The room fell silent once more.
Sengoku, the so-called fraud, pressed the question. "What is your name? And why did you tell the world you were my grandson?"
"My name is Shun," he replied calmly. "I used your name. It made my life… smoother."
Another heavy silence filled the air.
"I didn't, however, expect to run into that yellow admiral," Shun continued, a mocking smile touching his lips. "He was peculiarly fixated on the subject. Do the two of you have some grudge?"
Sengoku could barely remember—just a few instances of enforced overtime. 'It couldn't be that… could it?' he tried to convince himself.
"Who could have guessed the harmless lie I'd been using would get broadcast to the entire world?" Shun said, utterly without guilt.
Each passing second with his 'grandson' frayed Sengoku's nerves further. He took a steadying breath.
"Why did you save those two criminals?" Sengoku began his real interrogation.
"Ah, that? My wives asked me to."
"I see… your wives—" Sengoku paused, struck by yet another absurd reason. "W-Who are your wives?"
"Nami and Robin. Of the Straw Hat Pirates."
Hearing those names, Sengoku understood this bastard was telling the truth.
"A man can be strong," Shun began, lecturing the old Fleet Admiral as if he were the elder, "but to be happy, he must keep his wives happy."
"The Five Elders suspect you copied Whitebeard's Devil Fruit as well. That is why they offered you the position," Sengoku explained.
"So? Did you copy it?"
"They're quite smart," Shun said.
"!!"
"So you really did it. What is your Devil Fruit?"
"It's a plundering-type fruit. A Paramecia. It doesn't copy—it robs the target of their fruit entirely. The condition is that the target must be near death or recently deceased," Shun explained, offering more detail than was asked.
"Why reveal this much?"
"Just showing my gratitude for the position… and the fruit," Shun smiled. "Also, so they'll trust you're really my grandpa. 'If he weren't, would he reveal this much?' That's what everyone will think."
Sengoku sighed, wanting to ask about all his abilities, but Shun cut him off.
"Alright, I'll take my leave for today. If Hina is ever in danger, call me. I liked her at first glance during the war." Shun dropped a private Den Den Mushi on the desk and turned toward the door under Sengoku's exasperated gaze.
"Wait!" Sengoku called out hurriedly.
"Hmm?"
"There is someone who has been waiting to meet you since the war ended."
"The five old men? I have no interest."
"No. It's a woman I believe you will want to meet." Sengoku sighed, seeing his words had the intended effect.
---
Following the directions Sengoku provided, Shun arrived at a secluded dock. A Marine warship sat silently, surrounded by a cluster of stone statues—petrified soldiers.
Shun could already guess who was here.
"Why would she want to meet me?" he wondered. He had considered approaching her during the war, but the watching eyes from above had made him refrain.
He opened the door to the ship's largest quarters.
"Hi. I heard you wanted to meet me?" Shun asked with a friendly smile.
Inside was the most beautiful woman in the world. In Shun's estimation, she was also one of the few people who could kill him. After his recent power-ups, he had felt nearly unstoppable—and he largely was. But the lingering effect of the Dark-Dark Fruit during the war had blocked his spells, a stark reminder that abilities existed which could seal him or his powers.
The most beautiful woman in the world fixed her eyes on him and spoke.
You… where did you send Luffy? "…" I completely forgot about this…
Seeing him silent, Hancock's impatience grew. "I'll ask again. Where is Luffy?" she demanded, her voice like chilled steel.
Her flawless face, set in a cold expression, was enough to make a man's heart turn to stone. Shun steadied himself. "I went to great effort to save him and his brother in the war. As his trusted friend, I can't just tell a dangerous woman like you," Shun declared, adopting the protective stance of a close companion.
Hancock's anger flared at his arrogance. She couldn't dismiss his logic entirely. "It's fine. You can trust me. I'm his… his future wife…" Her voice dwindled to a mosquito's whisper by the end. A deep blush colored her cheeks.
Shun sighed inwardly. This is going to be harder than anything I've done. "And how am I supposed to trust that?"
Their debate stretched on. It was a verbal back-and-forth. It finally concluded with Shun relenting just enough. He told her Luffy and his mentor would be arriving at an island near Amazon Lily in a few days.
—
Exhausted, Shun considered abandoning the chase for the day. "Well, I'll leave it for now. Just wait a few days," he said. He then made his way back to Sabaody and his hotel.
"Shun!" Nami and Robin greeted him. One was sketching a map. The other was immersed in a book. They set their tasks aside and approached.
"Where did you send Luffy?" Nami asked, mirroring Hancock's question.
Shun sighed dramatically. "Even at home I get asked about Luffy… I'm starting to get jealous." He saw his act wasn't working and shrugged. "He's with that old scammer couple, Rayleigh and Shakky. I don't know if he's awake yet."
"Did you get scammed by them?" Robin asked, amused by the nickname.
"Kind of. When I asked for two Eternal Poses, they quoted me ten million Beri."
Nami's eyes flashed with fury. Now that they were together, Shun's money was practically hers!
"By the way, Nami, eat this." Shun produced a bizarre pink banana. It was covered in intricate spirals.
"This?!" Even Robin looked surprised.
"It's a Logia-type Devil Fruit. The Kumo Kumo no Mi, the Cloud Cloud Fruit." As he explained, the fruit seemed to gleam with extra allure.
Nami's hesitation melted away. She never wanted to lose her ability to swim. But a Logia was a different matter entirely. With a grateful kiss for Shun, she began peeling it. The inside was even more spiraled than the outside.
The taste was vile. It threatened to make her gag. Shun's prior "training" with oddly flavored bananas helped her choke it down.
Seeing Nami receive such a gift, Robin simply smiled. Shun, not taking any chances, hugged her from behind. "Don't be jealous. I'll prepare your gift next time."
"Mm," Robin nodded, not refuting him. Her life had taken a fortunate turn. She found a good crew first, and a good man later. Her adventure as an archaeologist with the Straw Hats would continue, now with this new chapter.
As Shun relaxed with Robin, Nami began experimenting. "I can turn into cloud! Now people can't touch me! Try it, Shun!" Excited, she dissolved into a cloud.
Shun, ever the practical teacher, coated his hand in the Armament Haki he'd appropriated from Red Count. Then… Squeeze.
"Kyaah!" A sweet, surprised sound escaped Nami. A certain part of her cloud-form was firmly grasped.
"You didn't think only elements or Sea-Prism Stone countered Logia intangibility, did you?" Shun asked with a raised eyebrow.
Nami fell silent. She had thought exactly that.
"If that were true, the world would be ruled by Logia users. The World Government wouldn't allow a single one outside their control," he explained. "This is called Haki."
He began instructing both women. He was determined to train them until their crew reunited. For now, his own long-term plans beyond this world remained undefined.
The Haki lesson progressed. It involved many creative ways to grab an elementalized Nami. Robin sensed the situation tilting. She smoothly suggested, "Shouldn't we go meet Luffy and that 'scammer couple' first? It's still rather early."
"Sure. They're on this island. Let's pay them a quick visit," Shun agreed. He led the way toward Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
As they walked, Nami asked, "Where did you even find a Logia fruit?"
"The Marines gave it to me. They said if I joined them, they'd make me an Admiral and throw in a Logia fruit."
"What?!" both women exclaimed in unison. Robin was audibly shocked.
"I didn't feel like becoming a pirate anyway. So I thought I'd become a spy for you two," Shun said with a playful smile. He left them to wonder if he was serious.
Before they could press further, they arrived. Inside, Luffy appeared to have just woken up. He was caught in a fit of despair, likely believing Ace was dead. Rayleigh and Shakky were letting him vent. They noticed the newcomers and quickly calmed Luffy with the truth.
"Hey, you guys—" Shun's greeting was cut off. A lightning-fast flick struck his forehead.
Unsurprisingly, it was Shakky. "Old scammer couple?!" she asked, her tone dangerous.
"It was for operational security!" Shun defended with a righteous grin. "If I said 'Rayleigh and Shakky,' Marines would be camping outside your bar. I was thinking of your safety."
"Hahaha, that's very thoughtful of you," commented a silver-haired, handsome man—Rayleigh—with a chuckle.
During this exchange, Luffy finally registered the familiar faces. "Nami! Robin!" Overjoyed by the good news and seeing friends, he lunged for a hug… but stopped short.
"Luffy! Wait!" Nami and Robin said simultaneously. They glanced nervously at Shun. Their minds raced. What if Luffy and Shun become enemies over this?
Shun was speechless at their assessment of his possessiveness. "Huh? What?" Only Luffy remained oblivious.
"Well, let's get inside and talk," the older couple offered, diffusing the moment.
—
Inside, the three crewmates reunited. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. When Luffy learned Shun had saved him and Ace, he thanked him with repeated, bone-crushing hugs.
"Shun! Join my crew!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Called it," Nami and Robin muttered from the sidelines.
"I—" Before Shun could refuse, Shakky did it for him. "He won't be joining your crew."
"Huh?!"
"After all, he's Sengoku's grandson and the Marines' new Admiral!" she declared, dropping the bombshell.
"What?!" Luffy was stunned. The title "Marine Admiral" alone carried the weight of his past crushing defeats.
"By the way, are you really Sengoku's grandson?" Shakky, the famed information broker, probed.
"No. It was just a harmless lie that got out of hand," Shun admitted freely.
"Fufufu. Well, the truth hardly matters now. The world believes it," Shakky said with a smile.
"How did you know about the Admiral promotion? It only happened a few hours ago," Shun asked, impressed.
"It's already in the special edition newspaper the Marines rushed out." Shakky handed him the paper.
The headline blared: "Humanity's Solution for Evil! The Marine's Fourth Admiral! Sengoku's Grandson!"
"Such an exaggerated headline…" Shun was momentarily speechless. The article detailed his role as an honorary Admiral for crises. It strongly implied he was a steadfast Marine ally.
"Well, it doesn't matter. We're using each other anyway," he shrugged. He forcefully changed the topic. "So, what's your plan now, Luffy?"
"Huh? Of course, get the crew back together and continue our adventure!" Luffy declared without hesitation.
"Next time, there won't be any help from me. I'll be on the enemy side. Do you still believe in your own strength?" Shun asked, his expression turning serious.
The question struck a chord. Luffy remembered the war. He remembered his defeats, his powerlessness against countless Marines, even his loss to Smoker. He fell silent.
Seeing this, Rayleigh stepped in. "Luffy! I'll train you. I'll train you until you're strong enough to take on the New World." He gave a grateful nod to Shun. Then he began his lecture.
After a lengthy discussion, the decision was made. Just as in another timeline, the crew would train separately for two years.
"We'll take our leave now," Shun said. He departed with Nami and Robin.
The next day, Rayleigh and Luffy carried out their symbolic gesture at Marineford. They left a message for their crew.
With the timeline smoothly entering its two-year skip, Shun found himself pondering a solitary question. Should he return to his own world now, or not?