The One Hunting Simon

"Captain." Simon found Rogge.

"What is it?"

Rogge was on deck, teasing Billy. Billy had grown a little bigger and gotten even more capable. It spent all day tearing at things everywhere unless someone played with it and roughhoused with it hard. That task had fallen to Jelly, since his ability made such things the most convenient.

"Captain." Simon, a hulking man over nine feet tall, dropped to his knees before Rogge.

"Uh, do you have some favor to ask of me? Don't tell me your wife was captured by evil forces and then... Or did your childhood-betrothed fiancée call off the engagement? Or were your parents killed by some pirate, and you want revenge? Were you humiliated for being poor when you were young, and now that you've grown stronger, you want to find your enemies and get revenge?" The instant Rogge saw Simon kneel, countless possibilities sprang to mind.

The dead-wife route? The broken-engagement route? The family-vendetta route? The 'don't look down on a poor young man' route? The conquest route?

At the thought of all those possibilities, Rogge's inner gossip fire blazed wildly. He was already itching to find something to do, especially if it meant dealing with other pirates. He was enjoying battle now; as long as he didn't go to Marine Headquarters or seek out the Four Emperors, he would turn into a crazed beast.

Three question marks seemed to pop up over Simon's head.

"No, Captain. I don't have a fiancée, and no one broke off an engagement with me. My parents are alive, and they're very rich. I have no enemies. But I am being hunted by a pirate," Simon said.

"Oh, so that's how it is. You want me to kill that pirate for you?" Rogge was disappointed for a moment, then immediately became eager to give it a try.

"No. I'm apologizing to Captain Rogge, repenting. I want to atone for my sins." Simon pressed his forehead to the deck.

"What's this, are you trying to make a thief your father?" Ham walked over with a cup of black tea, looking surprised at the scene.

"Harming each other?" Rogge raised a brow and stared at Ham.

"Hahaha, I really am old enough to be your father," Ham laughed.

"His father is dead," Jelly said as he came out.

"In that case, a one-for-one trade wouldn't be a loss for Rogge," Cook said with a smile as he held the helm.

Watching this bunch of lunatics chatter, Ares said, "Are none of you going to consider Simon? What nonsense are you all talking about?"

"I almost got tired of playing with you—no, I mean, I almost forgot. Simon, what is it?" Rogge asked with a beaming smile.

Simon raised his head. "I came aboard this ship with an ulterior motive."

"What motive?" Ham asked with a smile.

"I am a bounty hunter. I joined the Asura Pirates because I was after the captain's bounty," Simon said.

"Oh, so that was it." Rogge smiled. "So what do you want to do?"

"I want to truly join the Asura Pirates and devote my life to Captain Rogge. Please accept me." Simon knocked his head against the deck again.

Rogge smiled faintly. "Sure."

"Ah!!"

Simon looked up with a startled cry.

"It's nothing. Once you're aboard this ship, you're one of the Asura Pirates." Rogge patted Simon on the shoulder.

"Thank you so much." Tears streamed uncontrollably from Simon's eyes.

"We're almost at the next island. By the way, Simon, who's hunting you? You don't seem weak to me. You were able to control the ship by yourself and take down a warship," Rogge said.

Rogge was quite satisfied with Simon's performance. The four of them had charged ahead, while Simon had remained aboard and taken down a warship on his own. His ability to handle cannons and control a ship was exceptional.

"That person is very strong. I was hunted because I discovered his secret." Sweat appeared on Simon's brow.

"Oh? Is there anyone that terrifying in the first half of the Grand Line?" Rogge asked in surprise.

"I was originally in the North Blue, but the pirates there were hard to deal with, and they could affect my family. So I chose to come to the Grand Line. I was a lone bounty hunter without a team, but the bounty hunters here on the Grand Line all band together. You saw that yourself on Tavern Island," Simon said.

Rogge and the others nodded. They knew about the bounty hunter circle, especially on the first island of the Grand Line, where almost everything was controlled by bounty hunters.

"After entering the Grand Line, I received an invitation from a bounty hunter organization. They called themselves Baroque Works, and their headquarters were in Alabasta. After spending some time in the Grand Line, I could barely hunt down any wanted criminals. They had all been divided up among those organizations, so I had no choice but to approach Baroque Works," Simon said.

"Then why are you being hunted by a pirate? Didn't you join a bounty hunter organization?" Jelly asked curiously.

"I was curious about that organization. Its internal structure was clearly divided, with ranks and executive officers, but the most mysterious figure—the big boss—never appeared. So I became curious about who that boss was. Eventually, through the woman closest to him, I slowly learned the boss's identity," Simon said.

"So you were hunted after learning the boss's identity. Makes sense. Curiosity killed the cat—well, not my cat." Rogge smacked Billy on the head. That dog's face was far too punchable. Next time, even without an excuse to fight someone, Billy would probably only need to give them one look to start a brawl.

"I never expected the boss of Baroque Works to be that person. When I learned his identity, the woman beside him discovered me as well. Later, I risked my life to escape from Alabasta," Simon said.

"Now I'm getting more and more curious. Who exactly is the boss of this organization?!" Ham said.

"Isn't it Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai? What secret is there to it? Why would you get hunted over that?" Rogge spread his hands.

"Ah, Captain, how did you know?" Simon stared at Rogge in utter disbelief.

"Uh... I happened to know. But I didn't expect Crocodile himself to be hunting you. Our ship happens to be heading for Alabasta. If he finds out, he might come after you," Rogge said.

"That's why I hope the captain will change course." Simon nodded.

"Tsk, tsk. You're thinking too much. We have our own purpose. If you want us to change course, forget it." Rogge picked up the yelping Billy and headed toward the bow.

"Captain, he's one of the Shichibukai. This is all my fault. I never should have provoked him." Simon said nervously.

"So what if he's one of the Shichibukai? Can't we fight him? The Shichibukai are people too. He's just Crocodile. If he really comes looking for you, we're companions." Rogge smiled.

"Captain." Simon's tears flowed again, moved beyond words.

"There are still several islands before Alabasta. Stop worrying blindly. Hahaha, smile more. As long as you're happy, everything's fine," Rogge said.