"Axe-Hand" Morgan

Rayson silently took note.

This further proved that his decision to set sail in such a high-profile manner and proclaim himself the "Heavenly King" had been absolutely correct.

In the world of the Pirate King, only by making a fearsome name for oneself and using the bones and blood of powerful enemies as stepping stones could one cultivate the bearing of a king who stood above all others.

It seemed his future actions would have to be even more flamboyant. He needed to make the Marines put an enticing bounty on his head.

With all the big shots behind Luffy protecting him, he did not need to fear being directly hunted down by an admiral before his strength had fully matured.

Rayson set the tone for his future conduct.

Having sorted through his thoughts, Rayson continued studying the upgrade screen's description.

Upgrading a trait required ten upgrade materials of the same grade to raise the target ability by one minor stage.

For example, if he accumulated ten of the potential-type light-purple materials he had just extracted from Helmeppo, he could forcibly elevate another potential-type light-purple trait to deep purple.

Compared to ordinary people who needed to endure years of painstaking training, this rate of improvement was practically inhuman.

Rayson was deeply satisfied. In that case, even those trash purple traits could serve as crucial fuel in the future.

And after losing his most valuable—though admittedly rather useless—light-purple trait, Helmeppo had become worthless scrap with nothing left for Rayson to extract.

"You're pirates, right? Why did you come meddle in this mess?" Zoro frowned tightly as he looked at the two of them.

"Because seeing scum like that pisses me off, and I wanted to beat him up!" Luffy grinned as though it were only natural, then fixed his gaze on Zoro.

"Hey, you! Want to be my companion?" Luffy invited him directly.

"Why would I become a villain?" Zoro froze, unable to understand Luffy's erratic train of thought.

"But I've already decided you're my companion!" Luffy declared firmly, leaving no room for doubt.

"Hey! Are you even listening when other people talk?!" Veins bulged at Zoro's temple.

"But if you refuse, you'll just die here, right? A tough guy like you must have ambitions you need to fulfill. Are you really willing to die at the hands of some petty crooks?" Rayson cut in calmly, folding his arms across his chest.

"..." Zoro immediately fell silent.

Die here? How could he possibly accept that?

If not for that, how could he have endured twenty days of torture without food or water through sheer willpower alone?

To become the world's greatest swordsman and make his name resound through heaven—this was the vow he had made with his late childhood friend, Kuina!

This was his only reason to keep living!

"Oh, right! You're a swordsman, aren't you? Where are your swords?" Luffy suddenly slapped his forehead and shouted.

"That guy took them." Zoro gestured with his chin toward the unconscious Helmeppo on the ground.

"Huh? Then I'll go take them back for you right now! Once I get your swords back, you have to become my companion!" Luffy grinned, bent down, grabbed one of Helmeppo's legs with one hand, and dragged him outside.

"Hey! Wake up! Where did you hide Zoro's swords? If you don't tell me, I'm going to beat you up again!" Luffy slapped Helmeppo's face as he walked.

"Luffy, the Marine base headquarters is in the opposite direction." Rayson pointed in the direction opposite the one Luffy was heading and reminded him.

"Oh, right! Thanks, Rayson!" Luffy immediately turned around and charged off in a rush.

"That guy... he really doesn't listen to anyone." Zoro's eye twitched violently as he watched Luffy's retreating figure.

"You actually acknowledge such an unreliable guy as your captain?" Zoro turned to look at Rayson, who had stayed behind.

"Luffy can be a little scatterbrained most of the time, but when it matters, he's absolutely the most dependable shelter on the whole ship." Rayson smiled in reply, then looked at the timid Rika nearby.

"Rika, you should go home first. The base is probably not going to stay peaceful much longer." Rayson gently stroked her head.

"But..." Rika hesitated and looked at the rice balls in her hands, which had already grown a little cold.

"Give them to me." Zoro spoke up.

Rika froze for a moment, then an especially radiant smile bloomed across her young face.

"Here, big brother!"

Watching Zoro wolf down the rice balls she had made herself, Rika's eyes curved into crescents with joy.

"They're delicious. I'm full." Zoro swallowed the last bite, and a rare gentle smile appeared on his face.

"That's great! Thank you, big brother!" Rika cheered, then looked at Rayson gratefully. She was a clever girl and knew it was Rayson's words that had persuaded the proud Zoro to accept the rice balls.

"See? I told you. A child's sincerity can be more precious than gold sometimes." Rayson watched the scene, his smile deepening.

"Yeah." Zoro laughed from the bottom of his heart, his expression easing.

BOOM!!!

Just then, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted from inside the base building.

BOOM!

The massive blast echoed through the entire Marine base. Rayson and Zoro turned toward the sound, only to see a huge stone statue plunge from the very top of the Marine building and crash heavily into the solid ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

"Th-that couldn't be..." Zoro's eye twitched several times as he stared unblinkingly at the shattered statue.

The statue was none other than Colonel Morgan, the highest-ranking officer of this branch.

Zoro had been imprisoned here for twenty days, and he had seen the Marines working day and night to build that statue. The man called Morgan had been obsessed with it.

"Looks like Luffy got lost again." Rayson muttered, barely able to hold back his laughter.

In the original story, Luffy had torn down the statue while chasing Helmeppo. This time, although Helmeppo had been dragged away by Luffy much earlier, the statue still failed to escape its fate of destruction.

Perhaps this merely proved that scum like Morgan did not deserve a statue people could admire.

"Rayson... can I ask you for something?" Zoro hesitated, looking toward Rika as he spoke with some difficulty.

For proud Zoro, asking others for help was far harder than it seemed.

"Don't worry. Rika will be fine." Rayson reassured him with certainty, wearing a calm, comforting smile as he stepped aside and shielded the little girl behind him.

"Traitors!"

At that very moment, a large group of Marines surged toward them like a tide. Leading them was a tall, burly man with a fierce, imposing presence.

His most striking feature was undoubtedly his right arm, which had been entirely replaced by a heavy battle axe.

Marine branch colonel, "Axe-Hand" Morgan.