All are shocked at Luffy's act, including Kreig.
You put Sanji down as you looked at the damage done.
"HE DESTROYED THE FIN!!" a Kreig pirate shouted.
"He's trying to destroy my ship!!" Kreig spoke up.
"Ghin, blow his head off now!!" he ordered.
Ghin hesitated to go through Kreig's order.
"What's wrong, Ghin?? Why aren't you doing it??" you asked. Sanji quickly turned to you. "What are you doing?!"
You nonchalantly walked towards Ghin. "Come on, Ghin. Why aren't you shooting the old man??"
"S-stay back!! Or I will shoot!!" He shouted.
"(First Name)!! Don't intimidate him!!"
You stopped just a few inches away from both Ghin and Zeff. Your gaze softened and said, "I know you don't want to do this so let's not drag this any further"
Ghin was startled. "What??"
"You heard me. I know you won't shoot me or Zeff. Someone like Kreig isn't worthy of being your captain. You deserve better than that" you said as you leaned down to Ghin's height. "Oi, old man. You knew where Luffy was coming from, didn't you??" You heard Sanji and Luffy arguing and scowling at each other.
Zeff gave a small chuckle. "Yes, I do see that. That brat is just too blind by repaying me to even notice that"
You smirked and turned your head back to look at Ghin. "You know, I told the same thing to someone 8 years ago. Someone from the same Armada is the chief commander of the galleon. I just can't seem to remember their face till now. Isn't that right, Ghin??" you said as you gave a small smile. Ghin's eyes widened as he realized what you meant but before he could reply, an annoying voice cut in.
"Boys, there's no need to fight," Pearl said. "Especially when there's nothing either of you can do" he finishes with a sinister chuckle. "Not while there's a big shotgun pressed right up against the old man chef's hat. Your problem began when you decided to come up against the Kreig Pirates. Nothing can stop us" he lets out a burst of obnoxious laughter. This guy is starting to get on your nerves for his persistence.
You were about to step in to finish this joke until a grey blur rushed past you and beat you to a punch.
Ghin had slammed one of his steel tonfas with an iron ball attached at the ends against the shield covering Pearl's front, shattering it to pieces.
"What . . .did you. . .do . . .Ghin??" Pearl croaked out.
"I'm sorry, Pearl" Ghin apologized but he didn't seem to be sincere in the slightest. "You're in my way"
Pearl crumbled to the ground with a loud crash.
"Ghin!! You have betrayed your captain and your ship!!" Kreig called out.
"I know. I'm sorry, Kreig. He saved our lives; I can't kill him. Not like this" Ghin explained his actions. "He deserves better. he deserves to face death standing up. But I promise you, he'll still die by my hands"
You shook your head as you helped Zeff to stand back up.
"Oh great. My chief commander has completely lost his marbles" Kreig grumbled.
"Sanji" Ghin calls out for the man in question. "Look, I'm just following orders. I don't want to ruin this ship but I think it's too late for that"
Sanji laughed. "Maybe, but if you think you're going to this restaurant without killing me, you got another thing coming"
"Sounds fair" Ghin replied. "Then it will be an absolute pleasure to kill you, my good friend"
"Gee, that's comforting . . ." Sanji grunts flatly, lighting another cigarette. ". . .Asshole" he finished with a mumble.
Ghin shifts his gaze towards you and Luffy. "You as well, chore boy" he knew damn well that he can't kill you considering that you're a Warlord and stronger than him. You knew that as well so you just smirked.
"Gee, thanks but I'm not afraid of any Kreig Pirate" Luffy then jabs a finger in your direction. "And that goes triple for (First Name). She probably faced things that are more terrifying and unsightlier than this pirate crew"
"Touche" you chuckled. The Kreig Pirates don't look pleased with Luffy mocking their crew and being laughed at. The ones still floating in the sea yelled at you that the Kreig Pirates are the most fearsome in East Blue.
"But that's in East Blue. Compared to them, you're only mere ants in my eyes. You're only strong because of your numbers" you retorted with a smirk.
That shut them up real quick. The opposing pirates are seething now and have quickly reached their boiling-over point.
"Oh boy . . .Now you've pissed them off, (First Name)" Sanji chimes in.
"Well, I'm not wrong, am I?? Besides, I would've killed them all in the first place if I had to" You shrugged.
"Why didn't you do that then??" He asked. Why would you drag this on knowing full well that you can destroy them in a matter of seconds?
"Because . . ." you turned to Luffy who was confused by your look. "I want to see Luffy fight. I want to see how far he has come and if he's the same brat from 10 years ago" you smirked.
"(First Name)!! I'm not a kid anymore!!" Luffy pouted. You scoffed in reply and said, "We'll see about that"
The Kreig pirates stormed after you but Kreig's booming voice cuts them off preventing them from getting any further.
"HOLD YOUR PLACE!!"
The crew turned their heads to face their captain with questioning looks.
"But Don Kreig. She can't say that"
"You're only proving her point further by losing control or whining like babies" Kreig now sits on a portion of his destroyed ship like a throne. "You see me trembling in anger?? Only the weak react to mere words. Don Kreig runs from no man, so you think we'll do that for a mere woman??"
You raise a brow and watch in amusement. "Wait till I reveal to them this" You gave off a sadistic grin.
Don Kreig's speech instills his crew with pride and even more motivation.
"YES, SIR!!"
"Ghin!! It's your job to take care of that cook. I'll handle the little boy and the wench. The straw hat brat is all mine and the title of bringing in the Phantom Theif is befallen to me" Kreig ordered with an ugly smirk.
"I understand. Yes, Don Kreig" Ghin replied.
"Hey, brats" Kreig called out.
You ignored him, not wanting to hear any more of the nonsensical bullshit anymore as you turned around with your back facing him.
"Oi!! Listen to me!!" He called you out, irked that your back is facing him.
"And why should I?? You're starting to test my patience here. Either die by my hands or die by this little brat's" you pointed down at Luffy. "You're unprepared to survive in the Grand Line so you don't have what it takes to travel in every form of the world"
"You think the Kreig Pirates, the Rulers of the East Blue can't take on the Grand Line?! Is that what you're trying to say?!"
"Are you deaf?? You're all weak, well except for Ghin. I know he has what it takes to survive on the Grand Line out of your lot. That's why I think Luffy is much better than you"
That last statement caused the little rubber boy to blush as he averted his gaze on Kreig and scratched his nape.
"A scrawny little chore boy is going to take on the Grand Line?! Do you even know what you're saying right now?!"
Your eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. You can't take this anymore as you were about to send this shithead to the bottom of the ocean when you were blocked by an arm. You look to see Luffy with a fierce look on his face. Right, if you go now, you won't be able to see Luffy in action which destroys the purpose of this delayed fight.
"I'm gonna kick your ass. It's as simple as that" Luffy stated seriously before his expression morphed into a shit-eating grin at Kreig's annoying sneer. "Hold on just a second; I'll be right there"
"The impudence!!" Don Kreig scorns.
You ignored them as you decided to divert your focus to watching Sanji and Ghin's fight. Their fight is neck to neck, they match each other blow for blow. It was a bloody fight but you've seen worse as you watch them as the fight was about to be over, the other managed to slip away and counterattack.
They became silent as they were soaked in blood from the aftermath of the fight. Things were intense as you turned to watch Luffy try to attack Kreig. While you were focusing on them, the sound of the blow drew your attention. You found Sanji kneeling on the deck clutching his side and bleeding from his mouth, some of which is now painted on one of Ghin's tonfas.
"Woo-hoo!! Pulverize the rest of them!!" a Kreig Pirate shouted.
"Yeah, what he said!!"
You rolled your eyes as you lazily watched.
"What was that?? Your pity?? I'm not dead yet!!" Sanji exclaimed as he cartwheeled out of the way of Ghin's attack and brought his foot down on Ghin's head once again causing him to kiss the platform.
It didn't take a doctor to know what that crack sound meant. Sanji's ribs finally gave out under the intense strain and he collapsed. When Sanji was down, Ghin stood back up and took the opportunity to hold Sanji by his neck and finish him off.
The Kreig Pirates without uttering a word were smiling at their chief commander's sure-fire victory. Just one more blow and Sanji will be gone for good. You believed that Ghin still cared deeply and would not harm Sanji so you stood by and watched.
Then the next thing is what you expected. You saw tears streaming down Ghin's face. You smiled as you got up and walked towards them. He sobs softly as his hand holding the tonfa that could do the blond chef in, begins to tremble in his grip.
"I can't . . ." Ghin groans through clenched teeth. "I can't obey your order. This man and woman saved my life. I CAN'T, DON KREIG!! I WON'T DO IT!!"
Ghin's declaration shocked everyone except you and one more. You squatted down as you patted Ghin's back with a smile. "I knew you wouldn't kill us. I believe in you, Ghin"
His eyes widened at you. To think that you believed in him till now even though his actions from before don't align. He continued to sob as he continued. "I CAN'T!! I'M SORRY, CAPTAIN!!"
"What did you say?!" Kreig demanded.
"I WON'T DO . . .WHAT . . . YOU WANT!! They treated me with respect, decency, and kindness. That's why I can't bring myself to kill him . . and especially not (First Name)!! She was the first one to ever look at me without a hint of disgust or fear. Even if she didn't know who I was back then, I knew she wasn't fooled as I was weak and hungry. She knew I was no run-of-the-mill pirate. Even now, fighting for opposing sides, she still looks at me with such caring eyes and still believes in me. Don Kreig . . .I've always been loyal to you. Up till now, I've believed in what we have done. I respect and appreciate all that you've given me. Trusting me as your Chief Commander was the honor of my life...Up until this moment, I have obeyed every single order you have given me without questioning it. I can't live with myself if I kill these people, and I cannot break my oath....Please Don Kreig . . .listen. Can't we just leave?? They can keep the restaurant for themselves"
Don Kreig quickly straightened up and let out an angry bellow. "You little son of a bitch!! You think you can defy my orders and then tell me what to do?!"
Ghin remained silent and didn't try to defend himself.
"It's pathetic" Don Kreig continued. "Morality, sympathy. Weaknesses I have never expected to see from you. And don't get me started when you let that thief go 8 years ago!!" He removed one of the larger circular platings from his shoulder and attached it to his armored glove. "You are not my chief commander anymore!!" Kreig aimed his shoulder plating at the restaurant, opening up to reveal a small barrel of some kind of cannon. "Pirates . . step aside"
"NO!! NOT THE GAS!!" Ghin exclaimed.
The Kreig pirates went into a panic frenzy and began screaming about the MH-5 poison gas. They began to scramble for their gas masks. If it's in gas form . . then I guess I have to do 'that'. It's kind of risky with the kind of poison on it. I'm even more fucked if I died from the poison . . .
"The only thing that matters in battle is who ends up winning . . even if more have got to die" Kreig smirked. "Poison gas is just a means to an end. Victory is all that decides what's right and what's wrong. If you're dead, nobody's gonna hear you complain anyway. When you don't hesitate to do unspeakable horrible things . . .that is true power"
Luffy growled in fury.
"He's insane" Sanji muttered.
"No shit, he is. Very delusional" you added.
From the corner of your eye, you noticed that Ghin reached for his gas mask in his jacket.
"Might as well throw that gas mask away!!" Kreig yelled. "You're no longer worthy to be a Kreig Pirate. Die!!"
Luffy rushed across the broken mast to try and stop Kreig. "I'm not gonna let that happen, you bastard!!"
"You're wasting your time, chore boy!!" Kreig shouted and with a single fist, he broke apart the part of the mast closest to him causing the rubber boy to lose his footing, leaving him wide open to another one of Kreig's hidden weapons. Luffy is forced to retreat to the Baratie.
"Ghin!!" Luffy grunted. "You don't have to listen to that blowhard. Because I'm gonna kick his ass!!"
"Ghin, listen!! Why follow a man like Don Kreig?! He's ordering you to throw your life away for fuck's sake!!" you pleaded.
"No!! My captain cannot be defeated!! Don Kreig is the strongest man alive and I respect his punishment" he stated.
"Will you please snap out of it?!" Sanji snapped. "He's going to kill you!!"
"I deserve it" Ghin explained. "Obeying my emotions meant betraying my captain's trust. If I were in his position, then I would have done the same thing. And now, death is the only honour I have left" He chucks away his mask and it falls into the sea.
"DON'T!!" Luffy exclaimed.
"YOU'RE INSANE!! LIKE WHY?!" You shouted.
"So you remembered your place but it's much too late for that. Now you will all die together" Kreig sneered. "It's the MH-5 . . .poison gas bomb . . .FIRE!!" The poison gas is launched with a loud bang. All the chefs and pirates take cover underwater or inside the Baratie. Luffy managed to snatch a few gas masks and threw them over to Sanji and Ghin. You turned down the offered mask because you can't let a mere poison harm people here any further.
You stood up and braced yourself for the poison gas to be dispersed.
If I can't pull this off . . .then I am so fucked . . .