One Piece: Marine to Warlord to Conqueror

"He went to order a new sign," Mock said, stuffing his face with focaccia. "Said he's gonna add the Marine Admiral to it, too. You done? This stuff's good, right? I've still got some! Want another piece?"

Kuma stared at him through his frameless glasses, at a loss for words.

'The Marine Hero... a Marine Admiral...' he thought. 'The owner of this little stall is certainly bold.'

It reminded him of what the "most tight-lipped man on the seas" had told him back in Alabasta.

"No, thank you. I've had enough." Kuma managed a faint smile as Mock offered the bread again. "Thanks."

Though his mind was reeling with questions, none of it mattered as long as the Boss could help Bonney. Everything else was secondary.

"You sure? It's on the house. The owner gave it to me, so don't be shy!" When Kuma politely refused again, Mock just shrugged, folded the two remaining pieces together, and took a massive bite. "A big guy like you, and you're full after one piece of bread?"

He watched Kuma scan their surroundings, a slight frown on his face. "What are you looking for?"

"Nothing," Kuma said, shaking his head, though his eyes continued to drift over the lively street. He hesitated. "This place... it's very busy."

He had only come to take a look. Last night, a man named Nota had told him about the Conomi Archipelago, mentioning all the good food and fun things to see. Bonney had overheard and, being in a new place, had been begging to come out all morning. Seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, he'd brought her.

And if he was being honest with himself, he was also curious about what kind of man this "Boss" truly was. A Marine who broke so many of the Marine laws, any one of his operations was enough to land him in front of a military tribunal. It was hard not to be curious.

He just hadn't expected the place to be this... prosperous.

"It wasn't always like this," Mock said, his chest puffing out with pride. "It was just a rundown village before. The Boss led us, and we built it up bit by bit. This is his territory!"

Before the stunned Kuma could respond, Mock clapped a hand to his own chest. "It just so happens I'm free today. Let me will give you the grand tour! I guarantee you'll be amazed."

With that, he devoured the rest of his focaccia in one gulp and started walking, leaving Kuma standing there, looking helpless.

"Hey, keep up!" Mock called back.

Kuma shook his head with a sigh and followed, Bonney secure in the box on his back. 'Well,' he thought, 'he certainly seems to know his way around. Might as well see what this place is all about.'

Under Mock's guidance, Kuma began to explore the island, his initial curiosity slowly shifting to doubt, and then to outright shock.

The streets were paved with neat, clean flagstones, lined with tidy, brightly painted houses. The entire town was bustling with people, a sea of activity. As the former king of the Sorbet Kingdom, he knew just how difficult this level of prosperity was to achieve. Not even the capital of his own country had been this beautiful or organized. Even Alabasta, a major power on the Grand Line, hadn't felt quite like this.

But what stunned him most were the people. Everyone was dressed in clean clothes, and their smiles seemed genuine. He found it impossible to square this image with what Mock had told him.

'This used to be a rundown village?'

For a moment, his thoughts drifted back to his old companions in the Revolutionary Army, and to his days with Ginny.

He quickly pushed the memories aside, his expression returning to a calm mask as he continued to follow Mock. The tour was surprisingly enjoyable. Mock would point out different spots, explaining what they used to be and what they were now. Even without seeing it, Bonney seemed to grasp the transformation through Mock's vivid descriptions. She declared that as soon as she was better, she was going to see it all for herself. Mock let out a hearty "Wahahaha!" and presented her with a serving of "Captain's Chicken Nuggets."

Kuma stared at the box. The nuggets, were delicious.

There really was a lot of good food here. And Mock seemed to be some kind of local hero, people were constantly greeting him as they passed. He was a pirate, yet everyone here seemed to respect him. It was a puzzle Kuma couldn't quite solve.

Watching another group of villagers greet Mock enthusiastically, he hesitated, then began to ask, "Everyone here..."

"Wahahaha!" Mock cut him off, seeming to know exactly what he was about to ask. "These are all people the Boss and I 'kidnapped'!"

Kuma nodded, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He then gestured to a group of men working under the hot sun, being urged on by a foreman. "Then... those people?"

"Oh, them? They're all pirates. I tricked 'em into coming here!"

Kuma nodded again. He watched the miserable-looking laborers, a stark contrast to the cheerful villagers, but said nothing.

Just then, Mock stopped in his tracks and shouted at a figure a little ways down the street. "Hey, old man! Yeah, you!"

He strode over to an old man who had been happily strolling along with a little girl, and slapped a huge hand on his shoulder. *Smack!* The girl squeaked and hid behind her grandfather.

Before Kuma could process what was happening, Mock broke into a wide, triumphant grin. "See? Now you know I wasn't lying, right?!"

The old man, recovering from the shock, recognized Mock and offered an awkward smile. "Ah, Captain Mock!" he said, his voice full of guilt. "I-I'm sorry. We misunderstood you back then!"

"Mock." Kuma said, walking over. He looked from the old man to the little girl peering out from behind his legs, but before he could ask, Mock spoke up.

"This old timer? I brought him here not too long ago." Mock clapped Kuma on the back. "He cursed me out the whole way!"

The old man's face flushed with embarrassment. "Captain Mock..."

It was true. At the time, he had been convinced the pirates and the Marine with them were in it together, rounding people up for the slave trade. He'd screamed at them, at Mock, at the Marine... but he'd been wrong. They hadn't been lying. Now, he, his granddaughter, and the citizens who had followed him were all living here, safe and fed. Because he was literate and had experience running a country, he'd even landed a good job with a decent salary. He no longer had to live in a garbage heap, watching his granddaughter starve.

Thinking of it all, the old man's eyes welled up. He looked at Mock, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you. Please, forgive my rudeness back then. And that Marine Captain... I've been wanting to apologize to him, but I could never find him."

The little girl peeked out from behind him again. "Captain Mock... thank you," she whispered.

"Wahahaha!" Mock's grin was infectious. He seemed completely unbothered by the past. He slapped the old man's skinny shoulder again. "No need to apologize, old man! I don't care about that stuff. Just live a good life here. As for Smoker, I'll pass along your thanks!"

His hearty laugh brought fresh tears to the old man's eyes.

Watching the scene unfold, a faint smile touched Kuma's lips. He reached back and gently patted the box. "Bonney," he murmured, "it seems we've come to a good place."

'This Boss... he really is indeed somewhat incredible.'

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Mock's demeanor shifted. The carefree smile vanished from his face, replaced by a look of sudden, intense seriousness as he stared down at the old man.

Russ looked back, confused. "Captain Mock? Is something wrong?"

"I almost forgot!" Mock slapped himself on the forehead. "Your treasure! I haven't told the Boss about it yet! Let me tell you, old man, you're about to get rich!"

Before the equally stunned Russ could say a word, Mock spun around to Kuma.

"Kuma, hurry! Get me back to the ship! I have to tell the Boss about this, now!"

'That thing...' Mock thought, his mind racing. 'It really is a Devil Fruit!'

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