Mister, How Are You Going to Pay Me Back for Two Lives?

"A smile, Eight-Star Big Trophy..."

Storm glanced at the [Moonlight Trophy] that had popped up in front of him, then immediately put it away.

Now is not the time to deal with this prestigious Big Trophy.

That "Fat Tiger" is still soaking in the ocean in the New World!

Yixiao isn't Kaido.

If this "fat tiger" stays in the ocean for too long, it really will turn into a "dead tiger"!

Storm still has some reservations about "recruiting Yixiao".

He didn't want to give up on this future Headquarters Admiral Fujitora just like that.

Storm looked down at the sea and stretched out his right hand, unleashing the power of the [Clay Ring].

The next instant.

A slender and graceful Blue-Eyes White Dragon leaped out of the void, flapped its white wings, and swooped down towards the sea below.

Under the guidance of Storm's [Observation Haki].

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon, moving as fast as an arrow, plunged into the sea and darted through the water like a nimble White Fish.

In less than a moment.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon then found Yi Xiao deep in the ocean; Yi Xiao was unconscious and had been submerged in seawater.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon swung its long, thin tail, which, like a rope, directly lassoed Yi Xiao's body and carried him towards the sea.

Under Storm's manipulation.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon flew out of the sea, then returned to the sky with a smile.

Just as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon was about to fly to Storm's side, it suddenly swung its tail, sending a wisp of blood flying directly onto the top step of the golden stairway to heaven that the Gild Tesoro had just created.

Snap!

Yi Xiao's body crashed heavily onto the top step of the Golden Ladder to Heaven, making a crisp impact sound.

Because of her rather rounded figure (scratch that) -- because of her elasticity, Yixiao's body even bounced twice on that golden staircase, like a fat fish thrown ashore.

However, it was precisely because of this sudden impact.

Xiao, who had just been unconscious, opened her eyes in time and barely regained consciousness.

It has to be admitted.

There are almost no "fragile" individuals among the top-tier powerhouses in the ocean.

Even if they are "fragile," their vigilance is exceptionally strong.

"Cough cough--Pfft!"

As soon as Yixiao regained consciousness, she couldn't help but cough violently a few times, spitting out mouthfuls of murky seawater mixed with blood.

Then, he subconsciously activated his Observation Haki, trying to sense the surrounding situation.

To Yixiao's great surprise, he was still high in the sky above Gran Tesoro and had not gone anywhere else.

Beside Yixiao was the still unconscious Gild Tesoro Tesoro.

And in the sky above, Shichibukai who had just easily defeated him— White Dragon!

Yi Xiao's mind was still relatively clear.

In a short time, he cleared his mind.

He had just been knocked into the sea by the White Dragon, and then the White Dragon came to his rescue!

This is truly... shameful!

He sneered and wiped his mouth haphazardly, barely managing to remove the blood and water stains from the corner of his lips.

Ignoring his own wet and disheveled state, he looked up at the White Dragon.

The White Dragon, who had just disappeared from the perception of [Observation Haki], suddenly reappeared there, as if it had never moved at all.

"Why..."

Ikko strained to widen his pale, blind eyes, using his Observation Haki to "look" at Storm.

"Why would you, as my enemy, save me?"

If someone is clearly an enemy, wouldn't the "correct" course of action be to simply kill them?

Yi Xiao's feelings were very complicated.

The real reason I saved you is that I don't dislike you.

Storm gazed at him with a smile and said calmly.

"Furthermore, I do not have a particular fondness for killing 'civilians'."

Although Yixiao is very powerful.

However, he is currently not well-known and has not yet chosen a side.

He was neither a pirate nor a villain.

Then it can only be attributed to "ordinary people"!

Or perhaps a "ronin"? A "knight-errant"? Or maybe a "gambler"?

But no matter what...

Yixiao's philosophy and stance still belong to the "lawful good" school.

Storm doesn't dislike guys like that.

Upon hearing Storm's words, several veins bulged on Yi Xiao's forehead.

"No civilians were killed..."

Yi Xiao suddenly gripped the Supreme Grade Sword [Black Road Fire Wire] tightly in his hand.

"Banaro Island, Jaya Island, Hachinosu Island... how many islands have you destroyed?"

"Aren't the people living on these islands ordinary citizens too?"

Of course not.

Storm looked at him with a rather strange smile.

"Since you know the names of these islands, you should know who rules them, right?"

"Hanafuda on Banaro Island, Ochoku on Hachinosu Island... The only exception is Jaya Island, which has no ruler."

"But don't you know? These three islands are actually all genuine 'pirate islands'!"

"These islands are inhabited entirely by pirates!"

Take Hachinosu Island as an example.

From the time of Rocks, through the era of Ochoku, and even into the future years when Blackbeard will rule.

Hachinosu Island has always been a "pirate island".

On Hachinosu Island, everyone is a villain!

This is the true nature of this "pirate island".

The situation on Jaya Island and Banaro Island is the same as on Hachinosu Island.

All three islands are "pirate islands," truly "lawless zones."

Storm rarely felt any sympathy for pirates.

Unless it's a special case like Bear or Robin.

"Pirate Island..."

Upon hearing this, Yi Xiao suddenly froze, and the angry expression on her face also froze.

The reporting style of the World Economic Journal can only be described as "those who know, know".

To increase the impact, the World Economic Journal often "edits" its text when disseminating news.

Morgans, the editor-in-chief of the World Economic Journal Big News Bird Herald, usually describes himself as a "text DJ".

The World Economic Journal did indeed report on the deeds of the "White Dragon".

However, they only reported that "the White Dragon destroyed the island."

The World Economic Journal would never say "White Dragon destroyed the pirate island".

Pirates killing each other.

Where can you find something as eye-catching as pirates slaughtering ordinary civilians and destroying innocent islands?

Even with a smile, he was unaware of the true situation regarding the islands destroyed by the White Dragon.

Ultimately...

The ocean is still too vast.

The right to know is always held by only a minority.

Storm could observe that Yixiao's previously violent aura was fading at a visible speed.

He raised an eyebrow, immediately realizing what was happening.

"Uncle, you don't actually think I'm the kind of 'traditional pirate' who likes to indiscriminately kill innocent people and commit evil deeds, do you?"

"Cough cough..."

Yi Xiao stretched out her right hand, placed it against her lips, and coughed lightly twice.

"Feel sorry..."

I genuinely believed that before I laughed.

The Shichibukai isn't a good system.

A Shichibukai can destroy an entire island at a time is unlikely to be a good person...

That's what I thought, at least before I laughed.

"Hehe..."

Storm chuckled twice, then suddenly brought up another matter.

"Didn't you just say that I 'saved you'?"

He gave a dry, curt reply, "Yes..."

"To use such a foolish and extremely base idea to speculate about one's savior."

Storm, disregarding the order of events, forcibly took the moral high ground and criticized Yixiao.

"Is this your 'benevolence,' sir?"

He smiled and remained silent for a long while.

He prostrated himself down as if overturning a mountain of gold and a jade pillar, bowing deeply and apologizing in an extremely humble manner.

I'm so sorry!

"Ah, this--"

Storm was momentarily stunned.

He truly didn't expect Yixiao to kneel down and apologize at this moment.

Is this some kind of peculiar hobby of Yixiao's?

Storm quickly maneuvered the Blue-Eyes White Dragon to the side, avoiding the direction in which Yi Xiao was kneeling.

"No kneeling allowed!"

Storm commented on Issho, who was still in the dogeza (kneeling) position.

"Are you really from Wano Country? You seem to enjoy kneeling so much!"

"My hometown is indeed Wano Country."

Yi Xiao propped herself up, but remained kneeling, with her hands on her thighs, and answered earnestly.

"Unfortunately, the general is incompetent and foolish, and the people are suffering terribly..."

"Stop, stop! I'm not interested in the situation in Wano Country."

Storm extended his right hand, interrupting Xiao's words.

He then rubbed his temples.

Although Storm had previously speculated that Issho was from Wano Country.

Regardless of the other person's clothing, manner of speaking, or even that Supreme Grade Sword [Black Road Fire Wire].

All of them have a strong Wano Country style.

But after Issho confirmed his identity as being from Wano Country.

Storm felt inexplicably awkward again.

This feeling is like wanting to buy a specialty product from the Flower Country, only to find out that the product's country of origin is Wano Country.

"What a terrible country!"

"Well..."

Upon hearing this, Yi Xiao let out a long sigh.

Has Wano Country's reputation really gotten that bad?

Storm smiled at him, then glanced at the Supreme Grade Sword in the other's hand.

He wanted to ask Issho if she was from the "Fugetsu Clan" of Wano Country.

After all, [Black Road Fire Wire] was Supreme Grade Sword forged by Fūgetsu Kisaburō, the swordsmith of the Fugetsu Clan.

However, when the question was brought up, Storm simply gave up on it.

He then asked another question.

"Uncle, you should admit that I saved your life, right?"

Yixiao was a little confused by White Dragon's words, but still answered seriously.

"Yes."

"Besides, you should also know that I deliberately spared your life during the battle, right?"

Yixiao felt extremely ashamed of this question.

However, he had to admit the truth of White Dragon's words.

The opponent used some unknown method to block his [Observation Haki] perception ability.

Having lost the perception of [Observation Haki], Yixiao is like a tiger that has lost its sharp teeth and claws.

When dealing with a low-level opponent, a smile can disregard that special ability.

However, against opponents of the same level, without the sensory aid of [Observation Haki], Ikko is simply feeding the enemy...

White Dragon begged him to spare his life...

That's not a lie.

Suppressing his shame, he smiled and nodded heavily.

"Yes."

"So, you owe me two lives?"

"I asked in a flippant tone, "Storm asked.

"Uncle, you owe me two lives, how are you going to repay me?"

Is he taking advantage of someone's kindness to repay a debt?

A bead of sweat appeared on Yi Xiao's forehead. He gritted his teeth and uttered a flowery phrase.

"To take advantage of someone's kindness is something a gentleman would not do!"

"Uncle, has your brain been damaged by seawater?"

Storm chuckled, a disdainful smile playing on his lips as he looked ahead.

"I'm a pirate, not a 'gentleman'!"

"You're a 'gentleman,' so tell me, how are you going to repay the two times you saved my life?"

Yi Xiao opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

When Storm saw that the other party remained silent for a long time, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

"Alright, alright, I won't make things difficult for you. After all, I'm not some kind of demon."

Storm smiled kindly at him and said cheerfully.

"Come to my ranks, serve me, and become a pirate."

"It's very simple, isn't it?"

Thank you so much to "A Little Chubby Abiao" for the generous donation!!

First update.

Besides.