Dignity, Fury

Bang!

The helmet shattered, revealing a rugged face beneath it. Its eyes had rolled back, and two streams of blood sprayed from its nostrils.

"Dead," Ham said flatly.

"His head was crushed, wasn't it?" Cook said blandly.

"Tch, I thought I'd struck it rich with my Devil Fruit ability. I forgot about that guy's ability." Jelly looked at Rogge with envy.

Compared to Rogge's ability, the excitement he had felt over developing a new move immediately vanished. If his ability encountered Rogge's, then with the characteristics of the Chop-Chop Fruit, his vines would be easily crushed as well. There was no comparison. He simply could not measure up.

"How is that possible?"

Everyone in the Bloodhand Pirates stared at the shattered shield and Shield Mountain, whose brains were leaking from his nose. He was dead beyond doubt. With a single punch, Rogge had killed the Bloodhand Pirates' strongest officer.

This was completely different from what the news had reported. The remaining four officers did not dare act rashly again.

"Tch, we're really strong. I think as long as we don't go looking for trouble by provoking those countries in the West Blue, we can rule the seas no matter how many men they have." Rogge flicked the blood from his hand.

"I think so too." Jelly's confidence had swelled, and he was feeling exceptionally good about himself.

"That guy is a Devil Fruit user too? How can there be two Devil Fruit users?" Ali cried out.

"There's still plenty you don't know. Do you really think we stole the money from the Heavenly Tribute? Sorry, but we're not interested in money." Rogge spread his hands.

Pfft!

Ham could not hold back his laughter from behind him. When he saw Rogge turn to look at him, he immediately covered his mouth and turned away, but his shaking shoulders gave him away.

Rogge glared at him, his expression turning a little strange as well. That line sounded rather familiar.

"Where's your captain?" Obadaya asked Ali.

"He should be here soon," Ali said.

"Hey, this is getting a little boring. Don't you have more than seven thousand men? You can't even handle us. How about this? We don't have many demands, just two. First, we're heading out to sea and need a better ship. I heard you have newly built ships being made here. Give us one. Second, you captured one of our companions. Hand him over," Rogge said.

The remaining four officers said nothing. At that moment, Brian, clad in full armor, appeared beyond the crowd. The gathered men immediately made way for him.

"That guy is Blood Hand Brian," Ham said.

"He looks like a turtle, but it's useless. No weapon means anything before my ability." Rogge rolled his wrists.

"Don't underestimate him. He once killed the captains of five pirate crews in a single night," Ham said flatly.

"Five? Heh, perfect. Let's give it a try." Rogge grinned.

Brian walked in and saw the corpses covering the ground, along with the three dead officers. The eyes beneath his helmet showed neither joy nor sorrow. He raised his head and looked over Rogge, Jelly, and the other two, his gaze constantly assessing them.

"There shouldn't be any grudge between us, should there?" Brian said.

"There is," Rogge said.

"You said we captured one of your companions. Who is it?" Brian asked.

"A doctor named Ares. He was treating people for poison in the town earlier. I heard your men took him away. Isn't that a grudge?" Rogge spread his hands.

"Who did it?" Brian roared.

A leader behind Brian jumped in fright upon hearing that. Trembling, he stepped forward. "Captain, I did it. That guy's medical skills are excellent, so I wanted to bring him to sea with us."

"Where is he?" Brian asked.

"In the dungeon," the leader said nervously.

Brian lowered his head and stared at him, then barked, "Go bring him here."

Terrified out of his wits, the leader ran from the crowd in a panic. Before long, he returned with a long-haired, scruffy-bearded man.

"Captain, th-this is him," the leader said.

"Ares!" Cook shouted.

"Mr. Cook." When Ares saw Cook, the man who had saved him, delight appeared in his eyes.

"It's great that you're all right, Captain." Cook looked toward Rogge.

"OK." Rogge raised his hand at Cook and made an OK gesture.

Rogge looked Ares over without paying much attention. There were too many strange people in this world. Ares did not look like much, but appearances could be deceiving. Since Cook had confirmed it, there could be no mistake. Besides, he was a doctor. They could not ask for too much.

"That's him," Rogge said to Brian.

"Good."

Brian answered, then immediately raised the spear in his hand and thrust it down.

Pfft!

The spear pierced through Ares's abdomen, pinning him directly to it.

Rogge's face instantly darkened. He said nothing. Those who knew him understood that the volcano was about to erupt.

"You killed my men and still thought you could leave alive? Go to hell!" Brian pulled out his bloodstained spear, his crimson eyes fixed directly on Rogge.

Boom!

In an instant, Rogge shattered the ground beneath his feet and charged forward.

"Go to hell, brat!" Brian thrust his spear at Rogge.

"Ahhhh!"

Rogge raised his fist, and it collided with the sharp spearhead.

His Devil Fruit ability erupted. The instant the spear touched Rogge's fist, it shattered. With unstoppable force, Rogge's fist crushed the spear in Brian's hand.

"How is that possible?" Brian leaned back, staring in disbelief at his shattered spear.

"I won't let you die so easily." Rogge raised his hand, opened his palm like a blade, and chopped down at Brian's arm.

Pfft!

Under the Chop-Chop Fruit's power, everything Rogge touched shattered. His hand rose and fell, severing Brian's arm along with his armor.

"Argh!"

Brian screamed. It had happened almost instantly. It was not only Rogge who had moved—Jelly, Ham, and Cook had attacked at the same time, taking on the four officers.

The four who had suddenly erupted into action wiped out every high-ranking member of the Bloodhand Pirates in an instant. Only Obadaya, the sole woman, remained standing there in panic, her face covered in blood from Jones, whom Ham had blown apart with a single punch.

"If you're looking for death, I'll grant it to you. Do you really think a bounty represents everything? Trash." Rogge crushed Brian's knight armor beneath his foot, grabbed his hair, and pulled his face close. Their eyes met.

"Kill them. Kill as many as you can," Rogge said flatly.

Pfft!

Jelly cut off Obadaya's head with a single slash, showing no tenderness toward her. Only perverts showed mercy to enemies. Jelly was that sort of person, but he was a pirate, and Rogge was the captain of a pirate crew!