"Hmph, I never needed you to save me."
Yet Green Algae Head, tied to the wooden post, seemed anything but grateful.
"As long as I survived for a month, they'd let me go—so long as I kept the agreement..."
Tap, tap, tap.
But a burst of hurried footsteps interrupted Zoro. A bespectacled boy with a middle-parted haircut had somehow climbed over the wall and run over. He was panting hard, clearly having rushed here as fast as he could. But—
"What are you doing here?"
Roman asked knowingly. Koby, bent over with his hands on his knees, ignored him and looked anxiously at the tied-up Zoro.
"You were tricked!"
?
"They never planned to let you go!"
"That spoiled brat said it himself. They're going to execute you tomorrow—"
Ignoring Zoro's shock, the boy named Koby lowered his head sadly, hiding his tears from the other two. Yet the tremor in his voice revealed the turmoil in his heart.
"Luffy and I both know... you're not a bad person. You were captured because you killed the wolf that spoiled brat kept, all to protect the people of the town..."
"Throwing his weight around, oppressing civilians, lying through his teeth..."
"Marines like that, Marines like that..."
Hmm?
Clang—!
Roman's Sailor's Knife shot out like lightning, blocking in front of Koby! The harsh impact startled the "darkened" Koby so badly that his tears and snot seemed to freeze on his face.
"W-what happened...?"
Plop.
With a light flick of his wrist, a deformed lead bullet slid from Roman's Sailor's Knife and fell to the ground.
"Clearly, we're under attack."
The reason he said "we" was that Roman didn't believe anyone could precisely aim a flintlock rifle from the rooftop of that Marine base at a specific person dozens of meters away. More likely, someone had simply fired blindly in this direction. As for who got hit?
That depended on who was unlucky.
"Hmph. If you don't want to die, get lost..."
The tied-up Zoro began driving them away again in his harsh tone.
Boom—
At the same time, a statue slowly rose up on the roof of the Marine base. Then—
It suddenly tilted.
"That statue's about to fall~~"
"That statue is falling~~"
"That statue has already fallen~~"
As the three spoke, the statue that had just been erected crashed onto the roof and snapped in two! Then its upper half—
Smack!
A "head" fell beside the plaza, shattering into Four-Point Separation pieces of stone. And then—
"Ahhh~~~"
"What have you done?!"
"Kill him! Kill him for me—"
Even from dozens of meters away, the three in the plaza could hear the shock, panic, gunfire, and angry shouts from the rooftop across the way. It seemed that—
"Hey, isn't that guy way too stupid?!"
"He got discovered by the Marines in less than half a minute?"
Zoro, who had been tied up and starving for nine days, felt his blood pressure shoot through the roof. He even found strength appearing out of nowhere! That's it? That's it?
He had boldly claimed he would get his swords back, only to get caught by the Marines the moment he turned around!
In an instant, the entire Marine base became like a kicked hornet's nest.
Every kind of noise erupted into chaos!
In the plaza, the man named Zoro could not help speaking as Roman stood completely still.
"Pirate, aren't you going to help?"
"Your captain's about to get shot to death."
There were countless powerful people in this world, but this was still the "weakest" East Blue. As far as Zoro understood things right now: if someone was killed, they died.
Forget bullets—even an accidental fall could kill someone!
"Ha, Luffy won't die in a place like this."
Roman waved dismissively.
"Instead of worrying about others, you should worry about yourself."
Tap tap tap tap!!
Amid dense footsteps, a group of Marine soldiers rushed out from the base buildings. The black muzzles of their guns pointed toward Roman and the other two in the plaza.
"Hands up—"
"Who are you?"
"Intruders, fire!"
Bang bang bang bang!
Amid a barrage of gunfire, shrieking lead bullets flew toward Roman—and Koby beside him. After all, the two of them were standing right in the middle of the plaza without a care in the world.
Paper Dance—Shield!
Rustle—
A large amount of paper burst from his palm, instantly forming a massive tower shield in front of him! As it blocked the lead bullets amid a rapid clatter, it also protected Koby at his side.
"How interesting..."
A tall, burly man with a buzz cut strode out from among the Marine soldiers. He wore a Marine Captain's cloak, had an iron jaw guard, and his right hand was replaced by a massive axe.
Captain Morgan.
The "master" of this Marine base.
"A few rats think they can challenge my authority?"
"Your pathetic little strength, before my power—"
With a wave of his hand, the black muzzles of the Marines' guns all aimed at the three of them. This time, Zoro, tied to the wooden post, was included as well!
"Hey, hey, hey, why am I included too...?"
"Ready!"
However, the people across from him neither wanted to nor would listen to Zoro's nonsense. Every soldier merely loaded, aimed, and prepared to fire with practiced movements.
I... How could I die in a place like this?
I still have a promise to fulfill!
"That pirate, give me some of your shield—"
At this critical moment, even this man of steel, who had starved beneath the blazing sun for nine days, had no choice but to lower his head and ask Roman for help. Unfortunately—
"I refuse!"
?
"Don't misunderstand. Luffy is the one who wants to bring you aboard, not me."
Roman tilted his head toward the despairing Zoro. His face was 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?
When I promised—
World's Greatest Swordsman...
Kuina...
Under the moonlight,
Two-Sword Boy and One-Sword Girl exchanged blows. The result of the battle was—
2,001st time, defeat!
Damn it, I'm so unwilling.
Knocked to the ground, the green-haired boy wore an unwilling expression.
Why can't I ever beat you, Kuina?
I'm the one who should be unwilling!
Yet the girl who had defeated him was even more unwilling! She had even hugged her knees and begun to cry. Haven't you noticed? It takes me longer and longer to defeat you.
As we grow up, boys' advantage in stamina will become more and more obvious. Father said it himself—girls can never become the World's Greatest Swordsman...
You say that after winning? That's too low!
Facing the crying girl, the green-haired, two-sword boy was furious. Are you saying that when the day comes that you lose to me, you'll use that as an excuse?
I can keep treating you as my goal and train every day to surpass you. I won't allow you to say something so discouraging!
Two-Sword Boy stood before the crying girl and made a vow.
Let's compete!
The 2,002nd match—one day, either you or I...
Will become the World's Greatest Swordsman!
Let's see who the winner will be this time!
Idiot.
The girl wiped away her tears and smiled through them.
You're just a defeated opponent...
Fine, it's a promise—
Yet the next day,
She died.
The boy's "lifelong rival" died so quietly. The girl had merely fallen down the stairs while going to get a whetstone, and yet—
Master, can you give me Kuina's sword?
The expressionless boy took the girl's sword and tied three weapons around his waist.
We promised that one day—
I would take you with me and become the World's Greatest Swordsman!!
How could that be!
How could I die in a place like this?!
Kuina, my...
Our promise...
Countless lead bullets rushing toward him reflected in his pupils! Even Zoro's battle-hardened body was still only flesh and blood. Under an attack like this...
Could it be—
Whoosh!
His vision blurred as a figure stepped in front of Zoro! It was a figure wearing a straw hat and a red vest, holding his three swords.
Puff puff puff puff!!!
The dense bullets all struck his body, leaving Zoro, who had just relived his life before his eyes, staring in shock.
"You—"
"Muda muda muda!!"
But before Zoro could stage a tragic scene, Luffy, who had shielded him from the bullets, suddenly stretched his body. The lead bullets "sunken" into his body immediately flew back along their original paths, knocking the firing Marine soldiers off their feet.
"Hehehehe~~"
"Y-you... who are you...?"
Facing Zoro's shock, Luffy turned around and flashed a confident grin.
"I'm Luffy,"
"the man who'll become King of the Pirates!"
He held the three swords out before Zoro. "I didn't know which one was yours, so I brought them all."
"All three are mine."
Phew.
Zoro, having walked the line between life and death, let out a breath. Some things suddenly no longer seemed so important, while others became even more precious.
"Heh, rather than die here... I might as well..."
"Become a pirate with you—"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
A flash of sword light passed by, and all the ropes binding Zoro snapped apart! Roman twirled his blade and smiled faintly.
"I'm Roman,"
"Tokvich Roman."
At the same time, he reached out and steadied Zoro, who nearly collapsed after suddenly being untied.
"Then please take care of me from now on."
"Partner."
Before you continue