Bird-Bird Fruit · Mythical Zoan Type · Siren Form!
Jay was shaken inside.
So it really was a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit, not a regular Zoan.
In Jay's understanding, the so-called "siren" could be classified into two different legends.
One described a siren as a bird-bodied creature with a human face, flying above the ocean, gifted with a heavenly voice that lured passing sailors into crashing their ships and drowning, whereupon the siren feasted on their bodies.
The other described a creature that was half-human, half-fish, an ocean-dwelling monster that used its voice and appearance to charm and bewitch.
But in the world of One Piece, the latter wasn't considered a siren, it was classified as a mermaid!
That clarified everything.
Human face, bird's body, a heavenly singing voice, terrifying hypnotic abilities...
Wasn't that exactly like the sirens of legend?
Jay felt a surge of relief.
If he hadn't suspected ahead of time that Lafitte had likely eaten a Devil Fruit and gained the power of flight, and prepared accordingly
Then once Lafitte had taken to the skies, he and Bonez would've been left helpless, staring up from the ground.
Combined with the siren's strange sonic control powers, they might've ended up in serious trouble.
That said, judging from the fight earlier, it was obvious Lafitte hadn't had the fruit for long, his mastery over it was still shallow.
Otherwise, even if Jay had still won, it definitely wouldn't have been so easy.
Clearing his thoughts, Jay looked at Lafitte and smiled. "Let me introduce myself, Nova Jay, from the 88th Marine Base in West Blue. My rank is… Warrant Officer."
"And the guy beside me is Daz Bonez, formerly a well-known assassin."
"Sorry to disappoint you, but neither of us is some elite dispatched from Marine Headquarters."
Lafitte froze for a moment, Warrant Officer… from the 88th Base in West Blue?
And… an assassin?
What kind of team was this?
It was far too strange.
At this point, Lafitte didn't think they were lying. There was no need.
His life or death was at their mercy, what would they gain by lying?
It's not like he could cough up the Devil Fruit he'd already eaten.
"So… you didn't come to capture me for the Devil Fruit?"
Lafitte wasn't stupid, he was starting to figure things out.
After all, if the Marine had come to arrest him, they definitely wouldn't bring an assassin along.
This was clearly something this guy was doing on his own.
"Of course not. Before I found you, I didn't even know you had a Devil Fruit, let alone that you'd already eaten it."
Jay's honest reply made Lafitte cough up several more mouthfuls of blood.
Frustrated.
If there were ever a time to use the phrase "overthinking it," this was it.
But in fairness, given how they first met, anyone would've drawn the same conclusion.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
"So can I ask now why you were looking for me?"
"No rush. I'm actually more curious, who did you steal that Devil Fruit from?"
"You don't know?"
"Should I?"
"That Devil Fruit was something I found among a shipment of goods. The ones escorting the shipment were Marines from your very own 88th Base."
Hearing that, Jay froze again.
"Seriously?"
"Come on, at this point, what would I gain by lying?"
"And you had the guts to rob a Marine shipment? You really are bold, huh?"
"Heh. If it had been an aboveboard, openly escorted Marine shipment, I wouldn't have dared touch it. But smuggling contraband in secret? If it gets stolen, who's going to make noise about it? At best, they'll do a quiet investigation. Most likely, it'll be swept under the rug like nothing ever happened."
Lafitte wasn't just bold, he had nailed the whole situation with pinpoint accuracy.
Jay's mind flashed back to shortly after he had joined the Marines, when the base conducted a massive internal investigation. Something had gone missing, and many people had been interrogated under brutal torture. Some corpses had even been hung from the flagpoles at the training ground.
If he wasn't mistaken, the item Colonel Hammond had lost back then…
Was probably this very Devil Fruit that Lafitte had secretly stolen!
Just as Lafitte had expected, Colonel Hammond didn't dare make a fuss. In the end, the incident was indeed quietly swept under the rug.
If not for Jay stumbling into the situation by accident, the truth of this matter might have never come to light.
Having satisfied his curiosity, Jay didn't waste any more time and decisively extended an invitation to Lafitte.
"Lafitte, congratulations on passing the test. Come on, join us."
"Join you? As a Marine?"
Lafitte's expression turned strange. He felt like either he was crazy, or this guy was.
But Jay said, "The Marines are just a tool, a stepping stone to the top of the world."
"Our ultimate goal is to completely seize control of this vast Marine force, then overthrow and wipe out that damned World Government and the Celestial Dragons!"
"If this world must have a master, then why shouldn't the one sitting on the throne be me?"
Jay didn't feel the slightest shame in revealing his ambition.
On the contrary, if the comrades he chose couldn't accept or agree with his ideals, then there would be no point in traveling together.
That was crucial.
Lafitte let out a sigh. "Do I still have the option to say no?"
Jay looked him straight in the eyes. "No."
Lafitte chuckled and shook his head. "Seems like I took that beating for nothing, won't even get the chance to take revenge later."
Hearing that, a smile crept onto Jay's face too. "Not necessarily, if you can beat me."
"So, how should I address you in the future? Captain? Boss? Chief?"
"Whatever you want. In private, just call me by my name. The rest of the time, call me however you like."
"I get it. I'm in. So… can I go see a doctor now?"
As soon as he said that, Lafitte coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Clearly, Jay had given him quite the thrashing earlier.
"Bonez, take our new member to get treated. Get the best doctor, and use the most expensive medicine."
Bonez suddenly held out his hand.
"What for?" Jay asked.
"Medical fees."
"...Pay it for now, then get reimbursed from Lafitte later."
For a brief moment, maybe it was just his imagination, Jay thought he saw a flash of contempt in Bonez's eyes.
Lafitte, meanwhile, was speechless.
Not only had he gotten beaten up for no reason, now he had to pay his own medical bills?
Anyone who knew would say he joined the Marines. Anyone who didn't would think he got recruited into some kind of shady gang.
Maybe he should just escape once his wounds were healed...
"Here, sign this and leave a fingerprint."
"What is it?"
"A confession. If you run, I can issue a bounty notice based on this."
"..."
Are you a damn dog or what!?
Lafitte's eyes went wide in disbelief.
Bonez turned his head away, unable to watch any longer.
For Lafitte, joining was as simple as nodding his head, but for Jay, there was a lot more to consider.