Knights Do Not Die Empty-Handed, Improper Hands (New Book Seeking Reads!!)

"That was just an accident."

To protect his reputation, Rod felt compelled to explain.

"Then why didn't you throw it away when you were fighting, but switched to your other hand to keep holding it! Admit it, you're a pervert!"

"I..."

Rod was speechless.

After accidentally taking off Hina's shoe, his golden finger, [Knights Do Not Die Empty-Handed], had activated, allowing him to instantly master the skill [Soru], one of the Six Marine Styles.

[Soru] was a technique that involved stomping the ground dozens of times at high speed within an instant (0.36 seconds), using explosive force to achieve high-speed movement. Because the speed was so fast, it looked like the user had disappeared to the enemy.

In fact, when Rod had been training, he had also tried to replicate this move. However, since he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, his attempts were always plagued by various problems. Either the direction of movement couldn't be controlled freely, the distance couldn't be managed, or the rhythm was off. Even if he could move, he couldn't use it in actual combat.

Originally, Rod had thought that if he saw someone use it and experienced it firsthand, he could learn it quickly, as his physical condition was more than sufficient to master it.

He hadn't expected his golden finger to have such a function: by holding the shoe of someone who used [Soru], he could master [Soru]. What about the other styles?

[Geppo] and [Rankyaku] should also be learnable by holding the user's shoes. Perhaps Hina hadn't learned them yet, which was why he hadn't mastered those two moves earlier. For [Tekkai] and [Kami-e], would he have to strip the user's clothes? What kind of person would that make him... And what about [Shigan]? He couldn't possibly cut off his own fingers, could he?

Looking down at his palm, Rod felt a bit speechless.

This golden finger didn't feel like a proper one at all.

"Still not admitting you're a pervert! You're savoring it!"

Captain Baro roared suddenly.

In his eyes, Rod's expression looked like he was reliving the experience.

She was his goddess!

"Whoa, whoa, no way, Rod."

Law looked at Rod with a strange expression.

"He's already 18, so it's pretty normal to have such needs."

Nerl didn't miss the chance to mock Rod, adding earnestly, "Now that you mention it, that makes sense. It's determined by physiological development."

Law also showed a faint smile.

"But even though we've decided to become pirates, this kind of behavior is too classless!"

"Honestly, if you really have that kind of fetish, I can give you my shoes, as long as you buy me a new pair."

Nia also joined in the fun.

"Can you guys just stop it already!"

Rod felt completely unable to defend himself.

Most importantly, he had planned to try and trigger [Knights Do Not Die Empty-Handed] in other ways later. Wouldn't that just confirm the rumor that he was a pervert?

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

Just then, several cannon volleys sounded, and several cannonballs flew towards Rod and the others.

While the others jumped off the ship to engage in close combat, Drake, who remained on the ship, had already ordered the marines on the warship to prepare for bombardment. Taking advantage of the stalemate between Rod and the others, he decisively gave the order to fire.

Although Captain Baro was still on the enemy ship, with his strength, he could definitely survive the bombardment.

Moreover, given the combat power displayed by the others just now, the firepower of this single warship wouldn't be enough to defeat them.

However, if they could destroy the enemy ship, they wouldn't be able to escape. Victory would surely belong to the Marines!

"ROOM--Kitchen!"

A pale blue circle enveloped the entire area, and Law once again activated his ability.

"Slice!"

With a gentle swing of his [Kikoku], the incoming cannonballs were all cut in half.

"What kind of ability is this!?"

Drake, standing on the ship, was instantly stunned. There was no contact, nor did he see any slashes being emitted. With a simple swing of his sword, all the cannonballs were cleaved apart.

While Drake was shocked, Nerl raised his black gun and aimed at the opposite side.

"First, the sixteen cannons."

He rapidly fired his black gun. The moment he emptied the remaining 7 bullets, Nerl had already reloaded a new magazine and fired another 9 consecutive shots.

BANG BANG BANG--

The sixteen cannons on the warship exploded almost simultaneously, blowing away the soldiers who were reloading next to them.

"Next, the last remaining officer on the ship."

The last bullet from Nerl's gun, while Drake was distracted by the explosions on the warship, shot towards his forehead.

A sense of crisis suddenly arose in Drake. Without time to think, he instinctively activated his Devil Fruit ability, his entire body suddenly expanding. His head transformed into a ferocious dragon's head, and the bullet aimed at his forehead landed on his chest, only piercing the skin.

"A Devil Fruit user of the Ancient Zoan type!"

Seeing the change in the other person's body, Nerl's expression shifted slightly.

"Law, send us all to shore. I don't want to damage my precious Polar."

"You two should be enough with Nerl."

A light blue aura once again enveloped the entire area, even covering the warships a short distance away.

"I'll handle that female Marine. I'm afraid our Captain might be too soft-hearted and delay our departure."

"He's not the type to go easy on women."

Remembering how Rod had mercilessly kicked the female Marine away earlier, Law spoke calmly.

However, considering Rod's unusual behavior just now, Law still selected Nia. He instantly activated his ability, transferring her, along with two Marines who had rushed back from the shore, to the port.

"This is my first time fighting the Marines. I hope they're a bit stronger than that weakling from earlier."

Nia clenched her fists, looking excitedly at Vice Captain Hina in front of her.

"I want to remind you, you beat up a Marine Major in Grass Town before."

Nerl looked at Drake, who had entered his hybrid form, his expression slightly serious, but he still spoke to remind Nia.

"Was there someone like that? I forgot."

"She's arbitrarily assigning opponents to Hina. Hina is very angry."

Her gaze passed over the cat-like woman in front of her and landed on Rod a short distance away. Unconcealed anger flickered in Hina's eyes.

"In that case, Hina will arrest you first!"

As soon as she finished speaking, her body appeared beside Nia, and her swinging arm nearly struck Nia's face.

Dodging Hina's attack with a backward lean, Nia pressed her hands to the ground and leaped into the air. Her raised leg swung out fiercely, smashing into Hina's shoulder.

"Underestimating me will lead to suffering. I won't hold back just because the Captain favors you."

Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth and filtering out the woman's infuriating words, Hina calmed her agitated mood and faced the cat-like woman before her squarely.

"Hina won't be careless again."