In the year 1522 of the Sea Circle Calendar, at the 153rd Marine Branch in the East Blue.
Two figures were sprawled atop the Marine base's outer wall, gazing down at the training ground, where a battered-looking man was tied to a cross.
"Lina, is he the swordsman you mentioned who uses three swords?"
Luffy glanced at the man beside him.
The man had short blond hair and wore a sky-blue shirt with the long sleeves rolled up, paired with beige trousers. He looked every bit the sharp professional.
"Green hair, three gold earrings..."
Lina studied the figure on the training ground for a moment. "That's him. Let's go."
Francis Lina.
A year ago, he had crossed over into the world of pirates and met Luffy in Foosha Village. Today was their first day setting sail.
Lina had brought Luffy straight to Branch 153. Their purpose was...
Naturally, to claim their new-player bonus: Three-Sword Style Zoro.
Luffy grinned, planted his hands on the wall, and hopped into the base. Then he strode right inside.
Lina unhurriedly lit a cigarette and followed him.
"Are you here for me?"
Zoro had noticed them long ago. He watched them warily. "Who are you?"
"I'm Luffy! I'm a pirate, and I came to ask you to join my crew."
Luffy grinned and stated his purpose bluntly, then reached out and started untying Zoro without asking.
Zoro was stunned. Did people just say the strangest things these days?
"Are you kidding me? Hey, don't untie me without asking!"
Zoro hurriedly tried to stop him.
He had been captured willingly to save a mother and her daughter.
He had made a deal with the Marines: if he endured a month without food or water, they wouldn't lay a hand on the two of them.
They would also let him go.
But Luffy wouldn't listen. His hands worked nimbly at the ropes.
Only...
"You're making it tighter, you idiot!"
Zoro couldn't help shouting as the ropes bit painfully into his hands.
Lina: "..."
They'd only been at sea for a day, and already Luffy was going to strangle a crewmate as a sacrifice. That would be a ridiculous story to tell.
"Forget it, Luffy. Let me handle it."
At Lina's thought, a rift opened in the air. A sinister, bone-white skeleton emerged, holding a dagger.
Zoro was startled by the sudden sight. "What the hell is that?!"
"I'm a Devil Fruit user. I can summon undead creatures."
Lina took the dagger from the skeleton and sliced through the rope with one light stroke. It fell away. He smiled and added:
"Anyway... ahem... I'm here to get him out! Come with us and you'll be fine."
"Huh???"
Zoro stared at him blankly, brow furrowed.
He had no idea what Lina was saying, but the man sounded so confident that Zoro couldn't help thinking he must be right.
Lina's expression turned serious. He casually stuck the dagger into the skeleton's skull and sent it back.
"I heard about your situation in town on my way here. You don't really think you can last a whole month without eating or drinking, do you?"
"Tch. Mind your own business."
Zoro scoffed, but didn't argue. The truth was, he was already close to his limit.
And today was only the ninth day!
"Anyway, after today, you'll soon be wanted. Either become a pirate, or stay here and wait to die."
Lina exhaled a ring of smoke, flicked his cigarette butt to the ground, and crushed it underfoot. Then he said calmly:
"Or, if you don't have any ambition, you can find somewhere to hide. We can pretend we never came today."
"If I'm going to live like a coward, I might as well die here."
Zoro spat and rubbed his wrists. "I still have something important to do."
He knew Lina was right. Once he was wanted, not becoming a pirate wouldn't make him any different from one.
He still had a goal to achieve, and these two had genuinely rescued him. Maybe he should just set sail with them?
Zoro's expression grew serious as he met Lina's gaze. "Looks like I don't have a choice but to board this pirate ship. Are you the captain?"
"No. He is."
Lina gestured with his thumb toward Luffy.
Zoro looked over. Luffy was grinning at him, his eyes full of "innocence."
"He doesn't look very reliable."
Zoro didn't know why he had that question, but he had a strange feeling. He turned back to Lina and asked, "Then are you the vice captain?"
"No, no, I'm just a support crew member."
Lina waved his hands, his expression full of resistance. Vice captain? No way!
That title sounded like it would attract too much attention. It didn't suit his style. He wanted to quietly build up his strength, then amaze everyone.
Would people treat him the same after hearing he was vice captain as they would after hearing he was just support staff?
He was someone who liked to shoot people in the back. Nobody understood combat better than he did.
What, you think that's despicable?
Yes! That's me, all right!
"Support crew member?"
"That sounds pretty weak," Zoro said, looking puzzled.
He was a Devil Fruit user from the legends, but he wasn't actually strong?
Exactly! That was perfect! Seeing Zoro's expression, Lina was delighted. That was just the effect he wanted.
If he used his ability now, he could slash Zoro several times in an instant.
Just then, a group of uninvited guests arrived on the training ground.
"Prepare to fire!!!"
A deep, rough shout rang out from a distance.
The three looked toward the sound. The one shouting was a burly man as big as a bear, with a massive axe attached to his hand. He was Morgan, the colonel of Branch 153!
A large group of Marines followed Morgan, raising their guns and aiming at them.
Seeing this, Luffy quickly stepped in front of the other two and spread his arms wide.
"Bang!"
"Bang!" Gunshots rang out, and dozens of bullets flew toward them.
"Look out!" Zoro shouted in alarm.
But the next moment, something unexpected happened.
The bullets hit Luffy and sank straight into his body. The flesh on his back stretched out, making him look like a porcupine.
The next instant, all the bullets shot out and ricocheted back at the Marines.
"What kind of monster is he?!"
"Get out of the way!"
"Hehehe! I ate the Rubber Fruit, so I'm a Rubber Person. Bullets don't work on me!"
Luffy laughed at the Marines, hands on his hips.
Zoro stared as if he'd seen a ghost. "What's going on? Is he a Devil... Huh? Where'd he go?"
Before he could finish, Zoro noticed that Lina had vanished without a trace. He reached for his empty waist and scowled.
"Damn it, he took my swords!"
Meanwhile, Morgan watched Luffy with a grim expression.
He had been the base commander for three years. He wasn't ignorant, and he immediately barked at his men:
"Don't panic! Try using swords! Everybody, get in there!"
Even if swords didn't work, they could rush him all at once and pin him down.
"Yes, sir!"
At Morgan's command, the Marines drew their swords and charged at Luffy, fighting him in a swarm.
Zoro joined in too. He knocked down several Marines with his bare hands, took their swords, and began to show off his astonishing skill.
Watching the two figures on the training ground, who fought like wild beasts, Morgan furrowed his brow.
"I'll wait for my men to wear them down, then take advantage and attack."
What a coincidence.
Lina was thinking the same thing!!
Just then, a sneaky figure suddenly appeared behind Morgan!
At some point, Lina had circled around and quietly crept up on him.
"Ka-chak!"
The sound of a gun being cocked rang out.
Morgan jolted. A chill ran through him, and a sense of dread made him whip around.
A blond man was pointing a gun at him. Morgan stared at the dark muzzle in terror.
"Eat shit, sir!"
"Wait—"
"Bang—!"
Lina pulled the trigger without hesitation and watched Morgan fall into a pool of blood. Then he lit another cigarette.
"Can't wait, sir. What if there's a twist?"
He'd said it: nobody understood combat better than he did!
He stepped forward and placed a hand on Morgan. A blue-green flame welled up from his palm, enveloping him.
About thirty seconds later, it returned to Lina's hand, taking the form of a dancing flame.
Before you continue