What Vice-Captain, I'm Just Logistics

The year is 1522 of the Sea Calendar, in the East Blue, Branch 153.

Two figures perched atop the wall of the Marine base, their gazes fixed on the training grounds below. A disheveled man was tied to a cross.

"Lina, is that the swordsman you were talking about, the one who uses three swords?"

Luffy glanced at the man beside him.

The man had short blonde hair and wore a light blue shirt with the long sleeves rolled up. He paired it with beige trousers, looking every bit the corporate elite.

"Green hair, three gold earrings..."

Lina studied the figure in the training grounds intently. "It's him, alright. Let's go."

Francis Lina.

He had transmigrated to the world of pirates a year ago and met Luffy in Foosha Village. Today was their first day setting sail.

Lina led Luffy straight to Branch 153, and his objective was...

Naturally, to claim the newcomer's bonus: Three-Sword Style Zoro.

Luffy grinned, pushed off the wall with his hands, and leaped into the base, swaggering inside.

Lina calmly lit a cigarette and followed him.

"Coming for me?"

Zoro had noticed their arrival long ago, his eyes sharp with vigilance. "Who are you people?"

"My name is Luffy! I'm a pirate, and I've come to ask you to be our nakama."

Luffy grinned, stating his intentions plainly as he reached out and began untying Zoro on his own.

Zoro was stunned. Did people just talk so nonsensically these days?

"Are you kidding me! Hey, don't untie me without permission!"

Zoro hastily tried to stop him.

He had been captured voluntarily to save a mother and daughter.

He had made a deal with the Marines: if he could endure without food or water for a month, they wouldn't harm the mother and daughter.

And they would let him go.

However, Luffy wouldn't listen. His hands moved with practiced dexterity.

But...

"It's getting tighter, you idiot!"

Zoro roared, the ropes digging into his hands, causing him pain.

Lina: "..."

Killing a teammate on the very first day at sea would be too ridiculous to live down.

"Forget it, Luffy, let me handle this."

Lina's mind stirred, and a spatial rift appeared out of nowhere. A grim, pale skeleton emerged, holding a dagger.

Zoro was startled by the sudden appearance. "What the hell is that!?"

"I'm a Devil Fruit user. I can summon undead creatures."

Lina took the skeleton's dagger and lightly sliced the ropes, which fell away. He then smiled.

"In short... cough, cough... I'll take you! Come with us, and everything will be fine."

"Huh???"

Zoro was utterly bewildered, his brow furrowed.

He didn't understand what Lina was saying, but the man's confident demeanor made him feel like he might be right.

Lina's expression turned serious. He casually stuck the dagger into the skeleton's head and put it away.

"When I arrived, I heard about you in town. You don't really think you can go a month without food or water, do you?"

"Tch, none of your business."

Zoro sneered but didn't refute him. In fact, he was already nearing his limit.

And today was only the ninth day!

"In short, after today, you'll soon be wanted. Either become a pirate, or wait here to die."

Lina exhaled a smoke ring, stomped out the cigarette butt on the ground, and said calmly, "Or, if you have no ambitions, you can find a place to hide, and we'll just pretend we never came today."

"If I'm going to barely survive, I'd rather die here."

Zoro spat, rubbing his wrists. "I still have important things to do."

He knew his situation was exactly as Lina described. Being wanted and not being a pirate were practically the same thing.

He still had goals to achieve. Since the other party had indeed saved him, why not set sail with them?

Zoro's expression turned serious at the thought, and he met Lina's gaze. "So it seems I have no choice but to join this pirate ship? Are you the captain?"

"No, the captain is him."

Lina gestured to Luffy beside him with his thumb.

Zoro followed his gaze and saw Luffy grinning at him, his eyes filled with a 'clear' innocence.

"He doesn't look very reliable?"

He didn't know why he had such a question, just a strange premonition. He glanced back at Lina. "Then are you the vice-captain?"

"No, no, no, I'm just a logistics member."

Lina waved his hand, his expression full of resistance. Vice-captain... absolutely not!

That title sounded too attention-grabbing, not fitting his style of operation. He wanted to develop quietly and then shock everyone.

Wouldn't people's attitudes be different if they heard he was the vice-captain compared to if they heard he was just logistics?

He was someone who liked to strike from the shadows; no one understood combat better than him.

What, you say that's despicable?

Yes! That's me, alright!

"Logistics member?"

"Sounds pretty weak." Zoro's expression was odd.

He's a legendary Devil Fruit user, but he's not actually strong?

Exactly! That's the vibe! Lina's heart couldn't help but rejoice when he saw Zoro's expression. This was precisely the effect he wanted.

If he used his ability right now, he could give Zoro a few cuts in an instant.

Just then, a group of uninvited guests arrived on the training ground.

"Prepare to fire!!!"

A rough roar came from the distance.

The three of them looked in the direction of the sound. The one shouting was a burly man built like a bear, with a giant axe in his hand. It was Captain Ax Hand Morgan of Branch 153!

Behind Morgan followed a large group of Marines, aiming their guns at them.

Seeing this, Luffy quickly stepped in front of the other two, spreading his arms.

"Bang!"

"Bang!" Gunshots rang out, and dozens of bullets flew towards them.

"Careful!" Zoro couldn't help but shout in alarm.

However, in the next moment, something unexpected happened.

As the bullets hit Luffy, they sank into his body. The flesh on Luffy's back stretched out, making him look like a hedgehog.

The next moment, all the bullets were expelled, ricocheting back towards the Marines.

"What kind of monster is he!?"

"Quick, dodge!"

"Hee hee hee, I ate the Rubber Fruit and became a Rubber Person! Bullets are useless against me!"

Luffy put his hands on his hips and laughed triumphantly at the Marines.

Zoro's expression was as if he had seen a ghost. "What's going on? He's also a Devil... Huh? Where did he go?"

Before he could finish speaking, Zoro realized Lina had disappeared at some point. He raised his hand and touched his empty waist, a hint of anger appearing on his face.

"Damn it, they took my swords!"

Meanwhile, on the other side, Morgan looked at Luffy with a grim expression.

Having been a base commander for three years, he wasn't someone without experience. He immediately roared at his subordinates:

"Don't panic! Try using your swords! All of you, attack!"

Even if swords were useless, rushing him and pinning him down would work.

"Yes!"

Receiving Morgan's command, the Marines drew their swords and charged, engaging Luffy in a fierce battle.

Zoro also stepped forward to join in. He took down several Marines bare-handed, then snatched a sword and began to display his astonishing skill.

Looking at the two figures in the training ground, like wild beasts, Morgan frowned.

"I'll wait for my subordinates to wear them out first, then I'll seize the opportunity to ambush them."

What a coincidence!

Lina was thinking the same thing!!

Just then, a sneaky figure suddenly appeared behind Morgan!

At some unknown time, Lina had already crept around and was quietly approaching Morgan.

"Click!"

Suddenly, the sound of a firearm being cocked rang out.

Morgan started, a chill coursing through him. With a sense of foreboding, he spun around.

He saw a blond man aiming a gun at him. Staring into the dark muzzle, Morgan was utterly panicked.

"Eat shit, Your Excellency!"

"Wait a..."

"Bang--!"

Lina pulled the trigger without hesitation, watching Morgan fall into a pool of blood with a smirk before lighting a cigarette.

"Can't wait, Your Excellency. What if there's a reversal?"

He said it, no one understood combat better than him!

Walking forward, he placed his hand on Morgan, and a blue flame surged from his palm, engulfing him.

About 30 seconds later, it returned to his hand, transforming into a flickering flame.