What vice-captain, I'm just logistics.

Sea Calendar 1520, East Blue, Marine Branch 153.

Two figures crouched on the wall of the Marine base, their gaze fixed on the parade ground where a disheveled person was tied to a cross.

"Reiner, is that the swordsman you mentioned who uses three swords?"

Luffy glanced at the man beside him.

The man had short, golden hair and wore a sky-blue shirt with the long sleeves rolled up. He had on beige trousers, looking every bit the corporate elite.

"Green hair, three golden earrings."

Reiner carefully observed the figure on the parade ground for a moment. "That's him, no doubt. Let's go."

Francis Reiner.

He had transmigrated to the world of One Piece a year ago and met Luffy in Foosha Village. Today was their first day at sea.

Reiner led Luffy directly to Marine Branch 153 with a purpose in mind.

It was, of course, to claim their beginner's bonus: Three-Sword Liu Zoro.

Luffy grinned, propped his hands on the wall, and jumped into the base, strolling in confidently.

Reiner unhurriedly lit a cigarette and followed behind him.

"Coming for me, are they?"

Zoro had long since noticed the newcomers, his eyes cold and wary. "Who are you people?"

"I'm Luffy! I'm the man who's going to be the Pirate King, and I'm here to ask you to join our crew!"

Luffy grinned, stating his intention very frankly.

As he spoke, he reached out and began untying him on his own.

Zoro was stunned by what he heard. Do people talk so nonsensically these days?

"What kind of joke is this?! Hey, don't untie me without permission!"

Zoro quickly tried to stop him.

He had willingly allowed himself to be captured to save a mother and daughter.

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

They would also let him go.

However, Luffy wouldn't listen to reason, his hands deftly working away.

Only…

"It's getting tighter, you idiot!"

Zoro couldn't help but roar, the ropes cutting painfully into his hands.

Reiner: "..."

Getting a crewmate killed on the first day at sea would be too ridiculous to spread.

"Never mind, Luffy, let me do it."

Reiner had a thought, and a spatial rift appeared out of thin air. A pale, eerie skeleton, holding a dagger, stepped out of it.

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

"I'm a Devil Fruit User, I can summon Undead Creatures…"

Reiner took the skeleton's dagger and with a light cut, the ropes fell away. Then he chuckled:

"In short… cough, cough… I'm here to save him! Come with us, nothing bad will happen."

"Huh???"

Zoro looked utterly bewildered, his brows furrowed.

He didn't know what Reiner was saying, but he sounded incredibly self-righteous.

Reiner casually stuck the dagger into the skeleton's head, putting it away, then turned serious.

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

"Hmph, none of your business."

Zoro scoffed but didn't refute him. In fact, he was already close to his limit, and today was only the ninth day!

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

Reiner flicked his cigarette butt onto the ground and stepped on it, saying flatly, "Or, if you don't have any ambition, you can find a place to hide. We'll just consider today a wasted trip."

"If I have to live like a dog, I might as well die here."

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

He knew his situation was exactly as Reiner described: being wanted as a non-pirate was no different from being a pirate.

He still had goals to achieve, and since they had indeed saved him, perhaps he should just go to sea with them?

With that thought, Zoro's expression turned serious. He looked at Reiner and said, "You came prepared. Looks like you're determined to take me on. Are you the captain?"

"No, he's the captain."

Reiner gestured with his thumb toward Luffy beside him.

Zoro followed his gaze. Luffy was looking at him with a grin, his eyes filled with 'innocence.'

"Doesn't seem very reliable, does he?"

He didn't know why he had that question; it was just a strange premonition. He turned and glanced at Reiner again. "Then you're the vice-captain?"

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

Reiner waved his hand, his expression full of rejection. Vice-captain? No way!

That title sounded too attention-grabbing, not in line with his style. He wanted to develop quietly, then surprise everyone.

Would people's attitudes be the same if they heard he was a vice-captain versus a logistics member?

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

What, you say despicable?

Yes! That's me, you got it!

"Logistics member?"

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

So, even if he's a legendary Devil Fruit User, he's not actually strong?

When Reiner saw Zoro's expression, his heart secretly rejoiced.

Exactly! That's the reaction I wanted!

If he were to use his abilities now, he could instantly deliver a few blows to Zoro.

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

"Prepare to fire!!!"

A rough shout came from a distance.

The three looked over. The person shouting was a burly man, built like a bear, with a giant axe attached to his hand. It was none other than Axe-Hand Morgan, the Colonel of Marine Branch 153!

Behind Morgan was a large contingent of Marine soldiers, aiming their guns at them.

Seeing this, Luffy quickly spread his arms, shielding the two of them.

"Bang!"

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

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

However, the next moment, something unexpected happened.

The bullets, upon hitting Luffy, simply indented into his body. The flesh on Luffy's back stretched out, making him look like a hedgehog.

The next moment, all the bullets shot back out, ricocheting towards the Marines.

"What is he, a monster!?"

"Duck!"

Facing the panicked Marines, Luffy put his hands on his hips and laughed triumphantly. "Hehehe, I'm a Rubber Man who ate the Gum-Gum Fruit. Bullets are useless against me."

Zoro had a look of disbelief. "What's going on? He's also a Devil—huh? Where'd he go?"

Before he could finish, he realized Reiner had disappeared at some point.

"Damn it, the Marines took my swords!" Touching his empty waist, Zoro's expression turned angry.

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

He had been a base commander for three years, he wasn't someone easily surprised. He immediately roared at his subordinates:

"Don't panic! Try using knives! Everyone, charge!"

Even if knives didn't work, swarming them and pinning them down would suffice.

"Yes, sir!"

Receiving Morgan's order, the Marines drew their swords and rushed forward, clashing with Luffy.

Zoro also stepped forward, knocking down a few Marines with his bare hands. After grabbing a sword, he began to display astonishing strength.

Watching the two figures, like wild beasts, on the training ground, Morgan's brow furrowed.

"I'll let my subordinates wear down their stamina first, then I'll sneak attack."

What a coincidence, wasn't it?

Reiner was thinking the exact same thing!!

Just then, a sneaky figure suddenly appeared behind Morgan!

Reiner had somehow stealthily circled around, creeping quietly towards Morgan.

"Click!"

Suddenly, the sound of a gun bolt racking echoed.

Morgan flinched, a chill spreading through his body. A sense of dread washed over him, and he whirled around.

A blond man stood there, pointing a gun directly at him. Morgan stared at the dark muzzle, utterly panicked.

"Eat shit, old man!"

"Wait a—"

"Bang!"

Reiner pulled the trigger without hesitation, watching Morgan fall into a pool of blood with a sneer.

"Can't wait, old man. What if there was a twist?"

He had said it: no one understood combat better than him!

He stepped forward, placed his hand on Morgan's body, and a blue flame surged from his palm, covering him.

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