The gentle sway of the Moby Dick beneath his back was the first thing Lupin felt as consciousness clawed its way back to him. His head throbbed, his body ached like he'd been thrown through a stone wall — which, in a way, wasn't far from the truth. The last clear thing he remembered was Whitebeard's monstrous fist coming down on him like a battering ram, sending him skidding across the deck like a ragdoll.
And then… darkness.
Memories trickled back in pieces — blurry at first, but sharp enough to stitch together a painfully clear picture.
He hadn't meant to be reckless.
Well… maybe a little.
It was that damned system of his. Another impossible quest tossed his way: "Earn the respect of all Whitebeard Division Commanders — and the 2nd Division Commander."
Problem was, there was no 2nd Division Commander.
Not anymore.
And in a moment equal parts boldness and idiocy, Lupin had marched right up to Whitebeard himself, half-mad and dead serious, and asked:
"Hey, Pops… mind appointing someone as 2nd Division Commander for a minute so I can complete a quest?"
The deck had fallen into dead silence for a heartbeat. You could've heard a pin drop.
Then — like a tidal wave — the entire crew lost it.
Drinks spilled. Fosha nearly toppled over laughing. Vista choked on his ale. Even Marco snorted into his mug.
And Whitebeard — that monstrous, mountain of a man — threw his head back and let out a laugh so loud it shook the planks beneath their feet.
"Fine, brat! I'll be the 2nd Division Commander for a minute! You wanna earn my respect? Come at me!"
And like the fool he was, Lupin agreed.
He'd known damn well he couldn't win. Hell, he barely expected to survive a single hit. But at that point, he was too deep in to back out. He needed to finish that quest.
So now here he was — bruised, bloodied, probably concussed, but somehow 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 notification 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 RPG?"
The system's cold, matter-of-fact voice replied.
[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 good one."
He tried to sit up, immediately regretted it when the world spun like a ship caught in a storm. A shadow moved in his blurry vision, and when it cleared, Marco was there — leaning against a barrel, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Yo, you finally awake, Black Rose?" Marco teased. "For a while, we thought Pops turned you into fish food."
Lupin coughed out a laugh, dry and ragged. "Not yet. Still got a few reckless ideas left."
Marco tossed him a bottle of water. "You've got a death wish, y'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, taking a sip. "Just needed his respect."
Marco snorted. "You're insane. You remind me of someone."
Lupin raised a brow. "Yeah? Who?"
"Kouzuki Oden."
The name hung in the air, carrying weight even out here in the New World.
Lupin perked up. "Oden… yeah, I've heard the stories. Never met him, though."
Marco's grin softened, a touch of nostalgia flickering in his eyes. "He was our 2nd Division Commander. Wild, reckless bastard. Didn't give a damn about odds, or rules, or how impossible something seemed. All he cared about was freedom, family… and doing what he believed was right."
Then Marco's gaze sharpened, like a hawk zeroing in. "But don't get it twisted. Oden's strength was monstrous. He could take a punch from Pops and laugh it off."
Lupin winced, gingerly touching his ribs. "Yeah… guess I've got a long road ahead."
"Maybe," Marco smirked. "But guts like yours? Not easy to find. And around here… that matters."
Other commanders drifted nearby. Thatch raised his glass. Vista offered a nod. Izo smirked faintly. From across the deck, Fosha bellowed, "Still breathing, rookie? Color me impressed!"
Lupin gave a weak grin. "Takes more than a mountain punch to put me down."
Then came Whitebeard's voice — a booming, thunderous roar that rolled across the ship.
"Oi, Black Rose!" Whitebeard's grin was wide, sharp as a blade. "You've done well. From today on — you're not just a pirate on my ship. You're one of my sons!"
The deck exploded in cheers. Mugs clanked. Boots stomped the planks.
It wasn't just a celebration.
It was family.
And for the first time in a long time, something warm settled in Lupin's chest — heavy, steady, and real.
[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 slow, satisfied grin spread across Lupin's face. "Let's test this."
He summoned his system window, flicking through wanted posters until he found a familiar grinning face.
Gecko Moria.
Bounty: 320,000,000 Berri.
"Perfect."
He selected Moria's poster and activated the 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
Leaning back against the mast, Lupin let out a breath.
He'd boarded this ship a no-name pirate — no crew, no flag, no legacy. Just a reckless dream of carving his name into the world's history and tearing down the corrupt powers that ruled it.
Now?
Now, he had a family.
And this was just the beginning.