The salty air whipped through the rigging of the Moby Dick, carrying with it the boisterous echoes of the Whitebeard Pirates' laughter. Dawn painted the vast expanse of the sea in warm hues of orange and pink — a serene backdrop to the raucous scene playing out on deck.
At the center of it all stood Marco, the ship's First Division Commander, his usual calm composure shattered by fits of unrestrained laughter. He doubled over, a crumpled newspaper in one hand and a stack of colorful bounty posters in the other, his lean frame shaking as he struggled to catch his breath.
"BAHAHAHA! You guys — get over here!" Marco finally bellowed, his voice thick with amusement, drawing curious eyes from every corner of the ship.
The sound dragged the crew from their hammocks and bunks, groggy pirates stumbling onto the deck with bleary eyes and muffled complaints. Vista, ever vigilant, was among the first, his hand instinctively resting near the hilt of his sword. Fossa, Rakuyo, and the swift Speed Jiru followed close behind, curiosity etched into their faces. Even Izo, ever-pristine, stepped out while meticulously tying up his long, black hair.
"Oi, Marco," Vista grumbled, though a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. "What's with the racket? You'll wake Pops again."
Marco slapped the newspaper down onto a nearby barrel with a dramatic thud. "Look at this!"
The bold headline practically jumped off the page:
[GECKO MORIA REJECTS WARLORD SEAT — SAILING FOR THE NEW WORLD!]
A beat of silence hung in the air, and then — chaos. The deck erupted in a cacophony of howls, snickers, and roaring laughter. Moria had been the crew's favorite running gag ever since a mysterious bounty poster surfaced a few weeks back, sporting the utterly ridiculous title:
[Whitebeard's Reckless Son]
Nobody knew who'd started it. The World Government denied it, no Marine owned up to it, and wild rumors floated from drunken Marine pranks to divine intervention. But the moment it was printed, it was official in their eyes.
"Another reckless brat under Pops' name!" Fossa cackled, wiping a tear from his eye. "This just keeps getting better!"
Whitebeard himself, seated comfortably in his massive throne-like chair at the edge of the deck, let out his signature, booming laugh. His great white crescent mustache twitched with every deep, rumbling chuckle.
"Gurararara! If that fool's got the guts to call himself my son, I wanna meet 'im!" Whitebeard roared, a grin on his weathered face.
While the crew carried on in uproarious delight, one figure stayed quiet. Lupin sat by the railing, the rim of his coffee cup catching the first rays of morning light. A subtle smirk tugged at his lips as he sipped, watching his handiwork unravel.
'If only they knew that was my doing,' he mused, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.
Ever since he'd doctored Moria's wanted poster as a prank, the crew's obsession with it hadn't faded. Moria's eccentric reputation paired with the absurd title had made him a running joke on board. Now, with the news of Moria setting sail for the New World, the whole ship was fired up again.
Unseen by his crewmates, Lupin casually opened his personal system window. A single notification pulsed in the corner of his vision — the reward for his last monthly quest. His finger hovered over the virtual prompt.
[Use Title Card?]
Yes.
He confirmed the choice with a thought. A faint flash of light blinked in the system, and a new title appeared before his eyes:
[Blackbeard's Brother]
Effect: Anyone whose wanted poster carries this title will develop loyalty toward Marshall D. Teach.
Lupin nearly spat out his coffee.
"What the actual hell is this garbage?" he muttered, slamming his cup down.
Annoyance flared through him. "Why the hell would I ever use that? Teach doesn't need more loyal idiots running around." The idea of bolstering Blackbeard's following — even unintentionally — turned his stomach. He quickly closed the system menu, irritation lingering like a sour taste.
Before he could fully collect himself, another notification popped up, its sudden appearance making him flinch.
[New Monthly Quest Issued!]
Quest:Reckless Son Showdown
Objective: Fight Gecko Moria to prove who's the true Reckless Son of Whitebeard.
Time Limit: 30 Days
Win: Earn more respect among the Whitebeard Pirates
Lose: Lose respect
Reward: 1 Creation Point
Lupin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Perfect. Just perfect." Now he had to fight Moria… and act like it was personal, without letting anyone know he was the one who started this whole reckless-son mess in the first place.
The irony was almost unbearable.
Worse yet, the crew was practically salivating at the thought of meeting this so-called reckless son. The speculation had reached fever pitch by evening, sake flowing freely as they swapped theories and wild guesses.
"Bet he's a heavyweight drinker!" Speed Jiru grinned, his usual speed dialed back in favor of the conversation.
"I hope he's as crazy as the poster says!" Izo chimed in, fan flicking open with a sharp snap as he practically bounced on his toes.
Lupin leaned against the rail, forcing a grin and raising his cup. "Yeah, another reckless one. Can't wait." He took a long sip of his now-lukewarm coffee, hiding the grimace behind his mug.
But under the facade, his mind was racing. He needed to plan — to make the upcoming fight look authentic, to play his role in a rivalry he'd fabricated with his own damn prank. And, naturally, his thoughts drifted toward future mischief. The next scheme. The next laugh.
'Maybe a prank involving a pet next time,' he mused, eyes flicking toward Teach, who was sprawled across a nearby crate, snoring loud enough to rattle the deck.
A slow, wicked grin curled Lupin's lips. The pet prank could wait. First, he had to deal with Gecko Moria — the unwitting star of his most complicated prank yet.