The Great Leader of the Bad People: Behind History

So, you see—

Standing in the center of the battlefield in front of the archway, facing several 'Bad People' who were either kneeling or lying on the ground, the victor Roman helplessly scratched his head.

There's no such thing as "Heavenly Frost Fist" or "Wind God Leg"! They're just Ice-Ice ability blocks and controlling wind to reduce drag. As for that "Three Points Return to Origin Qi"...

"Isn't that the Laser Beam from the Glint-Glint Fruit?!"

"I won't even comment on your organization's name, but these fighting techniques are really... don't you think they don't fit the style of this world?"

"What can we do? This is our tradition."

The archer girl 'Melody' was quite single; after realizing that Roman really didn't have any hostility towards them, she couldn't help but complain.

"I don't know if this is an old rule from hundreds of years ago, but not only do we inherit inexplicable names, but even the names of our combat skills are..."

"Melody!"

The silver-armored general who had just fired laser beams from his spear stood up and stopped his own men from leaking intelligence any further.

"Your Excellency is indeed very strong, but you are by no means a match for our deputy commander!"

Even after being defeated by Roman in a five-on-one fight, the general remained indifferent. Because:

"Although I don't know why you're so familiar with our abilities, they're meaningless in front of the vice-commander. Because the vice-commander is more well-rounded and stronger than you!"

How could I not be familiar with your skills? Because I know everything you do!

Roman rolled his eyes inwardly. Each of these people could achieve partial Armament Haki coverage, and each possessed an additional ability to assist them; they were definitely top-tier fighters, at the level of Royal Vice Admirals. However:

The abilities they used were exactly what Roman had already mastered; how could they possibly lose?

Even if we're surrounded and attacked!

"Then let me reiterate, I truly have no intention of being your enemy here. I am neither Kurozumi Orochi nor a member of the Beasts Pirates. This place is merely a stop on our journey. If it weren't for that... I wouldn't even have any dealings with you."

After a battle, Roman had figured things out.

These people were definitely not just 'fellow villagers,' but genuine people from this world. However:

An organization that doesn't fit this world, a tradition spanning hundreds of years, and these strangely familiar moves... could it be...?

"I've already said, we won't—"

"Wait a moment, Li."

A person with hands tucked into long sleeves, wearing a black and white robe and a matching black and white mask, drifted in.

"This gentleman,"

After bowing respectfully from afar, the newcomer slightly turned to indicate that he would lead the way.

"Please come with me, the vice commander wants to see you."

······

Alright, let me see what's behind this mysterious 'Bad People'. Wow, I never expected that something as mundane as fighting Kaido would turn into so many strange and unusual things.

Kaido: Are you looking down on me?

Led by masked figures in black and white, a silver-armored general, a scholar with a folding fan, a martial arts master in plain clothes, a burly man in black, and a girl carrying a bow paraded through the city—

"General Li,"

"Lord Duke Le,"

"Sister Melody ~~"

"Looks like you guys are quite popular."

In response to Roman's words, the girl carrying a bow and arrows proudly tossed her ponytail, "Of course! If it weren't for us 'Bad People,' this place would have been utterly destroyed by Kurozumi and Kaido long ago. We are the guardians of this place~"

"Melody,"

The silver-armored general glanced at the girl.

"Have you forgotten our rules? Whether these people live or die is none of our business."

"Hmph, I don't want to! Why should we follow rules that someone came up with hundreds of years ago? Can't you see that people are laughing at us just because our names and moves are too old-fashioned?"

No, no, no, that's not why I'm complaining.

Roman, being 'escorted' by a group of people, rolled his eyes. He was only feeling uncomfortable because he suddenly heard familiar things from his past life in this world. Thinking about it carefully, if their organization were changed to a 'delinquent gang,' their name changed to something like 'The Thirty-Six Delinquents,' and their fighting styles changed to things like 'Heart's Path,' 'Soul Stealing Without a Blade,' and 'Two Heavens One-Sword Style,' the incongruity would immediately disappear...

"Arrive,"

Guided to a huge military building, Roman looked up at the three large characters on the plaque and had to cover his face with several layers of paper, otherwise he was afraid he wouldn't be able to keep his expression in check.

"Is it really appropriate for you to hang up a sign like this...?"

As soon as he stepped through the gate, he was greeted by a group of burly men waving stone locks and iron chains with loud laughter! Roman was speechless.

What kind of 'brothel' is this?!

"Don't ask, it's just a centuries-old tradition."

The archer girl graciously waved her hand, suppressing Roman's urge to complain. This foreigner seemed to know something about them, but also seemed to have some inexplicable misunderstanding about them.

Forget it, what does this have to do with her? Let that guy worry about it.

"Brother, we're back!"

Pushing open the main gate with a flourish, and with the silver-armored general's instruction to "call him Vice Commander," Roman finally understood why this archer girl was so... lively.

Null--

In the hall stood two rows of highly skilled fighters, their appearance surpassing even that of ordinary soldiers! Although their clothing and weapons were distinctly Eastern in style, however:

A long-haired monk in a kasaya, a white-clad female warrior with glossy lips and eyeliner, a child wearing a Bagua-style coat... In short, they looked like a group of extremely unprofessional cosplayers, making Roman's eyebrows twitch as he watched!

Do you know that you'll be kicked out of a comic convention if you dress like that?

"Don't be surprised, these costumes are a centuries-old tradition..."

The archer girl patted Roman on the shoulder, causing the person in the main seat to cough loudly.

"May I ask what business you have with us, the 'Bad People'?"

The speaker was a man dressed in soft armor, his attire resembling a blend of a knight-errant and a general. From his exposed hands, neck, and face, it was clear that the area beneath his armor was also wrapped in bandages.

Another guy I've never 'been before,' oh well—

At this point, there's no point in dwelling on the original work.

"My stated purpose in coming here is to persuade you to join me in fighting Kaido of the Beasts Pirates,"

Since that is the 'superficial' purpose, then of course there must be a 'real' purpose as well!

"For the sake of... I'll just ask you directly for confirmation—"

With a battle against Kaido and even Big Mom imminent, Roman had no patience to slowly investigate the origins of this abrupt 'Bad People'. And, despite the bizarre art style, it was still consistent with their style, so Roman directly revealed:

"I want to know the origins of your 'Bad People' organization!"

Bring it on,

Whether it's other transmigrators or some kind of 'multiverse projection fruit' at work, Roman is on high alert!

·······

However, after exchanging strange glances with the dozen or so third-rate cosplayers in the hall, the bandaged man on the main seat slowly rose and walked towards Roman. While the others around him remained still, the Armament Haki that began to cover them was undoubtedly a bad sign.

Hmm? It seems this issue touches on their core secrets, or has it escalated into a war...?

Just as Roman was fully alert and preparing to fight, the bandaged man who walked up to him slowly spoke:

"Uranus covers the Earth Tiger!"

?!

"You idiot—"

Are you kidding me?!

Inazuma and gale-force winds began to swirl around Roman's body, and a longsword emerged from his palm, its Haki enveloping it! To hell with you transmigrators, to hell with your 'Pagoda Suppresses the River Demon'...

Faced with Roman, who possessed various Devil Fruit abilities, even the Bandaged Vice Commander couldn't help but take a step back, and then:

Kneel down on one knee.

"Welcome, Great Leader!"

?

"Welcome, Great Leader!!" XN

?!

Surrounded by a group of experts with an Eastern style kneeling on one knee, Roman began to seriously contemplate the three philosophical questions:

Who I am?

I was there?

What am I doing?

A military building with a plaque reading "Yihongyuan" (a type of brothel).

On the throne in the Hall of Gathering Righteousness,

"So, can you explain to me what's going on?"

Roman, who had been forcibly carried to the main seat, rubbed his temples. This world is too crazy! Compared to them, the Straw Hat crew is much more approachable. I want to go back to the Sunny Merry.

"I only learned about him a few years ago... In short, I could never be your 'Great Leader,' you've mistaken me for someone else."

Roman was already quite shocked by his identity as a 'Celestial Dragons' before his transmigration, and now a group of royal guards suddenly appeared, 'welcoming the Dragon King's return,' making Roman wonder when he had fallen under a genjutsu.

"There's no mistake! The lord has just guessed the code we've passed down for eight hundred years, according to the prophecy..."

Hey, hey, hey, are you all dressed in an oriental style, and talking about inheritance and prophecy all the time? Is that really a good idea? And judging from your beaming faces, is there some kind of risk in this 'Great Leader' position?

"I don't want to bother with that outdated stuff like eight-hundred-year-old prophecies—"

Wait, maybe this organization is connected to the Void Century, Joy Boy, Imu... Roman, having calmed down, stroked his chin and began to think rapidly. The Straw Hat crew's ultimate destination is Laugh Tale, so these truths buried in history must be understood! Otherwise:

When Luffy at Laugh Tale and sees the last historical monument, it will likely be the day of the final battle!

"Alright, tell me what exactly your 'Bad People' organization is."

Faced with Roman's helpless question, the assistant coach, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting. His first words sent Roman's blood pressure soaring:

"Actually, I'm not really sure either,"

?

"After all, guarding a 'prophecy' from hundreds of years ago... We 'Bad People' have experienced several splits and rebellions. In the most serious incident, more than two-thirds of the people left. So, of the original '108 Stars,' only the dozen or so people present remain."

Well, as expected.

If it were Roman himself, he would have quit long ago if he had to spend his whole life guarding some eight-hundred-year-old prophecy!

"I heard that those people later established their own country in the West Blue: the Flower Country."

So that's how it is. Zhonghua Town, the Flower Country...

"So... our historical documents and the like have been severely lost—but the star titles, moves, and skills have been well preserved. Including the code for the return of the Great Leader one day."

Who came up with that code? Only a fool could answer it correctly!

Roman was utterly exasperated by this! He desperately wanted to drag the guy who founded the 'Bad People' eight hundred years ago out of his coffin and interrogate him, but he figured the guy probably didn't even have a coffin left...

"In other words, you don't actually know what the purpose of your organization is, and you've just been guarding this wretched place for eight hundred years?"

He was waiting for someone who could match the 'secret code,' which turned out to be Roman himself, by sheer chance.

"Hey, even if you're the Great Leader, you can't say that!"

The archery girl, Melody, looked up at Roman with displeasure.

"What's wrong with this place? Our ancestors lived here for eight hundred years! Every blade of grass and every tree here bears our mark; this is our home—"

"No disrespect before the Commander-in-Chief, Melody!"

After reprimanding his younger sister, the young, Bandaged Vice Commander respectfully clasped his hands in a fist salute to Roman.

"In any case, since you have answered the code and arrived here exactly eight hundred years later, you should rightfully be our 'Great Leader'. The entire Bad People will obey your orders!"

Oh, really?

Roman nodded calmly, though inwardly he disagreed. Although his Observation Haki wasn't like the Red Earl's, which allowed him to read minds, or like Roman's, which allowed him to Future Sight, many people's hearts had suddenly quickened when he glanced at them.

It seems there's more to the story!

Interesting. Even setting aside the so-called 'plot,' am I, Roman, afraid of you?

P. S.: There was originally supposed to be another chapter with fighting in the middle, but seeing how much you all objected, I skipped it. How could I be crazy? I'm just trying to fill in a huge plot hole that's been there for ages (based on this book). It's all because Oda suddenly went on hiatus and stopped releasing any information; basically, any fanfiction author writing about Wano Country is going to explode...