Multiversal Recruitment

Both ships were heading to Jaya, sailing side by side. At that moment, Salazar was on the second ship, talking to Kujori, who had a toothy, excited grin, while Salazar sat on the flagpole mast to be at his height.

"Think you can take care of yourself, Kujori?"

"Don't underestimate the strength of a giant, Captain!"

"I'm not underestimating you. It's just that the ones chasing us aren't exactly low-rank Marines. The World Government wants to catch us at all costs now."

"YiaYiaYia! Don't worry! I'll make your crew's name echo throughout the world!" said the motivated giant.

"Right, guys!?" he asked excitedly to the rest of the crew, who shouted in agreement.

"YEEEES!"

"Don't worry, Captain! We'll make your name known across the seas!"

"We won't bring shame to you, Captain!"

Sighing in defeat, Salazar nodded with a smile.

"Alright, but don't forget to train! We need to be stronger to face the New World! Understood!?"

"YESSIR!"

"Good!" he said, smiling with satisfaction, turning to Kujori and waving.

"I'm leaving them under your command, Kujori. We'll part ways when we reach Jaya."

"Understood, Captain! YiaYiaYia!" the giant laughed in his signature style as Salazar ran across the mast and jumped to his own ship, landing without a problem.

Their conversation was simple: they couldn't keep traveling with two ships. Kujori would become the captain of Salazar's second division. After stopping at Jaya, they would part ways. Kujori's ship carried freed slaves who didn't want the pirate life, and he would escort them to wherever they wanted to go, then gradually start making a name for himself on the seas.

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Upon arriving at Jaya, both ships docked at the port. All the pirates on the island looked tense at the sight of ships belonging to the Celestial Dragons, but when they saw only ordinary pirates coming down, they relaxed—though they couldn't help but wonder:

Who was dumb—or bold—enough to rob the Celestial Dragons?

As he disembarked, Salazar gave orders to resupply and buy clothes for everyone. He also announced that each person had 100,000 berries to spend however they wanted.

That earned him a loud cheer, which made him sweat nervously. He wondered if they knew there was over 100 million allocated per ship.

He headed out with Kaina, his ever-loyal companion, strolling casually through Jaya.

"Why does everyone here look like thugs?"

"Right… I forgot to tell you. This is a pirate island. There's not much law here. Everyone's either a criminal or a pirate."

"You forgot to mention that now?"

"I thought you'd figure it out yourself."

"Why would I"

A tall man in an open leather jacket walked arrogantly toward Kaina with a perverted grin, checking her out from head to toe.

"Hey gorgeous, what're you doing with this loser? Don't you want a real man—Aaagh!"

Kaina didn't wait for him to finish. The moment he tried to touch her, she grabbed his wrist and, without hesitation, slammed him to the ground, dislocating his arm with a stomp.

"AAAH! C-Crazy bitch! What the he—AAAH!!"

He screamed like a child, tears in his eyes, as his leg suffered the same fate—twisted in an unnatural angle.

Salazar watched the whole thing with an amused smile. He didn't interfere. He knew exactly what Kaina was capable of—she was anything but a damsel in distress.

Without sparing the man a second glance, Kaina stepped right over him. Salazar did the same.

"See? I told you you'd figure it out yourself," he said, putting his arm around her neck the same way the guy had tried before—but without the same result.

—All I figured out is this island is full of degenerates —she replied, not pushing him away, though her expression was annoyed.

—Mhm... maybe you're right.

—Now get your arm off me. You stink.

—That's not true. I jumped into the ocean this morning.

—Exactly. You smell like fish.

—Excuses —he muttered, and they kept arguing as they wandered aimlessly.

And he didn't take his arm off her.

Tearing a small piece of paper, Salazar took one for himself while handing the other to a crewmember from Kujori's ship.

—That's my Vivre Card. This way, we'll know each other's status in case of an emergency. But keep in touch often through the Den Den Mushi, alright? —Salazar said to the smiling giant, who nodded without hesitation.

—Understood, Captain! And don't hesitate to call us if you need anything! YiaYiaYia! —the giant laughed heartily, his voice echoing throughout Jaya. Salazar smiled, with Kaina standing at his side.

They both waved farewell, watching as Kujori's ship was the first to set sail on its own pirate journey.

—They grow up so fast —Salazar muttered, wiping away an imaginary tear. Kaina glanced at him sideways and sighed in exasperation.

—Why did you suddenly turn into such an idiot?

—I just live how I want and say what I please. It's called freedom.

—Those are big words for a man hunted by an entire government.

—That's why I need to get stronger. Besides... I've got you to cover my back —he said, looking at her with a warm and friendly smile. Kaina couldn't stop a faint blush from appearing on her cheeks, but she quickly recovered and turned away, arms crossed.

—Idiot... —she muttered, heading to her own ship, which was being modified so it wouldn't look like a Celestial Dragon vessel. They wouldn't replace it—it was a top-tier ship, even reinforced with sea stone underneath to pass through the Calm Belt.

Watching her reaction, Salazar smiled calmly and happily. A crewman approached, now better dressed like the rest. They had all bought decent clothing and made sure to cover their slave marks—marks that Salazar swore he'd find a way to erase someday.

—Maybe Overhaul's Quirk could do it... but it's even more expensive than All for One —he whispered to himself, frowning, as the long-legged crewmate spoke up to report.

—Captain, I found the most recent newspaper, with nothing linking to us, just like you asked —the man said, handing it over while looking down respectfully.

Salazar took it and smiled warmly at him.

—Thanks, Derio. Sorry for the trouble.

—It's no trouble at all, Captain! At your service! —he replied with a wide, toothy grin, then walked off to help with other duties on the ship.

—Let's see what we've got here... —Salazar opened the newspaper and read carefully, stopping at one particular headline.

—So… this is when I am, huh... —he muttered, analyzing it with interest.

The headline was more than enough to place him in time:

Portgas D. Ace, New Commander of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates.

—I didn't think I'd be this close to the original timeline… But this gives me some wiggle room to grow stronger. Not many crazy events happen yet, aside from the Golden Age of Piracy being at its peak —he grinned confidently.

All of this gave him hope.

Hope to become stronger.

Hope to become a remarkable figure in the world of One Piece.

And to destroy the World Government.

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What new world will you visit? Ideas?