As Draco leaped off the Oro Jackson's edge, he landed gracefully on the dock, inhaling deeply. The salty sea breeze and bustling energy of Water 7 filled the air. "This place feels so surreal," Draco muttered, marveling at the vibrant city even if he was still on the Dock 1.
Back on the ship, Buggy's voice echoed loudly as he yelled for Enel. Up in the crow's nest, Enel was perched alongside Scopper, engaged in an easygoing conversation. Enel wasn't one to form close bonds, but Scopper's laid-back nature had somehow made them unlikely companions. Enel, though still arrogant, had mellowed somewhat after being defeated by Draco on Sky Island and, more recently, by Buggy. His haughty tone persisted, but Scopper didn't seem to mind as they both observed Dock 1 from their vantage point, discussing Water 7's legendary shipbuilding reputation.
"Water 7... it's good to be here again..."
"Water 7? Blue people and thier naming."
"Ahahah... yeah, you'll look around and you'll see that it's somewhat like a dream"
"Hm... really... I'll ta-"
Hearing Buggy's constant yelling, Enel let out an exaggerated sigh. "Guess I'd better go deal with him," he muttered. Scopper chuckled and waved him off. With a flash of electricity, Enel disappeared, reappearing directly in front of Buggy on the deck below.
"Huh!!!"
Unfortunately, Buggy was mid-run and couldn't stop in time. With a loud crash, he slammed into Enel, sending both of them tumbling down the ship's stairs in a cacophony of bangs and thuds. Scopper's laughter boomed from above while the rest of the crew glanced over briefly before shrugging, it was just another day of Buggy's antics.
At the bottom of the stairs, Enel groaned, his face red with irritation. Shoving Buggy off him, he snapped, "You damned red-nose!"
Buggy flipped back to his feet, pointing an accusatory finger. "This is your fault for popping out of nowhere!"
Their argument escalated until Buggy remembered why he'd been shouting in the first place. "Draco told us to get to the dock. We're heading into Water 7!" he declared triumphantly.
As they dusted themselves off and prepared to leave, they heard Roger's booming laughter echoing across the deck. He and Oden were headed toward the shipwrights, sharing animated stories. Roger, as lively as ever, was excited to reunite with Tom, the shipwright who had built the Oro Jackson.
Draco, sitting on a barrel near the edge of the dock, watched Roger and Oden march off with their usual "gusto." A small smile tugged at his lips. While he was curious about meeting Tom, he figured exploring Water 7 would come first. He glanced back toward the ship just in time to see Buggy and Enel leap off the side, Shanks following close behind.
Raising an eyebrow, Draco mused, "Looks like Shanks is tagging along this time."
As the trio approached, Buggy announced, "We're ready to go, Draco!"
"Yup," Enel added nonchalantly, while Shanks hesitated before asking, "Draco-san, can I join you this time?"
Draco nodded. "Sure, just don't cause too much trouble. I'm mainly here for the alcohol anyway…" His voice trailed off as he began to drool at the thought of Water 7's famed drinks.
Buggy and Enel shared a look of exasperation at Draco's antics, their expressions flat. Shanks, on the other hand, chuckled, finding Draco's honesty refreshing.
"Let's get moving," Draco said with a grin, leading the way toward the city's heart.
As Draco led the group into Water 7, Rayleigh's voice called out from the ship. "Oi, Draco! Be careful, this place is crawling with Marines. They're always expecting pirate trouble."
Draco glanced back and nodded, his calm demeanor reassuring. Rayleigh smiled faintly before turning his attention to Roger and Oden, who were headed toward Tom's workshop. The thought of reuniting with Tom brought a wave of nostalgia. 'It's been a while', Rayleigh mused, remembering the time spent learning shipwrighting skills from one of the best if not best craftsmen while the Oro Jackson was being built.
Meanwhile, Draco and the trio strolled through the lively streets of Water 7. The city buzzed with life as small boats glided along the canals, and the unique architecture exuded a warm, timeless charm. Draco couldn't help but admire it. "This really does feel like Venice," he murmured, his awe apparent.
"Venice?" the trio echoed in unison, their curiosity piqued.
Draco chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "Ah, you kids wouldn't understand."
The trio exchanged deadpan looks; their inner thoughts perfectly aligned: 'We're older than you!'
[10 Minutes of Walking Later]
The serene moment was short-lived. As the group moved through the crowded streets, a squad of Marines approached from the opposite direction. They exuded smugness, their posture and expressions radiating superiority. Draco didn't give them a second glance, intending to walk past without incident.
Behind him, however, chaos was brewing. Buggy, Shanks, and Enel were caught up in their usual bickering, their antics growing louder as they walked. As the Marines and the trio passed each other, Enel accidentally shoulder-checked one of them.
The Marine in question, a tall man with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, stopped in his tracks. His rank insignia marked him as a captain. The lower-ranking Marines behind him scowled and barked insults.
"Oi, watch where you're going, you idiot!" one of them sneered.
Enel, already annoyed, turned toward them, his arrogance flaring. "Watch your tongue, mortal, or I'll fry you where you stand!" Small amount of electricity crackled faintly around his hand, but before he could escalate, Buggy and Shanks grabbed his arms.
"Calm down, Enel! They're Marines!" Buggy hissed, panic evident in his voice.
Enel huffed, glaring at the lower-ranked Marine. "That was an accident, you ugly fool! How dare you insult a god?"
The Marine captain remained unbothered, brushing his shoulder where Enel had touched him with a theatrical motion of disgust. His calm, smug expression made the situation even more tense.
"Enough," the captain said, his voice smooth yet commanding. "I'll handle this." His subordinates immediately silenced themselves.
Enel, unrepentant, crossed his arms and declared, "I, God Enel, will let you off this time. Go on your way."
Buggy and Shanks groaned at the so-called apology. The captain, however, smirked, clearly unimpressed.
"I'm Marine Captain Taylor," he began, but one of the lower-ranking Marines interrupted with a sneer.
"Do you even know who you just bumped into? This is Captain Taylor! He's a noble, and—"
Before he could finish, Taylor's hand shot out, grabbing the Marine by the throat. The soldier gasped and struggled as Taylor choked him, his grip unrelenting. The onlookers gasped in horror, and the soldier's struggles eventually ceased. Taylor released him, letting the lifeless body crumple to the ground.
Buggy and Shanks stared in shock. "Why would a Marine kill their own man?" Buggy whispered, his voice trembling.
"He's just asleep... not dead," Taylor muttered, looking down at the lifeless body, as his evil grin appeared.
Enel narrowed his eyes, his usual arrogance replaced by suspicion. Taylor, now calm as ever, turned back to Enel.
"Look at you, cosplayer," he said with a sneer. "Take off those ridiculous wings before I rip them off myself, you filthy mutt."
A tick mark formed on Enel's forehead as he clenched his fists. Before he could retaliate, Taylor continued, his condescending tone cutting deeper. "And your ears... disgusting. Clean yourself up before you talk to me."
Buggy, still processing the earlier brutality, gasped, "Aren't Marines supposed to be the good guys?"
Taylor turned his gaze to Buggy. "And you, red-nose. Don't speak to me. I don't converse with the hideous."
Shanks, who had been quietly fuming, finally snapped. "Oi, Marine, you'd better stop before you regret it." His tone was low and dangerous, his usual playful demeanor replaced by cold anger.
Taylor's eyes gleamed as he shifted his focus to Shanks. "Ah, now you're more presentable. You could almost pass for someone of noble blood, unlike these two clowns."
Civilians began to gather, whispering among themselves.
"Pirates and Marines… again?"
"Why can't they just leave us in peace?"
"I wish they'd kill each other already."
The growing crowd didn't faze Taylor. He stepped closer to Enel, his hand resting on the ornate hilt of his longsword. "So, tell me… are you pirates?" His voice dripped with malice, and his eyes glinted with anticipation.
As they frantically looked around for Draco, they realized he was nowhere to be seen. Both Buggy and Shanks let out panicked shrieks, turning to Enel with wide eyes.
"We gotta find Draco!" Buggy exclaimed, his voice cracking slightly.
"Yeah, we cause trouble for Draco!" Shanks added, tugging on Enel's arm for emphasis.
Not listening, Enel had reached his limit. Lightning crackled fiercely around him as he released his aura. "Yes! I am God Enel of Draco's crew! Now apologize before I kill you, mortal!"
The sudden surge of power made Taylor step back instinctively. His smug demeanor faltered, but only for a moment. A twisted grin spread across his face as he muttered, "Oh, a Logia user… how delightful. You'll make a perfect specimen for bed...."
With a flick of his tongue and a crazed glint in his eyes, Taylor drew his blade, its gold embellishments gleaming ominously. The tension in the air was palpable as the confrontation escalated, drawing the attention of every onlooker.