*A few weeks ago, when Grace trained Leo in the forest behind Lowbank Village before his departure*
"Huff… Huff… Are you trying to kill your own son? This isn't training, it's child abuse," Leo groaned, lying flat on the ground. He stared up at his mother, who hadn't even moved from her spot, yet somehow beaten him senseless.
"This is just a prelude to the horrors waiting for you at sea," Grace replied, turning her back as today's training ended.
"If you can't even make a retired old woman move from her place, forget about joining the race to One Piece and just stay here with me."
"No way in hell…" Leo muttered, forcing himself up. "One more thing, you won't tell me anything about yourself or father… and then you expect me to uncover your identity at sea. Where do I even begin? At least give me a hint." Grace paused in her steps.
"Oh… poor Leo," she said with a mischievous smile. "I can give you a hint… but it'll cost you a lot. Now… Do you really want it?"
"Yes—just tell me already." Leo didn't think much about the 'cost part' and agreed, unaware he had just walked straight into his mother's trap.
A strange black symbol… similar to the World Government's, yet distinctly different appeared on the ground before him, vanishing just as quickly, though not before he memorized it.
"Send a letter with that symbol to Big News Morgans… the owner of the News Coo network. We were… acquaintances once. He will give you the hint." With that, she began walking away, but stopped just long enough to add one last advice.
"And don't forget to recruit at least one sane person for your crew as soon as you set out. Someone who can think clearly… and stop you from going on a killing spree. Life isn't a game Leo." Then she disappeared in the direction of the village.
Leo didn't wait for long and sent the letter the very next day, when a News Coo arrived to deliver the newspaper.
He didn't expect a reply soon, but contrary to his expectation, it came by the evening on the same day.
[So… the thieving demoness is back in the game and she's sent her little spawn crawling to me. How nostalgic.
If you're looking for answers, you won't get them for free.
Start by buying a VIP Membership of the Underworld Black Market. Price? A mere 1 billion berries.
And while you're at it, don't forget the 2 billion berries your dear mother owes me. Twenty years, and not a single berry returned…
Pay up, and I might consider throwing you a hint. Just one.
PS: If you stumble upon any Sea-shaking news, send it my way. I might even consider offsetting a portion of that old debt depending on its value. You know how to reach me—everyone does.
Regards: Emperor of Underworld_Big News Morgans_Kuwahahaha…]
Closing the letter Leo stared at the distant sea in silence.
"They definitely don't have a good relationship …And what kind of mother passes her debt onto her son?" He exhaled, already feeling a headache coming up.
"And now I'm on that bastard's radar too… Big News Morgans." A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Fine… let's see who extorts who."
***
*Back to present…*
Leo had sent the recording snail to Big News Morgans the previous day, the evidence exposing Arlong and Nezumi's dealings and a letter containing their atrocities.
Leo wasn't sure Morgans would actually publish it but it seemed the man wasn't nearly as afraid of the Marines as he'd assumed.
The script that had once painted him in a negative light had flipped overnight; the so-called "hero" of the Marine 16th Branch was now revealed to be nothing more than a corrupt rat.
As the newspaper made its rounds, Nojiko and the others couldn't help but wonder how Leo had pulled it off. Even with proof, publishing something against the Marines wasn't that simple.
A News Coo descended quietly, perching on Leo's shoulder. A small slip of paper was tied to its leg, marked with a dark emblem of the underworld black market.
Leo untied it without a word and slipped it into his pocket, saving it for later, somewhere away from prying eyes but Zoro and Nami noticed the anomaly.
It seemed knowledge wasn't the only thing his mother had left him with but also passed down her personal connections… the kind that could shake the world…
"Fourth… you're right about my weakness of sea," Leo continued, turning back to Nojiko. "But once I regain my freedom, I'll deal with that weakness soon enough."
"Fifth… I might act on impulse but I'm perfectly sane."
"Come on, Leo, don't be a jerk! Let her join your crew!" Luffy shouted from the side, the conversation had already fried half his brain but Leo ignored him.
"And one more thing," he added, in a cold tone. "Once I reach the Grand Line… I'm going to raise hell." His Crystal blue eyes met Nojiko's light blue eyes.
"If you can't keep up, I'll leave you behind without a second thought."
Without another word, Leo stepped forward and lifted the Shark Jet-Ski out of the water with one hand.
Then he jumped and landed cleanly on the deck of the Going Merry, the straw hats ship trembling under the sudden movement.
Nojiko stood there, watching him, her previous smile had disappeared, replaced with a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
'What exactly have I gotten myself into…?' And yet a faint, strange smile slowly formed on her lips.
Because despite everything… She was looking forward to the chaos.
To the storm Leo was about to unleash and being a part of it.
***
The journey to Loguetown was far more peaceful this time, compared to his last attempt, when Leo had run into the monster known as Monkey D. Garp halfway through Loguetown.
Along the way, Leo spent his time talking with the crew, casually clearing their doubts.
One of the main questions was about the sheer power behind his punches which even hurt Luffy's rubber body.
In response, he introduced them to the concept of Haki, demonstrating how the same punch could produce vastly different effects, especially against Devil Fruit users.
He also explained the Rokushiki, the six Marine techniques, mentioning that he had learned two of them—'Shave' and 'Iron Body'.
From his observation of the crew, Luffy was the closest to grasping both Haki and the Six Powers in terms of strength… but when it came to intelligence, he was easily the last.
It was early morning, the crew was still half a day away from Loguetown when the they noticed Leo scribbling on a piece of paper he had taken from the Newspaper Coo.
"What are you writing?" Luffy asked, leaning over curiously.
"A list," Leo replied without looking up. "My future crewmates. Well… that depends on whether I can convince them. I'm just adjusting the order based on strength and recruitment priority."
By then, some of the other crew members had gathered around them except Sanji and Usopp.
Nojiko, not bothering to ask, snatched the paper from his hands and began reading aloud.
"Let's see… first—Dracule Mihawk.
Second—Donquixote Doflamingo.
Third—Bartholomew Kuma… 'Tyrant Kuma'
Fourth—'First Son of the Sea'… Jinbe.
Fifth—Boa Hancock.
Sixth—Crocodile.
Seventh—Gecko Moria…"
She paused, frowning. "These are some big names… and you've even written their locations. Where did you get all this information from?"
"That," Leo said simply, "is a secret."
He had no intention of revealing that the information had been obtained in exchange for exposing Nezumi and Arlong's dealings to Big News Morgans which benefited him in clearing his name as well.
"It's a list of the strongest pirates in the first half of the Grand Line," Leo continued, "who happened to be Seven Warlords of the Sea affiliated with the World Government. There may be others I recruit if they catch my eyes… but these are the ones I have to try my luck with."
"What if they refuse? They don't seem like the type to serve under someone," Nami asked.
"If they refuse…" Leo's tone remained casual.
"I'll at least beat them up for wasting my time—or kill them, if they turn out to be too rotten."
"Hm… strongest pirates, huh?" Luffy grinned, his eyes lighting up. "Nami! Write those names down—we're going after them too!"
"No, we are not!" Nami snapped immediately, smacking him. "We are not picking fights with monsters like those! We have nothing to do with them or this crazy pirate Leo!"
"Dracule Mihawk…" Zoro muttered from where he lay in the cabin's shade, his eyes half-closed. "You've seen how strong he is. Isn't your goal a bit too high?"
"My goal is much higher than that. Much more than finding One Piece." He shrugged lightly. "If they don't join… I'll just beat them up for my own satisfaction. And maybe earn a bit of fame while I'm at it."
"So that's your real goal, isn't it?" Nojiko asked, cutting in.
Leo scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Oh… guess I slipped."
Meanwhile, both Nami and Nojiko looked on the verge of despair, already imagining the chaos both captains were planning to drag them into.
Just like that, in the blink of an eye, half the day passed.
In the distance, an island finally came into view crowded with ships, bustling with peoples and noise.
Loguetown: The town of Beginning and End.