𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑 // 𝐓.𝐋𝐀𝐖 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂

3 : Help

The sea had become unnervingly still as dusk gave way to night. The horizon blurred into a seamless black, with only the faintest shimmer of stars providing any sense of direction.

Valeria stood at the bow, her eyes trained on the horizon, her grip tight on the railing. The wind had died down, but the air was thick with the anticipation of battle.

Suddenly, a shout came from the crow's nest.

"Pirate ship spotted ahead!"

The crew sprang to life. Marines rushed to their stations, grabbing rifles and preparing the cannons.

Valeria's eyes narrowed as she saw the ship coming into view, its black sails adorned with the unmistakable Jolly Roger of a pirate crew. But something was off.

This wasn't the ship of the Scourge. The flag—dark and ominous, with a skull wrapped in a surgical motif—belonged to someone else.

Someone she knew.

"That's not our target," Vice Admiral Aokiji said from beside her, his voice calm but alert.

"That's Trafalgar Law."

The name sent a ripple through the crew. Everyone knew who Trafalgar Law was—The Surgeon of Death.

His reputation as one of the most dangerous pirates in the New World preceded him.

The man with the power to control the very space around him with his Ope Ope no Mi, a pirate who had evaded capture more times than they could count.

He was a tactician, a manipulator of life and death, and not someone to be taken lightly.

Valeria's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of her sword. "What is he doing here?" she muttered, though the answer was already forming in her mind.

Law's ship, the Polar Tang, was cutting through the water swiftly, heading straight for them. The tension on deck skyrocketed.

Marines shifted nervously, their eyes darting between Valeria, Aokiji, and the oncoming pirate ship.

"We're not his target either," Aokiji said, his usual laid-back tone slipping into something more serious. "But if he's here, things just got a lot more complicated."

Darwish appeared at Valeria's side, his grin replaced by a grim look. "The Surgeon of Death, huh? I've heard stories. This is gonna be interesting."

Valeria didn't respond. Her gaze was fixed on the ship as it drew closer. Her mind raced with possibilities.

Law wasn't one to engage without reason. Was he after the Scourge too? Or was he here for something else?

As the Polar Tang came within range, the deck of Law's ship remained eerily quiet. No cannons were being readied, no crew members were visible—just the black hull gliding across the dark waters like a phantom.

Then, with a sudden flash of blue light, the world seemed to distort. A large dome of energy formed around both ships.

"Room," Valeria whispered. She knew this power well. The space around them was no longer their own—it was Law's now.

In a heartbeat, a figure appeared on their deck—calm, composed, and exuding a quiet menace. Trafalgar Law stood in the middle of the ship, his sword resting on his shoulder, his sharp eyes scanning the crew.

He looked as if he had stepped out of the shadows themselves, his black-and-yellow jacket fluttering lightly in the breeze that wasn't there a moment ago.

"Long time, no see, Lieutenant Commander Valeria," Law's voice was low, cutting through the tense air like a scalpel. His gaze flickered briefly to Aokiji, acknowledging him, but returning quickly to Valeria.

"Or should I call you The Reaper now?"

The nickname rolled off his tongue with a hint of mockery, though there was a subtle edge to his words. Valeria's jaw tightened beneath her mask, but she kept her voice steady.

"What do you want, Law?" she asked coldly, taking a step forward. Her crew, tense and ready for orders, held their ground, but their weapons remained trained on the pirate.

Law's lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes dark and calculating. "Relax, I'm not here for a fight." His tone was deceptively casual, but no one dared to let their guard down. "I'm after the same thing you are."

Valeria's eyes narrowed behind her mask. "The Scourge."

Law nodded, lowering his sword. "That bastard has been making quite a mess in the New World. I've been tracking him for weeks now. And it looks like our paths have crossed."

Aokiji stepped forward, his presence as chilling as the night air. "You expect us to believe you're here to help? What's your angle, Law?"

Law's smile didn't falter, but his gaze shifted toward Aokiji. "No angle. I just don't want someone like the Scourge running loose. He's bad for business."

Valeria knew better than to trust Law's words at face value. He was a pirate, a mastermind in the art of deception. But there was something in his tone—something that told her he wasn't lying about this.

"If you get in our way, Law, I'll cut you down myself," Valeria warned, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "This isn't your hunt."

Law's eyes flickered with amusement. "Fair enough, Reaper. But if you want to take him down, you'll need my help. The Scourge isn't like the other pirates you've dealt with. He's got... something else on his side."

Darwish, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "Something else? What the hell are you talking about?"

Law's expression darkened. "A power... one that I've only seen once before. And if we don't stop him soon, there won't be a Marine base left standing in his path."

The air around them grew heavier with the weight of Law's words. The crew exchanged uneasy glances, while Aokiji remained impassive, watching Law carefully.

Valeria's mind raced. She hated the idea of working with a pirate, especially one like Law, but if what he said was true, they couldn't afford to let pride get in the way.

"Fine," she finally said, her voice steely. "But know this, Law—if you betray us, I will not hesitate to take your head."

Law chuckled, his dark eyes gleaming. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Without another word, Law disappeared, reappearing on his own ship just as quickly as he had arrived. The dome of energy around the two ships faded, and the Polar Tang resumed its course alongside the Marine vessel.

Valeria stood at the bow, her eyes fixed on the horizon once again. The Scourge was out there, and now, with Trafalgar Law by their side, the hunt had truly begun.

The only question that remained was whether they would be able to trust their unlikely ally long enough to see it through.