"That was just an accident."
To protect his good name, Rod had no choice but to explain.
"Then why didn't you let go during the fight? You just switched hands and kept holding on! Admit it—you're a pervert!"
"I..."
Rod was at a loss for words.
After accidentally taking off Hina's shoe just now, his cheat ability, [Knights Do Not Die Empty-Handed], had activated, allowing him to instantly master one of the Marine Six Powers, [Shave].
[Shave] was a technique that involved stomping the ground dozens of times at high speed within an instant (0.36 seconds), using the explosive reaction force to move at incredible speed. To an enemy, it looked as if the user had simply vanished.
In fact, Rod had considered recreating the technique during his own training. But since he'd never seen it performed firsthand, he'd run into all sorts of problems whenever he tried. He couldn't freely control his direction, or manage how far he moved, or get the rhythm right. Even when he managed to move, he couldn't use the technique in actual combat.
Rod had figured that all he needed was to see someone use it in person and experience it for himself. Then he ought to be able to learn it quickly, since his physical abilities were more than enough to master such techniques.
He hadn't expected his cheat ability to have a function like this. Just holding the shoe of someone who knew [Shave] let him learn it. What about the other techniques?
He ought to be able to master [Geppo] and [Tempest Kick] by holding the user's shoes, too. Maybe Hina didn't know those techniques yet, which was why he hadn't picked them up just now. Did he have to strip the user to learn [Iron Body] and [Paper Arts]? What would that make him...? And what about [Finger Pistol]? Was he supposed to cut off someone's finger?
Looking down at his palm, Rod felt a little speechless.
Why did his cheat ability seem so indecent?
"You still won't admit you're a pervert? You're savoring the memory!"
Colonel Baro suddenly roared.
To him, the look on Rod's face seemed to show that he was reliving what had just happened.
And Hina was his goddess!
"Hey, come on, Rod. You can't be serious."
Luo looked at Rod strangely.
"He's already eighteen. It's perfectly normal for a young man that age to have needs."
Nerl didn't pass up the chance to tease Rod, chiming in with a straight face.
"Put that way, I suppose it makes sense. It's just a matter of biological development."
A faint smile appeared on Luo's face.
"But even if we've decided to become pirates, that kind of behavior is still way too tasteless!"
"Honestly, if you're really into that sort of thing, I can give you my shoes. You just have to buy me a new pair."
Nia joined in, too.
"Enough, all of you!"
Rod felt there was no way he could explain himself.
The worst part was, he still planned to try triggering [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 blasts rang out, and cannonballs came hurtling toward Rod and the others.
While the others had leaped off the ship to fight at close range, Drake had stayed aboard. He'd already ordered the soldiers on the warship to prepare the cannons. Seeing Rod and his companions locked in a standoff, he'd decisively ordered them to fire.
Although Colonel Baro was still aboard the enemy ship, he was strong enough to survive the bombardment.
Besides, judging by the strength those people had just shown, the firepower of this warship alone wouldn't be enough to defeat them.
But if they could destroy the enemy ship, their opponents wouldn't be able to escape. The Marines would claim the final victory!
"ROOM—Slaughterhouse!"
A pale blue sphere spread across the area as Luo activated his ability again.
"Cut!"
With a casual swing of the [Kikoku] in his hand, he sliced every incoming cannonball in two.
"What kind of power is that?!"
Drake froze aboard the ship. Luo hadn't touched the cannonballs, and Drake hadn't seen any slash fly out. He'd simply swung his sword, and every cannonball had been cut apart.
While Drake was still stunned, Nerl raised his black rifle and aimed at the warship.
"First, the sixteen cannons."
Nerl fired several times. As he emptied the remaining seven bullets, he had already changed magazines, then immediately fired another nine shots.
Bang! Bang! Bang—
The sixteen cannons aboard the warship exploded almost simultaneously, blasting away the soldiers who were loading them.
"And now, the last officer aboard the ship."
As Drake's attention was drawn by the explosions aboard the warship, the final bullet in Nerl's rifle shot toward the center of his forehead.
A sudden sense of danger rose within him. Drake had no time to think. Following his instincts, he activated his Devil Fruit ability, and his body abruptly swelled. His head became a terrifying dragon's head. The bullet that had been aimed at his brow struck his chest instead, only piercing the skin.
"A Devil Fruit user with an Ancient Zoan!"
Seeing the change in his opponent, Nerl's expression shifted.
"Luo, send us all to shore. I don't want to damage my beloved Polar Tang."
"You and Nerl should be enough, right?"
The pale blue sphere spread over the area again, even covering the warship some distance away.
"Leave the female Marine to me. I'm worried our captain won't be able to bring himself to hit her, and we'll end up delayed."
"He's not the type to go easy on a pretty face."
Thinking of how Rod had just kicked the female Marine away without hesitation, Luo replied flatly.
Still, considering Rod's strange behavior just now, Luo selected Nia as well. His ability activated at once, transporting her and the two Marines who had charged back from the shore to the harbor.
"This is my first time fighting Marines. I hope you're stronger than that runt we fought earlier."
Nia clenched her fist and looked excitedly at Hina, who stood in front of her.
"I should remind you: you beat up a Marine lieutenant in Grass Town before."
Nerl looked at Drake, who had taken on his hybrid form, his expression growing serious. But he still reminded Nia.
"Was there someone like that? I forgot."
"You assigned Hina an opponent without asking. Hina's angry."
Her gaze passed over the catlike woman in front of her and landed on Rod farther away. Anger was hard to hide in Hina's eyes.
"In that case, Hina will arrest you first!"
As soon as she spoke, she appeared at Nia's side. Her swinging arm was about to smash into Nia's face.
Nia leaned back to dodge Hina's attack, planted both hands on the ground, and sprang into the air. Her raised leg whipped out and slammed hard into Hina's shoulder.
"If you underestimate me, you'll regret it. I won't go easy on you just because the captain favors you."
Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, Hina ignored the words that had angered her and calmed herself down before facing the catlike woman before her.
"Hina won't let her guard down again."
Before you continue