Six months before Monkey D. Luffy sets sail
NORTH BLUE
The wind blew steadily across the docks of Ferrovia Island, yet the guards stationed at the harbor entrance didn't even take a moment to admire the sea.
"It's always impressive seeing one of these up close… those Government ships," Brandon muttered.
"Yeah, no matter how often they pass through Ferrovia, they're always breathtaking," Rick replied.
Those two were always assigned together on guard duty these days. They knew that whatever cargo those ships carried was bound for Mary Geoise. There was no room for error. If they lost their focus, even for an instant, the Celestial Dragons would make sure they'd pay the price.
The massive vessel finally came to a halt, aligning perfectly with the dock.
In the distance, Hanza watched carefully as cargo began to emerge from the ship's hold, a swarm of Marine soldiers bustling on the deck. For years, her research had led her to a single, unsettling conclusion—the same her late father had reached:
The World Government erases memories… or at the very least, makes entire places vanish.
She tucked her binoculars into her bag and climbed down from the rooftop where she'd been perched. Breaking into a sprint, she headed towards the harbor. Slowly but surely, she was about to grasp the truth she'd sought for so long. Even if it meant becoming a pirate, a criminal. She was ready to pay that price.
"The reports I found at the military base indicate the transfer of a mosaic fragment… This whole year of infiltration will finally bear fruit! At last, I can take a step toward the truth," Hanza thought to herself.
She approached the two officers guarding the ship's entrance with confident strides.
"Hanza? W-what are you doing here?" Brandon stammered nervously.
"Stop shaking, Rick," she teased, nudging Brandon's right shoulder with her elbow.
"Hey guys. Commander Shuro ordered me to inspect a specific item in the cargo," she announced calmly.
Brandon, unable to tear his gaze from her pink hair and striking blue eyes, hardly registered her words, though he got the gist. Rick, however, grasped every word clearly and immediately narrowed his eyes.
"That's strange… we didn't receive any orders from Commander Shuro about you coming here," Rick said suspiciously.
"It was last minute," Hanza replied firmly.
"Alright," Rick eventually conceded.
As the ship's boarding ramp lowered, readying access, a Marine officer approached. She had a gothic appearance, a choker adorning her neck giving her an almost epic presence.
"Colonel Doll, Marine Headquarters," she said authoritatively. "I've been assigned to oversee this menial task. Let's hurry and finish this quickly."
Hanza found Doll's indifferent attitude oddly charming. Even though she was a Marine, sooner or later, they would find themselves on opposite sides.
For now, everything was going smoothly. She walked onto the ship's deck alongside Rick and Brandon. To keep herself relaxed and believable, she engaged in casual conversation.
"How are your injuries, Brandon?" she asked gently.
Brandon instinctively touched the scar on his cheek, feeling the lingering pain in his torso and right knee as well.
"They've healed. It's much better now. That damned pirate almost got me… Crazy, bipolar bastard," he mumbled bitterly.
"I see… As long as you're healing, that's what matters," she responded reassuringly.
Brandon felt like he was in heaven. She cared about him. He was sure of it. She likes me, I'm sure of it, he thought proudly as they neared the cargo hold.
"Thank you for being so concerned about me… If you're interested, we could—"
"Colonel Doll, may I inspect the cargo hold and take a specific item with me directly?" Hanza quickly interjected.
"And why exactly should I—" Doll began, only to be cut off.
"Direct orders from Commander Shuro Teskran," Hanza stated decisively.
Doll paused for what seemed like an eternity to Hanza, scrutinizing her carefully. The tension rose sharply around her, the Marines' gazes oppressing. Hanza felt her muscles tense, ready to sprint at the slightest provocation—but she had to remain calm. She needed to see this through.
"Fine," Doll finally relented, "but again, let's finish this annoying task quickly."
Hanza nodded briefly, rushing inside with relief. "The bigger the lie, the easier it passes," she thought triumphantly.
As she explored cautiously, two Marines closely followed behind. The moment their attention wandered, she immediately began her true treasure hunt, searching intently for a name engraved somewhere—Caelum.
"Caelum… Caelum… Caelum…" she murmured like a quiet prayer.
Back on deck, the Den Den Mushi suddenly rang, drawing Brandon's attention.
PURURU PURURU—GASHA.
"Commander Shuro," Brandon answered.
"How's the transfer going?" Shuro asked. His deep, rough voice—a clear reflection of his battle-hardened life—always intimidated Brandon, even after a year and a half stationed under him at the Ferrovia base.
"Everything's good, Commander. Hanza's here as requested, retrieving the item you ordered her to pick up."
A brief silence ensued.
"I didn't order her anything!" Shuro shouted, angrily crushing his cigar into the table.
Brandon's panicked eyes locked onto Rick's.
Without wasting another second, Doll sprinted toward the hold.
"INTRUDER IN THE HOLD! GIRL WITH PINK HAIR! STOP HER IMMEDIATELY!" she yelled fiercely.
"I've found it… the mosaic fragment…" Hanza whispered joyously, tucking it safely into her pocket.
But Doll's shout instantly froze her blood. Her life was over. Prison, or worse, Impel Down awaited her now. She'd dared steal from Celestial Dragons. It was finished. Despair overwhelmed her.
Summoning all her remaining strength, she bolted desperately through the hold. Everything around her—jewelry, paintings, priceless artifacts—seemed like treasure beyond belief. Perhaps this was what the One Piece felt like, she thought, amazed she'd ever see such wealth.
A dead end. An enormous chest, partially open. Two Marines and Doll closing behind her. It was truly the end.
"If my twilight must fall today, then let it be so. Let my agony end," she whispered resignedly, tears brimming.
"I'm ready," she said softly, accepting her fate.
But suddenly, the two Marines approaching her began bickering violently.
"What's your problem?! You looking for trouble?!"
"You're the psycho! I'm sending you to the hospital—you won't be walking after I'm done!"
Doll and Hanza watched in stunned disbelief, frozen in confusion. No one moved for several seconds.
Then, with a loud crash, the chest behind Hanza burst open. An arsenal of pistols swirled around a man who appeared to have been hiding inside.
He slammed open the lid with his elbow, rapidly scanning the room. Realizing the moment had come, he took immediate action.
He grabbed Hanza around the waist. She shrieked, startled and bewildered.
"LET GO OF ME!" she shouted, pounding his hands desperately.
But when she realized they were suddenly ten meters above the deck, soaring clear over the cargo hold, her tone quickly changed.
"DON'T YOU DARE LET GO!" she screamed.
They descended gracefully, landing softly on the wooden deck.
Feeling the man's grip loosen, Hanza finally glimpsed his face clearly. He had deep, dark circles under his eyes, messy black hair, and the expression of someone enduring the worst day of their life.
But the surrounding chaos pulled her attention away. Marines everywhere were attacking each other in a frenzied brawl.
"What's going on?" she asked in shock.
She turned her head to see even Rick and Brandon furiously trading blows.
"This is your fault! You're obsessed with Hanza! She doesn't even notice you!" Rick roared, punching Brandon squarely in the jaw.
"Shut up! She and I—we're meant for each other!" Brandon retorted, fiercely driving his fist into Rick's stomach.
Doll emerged from the cargo hold, eyes wide with disbelief at the utter chaos.
"What a goddamn mess…" she seethed furiously.
The man beside Hanza walked calmly through the chaos to the center of the ship's deck. In that instant, she saw only him, his voice impossibly clear above the madness.
"You asked what's happening… I'm a war-man. I ate the Gassen Gassen no Mi."
Doll charged him. Calmly, he clenched his fist.
"Gassen Gassen no… Blitz of War!"
A crimson shockwave hurled Doll violently back, crashing into the ship's quarters.
The man turned back towards Hanza.
"I heard you were an intruder. That's when I woke up. What's your name? I need your help retrieving something on this island. I'm Arès."
Arès D. Lycoris. Son of war.
Bounty: 300 Million Berry.