Seeing Krieg's crushing defeat, the pirate underlings finally lost their last shred of hope, and their morale collapsed in an instant.
The next moment, one of them shouted, "Run!" The pirates in Debo Island's harbor erupted into chaos, scattering in every direction.
Some squad leaders frantically fought over the pirate ships, desperate to escape the terrifying island!
Even Kuro, a ruthless killer, wanted to stop the pirates from fleeing, but he couldn't hold back so many of them alone.
However, he spotted the Krieg Pirates' second division commander, Iron Wall Pearl, an officer clad in iron shields from head to toe.
Without a word, Kuro charged at him. Relying on his speed, he carved several bloody gashes into Iron Wall Pearl in an instant.
Iron Wall Pearl had been panicking, but the moment he saw his own blood, he lost his mind and flew into a rage. Flames erupted from the shields covering his body, turning him into Flame Pearl.
But that was all he had—the special properties of his weapons. Kuro soon hacked him with over a hundred wounds, and he collapsed to the ground, bleeding to death.
El Drago, the Cat Brothers, Jango, and the others were gleefully beating the fallen. When they saw some pirate underlings trying to sail off in the Krieg Pirates' flagship, the Dreadnaught Sabre, they immediately charged over in anger, determined to reclaim the spoils belonging to the Big Daddy Pirates!
Watching the Krieg Pirates collapse completely, Gin the Man-Demon could hardly believe it. Had several thousand of them really been routed by just a handful of people?
Was this really the East Blue's overlord?
Was this really the Krieg Pirates, the crew in which he had placed all his ambitions?
Meanwhile, Krieg hadn't even had a chance to use his Poison Gas Bomb before Daddy beat him unconscious with brutal blows. Like Hulk smashing Loki, he slammed Krieg so hard that every bone in his body was shattered. There was no saving him.
Daddy had never intended to recruit Krieg. He planned to use the East Blue overlord's name as a stepping stone on his journey across the world!
"Captain Krieg!!"
Gin the Man-Demon stared at the supposedly invincible Krieg, beaten to death by Daddy. Despair filled his eyes. The ambitions he had invested in Krieg were gone.
"Hey! You're Gin the Man-Demon, right? You've got good strength and a good eye. You've earned a place aboard our ship. Want to join us?"
Zoro was fairly satisfied with the battle. Gin the Man-Demon was a tough fighter who liked to meet force with force—not like Kuro, who relied on speed. Fighting him hadn't been satisfying at all!
"You just slaughtered our crew and killed my captain, and now you want me to join you?!"
Gin the Man-Demon said angrily. Pirates had their code of honor, too!
"If that's your answer, then are you ready to die? The ambition I saw in your eyes ends today!"
Zoro didn't try to persuade him again. He admired a man with that kind of spirit. Slowly, he tied on his bandanna, clenched the Great Grade Sword Wado Ichimonji between his teeth, and focused intently.
He would use his strongest technique to send Gin the Man-Demon on his way!
Three-Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds!
"What's there to fear about death?!"
Demon Fighting Style: Spiral Iron Tonfa!
Fearless, Gin the Man-Demon spun his Iron Ball Tonfas and collided head-on with Pirate Hunter Zoro's rapidly spinning Three-Sword Style.
The two crossed paths in an instant, stopping where the other had stood.
A smile appeared in Zoro's beastlike eyes. Without even looking back, he confidently pulled the sword from his mouth and sheathed it with a flourish.
Behind him, Gin the Man-Demon went pale and fell to the ground, staining it with blood.
It was a complete defeat.
Elsewhere, the Barrier Mecha around Daddy had already dissipated. Bare-chested in front of the orange-haired female thief, he drew Sandai Kitetsu and plunged it into Krieg's heart, christening the blade with the East Blue overlord's blood.
East Blue Overlord Krieg had met his end!
Daddy casually tossed Krieg's corpse aside, then looked at the orange-haired girl, who had slumped to the ground.
"Were you trying to steal my spoils, little girl?"
Daddy grinned at Nami, covered in blood. In Nami's eyes, his smile was like a demon's—ten times more terrifying than Arlong.
"C-C-Captain, I... I was taking the treasure so I could join you..."
Nami felt too terrified by the man's presence and bloodlust to stand. Her panties were already wet, but to save her life, she hurriedly made up a lie.
"Heh. Fine, I'll take you in. But remember this! Betrayal means death on my ship! My word is absolute!
"If you dare run away, I'll slaughter everyone in your hometown!"
Daddy smiled cruelly again. Nami turned deathly pale and panicked. It seemed she had gotten involved with a pirate demon even more terrifying than the Fish-Man Arlong.
"I... I understand!"
Nami answered fearfully. If Arlong found out she had joined another pirate crew, would he retaliate against her village?
What was she supposed to do?
She seemed powerless against either of these terrifying pirates. Nami sank into deep despair.
But the next moment, she heard words as sweet as music to her ears!
"Captain Daddy, now that we've taken out Krieg, how about wiping out the Arlong Pirates, the crew with the highest bounty in the East Blue?"
Hundred Plans Kuro walked over, covered in blood and gore. Ignoring the orange-haired female thief, he asked Daddy.
"That... might be something we should ask our new navigator."
Daddy looked at Nami, still slumped on the ground, and gave her a meaningful smile.
"She's our new navigator?"
Kuro frowned and stared coldly at the orange-haired thief. She was too weak—nowhere near his standards.
Was this the kind of woman Daddy liked?
"Yes, yes! I'm the new navigator. I'm very good at navigation! I've been studying it for ten years!
"And I think we have to destroy the Arlong Pirates so that the Big Daddy Pirates can make a name for themselves across the East Blue!"
Nami immediately cast off all her fear and spoke quickly, eager to lead the Big Daddy Pirates into battle against the Arlong Pirates.
"Nami, your hometown is Cocoyasi Village, isn't it?"
But the next second, Daddy suddenly said that, and Nami's face turned pale again.
"C-Captain, I... I'm not..."
Nami began to stumble over her words. Her identity had been exposed, even though she hadn't told him her name. How had Daddy known?
She could feel Kuro's killing intent. She was sure she was going to die this time.
How unfair!
Was she really going to die?
"The Arlong Pirates will be the first gift I give you for joining the crew! But if you ever betray me, you already know what will happen!"
The mood shifted once more. Daddy lifted the orange-haired girl and ripped open her sleeve, revealing the Arlong Pirates' tattoo.
"Captain Daddy! If you can destroy the Arlong Pirates and liberate Cocoyasi Village, I'll be your crew member for the rest of my life!"
Nami hurriedly covered the shameful tattoo on her shoulder and looked at Daddy with red-rimmed eyes. She didn't know how he had found out who she was, but she had no other choice now.
"Captain Daddy, don't tell me you've fallen for this thief. Are you planning to play the hero and save the damsel in distress? How boring!"
Kuro snorted and walked away without looking back, heading off to kill the pirates fleeing in the stolen ships. They were spoils belonging to the Big Daddy Pirates.
He'd rather burn them than let those pirates sail away in them!
At Kuro's words, Nami froze for a moment, then slowly looked at Daddy. She was certain this was the first time she'd ever met him. Could he really have fallen for her?
Before you continue