Chapter 70: Countdown to Clash
Summary: Travel time is important too!
Chapter 70: Countdown to Clash
The Discovery was racing across the waters of the Grand Line at a speed very few would have believed possible. Doubly so for a vessel of her size. Her max cruising speed of 57 knots (65.9 mph) was genuinely insane for any water-born vessel, the sort of speeds that would have belonged only to racing vessels even in Luffy's original world. For a ship the size of the Discovery to do the same thing would have beggared belief in even that higher tech reality, and the feat was made possible here only because of their ship having consumed the Goro Goro no Mi for added power.
Yet, the speed was necessary, as events had very nearly slipped away from Luffy while his crew was out of touch with the rest of the world.
It was something that had caused him to silently curse himself for an idiot, realizing he should have made more of an effort to make lasting connections to groups like the Revolutionary Army. He couldn't entirely regret the fact that he hadn't done so. His reasoning, not really having any desire to get pulled into their war with the World Government, had been sound. Neither Luffy nor his crew were Revolutionaries at heart.
They were adventurers and explorers, for the most part. With just a small smattering of heroic tendencies among them. Only Hina and Nojiko could be said to truly care all that much about the grander scale of the conflict with the World Government, and even they mostly only cared in that it negatively impacted people. The World Government could rot and revel in its hedonism for all they cared, so long as it did so without fucking over the little guy. They wanted practices like slavery to end, but didn't give a single damn about who ruled the world in an abstract sense. Only that whoever did so stopped being an unmitigated asshole about it.
Still, his logical decision to keep their involvement mostly localized, supporting individual islands in the same way the Yonko did, instead of allowing themselves to be tied to a large power, had downsides. One of which was that their only warning had come through the same public announcement that had set Whitebeard on a warpath. Worse, their awareness of that announcement had been delayed in reaching them by the fact Alabasta was somewhat cut off from world news at this point. With they, themselves, also cut off by events at Asuka Island, they had lost several days in which everyone else had already begun moving. The various other powers that be, such as Whitebeard's Fleet, had already begun gathering before he'd even heard about what was going on, and the countdown to various confrontations had been rapidly ticking down without them any them wiser.
Even now, he had only the most incomplete information about where everyone was and when everything would kick off. The only real thing he could do was rush his crew in place for the little distraction that he'd planned as his own contribution to events. He only had the execution date and time the World Government had set for Jozu to work with, and that was only ten days out at this point. They needed to be in place, with an ear to the ground, as long before then as they could. That meant rushing from Asuka to the Sabaody Archipelago as fast as possible, an action he'd acted on as soon as they'd returned from Alabasta by ordering his crew aboard almost immediately and setting out as top speed.
At least the Discovery's speed meant they could cover the distance in under five days. Something that would have taken even the fastest Marine ships twice that time. Though getting into the Archipelago unnoticed would likely cost another day of careful approach and the use of several different tricks, such as Nami's ability to create a shroud of fog for them with her current-generation Clima-Tact. The unnoticed bit was going to be important, though, as the news from Asuka Island had already reached the Marine base at the Archipelago. Something that had left many of his crew somewhat satisfied as it meant they'd seen massive spikes to their bounties, or gained their first bounties if they hadn't had one in some cases. No longer having any real chance of making peace with Alabasta by anything but force, the World Government and Marines had taken the chance provided by Vice Admiral T-Bone's death to express their displeasure with his crew via that action.
Grinning at the memory of his crew's reactions, mostly positive at this point even if a few were a little off-put, Luffy stared out over the ocean as he looked at the new bounties via his System.
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WG Issued Bounties for Player's Crew
'Oni Princess' Yamato: 450 Million Belli
'Strawhat' Monkey D. Luffy: 250 Million Belli
'Sword Saint' Shimotsuki Kuina: 120 Million Belli
'Oni of Blades' Roronoa Zoro: 100 Million Belli
'Devil Child' Nico Robin: 90 Million Belli
'Black Cage' Hina: 75 Million Belli
'Crystal Queen' Nojiko: 50 Million Belli
'Black Leg' Sanji: 35 Million Belli
'Weather Witch' Nami: 25 Million Belli
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
He had actually known about the new bounties prior to the trip to Alabasta, his System having updated to reflect the change, but he hadn't been able to reveal it to the crew without making explanations he was still keeping tight to his chest. To Nami, he had explained a little bit more about his powers as their relationship got more serious. She, however, was the only one, and even she didn't know anything about the whole reincarnation thing. Something which he never intended to explain to anyone. As for the bounties themselves, there were admittedly some oddities resulting from the World Government's lack of knowledge.
Yamato, for example, wasn't actually included as a member of the Strawhat Crew. She'd simply had an existing bounty based on her activities in the New World and her known relation to her father. Something which had led to the extremely unusual situation in which it was she, not Luffy, who possessed the highest overall bounty on their crew. That fact was virtually certain to change once the powers that be became aware she'd joined his crew, of course. Not to mention if they pulled off what they had planned. But it was the odd case for now. Several of the crew also currently lacked bounties at all.
Vivi's lack was likely due to the WG not wanting to risk the political backlash from other major countries by issuing a bounty for the heir of a top twenty country. One that was fairly obviously bogus to anyone who could read between the lines. Even if they were pissed at Alabasta, causing additional instability right now wasn't on their to-do list. Making it clear they could and would label noble heirs of major signatories as pirates, for no reason at all, would do just that. Which kept them from officially giving Vivi a bounty. In fact, Princess Vivi's 'kidnapping' was listed under the rest of the crew's overall crimes and Vivi's rescue was officially wanted by the Marines. Though none of them had any delusion Vivi would be used as anything but a hostage to Alabasta's compliance if she was so 'rescued.'
As for the others who still lacked bounties, the Marines and World Government simply lacked information on their abilities and feats. Nami had done some visibly odd things back defending the ship at Rain Dinners, but they didn't know about her Devil Fruit. Likewise, Kaya, Chopper, and Usopp had largely avoided drawing attention by sheer chance and Pagaya, Perona, and Brook likely hadn't even been identified as members of the crew yet. He doubted any of them would avoid bounties for too much longer, while other's such as Sanji would likely see major increases once the World Government got a better idea what they could do. For now, the fact they still had a few crew members that could move about without being identified as associated with them would remain useful.
Overall, despite the rush they were now in, he was pleased with how events was coming along. The natives of Asuka Island had proved to be nothing but pleased with the idea of him taking Shichiseiken, all of them proving to want the blade as far from them as possible. His crew had all gotten quite a bit stronger due to their recent chances to train, as well as the initial fruits of some upgrades to their gear. Now, they were heading for a fight that would help them solidify their reputations, as well.
They had even, finally, decided to give in and replace their rather overblown flag with something that was more properly piratey. Hina had been amused when they explained why it had originally be so…overly ostentatious. But she'd also pointed out that it wasn't really practical. They needed a symbol that would actually garner recognition instead of head shakes, if they wanted to be taken seriously. Which, with their current plan, was going to be important at warding off trouble in the future.
Luffy shut his system window and glanced back at the small version of the new symbol that was all that was flying with their sails currently stowed. He grinned in satisfaction as he saw it, since it still wasn't a standard flag, even if it was noticeably toned down. The standard Skull and Crossbones was present, with Luffy's hat resting on it as an overall symbol of the crew. Yet, along those bones were smaller symbols. Not overwhelming, only looking like a series of dark circles from a far-off-distance. Yet present inside those circles were personal sigils for each of the crew. A tree for Robin, shackles for Hina, three-swords for Zoro, and so on.
Each sigil was a simple relief of white on black, rather than the grandiose representations of before. Yet, he thought it did a good enough job of showing how they were different. Pirates, yes, but a band of individuals who each had their own strong dreams, rather than the rabble of followers most crews were made of. The fact that each of the crew now had little patches or embossed images somewhere on their gear, which replaced the skull with their sigil topped in his hat, only completed the entire idea.
Sighing, he let his smile fade, and tried not worry about the consequences of what his plan was going to kick off…
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Kuina and Hina sat in one of the small, semi-private nooks of the Discovery's lounge area, each of them sipping non-alcoholic drinks Sanji had provided for them. Kuina had to admit that she'd rapidly discovered Hina to be a confidant she hadn't even known she needed. While the crew as a whole worked together so well, and the overall attitude of their entire ship was so generally casual, that the position was far less stressful than it could have been…she was the Discovery's First Mate. She was their second in command, the one who honestly kept the ship running and organized far more than Captain Luffy himself did.
Not that she had any complaints about that.
Luffy actually did run a fairly tight ship. Something that might have surprised some people. He just did so by a combination of careful delegation and leaning on the Discovery's more advanced features to simplify life. With the level of technology even built into the original version of the ship, let alone in the now-enhanced version, a lot of the more traditionally time-consuming duties of running a ship this size were simplified. Sanji was more than capable of handling the kitchen alone, very easily using its advanced setup to provide both high-quality meals three times a day and a solid stock of 'snacks' that were available for post-training recovery or those stuck on night watch.
The same was true for much of the rest of the ship.
Luffy had created inventory tracking systems that eased Nojiko and Sanji's respective efforts in keeping on top of their needs. Nami was still visibly in love with some of the extra tools he'd created to help her with navigation. The ship's sail rig was far simpler than most ships and mechanically augmented in such a way that one or two people could manage it in anything short of a Grand Line grade storm. So on and etcetera.
The fact that no one person was ever overwhelmed, and that Luffy had carefully portioned out titles and tasks to crew that didn't honestly mind doing most of them, made Kuina's job of managing everything on a day-to-day basis relatively painless. Yes, she did have to stay on top of people to do the more annoying chores like cleaning duties. Yes, she had to coordinate schedules for night watch and balance them against giving everyone enough training time. Yet, Luffy had gotten the right people to handle the right things well enough that she'd never really struggled with it.
Which didn't necessarily mean she'd truly been properly prepared for it.
That was particularly true with the parts of the job that went beyond mere management and dove into leadership. Luffy got by with respect and an odd sort of charisma he seemed largely unaware he possessed. Kuina, on the other hand, had found herself initially thrown somewhat into the deep end and trying not to drown when it came to handling interpersonal issues or making command decisions when Luffy wasn't at hand to do the same. Thankfully, the crew had been pretty small, back in the East Blue. By now, however, it had very literally doubled in size. From the original eight they'd had leaving the East Blue, to the sixteen now aboard ship.
In some ways that made a few things easier, since they genuinely had enough people now to handle a ship like the Discovery, if only because it was the Discovery. A ship with so many time and effort saving features. In other ways, however, the increased crew size had created new pressures and Kuina hadn't had anyone to lean on or get advice from. Not even Luffy himself actually had training or experience leading a crew before their collection of misfits, after all. Nor did she possess the same odd charisma that made it all work for him somehow.
When Hina had come along, that lack of anyone with leadership experience had changed.
Hina wasn't just another random cog or gear that Kuina had to make fit. She was a veteran leader who'd come up through the ranks of the Marines. Sure, not all of her knowledge, experience, or methods applied to a crew like theirs. But Hina had been a First Mate before, along with a Captain in her own right, and even a Fleet commander. Better yet, the woman didn't have any sort of overbearing ego to demand that things be done differently. Nor seemingly any serious ambition to take a command position herself. Instead, she'd just calmly given logical and sound advice that had ultimately eased a pressure Kuina had barely known she was feeling.
Combined with her greater knowledge of the world, it had also given Kuina someone to bounce her thoughts off of in a way Zoro would never be suitable for. Something which she did now as she sighed and set down her drink.
"Do you think we can honestly get away with what Luffy is planning? I'm not saying that it isn't a good thing to do. But…are we biting off more than we can chew here? Should I be trying to talk him out of it?"
To her credit, despite being one of the crew most firmly in favor of the idea, Hina considered the question seriously. She visibly thought through her response and gave Kuina the most unbiased answer she could. Something which Kuina deeply appreciated.
"Hina thinks the Captain is crazy, and in any other situation she would say his plan would be madness. Hina thinks, in this specific case, it can not only work, but kill many birds with one stone. Well, more like with one giant boulder, but still…"
Kuina snorted at the expression on Hina's face when she altered the saying, but didn't say anything herself just yet. It was clear from her body language that Hina she still had more to say, and was merely pausing to think through exactly how to say it.
"This crew…it's done too much already. Even if it didn't mean to, even if it just fixed the things right in front of it, it's done too much. Now, all of us really only have two choices. We either lay low, possibly for years, and hope the heat dies down. Or else we go big. Big enough to scare off any of the little fish and make even the Marines leery of taking us on without a dedicated effort like they're making for Whitebeard. If we can also ensure that their gambit with Whitebeard goes badly, badly enough to weaken them drastically here in the Grand Line, then it might be enough."
Kuina nodded slowly, trying to wrap her head around what Hina was saying. There was, of course, no way that any of them would just stop and go somewhere to lay low. They all had big dreams driving them, and those dreams wouldn't let them stop. Which meant Hina was really saying there was only a single option. Become a big enough threat that the powers that be couldn't smash them out of hand. That those powers that be would have to take them seriously and only take them on when they could muster the right kinds of forces, in the right place, at the right time.
The problem was, they weren't really there yet.
Oh, Luffy and Yamato were. Both of them were at least on-par with most Vice-Admirals at this point, and Kuina wouldn't place a bet either way on if the pair could go toe-to-toe with the three Logia Admirals. She didn't have a firm enough gasp of how powerful those three were to be sure, but she wouldn't say they couldn't. The problem was that the rest of the crew weren't quite there yet. She and Zoro were the next closest, then Hina, Nojiko, Nami and Robin probably. Mostly in that order. But there was a sharp drop off even between Zoro and Hina, let alone Robin and the rest of the crew. Well, minus the utter wildcard that was Kaya, at least.
No, they needed time along with reputation. Which was something Whitebeard's fight with the WG might get them. If the Marines and World Government came out on top too cleanly, it wouldn't be good. If Whitebeard came out on top, though, it would completely shatter the Marine's hold on the Grand Line, at least for a time. If things landed, as Kuina suspected would actually happen, somewhere between those two extremes? Then a weakened Marine presence that was too busy rebuilding to risk taking on a strong crew like their own would be perfect for them.
Which made Luffy's choice to inject their own little bit of chaos into the formula actually make sense. Adding chaos to the mix that would tilt things in Whitebeard's favor if they got the timing right? Well, it made it make sense as more than just 'the right thing to do.' It turned 'the right thing to do' into also being the 'pragmatic thing to do.' Which, as she settled that thought for herself finally and firmly, meant that the only thing left to do is figure out how best to stack the odds in their favor.
"Thanks, Hina. I think I knew that already, but that I needed to hear it from someone with a wider viewpoint. Now, what can you tell me about the Marine presence and operating methods at Sabaody? I know Luffy has already talked to you about it, but I'd like to get a feel for it myself, since I suspect we'll have to split up a bit to pull off whatever insane plan we end up building."
Hina smirked at that, and started to describe what little she knew would still be accurate from her memories…
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A/N 1:New bounties! The crew had stayed out of sight long enough that the WG hadn't had anything new to pin on them. But the ship that was dispatched from Asuka reached a Marine base while they were training/resting up on the island. Thus, the WG promptly used the excuse of a Vice Admiral's death to issue increased bounties, as well as more bounties in general.
A/N 2:After much whining from many people on several platforms, I replaced the flag. (*pouts* I thought the original was cool, even if it was intentionally overcomplicated). The new one, I think, does a similar job while being far simpler and more traditional.
A/N 3:A little insight into how Hina is integrating into the ship, and a bit of a glimpse into Kuina's day-to-day thought process as well. All while setting the stage for why Luffy's upcoming plan is actually sensible, instead of a massive mistake.