Who Was Robbing Whom?

"Tch, what weak nerves. And they call themselves pirates? They're just a bunch of worthless thugs."

Wright returned to the bow, picked up his bundle and scabbard, and dragged his long blade toward the cabin. The contrast between that lengthy sword and his small stature was striking. Looking at the nearly cleared deck, the pirates felt their worldview had taken a devastating blow.

As Wright walked, he continued muttering to himself:

"My white shirt! The blood won't wash out, and there's this hole too... Damn that fat bastard!"

"You lot over there, quit standing around. Anyone who isn't dead, get over here and clean this up!"

"If you chose to go to sea as pirates, then when you were freely burning, killing, and looting, you should've prepared yourselves to be killed at any time!"

"Count the supplies aboard, deal with all the bodies, and fish anyone still alive out of the sea. Leave the dead ones alone."

"And pick someone who can speak properly. Come to the captain's cabin later and await my orders!"

Just as the pirates watched that terrifying child and his sword disappear into the cabin...

Wright poked his head out of the cabin, startling the pirates. He casually pointed at one pirate who seemed to be less severely injured. "You. Come show me the way. Clean out your cleanest room for me. Remember, it has to be clean!"

As they watched the unlucky pirate follow Wright away to clean a room, the surviving pirates finally realized their legs had gone weak and they were on the verge of collapsing. Overjoyed tears streamed down their faces.

They had been prepared to get cut down, sure, but getting chopped up like vegetables was far too horrifying... Everyone wanted to live, didn't they...?

After chasing away the pirate who had been so frightened by his questions that he could barely speak, telling him to quickly find someone clear-headed who could talk properly, Wright lay on the soft bed in the captain's cabin and let out a satisfied sigh. The long sword leaned against the side of the bed, with a gentleman's hat hanging from its hilt. He had also changed out of his bloodstained white shirt. The bed was clean and comfortable. Black Chest Hair might have looked creatively awful, but he certainly knew how to enjoy himself.

"Holy Light... Punishment Power really is simple and brutal in its methods of attack."

"Physical attacks carry Holy Damage, along with the burning effect of Holy Fire... It all seems to be based on slashing damage."

"It looks like I really do need to improve my swordsmanship to make better use of Holy Light's Punishment Power—or get a better sword. That won't be easy."

"I still haven't studied Protection Power thoroughly enough. All I can do is enhance my physical abilities, and sometimes I don't have time to activate active defenses."

Shaking his head, Wright opened his hand. A ball of golden radiance appeared in his palm.

"My first real battle, and I got taught a lesson. Sure enough, villains die because of... Ahem. Right... I need to stay aware of the battlefield at all times. If not for Holy Light's absurd healing power, I would've been done for this time."

"It's already been six years since I transmigrated here. Ever since I confirmed that this was the pirate world rather than Azeroth... I've felt inexplicably relieved..."

"Azeroth is a world where planet-destroying power exists, with so many superior races... It's too dangerous. But at least its power system is clear. This place, though, has things like Devil Fruits that completely ignore any system..."

Six years ago, Wright had transmigrated into the body of the second son of a noble family in the Goa Kingdom. That pampered little brat had sneaked out, only to be scared unconscious... uh... scared to death by a "never-before-seen" vicious dog that rushed out from the street. Thus, Wright had smoothly taken over the nest.

In his previous life, Wright had been a hardcore WoW player, a terminal case of chuunibyou knightly spirit, and a veteran healer who had steadfastly chosen Holy Light classes for fifteen years while harboring a repressed heart of Retribution.

And... even in the era when the Highlord was about to wage war in the Shadowlands, he still deeply missed the carefree days of fifteen years ago. He had even gone to the classic servers to relive them. A genuine old-timer.

At the same time, he had been a One Piece fan for twenty years. While leaving his Highlord character fishing on autopilot, he still never forgot to keep up with the anime. Then, during a storm outside, a bolt of lightning sent him on his way—

A veteran One Piece fan, huh? Off you go to the pirate world.

An old healer relic, huh? Take Holy Light Power with you. No need to thank me.

"..."

"Thank my ass!"

Fortunately, Wright knew enough to keep a low profile and had not exposed the existence of Holy Light Power.

To the outside world, he showed no interest whatsoever in the power games of the nobility. However, his talent for "art" had stunned his "parents," who believed he was the perfect candidate to embody noble value—marriage alliances.

He really had his idiotic older brother, more than a decade his senior, to thank for that. Things like inheritance had absolutely nothing to do with him.

So although they did not think much of his request to train in swordsmanship, they did not oppose it much either. Instead, in order to accommodate the personality of this "artistic genius," they hired an excellent swordsman to teach him the basics.

As for what kind of art... there was no need to look too deeply into that. In the eyes of those nobles, a child Wright's age producing passable writing, paintings, essays, or even delicately constructed crafts... all counted as being an "artistic genius," didn't it?

Thus, Wright endured the hypocritical noble life as though it were a daily quest, gritting his teeth as he watched innocent commoners die one after another for the nobles' selfish desires, along with Gray Terminal...

Making use of the favorable conditions provided by nobility, Wright painstakingly trained his swordsmanship and secretly developed Holy Light Power. Only after reaching a bottleneck was he finally able to leave that suffocating place...

"Um... sir...?"

A rather alert pirate poked his head into the captain's cabin and cautiously called out.

The child had not given his name, but since he was a powerful person, calling him "sir" could not be wrong, could it?

"Mm."

Wright turned over and sat up, only to see the pirate instinctively take a step back. He found it rather amusing.

"Alright, come closer. It's not like I'm some murderous demon king."

Seeing the pirate's expression clearly say, No, you are, Wright bared his teeth and could only get straight to the point.

"Where is this ship headed? How long will the water and food last?"

"R-Replying to you, sir... the captain... uh, the former captain didn't have a planned route. There was originally enough food and water for half a month... but now it can last for around twenty days..."

"Hmm? The food and water are increasing the more they're used?"

"N-No, it's because a few unlucky guys drowned just now, and the captain... the former captain alone ate and drank as much as three people..."

"...Fine."

Rubbing his forehead, Wright asked, "You know how to get to Shimotsuki Village, right?"

"Y-Yes, we do... But the people there are really strong. We went there once and barely managed to escape..."

"You escaped because they didn't want to kill you all."

"With your level... Hmph, you dared rob Shimotsuki Village? Even pirates with ten-million bounties probably go there never to return."

Wright lay back down on the bed and ordered, "Our destination is Shimotsuki Village. Get moving as quickly as possible, and prepare some food to bring me."

"B-But... sir, Shimotsuki Village is so strong. If we go there, we might not make it back!"

"Idiot! I'm the one going. Once you deliver me to Shimotsuki Village, go wherever the hell you want. Why would I care if you live or die?"

"Or... do you want me to make sure you die?"

Seeing the pirate retreat in a panic, drenched in cold sweat, Wright could not help smiling. He took the gentleman's hat and pulled it over his face. "It's settled. It's now Sea Calendar 1500. The hidden boss of the East Blue, at the very least a high-level swordmaster..."

"Koushirou!"

"I'm coming!"

Recently, I've seen quite a few readers confused about the timeline, so let me explain it here.

There are two versions of the One Piece timeline. Roger's execution is dated either 1498 or 1500, based on Rorando's diary on Sky Island and Nami's words.

Both interpretations of the original text's descriptions concerning the two-year gap are reasonable, and both proposed starting points for the Great Pirate Era—1498 and 1500—make sense.

This novel uses the OP Sea Road Forum timeline.

That is, the version in which Roger was executed in 1500. Please take note.