The Queen's Grace sliced gently through the calm waters, the white sails puffed full as Nojiko confidently adjusted the rigging.
Compared to the chaos of their first voyage, the ship now moved with a quiet rhythm.
Their crew—small as it was—had begun to function as a real unit.
Kaito stood at the helm, hands firm on the wheel, feeling every shift of the wind.
Kuina lounged on the deck, her arms folded behind her head, her eyes half-closed but alert.
Nojiko charted their course, her fingers gliding over the map with practiced ease.
Their next destination: Syrup Village.
The system's hint had been clear.
[New Sub-Mission: Recruit a Doctor.]
[Target: Kaya – Syrup Village Resident.]
In Kaito's memories of the original world, Kaya remained behind when Usopp joined the Straw Hats. But here, the story would change.
Perhaps, in this life, Kaya would choose to sail.
Perhaps, in this life, she would find her own freedom.
"We'll reach Syrup Village by noon tomorrow," Nojiko reported, her voice steady.
"Good," Kaito said. "The ship's holding well?"
Nojiko gave a small nod, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "We're not amateurs anymore."
"Speak for yourself," Kuina muttered, shifting to sit upright. "I still can't tie those knots you showed me."
"I'll teach you again tonight," Nojiko said, her patience genuine.
Kaito couldn't help but feel a quiet pride.
They weren't just gathering people—they were building trust.
The crew wasn't growing because of the system's mission.
They were growing because they chose each other.
That, more than any system reward, was what mattered to him.
When they docked at Syrup Village the next day, the air was warm and the village quiet.
Simple houses lined the gentle hills, and the docks buzzed softly with fishermen preparing their morning catch.
It was a peaceful place.
Too peaceful, Kaito thought.
The last time he read about this island, it had been Usopp's home—a boy who loved to tell lies and chase the dream of sailing the sea.
But this time, Usopp wasn't his target.
It was Kaya.
A girl who, in the original story, remained behind, watching Usopp leave.
Not this time.
"We'll need to ask around," Kaito said as they disembarked. "Let's move carefully. I don't want to disrupt Luffy's path."
Kuina tilted her head. "You really care about that, huh?"
"Yes," Kaito said simply. "I'm not here to steal his story. I'm here to live my own."
Nojiko crossed her arms. "So we recruit Kaya without interfering with the Straw Hats?"
"Exactly."
They made their way through the village, passing by small shops and quiet streets. The locals were friendly, offering warm greetings as they went.
Kaito asked discreet questions at a small food stall.
The vendor nodded toward the hill. "You mean the lady from the mansion? She's been recovering for years. Sickly girl, but well-loved here."
"Is she still under the care of that butler?"
"Ah, Klahadore? He's always hovering around her. Strange fellow. Strict."
Kaito's eyes sharpened.
Klahadore. In the original story, he was Captain Kuro in disguise.
If that timeline remained intact, Kuro would soon make his move against Kaya's life.
And if Kaito was here, he couldn't just stand by.
"Let's visit her," Kaito said.
They made their way up the hill, arriving at the mansion's grand iron gate.
Kaito knocked politely, and soon, a servant greeted them.
"We're looking for Lady Kaya," Kaito said, offering a small, respectful bow. "We heard she's skilled with medicine. We'd like to speak with her."
The servant seemed surprised but allowed them to enter.
Inside, the mansion was quiet, the air heavy with a lingering sense of isolation.
They were led to a sunlit terrace where Kaya sat, sipping tea.
She looked delicate, her skin pale, but her eyes were bright and curious.
"You're not from this village," Kaya said softly as they approached.
Kaito introduced himself and his crew. "We heard you're familiar with medicine. We're looking for a doctor to join our crew."
Kaya's hands trembled slightly as she set her cup down. "A… crew?"
Kuina stepped forward. "We're sailors. We're traveling the world. We're not chasing glory or treasure. We're just… living."
Kaya's gaze drifted toward the distant sea, shimmering beyond the village.
"I've always wanted to sail," she whispered. "But I was born weak. I've never even left this island."
Nojiko sat beside her, her voice gentle. "Do you want to stay here forever? In this house? Behind these walls?"
Kaya's eyes clouded with hesitation.
From the corner of the terrace, Klahadore appeared, his sharp glasses glinting in the sun.
"Lady Kaya," he interjected, his tone cold but polite. "Entertaining pirates is dangerous. You should not—"
"We're not pirates," Kaito cut in, his voice calm but firm. "We're sailors."
Klahadore adjusted his glasses, his smile thin and false. "Regardless, Lady Kaya is not well enough to entertain such fantasies. Please leave."
Kuina's hand drifted toward her sword, but Kaito gently lowered it.
"No need," he whispered.
They turned to Kaya, who sat quietly, her fingers gripping the edge of her chair.
"Kaya," Kaito said softly, "what do you want?"
She looked at Klahadore, then at the sea.
"I want to sail."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of years of quiet longing.
Klahadore's polite mask faltered.
"Impossible," he said sharply. "Lady Kaya's condition—"
Kaito raised a hand, stopping him. "We won't take her by force. We'll return tomorrow. Kaya can decide for herself."
He turned to leave, his crew following him.
Kaya's quiet voice stopped them. "Wait."
They looked back.
"I've been studying medicine for years. I'm not strong, but I can care for people. I can help."
Kuina smiled. "That's enough."
Nojiko offered her hand. "Come with us."
Kaya hesitated, then glanced at Klahadore.
His expression was controlled, but his fingers were tense at his sides.
He would never let her leave quietly.
"I need one day," Kaya said, her voice steady now. "To arrange things."
Kaito nodded. "We'll wait."
They left the mansion, returning to their ship to prepare supplies.
That night, under the starry sky, Kaito's system chimed.
[Sub-Mission Updated: Intervene in Klahadore's Plot.]
[Failure Consequence: Kaya's Life at Risk.]
Kaito's jaw tightened.
So the assassination plan remained.
In the original story, Luffy's crew saved Kaya from Captain Kuro.
But in this timeline, Kaito's crew would face him first.
He wouldn't leave this to chance.
The next morning, they returned to the mansion.
The air was too quiet.
Servants avoided eye contact. The hallways were strangely empty.
Kaito's senses sharpened.
"Kuina. Nojiko. Be ready."
They found Kaya waiting near the entrance, her small bag packed, her expression determined.
But Klahadore was already there, blocking the door.
"You're not leaving, Lady Kaya," he said softly, dangerously.
"You're not a butler," Kaya said, her voice trembling but firm. "You're Captain Kuro."
Kuro's polite facade melted away, revealing the cold gaze of the notorious pirate.
Kaito stepped forward, placing himself between Kaya and Kuro.
"Move," Kaito said.
Kuro's smile was razor-thin. "You're interfering in something you don't understand."
"Try me."
Kuro's hands drifted toward his strange gloves, each finger tipped with deadly blades.
"I don't need to kill you," Kuro said. "I only need to make sure Kaya never leaves."
Kuina's blade gleamed as she stepped forward, her stance balanced and ready.
Nojiko circled to flank him, her footwork light but steady.
The battle was inevitable.
Kuro moved first, vanishing in a blink.
But Kaito's reflexes had been sharpened in the accelerated training ground.
He raised his wooden sword just in time to deflect the incoming slash, the force of it rattling his bones.
Kuro's speed was unnatural.
But Kaito's training had prepared him for speed.
Kuina engaged next, her strikes fast and precise, forcing Kuro to retreat momentarily.
Nojiko supported from the side, using her knowledge of the mansion's layout to predict Kuro's movements.
The fight raged through the grand halls, wooden beams splintering, furniture shattered in their wake.
Kaito's wooden sword cracked under the pressure, but he refused to yield.
"You're strong," Kuro admitted, his breathing slightly uneven. "But you're in my way."
"We protect our crew," Kaito said, raising his sword again.
Kuina's eyes blazed. "And she's our crew."
Together, they pressed the attack, overwhelming Kuro's defenses.
Finally, with a synchronized strike, Kuina and Kaito disarmed him, sending his bladed gloves clattering to the ground.
Kuro retreated, disappearing into the forest beyond the mansion, his plans in ruins.
The system chimed.
[Sub-Mission Complete: Kaya Rescued.]
[Reward: Doctor Position Unlocked.]
Kaya collapsed to her knees, tears falling freely now. "Thank you. I thought I would never… I thought I would never leave this place."
Kaito offered his hand. "You're not alone now."
Kaya took it, her grip trembling but firm.
Together, they left the mansion, boarding the Queen's Grace.
As they set sail once more, Kaya looked out over the open sea, her eyes filled with wonder.
"What's our next destination?" she asked.
Kaito smiled. "Anywhere we want."
Their journey was only beginning.
But now, they were three.
A swordswoman.
A navigator.
A doctor.
Their crew was growing.
Their legend was starting to take shape.