Second Uncle, You Really Are My Dear Second Uncle!

"What!? You want me to become a pirate!?"

Marineford, Marine Headquarters office building.

In an inconspicuous meeting room, Kael stared in astonishment at his second uncle, as well as Fleet Admiral Sengoku, whom his second uncle had introduced him to.

How did they know he wanted to become a pirate?

Could Marine Headquarters possibly have some Devil Fruit user capable of eavesdropping on people's thoughts, keeping him under surveillance all this time?!

Kael's heart pounded wildly.

He knew that possibility was unlikely, but this had all come so suddenly that he did not know what to say. He could only hide his secret delight behind the flickering uncertainty in his eyes as his thoughts ran wild.

Sengoku and Kizaru did not find Kael's expression—three parts surprise, three parts confusion, three parts bewilderment, and one part shock—strange at all.

Or rather, this was precisely the reaction they had expected from Kael.

Sengoku, who was meeting Kael for the first time, nodded with certainty. His fingers lightly tapped the table as he fixed Kael with an unreadable gaze.

"To be precise, you would be an intelligence operative with the identity of a pirate."

"I understand this may seem rather sudden to you."

"But the situation on the seas is tangled and complex, while the underworld conceals countless dangers!"

"If we are to protect more people, the Marines must take action as well!"

"And intelligence is often the foundation of all action!"

"So, we need people in the darkness, providing the Marines with the most efficient and detailed intelligence from the underworld!"

As he spoke, a faint, barely perceptible sadness flashed through Sengoku's eyes.

Perhaps he had remembered his adopted son, Rosinante, who had died during intelligence work.

But he quickly concealed that sadness and looked at Kael with expectant eyes.

Kael timely raised his question.

"I... understand the reasoning, but why me?"

"You know I'm not a Marine, and after leaving the training camp, I haven't trained in years."

"That isn't the key issue, Kael."

Sengoku took the initiative to interrupt him.

"I heard Zephyr mention your situation."

"I believe that with your talent, gaining strength would not be too difficult."

"And Marine Headquarters will provide you with support."

As he spoke, Sengoku suddenly took an old-looking notebook from his pocket.

He continued.

"This is the training plan Instructor Zephyr tailored specifically for you seven years ago."

"While it may not completely suit your current situation, it is undoubtedly highly valuable for reference."

"It also contains complete training methods for the Six Powers and Haki."

"I believe that, having spent some time in the elite training camp, you are no stranger to the Six Powers and Haki."

"..."

Kael nodded blankly.

If his reason had not warned him to maintain the original Kael's persona, he truly would have wanted to snatch the notebook from Sengoku's hand right then!

Damn it!

They were giving him advanced skills like the Six Powers and Haki right from the start!?

And in a book that ordinary people could learn from!

This was far too tempting!

Of course.

This notebook had only answered one of Kael's questions.

After placing the notebook on the table, Sengoku continued.

"Spy work is not a simple matter."

"Over the years, the Marines have sent out quite a few intelligence operatives."

"But unfortunately, only a minority have managed to complete their missions successfully."

"Those children who failed either died to the cruelty of the seas or perished amid conflicts between pirates..."

"Some even died at the hands of their own people!"

"Of course, that is not the most terrifying part!"

Sengoku's gaze suddenly sharpened. He folded his hands together and rested them against the table.

"The most terrifying thing is..."

"Some intelligence operatives, whether coerced or tempted by profit, chose to join the enemy. They fed the Marines false intelligence, leading the Marines to make erroneous judgments and causing incalculable consequences."

"So, after learning enough painful lessons, the Marines became extremely cautious in selecting intelligence personnel."

"But that has also resulted in a severe shortage of manpower in intelligence work."

"Fortunately... Admiral Kizaru recommended you to me."

At that point, Sengoku suddenly paused. He lifted his head and looked directly at Kael.

"..."

Kael remained silent.

Got it.

In other words, he had no family, no weaknesses, and would not be easily controlled.

And his background was clean, so he had passed the political screening, huh!?

But Kizaru's recommendation...

Kael suddenly fell into thought.

Combining Sengoku's words with the original Kael's memories, he had roughly figured out what was going on.

In his memories, it had happened two years ago.

When he had just turned eighteen, Kizaru, who always enjoyed tea, had brought two jugs of alcohol and some food to Kael's home to celebrate his coming-of-age ceremony.

That day, Kael, drunk for the first time, seemed to have poured out quite a bit of his heart to his only relative.

The original Kael had hated pirates.

Having witnessed his parents die beneath pirates' blades and gunfire, his hatred for pirates could be called boundless.

Yet at the same time, the emotional trauma had made him utterly incapable of becoming a Marine.

Those complicated emotions had left Kael living in a constant state of severe self-denial.

In more fashionable terms, he was mentally exhausting himself.

"So that's why Kizaru has been making me exercise ever since two years ago..."

"So he wanted the original Kael to achieve self-redemption through this unconventional method?"

Hmm...

If he could not become a Marine, then he would become a pirate who worked for the Marines.

Sending his own nephew into extremely dangerous intelligence work to soothe his emotional trauma...

Second Uncle, you really are my dear second uncle!

Was this something a normal person could come up with!?

But considering this was the world of pirates, even if it was somewhat abnormal, it somehow seemed perfectly normal... right?

And according to the usual anime plot development, Kael, having seemingly understood everything at this moment, should not only refrain from blaming Kizaru, but would instead...

"Second Uncle, thank you!"

Kael abruptly turned around and gave Kizaru a deep bow.

This was the first time he had felt the difference between an anime character and a normal person.

"Mm..."

Kizaru did not say much in response to Kael's "thanks." A gratified smile merely slowly appeared on his wrinkled old face.

Two tears shimmered in his eyes.

His nephew, Kael, had finally grown up.

Kizaru raised his teacup, using the rising steam to conceal the complicated look in his eyes.

Meanwhile.

After giving his thanks, Kael straightened up again and turned his gaze toward Sengoku. The gloom in his eyes gradually faded, and a faint glimmer of light emerged.

"So... what do you need me to do?"

Kael pretended to secretly clench his fists, putting on an expression of mild interest.

In truth, setting aside Kizaru's outrageous methods, he really was quite interested in this matter!

Act as a pirate under Marine orders!

He could roam freely across the seas without truly being held accountable for his crimes, and he could even receive Marine support.

Was there any profession in this world freer than that?

He was absolutely going to become the King of Spies!!!

Seeing Kael's reaction, a bright white gleam immediately reflected off Sengoku's black-rimmed glasses.

He smiled and spoke slowly.

"Considering your current strength, the Marines have no mandatory requirements for your initial work."

"However, there is one matter you can use to get some practice."

Sengoku took out another document and explained.

"Recently, a group selling weapons of mass destruction has appeared in the East Blue underworld."

"It is an extremely powerful kind of cannonball!"

"Small pirate crews with no reputation can even easily pierce Marine warships at sea when armed with those cannonballs."

"If the opportunity arises, I hope you can uncover the organization selling those cannonballs!"

"This can count as your first mission!"

"Are you... willing to accept it!?"

Sengoku pushed a letter of intent across the table toward Kael.

Once Kael signed his name on it, his household registration and status as the child of a hero would be canceled in Marineford. He would no longer receive the substantial monthly subsidy issued by Marineford.

At the same time, it would mean that he would use his life to protect Marine justice in another way.

"..."

Kael fell into thought as he looked at the letter of intent before him.

East Blue? Extremely powerful cannonballs?

Could they be talking about Buggy Balls?

It was now Year 1520 of the Sea Circle Calendar, one year before Luffy set sail.

The true Buggy Ball should have been completed shortly before Luffy went to sea.

In other words, the organization Sengoku spoke of was very likely the Buggy Pirates, selling defective products to accumulate research funds!?

He could take this job!

The thought flashed through his mind.

Kael did not stop maintaining his persona just because he was thinking.

The moment he saw the letter of intent, his previously lifeless eyes suddenly lit up.

Then, his arms began to tremble faintly and continuously, as though he were struggling against something.

A thin layer of cold sweat seeped from his forehead.

Finally, as if making some momentous decision, Kael suddenly let out a long, heavy breath and lifted his head.

A determined glimmer flashed through his dim pupils. Clenching his fists, he said as though using every ounce of his strength:

"I am willing to accept this mission!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately picked up the fountain pen on the table and signed his name on the letter of intent.

At that instant, his entire bearing abruptly changed!

Previously, he had been like a victim trapped at the bottom of a deep well, neither struggling nor giving up, allowing time to drown him completely.

But now, he was like someone who had seen a rope dangling down from the mouth of the well.

And he would reach out, striving to seize that hope of escaping his plight!

All one could say was that Kael's failure to enter the entertainment industry in his previous life had been a loss for the entire industry!!!

Seeing Kael like this, Kizaru's clouded eyes grew even wetter.

Although he often visited Kael, he knew that Kael had never shown him his true self.

Watching his nephew be reborn at last, the knot in Kizaru's heart finally found release.

"Kael..." Kizaru murmured softly.

He might always look frivolous and carefree.

But when it came to his own nephew, he could never put on that relaxed expression.

If he had arrived at the battlefield a little earlier that day, perhaps his younger sister and brother-in-law would not have had to sacrifice themselves.

And Kael would not have become like this after losing his parents.

Unfortunately, there were no what-ifs.

"Kael."

After Kael signed the document, the silent Kizaru suddenly spoke.

Kael looked in his direction.

Through the brown lenses, he saw a pair of eyes filled with complicated emotions.

Three parts self-blame, three parts expectation, three parts worry, and one part relief...

He was an old hand at pie charts too.

"Second Uncle."

Kael spoke, voicing a form of address that felt both strange and familiar.

"I'll work hard!"

"Mm. I believe in you."

There was no need for many words between men.

A single form of address, a single look, was enough to say everything.

Seeing a Kizaru completely different from the one in his memories left Kael feeling rather intrigued.

But with the original owner's memories to rely on, he still perfectly displayed the expression he should have had at that moment.

Whew~ Good thing I have the original owner's memories. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know what attitude to take toward these two old foxes.

Kael secretly rejoiced inwardly.

Three days later.

A merchant ship bound for the East Blue departed from the port of Marineford.

Wave after wave crashed against the ship like piano keys, producing a rhythmic sound.

Inside a cabin on the merchant ship, Kael stared wide-eyed, his hands suspended in the air as he excitedly looked at the bluish-green fruit with strange patterns on the table. His throat bobbed involuntarily.

"Good grief!"

"I can't believe that on the tenth day after transmigrating, I actually get to see a legendary Devil Fruit!"

"And it's the incredibly valuable Paramecia-type Storm-Storm Fruit!!!"

"As expected of my dear Second Uncle!!!"

This Devil Fruit had been secretly stuffed into Kael's luggage by Kizaru when they parted.

The Paramecia-type—Storm-Storm Fruit!

It granted its eater the terrifying ability to control air currents and create massive storms!

It could be called one of the most powerful abilities among the Paramecia-type!

And now, this priceless Devil Fruit had appeared before an insignificant nobody like him.

He had to admit, having connections in high places really did make things easier!

Under normal circumstances, this fruit would never have ended up in front of him.

After sighing in emotion, Kael continued examining the rest of his "starting capital."

As for this Devil Fruit, he had not yet decided whether to eat it.

After all, aside from his Second Uncle, he had another cheat at his disposal.

Kael planned to wait until the system was activated, then decide based on the circumstances whether to become an ability user.

After all, eating a Devil Fruit was equivalent to gaining an extra weakness for no reason.

He needed to consider it carefully.