The gentle sway of the Moby Dick beneath his back was the first thing Lupin felt as consciousness slowly clawed its way back. His head pounded, his body ached like it had been thrown through a brick wall — which, in a way, it had been. The last thing he remembered was Whitebeard's monstrous fist slamming into him like a battering ram, sending him crashing into the deck like a ragdoll.
And then… nothing.
The memories trickled back, hazy at first, but soon painting a painfully clear picture.
He hadn't been trying to be reckless — well, maybe a little. It was this damned system of his, throwing out another impossible quest: "Earn the respect of all Whitebeard Division Commanders — and the 2nd Division Commander."
Problem was, there was no 2nd Division Commander.
Not anymore.
But Lupin, in a moment of equal parts boldness and stupidity, had approached Whitebeard himself, straight-faced and half-mad, and asked,
"Hey, Pops… can you appoint someone as 2nd Division Commander for a minute so I can complete a quest?"
The deck had fallen silent for a heartbeat. And then, like a tidal wave, the entire crew burst out in wild, roaring laughter.
Drinks spilled. Fosha nearly toppled over. Vista choked on his ale. Even Marco snorted into his mug.
And Whitebeard — that monstrous mountain of a man — threw his head back and bellowed with laughter so loud it shook the very planks of the ship.
"Fine, brat! I'll be the 2nd Division Commander for a minute! You wanna earn my respect? Come at me!"
And like the idiot he was, Lupin agreed.
He'd known he couldn't win. He barely expected to survive a hit from the man. But he was too deep in it now. He needed to finish the quest.
And so, here he was — bruised, bloodied, and miraculously still breathing.
A familiar chime echoed in his ears.
[Monthly Quest Complete!]
Reward: 1 Creation Point, 1 Mystery Chest.
[System Lock Avoided]
A crooked grin tugged at his split lips. "Heh… worth it."
Another chime blinked into view.
[Wanted Poster Update Available]
New Reputation Title: 'Whitebeard's Reckless Son'
Effect: Your wanted poster reputation has changed. Hostile pirates and bounty hunters may hesitate before acting against you. Whitebeard Pirates' reputation with you greatly improved.
Bonus Ability: Title Editor unlocked. You may assign this title to other pirates' wanted posters by spending 10 Edit Points per use.
Lupin blinked. "Wait, you're giving me titles now? What is this, some fantasy RPG?"
The system's cold, matter-of-fact tone answered.
[Explanation: Host's notoriety, affiliations, and reputation directly affect future wanted posters. Labels such as 'Reckless Son' may appear in bounty updates, influencing global perception.]
A weak chuckle escaped him, though it hurt like hell. "Fine. Make it a damn good one."
He tried to sit up and immediately regretted it. The world spun. A shadow moved nearby, and when his vision cleared, Marco stood there, leaning against a barrel, arms crossed and wearing an amused grin.
"Yo, you finally awake, Black Rose?" Marco teased. "For a minute, we thought Pops turned you into fish food."
Lupin coughed out a dry laugh. "Not yet. Still got a few reckless ideas left."
Marco tossed him a bottle of water. "You've seriously got a death wish, you know that? Who the hell asks Pops to appoint a 2nd Division Commander just to pick a fight?"
"Wasn't trying to win," Lupin muttered between sips. "Just needed his respect."
Marco snorted. "You're insane. You remind me of someone."
Lupin arched a brow. "Yeah? Who?"
"Kouzuki Oden." Marco's gaze drifted to the horizon, the name carrying weight even here in the New World.
Lupin perked up at that. "Oden… yeah, I know that name. Never met him, but I've heard the stories."
Marco's grin softened. "He was our 2nd Division Commander. Wild, reckless bastard. Didn't give a damn about odds or rules — just freedom, family, and doing what he thought was right."
Then Marco's eyes sharpened. "But don't mistake yourself, Lupin. Oden's strength was monstrous. He could take a punch from Pops and laugh about it."
Lupin winced, gingerly touching his ribs. "Yeah… guess I've got a long way to go."
"Maybe," Marco smirked. "But guts like yours? Not easy to find. And around here… that counts."
Other commanders drifted nearby. Thatch raised his glass. Vista offered a respectful nod. Izo smirked. Fosha bellowed from across the deck, "Still breathing, rookie? Color me impressed!"
Lupin chuckled. "Takes more than a mountain punch to finish me off."
Then came the thunderous voice of Whitebeard, rolling across the ship like thunder.
"Oi, Black Rose!" the old man's grin was wide and sharp. "You've done well. From today on — you ain't just a pirate on my ship. You're one of my sons!"
The deck erupted. Cheers, stomps, mugs clanking.
It wasn't just a celebration. It was a home.
And for the first time in a long time, Lupin felt something warm and heavy settle in his chest.
[Wanted Poster Update Prepared]
Note: 'Whitebeard's Reckless Son' will now be appended to future bounty updates. World Government recognition pending.
Bonus Ability: You can assign this title to other pirates' wanted posters for 10 Edit Points per use.
Current Edit Points: 570
A grin spread on Lupin's face. "Let's test this."
He summoned his system window, flicking through wanted posters until he landed on a familiar, grinning face.
Gecko Moria.
Bounty: 320,000,000 Berri.
"Perfect."
He selected Moria's poster and activated his Title Editor.
[Assign title 'Whitebeard's Reckless Son' to Gecko Moria's wanted poster? Cost: 10 Edit Points.]
Lupin's grin widened. "Do it."
The system chimed.
[Title applied successfully.]
Edit Points remaining: 560
Lupin let out a breath, leaning back against the mast.
He'd boarded this ship a no-name pirate. No crew, no flag, no legacy. Chasing a reckless dream to carve his name into the world's history and topple the corrupt powers that ruled it.
And now… he had family.
He gazed at the New World horizon, painted in crimson and fire.
This was just the beginning.