Imperial Guard: Zoro and Saka

Koushiro watched the departing Goa Empire fleet, his eyes filled with helplessness.

His two most prized disciples had been conscripted by the Emperor of the Empire just like that.

Having joined the Guard Army of the Empire, could Zoro still carry the Wado Ichimonji and Kuina's dream to become the world's greatest swordsman?

What Koushiro had expected even less was that Wang Shi actually knew about his contacts with the Revolutionary Army.

This cast a shadow over his heart.

Now, he could only hope that Wang Shi would spare Shimotsuki Village.

Looking at the flag of the Goa Empire flying above the main building of the Isshin Dojo, Koushiro gave a bitter smile.

Shimotsuki Village was now territory of the Goa Empire, and with Zoro and Saka having joined Wang Shi's ranks.

Wang Shi likely wouldn't take action against Shimotsuki Village.

On the Exile Emperor of the Goa Empire fleet.

"Zoro, this Imperial Guard uniform is so cool!"

Saka, wearing the majestic and imposing black military uniform, whispered excitedly to Zoro.

Goa Empire Uniform

"It is indeed not bad."

Zoro did not reject this handsome uniform, and the name of their unit, the Imperial Guard, was quite good as well.

It was a new, elite force belonging to the Guard Army.

"Don't you lot think the Guard Army or the King's Army are just weaklings!"

"Do you know that the Yonko Beast Kaido came from the army of the Vodka Kingdom, and the 'Heir to the Devil' Bullet was also a soldier from a war-torn kingdom?"

"And the Shichibukai, the Knight of the Sea Jinbe, also came from the Neptune Army of the Ryugu Kingdom."

"I intend to forge the strongest imperial army in the world; do not fall behind."

"The pace of the Goa Empire's advancement is beyond your imagination."

Wang Shi spoke leisurely to these arrogant youngsters who looked down upon the Guard Army and the King's Army.

Wang Shi's Military Uniform

"What!"

"The Yonko and the Shichibukai have people with military backgrounds?"

"Can we also become such big shots in the future?"

"I heard the world's greatest swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk, is a Shichibukai!"

Hearing Wang Shi's words, Eric, Van Augur, Saka, and Zoro all wore solemn expressions.

As for the girls—Nami, Nojiko, and Kaya—just hearing these names that shook the seas made them feel a sense of fear and suffocation.

"Even those from the military can reach the pinnacle; are you prepared to fight your way to that position?"

Wang Shi looked at the battle-ready Zoro; he was truly a swordsman worthy of awakening Conqueror's Haki, possessing an indomitable determination and sharpness.

Van Augur and Saka's eyes were also filled with conviction.

Eric, on the other hand, seemed a bit timid and lacking in confidence.

"You must lead me to Hawkeye Mihawk!"

Zoro grinned with ambition; he had joined the Imperial Guard specifically to follow Wang Shi's fleet and find that legendary world's greatest swordsman.

"Your faith and will are excellent, but right now, you are still too weak."

"Wait until you defeat Eric and comprehend Steel-Cutting before you speak."

The current Zoro wouldn't even last a single slash from Hawkeye Mihawk.

The limited perspective in Shimotsuki Village had severely restricted Zoro's vision, trapping this young dragon.

"Steel-Cutting, I will definitely comprehend it!"

Zoro's eyes were filled with determination; he carried Kuina's share of dreams and efforts upon his shoulders.

"Your Majesty, this brat wants to defeat me? Is this a joke!"

It wasn't that Eric was conceited; in the East Blue, the weakest of the seas, he truly looked down on a fledgling brat like Zoro.

He didn't fear Klahadore with a bounty of 16 million berries, nor Krieg with a bounty of 17 million berries.

Only the Fish-Man Arlong, with a bounty of 20 million berries, made him somewhat wary.

"I will defeat you."

Zoro sensed Eric's strength, yet his eyes remained incredibly firm.

He was a devil fruit user capable of easily unleashing sharp wind blades.

His strength was already comparable to a swordsman capable of unleashing flying slashes.

But Zoro was not afraid; his path to becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman was destined to be paved by cutting down every enemy and rival.

"Hmph, I'll be waiting for you, brat!"

Eric snorted coldly; the beast-like gaze of this moss-head made him extremely uncomfortable.

He wouldn't mind teaching this arrogant kid, who had just set out to sea, a proper lesson.

"Confidence is good, but overconfidence is just conceit. Defeat these two kittens first, then we'll talk."

Wang Shi looked at Zoro and pointed calmly at the pirate slaves, Siamese Cat Sham and Spotted Cat Buchi.

Even the Zoro from two years later had been wounded by this pair of Cat Brothers.

For the current Zoro, defeating the Cat Brothers would likely be a struggle.

However, it was Zoro's talent and growth rate that Wang Shi valued most.

During the year or two this guy spent getting lost in the East Blue, starving for days on end, he had relied entirely on randomly capturing pirates to survive.

This had indeed wasted a great deal of his training and growth time.

"Kittens?"

Zoro looked at the Cat Brothers wearing slave collars; these two fellows did indeed possess the aura of vicious pirates.

"The Cat Brothers, with a bounty of 7 million Berries."

Saka, who had previously aspired to become a Marine, quickly recognized these two wanted criminals.

He could identify almost every pirate and bandit in the East Blue who had appeared on a bounty poster.

"Go, Cat Brothers. Let these two newcomers witness the cruelty of the sea."

"Jango, give them a buff."

Wang Shi knew that a guy like Zoro, who possessed both diligence and talent, needed to have his limits constantly pushed in order to grow rapidly.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jango immediately hypnotized the Cat Brothers, sending them into a berserk state as they charged toward Zoro.

Right now, Jango and the others were desperate for Wang Shi's approval, hoping to shed their status as slaves and become free men.

Because Wang Shi had given them a glimmer of hope.

As long as they performed well enough, not only could they remove their slave collars, but they might even have their wanted posters rescinded.

How could this not make them go crazy and actively strive to prove themselves?

In truth, Wang Shi had previously considered keeping Klahadore as his own pirate slave.

But Sengoku the Buddha had been very firm; this villain who had slaughtered a ship full of Marines had to be executed.

Thus, Klahadore didn't even get the chance to become a pirate slave before being escorted to Marine Headquarters and Enies Lobby to face trial, alongside Captain Morgan and Captain Nezumi.

After all, obtaining the authority to mobilize troops from those Marine branches in the Goa Empire was not easily achieved.

Everything was a compromise and a negotiation of interests and power.

The berserk transformation of the Cat Brothers made Zoro's eyes incredibly focused as he gave his all to deal with these two bounty-headed pirates.

Even Saka, standing to the side, was eager to jump in; this was real combat against pirates.

The battle was extremely intense, and Eric and Van Augur had roughly gauged the extent of Zoro's strength.

"I thought he was strong, but this is it? And he's still this arrogant?"

Seeing Zoro's current performance, Eric sneered.

He didn't know how many swordsmen and pirates of this caliber he had cut down every year.

Wang Shi paid no mind to Eric's mockery of Zoro.

Perhaps stimulating and pressuring Zoro would allow him to grow faster.

The battle ultimately ended with both Zoro and the Cat Brothers collapsing.

Neither Zoro nor Saka had expected that the Cat Brothers, with a mere 7 million Berry bounty, would be so troublesome.

They had indeed underestimated the cruelty of this sea.

The world of pirates was not a game of house.

Life-and-death combat was different from sparring in a dojo.

If you aren't careful, you really will die.