Marineford
After more than four exhausting hours, the meeting had finally ended. The atmosphere within the Marine stronghold was still tense, but some of those present had found a peculiar way to pass the time.
At that moment, Luffy was sitting casually at a square table, playing poker with none other than the other Shichibukai. The scene was as absurd as it was unusual: feared pirates gathered around a simple card table, as if they were old friends playing in some random bar.
Luffy, with a carefree smile, lazily threw down a pair of threes on the table and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head:
"There's still a week left before the execution... So, why don't we play cards to kill time?" he asked, as if they weren't about to participate in the greatest war of the era.
To his right, Moria let out a loud huff, like an annoyed buffoon, glaring at his cards with a look of disgust.
"Tch... What a miserable hand!" he grumbled, scratching his belly while hesitating. After a sigh, he slammed down a pair of eights with exaggerated force, nearly sending the cards flying off the table.
"This is so boring! Hey, marine! Can't you set up a little show to entertain us?"
The lieutenant standing behind him, unsure where to look, replied mechanically:
"Uh... the cafeteria is preparing dinner... please, just wait a moment..."
Moria let out a long yawn and threw his head back:
"Bah! Boring! Not even a little play! Not even a bit of music!"
Meanwhile, Doflamingo, sitting across from Luffy, wore a sadistic, confident smile. With his legs crossed and his torso leaning forward, he slowly raised the fingers of his right hand. The cards, as if obeying an invisible command, floated gracefully in front of him.
"Furufurufuru..." he chuckled, snapping his fingers as he played a pair of queens.
"If you're that bored, Monkey D. Luffy... why don't you come out with me? I'm very interested in you..."
He tilted his head to the side, his gaze a mix of amusement and threat.
Luffy widened his eyes for a second and made a face:
"Go out with you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and holding back a laugh.
"I'm afraid I'd kill you..." he said with a mocking grin, before adding:
"Wouldn't be good to start the war next week with only five Shichibukai left, right?"
Doflamingo let out another disturbing laugh:
"Furufurufu! You're right! But maybe it would be more fun..."
Everyone turned to Mihawk, who seemed completely oblivious to the whole commotion. Calmly, he let a pair of aces fall onto the table, his expression as apathetic as ever.
Luffy leaned forward, eyes wide:
"What?! Again, Mihawk? You always get those good hands, you're cheating, aren't you?"
Mihawk simply raised an eyebrow, as if to say: "Do you really think I need to cheat?"
Luffy huffed, looking at his own miserable cards. Then, he shrugged, turned to the lieutenant nervously watching by his side, and with a mischievous smile handed him the cards:
"Here, I'm tired of losing, play in my place. If you lose, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish!"
"E-Eh?!" the lieutenant turned pale, holding the cards with trembling hands.
"B-but... I don't even know how to play poker!"
"Neither do I!" Luffy replied, bursting out laughing.
"But I'm not losing anything anyway!"
Moria burst out laughing:
"Kishishishi! This kid is crazy!"
While the lieutenant trembled, holding the cards as if they were explosives, Luffy got up from the chair, adjusted his straw hat, and looked around the hall.
Near the window, Hancock remained proud and distant, like a living sculpture, as beautiful as she was cold. Her eyes watched the horizon with disdain, and her posture made it very clear: "Keep your distance."
Luffy smiled, scratching his head.
"Better not bother her..." he muttered to himself.
Without saying goodbye, he walked towards the exit of the hall.
Outside, in the silent corridor, Bartholomew Kuma was calmly sitting, leaning against the partition wall, holding a thick book. He seemed completely unaware of the chaos inside.
Luffy approached, curious:
"It's noisy... What's going on at the port?"
Kuma calmly turned a page and, without taking his eyes off his reading, replied in his deep, serene voice:
"It's the families of the marines... they're being evacuated. Heading to the Sabaody Archipelago... seeking refuge."
Luffy leaned slightly, looking towards the inner bay port, from where he could see the intense movement of people boarding the ships. Children, women, the elderly... all being taken far away from the imminent war.
"Hmmm... I see..." he replied, in a more sober tone.
Suddenly, without warning, he gave a small hop and settled against the wall next to Kuma, sitting cross-legged like the silent giant.
"Bartholomew Kuma..." he began, with a confident smile and a piercing gaze.
"I know your true identity..."
"I know your past… just as I know you're part of the Revolutionary Army."
"!?"
For the first time in years, Bartholomew Kuma's cold and unshakable expression changed visibly. His pupils contracted sharply, as if Luffy's words had pierced his iron armor.
(How…? How does he know…?)
Kuma's mind spun in confusion, though deep down he knew that revelation wasn't impossible. He knew Luffy's identity as well as his own: that young man was the son of Monkey D. Dragon, the man who carried the burden of challenging the entire world system.
And now, right before him, the leader of the revolutionary army's own son revealed he knew about his past… and his true allegiance.
Before Kuma could utter a single word, Luffy spoke in a tone so discreet that only the two of them could hear:
"Don't be so nervous… I just want to ask you something. I hope you can pass a message to my… unknown father."
Kuma's hand, gripping the book firmly, involuntarily tightened, his fingers sinking into the leather cover.
(This boy… such audacity!)
They were at the heart of Marine Headquarters! A place saturated with the presence of the most powerful admirals and government agents. To speak, even whisper, Dragon's name there… was a direct provocation to the Navy itself.
If anyone overheard them… if they were caught having this conversation… Kuma's connection to the Revolutionary Army would be exposed, and Luffy would immediately be seen as a traitor and conspirator.
Kuma took a deep breath, slowly, suppressing the urge to look around. His mind calculated all possible escape routes. If the situation spiraled out of control, he wouldn't hesitate: he'd escape with Luffy, no matter the cost. He had a mission that transcended his own safety.
(Regardless… I need to ensure Dragon's son is safe.)
Making a silent decision, Kuma closed the book with a dry snap, muffled by the tense silence that lingered between them. Without taking his eyes off Luffy, he slowly pulled off the glove from his right hand and tucked it into his coat pocket.
"Relax..." Luffy spoke calmly.
"... no one will hear our conversation."
Luffy slightly arched one corner of his lips in a confident smile. His eyes glowed with a pale, almost ghostly hue, a subtle manifestation of his Observation Haki, discreetly enveloping the entire area.
"I'm sure of it, my Haki is monitoring everything… every step, every breath. If anyone tries to approach, I'll know immediately."
Kuma nodded slightly, not hiding the silent admiration he felt for that boy. He was… prepared.
"I want to talk about the enemies of the Revolutionary Army… the true rulers of the World Government..."
For a few seconds, time seemed to freeze.
There, outside one of the most guarded doors in the world, the two exchanged words that could shake the very foundations of the world.
And yet… no one noticed.
The marines stationed around remained focused solely on their protocol orders, oblivious to the silent weight of that exchange.
In the hall, the Shichibukai amused themselves with a poker game.
If anyone could notice… it was Boa Hancock.
Sitting elegantly on her improvised throne, her eyes didn't leave Luffy for a second. She had noticed when he approached Kuma.
(What are they talking about…?)
Her heart tightened, but she restrained herself. She could easily use her Observation Haki to try and catch fragments of the conversation… but she didn't dare.
She knew Luffy. She knew his Haki was refined, and any invasive attempt would be immediately perceived.
(No… I can't. I don't want him to hate me…)
So, she limited herself to observing, maintaining her lofty appearance, while inside, a silent storm of concern and curiosity consumed her.
Meanwhile, outside, the conversation continued:
"In short..." Luffy said, raising his gaze with determination, "... all I want is for you to pass this information to Dragon… when this war is over."
Kuma remained still, processing every word. His expression was the same as always, cold, almost indifferent, but inside, he was deeply shaken.
(What he just told me… if used correctly… could bring down the entire World Government.)
"I understand," he replied, his voice as steady as a wall, but with a new weight hidden beneath each syllable.
Luffy then took a small step back, relaxing his shoulders.
"Sorry to bother you."
And, with a final friendly nod, he turned and began to walk away, moving with the same confidence as always, as if he hadn't just entrusted one of the greatest secrets of the World Government.
Kuma followed him with his eyes until he disappeared among the corridors. Only then did he let out a long, silent sigh.
What Luffy had entrusted to him… were secrets that even the highest-ranking marines didn't fully know.
And the reason was simple.
Luffy knew that in this war, he could no longer hide his true power… the power of his Devil Fruit, which sooner or later would explode before everyone's eyes.
When that happened, he would become an even bigger target. The hungry eyes of the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons would turn to him, seeking to destroy him before he became an uncontrollable threat.
And although Luffy didn't fear the battle… he knew he hadn't yet reached the peak of his strength. Neither he… nor his companions were ready to face the world alone.
That's why he needed allies.
He needed the Revolutionary Army to create a distraction, to force the World Government to divide its attention.
Moreover, by sharing that information, Luffy did more than protect himself… he offered an invaluable contribution to the revolutionary cause.
(End of chapter)
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