The Den Den Mushi continued to ring.
Ring. Ring.
It echoed strangely against the wooden deck, through the noise of boots, ropes, and shouted orders.
Adam stared at it for a moment longer, his brows slightly furrowed.
"…Guess I have to take it."
He leaned forward and picked up the receiver.
The snail's face shifted instantly, its expression going blank, unnaturally so.
Adam brought it closer.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Not the normal kind.
Adam's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Hello?"
For a brief second, he considered hanging up.
Then
The snail's mouth moved.
And a voice came through.
Distorted.
"What's your name… and Marine code?"
Adam blinked once.
Then leaned back slightly, confusion clear on his face.
"…Is this a joke?"
His tone sharpened just a bit.
"Who are you?"
A pause.
"And more importantly, how are you calling this ship?"
His eyes flicked briefly across the deck.
The crew was moving now, disciplined, efficient, completely absorbed in their tasks.
No one was paying attention.
The voice came again.
Unchanged.
"What's your name… and Marine code?"
Adam's gaze hardened.
'Alright.'
'Not normal.'
'Definitely not normal.'
He glanced around once more, confirming no one was listening.
Then answered.
"This is Captain Adam."
A slight pause.
"Marine code… G-1X001."
His grip on the receiver tightened slightly.
"Now let me make something clear."
His voice dropped, sharper.
"If you're not a Marine or a World Government official, you wouldn't be asking for my code."
"So who exactly am I speaking to?"
Silence again.
Then
"Captain Adam…"
The distorted voice continued.
"My identity isn't important."
A faint shift in tone.
"But since our target call wasn't a mistake…"
Adam's eyes narrowed slightly.
"We would like to invite you into something."
He said nothing, listening carefully.
"We recruit young, strong-willed Marines, like you."
A slight static crackle.
"Those… with a different sense of justice."
Adam's expression didn't change outwardly, But inside
Something clicked.
"We operate outside of HQ orders."
The voice continued calmly.
"Independently."
A pause.
Then
"We are… Sword."
Adam went still.
Just for a second.
His mind moved quickly.
'Sword…'
He knew the name.
They were a group that answered to no one, and yet still served the Navy.
'They want to recruit me?'
His gaze lowered slightly.
'Interesting…'
'Especially since they operate mostly in the New World…'
Adam leaned slightly against the mast, keeping his posture casual.
But his voice was sharp.
"I still want to know…"
"…who I'm speaking with."
The line remained silent for a moment.
Then
"If I told you who I was…"
The distorted voice replied calmly,
"It would defeat the purpose of remaining a secret organization within the Navy."
Adam clicked his tongue softly.
"…Right, good point."
The voice continued.
"We are aware this ship is bound for New Marineford."
A brief pause.
"However…"
"We will meet before that."
Adam's eyes sharpened.
"…Before?"
"In the Holy Land."
"Captain Adam."
Adam straightened slightly.
"Wait."
His tone sharpened.
"How exactly am I supposed to find.."
"I'll find you."
The line cut.
Just like that.
The Den Den Mushi's expression returned to normal, blinking lazily as if nothing had happened.
"…Huh."
Adam stared at it for a few seconds longer.
Thinking.
Then he slowly placed the receiver back down.
"…Sword…"
The word left his lips quietly.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"…Now that's something."
He pushed himself up from the mast, brushing his coat lightly as he stood.
His eyes scanned the deck.
The crew were no longer lazy.
They were organized and focused.
It was almost amusing. And all it took for them to be like this was a little bit of fear.
Adam took a few steps forward.
His voice carried clearly across the ship.
"Is the ship ready to set sail?"
Several heads snapped toward him instantly.
"YES, CAPTAIN ADAM!"
The response came sharp.
In sync.
Disciplined.
Adam nodded once.
Satisfied.
"Good."
His gaze shifted toward the open sea beyond the bay.
Full of things waiting to happen.
"Let's not waste time."
A brief pause.
Then
"To the Red Port."
The order rang out.
"SET SAIL!"
The ship came alive.
Sails unfurled.
Ropes tightened.
Commands echoed across the deck.
And as the vessel slowly pulled away from G-1.
Adam stood at the front of it.
Eyes forward but his mind already moving ahead of the journey.
'The Holy Land…'
'Sword…'
Boots thundered against wood as Marines rushed into position, hands moving, ropes were loosened, and the massive vessel groaned softly as it began to drift free from the dock.
Adam stood near the bow, one hand resting lightly against the railing as the wind picked up, tugging at his coat and brushing through his red hair.
Adam exhaled slowly, letting the salty breeze fill his lungs.
"…So this is it."
His voice was low, almost lost beneath the sound of the ocean.
"My first ship."
He glanced back briefly.
The Marines, his men were working.
Some still cast the occasional glance in his direction.
A mix of curiosity, nervousness.
Respect… forced or not.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"…Feels strange."
"But…"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"I don't feel any sort of pressure."
There was no arrogance in the tone.
The ship pushed further from the bay of marineford, and slowly the Marine Base G-1 began to shrink behind them.
Adam's expression shifted slightly as he turned his head.
Looking back.
Stone walls, towers, flags waving in the distance.
His eyes lingered. "…I probably won't be back here again anytime soon."
The words came quietly.
Almost thoughtful.
Then he exhaled softly and added,
"But just in case…"
His gaze softened just a fraction.
"…I left something behind."
A faint pause.
Then
His eyes shifted upward.
Far in the distance
Barely noticeable against the vast sky.
A shadow moved.
Not a normal bird. Its shape flickered unnaturally as it glided over the distant silhouette of the base.
A shadow bird.
Adam's lips curved faintly.
"…There you are." His fingers tapped lightly against the railing.
The shadow bird circled over marineford, high above.
No one else noticed.
To everyone else, it was just another speck in the sky.
But Adam saw it clearly.
A part of him.
His gaze followed it for a moment longer.
Then he leaned back slightly, letting the wind press against him.
"…Once I figure it out how to do that move."
He raised a hand slightly, as if reaching toward the distant sky.
"…Shadow exchange."
"That'll make things a lot easier."
A faint chuckle left him.
"Travel… infiltration…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…control."
The potential was obvious.
And he could feel it, just out of reach right now. His powers didn't act like Magic, a Devil fruit requires mastery.
"…Yeah."
His hand dropped back to his side.
"That'll help a lot in this world."
Behind him
A Marine hesitated for a moment before approaching, clearly nervous.
"C-Captain…!"
Adam didn't turn immediately.
"Yeah?"
"The course is set, we're heading toward the Red Port as ordered."
Adam nodded slightly, still looking out at the horizon.
"Good, you must be the navigator right?"
The Marine hesitated again.
"Yes… Sir?"
Adam finally glanced back at him.
The Marine stiffened instantly under that gaze.
"…Is there anything else you want us to prepare?"
A brief pause.
Adam studied him for a second.
Then he shook his head lightly.
"For now?"
He turned his gaze back to the sea.
"Just don't mess up what you're already doing."
"…Yes, sir!"
/-\
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