bege's scarred features—genuine shock that quickly hardens into something more calculating.

So word about my situation hasn't spread much after all. Makes sense—the Navy would never voluntarily admit that the World Nobles created another pirate through their actions.

"They tried to make me their slave. I refused on the spot, and now they're hunting me across the seas."

"Do those bastards have any concept of dignity?" Bege mutters under his breath.

Every fiber of my being wants to nod emphatically, but I force myself to remain composed.

"I know money is everything in this world. You can't survive without it."

"You're the one having a rough time of it..."

"With this appearance and this body, what options do I really have?"

"Makes no difference to me."

"But I can't do just anything for the sake of survival. I need to be able to live with my choices."

Despite this conversation happening after our standoff began, Bege doesn't seem angry or agitated. He's listening with the patience of someone who's heard every sob story in the book.

Gangs don't tolerate weakness the way mainstream society might, and you never know where the landmines are buried in conversations like these. But he's not the type of man who'd be fooled by following social niceties alone.

"From now on, every time I sail these seas, I'll laugh and I'll suffer. But if at the root of it all is the knowledge that 'I did something to someone that forced me into the shadows,' then somewhere deep inside, I'll rot away. I'm certain of it."

I have an ordinary person's mentality at heart. Until I can earn the trust of people like Django or Miss Goldenweek—individuals who can manipulate mental states in positive ways—I can't afford even a single moral stain that could define my existence.

"And it's even worse when the people you're abandoning are Marines."

"I don't get that. Aren't they supposed to be the enemy?"

"Precisely because they're the enemy. And more than that—they're people who've chosen to go to sea, whatever their motivations might be."

It might sound hypocritical coming from someone who's beaten down countless bandits in this pirate-infested world, but the ocean is genuinely terrifying.

These Marines have survived this long because they've mastered basic navigation skills. Even so, they still depend on compasses and charts to verify their heading. When supplies run low, they navigate by starlight through the endless darkness, always one mistake away from death.

"Even if they are my enemies—people I'll likely have to fight to the death someday—my pride won't allow me to treat anyone who understands the ocean's terror so callously."

Like with Daz, there's a chance our attacks might prove ineffective against Bege, but that's a risk I have to accept. I've already warned Daz about potential ambushes and made sure he's ready to set sail at a moment's notice.

"I understand your perspective, but that's not how you rise to power as a pirate."

"That's fine by me. Isn't the true purpose of any gang to accumulate money, resources, and manpower to climb the ladder of influence?"

The distance between us gradually increases. Combat is now inevitable.

"Then what about pirates?"

"We go where we want, however we want."

"I see... you're definitely pirates through and through. But—!"

Sections of Bege's body begin splitting open like mechanical hatches.

Wait, hold on! If he fires from there, the Marines behind me will be caught in the blast! And more importantly—don't fire cannonballs inside a ship! We're practically at the waterline!

"Can you win on noble feelings alone? Can you triumph with just conviction?"

"Too bad for you, pirate! Your firepower doesn't measure up!"

Everyone had given up hope.

Cannonballs materialized from thin air, aimed at a single child—pirate or not. He didn't even carry a proper weapon, let alone a gun or blade.

Despite their attempts to create distance, there was precious little room to maneuver in the ship's cramped interior.

The next instant brought a thunderous roar and blinding flash.

Everyone wept in despair, certain they would be sold into slavery after all. Whether they'd dreamed of Marine heroics or simply sought stable employment, they would all be wrung dry until nothing remained.

Then, cutting through their sobs—

"Stand tall, men and women."

That voice made every eye snap open in disbelief. Even the gangsters froze in shock.

"You all had different reasons for enlisting, but you swore to risk your lives on these seas. You carry the word 'Justice' on your backs."

When the smoke cleared, the child stood unharmed—not a scratch or scorch mark visible.

"In that case, no matter how desperate things become, you should stand tall and hold your heads high. You are Marines, after all."

"You crazy pirate! You deflected every single shell!"

The gangster stared up at the destroyed ceiling, crying out in amazement. Despite the situation, a fearless grin spread across his face—the expression of a pirate who'd just spotted treasure.

Simultaneously, small hatches opened across the gangster's body, and armed subordinates poured out, surrounding the child with a circle of steel and gunpowder.

"Can you win just by gathering troops?"

Surrounded by overwhelming numbers.

"Can you triumph just by pointing guns?"

Encircled by countless barrels aimed at his heart.

"Too bad for you, Gang."

The child's small frame didn't shrink before the watching Marines.

"Your resolve is what's lacking."

He stood perfectly straight, unwavering.

"Excellent... You really are the best, 'Slippery' Kuro."

"Join my family, Kuro! You're exactly what we need!"

"I appreciate the evaluation, but I'll have to decline."

"Then I'll take you by force!"

"Go ahead and try, Gang Bege."

"We'll push through with a pirate's pride!"