What was going on?
Who was this kid?
Vinsmoke Judge was twenty-four years old this year. He could guarantee that in all his twenty-four years of life, he had never seen the man in front of him before!
Had he mistaken him for someone else?
The confusion vanished in the next instant.
Instead, cold sweat broke out across his back.
He had appeared in front of him in the blink of an eye and grabbed his hand before he could react at all!
There was something wrong with this guy!!
Acting on instinct, Judge began struggling, trying to yank his hand free.
But the hand of the youth, who was not even as tall as his chest, was as hard as if it had been forged from Seastone. It could not be shaken in the slightest.
Not good! He was an expert!
"Come save me!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Judge, who had never been particularly brave, immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.
Were there people like this in the North Blue?
He had never heard of them before!
At his command, the Germa Kingdom soldiers who were charging toward the castle, preparing to end the war once and for all, were startled.
The king had been captured!
The soldiers were shocked and furious. Instinctively, they surged forward to rescue Judge.
However.
Boom!
A figure slammed down heavily behind Roa.
"Don't get in the way!"
Mercury vapor instantly spread like a raging tide, swallowing the surrounding soldiers in the blink of an eye.
"Waahhhhhhh!!"
A string of shrill screams followed.
Fortunately, the screams lasted only an instant. The next second, they had already vanished, so they did not become unbearably grating.
Judge's already trembling pupils shrank to pinpoints. "A Logia? The Mercury Fruit!!"
It's over!
He had run into a monster!
There was simply no way to deal with a Logia like this!
"Bullet, use this move less often in the future."
Roa turned around and earnestly scolded him. "You melted them in an instant. Don't you think that's a little too cruel? If you have to use it, keep the temperature lower. Otherwise, the people being attacked won't even know how they died. They won't be able to explain it to anyone in hell."
"Yes, Lord Roa!"
Bullet naturally obeyed Roa's orders completely, without the slightest hesitation.
"Roa!"
Judge's gaze instantly locked onto Roa's face.
That sight alone was enough to turn his face as pale as paper. "You are the former chief officer of the Rocks Pirates, the ten-billion-Beli bounty—"
"Oh my, don't say that nickname, Mr. Judge."
Roa raised his head, his violent aura instantly enveloping Judge. "Anyone who says that nickname has to die."
"..."
Judge's mind went completely blank.
Conqueror's Haki!
Conqueror's Haki of this level!
What kind of monster was he?!
"I can see your fear."
The corners of Roa's lips curved upward as black and white reversed in his eyes.
Grow, fear.
"Urghhhhhhh!!"
A terribly shrill scream instantly rang across the battlefield.
Judge collapsed onto the ground. His entire body trembled with fear as he hugged his head and lay facedown like an ostrich. His pants were already wet.
"..."
Doflamingo, standing on the roof, wanted to mock him, but then he remembered what he himself had been like before. Back then, he had probably looked the same way in front of Roa.
What a terrifying ability!
Roa quietly looked down at Judge, who was wailing and screaming.
He had not even deliberately entered his beast form, yet the incomplete version of negative-emotion manipulation had already pushed Judge to this point. As expected, he was that weak-willed Judge from the original story.
The ability was lifted.
But the fear in Judge's heart would not disappear so quickly. He continued to lie on the ground, trembling nonstop.
"So, Mr. Judge, are you willing to accept the position of head of our company's research department?"
Roa asked with a smile.
"Willing! Willing, willing, willing! Don't kill me! I'll agree to anything!!"
As if he had completely broken down, Judge screamed hoarsely.
Dealing with these weak-willed people really was this simple.
It had been the same when he dealt with Doflamingo before. He had not merely made them feel fear for a moment.
Although it was difficult to affect people with strong wills, Roa's manipulation of evil thoughts was actually an extremely terrifying ability.
Against the weak-willed, activating it with all his strength could turn them into puppets. Even if he restrained his power, it was enough to completely alter the other person's personality with ease.
In other words, both Doflamingo and Judge had already been corrupted by Roa. He had branded fear of him deep in their hearts.
Unless they possessed the courage and ability to overcome the flaws in their personalities and remake themselves, they would never be able to escape that fear.
But then again, if they truly had such willpower, how would they have ended up in this state?
However, fear alone was not enough.
Being afraid did not mean they would obey.
"You're very welcome to join us, Judge!"
Roa grabbed Judge's hand and began shaking it vigorously once again.
Judge struggled to raise his head, intense fear still lingering on his face.
Without even giving him a chance to speak, Roa continued, "From now on, let us work together to overthrow the World Government and establish a brand-new world order!"
"Overthrow the World Government?"
Judge was even more stunned.
Why would I want to do something like that?!
"Oh? Don't you hate the World Government?"
Roa smiled. "Back then, when the Vinsmoke Family conquered the entire North Blue, wasn't it only because of the World Government's interference that you fell to your current state?"
Judge naturally knew about this. He hated the World Government as well, of course, but it still shouldn't have gone so far—
"That's right! That's right!!"
Fear was cast to the back of his mind. Judge's face flushed bright red, veins bulging on his forehead as his features twisted like those of a demon. "Damn the World Government! Everything is their fault! We must overthrow them!! The Vinsmoke Family's century of humiliation must be repaid in blood!"
"But, Judge."
Roa stopped the ability again. "Do you think you have the ability to do that?"
His anger rapidly faded. Although his hatred for the World Government was likewise engraved deep in his heart, Judge, who was gradually regaining his reason, fell silent.
He had not even managed to conquer the North Blue. What was he talking about overthrowing the government?
"I'm such a useless piece of trash!! Why am I so useless?!"
Judge knelt on the ground and slammed his head against it, wailing in agony. "I'm less useful than a pile of dog shit! Why am I even alive?!"
This time, it was cowardice.
And then came the final step.
"Don't worry, Judge."
Roa grabbed his hand once more and said earnestly, "People aren't born into this world to be alone. If one person can't accomplish something, then leave it to your companions."
"I came to invite you because I intend to overthrow the World Government. Just follow me. I will lead you to fulfill our dream."
Judge stared blankly.
That's right. If it's this man in front of me, this monster with a ten-billion-Beli bounty at the age of seven, then perhaps he really could overthrow the World Government.
Roa's smile deepened.
This was the final step: dependence.
"If it's you, Lord Roa, then you can definitely do it!"
Judge gripped Roa's hand with almost feverish fervor. "Lord Roa, please let me assist you! Please lead me to fulfill my dream!"
See? Wasn't this simple?
Just like playing with a doll.
"Of course, my friend!"
Roa patted his hand. "Also, call me Boss!"
"Yes, Boss!"
Doflamingo's scalp crawled.
He had personally witnessed a perfectly normal person turn into a lunatic in the blink of an eye under the influence of Roa's ability!
How could such a monster exist in this world?!
Roa! Roa!!
Doflamingo turned his head away, not daring to look at Roa's back.
He absolutely could not oppose Roa!
"Then, I hereby announce—"
Roa said grandly, "Calamity Company is officially established today!"
"Yes!"
Before you continue