Alright, so this is my first one piece fanfiction. I hope you like it, since I'm not sure I can compete with some of my fav authors who are also writing Dragon and/or Sabo back stories. Also! You should know this is based off a certain one piece theory about Luffy's mother. As for which one, well I'll reveal that in due time. Now about the Gorosei: since we don't know a single one of their names I'll be calling them First-Fifth respectively. They are named in the order they are listed on their page in the one piece wiki, so check that if my little hints aren't enough to tell you which Gorosei they are. And if you do end up checking the wiki page, tell me. I'll strive to describe them better. Now this story starts right off with the flashback, which is more the present time in regards to this fanfic. It's set, as Dragon so kindly points out, almost a year after Gol D. Roger's execution.
I do not own One Piece
Please enjoy the story!
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A World of Difference
Prologue: The Gorosei in Mariejois
"Flint Rackham?"
Dragon reached through a beam of light pouring in through the window and carefully took the wanted poster from the second eldest member of the Gorosei. The old man looked calm and calculating, like always. But there was a hint of grave concern perfectly mixed with self-righteous anger in his eyes, and if Dragon didn't know better he might have sworn he saw the elder's hands shaking.
"I'm sure you've heard of him," Second began, taking a seat at a round table with his fellow gorosei, "He's troublesome. Nothing compared to Roger, but even so."
Dragon arched an eyebrow at him. It had been little less than a year since the so-called pirate era began, and still the Gorosei used that tone of nauseating disgust and fury when any mention of Roger slipped or was spat from their mouths.
"Of course I have." Dragon said in a condescending tone that might have gotten him killed if he were far less valuable. "But he's just another pirate. Seems like someone for the regular marines to kill, no?"
His blunt honesty and sound logic in regards to his duties never seemed to faze the Gorosei. They remained stiff, humorless, and serious. Of course Dragon preferred their stone faced expressions to the scolding glares and grimaces of the naval marines he'd encountered.
A kill was a kill. When someone was murdered by CP0's most infamous operative "Shiroryuu," real name Dragon, he did not call it "Taken care of" or "arranged an accident for" or anything else. He called it what it was: assassination. Because sugar coating it for weak-kneed marines didn't change the fact that that was what CP0 did most of the time: silence people the Celestial Dragon's despised. It was what they had raised Dragon to do.
And he was very good at it. And the Gorosei liked that. So he saw no problem with pushing their buttons until their blood pressure spiked. He couldn't see how they had any reason to complain so long as he remained the obedient monster they had hoped he would become.
Something vile churned in his stomach, but he forced it back down.
"It's not the captain that's the problem." Fourth emphasized impatiently, gripping his sword-in-sheath where it lay across his lap. "It's the first mate. We need him—"
"Killed?" Dragon interrupted, raising both eyebrows tauntingly. Fourth glared at him, the vein in his forehead bulging out.
"Yes." Second said, reclaiming Dragon's apathetic attention. "Can you handle it?"
"Obviously I can." Dragon stated casually.
"Mind your manners, boy." Third warned, leaning forward in his chair and furrowing his brow so that the birthmarks on his forehead became lost in creases.
Dragon proceeded over the light warning with ease: "But why ask me? Couldn't you just ask one of your vice-admirals to kill him?"
"Unfortunately not." First said, raising his head. "If we were to hand this over to even our most trusted officer, we would have trouble explaining why such an infamous pirate needs to be killed immediately without capture."
Dragon's near-constant frown hardened.
"CP0 deals with the shady dirty work that the Celestial Dragon's assign our operatives on a five minute basis." He stated, squinting up at the first elder. "Pirates are free game. Wanted dead or alive. If you aren't interested in giving Rackham's first mate a flashy execution just say so. It's not as if they can refuse you."
Second looked down on him condescendingly. "We want you to take care of this, Dragon. Not the Marines. You have a lifetime's experience in making bodies disappear."
Dragon glared coldly up at him. "I have things to do. Orders coming in from the world nobles every five minutes, as I mentioned before. Am I supposed to blow all that off?"
That would be suicide. Everyone present was aware of that.
"We've spoken with your fellow agents." The first elder assured him. "They've agreed to take over your assignments until your return."
Dragon's eyebrow twitched. Delightful. So his "comrades" were picking up the slack, hmm? As if their relentless insults weren't bad enough with Dragon being their youngest, most infamous, and most well paid member.
Dragon ground his teeth. As usual, these old fools were being too pushy. Everything was in place, and even with all his status and power, he really had no choice but to comply. Even if he was CP0, and shouldn't have had to answer to the Gorosei, these elders had too much pull with those fat Celestial Dragons.
Dragon closed his eyes in acceptance.
"Any specifics?" He asked, referring to whatever torture or dismemberment was required. "Aside from bringing back the head as proof?"
"We'll call you with that information later." The first elder promised. "We only have a rough idea of their route for now, and that could easily change."
Dragon got the message and turned to leave.
"I want triple my usual payment for this." He added as he strode out of the room and into the warm Dawn air.
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Second fell back into his chair with an exasperated sigh and placed a hand over his eyes.
First stroked the scar over his temple. "He's such a handful."
"Perhaps it's time we found his successor." Fourth suggested harshly.
"Don't say that." Second said, sliding his hand down his face and over his long beard. "He's the best at what he does, despite being so young."
"He's insubordinate." Fourth insisted, almost growling through clenched teeth. "He has no sense of rank."
"It can't be helped." First told him, earning a cross look from Fourth. "It's just how he is. Be grateful he's so... Enthusiastic about his work. We've been spared all sorts of trouble thanks to him."
"And it could be worse." Second added, lowering his eyelids passively. "He could have turned out like his father: with little to no sense of military strategy or etiquette. Repetitive refusal of promotion and preferring to chuckle over rice crackers to the end of his days. Sengoku's about at his wits with him."
"That would be disastrous." Fourth admitted, having relaxed a bit. "A mini-Garp in CP0—!"
"Lower your voice!" Fifth snapped edgily, startling each of his peers into a jolt . "Honestly... Do you want him to hear you? At least wait until he has left Mariejois before you speak of such things."
The four turned serious, and shared looks of deep concern. Fifth was correct. Dragon could never know about his lineage, and thankfully he'd never asked. If he were ever to learn the truth... Only disaster awaited them.
