One Piece: Please Call Me Godfather!

Reinhardt was reading the newspaper, his expression showing a hint of surprise.

The front page of the newspaper had a picture.

It showed a man with a rugged face, his smile dazzling, and flames rising from behind him.

The headline on this page read: "Burning the Seas, the New Force of Strength!"

"Fire Fist, Ace."

Reinhardt murmured.

The current year is 1517 in the Sea Circle Calendar, and the storyline began three years ago, exactly when the orphaned Pirate King, born in the womb, went out to sea and obtained the Mera Mera no Mi while roaming the East Blue.

Mera Mera no Mi.

What a lucky guy.

Reinhardt recalled the time he risked his life to wield the Mind Power Fruit on the Grand Line, a time when he could have been considered a life-or-death situation, even clashing with some monsters from the New World.

Looking back at Ace, he casually drifted to an island, continuously picking up a vice-captain and also acquiring a Logia-type Devil Fruit.

Now that's the difference.

As Reinhardt was sitting and reflecting, the door to his study was suddenly pushed open. Bartolomeo, full of excitement, rushed in.

"Teacher, there's a pirate ship at the harbor!"

"Harbor?"

Even Reinhardt was a little surprised.

How is it that the East Blue pirates are so arrogant and rebellious now? Dare to dock their ship directly at the Loguetown harbor?

"Mm,"

Bartolomeo nodded repeatedly. "It seems to be the Black Cat Pirates!"

"The Black Cat Pirates?"

"Yes, Teacher, let's go take a look at the commotion! Kuro, the Hundred Plans, has been the most famous pirate recently!" Bartolomeo was very excited.

Who doesn't like watching a good fight?

Reinhardt calculated the time for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sounds interesting."

"You single-handedly wiped out the Black Cat Pirates?"

Francklin looked at the man before him, covered in injuries, with one arm broken and his jaw shattered, his eyes somewhat complicated.

This man had brought the Black Cat Pirates' ship to Loguetown, along with a bounty of 16 million on Kuro, the Hundred Plans.

"Yes, it was me."

Facing the lieutenant colonel, the man, part of the East Blue Navy, was a little fearful, but he still firmly spoke, "I captured Kuro, the Hundred Plans!"

Francklin felt a little envious. With this achievement, this minor officer could likely rise to at least the rank of lieutenant or even captain within the naval division.

The lieutenant colonel's admiration wasn't just for the rank of captain; it was because this man had suddenly risen sharply within the Navy.

He was over forty years old this year, still holding the rank of lieutenant colonel, and unless something unexpected happened, there would be no major changes even when he retired.

If it weren't for the lack of options, who would be willing to go to the East Blue?

Francklin sighed softly, though he didn't show it outwardly. "Very good, brave marine. I'll immediately report your achievement to the headquarters. What's your name?"

"Morgan! Lieutenant Colonel, I'm called Morgan!"

"This is Kuro?"

In the Loguetown Marine prison, Francklin's deputy glanced at the man in the cell, hesitating. "Why does he look somewhat different from the wanted poster?"

"Alright, probably an issue with the angle of the photo."

He couldn't be bothered to investigate further. "Prepare for the execution."

Not everyone had the right to be thrown into Impel Down. At the start, pirates in such a small rural area like the East Blue weren't even qualified.

The execution of Kuro, the Hundred Plans, was conducted with great ceremony.

A temporary execution platform was set up at the harbor.

Although there was already an execution stand in the central square of Loguetown, Kuro didn't meet the standard for that kind of stage.

With a bounty of 16 million, the top pirate of the East Blue was being executed, and the citizens of Loguetown crowded together to watch the spectacle.

Reinhardt, in a state of complete calm, took Bartolomeo along and went over.

The harbor was packed with people, and Reinhardt casually used his telekinetic power to lift himself and Bartolomeo onto a rooftop.

At this moment, the execution platform was set up below, and "Kuro, the Hundred Plans" was slumped, exhausted, and motionless, being held by two marine soldiers who looked like wolves.

"A! Is that really Kuro, the Hundred Plans?"

Bartolomeo said excitedly, "He doesn't seem that impressive. And this is the guy with a bounty of 16 million?"

Reinhardt just smiled and said nothing.

Whether it was "Kuro, the Hundred Plans" or the 16 million bounty, neither was worth his attention.

Francklin walked up to the execution platform below, briefly announcing Kuro's numerous crimes, before pulling up Marine soldier Morgan, who had taken down the Black Cat Pirates, to praise him.

Finally, Kuro was pushed onto the execution platform, bound with a rope, and then dropped onto the lever.

As Kuro's body fell under the influence of gravity, his neck was instantly snapped by the noose.

When Kuro died, the surrounding crowd erupted in thunderous applause.

This was also the reason why the Navy was the undisputed ruler of the seas.

Reinhardt quietly watched it all, as if he were detached from this world. All the noise and commotion here had nothing to do with him.

Noticing Reinhardt and Bartolomeo on the rooftop, Francklin pointed at them.

Reinhardt smiled. Was this, then, your intention?

"This guy really is arrogant, Teacher!"

Bartolomeo said angrily. "He should've been killed!"

Reinhardt waved his hand. "Don't rush. It's possible to become a friend, but we shouldn't turn him into an enemy. There are some people who can become friends directly, but there are others who need a little help."

"I think, right now, Lieutenant Colonel, he needs a little help."