12 12. New Bounty

One day prior, Marineford.

Sengoku sat at his desk wondering what he could possibly do to comfort the civilians across the world, with Aokiji losing publicly he was put in a tough position.

"Instead of making excuses for now, I should look into where the Den Den Mushi came from", Sengoku had some suspicions but he wasn't sure on them being right.

"For now, Darren Rees's bounty has to be increased, I'll make it 720 million berries". Standing across him, his attendant squeezed her clipboard "Fleet Admiral, I propose sending the warlords after him".

"That is a great suggestion but I'm not sure who is willing to take it up, but call them up and see who is willing to take it".

Garp walked in eating rice crackers, "Sengoku, instead of this let's make him a Warlord, as you know Akainu is stronger than this kid, so he'll keep him in check".

Sengoku massaged his temples, for the past for days Garp has been non stop asking to recruit the young man.

"No Garp, the higher ups have said they aren't willing to have him as a Warlord, the Celestial's have refused your request". "They have said that he has to be killed by any means necessary".

Garp frowned at the stubbornness and god complex the Celestial's have, "hmph, what a bunch of dome headed losers!". The attendant at side's body shook, she couldn't believe he cussed out the Celestial Dragons in front of the Admirals.

"Forget that Garp, so how are your Grandchildren?".

"Garahahaha, those little brats keep saying they will be pirates, so every time I visit I give them a good beating garahahaha", Garp had a wide toothy grin recalling the beatings he gave Luffy and Ace, he also gave it to a kid called Sabo.

"Pirates?, bring them to the marines academy, we have to sort them out!" Sengoku said with a serious look. "Don't worry Sengoku, their only choice is to become fine marines!".

Garp then sat down as he continued eating, soon two people walked. "Akainu, Aokiji" Sengoku said nodding at them.

"Is Kizaru chasing Darren Rees?" "Yes Fleet Admiral, he should be able to capture him or dispose of him" Akainu said. Aokiji bandaged up stood silently.

"Aokiji, tell us, how strong is the kid?", Aokiji then looked at the Fleet Admiral, "he is not that much different in strength to me, although he is a tiny bit stronger, his usage of the Snow-Snow fruit is impeccable".

Hearing Aokiji's high praise for a pirate, Sengoku doubted if Kizaru could capture him. Seeing Sengoku's face Aokiji quickly added "Darren Rees should have no more than half of his strength".

"Our joint attacks considerably injured the both of us, with Kizaru at full strenght, unless a mishap happens then it's a guaranteed capture".

"Indeed, let's hope Kizaru doesn't waste time".

——

Present.

Darren sitting atop the mountain with his eyes closed, he enjoyed the breeze, "there's no facial changing techniques in the world, so I need to think of a way to not be recognised".

Darren had thought of wearing simply a hat, but that was inconvenient, and looked even more suspicious. "Actually, I can just wear a mask, my pink hair might stand out, but there plenty of odd looking things in this world so I should be fine."

Darren then slowly got up as he picked up his wooden stick heading down the mountain back to his house. Arriving after 10 minutes, he ate a meal of all sorts of fruits and took a shower.

He then put a new set of fresh bandages on his wounds tightening it up comfortably. Getting into bed he looked at the snow ceiling.

"I wonder if all the people in one piece only wear one set of clothes all the time? If that's true then that's pretty nasty, when I go back to the shop I'll ask the owner to make me another set of clothes", Darren turned to his left as he drifted off to sleep.

Waking up in the morning, Darren slowly stretched his body, "body is became less painful great", Darren now felt he could do everything more comfortably.

Eating a rabbit he caught he walked outside, "I should do more exploring" walking out of the valleys and mountain he arrived back the town.

He could see it was bustling so he walked around and found a shop that sold masks, walking in he looked around at the variety of masks.

He saw masks with horns, masks with animal faces and masks that had some other drawings on them. Browsing he stopped in front of a mask that looked quite simple compared to the other over the top designs.

Picking it up, he placed it on his face it felt comfortable but it needed a little adjustment, so he walked up to the clerk as he said "I'd like this mask, however can you adjust it to my face making it more comfortable?".

"Sure sir sit down and let me measure you face", sitting down Darren lifted of his hat as his face came into view, the clerk was taken aback but soon went back to measuring his face.

Darren's face over the last 5 years matured a lot, he was handsome, but not to the point of being known as the most handsome man in the world, if compared to the average person he would be called attractive.

As she finished up with the measurements "she said "sir it'll be done in 10 minutes, so please wait".

"Sure", Darren then picked up a newspaper lying on the counter as he read about anything interesting happening, "it seems that the marines and world government kept my battle with Kizaru a secret heh", he then continued to flip through the paper as he saw something on a page.

"Revolutionaries cause havoc!!!", "ohh, hehe, it finally about time they did, I wonder what kept them occupied?" Darren thought.

As he read on, the clerk came back with his mask handing it to him, "sir, try it on", nodding Darren put it on, 'it feels like it isn't even there', "thank you, it fits perfectly".

"No worries, that'll be 1000 berries", Darren chuckling handed the money and walked out with it still on, he also decided on a new hairstyle as he tied his hair back an let the hair at the front remain.

He then went back to the same pub as he ordered a meal and ate slowly whilst enjoying reading a newspaper. Looking around he watched all sorts of people engage in laughter with some starting fights.

Smiling he finished up and paid his bill, going outside and walking for another 10 minutes he then saw some longarm tribe members farming, intrigued he stopped and watched. After awhile, it seemed his presence got irritating as they told him to leave, "oi young man! Stop watching and move along!".

Getting out of his dazed mind he replied "sorry, I was just fascinated by it, would you let me farm with you?". The woman was taken aback as no one wanted to farm especially her kids, smiling sweetly she walked up to him as she handed him the farming tools as she told him to go pick some berries.

"Young man take off you mask! It gets hot around here!" "Ok" Darren the took it off as he kept on his floppy hat.

Darren in his past life loved farms, his grandparents owned are farm so whenever he visited he'd always help around, it was his goal to own one of his own.

Cheering to himself, he went to go pick berries as he watered plants along the way, his mind became peaceful as his aura changed, he now had a serene aura around him.

'After I explore everything and fight everyone, I will definitely build a farm for myself'.

So for the rest of the day he spent his time farming and chatting with the middle aged ladies, he fit in quite easily.

"Bye guys!" Darren waved his hands, the middle aged ladies waved back and told him he was always welcome to come back.

Going back home, Darren had a satisfied smile, "tomorrow I get my robe back, I'll pay him extra so he can build my other clothes the same day".