Recalling the Vow, Official Partners

"Hmph, I don't need you to save me."

Yet the Green Algae Head tied to the stake didn't seem grateful.

"If I just survive a month, they'll let me go—as long as I keep my word..."

Tap, tap, tap.

But a flurry of hurried footsteps cut off Zoro's words. A youth with glasses and a middle-part hairstyle had climbed over the wall and run over at some point. His panting appearance showed he'd come as fast as he could, but:

"What are you doing here?"

Roman asked knowingly, while Koby, hands on his knees, couldn't spare a reply to Roman, only anxiously looking at the bound Zoro.

"You've been tricked!"

?

"They never planned to let you go!"

"That Second Generation Rich said it himself—they're executing you tomorrow—"

As he spoke, ignoring the stunned Zoro, the youth named Koby lowered his head sadly, not letting the two present see his tears, but his choked voice betrayed the turmoil inside him:

"Luffy and I both know... you're not a bad guy. You were arrested just because you killed that Second Generation Rich's wolf to protect the townspeople..."

"Bullying the weak, oppressing civilians, lying through their teeth..."

"Marines like this, Marines like this..."

Hm?

Clang—!

Roman's Sailor's Knife shot out to the side like lightning, blocking in front of Koby! The jarring clash made Koby, who'd been slipping into 'darkness,' freeze with tears and snot still on his face.

"Wh-what happened..."

Pfft, With a light flick, a deformed Lead Bullet slid off Roman's Sailor's Knife and fell to the ground.

"Obviously, we're under attack."

He said 'we' because Roman didn't believe anyone could accurately aim a Flintlock from the Marine base rooftop at someone dozens of meters away—more likely, they'd just fired wildly in this direction. Who got hit?

That was just bad luck.

"Hmph, if you don't want to die, get lost..."

The bound Zoro started using his harsh tone to drive them away again.

Boom—

At the same time, a Statue slowly rose on the Marine base rooftop. Then:

It suddenly tilted.

"That statue's gonna fall~~"

"That statue is falling~~"

"That statue has fallen~~"

Amid the trio's words, the newly erected Statue crashed onto the roof, breaking in two! Then the upper half:

Smack!

A 'head' dropped by the plaza's edge, shattering into Four-Point Separation rubble. And:

"Aaaah~~~"

"What have you done!!!"

"Kill him, kill him—"

Even dozens of meters away, the three in the plaza could hear the shock and panic, the gunfire and roars from the base rooftop! It seemed:

"Hey, that guy's way too stupid!"

"Less than half a minute, and the Marines found him?"

The bound Zoro, starved for nine days, felt his blood pressure skyrocket, even conjuring up a surge of strength—That's it? That's it?

He'd bragged about getting his swords back, then turned around and got caught by the Marines!

In an instant, the entire Marine base was like a hornet's nest poked, a mess of sounds in chaos!

And in the plaza, facing the motionless Roman, the man named Zoro couldn't help speaking.

"Pirate, aren't you going to help?"

"Your Captain's about to be shot to death."

Though this world had countless strong people, this was still the 'weakest' East Blue. In Zoro's current understanding: if a person was killed, they died.

Not to mention bullets—even a bad fall could be fatal!

"Ha, Luffy's not dying in a place like this."

Roman waved a hand casually.

"Instead of worrying about others, you'd better worry about yourself."

Thud thud thud thud!!

Amid the dense footsteps, a group of Marine soldiers burst out from the base building. The dark muzzles of their guns aimed at the three of them—Roman and the others—in the plaza.

"Hands up—!"

"Who are you?"

"Intruders! Fire!"

Bang bang bang bang!

In a chain of gunfire, whistling lead bullets flew toward Roman—and Koby beside him. After all, who told them to stand so brazenly in the middle of the square?

"Paper Dance—Shield!"

Rustle—

A torrent of paper burst from his palm, instantly forming a massive 'tower shield' before him! With a clatter of ping-ping-pang-pang, it intercepted all the lead bullets while also shielding Koby at his side.

"How amusing..."

A tall, burly man strode out from among the Marine soldiers. He wore a Marine Captain's cloak, had an iron jaw brace, and his right arm was replaced by a giant axe. His head was shaved clean.

Captain Morgan.

The 'master' of this Marine base.

"A few rats dare to challenge my authority?"

"With your pitiful strength, before my power—"

He waved his hand, and the surrounding Marines trained their dark muzzles on the three—this time, including Zoro, who was tied to the stake!

"Hey hey hey, why am I included too..."

"Ready!"

But the other side had no intention of listening to Zoro's nonsense. Every soldier simply loaded, aimed, and prepared to fire with practiced ease.

I... how could I die in a place like this?

I still have a promise to fulfill!

"You pirate, share your shield with me—"

At the critical moment, even this iron-willed man, starved for nine days under the blazing sun, had to lower his head and ask Roman beside him for help. But:

"I refuse."

?!

"Don't misunderstand. The one who wants to drag you onto his ship is Luffy, not me."

Roman tilted his head and glanced at the despairing Zoro, his face expressionless, but something flickered in his slightly raised eyes.

"I have no reason to save you.—I'm a pirate."

!!

Am I going to die here?

And yet I promised—

The World's Greatest Swordsman...

Kuina, ------

Under the moonlight, The Two-Sword Boy and the One-Sword Girl crossed blades. The result of their duel:

2001st time, defeat!

'Damn it, how frustrating.'

The green-haired boy, knocked to the ground, wore a face full of resentment.

'Why can I never beat you, Kuina?'

'I'm the one who should be frustrated!'

But the girl who defeated him was even more frustrated! She was already hugging her knees and crying. 'Haven't you noticed? It takes me longer and longer to beat you.'

'As we grow up, boys' physical advantage becomes more and more obvious. Father said—girls can never become the World's Greatest Swordsman...'

'Saying that after winning—how despicable!'

Facing the crying girl, the green-haired boy with two swords was furious. 'Are you saying that when the day comes you lose to me, you'll use that as an excuse?'

'I can always keep you as my goal, train every day to surpass you. I won't allow you to say such discouraging words!'

Two-Sword Boy stood before the crying girl and made a promise.

'Let's have a match!'

'The 2002nd match—someday, either you or I.'

'Will become the World's Greatest Swordsman!'

'Let's see who's the victor this time!'

'You idiot,'

The girl wiped away her tears, crying as she smiled.

'You're nothing but a loser to me...'

'Alright, I promise you—'

But the next day, She died.

The boy's 'lifelong rival' died so quietly, the girl simply fell down the stairs while fetching a whetstone, and just like that:

'Master, can I have Kuina's swords?'

The expressionless boy took the girl's swords, strapping three weapons at his waist.

We promised, someday:

I'll take you and become the World's Greatest Swordsman!!

How could this be!

How could I die in a place like this!!

Kuina, my...

Our promise, Countless incoming Lead Bullets reflected in his pupils! Even Zoro's long-trained body was nothing but flesh and blood. Under an attack like this...

Could it be—

Shing!

A blur flashed before his eyes, a figure stood in front of Zoro! It was a person wearing a straw hat, a red vest, holding Zoro's three swords in hand.

Pew pew pew pew!!!

The dense Lead Bullets all struck him, leaving Zoro, who had just relived his 'life flashing before his eyes', stunned speechless.

"You—"

"Muda muda muda!!" (Useless)

But before Zoro could act out a 'tragic' scene, Luffy, who had blocked the bullets for him, suddenly stretched his body. The Lead Bullets that had 'sunk' into him shot back the way they came! Sending the Marine soldiers who had fired flying.

"Hehehehe~~"

"You... just who are you..."

Facing the shocked Zoro, Luffy turned around with a confident grin.

"I'm Luffy,"

"The man who's going to become the King of the Pirates!"

With that, he thrust the three swords toward Zoro. "I didn't know which one was yours, so I brought them all."

"All three are mine."

Hah, Zoro, who had just walked the line between life and death, let out a breath. Some things seemed less important now, while others had become even more precious.

"Heh, rather than dying here... I might as well..."

"Become a pirate with you—"

Shing shing shing, A flash of blades, and all the ropes binding Zoro snapped apart! Roman twirled a sword with a slight smile.

"I'm Roman,"

"Torkovic-Roman."

At the same time, he reached out to steady Zoro, who nearly collapsed after being suddenly freed.

"Then, I look forward to working with you from now on."

"Partner."