The early morning mist still clung to the surface of the sea as the Straw Hat crew stirred to life. Sanji had already prepared breakfast, and the scent of fried eggs, grilled fish, and toast drifted across the deck.
"Oi, meat?!" Luffy bolted upright from his hammock, eyes still half-closed.
"Eat your fish first, then we'll talk about meat," Sanji called without turning.
As the crew gathered for breakfast, Law leaned against the railing, his Den Den Mushi in hand. He turned the dial, voice low but firm.
"I've got Caesar," he said to the receiver. "You want your warlord status renewed? Trade something for it."
On the other end of the line, Doflamingo chuckled, dark and oily. "You always drive a hard bargain, Law. Very well. I'll make the call to the World Government."
Law narrowed his eyes. "This deal doesn't change our timeline. We meet in Dressrosa. No tricks."
"No tricks, I promise," Doflamingo replied smoothly. "For now."
With a click, Law pocketed the snail.
"Everything going smoothly?" Robin asked, approaching with a steaming cup of tea.
"As smoothly as anything involving that man can go."
Before more could be said, a sharp cry rang out. "Newspaper! The seagull's here!"
Usopp caught the rolled paper out of the air and tossed a coin pouch upward. The delivery gull squawked in thanks before flapping off.
"What's the headline today?" Nami asked, drying her hands on a towel.
"Something about Doflamingo resigning as a Warlord," Usopp muttered. "And... wait, WHAT?!"
"What?" Luffy jumped in beside him.
"Kael... Kael has a bounty now! It's... 350 million!"
Everyone froze.
Sanji dropped his spatula. "That puts him up there with the worst of the Supernovas."
Zoro looked over from his usual napping spot, now alert. "Who put a price on him?"
"Marine Intelligence suspects he's involved with Punk Hazard and the chaos around the Hellix Core," Robin read over Usopp's shoulder. "And they have blurry photos of him fighting."
Chopper peered nervously at Kael. "They think he caused all of that?"
Kael, who had just stepped onto the deck with his coat half-buttoned, blinked slowly as every eye turned to him.
"I didn't ask for that," he said plainly.
"No one does," Luffy said with a grin. "Congrats! You're officially a big shot."
"Not something to celebrate," Kael muttered.
"Means you're strong," Zoro added. "They don't give that number to weaklings."
Kael turned away, jaw tight. "It'll only bring more trouble."
"Trouble's part of the package when you're with us," Franky said, arms crossed. "You'll get used to it."
"He's not part of us," Nami said softly, but without malice. "Not yet."
Kael gave a slight nod. "I never said I was."
The silence hung for a moment longer until Luffy let out a huge laugh.
"Well, it's gonna get crazier from here! So you better keep up, Kael!"
The sound of the sea and seagulls filled the deck again, but the weight of the news lingered in the air. The crew looked toward the horizon, knowing Dressrosa waited—and with it, the next turn in the storm.