Sorry for the long wait. I am still ironing out some kinks in the plot, especially this arc, which is an important transition moment in the story.
I am close to finishing Shugoshina and tying all events together. If you've made it this far, I hope you`re enjoying the story.
Let me know your thoughts, good or bad. It would help me a lot, thanks.
Enjoy guys :)
Chapter 10: The Prince of Lulusia Lives!
How to put this?
The castle was… the most luxurious piece of real estate he had ever seen in his 16 years of existence.
The halls were paved with white marble, and the floor had a soft red and rose carpet pattern. The pillars supporting the halls were at least 100 feet tall and decorated with… well, more white marble.
You could fit the Pearl in here easily. In the distance, it seemed as if the hall wouldn't end. Until he saw something in the distance. The butlers were running toward him and Renee.
Renee forced him to put on a butler outfit, which looked horrendous, but he needed to maintain the appearance that he belonged there.
"Renee De La Roche, you're late. Dinner needs to be served in 45 minutes. Can you hurry? You know the Vinsmokes don`t like to be kept waiting."
Renee gave a smile. "No problem, Rio, I'll get right on it."
Rio was a fat, pretentious-looking man with glasses. He looked like a douche.
"Hey, who's that?" Butler Rio said, pointing at Lucian. "He is my assistant, and he will help me with tonight's dinner plan," Renne said happily.
The butler got very angry. "I don`t know him, so he needs to leave now. Next time you bring someone into the castle. You verify him with me."
Renee put down her basket and angrily approached the butler. " OK, then, how about you tell King Judge that his meal has been delayed thanks to your incompetence?"
This seemed to scare the butler, and he stepped aside. Lucian picked up the basket, smiled at the butler, and followed Renee into the kitchen.
Once in the kitchen, Lucian pretended to help Renee prepare the meals. She was moving quickly: boiling water, cutting vegetables and meats, and sorting out seasonings. It would be better if Lucian didn`t interfere. He'd probably slow her down, and he`d 100% mess up the meal.
Lucian explained to Renee that he'd be investigating the castle. She understood, and he let her go back to work. "Tread carefully," Renee said with a faint smile. As he exited the kitchen, he made his way through the halls. He got lost immediately. It was a massive area, so he hoped to make a couple of correct turns.
Oh shit, he reached a dead end. He turned around and continued. He concealed his presence to the best of his abilities. Until he found a large dining room. With a long table and a beautiful chandelier hanging above. The servants were setting up the table, and at the table were… the Vinsmokes.
All of them together, drinking wine. Waiting for their food. The same butler from before appeared and grabbed Lucian's shoulder.
He whispered, "Why aren't you in the kitchen, huh?". Oh fuck, he had to come up with a quick lie. "Because Renee said I would serve the food. She gave me specific orders."
The butler crossed his arms, "What's your name, kid."
"Lucian." He probably should have lied, but it just slipped out.
Butler Rio examined him, "Watch your step, kid. I don`t trust you. One wrong move, and you're out of here". Tough guy, huh? He doubted it.
Lucian smiled. "I'll be on my best behavior."
Lucian went back to the kitchen and explained to Renee that he was serving the food. "Sure, as long as you dont drop it," she said.
The food smelled amazing, and he wanted to eat some. But sadly, he had to serve the Vinsmokes. He had impeccable balance, so he picked up some trays, and Renee put the plates on the trays. Everything was going to plan; all he needed to do was eavesdrop on their conversation. As he exited the kitchen, he remembered the path to the dining room.
Lucian entered the dining room and saw all the Vinsmokes drinking except the girl.
"Finally, the food is here," said the large man. Lucian locked eyes with him momentarily.
It was Vinsmoke Judge, the king of Germa. He started to hand the plates of food to each member of the Vinsmoke family. Across the table, Niji and Yonji were arguing. The red-haired one, Ichiji, sat down with his arms crossed. He was the oldest son and seemed to be the calmest of the bunch.
"Listen, we need to go back out there tomorrow. Niji and I didn`t finish the job. There are still survivors out there. We need to kill them all before they talk," Yonji yelled.
So, this was the asshole who beat Mateo up. Noted.
"Yonji, you idiot, you failed to eliminate them all. What's wrong with you? The Reverie is coming up soon. We don`t need the bad word to spread out for Germa," Niji rebutted.
Their argument continued until Judge slammed his fist. This silenced them. "Come on, boys, I already sent reinforcements to finish the job. You all did excellent today. Just because a few measly survivors managed to escape our reach doesn't undermine the amazing work we did today."
Niji and Yonji stopped arguing once Judge spoke.
"Yeah, I guess so. But this mission was different from other missions, you know. With the Reverie coming up, it was weird that in order to take back the northern territories, they ordered the slaughter of the Solara Isles. Isn't that emperor protected territories." Ichiji asked.
Judge began to eat and drink his liquor.
"It's because… there is a shift in current events. One of the four emperors. Red Hair Shanks. His lingering presence in Elbaph is close to Solara. We needed to establish a Marine presence to block off any possibility of a clear route to this year's Reverie. We took out some individuals of his Grand fleet."
The girl finally spoke up, and Lucian finally noticed her fully. She was extremely beautiful and had pink hair. "Father, please don`t tell me you picked a fight with an emperor, especially one as dangerous as Shanks," Reiju said.
Ichiji started to laugh. "We weren't there, Reiju, as much as I wish we could've been. I would have loved to get the blood of those pirates on my hands," Lucian finished handing out the extra plates and followed the rest of the servants, who stood in formation awaiting orders. He needed to listen more.
Then he did something dumb.
Lucian dropped the plate by accident. He had been staring at Reiju for too long, and he hit his foot on a chair, shattering even more plates. The room became dead silent.
All the Vinsmokes stared at him. Oh, amazing, they were all glaring at him.
"I`ve never seen you before," Judge said. Lucian hated serving people, but he forced himself to his knees and picked up the broken pieces off the floor. Once he did that, Judge demanded an answer.
Butler Rio stood next to him, terrified. Why did Lucian give Rio his actual name? If he lied, he knew Rio would tell Judge the truth. He was too loyal.
"Sorry sir, mistake," Lucian said, forcing himself to hang his head in shame.
Judge turned his body to Lucian. "I asked your name, boy."
Before Lucian could speak, Rio stepped in. "He is one of Renee`s helpers. I apologize for letting him in, sir." Rio took a knee after his confession. Lucian wouldn`t bow for any man.
"Renee, I hate that whore. Why do we still keep an inferior, underdeveloped human like her in the kitchen," Niji said, laughing.
"She makes good food; calm down," Ichiji added.
Lucian's rage began to flare up, but he had to contain his outward appearance. He would lash out if any of them touched her. Lucian wasn`t the same person he was three years ago, but he could easily beat these frauds.
Niji then threw the food to the floor, "No, Ichiji, that wench deserves a beating. Incompetent bitch ruined my dinner last time."
Reiju then chimed in, mocking her brother playfully. "No, Niji, she didn`t. You threw it out because the butler sneezed on it, remember."
Niji began to laugh, "I killed him on the spot, I remember now. HAHAHAHA." These people were lunatics, but he felt the gaze of Vinsmoke Judge weighing down on him.
Judge began to speak again, "Lucian huh". Lucian never told Judge his name. He blanked out with rage for a bit, but in that time Rio seemed to tell Judge his name.
Niji and Yonji cracked up, "Hey Lucian, drop another plate and see what happens, you loser."
Lucian honed into his Observation Haki, these men had no emotions, just like the soldiers outside the castle. Yeah, keep laughing dickheads. Lucian could fuck them up anytime, anywhere. But Lucian kept his cool, not showing an inch of fear or emotion.
Rio pulled Lucian aside from the table. "Stand here, boy, and don`t make a sound."
Yonji laughed, "Yeah, Yeah, step aside, Lucian. Let the big boys talk." All the Vinsmokes but Reiju laughed as Lucian stepped back and began to observe.
Rio then whispered into Lucian`s ear, "Renee will regret bringing in incompetent help like you," Lucian's face remained the same.
He hated these people.
The atmosphere seemed to shift back to normal after Lucian stepped aside, "Hey Yonji, did you find the prince." Ichiji asked.
"He was rumored to be in Solara, but no luck. The celestial dragons really, really want him. There's a reason he's not in the news because he's too important to scare away," Yonji replied.
"Still, we need to catch him. This isn't some run-of-the-mill capture order. When a request like this comes from them, it's either do or die," Reiju pitched in.
Yonji looked angry, "Yeah, I know, big sis. Don`t have to rub it in. We will find him. The only route from Solara Isles to anywhere else in the Grand Line is through the Bayou Isles, so he must have passed through our territory, or… he is still hiding."
The rest of the Vinsmokes looked surprised, "If we can deliver him to the Reverie, then our mission to reclaim the North Blue is stronger than ever," Ichiji said.
Judge smiled. "Of course, but we must tread carefully; the celestial dragons are not to be trifled with. If we can capture this prince. Everything goes in our favor." The Vinsmokes roared and clinked their glasses and began to eat. They seemed to be happy.
Lucian thought to himself, "Who was the Prince? And why was he so important?" He began refilling drinks and handing out napkins.
Then, Judge spoke up. "Now listen up. You all need to know this before the Reverie. The celestial dragons are angry. They have failed to locate the remaining poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale.
This means that I expect the Reverie this year to implement new projects and laws that will certainly impact the status of our world. One rumor I heard is top secret and should never leave this room," Judge began to explain.
This caught the attention of his children. The servants began to clear the room except for a select few.
"It will blow your mind," Judge continued.
Now very interested, Lucian couldn't leave, but he blew his cover. The butler grabbed his arm and led the way out of the dining room. Fuck, fuck he needed to hear this. The door slammed shut behind them as they walked out.
At that moment, Lucian quickly and quietly used Rokushiki to incapacitate the servants, which felt good since Butler Rio was annoying him. He moved in a blur and used Shigan to knock them out cold.
He then went to the door and pressed his ear to the door, focusing all his Haki to his ear. He calmed his nerves and attempted to listen to whatever he could. The door was thick, but he still tried anyway. He caught a couple of words exchanged.
One was 'Lulusia' and another was… Lucian gasped. His legs were paralyzed and he was in complete and utter shock, his body felt weak and his head started thumping with pain.
The other words muttered were 'Mother flame.'
Immediately, his mind flashed back to six years ago, in Aragonia, when Karas confronted the suited man. He mentioned that term to Karas; what was it, though?
The suited man often plagued Lucian's mind. He had experienced countless powerful beings on the Grand Line, but they had never come close to his malicious aura. The Mother Flame was connected to the suited man, which meant that the suited man was connected to the Reverie.
He had to get Renee and escape, NOW!
Lucian grabbed the unconscious bodies and placed them in a hidden area. He ran back to the kitchen. He had taken a couple of wrong turns until...
There she stood, as beautiful as he had seen her a minute ago. Her pink hair flowing down her shoulders, her outfit tight, outlined her hourglass figure, which Lucian couldn`t take his eyes off of. She spoke up, but Lucian was stuck in a trance.
"Hey, did you hear what I said," Reiju said. Lucian snapped out of it and locked eyes with her. The moment of realization hit him: she was going to expose his cover.
"You aren`t a butler, aren`t you, Lucian Xebel?" Reiju continued. How did she know it was him? He remembered using his Observation Haki to sense their emotions; they all came up empty.
But her.
Lucian stood calm. Truth be told, he didn`t want to give her the notion that he wanted to fight. He didn`t want to fight this beautiful woman, so he chose to indulge her curiosity.
"No, I`m not. How`d you clock me."
Reiju took a couple of steps forward until they were nearly face to face; she smelled as amazing as she looked.
"I heard grandiose tales of the infamous Lucian Xebel, a new pirate causing damage in the Grand Line. Don`t lie to me, tell me. What interest do you have with us." She was certainly good. She was sizing him up, looking to exploit any weakness that may trip him up.
Damn it, did the rest of the Vinsmokes also know his identity. He had a feeling that this would end badly. It was a talent of his.
Lucian was going to do something he thought he`d never do. He`d tell the truth. He had to keep Renee safe.
"I just want to get into the Reverie," Lucian proudly said. Reiju's face was unreadable. Lucian stared at her, and he wasn`t able to discern her emotions; her facial features didn`t move an inch. Then...she just giggled. Lucian didn`t know whether to feel safe or not.
"You hopeless fool, they wouldn`t let you near that event. What do you hope to achieve," Reiju said.
"I'm looking for someone I know is there, but that`s beside the point. What do you want, Reiju?" Lucian asked. Reiju gave him a look, a look of seduction. Lucian was confused but intrigued.
"You know, when I saw you drop those plates, it clicked in my head. I had seen your wanted poster before. Then Butler Rio spoke your name, and that`s when I realized a pirate had infiltrated my family`s castle," Reiju said.
Lucian got closer and confidently said, "So why not tell your brothers and father? They seem to be the type of people who would strike me down on the spot if they knew who I truly was."
"They don`t know anything yet; I like to conduct my own investigations. But why pretend to be a butler? If the stories I heard about were true, you would`ve barged into the castle. Taking what`s yours."
Lucian scoffed, "It`s not that simple. I can`t just take on an entire army."
Reiju studied Lucian and began to giggle. She was cute when she laughed. Ah, man, Lucian was falling for her spell.
She began to get closer and closer; her perfume smelled as amazing as she looked, that look she gave. Made Lucian weak; she was so beautiful.
Older women had that effect on him.
"So you going to turn me in," Lucian said.
Reiju shook her head, "If you behave, why should I do such a thing?"
"Don`t underestimate me, Reiju. I am not a puppet you can manipulate."
She threw her hands around his neck, danger, danger. He couldn`t control himself anymore.
"No, it`s just that you interest me. Isn`t that enough?" Reiju said more flirtingly. Lucian didn`t like this. Why was she talking like that?
"Um, why?" Lucian asked.
This was the same situation he was in 3 years ago when he met Robin. Another beautiful woman to cloud his judgment, except this time, he was 16 years old, and his unbalanced hormones raged on even more than before; a beautiful woman was one of his weaknesses.
Reiju inched closer, and to his surprise, she kissed him. Lucian`s mind was a mess. Was he dreaming? No, this was real. He decided to embrace it. It was magnificent, and he grabbed her waist, pulled her closer, and held her as they made out. Her breasts pressed up against his body.
This was the best feeling ever.
He was in heaven for about a minute until she pulled away, then Lucian`s head started to hurt, and his vision began to blur. She wiped away something from her upper lip, and Lucian fell to his knee.
Now Lucian remembered what he had read about Reiju. She specialized in poison, and he was stupid enough to fall into her trap.
She had poisoned him; was it worth it making out with her? He was an idiot, but maybe he`d die a gleeful idiot. Lucian fell on his back. She knelt beside him. He felt his muscles getting weaker and forced himself to fight it, but nothing worked.
Reiju whispered to him, "Men are so easy to deceive. Especially handsome ones like you. Now tell me the truth, Lucian Xebel, or you will surely die."
Lucian tried to think, but the poison stopped his brain activity, "I wasn`t ly-in-g. I re-a-ll-y wan-te-d, t-o find out... about... the Reverie."
Reiju stared at him. His life was in her hands. "Give me the name of the man you were tracking down," Lucian had no choice.
Truth or death.
"Sa-i-nt Fitz-Gerald," he managed to spit out. Reiju gasped and immediately gave Lucian another kiss; she sucked out all the poison from his body, his headache stopped, and he felt, well, cleaner.
Reiju said, "I`m sorry, but I can`t trust pirates. But you seemed to be one of those men who tell the truth—rare in my experience."
Lucian shot her a look, "Damn it, woman, I was telling you the truth from the beginning. Why poison me," Lucian still felt the side effects. Then he heard footsteps running in their direction. Germa soldiers.
"Meet me at the end of the town center at sunset, where you and your comrades are staying. And I will tell you what you need to know."
How did Reiju know where they were staying? Too late to ask that now.
"What about the butlers," Lucian said.
"I can take care of them now, run," Reiju ordered. Reiju pointed in the direction of the kitchen. Lucian nodded and ran off to the kitchen.
That was quite the interaction he had. Lucian, after making some wrong turns, finally found the kitchen.
Renee was cleaning up the kitchen. "How was it? Did you find anything out?"
Lucian remained calm, stumbling as he approached Renee. "We can come back another day; I kind of need medical assistance."
Renee dropped the plate she was cleaning and tended to Lucian. "What happened, Lucian? Did they find you?" Lucian held Renee by the shoulders.
The vertigo he had experienced began to wear off, the world around him still spinning slowly. He only had one thing on his mind.
"Take me to Mateo."
Ok, a quick recap. Lucian just made out with Reiju. One of the best moments of his life(so what if she poisoned him). But damn it, Lucian, onto the important parts. How did the Vinsmokes know about the Mother Flame? That is what he had to ask Reiju about.
On the other hand, they mentioned a prince, and Lucian`s gut feeling wouldn`t go away; he knew who it was.
Renee helped Lucian to the safe house, for which he was very grateful. Still, his mind was split between the events that had just occurred. As they walked outside, Jory was waiting for them.
He was disappointed Lucian didn`t make a grand exit from the top tower; sorry, bro.
Lucian explained everything that happened to Renee and Jory on the walk back (he left out the interaction with Reiju) but also left out the important parts about Lulusia and the Mother Flame.
Renee noticed something was wrong and persisted in an explanation. Lucian finally calmed his nerves and returned to his happy-going self. "No worries, Renee. I just want to taste that amazing cooking of yours."
"So you not going to tell me why you stumbled into my kitchen like that," Renee asked. Lucian scoffed it off.
"Hey Renee, I want to taste your cooking," Jory exclaimed. Thanks for changing the subject, bro.
Renee laughed. "Of course, give me 30 minutes, okay."
Lucian wanted Renee to join his crew; he realized that the moment he was willing to lay his life for her back in the castle, but first, he had to focus on the situation at hand.
Once they reached the house, Lucian introduced Jory to Mateo. "Nice to meet you," Mateo said as he laid back down.
Lucian drank some herbal tea Renee made him, which cleared his mind and made his muscles feel better.
"So, Lucian, what did you discover in there? Since there isn't an army outside our door, you maintained your cover," Mateo said.
Lucian sat down as Renee got to cooking. Jory watched as he kept asking Renee cooking questions that she seemed happy to answer. Mateo got up and sat beside Lucian.
"Listen, I need you to be truthful with me. I need to connect some dots," Lucian asked. Mateo didn`t look happy to cooperate.
Mateo looked at Renee as if he were telepathically asking her if he could trust Lucian. She nodded. Lucian realized that Mateo trusted no one more than Renee.
Lucian had hoped he had won over Renee; he needed her to join his crew, and he got too close to her to leave her behind. But Mateo was his priority. His importance could play a crucial role in the events to come. He needed to gain his trust. Mateo took a deep breath, then began to speak.
"My name is Mateo Valois. I am from the country known as Lulusia. I was the former prince."
Lucian looked at Mateo in shock, his suspicions confirmed. He was the prince the Vinsmokes wanted to capture. He was from Lulusia, a country with roots embedded in the Nobles. The Vinsmokes were talking about Lulusia. So Mateo was a… celestial dragon?
Lucian was good at reading people. He could tell that Mateo had a good heart and was a good person. But his hatred for the celestial dragons may be problematic. Lucian controlled his breathing and kept a calm head.
"So is Renee royalty, too," Lucian said, looking at her.
"No, it's a long story. But she was my childhood friend growing up. Her father was a blacksmith who had close ties to my family. He provided us with greatly crafted weaponry. Whenever he would pay a visit. He always brought Renee with him, and we developed a close bond. She's like a little sister to me."
"Then tell me, Mateo, why did you flee Lulusia? I overheard the Vinsmoke`s conversation, and they were adamant about catching you." Lucian asked.
Mateo kept a stern face.
"No offense, you`re a dirty pirate. Why would I tell you," Mateo said, hoping to push Lucian away. Lucian stayed calm. He knew what Mateo was going through.
"Do you know where I come from, Mateo? Did the newspapers you read ever tell you anything about me except propaganda and lies?"
Mateo shook his head. "I don`t know, but being a pirate speaks volumes in itself."
"I am from the south blue country called Aragonia. Have you ever heard of it?"
Mateo`s eyes widened with shock. "You`re lying, Aragonia. I heard it was wiped out."
"You know why I`m here, Mateo. If what you heard in the newspapers is true, you would know the World Government absolutely despises me. They want me gone. Doesn`t that speak volumes?"
Lucian paused and then began to speak again, "I don`t believe it`s a coincidence that I met you guys."
Mateo stared at Lucian, "You really are the real deal, huh? I never thought I`d cross paths with someone like you." Lucian and Mateo sat in silence for a while. Lucian heard Renee and Jory laugh as the steam from the kitchen reached the living room.
Mateo broke the silence, "I have something to tell you, Lucian; I need your help, man."
Lucian inched forward and sat in front of Mateo. "What is it? Tell me, who are you, Mateo Valois?". Mateo took a deep breath and then began to tell his story...
"I left to preserve what was left of my humanity, Lucian. Renee taught me the value of that... even when I almost forgot it myself.
My family... they're monsters. Every last one of them. They kept slaves, trafficked humans for money and their own perverse uses, and killed without a shred of remorse. It was their way of life, their legacy. They wanted the same for my siblings and me; it is the calling card for self-appointed gods like them.
But you can only live like that for so long before you start to feel your soul being torn apart piece by piece. I couldn't stand it anymore. That was the reason I wanted out. But the real breaking point that forced me to run was what they had planned for the world.
I couldn't be part of it.
Two years ago, I escaped. I had to. Lulusia has new leadership now. King Seki rules in my family's place. The Valois family, my family, stepped down for the first time in centuries.
But it wasn't an act of grace or repentance. No, they abandoned the kingdom for something far more sinister. They accepted an invitation to Marie Jois to live among the Celestial Dragons in their so-called holy paradise.
Everyone else was ecstatic even to bask in the glory of Marie Jois. Everyone except me. I always saw it for what it truly was... a shit show.
I was different from the rest of them, Lucian. I always wanted something more. Not wealth or power. I wanted freedom. I wanted to sail the seas to heal people instead of hurting them.
Even as a child, I couldn't ignore that part of myself. As I grew older, that desire only grew stronger. Against my family's wishes, I began to study medicine. I used whatever resources I could scrape together to help the citizens of our kingdom, people my family had abandoned and bled dry for generations.
I still remember the first time the people gave me a name: Princeps Medicus. The Healing Prince.
I should've been proud, but my family wasn't. They beat me for it. And worse, they punished the people I'd tried to help. They killed them, Lucian. As a warning. That's the kind of monsters they are.
I'm sorry, I... I'm rambling." Mateo's voice cracked, and his eyes welled up. He took a deep breath, trying to collect himself before continuing.
"My father... he was heartless. My mother is manipulative. My siblings were cruel, abusive, and ambitious. They all cared more about their own power than they ever cared about family. When I left, it wasn't just a betrayal. It was the ultimate insult.
Do you understand what that meant, Lucian? My decision to leave cost them everything. The Valois family was denied a seat in Marie Jois. For them, that was more than just humiliation. It was a stain on our bloodline, to them, a blasphemy. My family begged, pleaded, and groveled at the feet of the Celestial Dragons, but the answer was final.
Do you want to know the worst part? They offered to kill me. Their own son as a sacrifice.
They thought my death might somehow restore their honor. When I refused, they turned on me. They cursed me, disowned me, and vowed to make my life a living hell.
For the past two years, the World Government has hunted me relentlessly. We've barely escaped with our lives more times than I can count. But the worst came when they tried to hurt the one person who mattered most to me.
They went after Renee.
They knew... they knew hurting her would destroy me. So they sent assassins. They shot her, Lucian. I still remember the blood. I remember holding her in my arms, thinking she was going to die. I barely managed to save her, and even then, we were lucky to escape. That moment sealed everything for me. They weren't my family anymore. They never were. Renee is my family. She's the only real family I have left.
Do you see now why I shot at you, Lucian? It wasn't because I hate or want to hurt you. It's because if they capture me, my life won't end with a clean death. No, they'll make me suffer for the rest of my days. They'll make sure I wish for death every moment I'm alive.
Sorry to trauma-dump on you, but this is my life now. I`ll always be known as the Prince of Lulusia, destined for death."
Mateo broke down, his sobs shaking his frame as the weight of his words settled over him.
Lucian sat in silence, anticipating his next move.
He couldn't believe what he had just heard, though it wasn`t surprising. This was how the world operated, but Mateo drew the short straw.
Mateo may have been a celestial dragon, but he was just like him in spirit. He only had one question for him, and he was 100% sure of it. Lucian got up and stared at Mateo. He had just opened up to Lucian, and that must have been tough.
"Hey Mateo, listen up to Renee."
Renee and Jory took their attention away from cooking and focused on him.
Lucian outreached his hand. "I want you both to join my crew."
Mateo let out a gasp. Renee and Jory were also surprised. "But why? You'll be targeted for the rest of your life. My family is powerful. They have Navy Admirals searching for me, goddamn it. You should really reconsider that offer," Mateo yelled.
"I don`t care about Navy Admirals or the celestial dragons. Or the emperors or warlords. All of them will soon understand they can't intimidate us forever. I asked you, Mateo Valois, and you, Renee, um," Lucian stopped; he never got a last name.
"De La Roche, Renee De La Roche," she said to Lucian.
"And you, Renee De La Roche, to join my crew. Do you get it? You are just like me.
We both want to be free of the World Government. But even with this hate in our hearts, we shouldn't let it hinder our potential. I am not only offering you a spot as my crewmate; I'm offering you a chance at much more.
To live life to your fullest and to do it side by side… as friends. And if they want to capture you. They'll have to go through me. I don`t care who they are". Lucian kept his hand outreached.
He could sense the conflict building up inside Mateo; he started to form tears, and Renee did as well.
Mateo grabbed his hand. "You crazy son of a bitch, I'm in."
"ME TOO!" Renee yelled. Renee hugged Lucian, and Jory began to cry tears of joy.
"Besides, I need a doctor and a chef on my crew; that is the main reason. Like all that heartfelt stuff, I meant it, but I need people like you," Lucian joked.
"Oh, Captain, that was so heartwarming, you to Mateo. I`m so sorry you went through that," Jory cried out. Mateo wouldn't stop crying; he felt his emotions. Then, Jory understood that Mateo just needed that reassurance, that someone felt the same exact way about the world as he did.
Mateo and Lucian began to lighten the mood and joke around. After what seemed like a couple of hours, Lucian managed to lose track of time. He had a great time with his new crewmates until Lucian looked at the time, oh shit. He needed to meet Reiju.
"Um, guys, give me one second. I need to take this call." Renee began to set the table, "I don`t hear anything." Lucian muttered some nonsense and then ducked out slowly.
He made his way to the end of the town center, and there she was, standing alone.
"Almost worried you wouldn`t show," she said.
"Here to kiss me to death again, 'cause I could be down for that," Lucian jokingly said.
Reiju approached him and held up a newspaper. Lucian grabbed the newspaper and began to read it. Lucian couldn`t believe his eyes; it was news about Aragonia. Before he could read it, Reiju grabbed the paper back.
"I bet you are confused, aren`t you? About everything, but the truth is. I want to help you, a native of Aragonia. I owe you that much," Reiju said. Lucian was even more confused than the first time, but he decided to listen.
"Oh really, what does a native of the North Blue have to offer a native of the South Blue, you know...since we are such close neighbors," Lucian continued to joke.
But Reiju`s face told a different story; she was serious, "I have emotions, you know, I am not heartless."
Lucian read the room, "I know, that surprised me. But let`s be honest, Reiju. The only thing we have in common is that I am way too attracted to you. Other than that, we are enemies, aren`t we?"
Reiju held her left arm and didn`t look into his eyes. "When I heard about you in the news, I was surprised. An Aragonia making it this far into the Grand Line. It made me happy."
Every time she opened her mouth, Lucian became more and more confused.
"Huh," he said.
"6 years ago, I sat with my brothers in my father`s war room. And this is a memory I will never forget. A man approached my father and offered him something in exchange for the use of his Germa soldiers.
My father is a cautious scientist, and he is usually fearless. But at that moment, as a young girl, I felt my father`s fear. This man intimidated my father and offered him an exchange. The man wanted to use his Germa soldiers, and he offered my father an exclusive seat in the Reverie if he complied. This excited my father, and he accepted."
Reiju looked back at her; where was she going with this?
"What I`m saying, Lucian, is that man that came to negotiate with my father scared him. No one scares Vinsmoke Judge. But he scared him enough to unleash Germa soldiers.
And 6 years ago, our soldiers slaughtered the people of Aragonia!"
Lucian didn`t think. He just acted on emotion. He used Soru and rushed towards Reiju, grabbed her by the throat, and slammed her to the ground; he acted upon this newfound anger that exploded the moment he heard those words.
Germa soldiers, they killed, they killed his people.
He thought back to that day. Those soldiers didn`t move like regular men. They were quicker, stronger, and more ruthless. It makes sense, Germa soldiers lacked emotions thus making them the perfect candidates to commit a mass genocide.
"What do you want from me, Reiju? HUH WHAT GAME IS THIS," Lucian screamed.
Reiju began to choke on her words as Lucian's grip around her neck tightened; she was struggling to breathe. Lucian realized what he was doing and let her go. He fell backward on his ass and crossed his legs, and began to contemplate what he was just told.
"Answer my question," Lucian said.
Reiju got up, grasping at her neck. "I can get you close inside; you want revenge, right?" Lucian stayed calm. He closed his eyes, focused all his Haki, and analyzed her emotions.
She was telling the truth.
"Why betray your family to help me? It makes no sense."
Reiju got closer, "My reasons are my own, but I have seen my brothers and father do the same thing to multiple countries, and trust me. It sticks with you. I have been complicit in all of the murder and senseless injustice. My fate was chosen for me from birth. My father planned every action and every choice.
For once, I want to help someone who suffered from my father`s wrath. I want to make my own choice."
Lucian got up and grabbed the newspaper off the ground.
He turned to the page with the news about Aragonia; for over six years, he had been left completely in the dark about what had happened there.
He began to read, "Aragonia to employ tariffs on the South Blue for imported goods." Oh, uh, cool. Is there anything regarding his family or Mikasa?
Lucian scanned the article multiple times until something caught his eye. "Aragonia under new leadership?"
New leadership, what the fuck. Aragonia has always been a democracy.
"Breaking News! The Aragonians and the pirates of Kutsukku Island established a new geopolitical relationship to strengthen the South Blue trade routes."
He loved when the media used fancy words for what was clearly a dictatorship.
He continued to read.
"The Captain of the Bloodborne Mauraders, Bloody Buefer, now controls the Aragonian people and oversees their economic territories. The World Government has not yet intervened to assess the situation for Aragonia, but it has released a statement.
"We feel for the Aragonian people at a time like this, and we have yet to learn new information about this pirate crew. But rest assured, pirates will always see justice."
Lucian ripped the newspaper in half. Pirates were running his country. Don`t believe what the papers say; he knew, oh, he knew. The World Government employed those pirates.
Those assholes wouldn`t lift a finger. Eventually, he knew that news like this would fade from the public`s mind after a while, like everything else.
The World Government wouldn`t risk losing Aragonia like that. Even if it was under pirate control, those pirates must have had a reason for taking authoritarian action of a large nation like Aragonia.
He`d never heard of the Bloodborne Mauraders, but it got him thinking. How did his people fare since he`d left? They`d probably forgotten about him.
Lucian read the rest of the article. It contained the same buzzwords and agenda they wanted the people of the world to believe.
Aragonia seemed to have been thriving since he had left, with no deaths, a low crime rate, lower taxes, and more employment opportunities for the poor.
It seemed too good to be true. But he`d take it with a grain of salt, and he knew virtually nothing. And all his focus must be on the present... On the Bayou Isles! He was in enemy territory, after all.
Yet, he yearned to go back. He knew he would eventually, and it`d be sooner rather than later.
Lucian looked back at Reiju and, calming his nerves, reached out his hand to her. He helped her up.
"I`m sorry for attacking you," he said.
"Everything okay with Aragonia," she had asked.
"For now, it seems stable. As long as my people are safe, I am happy." Although he could never be sure.
Awkward silence endured; he had forgotten that just a minute ago. He hurt her, and Lucian felt bad about it for some reason.
Reiji seemed to read his expression and mustered up a smile, "It`s okay, that is a reasonable reaction, after all. My family was responsible for the death of yours."
"You were just a kid. It wasn`t your decision. But you should know they will kill you for helping me."
"Do not worry, follow me," Reiju said. She led Lucian away from the empty town center, and they walked aimlessly away.
"I can get you an audience with my father alone. He knows the name of the man that came to him that night. You can try to make him tell you, but I cannot guarantee any positive results."
"Thanks, but for now, there is only one thing I need to know: What do you know of the Mother Flame? I heard Judge talk about it," Lucian said.
Reiju wasn`t surprised; Lucian always asked straightforward questions. "All I know is that it is rumored to have been made by a scientist my father despises, Dr. Vegapunk. Does that satisfy you, or will you attack me again?"
Again, Lucian scanned her emotions, and she told the truth; that was all she knew. Lucian wanted to trust Reiju fully, but she played for the enemy team, so he decided not to press the issue.
He had never heard of Dr. Vegapunk, but it was good to know.
Lucian decided to make Reiju feel more comfortable. She seemed truthful and took an interest in him, which he couldn`t complain about.
Lucian smiled and put his arm around Reiju, "Ah Reiju, you are the best, you know that. Look at us from enemies to lovers."
Reiju kept the same blank expression and continued to walk, "Yeah, no, never attack me like that again."
Lucian gasped, "Well, you did poison me, so we even?."
Reiju laughed at him and apologized for poisoning him.
Lucian and Reiju continued to walk around. He was happy for her help. Lucian spent the rest of their time together making jokes with her; she seemed to like it.
They finally reached the crossroads, "Lay low, Lucian. Now is not the best time to confront my father. I will contact you when it`s ready."
Lucian thought back to this day and what a major success it was. Not only did he gain two new crew members, but he also learned a ton of new information that he would have to sleep on to process. But he was focused on one thing now: Vinsmoke Judge.
When Uncle Rayleigh told him to investigate Germa, was that what he wanted Lucian to discover? Did Judge meet the suited man? Perhaps, but it could have been someone else. But that`s what he needed to discover.
"Thanks, Reiju, by the way... got to ask was I a good kisser?"
Reiju laughed, "Perhaps, or maybe, I didn`t decide to inject the poison until the last second." Lucian smirked at her response.
She was so into him(he`s delusional)
Reiju handed him a small transponder.
"This is meant for short-range communication; until I call, you must stay ten miles within the castle to establish a good signal. Don`t make a move until I say so," Reiju said.
"You know if you`re ever bored, I`m only a call away," Lucian said flirtingly.
Reiju laughed and walked away, "Goodnight, Lucian. I'm interested to see what you decide to do."
Reiju disappeared into the night; damn, she was beautiful.
Lucian returned to the safe house, where confused crewmates greeted him. "Where were you, Lucian? You were gone for nearly an hour," Mateo asked.
At that moment, Lucian made up a lie; he forgot what he told them, but they seemed to buy it.
They didn`t bother to question him, though. But as he sat down at the table, all he could think about was his plan for the future.
How was he going to do this? He needed time to think.
Renee handed him a delicious plate of steak, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. It smelled amazing, "Thanks, Renee."
When they all sat down and ate dinner, the mood changed drastically. It was upbeat. Renees's cooking was extravagant, and Mateo seemed to be enjoying himself. They told jokes and enjoyed each other's company. Renee had to make more food to satisfy the black hole that was Jory's stomach.
This was his crew so far, and he was more than happy that he had amazing people around him.
He never mentioned the Mother Flame.
They didn`t need to know that yet.
Lucian had a plan brewing, but for now, he enjoyed the company of new friends.