Chapter 5: Bepo

As I walked to the downed bear location, I noticed he had stopped crying and was now looking at me with stars in his eyes.

" Woah you're pretty strong captain!" The bear mink said.

" You bet I am!" I exclaimed while laughing.

" My name is Law, what's yours?" I asked.

" Ah... I'm sorry! My name is Bepo!" The polar bear mink exclaimed loudly.

" Huh..? What are you sorry for?" I asked while tilting my head to the side.

" Eh.... I'm sorry captain." He repeated as a gloomy aura surrounded him.

'Ok what the actual fuck is wrong with this bear.' I gave him an awkward pat on the back to cheer him on.

"Come on let's go Wolf has probably returned from the port." I said as I put my arm around the small Bepo's neck and started walking with him.

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As we walked through the forest I learned that Bepo went out to sea to look for his brother Zepo.

And if I remember correctly his brother was killed by big mom when the mink pirates tried stealing her Rio Poneglyph.

'*sigh* what he doesn't know won't hurt him.'

" What are you thinking about?" Bepo curiously asked, noticing I was lost in my thoughts.

" Ah, nothing! nothing!" I replied.

" Let's talk about something else shall we. You're my first crew member, can you tell me what your speciality is?" I asked.

" Mhm.... eating." He said with light in his eyes.

I deadpanned hearing his honest answer, "Anything else?" I asked with an awkward smile.

" Uh... I'm a pretty good swimmer." He added.

" That's good but not what I was looking for, I meant are you a navigator? A doctor? A helmsman? What role can you cover in a ship?" I asked.

"Eh... I'm sorry captain I don't think I am any of that." He said dejectedly.

" *sigh* It's alright you don't have to apologize you're 9 years old after all. I'll just have to teach you." I said with a smile.

" Really captain! Thanks!" He said while jumping in joy.

I just patted his fluffy head with a smile at his excited expression.

"Ah look! Over there I can see a town!" Bepo shouted.

" Yes that's Swallow Town we will be living there for a couple of years before setting sail." I said.

" Woah it looks beautiful captain, it's the first time I see a town other than my homeland." He said as he started walking a little faster toward the town. His early injuries were completely forgotten.

As we walked through town, Bepo kept looking in wonder at its inhabitants. Some waved at us, and some came to actually talk to us.

It was strange for them seeing a talking bear for the first time, but they quickly got used to him seeing his bubbly personality.

While Bepo and I were talking with the locals, a drawn sleigh pulled by Bisons approached us.

Looking at the driver I recognized Wolf and a couple of other men from the village who all went to buy from the merchants this morning.

" Hey Wolf-san, did you find the mechanic parts you needed?" I asked.

" Yeah I managed to get everything we need but those money grubbing merchants milked every possible berry they could for them." Wolf replied.

The other men that came with him started laughing as well.

" You're just a stingy old man Wolf!" A man on the carriage said while laughing.

" Yeah! Yeah! Laugh all you want but you can't argue that they were overcharging us. Good afternoon everyone. Law if you could help me carry this inside." Wolf said while motioning a bag full of metal parts.

I holstered the metal filled bag on my back before following Wolf who was already walking toward his house while grumbling under his breath.

"Let's go Bepo." I said over my shoulder as he was standing there staring into space.

" Uh... Hai Captain!" Bepo shouted before quickly following after me.

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Once inside I dropped the bag of goodies in the lab. Before going upstairs where Wolf was cooking us something to eat.

" Hey Wolf, I want to introduce you to someone." I said.

" The talking bear?" He asked without turning around.

" Yeah, I found him in the forest and wanted to ask if he could live with us?" I asked.

" As long as he can help in the lab I don't mind." He replied.

Looking behind me I could see Bepo looking around the house not caring about our whole conversation.

" Give him one of the guest room." Wolf said.

" Ok," I said before turning around and motioning for Bepo to follow after me.

I first guided Bepo to my room where I had a medical kit so I could treat his light wounds.

Once I bandaged the small cuts he had, I guided him to his room and explained how he would need to help around the lab in exchange for shelter and food.

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It has been a month since Bepo joined Wolf and I, during that month we managed to make great progress on the Submarine.

Mainly due to me practically dragging both of them to the lab every morning, I wanted to finish the submarine as quickly as possible. That way I might convince Wolf to give it to me or at least sell it to me and I could personalize it by adding some cool features and weapons to it.

While I was under the suspended Submarine a large explosion suddenly shook the ground. The submarine started swaying around as the hinges holding it started growling under the pressure.

I quickly slid off from under the submarine not wanting to be squashed to death.

" What the fuck was that?" I asked, annoyed thinking it was Bepo's or Wolf's doing.

Seeing their panicked state as they were holding to the tables to not fall off.

" It seems to be coming from outside? Let's check it out." Wolf said after the trembling stopped.

" Ch..Check..k it out, why don't we stay inside instead?" A clearly scared Bepo said.

"You can stay if you want, but I'm definitely going." I said as an excited grin spread on my face.

Grabbing my small knife and hosteling it to my waist and throwing some warm clothes on I quickly rushed outside, in search of the source of the loud noise.

"Hey wait up Law!" Wolf shouted as he caught up to me.

Scanning the surrounding forest, we could easily make out a giant forest fire probably created by some explosion.

" What in god happened?" Wolf exclaimed.

" I don't know but this seems pretty interesting, quickly let's climb on the sleigh and rush there!" I exclaimed excitedly.

" Are you guys really going there? Aren't you scared?" Bepo asked.

" I am a Pirate, why should I be!?" I said while smiling brightly at Bepo.

I could see shock, realization and finally determination cross his facial features.

" Wait for me, Captain!" Bepo shouted as he quickly ran to Wolf and I's position to climb on the sleigh as well.

" Everybody on board? Then let's go!" Wolf said as he whipped the Bison drawing the sleigh into action.