"Ah, sorry about that. You okay?"
Looking at Karl's obviously fake concern, Smoker raised his fist… then lowered it… then raised it again… before lowering it once more.
Forget it.
There was important business today. Otherwise, there was no way he'd let Karl off so easily.
"By the way," Smoker said while looking upward, "that brat in the red shirt went up there just now, didn't he?"
Karl nodded.
It was obviously Luffy.
And unfortunately for him, running into Karl today meant he was about to suffer greatly.
"Looks like something happened up there," Smoker muttered. "Let's just wait here. If nothing unexpected happens, they should be coming down soon."
Smoker looked toward the top of the base and tore off the disguise covering his body, revealing the spotless white Justice coat beneath.
Karl also removed his mask and draped the Justice coat over his shoulders.
After destroying the upper half of the statue, Luffy scratched his head awkwardly.
"Ah… sorry about that!"
Morgan's face twitched violently as he roared with bloodshot eyes:
"SEIZE HIM!!! I'M GOING TO KILL THAT BRAT!!!"
"Yes, Colonel Morgan!"
The moment Helmeppo recognized Luffy, he immediately pointed at him and shouted:
"Dad! It's him! He's the one who hit—"
Luffy's eyes lit up.
"Oh! It's you!"
Whoosh!
He instantly grabbed Helmeppo by the collar.
"I've been looking for you! Come with me! There's something you need to give back!"
"Ahhh! Let go of me!!!"
And just like that, Luffy dragged Helmeppo away toward the stairs.
Helmeppo: Are we even close?! I hate people with no sense of boundaries!
"CHASE HIM!!! DON'T LET HIM ESCAPE!"
"Colonel! Someone broke into the execution grounds!"
Morgan immediately looked downward.
A pink-haired boy was sprinting toward Zoro, trying to untie him.
Morgan took a deep breath and suppressed his fury.
"One rebel after another, huh…"
Execution Grounds
Koby hurriedly untied Zoro's ropes while saying anxiously:
"Run, Mr. Zoro!"
Zoro frowned.
"If you do this, they'll kill you."
"I can't stand what these Marines are doing anymore," Koby said seriously. "I… want to become a righteous Marine."
"Hurry and stop! I can't escape! There are still ten days left before—"
Koby looked directly at him.
"You're going to be executed tomorrow."
"…What?"
Zoro's eyes widened in disbelief.
Wasn't the agreement that if he survived here for a month, he would be released?
That meant—
"Helmeppo never intended to honor the agreement," Koby explained. "That's why Mr. Luffy punched him in anger. Right now, Mr. Luffy is being hunted by the Marines…"
"I'm not asking you to become a pirate," Koby continued earnestly. "But please… help Mr. Luffy!"
Zoro glanced silently toward the Marine base nearby.
"Mr. Luffy is the only one who can save you," Koby said. "But I think the only one who can save Mr. Luffy… is you."
"That's far enough!"
Morgan appeared with a squad of Marines, all of them aiming rifles at Zoro and Koby.
"You dare cause trouble on my turf? Do the three of you think you're staging a coup with that straw-hat brat?!"
Hidden in a nearby corner with Karl, Smoker chuckled.
"This guy really is arrogant. A coup? Does he think he's some kind of emperor?"
Karl rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Well… in this town, he's basically no different from one."
"That's why we're here."
"So? We moving now?" Smoker asked.
Karl shook his head.
"Not yet. That straw-hat kid still hasn't shown himself."
Smoker shrugged helplessly and continued hiding in the corner with Karl while smoking his cigar.
On the execution platform, Zoro looked toward Morgan coldly.
"I've always fought alone."
"That makes me completely different from trash like you, hiding behind an army to bully people!"
"Hmph!"
Morgan sneered disdainfully.
"Roronoa Zoro, don't underestimate me! Your little bit of strength means nothing in front of my authority!"
"Ready!"
Zoro gritted his teeth while staring at the dozens of dark rifle barrels pointed at him.
"I absolutely… cannot die in a place like this!!!"
"FIRE!!!"
"I'm here!!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Gunfire erupted.
Then—
Luffy descended from above with three swords strapped to his back, spreading his arms wide as he stood protectively in front of Zoro and Koby.
Bullets struck his body one after another—
—but none of them pierced him.
It was as if his body were made entirely of rubber.
Zoro's eyes widened in shock.
"You—!"
Luffy grinned proudly and straightened his back.
"Told you! Hahahaha! I said I'm strong!"
"W-What the hell are you?!"
Even Smoker looked slightly surprised.
"That brat's a Devil Fruit user too?"
Before Karl could answer, Smoker froze.
Because the straw-hat boy suddenly declared with complete seriousness:
"I'm Luffy! The man who'll become Pirate King!"
The entire area fell silent.
Aside from Karl, everyone there looked shocked.
"Pirate King?! D-Do you even know what that means?!"
"Pirate King means Pirate King," Luffy replied innocently. "Does it mean something else?"
Beside him, Koby spoke with admiration in his eyes:
"I was shocked at first too… but Mr. Luffy is serious. He's really that kind of person!"
Smoker tossed away his cigar and glanced at Karl, seemingly wanting to say something.
But seeing Karl remain calm and indifferent as always, he could only sigh helplessly.
This guy really never changed.
Meanwhile, Luffy cheerfully handed the three swords back to Zoro.
"Here! Your swords! I wasn't sure which one was yours, so I brought all three!"
"All three are mine," Zoro replied. "Because I use Three-Sword Style."
Three-Sword Style?
Luffy didn't understand at all, but still felt impressed somehow.
However, what mattered most right now wasn't figuring out what Three-Sword Style meant.
"So," Luffy asked excitedly, "what do you think? If you fight beside me here, you'll become a bad guy opposing the government. Or you could just stay here and get killed by the Marines. Which sounds better?"
Zoro slowly grinned.
"You bastard…"
"…Fine."
"Better to become a pirate than die in a place like this."
Luffy instantly exploded with excitement.
"Awesome!!! You agreed to become my crewmate!!! WOOHOO!!!"
The surrounding Marines were still stunned that Luffy could ignore bullets entirely.
Most of them had never even heard of Devil Fruit powers before.
"W-What kind of monster is he?!"
"I don't care what they are," Morgan roared furiously. "Anyone who opposes me dies! If guns don't work, then cut them down!!!"
"RAAAAHHH!!! CHARGE!!!"
Seeing that Luffy still hadn't untied the ropes, Zoro bared his teeth and shouted:
"Stop screwing around and give me my swords already!!!"
"Caw!"
The Raven perched on Karl's shoulder transformed into a black blade that fell into Karl's hand.
Karl slowly drew the sword and smiled faintly.
"Looks like it's finally our turn to enter the stage…"
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus (OP)Chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus (OP)Chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 (OP)Chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/SwipeSage