Part six - Koby, Hats and Marines 8/8

And between that, Koby changed. No, he actually changed the very first day he met the Straw Hat Pirates when he was hung from a tree and stood for an hour. He changed that day. Something has changed inside him. And it was not at all about the Observation haki that had appeared in him - it became nothing more than a consequence. No, it was about changes that took place deep in the subconscious of the boy. In the place where things were hidden that a person did not know about himself, and often could not even imagine their existence. However, changing subconsciously and accepting it consciously are two completely different stages. Subconsciously, Koby had long since become a completely different person, but his mind stubbornly clung to what it was used to. And it is not known how long it would take for the boy to finally realize and accept his new self, if not for the two weeks spent in the family of mad pirates and not ... Helmeppo. The blond had no idea what exactly he did, pointing the gun at Koby.

At first, Koby's reaction to the gun at his head turned out to be the most normal - the boy was scared to death, trembling no worse than Helmeppo himself. But then, second after second, and, somehow completely unexpected for himself, Koby found that he had long since stopped trembling. Breathing leveled off, the world around him regained colors and sounds. Sounds, among which were the voices of insane pirates that acted as if Helmeppo with a pistol did not exist for them. And so it was, in part. For these people, Helmeppo really didn't exist. And the boy quite understood why. The "Queen", being the weakest in their family, could still knock out the famous captain of the Marines with one single blow. Captain. By. One. Blow. Helmeppo was nothing at all. For a crazy family of pirates, the blonde looked no more menacing than a cockroach deciding to lay claim to the kitchen. In other words, it was no small miracle that they turned their attention to Helmeppo at all.

"But I want to be a marine", a thought flashed through Koby's head.

One simple thought, but what a result! By this time, he had finally ceased to be afraid. To be honest, Koby couldn't even understand what he was afraid of at all. Helmeppo looked weaker than the weakest member of Alvida's crew, and an infinite number of times weaker than any of the Straw Hats. The gun Helmeppo pointed at him shook with such force that Koby doubted the blond's ability to hit him at all, even from such a distance, and if he did decide to shoot. And most importantly ... Koby wanted to be a marine. He wanted to catch the bad guys and help the good ones. He wanted to be the OFFICER of the Marines. Not some nameless soldier, but those who really could change something, independently make decisions and influence something. And Helmeppo was nothing ... absolutely nothing ... so who was he then ... no, not so ... WHO GIVEN HIM THE RIGHT TO PUT A PISTOL ON HIM ?!

Perhaps Helmeppo felt something like that. There is no other way to explain why his gaze, previously directed at the Straw Hats, suddenly shifted to Koby. And as soon as he looked into the eyes of his "hostage", the blond froze, completely ceasing to shake ... he simply could not shake! Helmeppo felt as if he were in the grip of an invisible force. But Koby had no problems with movement. Raising his hands, the boy took up Helmeppo's pistol and, turning its muzzle away from him, in one sharp movement pulled it out of the blond's hand. The shot never came. Then, Koby, taking the pistol by the handle, as expected, aimed its muzzle at Helmeppo's leg and pulled the trigger without any hesitation. A shot rang out, and the blonde collapsed onto the pavement, rolling on the ground and screeching loudly. Koby had never fired a pistol in his life, so instead of shooting Helmeppo's leg, he only scratched him a little and nothing more. But the gay-looking blond had enough of a scratch.

- Monster detected, - unperturbed Johnny commented on everything he saw, after which, remembering the bottle with beer in his hand, took several powerful sips.

- We must admit that Luffy-aniki's methods may be absolutely crazy, but they cannot be called ineffective, - Yosaku said, like Johnny, sucking on his bottle.

- The future admiral is ready, - Luffy nodded in satisfaction, - if not a full-fledged Commander-in-Chief.

- If he can get off this island quickly enough, otherwise he will remain forever vegetating in the lower ranks, - Zoro disagreed with him.

- They underestimate me again.

- What else are you up to?

- Do you really think that after I wasted so much of our time on Koby, I'll take him like this and leave him without worrying about his future? - Don't worry, I just need to make a call.

After all that had happened, it was not difficult to arrange for Koby to join the patrol - it was enough to ask. After, while everything around was calming down, Luffy went away to make the calls he had mentioned earlier. The conversation with his grandfather went quite as expected, - Luffy's ears continued to ring, even half an hour after their conversation, - but his beloved Orc boy pleased, and how pleased!

- Ta-dam! Luffy thumped the printout into the middle of the table with a gusto as he returned to the restaurant. All over the city there were the most natural, folk festivals, but there was silence in the restaurant. Despite helping the city, the group's reputation was such that people, happy or not, did not dare to meddle with them. - Get familiar with it - this is our future goal. And where is Koby?

The whole group immediately moved closer to the table.

- Map of island, - Zoro either asked or stated the fact. - And Koby went with the marines to settle various formalities, will be back soon.

- A island map and a diagram of some kind of base on it, - Johnny delivered his verdict, examining the contents of several sheets. - Are we going to attack the Marines base? - He asked doubtfully.

- This is not a Marine base, - Yosaku shook his head. - All sailors' bases are built almost according to the same template, but here everything is done in a completely different way.

- Luffy, you said we weren't going to touch them, - Nami said.

It was enough for the girl to throw one single glance at the map to instantly understand everything. She immediately found out what kind of island is depicted on the map. And the girl perfectly remembered what was located on this island, and who was in charge there. Only one thing was incomprehensible to her - why now?

- No, I said it's not time to touch them yet, - Luffy objected. - But now the time has come.

- And why?

- Firstly, because we will soon leave East Blue, and, secondly, he began to gather all his forces in one place. They are going to go to conquer the Grand Line, then we will intervene!

Nami quickly turned pale.

- No… - she gasped.

- Yes, - Luffy disagreed with her.

- No. no!

- Yes, yes, and don't argue.

- We all die!

- You're exaggerating as always, - Luffy waved her off lightly.

- Maybe you will already explain? - Zoro asked, a little irritated.

- Don Craig! - barked Nami. - He wants us to attack Don Craig!

- And what's wrong with that? - Zoro did not understand. - Personally, I don't understand at all why we have so diligently avoided contacting him.

- Didn't you hear what Luffy said? He gathers all his strength in one place! Do you have any idea what kind of forces we are talking about here?

- Speaking of that, here are some rough summaries. - Luffy thumped another sheet on the table, held just for this moment.

Everyone at the table leaned forward again.

- I knew it would end there, - Johnny sighed heavily.

- I should have let myself be killed right away, - Yosaku nodded in agreement. - Then you wouldn't have to suffer at least so much.

- Five-five ... five thousand? - Nami said weakly. - And fifty ... fifty ships?

- Hey! - Luffy protested. - You don't need to dramatize everything so much! Five thousand and fifty ships are one and the same.

- Zoro, why are you silent? !! - the girl barked at the green-haired swordsman, who calmly drank his sake and did not blow his mustache.

- There are four of us, so I'll take on two and a half thousand, Ryu and Yosaka will take another thousand each, and the remaining five hundred on you, - Zoro said calmly.

- I always knew that it was not for nothing that I appointed you as my first mate! Zoro, credit for you! Deserved.

- … At times like this, I hate you. I really hate you. And I'm not kidding.

- But I love you all the time! - In response to the gloomy Nami's confession, Luffy did not take offense at all. - Plus, this time I'll fight alongside you.

- …Seriously? - Nami asked incredulously, and the others stared at their captain in surprise.

- You just recently told us that you do not want to leave the shadows, and now you are going to fight? - Zoro did not understand.

- Don't worry, I'm going to disguise myself, and I've even figured out how. I can guarantee you will definitely like it, especially you Zoro! I think you will appreciate the most!

By the way Zoro winced at these words, anyone could tell that what he heard did not make him happy, at all. And the others fully understood him. It is unknown how Luffy intended to disguise himself, but it was already safe to say that Zoro would not like it. No options.

- And yet, as much as five thousand, - Johnny sighed, taking a few sips from the bottle. - And then what will happen next? War with the World Government?

- You know, that's not a bad idea!

- Ryu, if you open your fucking mouth one more time, you won't wake up tomorrow morning, I guarantee! - looked gloomily at the guy Nami. - Don't you dare give him ideas!

- And if you do wake up, then I will make sure that you do not go far from the bed, - added Yosaku.

- You'd think Luffy-aniki wouldn't have thought about it himself, - Johnny muttered displeasedly under his breath, but he still did not dare to speak about it loudly. Nami was scary in anger.

At that moment Koby returned, and the conversation faded by itself. They were not going to stay in the city for a long time, so each of them wanted to say goodbye normally to the boy, to whose presence they had already got used to. Life is unpredictable - especially with such a captain - so each of them assumed that he was seeing Kobe for the last time - especially if they were soon going to clash with five thousand pirates at once.

The farewell party and the simultaneous washing of Kobe's entry into the patrol dragged on until late at night, and in the morning the Straw Hats, once again wishing the boy all the best, set sail. Luffy, of course, did not consider it necessary to mention to everyone that, in just two weeks, the most natural Demon would come for Koby, who would take the boy straight to Hell. Therefore, they will almost certainly meet again, and will meet more than once. Unless, of course, Koby dies earlier. But these are such trifles. Yes.