Rod waved the long knife in his hand, then raised it and admired the beautiful pattern on the blade. A satisfied smile crept onto his face.
He wasn't exactly a pure swordsman, but getting his hands on a Good Quick Blade was still a pleasant surprise.
I never expected this guy to be so weak and yet have such a good sword.
Rod glanced at Mr. 11, whom he had knocked to the ground, then bent down and removed the scabbard hanging at his waist. He slid his newly acquired Good Quick Blade into it.
"That's my sword!"
Watching Rod casually sheathe his long knife and claim it for himself, Mr. 11 couldn't help speaking up.
"It's mine now."
Rod gave him a cool glance.
"Who are you?"
Remembering how his opponent had subdued him in an instant, Mr. 11 knew he probably wasn't a match for him.
Still, he had to at least learn his enemy's identity.
"Weren't you after my bounty? What, you don't recognize me?"
At Rod's reply, Mr. 11 took a closer look at him and Nerl. His expression changed dramatically.
Red hair and emerald-green eyes. They were members of the Rod Pirates—Rod and Nerl!
"Just wait here until the fighting's over."
Nerl fetched two glasses from the tavern counter. He poured a drink for himself and Rod, and they quietly waited for the fighting in the street to end.
Haa—
Genos let out a long breath, pulled the broken blade from his chest, and tossed it to the ground. Then he picked two bullets from his neck and threw them away before slowly walking over to Mr. 5.
Mr. 5 lay on the ground, his body covered in wounds of all sizes. Genos had inflicted them during their earlier battle, trading injuries for injuries.
The battle had lasted nearly an hour. Sixty-seven ordinary members of Baroque Works were all seriously injured or dead! Two Chief Commanders had suffered moderate injuries, but were completely exhausted and unable even to get back up!
One enemy: Zombie Man Genos, whose body had been pierced countless times by blades, whose chest had been riddled with bullets, and whose bones had been shattered by heavy blows.
Mr. 5 stared at Genos, whose body was completely free of wounds. Fear crept into his eyes.
This was a true monster that couldn't be killed!
"Can you tell me why? Why go this far?"
Even if his opponent could recover quickly thanks to his Devil Fruit ability, the injuries he suffered in battle were real, as was the pain.
Even the most ruthless pirate wouldn't fight like this. Why go to such lengths?
"Why?"
Clutching a hand axe that was almost completely broken, Genos looked down at the man on the ground, anger in his eyes.
"You sent someone to steal my Xixi, and you're asking me why?!"
"Xixi?"
"She's a dog I raised, my only companion! I'll never forgive anyone who dares hurt my friend!"
"You did all this over a dog?!"
Mr. 5's eyes widened.
The reason he'd fought to such an extent was just a dog?!
"That white dog!"
Mr. 11's eyes widened too. He remembered the underling who had stolen Genos's dog. He had told the man to get rid of it.
"You did it?"
Genos suddenly looked up. His gaze passed over Rod and Nerl before settling on Mr. 11.
He had noticed the two red-haired youths during the fight, but they hadn't seemed hostile, so he hadn't paid them any further attention.
"No, it wasn't me! I don't know anything!"
As if! Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine had both been taken out. Mr. 11 had absolutely no desire to fight Genos now.
Besides, he really hadn't done it.
"Your Xixi is over there."
Rod pointed toward a box by the wall.
At Rod's answer, Genos dropped the axe and hurried to the box. He opened it carefully. Only when he saw Xixi lying inside, unharmed and fast asleep, did he finally let out a long breath.
Gently lifting Xixi out of the box, Genos turned to Rod and Nerl.
"You saved Xixi, didn't you? Thank you so much!
"I'll repay you properly. Whatever you ask, I'll do everything in my power to make it happen!"
At Genos's words, a delighted smile spread across Rod's face.
"Then come aboard my ship and sail with me!"
"Huh?"
Genos was taken aback.
He was indeed grateful to the two red-haired youths for saving Xixi, and he truly wanted to repay them.
But he had refused Baroque Works' recruitment because he wanted to live a peaceful life. That was what had led to all this.
And now they were asking him to...
"You're..."
Genos ventured.
"We're pirates!"
"I'm sorry."
Genos's face was full of apology.
"I just want to live a peaceful life. I really don't want to become a pirate, with the Marines chasing me all over the sea and never giving me any peace."
Rod didn't mind Genos's refusal. Instead, he poured him a glass of wine and gestured for him to sit down and talk.
"If they had a choice, no one would want to be chased everywhere.
"But that's just how this sea is. You can't have peace just because you want it. Hasn't what happened this time made the situation clear to you?"
Rod raised his glass and clinked it against Genos's. After taking a sip, he pointed toward the members of Baroque Works lying nearby and continued.
"The one you just defeated was Mr. 5, a Chief Commander of Baroque Works.
"You're a smart man. You should understand from his codename: if he's number five, then there are four stronger people above him. And above those four is their president, one of the Shichibukai—Crocodile."
Seeing Genos's expression change, Rod shook his head slightly.
"You've already been dragged into this. If you want to keep the peaceful life you're after, the only way is to take out everyone who wants to disturb it."
"What a pain!"
Genos tipped his head back and finished the beer in his glass, then let out a long sigh.
All he'd wanted was a quiet, peaceful life with Xixi.
Rod poured him another glass, then laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry. Being a pirate isn't as hard as you think.
"In fact, as long as you're strong enough, you can live freely no matter what you do."
"Still, you're not wrong to worry. Pirates do often find themselves pursued by the Marines."
Rod stood up and looked into the distance, a red glint flashing in his eyes.
"Just like now!"
Before you continue