[Side Story] Koby, Helmeppo, and Morgan

Some year, some month, some day – Somewhere in East Blue

Vice Admiral Rengoku arrived aboard a Marine war-ship to take custody of the disgraced pirate—formerly Marine Branch-Captain—Morgan.

...

"Vice Admiral Rengoku! Thank you for coming all this way. We'll turn the former Branch Captain Morgan over to you at once!"

"Understood. Good work, everyone."

Escorted by Marines, Morgan was brought before Rengoku.

"Former Branch Captain Morgan— you abused the authority entrusted to you. There'll be no court-martial; you're going straight to Impel Down. Behave yourself during the transfer to Headquarters."

Morgan rolled his shoulders with a bored look.

"Tch… a hot-blooded brat who hasn't even dried behind the ears."

"Watch your mouth, Morgan!" a Marine barked. "This is Vice Admiral Rengoku the Flame Pillar. Scum like you has no right to address him that way!"

"Eh?" Morgan glared at the soldier and strained against his chains— clank, clank— trying to snap them. Several Marines moved to restrain him, but Rengoku halted them with a raised hand.

...

Rengoku's gaze shifted to two youths standing nearby.

"So those are the boys who were given conditional enlistment—the pirate's son and the chore boy?"

"Yes, sir!"

"You there—the blond boy," Rengoku called.

"M-me, sir?" Helmeppo squeaked.

"Yes. Do you hate your father?"

A flurry of thoughts flashed through Helmeppo's mind.

"…There was a time I respected him… but not anymore, now that he's a criminal."

Rengoku didn't press further. "Even under conditional enlistment, you're a Marine. If Morgan tries to escape, what action must you take?"

"Th-that, uh…"

"You're still on chore duty and may not know this, but for recaptured escapees, instant lethal force is authorized. If your father runs now, could you— as a proud Marine— kill him?"

Helmeppo's mouth opened, but no answer came.

"Fine. Then the pink-haired boy beside you—what say you?" Rengoku's eyes shifted to Koby.

Koby froze and glanced at Helmeppo for guidance.

"Who told you to look at him for permission?" Rengoku thundered.

"H-he shouted at them…"

"I've never seen the Vice Admiral raise his voice like that…"

The whispers of the surrounding Marines and Rengoku's sheer presence made Koby's nerves stand on edge.

"S-sorry, sir!" he blurted, standing rigidly at attention.

"Your answer?"

"Y-Yes, sir?"

"Your answer?"

"Ah, yes! In some cases, immediate execution is authorized!"

"Good."

Clang!

"Then let's see you try."

Morgan suddenly broke his chains by sheer force and grabbed Helmeppo, who was standing nearby.

"All hands, back away from Morgan! Pink-haired boy—retrieve a sword!"

At Rengoku's command, Koby rushed to grab a standard-issue Marine cutlass.

"Morgan has broken free and taken a hostage! Now—what is the protocol?"

"C-Capture if possible… o-or immediate termination if necessary!"

"Very well. Then you attempt the capture."

Rengoku pushed Koby forward.

"V-Vice Admiral Rengoku…"

The Marines who had spent time with Koby tried to protest, but Rengoku's piercing gaze shut them down. No one could speak.

"H-Helmeppo…"

"Koby… please save me…"

"Tch! Worthless brat—only useful as a hostage in a time like this! Get back or I'll kill him!"

Morgan swung his massive axe-hand wildly, keeping everyone at bay.

"F-Father, please… don't do this…"

"Shut it! Having a son like you is Morgan's greatest mistake! Be glad you're finally serving a purpose!"

The edge of Morgan's axe scraped Helmeppo's neck.

"B-Blood…! Father, you're seriously trying to kill me?!"

"Tch! Quit your whining, you little pest!"

Morgan struck Helmeppo across the face with his steel-jawed prosthetic, knocking him out cold.

Koby, trembling harder than ever, stood frozen.

"Pink-haired boy! Love your comrade, love your country! Your fellow recruit has been injured by an escaped criminal! Even if you can't win—can't you at least take a single step forward?!"

Rengoku's voice cut deep, igniting something inside Koby.

He clenched the cutlass tightly and shouted,

"Criminal Morgan! R-Release my comrade and friend Helmeppo now!"

"Tch… What a joke. Since no one's stopping me, guess I'll just walk out of here."

Still holding Helmeppo, Morgan began heading toward the coast.

"Let him go, now!"

"Buzz off, brat!"

Koby mustered every ounce of courage he had and charged at Morgan.

Morgan kicked him away without hesitation.

But Koby didn't run. He stood up and rushed in again.

And again.

"Vice Admiral Rengoku… shouldn't we stop this?"

"Let's watch a bit longer," Rengoku replied calmly.

"Y-Yes, sir!"

As time passed, sweat began to bead on Morgan's brow.

The warship showed no intention of approaching the shore, and with that imposing Vice Admiral still standing firm, Morgan found himself truly trapped—caught between a rock and a hard place.

Thud.

In the end, the one to collapse first… was Koby.

Only then did Rengoku begin walking toward Morgan.

"Morgan. Did you really think you could escape?"

"S-Stay back! I'm holding a hostage here!"

As Rengoku approached with steady strides, Morgan, in a panic, raised his axe-hand and swung it toward him.

"You don't even have a real weapon now."

Rengoku didn't dodge.

He didn't attack.

He simply stood there—accepting the blow.

Crack!

The thing that shattered… was Morgan's axe-hand.

"I hear you spent every day shouting about how great you were. But now your rank has been stripped, your precious axe is gone…Tell me—are you still so 'great'?"

"S-Stay back! G-Get away from me!"

Terrified, Morgan flailed his broken weapon through the air in desperation.

"Right now, you're even more pitiful than your son. Even more than that pink-haired boy. To use your own words—there's no one more pathetic than you right now."

As Rengoku finished speaking, Morgan collapsed on the spot—fainted.

...

"Vice Admiral Rengoku!"

As Morgan fell, Marines rushed to the scene.

"Men!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Let Koby's actions be a lesson. Even when things seem hopeless—even when victory is out of reach—you must press on with courage! Never forget: you are the future of the Marines! Our duty is to apprehend criminals and protect the people! To ensure they live out their lives without ever falling prey to evil! Understood?!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Morgan may still be a threat. Administer a sedative, fully restrain him, and lock him in the brig—immediately!"