Law's Choice

Soon, Lu Zhuo arrived in front of Law.

Law remained seated, though his face was etched with confusion.

He had not taken the opportunity to slip away while Lu Zhuo was battling Zephyr; instead, he and Bepo had stayed right where they were, waiting.

"What just happened?" Law asked.

Lu Zhuo did not answer, turning his gaze toward the white bear, Bepo, beside him.

"Your name is Bepo, right? I am now inviting you to join my Holy Sword Pirates. Do you accept?"

Bepo looked at Lu Zhuo's indifferent expression and couldn't help but shiver. His natural temperament made him want to agree immediately.

However, seeing Law standing silently to the side, he hesitated.

In the end, that hesitation slowly hardened into resolve.

"I'm sorry, I... I listen to my captain."

Bepo said this cautiously, not even daring to meet Lu Zhuo's eyes.

Seeing this, Lu Zhuo sighed, feeling a strange sense of aimlessness.

"Forget it, you two go. I won't force this matter."

Shaking his head, Lu Zhuo turned and walked away.

However, just as their figures were about to vanish from Law's sight, Law suddenly spoke up, asking, "What are the odds... that you can kill Joker?"

Lu Zhuo did not look back, but his voice drifted over leisurely.

"Ten out of ten!"

Upon hearing those two words, a flash of determination crossed Law's eyes, and he shouted, "Then I, Trafalgar Law, hereby announce the dissolution of the Heart Pirates. Trafalgar Law and the white bear Bepo are willing to join the Holy Sword Pirates!"

Lu Zhuo's figure had already disappeared into the jungle, yet a faint remark drifted back.

"Follow me!"

On the Holy Sword, Lu Zhuo brought Law aboard.

"You jerk, you aren't allowed to have any ideas about her." Nami looked at Ain, who sat with vacant eyes, wrapped in sea clouds with only her head exposed, and spoke "viciously" to Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo spread his hands helplessly and said, "What are you thinking? She is a talent, that's all; I just want to invite her onto the ship."

With that, Lu Zhuo walked up to Ain and asked softly, "There are two paths before you now. One is to come with me and become a scientist on my ship; the other is death!"

Ain seemed not to hear Lu Zhuo's words. Her eyes remained vacant as she muttered, "How could it be... Teacher Zephyr... Teacher Zephyr!"

Seeing this, Lu Zhuo let out a cold snort and shouted, "Zephyr has already been killed by me. Now, which path do you choose?"

These words seemed to snap Ain out of her trance. She looked at Lu Zhuo, and a ferocious expression suddenly twisted her face, making her beautiful features look shocking.

"You damn pirate... you actually killed Teacher Zephyr! I will kill you! I will definitely avenge Teacher Zephyr..."

Watching her madness, Lu Zhuo sighed and shook his head.

As expected, someone who could accompany Zephyr and even betray the Navy was completely brainwashed by him.

He had truly hoped to recruit a beautiful scientist.

For the first time, Lu Zhuo felt a sense of powerlessness. Up until now, he had felt as though he held the people of this world in the palm of his hand, but when faced with someone so thoroughly brainwashed, Lu Zhuo had no solution.

With a sigh, the sword in Lu Zhuo's hand trembled slightly. He gently pulled Nami away from the scene.

A thin line of blood slowly appeared on Ain's neck.

A look of relief washed over her face as she murmured, "Teacher Zephyr... I'm coming to join you!"

This was the first time Lu Zhuo had killed a beautiful woman. Although he had seen many beauties and his horizons had broadened, he was, after all, a shut-in from the twenty-first century, so his expression was naturally grim.

Nami watched this scene in silence, as did Robin and Conis on the ship, along with the newly joined Law.

Law merely glanced at it, completely indifferent.

Robin chuckled, and a dozen arms suddenly sprouted on the deck to gently cast the body overboard.

"Sigh, I thought I could persuade her." Lu Zhuo sighed and slowly walked away. Nami didn't know what to say, only able to stare blankly at Lu Zhuo's somewhat lonely back.

Having two new companions on the ship was naturally a cause for celebration.

The crew started a party, and the new Holy Sword was filled with joy.

Yet, on the deck, one person stared at the sea, silent and indifferent.

Ever since arriving in this world, Lu Zhuo had felt that everything here was under his control, that everything was merely a plaything in his hands.

Even when he had fallen into a disadvantage, been defeated, or stood on the brink of death, he had always believed that this world was just his toy, never truly considering himself a part of it.

Although he had killed Ain with that final strike to cut off the roots of trouble, and Law had finally joined his pirate crew according to his plan, he felt that everything had changed.

The people of this world were not playthings; they were not NPCs. They had their own thoughts and their own firm wills.

Everyone has their own path to walk.

Admittedly, in that original world, the author of One Piece, Oda, created this manga that could be called a masterpiece.

The characters within it were each vivid and distinct.

Yet, it still had its flaws, its various bugs.

But now, as that manga world has transformed into a real world, everything has been perfected, and the flaws have vanished.

Because this is no longer an imaginary world created by a pen, but a real world. The people here possess their own true souls!

With his hands clasped behind his back, Lu Zhuo's heart rose and fell, rippling like the surface of the sea.

Just then, a soul-stirring melody drifted from behind him.

The sound was bright and lively, carrying a power that made one feel relaxed and joyful, causing Lu Zhuo's heart to ease slightly.

He didn't need to turn around to know who was playing.

Lu Zhuo remained silent, listening quietly as his thoughts rose and fell with the music. All unpleasantness seemed to be cast to the back of his mind.

After a long while, the final lingering note of the melody still echoed in Lu Zhuo's ears.

Lu Zhuo turned around gently, looking at the little angel standing in the moonlight playing the instrument.

"My mother told me that if there is something making me unhappy, I shouldn't think about it. Just focus on my music, play the songs I love, and all my worries will drift away with the wind."

Conis's cute little face looked even more like a true angel under the moonlight.

Lu Zhuo looked at her and suddenly sighed.

You, too, possess your own soul!

Lu Zhuo walked slowly toward Conis until he stood less than a foot away from her.

Conis looked at Lu Zhuo, her small face flushing slightly.

"Are you angry with me for forcing you onto my ship?" Lu Zhuo looked at her tenderly and suddenly reached out, gently stroking her golden hair.

Conis replied in a soft voice: "At first, of course I wasn't happy. But soon, I forgot about it. Besides... Sister Robin and Sister Nami have both been very kind to me, and I have seen many novel things in the Blue Sea that I had never seen before. I... I am very happy."

It seems that my attitude toward Conis has always been rather indifferent.

Looking at Conis, who kept her head lowered and allowed him to stroke her hair with docility, Lu Zhuo sighed inwardly, a trace of apology flashing through his heart.