One Piece: New Order

Bullet wandered home in a daze. He collapsed onto his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, his mind a tangle of thoughts he couldn't quite grasp.

It was late at night.

Douglas Gray, a commander of the Galzforce, stepped through the gate of his home. He immediately noticed that the lights in the outdoor training room were off—a rare sight. His adopted son was extremely disciplined. At this hour, he should've been training.

Puzzled, Gray entered the house, flicked on the lights, and dropped onto the sofa. He sat in silence, mulling over the boy who had brought him so much: obedient since childhood, sharp, powerful, and full of potential.

But lately, that potential had become a problem.

Gray's expression darkened. It was good for a soldier to be strong, but watching Bullet grow at such an astonishing pace unsettled him. The boy's achievements were stacking up fast—too fast. If this kept up, he would soon rise to the level of a national hero. And that wasn't something Gray could accept.

He was still in his prime. Still in power. And yet, the shadow of his son's brilliance loomed larger each day.

A sense of unease had been growing inside him. It whispered warnings he tried to ignore, but the truth remained: Bullet was becoming a threat.

'If it really comes to that, I'll have no choice but to go through with the plan. When the time comes... don't blame your father, Bullet.'

Snap.

While thinking, Gray lit a cigar. Smoke curled up around his face, shrouding his expression in a hazy veil.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap...

Footsteps echoed behind him. Gray quickly composed himself, turned around, and forced a smile as he looked at the boy.

"Bullet, what's going on today? You don't look too well."

Bullet paused, looking at his father. His eyes studied that familiar face for a moment, then he shook his head.

"I'm just thinking about some things, Father."

He wasn't stupid. Over the years, he had noticed the change. The warmth that once filled their home had faded. The care he used to feel in his father's presence had long since vanished. It was one of the reasons Bullet had slowly shut himself off. They were father and son, but he couldn't understand why things had changed so much.

He couldn't figure it out. Coupled with the betrayal from his comrades, it only made him feel more alone. The only time he felt even a trace of meaning was when he pushed his body to the limit through constant, relentless training.

That was when he could feel himself growing stronger.

But everything shifted after meeting that Marine officer earlier in the day. Since then, Bullet had spent the entire afternoon lying on his bed, dazed and quiet.

And now, he had finally come to understand what he truly wanted deep inside:

'I want to have comrades I can trust. I want to be saved. I want to protect something too...'

With that realization burning quietly in his chest, he stood and walked toward his father. Sitting down across from him on the sofa, he spoke, hesitant at first, but firm.

"Father, I want to join the Marines."

Gray froze. His smile slowly faded as silence filled the room. He took a deep drag from his cigar and asked, "And why would you have a thought like that, my son?"

The smoke from the cigar covered his face, making it hard to read his expression.

But inside, his thoughts were racing. 'What does he mean by this? Is he testing me? Did someone from the opposing faction say something to him? Or... did he overhear something he shouldn't have?'

Bullet lowered his head and stayed quiet for a moment. Then he looked up, eyes filled with determination.

"I want to have companions, Father. I want comrades I can trust. I want to protect everything I have."

Each word hit Gray like a hammer, striking deep into his chest. He stared at his son's young face, still carrying the traces of youth.

A wave of guilt washed over him.

'What have I been doing all these years...'

He opened his mouth to respond, but for a long time, no words came. In the end, he asked stiffly, "Have you made up your mind?"

Bullet nodded seriously.

As he saw the unwavering resolve in his son's eyes, Gray suddenly smiled. The smile held no distance between them anymore. 'Maybe I really was wrong all this time. But at least... I didn't make a mistake I can't undo.'

His eyes, once clouded with suspicion, now held nothing but warmth as he looked at Bullet. He gave a simple nod of approval. Then, he walked into the bedroom and gently woke his sleeping wife, asking her to prepare a hearty meal for the two of them.

That night, father and son sat together at the dinner table, reliving the feeling they hadn't shared in years. As they ate, Bullet felt the change in his father's attitude. The long-cold expression he always wore softened into a quiet smile.

Neither of them slept that night.

At dawn, Bullet packed his things and got ready to head for the harbor. He'd heard that the Marine team he met yesterday was staying on the island for one night. He finished packing early, planning to say goodbye to his parents before he left.

But standing at their bedroom door, his hand hesitated in the air. Finally, he knocked.

No one answered.

Gently pushing the door open, he found the room empty. A faint trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes. Quietly, he walked out and opened the front door. But it wasn't the morning sunlight that greeted him.

It was his father, dressed in full uniform with medals across his chest. And beside him stood his mother, eyes red as she wiped away tears.

Bullet smiled brightly and reached for their outstretched hands.

Together, the three of them made their way to the harbor where Sakazuki's battleship waited.

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From the deck of the departing vessel, Bullet stood at the railing, eyes locked on the shrinking silhouette of the island he had called home.

On the other side of the ship, Sakazuki and Carlo stood watching him, both quietly surprised by the unexpected turn of events.

The vice admiral hadn't expected the boy to join the Marines, especially not so suddenly. And at this point, he hadn't even eaten a Devil Fruit yet. With the right guidance, though, his potential could be immense. If he grew well, he could become the next Garp.

Sakazuki thought about the sheer volume and quality of Haki Bullet possessed in the original story. He made up his mind; he would personally train him.

That very day, as he began instructing Bullet on how to sense and awaken his Haki...

Purururu! Purururu!

The sound of the Den Den Mushi rang out from behind. Carlo walked over with it in his hand and passed it to Sakazuki.

He picked it up, and Vice Admiral Morris's voice came through, sounding anxious.

After listening closely to what Morris said, Sakazuki's expression turned serious. His brows furrowed as he gave Carlo a few instructions and told him to bring him a nautical chart.

He took the chart, checked their direction, and without wasting a second, his lower body turned into molten magma.

Boom!

A violent explosion burst out under his feet, shaking the entire warship. Sakazuki shot into the sky like a meteor.

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