One Piece: Born to Betray

The marketplace smelled of fried seafood and impending regret. After consuming what should have been a week's worth of provisions (and Taiga frantically paying off six different vendors), Luffy finally remembered their original mission.

"Hey hey," Luffy asked through a mouthful of meat skewers, juice running down his chin, "where's that bounty hunter swordsman guy? Zolo? Zoro?"

The cheerful market atmosphere instantly chilled. Vendors averted their eyes, fishermen suddenly found their nets fascinating, and even children were hurriedly ushered indoors.

The man's face went pale. His knife slipped, filleting his own thumb. "I-I wouldn't know anything about that!" He hurriedly turned his stall's sign to 'CLOSED'.

Luffy tilted his head. "Huh. That was weird." He tried three more stalls with identical results - trembling lips, sudden business closures, and one old woman who actually crossed herself.

Taiga kicked a pebble. "Real subtle, Captain Obvious. Maybe try asking about the local boogeyman less... boogeyman-ly?"

"SHISHISHI! Okay!" Luffy cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed: "HEY EVERYONE! WE'RE LOOKING FOR A REALLY SCARY GUY WHO—"

"You donkey-brained food vacuum—!" Taiga launched herself like a tiny missile, tackling him mid-announcement. They crashed through a stack of empty crates, sending splinters flying. From the wreckage, Taiga's voice emerged in a furious whisper: "Let's just go search the damn Marine base before you get us lynched!"

As they moved through the unnaturally quiet streets, Taiga noticed something odd. "Wait... where's that lazy lightning bastard?"

"Makoto said he got bored," Luffy answered cheerfully. "Said something about... uh... 'scouting the terrain' or 'testing the local alcohol.' I forgot which."

Taiga's eye developed a concerning twitch. "Of course he did." She punted a pebble hard enough to crack a shop window. "Probably off napping somewhere while we—"

The distant sound of breaking glass cut her off.

…

Marine Base Outskirts - Shells Town

Makoto strolled down the cobblestone alley, the cheerful clink of his lollipop against his teeth contrasting with the growing storm clouds overhead. Around the corner, the rhythmic marching of Marine boots echoed.

Clink. Clink. Clink-Crunch.

He crushed the candy between his molars just as five Marines rounded the bend, their pristine white uniforms stark against the grimy alley walls.

"Well well," he murmured. "Looks like I found some playmates."

He let his posture slump, his eyes widening with faux concern as he staggered toward them. "M-Marines! Thank the seas!" he gasped, voice dripping with manufactured panic.

The ensign snapped to attention, hand on his pistol. "Halt! Identify yourself!"

Makoto raised trembling hands. "Please—you have to help! I just overheard something terrible!" He leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Some pirates—they're planning to break into the armory tonight!"

The youngest recruit paled. "T-the armory? But that's—"

"Impossible!" the ensign barked, though his fingers twitched nervously. "Our security is impenetrable!"

Makoto nodded frantically. "That's what I thought! But they said…" He swallowed hard, milking the moment. "They said they have someone inside the Marines helping them."

The squad exchanged horrified glances.

"I—I wanted to warn Captain Morgan myself," Makoto continued, eyes darting like a scared civilian, "but I'm just a merchant! I didn't know who to trust!"

The ensign puffed out his chest. "You did the right thing, citizen. Come with us—we'll take you to the captain for a full debrief."

Makoto's face twisted into the perfect blend of relief and fear. "Th-thank you! I just hope we're not too late!"

As they ushered him toward the base, Makoto bit back a grin.

Makoto was escorted through the gates like royalty in disguise—his "concerned citizen" performance convincing enough that the guards saluted him on sight. The marble-floored halls of the Marine base echoed with the bootsteps of the squad leading him toward Morgan's office.

He kept his posture hunched, his eyes darting nervously. He even flinched when a private sneezed.

Internally, he was howling with laughter.

The moment they entered, the air turned to ice.

Axe-Hand Morgan loomed over his desk, his namesake prosthetic gleaming. "Report."

Makoto turned, his smirk hidden.

The ensign saluted stiffly. "Captain Morgan! We've apprehended a potential informant. He claims there may be a plot to attack the armory, sir."

Morgan turned slowly, lips curling. "Is that so?"

Makoto dropped to one knee dramatically, hand clutched to his chest. "Please, forgive me for barging in—I'm only trying to protect the town, sir! I overheard a few pirates planning a raid. I even heard them mention… traitors in uniform."

Morgan's eye twitched.

"…Who?"

Makoto bit his lip, then shook his head solemnly. "I couldn't see their faces, but one of them wore a red armband. I saw him slipping something to a drunk Marine. I think they've infiltrated."

The tension in the room spiked. Morgan's lip curled into a sneer. "Get me every Marine with a red armband. NOW."

Makoto stood with a guilty bow. "I didn't want to cause trouble, but—"

"You've done your duty, citizen." Morgan waved him off. "The weak are always exposed under pressure."

As Makoto turned to leave, a Marine officer whispered to him. "You were brave to speak up. If you remember more, let us know."

Makoto just smiled. "Of course."

He strolled down the hallway alone, whistling a low tune. Behind him, shouting erupted—Morgan barking orders, doors slamming, Marines running.

Makoto's eyes glinted.

Phase One: Complete