Was it really the Roger Pirates? The future Pirate King? Was he really going to meet one of the most charismatic figures in the world of One Piece, Pirate King Gol D. Roger?
Shakky and Antonio immediately followed their captain to watch the spectacle. This might be a duel between the future world's greatest gunslinger and a rival. They couldn't wait.
"Haha! Petermoo, are you scared? Don't let his age fool you—he may be younger than all of us, but the president of the Sniper Guild called him an outstanding sharpshooter destined to become the world's greatest gunslinger!"
A domineering voice full of magnetic charm rang in Brook's ears. A young pirate in a red captain's coat and a straw hat was teasing one of his crew.
Powerful! That astonishing vitality, that surging aura of a mighty warrior—it was even stronger than Golden Lion Shiki's.
"Hmm?"
Roger seemed to sense someone watching him and turned to look at Brook, whose expression was icy. Why was his aura so strange? It didn't seem like the aura of a living person at all.
Brook met Roger's gaze. What incredible Observation Haki! Had he already awakened the advanced form of Observation Haki—the Voice of All Things?
Then again, it made sense. Monkey D. Luffy, the child of destiny in his era, had set sail at seventeen. In less than a year, he'd defeated two Shichibukai, sailed across the Grand Line, and reached the Sabaody Archipelago. By nineteen, he was already one of the Five Emperors. He'd wreaked havoc on Big Mom's territory and invaded Beast Kaido's domain in Wano Country. It was practically a sure thing that he'd defeat the Four Emperors Kaido at nineteen.
Gol D. Roger was a child of destiny in his own era, too, but at twenty-five, he was still wandering aimlessly around the Grand Line. He couldn't hold a candle to Luffy. So awakening the Voice of All Things was at least a consolation prize.
Whitebeard and Big Mom didn't even bear mentioning. They were still struggling along in the Rocks Pirates in their thirties. When the Rocks Pirates fell, Beast Kaido was already twenty-one. How could any of them compare to King Luffy?!
"The newly risen Supernova with a bounty of 160 million Beli, Revenge Brook—and your idol, the musician Humming Brook!"
Silvers Rayleigh clearly knew Brook, a veteran pirate, and also knew Roger's careless habit of forgetting people.
The Navy had worked surprisingly fast. Brook's bounty had already been updated after he defeated Smog Emi, who had a bounty of 150 million. He'd been aboard the Yomi these past few days and hadn't seen the latest newspaper.
"Ah! You mean the Humming Brook who sang 'Binks' Sake'? That's incredible! I have to go meet him!"
As the pirates who loved throwing parties most of all, how could the Roger Pirates not know that song?
"Hold on. I heard the Rumbar Pirates were wiped out, and his personality changed completely. He's not the same Humming Brook anymore!"
Rayleigh hurried to stop Roger from rushing off. Their own sniper was about to face someone in a duel. One wrong move, and their sharpshooter could end up dead.
"Fine, then. I'll meet Brook after Petermoo wins the duel!"
Roger laughed heartily. He didn't sense any malice from Brook, so there was no reason to be afraid.
"How do you know Petermoo will win? Where does that confidence come from? His opponent is an outstanding sharpshooter hailed as the future world's greatest gunslinger!"
Rayleigh loudly complained, clearly baffled by Roger's confidence.
"I've already 'heard' it. That little genius's heart has been swallowed up by vanity. He'll definitely lose to Petermoo this time. But he really is far more talented than Petermoo. If he can hold fast to a strong heart, he might become the world's greatest gunslinger someday!"
Roger had to admire Silba Silba's talent, but he valued his own crewmates even more.
Seeing Rayleigh stop Roger from going over, Brook didn't mind. Instead, he walked toward Roger's group. He'd also noticed the two outstanding snipers standing opposite each other, ready for their duel.
Silba Silba—the world's greatest gunslinger mentioned by the old man in the tavern when Luffy landed in Loguetown. It seemed he really did live up to that title later. But he apparently went after Roger for revenge, only for Roger to cut him down at close range in a single strike. And so the future Pirate King ended the glorious life of the world's greatest gunslinger.
Silba had great talent and potential, but everyone already called him the future world's greatest gunslinger. What right did a pirate like Brook have to recruit such a proud young sniper?
As the crowd fell silent, the tension in the air grew. The two men stared unblinkingly at each other from fifty meters away. This was an unrestricted gunslinger's duel; they could use anything from pistols to sniper rifles.
Both had a sniper rifle slung across their backs, along with a revolver and a flintlock pistol at their waists. The tension mounted. Cold sweat beaded on both their foreheads, and neither showed the slightest opening.
But Silba Silba was young and hot-blooded. He couldn't hold back and struck first, swiftly drawing his revolver. He fired three shots in quick succession, aiming for Petermoo's forehead, heart, and neck.
Firing meant being locked in place for a brief moment. Petermoo had anticipated Silba Silba's move. The instant Silba's gaze shifted, Petermoo knew which parts of his body he would target. He dropped to the ground at once, drew his sniper rifle, and shot Silba Silba in the shoulder.
That was the hard-earned experience he'd gained from years as a pirate. Silba Silba was immensely talented: he could hit a seagull from several thousand meters away and snap a fly's wing from hundreds of meters away.
But he'd never faced a fight to the death. That was his weakness. Petermoo was also drenched in cold sweat. If his judgment had been wrong, he would have ended up in the grave himself. Thankfully, his real-world experience had beaten the genius.
Silba Silba clutched his injured shoulder, his face pale. He'd lost. He'd lost. The pain in his heart was ten or a hundred times worse than the pain of his wound.
"That's it? And this guy's supposed to be the future world's greatest gunslinger? Pah! He's not even as good as some unknown sniper from a Supernova's pirate crew!"
"I was wrong about that bastard! I lost a hundred thousand Beli on my bet because of him. Pah, what a loser!"
"Petermoo's bounty is only sixty million Beli. Silba Silba, you piece of trash—you don't deserve to be called the genius of Gunslinger Island!"
One after another, the pirates tossed down their betting slips, spat, cursed, and turned to leave.
The insults, the contempt, the filthy abuse—each one made the eighteen-year-old sniper prodigy look even paler. He picked up his gun, pushed unsteadily through the crowd, and ran off.
Brook glanced over at Roger, who was celebrating excitedly with Petermoo and the others. He'd leave him alone for now. He could go check on Silba Silba.
Brook followed him, and Shakky and Antonio followed their captain.
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