Law was no stranger to Luffy's whims. He knows that if Liffy set his mind to something, he will do it. And sometimes, this little fact irritated him a lot. Like now. After cashing in Buggy's bounty, Luffy had asked Bepo which is the next closest island. As Bepo replied that it was Gecko island, Luffy had perked up remembering how Yasopp had gone on and on about his son and his home. Grinning widely, Luffy had declared that they will go to the Syrup Village to recruit Usopp - Yassop's son. When Law had questioned why him specifically, the boy had just smiled wide and answered that if Usopp is as strong as Yasopp, he will be a great addition to the crew. If not, then they will have to train him. Simple as that.
Law had let out an irritated sigh and thrown his hands up telling the Captain to do what he wanted.
And so they traveled towards the Gecko Islands...
*Baltigo - Grand Line*
A hand slammed down on the desk as a voice screeched, "Who leaked it?!"
The members gathered around the desk cringed at the loud voice, some sweating as the person glared at them. Some even took a step back, gulping, not wanting to be the one to anger the person any more than he already was.
"I am asking you lot something!" The person shouted again as he continued to glare at the members of his army in front of him, "Who let it out?!"
A blonde man at the back of the crowd sighed, his hand moving to tip his hat a bit forward as he spoke out loud, "Dragon-san. It does not matter who..."
The blonde was cut by Dragon who leveled his glare at him, "Does not matter? Are you forgetting who you actually are, Sabo?! You might not remember your life before you joined us but you know very well that you were a noble" Sabo clenched his fists as he heard the word 'noble' and Dragon continued, "We do not need people coming after you at the moment! We are at a critical point in our war against the World Government. Your identity was our most guarded secret." The people around looked on in the hope that the second in command will calm their leader down.
"Even if it was, Dragon-san, we can't do much at present now that it has been revealed. My past life will not affect our mission. Yes, it got out. Perhaps we have a traitor. Or perhaps someone just let it slide unknowingly. Or perhaps someone eavesdropped. We don't know. The fact that my identity is revealed is of no importance. We should be focussing on how it was revealed rather than that they know now. I can't care much if they do know about my identity." Sabo stood firm.
"You do not know who is after you now, Sabo." Dragon sighed, his hand massaging his forehead, "If he finds you... my training won't be much help to you..."
*Back in East Blue*
Luffy and co. finally docked on the Gecko Island and Luffy jumped off the deck and landed on the ground. They were soon greeted by the sight of a slim tan-skinned teenager with medium-length black wooly hair, prominent lips, and a long nose. The boy was shivering by the looks of it as he spoke out loud, "Stop right there, you strangers! What business do you have here?"
Law looked at him with narrowed eyes and questioned, "What business is it of yours to question?"
Usopp trembled more as Law tapped his shoulder with his Kikoku. Gathering the courage, Usopp answered, "I am Captain Usopp of the Usopp Pirates and have a following of 80 million men! I have taken this village under my control. Leave!" He shouted.
"Really?" Luffy tilted his head as Zoro questioned, "Don't you mean three?" Zoro rested his hand on his Yubashiri and smirked. A shout of 'Ah! We've been found' came from the bushes and they noticed the three kids flew from the scene.
"Don't leave me alone like this!" Usopp shouted at the three boys before he turned towards Luffy and his group and drew his slingshot, "Don't come! I will shoot you down!" he shouted.
Luffy smirked as he stepped forwards, his hat foreshadowing his eyes as he spoke out in a low tone, "Bet your life on it"
"Huh?" Usopp looked at him in question before Luffy spoke up, "Now that you have pulled your weapon, are you ready to bet your life on it? It's not something you use to threaten, you know?"
Usopp screamed as he fell down on the ground, whispering, "You people are scary!"
Luffy laughed out loud as he stared at him, "Don't worry. You're Usopp, right? Yasopp's son? We mean no harm. I am actually looking for people to join my crew" Luffy smiled wide at him.
"You know my old man?" Usopp questioned, hopeful.
Luffy nodded at him, still grinning, "He and the crew he is a part of visited my village 11 years ago. He never shut up about you" Usopp looked proud at that. "Let's go in the village" Luffy offered while Usopp nodded.
Luffy finally turned towards his small crew and questioned, "Coming?"
While Law and Zoro nodded, Bepo shook his head. "I will stay and guard the ship, Captain." Then his eyes widened as he bowed deeply, "I'm sorry!"
Usopp looked at the talking bear with wide eyes as he panicked, "AH! A BEAST!"
Bepo stared at the long-nosed human before bowing deeply, "I'm sorry!"
"What the hell are you sorry for?!" Zoro questioned while Luffy laughed and Law smirked knowingly.
"As you wish to do, Bepo. Us three will be in the village" Luffy grinned at the mink before the other four made their way towards the village.
They finally made their way towards a restaurant named, 'Meshi'. As they settled down, they ordered food while Luffy told all he could about Yasopp to Usopp. Usopp listened with rapt attention.
"Hey, I am looking for a sniper to join my crew. Join us!" Luffy offered.
"Join you?" Usopp questioned, "Fine! I will join you if you let me be a captain!" Usopp grinned.
"Nevermind..." Zoro and Law spoke up.
"So fast!" Usopp exclaimed. When he finally noticed the time, "Ah! It's time already! Sorry, I had to leave!" he quickly gathered his things and left the restaurant.
Soon after Usopp left, three boys entered the restaurant looking around for him. They turned towards the trio and asked where their captain was. Smirking, Luffy thought to have some fun. Thus he rested his hands on the table as he exclaimed, "Man, that was good meat!"
The boys stuttered as they asked, "Wh-What did you did to our captain?!"
Law pursued his lips as he stared at the boys while Zoro turned towards the boys, his chin resting on his palm as he stared at the three with a menacing look and answered, "Your captain... was eaten" and he grinned devilishly at them.
The boys finally turned towards Law and screamed, "ONIBABA!" while Law gained a tick over his forehead as he questioned, "Why are you looking at me?!" Luffy and Zoro burst out laughing at their reaction and finally told the boys what happened. The boys told the trio about how Kaya, the owner of the mansion, was very sick and Usopp goes there to tell lies in order to cheer the girl up. The trio smiled at that while Law looked at Luffy with a determined look. Sighing, Luffy asked the children to take them towards the mansion.
As they stood in front of the mansion, Luffy wrapped his arm around Law, Zoro, and the kids and spoke out, "Let's go in" They landed near the tree and Law and Zoro leveled their glares from the group to their Captain while the boys gushed how 'cool' it was. Luffy looked up at Kaya who was staring at them and spoke up, "Pardon the intrusion"
"Who are you?" Kaya questioned.
"Ah! They are my friends who have decided to follow me around!" Usopp boasted while Law and Zoro looked at him with an indifferent look.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy." Luffy introduced himself, "That's Trafalgar D. Water Law" Luffy pointed to Law and then pointed to Zoro, "That's Roronoa Zoro. Miss, are you Kaya, the owner of this mansion?" Luffy questioned.
Kaya nodded and questioned back, "Why are you looking for me, Luffy-san?"
"Ah! You see-" Luffy was cut off by an angry voice of 'What's happening here?'
"Klahadore!" Kaya exclaimed.
"Miss Kaya. You do not need to associate yourself with them" He spoke with a sneer while Luffy looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"And who do you take us for, butler?" Luffy questioned.
"Pirates of course. Accompanying that lying pirate Usopp. I have heard a lot about him" Klahadore answered.
"Well, good for us, isn't it? We are not pirates." Luffy smirked before he turned towards Kaya. "As I was saying, Miss Kaya. Law here heard from the kids that you were not well. And with him being a doctor, he does not want to move on to the next island without helping you. Will you please allow him to check you up?"
Klahadore's eyes widened at that fact and he butted in yet again, "We do not need doctors to look after Miss Kaya. We already have the best doctors from East Blue looking after her!"
"And they must have missed something. I am from North Blue and have spent most of my life in Grand Line. As such, I am much more experienced than any doctor you can find. Additionally, what business is it of yours to butt in again and again. We are having a civilized conversation with the owner of the mansion. We do not pose a threat." Law glared at the butler before he turned towards Kaya, "May I, miss?" he questioned
Merry had wandered out and listened to the conversation. He had perked up at the thought of someone being able to cure his mistress and had soon ushered the group in.
Law soon found himself standing by Kaya's bed as she laid on the bed. The other people were in the room as they looked at him. "Won't you be needing any medical apparatus, Law-san?" Merry questioned.
"Don't worry. It's fine" Law smiled at him and turned back to Kaya, "Don't panic" he advised and pulled his hand up, "Room" he called out, a blue sphere enclosing Kaya's bed and himself while the people - except for Luffy and Zoro - looked at him in shock wondering what he was doing. Law pulled his Kikoku out a bit, not completely unsheathing it as he spoke out, "Scan" looking for what could be wrong with her.
Finally sheathing his Kikoku, Law looked at her with scrunched eyebrows, "Miss, who is responsible for your food?" Law questioned.
Kuro finally panicked as he attached his blades to his finger and tried to slice Luffy only for the young alpha to catch the bladed with his bare fingers.
"Heh. We have an answer, Torao" Luffy grinned before he pulled his hand back and threw a punch aimed perfectly at Kuro's stomach, knocking the butler out.
"What?" Kaya pulled herself up as she stared at Klahadore.
"It seems, Miss Kaya, your butler over there had been constantly poisoning you with Dimethylmercury. The poison is not famous in East Blue and thus it might be the reason the doctors in East Blue were not able to catch it." Law answered.
"But... why?" Merry questioned as he stared at the passed out form of Klahadore, "He was stranded on our island. We have taken him in and treated him like family. Why would he do it?" Merry questioned.
"That is something only he can answer" Luffy spoke up as he glared at the butler he was holding. "Can you bring in some ropes, Merry?"
Merry nodded and came back with some ropes. Luffy soon pushed the passed out butler on a chair and tied him up well. Usopp looked on from the sidelines all that was going on. Zoro had his arms folded in front of him as he stood by Luffy. After Luffy finished tying the butler up, he took a glass of water and splashed it on the man's face. Kuro woke up gasping and stared ahead of him.
"Who are you?" Luffy questioned.
"I'm Klahadore. Miss Kaya, why are you allowing some strangers to misguide you like that?" Kuro questioned.
"You attacked these strangers as soon as Law-san mentioned the food. Why?" Kaya questioned looking heartbroken.
Kuro finally scowled revealing his real identity and his plan. The people around looked at him in shock. Kaya stood up from her bed, making her way towards Kuro as she slapped him. After a long silence, Luffy pulled him up and turned towards Law and Zoro, "I will be delivering him to the marine base. Law, do what you want. Zoro, can you keep an eye out for him 'crew members'?" Luffy questioned and Zoro nodded. Luffy finally left the room with Kuro in his hand as he used Geppo to make his way towards the port where Bepo was guarding their ship.
As he landed on the deck, Bepo made his way towards Luffy and questioned what had happened. Luffy gave him a rundown and asked Bepo to guide the ship towards the nearest marine base. After depositing Kuro who confessed, Luffy cashed in his bounty and the two made their way back towards the Syrup village.
Meanwhile, Law had given Kaya a prescription to deal with the poison. Zoro had kept an eye out for Kuro's crew members and had found a hypnotist. He took great pleasure in beating and slicing the hypnotist as Usopp looked on from the sidelines.
After Zoro was finally done with Jango, he threatened the pirate who promised to never return to the island.
The next day, Luffy, Zoro, Law, and Bepo stood on the deck of Polar Tang and waved at Kaya. They were waiting for Usopp to show up. The man came tumbling down a slope with a big bag on his back. Sighing, Luffy asked Zoro to stop him who stopped the rolling ball of Usopp with his leg. As Usopp finally stood up, he turned towards Kaya and waved at her, telling her he will be departing now to the sea.
As Usopp started to make his way towards a small boat, Luffy questioned, "Where are you going?"
"Me? I'm going out to the sea to be a pirate. We will surely meet, Luffy!" Usopp smiled wide.
"What are you talking about? Aren't we nakama?" Luffy questioned, leaning against the railings of Polar Tang, "Come on up already!"
Usopp's eyes widened as he stared at them and smiled widely, "Okay! But I am the captain!" he cheered.
Law scowled while Zoro smirked. "Captain, huh? Fine. Beat him and you will be the captain" Zoro pointed at Luffy.
"V-Vice Captain then" Usopp stuttered.
Luffy laughed out loud as he answered, "Beat Law and you can be vice-captain!" Law gave him a creepy smile which made Usopp gulp.
"I don't think I can..." Usopp mumbled.
"How about the sniper?" Bepo questioned. When all eyes turned towards him, the polar bear's eyes widened as he bowed deeply, "I'm sorry"
Usopp smiled wide as he pushed his first up in the air, "I will be your sniper then!"
And the small crew left Gecko Island with one more member...