Syrup Village basked in tranquil coastal charm. The Little Dream slid smoothly into an available berth, its unique Adam's Wood hull drawing curious glances. Stanlee, cloaked simply, stepped onto the dock, his Observation Haki mapping the village's peaceful rhythm – contented fishermen, chattering vendors, laughing children. It was serene, almost deceptively so.
His first stop was "The Salty Mermaid" tavern. The young barkeep with vibrant green eyes and auburn hair looked up as he approached.
"What can I get you, traveler?" she asked, her voice pleasant but cautious.
"Information," Stanlee said, leaning casually against the bar. "I'm looking for a skilled doctor. And also, a navigator. Not for a crew," he added quickly, seeing her expression shift. "I sail alone. I need to learn. To study under them, if they're willing."
The bar lady's eyes widened, then relaxed with relief. "Oh! Thank goodness. For a moment there, I thought you were another pirate captain trying to poach talent." She chuckled. "You're in luck. We have both, right here in Syrup Village, under the same roof. That would be the Merry family. They live in the big mansion on the hill. Mrs. Merry is one of the best doctors around – knowledgeable, gentle, knows everything from broken bones to tropical fevers. Her husband, Mr. Merry… well, he used to be quite the navigator back in his day. Sailed all over the East Blue, maybe even dipped a toe into the Grand Line. He gave it up to take over his family's shipping business, but he hasn't lost his touch. Charts, currents, stars… he knows his stuff." She lowered her voice. "They're good people. Wealthy, but kind. Just be respectful when you go up there. Their butler, Klahadore, can be… intense. Very protective of the family, especially their daughter, Kaya."
"Klahadore," Stanlee repeated, the name triggering a faint memory tickle. "Thank you. You've been very helpful." He placed a few Berries on the bar. "A water, please."
As he sipped his water, Stanlee felt the familiar prickling of being watched. He subtly extended his Observation Haki, detecting a lanky figure with a long nose and messy black hair trying unsuccessfully to look nonchalant behind a large potted plant. Usopp. Stanlee made a mental note but didn't engage yet. First: the Merrys.
The Merry Mansion: Doctors, Navigators, and a Butler's Gaze
The next morning, Stanlee ascended the path to the Merry mansion. Impressive gardens bursting with color surrounded the well-maintained estate. Near a gazebo, a man in a crisp butler's uniform meticulously pruned rose bushes. Tall, thin, with slicked-back black hair and glinting glasses, he moved with precise, almost mechanical efficiency.
Klahadore. Stanlee's Observation Haki flared, detecting deep, tightly coiled tension beneath the professional exterior. The butler looked up, his expression unreadable behind his glasses, but his eyes narrowed slightly as he took in Stanlee.
"Can I help you?" Klahadore asked, his voice smooth, formal, but cold.
"I hope so," Stanlee replied, keeping his tone polite. "My name is Stanlee. I'm a traveler. I was told the Merrys might be willing to offer some guidance? I'm seeking to learn medicine and navigation."
Klahadore's gaze lingered. "The Merrys are generous patrons. However, their time is valuable. They do not entertain unsolicited requests for tutelage from strangers. I suggest you seek knowledge elsewhere." He turned back to his roses.
Stanlee didn't move, radiating quiet confidence. "I understand protecting one's employers. But knowledge shared is rarely wasted. I'm not asking for charity; I'm willing to work, to compensate you for their time. My need is genuine."
Before Klahadore could respond, the front door opened. A kind-faced woman with gentle eyes and grey-streaked dark hair stood there, followed by a robust, cheerful man with a well-trimmed beard.
"Klahadore? Is everything alright?" the woman asked.
"Mrs. Merry! Mr. Merry!" Stanlee bowed slightly. "My apologies for the intrusion. My name is Stanlee. I was told you might be willing to offer some guidance on medicine and navigation. Your butler was just explaining your time is valuable."
Klahadore stiffened. "Of course, Mr. Merry." He moved towards the house.
Inside the sunlit parlor, over tea served by the silently efficient Klahadore, Stanlee explained his solo journey, his desire for self-sufficiency, and his need for foundational skills in medicine and navigation to survive the Grand Line. He presented himself as a strong, capable traveler seeking knowledge.
Meringue Merry listened intently. "Your need is understandable, Stanlee. The sea is unforgiving. While I'm no Grand Line surgeon, I can teach you anatomy, common ailments, wound care, field medicine, herbs. Enough for most emergencies in the first half of the Grand Line."
Bach nodded enthusiastically. "Navigation! Aye, I know charts, sextants, currents, winds, weather! I can teach you fundamentals. With practice and experience, you'll get the hang of it. Especially," he added, eyeing Stanlee thoughtfully, "if you've got a good head and sharp eyes. You look like you do."
Stanlee felt relief. "This is exactly what I need. I'm a quick study, willing to work hard to compensate you."
"Nonsense!" Bach waved a hand. "Knowledge is meant to be shared! We can discuss arrangements later. For now, consider us willing teachers."
Meringue smiled warmly. "We'd be happy to help, Stanlee. When would you like to begin?"
Stanlee hesitated. "I have… a small matter to attend to first. A personal obligation that shouldn't take more than ten days. After that, I'm yours completely. I'm prepared to stay as long as necessary to learn what you can teach me."
"Ten days?" Bach mused. "That's manageable. We'll be here when you return, Stanlee."
As they finalized the arrangement, Klahadore stood silently near the doorway, his glasses hiding his eyes, his presence like a cold spot in the warm room. Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates, Stanlee thought, the pieces clicking into place. Right here. Plan already in motion.
Confrontation at Dawn
True to his word, Stanlee returned to the Merry mansion the very next morning, just after dawn. He'd spent the night patrolling with Observation Haki, confirming the Black Cat Pirates' forest hideout location and monitoring movements. He also noted Usopp's persistent, if clumsy, surveillance.
He found Klahadore in the main hall, polishing a silver vase with aggressive focus. The butler looked up, his expression immediately shuttered.
"Back so soon?" Klahadore asked, voice smooth but tight. "The Merrys are not yet awake."
"I'm not here for them, Klahadore," Stanlee said, voice low and calm. He took a step forward, the air thickening. "I'm here for you. Or rather, for Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates. Bounty: 16,000,000 Berries."
Klahadore froze, the polishing cloth stilling. Shock, then icy fury, crossed his features before being suppressed. He carefully set the vase down. "I don't know what you're talking about, boy. My name is Klahadore. Loyal butler. This is slander."
"Is it?" Stanlee tilted his head, golden eyes seeming to pierce through glasses. "Then perhaps you can explain why your first mate, Jango – Hypnotist, First Mate, Bounty: 9,000,000 Berries – is gathering your crew in the forest north of the village? Preparing for the 'accidental' demise of Mr. and Mrs. Merry tonight? And the slow, 'natural' poisoning of Kaya to inherit her wealth?"
Klahadore's composure shattered. His face contorted. "Impossible! How could you—"
At that moment, Bach and Meringue appeared at the top of the staircase, drawn by the voices. "Stanlee? Klahadore? What's going on?" Bach called down.
Klahadore's eyes darted towards them. "This madman is making wild accusations, Mr. Merry! Claims I'm some pirate!"
"Is it absurd, Kuro?" Stanlee pressed. "Or just inconvenient? The plan was elegant. Gain trust, eliminate parents quietly, manipulate grieving daughter, secure fortune. Elegance doesn't make it less evil. It ends now."
Meringue gasped. Bach paled, seeing the stranger beneath the butler's mask. "K-Kuro? Captain Kuro? The pirate?"
Denial died on Klahadore's lips. Seeing the dawning horror and betrayal, he knew the charade was over. The butler melted away, replaced by cold, predatory stillness. A cruel smile twisted his lips. "Clever boy. Too clever. Yes, I am Kuro. And yes, my plan was flawless until you stuck your nose where it doesn't belong." His hand shot towards his belt, hiding five long blades.
He never reached them.
Stanlee moved faster than thought. One moment by the door; the next, directly in front of Kuro, hand clamped like a vise around the pirate's wrist. The sickening grind of bone filled the hall. Kuro gasped, face contorting in agony.
"Call them off, Kuro," Stanlee commanded, voice deadly. "Call Jango. Call every Black Cat pirate to this mansion. Now. Or I start breaking more than your wrist."
Kuro, trapped by impossible strength and chilling certainty, knew he was beaten. With a snarl of hatred, he fumbled in his pocket and rang a small, ornate bell twice.
The Black Cat Pirates' Last Stand
Within minutes, the peaceful grounds swarmed with pirates. Led by Jango – lanky man in purple coat, swirling hypnotist wheel – the Black Cat Pirates charged onto the lawn, armed with cutlasses and pistols. Thirty strong, a mix of thugs and recruits.
Jango took in the scene: his captain pinned, terrified Merrys watching, sheer power radiating from Stanlee. Hypnotism was useless. "Captain!" Jango yelled, drawing his cutlass. "We'll save you!"
"Save me?" Kuro spat. "This fool has already won! Stand down! That's an order!"
But greed and bloodlust overrode discipline. With a collective roar, the pirates charged.
Stanlee sighed. "You should have taught them better discipline." He released Kuro's wrist (the captain collapsing, cradling his ruined hand) and turned to face the horde.
He took a breath and pushed. A focused, overwhelming eruption of Conqueror's Haki, amplified by fury at their intended victims. The intent wasn't just to knock them out; it was to crush their fighting spirit utterly.
The effect was instantaneous. Charging pirates froze mid-stride. Eyes rolled back. Jango's hypnotist wheel clattered on the grass. Cutlasses and pistols dropped. One by one, then in groups, the entire crew collapsed like puppets with cut strings, crumpling unconscious onto the lawn. Only Jango remained standing a split second longer, face a mask of terror before he slumped, joining his crew.
Silence descended, broken only by a seagull's cry and Kuro's ragged breathing as he stared in horrified disbelief at his helpless crew.
Commandeering a Prize & The Journey to Shells Town
Stanlee ignored Kuro's impotent glare. He quickly bound Kuro and Jango securely with thick rope from the mansion's storage. He then efficiently trussed the unconscious pirates, using more rope from the pirate ship he'd located earlier.
"Mr. Merry," Stanlee said, turning to the stunned patriarch. "I need to borrow their ship. It's faster to transport them all to Shells Town Marine Base this way. I'll sail it back with the Little Dream."
Bach, still pale but regaining composure, nodded vigorously. "Of course! Take it! Take anything you need! Just get those monsters out of here!"
Stanlee hauled the bound Kuro and Jango towards the hidden cove where the Black Cat Pirates' ship, a moderately sized schooner, was anchored. He used his strength to load the unconscious pirates onto the schooner's deck and hold. It was crowded, but manageable. He then sailed the Little Dream alongside, using a strong towline to connect the vessels.
As the two ships pulled away from Syrup Village, Stanlee glanced back. He saw the Merrys standing on their porch, waving gratefully. He also saw a flash of movement behind a topiary bush – Usopp, watching the departure with wide eyes. Later, Stanlee thought. I'll deal with the long-nosed protector later.
The journey to Shells Town took five days, the Little Dream easily towing the captured schooner. Stanlee navigated directly to the Marine Base, a formidable structure overlooking the harbor. He could feel the distant, persistent aura of Marine observation intensify as he approached.
Shells Town: Morgan's Gambit
Marines swarmed the docks as the two unusual vessels arrived. A tall, imposing figure with a massive axe blade grafted to his right arm and a Marine Captain's coat draped over his shoulders strode forward, flanked by armed guards. His face was set in a permanent scowl of authority. Captain Morgan.
"What is the meaning of this intrusion? Identify yourself and explain these… prisoners," Morgan boomed, his voice echoing across the water.
"Stanlee D. Gaimon," Stanlee announced, leaping gracefully from the Little Dream onto the dock. "I have Captain Kuro of the Black Cat Pirates, bounty 16,000,000 Berries, and his first mate Jango, bounty 9,000,000 Berries, plus twenty-eight crew members. They were plotting the assassination of the Merry family in Syrup Village to steal their fortune and inherit their daughter Kaya's wealth. Plan involved staging the parents' deaths as an accident and slowly poisoning Kaya."
Morgan's eyes narrowed as he looked at the bound Kuro and Jango, then at the piles of unconscious pirates. A flicker of something – greed? calculation? – crossed his face before being replaced by a stern mask. "A significant claim, boy. And a significant bounty. The Marines of Shells Town appreciate your… civic duty." He gestured to his men. "Secure the prisoners! Take them below! Double the guards!" He turned back to Stanlee, a false smile stretching his lips. "The bounty process takes time, son. Come inside my office. We'll handle the paperwork."
Stanlee followed Morgan into the Marine Base, the Little Dream and the captured schooner now under heavy guard. Inside Morgan's opulent office, the Captain offered Stanlee a seat.
"Remarkable work, boy," Morgan said, pouring himself a drink. "Kuro was a thorn in the Marines' side for years. To think he was hiding as a butler… and you uncovered his plot single-handedly." He took a long sip. "However, regulations are clear. Such high-value bounties, especially when claimed by an independent party, require extensive verification. It could take… weeks. Months, even." He leaned forward, his gaze turning predatory. "In the meantime, perhaps you'd like to assist the Marines further? Your strength is… considerable. We could use a man like you. Permanently."
Stanlee saw the trap immediately. Morgan had no intention of paying the bounty. He saw Stanlee as a threat, a potential asset to be controlled or eliminated. "I prefer my independence, Captain," Stanlee said calmly.
"Independence?" Morgan chuckled, a harsh sound. He slammed his tankard down. "Men like you don't get independence! You get power! And power serves the Marines! Or it gets broken!" He stood abruptly, his axe-hand gleaming. "Seize him! He's a co-conspirator with the pirates! Take him to the brig!"
Marines rushed into the office, aiming rifles at Stanlee. Stanlee didn't resist. He simply raised his hands, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips. He allowed them to bind his hands behind his back and lead him down to the brig. Let them play their game, he thought. The watchers will report. The truth will out.
Marineford: The Report and the Order
In Marineford, the high-priority transponder snail on Sengoku's desk chirped urgently. The Fleet Admiral answered, his expression grim. "Report."
"Sir! Urgent report from Shells Town surveillance team!" the voice crackled. "Subject Stanlee D. Gaimon has delivered Captain Kuro (16M Berries), First Mate Jango (9M Berries), and twenty-eight Black Cat Pirates to Shells Town Marine Base. Subject provided detailed account of foiled assassination plot against Merry family in Syrup Village. However, Captain Morgan has refused to process bounty payment. Instead, Morgan has accused Subject of being a co-conspirator and has had him imprisoned in the brig! Morgan appears to be attempting to claim credit for the capture and eliminate Subject as a potential rival/threat."
Sengoku's face darkened. "Morgan! That fool!" He slammed his fist on his desk. "Garp! Tsuru! Kuzan! Borsalino! Situation report!"
The assembled commanders listened intently as the lieutenant relayed the full details. Garp's face grew thunderous. "That two-bit tyrant Morgan! Trying to steal credit and imprison the kid who did his job for him?!"
Tsuru's knitting needles clicked sharply. "Morgan's ambition has always outweighed his competence. This is a severe miscalculation. Stanlee D. Gaimon is not an enemy to be made lightly."
Kuzan sighed, a small cloud of frost forming. "What a pain. Morgan's corruption is an open secret, but this is brazen even for him."
Sengoku's voice was like ice. "This is unacceptable. It undermines Marine authority and justice. Smoker is the closest high-ranking officer with integrity in that sector. Contact him immediately. Order him to proceed to Shells Town. Take command of the situation. Secure Stanlee D. Gaimon. Investigate Morgan's actions. Uncover the truth. Free Gaimon if he's innocent, which all evidence suggests he is. Deal with Morgan as appropriate. Smoker has full operational authority."
"Understood, Fleet Admiral!" the lieutenant replied.
Smoker's Arrival: Justice Served
Two days later, the Little Dream and the captured pirate schooner still sat under heavy Marine guard in Shells Town harbor. Stanlee remained in the brig, meditating calmly, his Observation Haki monitoring the chaotic swirl of emotions in the base – Morgan's arrogant confidence, the nervousness of some Marines, the simmering anger of townsfolk who'd heard whispers of the brave young man who'd saved the Merrys now being imprisoned.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically when a new ship sailed into the harbor – a Marine vessel bearing the distinct markings of Captain Smoker. Smoker himself stormed off the gangplank, cigars clenched in his teeth, white smoke billowing around him like an aura of fury. He took in the scene: the over-armed guards, the nervous Marines, the palpable tension in the town.
He marched straight to Morgan's office, throwing the doors open without knocking. Morgan sat behind his desk, looking startled.
"Smoker! What is the meaning of this intrusion?" Morgan blustered, rising to his feet.
"The meaning, Morgan," Smoker growled, his voice low and dangerous, "is that I'm taking command of this base and this situation on the direct orders of Fleet Admiral Sengoku. You are relieved of duty, effective immediately. Now, explain to me why Stanlee D. Gaimon, the man who single-handedly captured Kuro and saved the Merrys, is sitting in your brig while you strut around playing hero?"
Morgan paled but tried to bluster. "He's a pirate sympathizer! A threat! I was interrogating him—"
"Interrogating him?" Smoker scoffed. "Or trying to steal his bounty and eliminate him? Don't lie to me, Morgan. I've read the initial reports. I've talked to the surveillance team. I've felt the town's mood." He stepped closer, his jitte held loosely at his side. "Where is Kuro? And Jango? I want to talk to them. Now."
Morgan's confidence crumbled. "They… they're in the high-security holding cells."
Smoker had Kuro and Jango brought to an interrogation room. Under Smoker's intense gaze and the threat of immediate transfer to Impel Down for the both of them if they didn't cooperate, and with Morgan no longer protecting them, the truth came out. Jango, nervous and eager to save his own skin, cracked first.
"It was Captain Morgan!" Jango blurted out. "He approached us after we were captured! He said he'd arrange for our 'accidental escape' if we hypnotized him into believing he was the one who killed Kuro! He wanted the glory, the promotion! He hypnotized me into doing it! Said it was the only way we'd avoid the gallows!"
Kuro, seeing his only chance at leverage vanish, reluctantly confirmed it. "Morgan is a fool. He believed his own hype. Jango hypnotized him into believing he defeated me in single combat. Pathetic."
Smoker's fury intensified. He had Morgan brought to the interrogation room. Under the weight of Smoker's accusation, the testimony of Kuro and Jango, and the undeniable evidence of his own ambition, Morgan's facade shattered. Jango was ordered to release Morgan from the hypnosis.
As the hypnotic suggestion lifted, Morgan's eyes widened in dawning horror and confusion. The false memories of glory crumbled, replaced by the sordid reality of his betrayal and corruption. He looked at Smoker, then at Kuro, and finally at his own hands, shaking.
"I… I…" Morgan stammered, his face ashen. "What have I done? The bounty… the boy… I tried to… Oh god." He slumped into a chair, the full weight of his crimes crashing down on him.
Resolution and Departure
Smoker reported his findings directly to Marineford. Sengoku, after consultation with his commanders, issued a judgment: Morgan was stripped of his rank but, given his prior service and the fact that he'd been under hypnosis (a fact Smoker grudgingly verified), he was offered probation. He would remain a Marine in Shells Town, but under strict supervision and with a significant demotion. He would need to earn back any trust or rank. Morgan, broken and humbled, accepted.
Stanlee was released immediately, an unspoken apology in Smoker's eyes. The bounties for Kuro, Jango, and the crew were paid in full without further delay – a hefty pouch of Berries handed over by a chastened Marine paymaster.
As Stanlee prepared to cast off from Shells Town aboard the Little Dream, Smoker approached him on the dock. The White Chase looked tired but resolute.
"Sorry for the inconvenience, kid," Smoker grumbled, smoke curling around his head. "Morgan's an idiot. Hopefully, he'll learn from this." He held out a small, sleek black Den Den Mushi. "Fleet Admiral's orders. This is a direct, secure line to Marineford Headquarters. Priority channel. Use it only if absolutely necessary – extreme danger, critical information regarding Warlords or Yonko, that kind of thing. Don't abuse it. But… HQ wants to keep lines of communication open. After… well, after everything." He met Stanlee's gaze. "Try not to wreck too much stuff out there, Freest Traveler."
Stanlee took the Den Den Mushi, its cool surface solid in his hand. "Understood, Captain Smoker. And thanks." He offered a small nod. "Try not to let the corruption get you down."
Smoker managed a grim chuckle. "Part of the job. Safe seas, Stanlee." He turned and walked back towards the Marine base, a solitary figure of justice in a town still reeling from scandal.
Stanlee secured the Den Den Mushi in the Little Dream's cabin. He looked back at Shells Town, then towards the open sea. The detour had been frustrating, but necessary. He had his bounty, a direct line to the highest levels of Marine power, and the path back to Syrup Village was finally clear. Ten days had passed. It was time to learn. The Little Dream sailed out of Shells Town harbor, leaving the mess of Marine corruption behind, carrying the Freest Traveler towards his next goal: knowledge.