Chapter 12- King Arthur III

The morning sun cast a golden glow over the Marine base as I finished yet another round of mop duty. Jack and I sat on a bench near the training grounds, sipping on some cold drinks after a long morning of chores. The thought of my Devil Fruit powers still lingered in my mind.

"Hey, Jack," I said, stretching my arms.

"Why did Kenny tell me not to use my Devil Fruit powers in public? I mean, it's not like I did anything bad. I stopped a thief."

Jack sighed, glancing around before leaning in. "It's not just about the thief, Lucius. It's about who might be watching."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Jack took a sip of his drink before lowering his voice. "King Arthur III."

I blinked. "Who?"

Jack looked at me as if I had just asked him what the color of the sky was. "King Arthur III. The current ruler of Camelot Kingdom. The guy who never leaves his castle."

Oh yeah I forgot Camelot had a king.

I shrugged. "So what?"

Jack sighed again, this time dramatically. "So what?! Do you even know how he got the throne?"

"No, but I have a feeling you're about to tell me."

Jack smirked. "Damn right, I am. So, get this—King Arthur III wasn't supposed to be king. He was the youngest son, had like three uncles, a father, and two older brothers ahead of him. One day, out of nowhere, boom—everyone ahead of him mysteriously dies."

"Mysteriously?" I repeated.

Jack grinned. "Okay, not mysteriously. It was definitely him. He wiped out his whole family, then took the throne for himself. Since then, he never leaves the castle, never shows his face in public, and runs the kingdom from the shadows."

I frowned. "And what does this have to do with me?"

Jack leaned closer. "Because, Lucius, he has a thing for powerful people. And guess what? You have a Logia Devil Fruit. If word gets to him about you, he might decide he wants you for his personal knight squad."

I snorted. "Like I'd ever join that guy."

Jack shook his head. "That's the thing, Lucius. Nobody refuses the king. If he wants you, he gets you. That's why Kenny told you to keep a low profile. The last guy who got his attention disappeared overnight."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "Okay… I might see the issue now."

Jack grinned. "Good. Took you long enough. And besides, it's not just any squad. King Arthur has six elite knights—some of the strongest warriors in the kingdom. If he sets his eyes on you, Lucius, that means he sees you as the potential seventh knight."

I raised an eyebrow. "Seven? That sounds a little too dramatic."

Jack chuckled. "You'd be surprised how much these nobles love theatrics. But those knights aren't just for show. Each one is a monster in their own right, and if you join them… you'd be stuck under Arthur's rule forever."

I leaned back on the bench, sighing. "Great. As if my life wasn't complicated enough."

Meanwhile, in the Castle of Camelot Kingdom

A grand hall stretched before an enormous golden throne, where a tall, imposing figure sat. King Arthur III was draped in a deep crimson cloak, his face obscured by shadows cast from the flickering candlelight. His golden crown, adorned with jewels, gleamed ominously.

A heavily armored knight kneeled before him. "Your Majesty, a Marine recruit with a Logia Devil Fruit was spotted in the market district. He used his powers to stop a thief."

Arthur III slowly tilted his head. "A Logia?"

"Yes, my king. A young man by the name of Lucius."

A long silence filled the hall as the king tapped his fingers on the armrest of his throne. Then, a low chuckle escaped his lips. "Interesting."

The knight hesitated before continuing.

"Shall we… make arrangements?"

Arthur III's grin widened. "Yes. Find out more about him. Strength, skills, background. If he is what you say he is…"

His eyes glinted with intrigue. "He will join my knights soon enough."

Later That Night…

Within the towering stone walls of the castle, under the pale glow of the moon, a lone figure crept through the shadows. A young woman, clad in a dark cloak, darted past the palace guards, her breath quick and silent. Her heart pounded as she reached a side gate, slipping through the narrow opening before breaking into a sprint.

The castle loomed behind her, its spires piercing the night sky like jagged blades. She didn't dare look back.

I have to find him… before it's too late.

To be continued.....