The People Hunting Simon

"Captain." Simon found Rogge.

"What is it?"

Rogge was on deck, playing with Billy. Billy had grown a little, and he was even more of a handful now, tearing and biting at everything all day. The only way to stop him was to have someone play with him and wear him out. That job had fallen to Jelly, whose ability made him the best suited for it.

"Captain." Simon, a man three meters tall, dropped to his knees before Rogge.

"Uh, do you need a favor? Did some villains abduct your wife and... Or did your betrothed break off your engagement? Did a pirate kill your parents, leaving you hungry for revenge? Were you humiliated for being poor when you were young, so now you want to get stronger and settle the score?" The moment Simon knelt, countless possibilities sprang to Rogge's mind.

A dead wife? A broken engagement? A family feud? A poor young man proving everyone wrong? A bid for supremacy?

At the thought of it all, Rogge's curiosity blazed. He was itching for something to do, especially if it meant taking on other pirates. He was enjoying a good fight these days. As long as he didn't have to go to Marine Headquarters or pick a fight with one of the Four Emperors, he was ready to take on anything.

Three question marks might as well have appeared 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 don't have any enemies, but a pirate is hunting me," Simon said.

"Oh, I see. You want me to take out that pirate?" Rogge was disappointed for a moment, then perked up at the prospect.

"No. I came to apologize to you, Captain Rogge. I need to confess and make amends." Simon pressed his forehead to the deck.

"What's this? Going to ask him to be your father?" Ham asked in surprise as he walked over carrying a cup of black tea.

"Want to trade insults?" Rogge raised an eyebrow at Ham.

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

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

"Then it sounds like a fair trade for Rogge," Cook said with a grin, his hands on the helm.

Ares watched the lunatics banter for a moment before speaking up. "Aren't you going to listen to Simon? Why are you all talking nonsense?"

"Almost forgot about you. So, Simon, what is it?" Rogge asked with a broad smile.

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

"What motive?" Ham asked, smiling.

"I'm a bounty hunter. I joined the Asura Pirates because I was after the bounty on your head, Captain," Simon said.

"Oh, I see." Rogge smiled. "And what do you want to do now?"

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

"Sure," Rogge said with a faint smile.

"What?!"

Simon looked up with a cry of surprise.

"It's nothing complicated. 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 down Simon's face.

"We're almost at the next island. By the way, Simon, who's hunting you? You seem pretty capable. You managed to handle the ship by yourself and take down a Warship," Rogge said.

Rogge was impressed with Simon. While the four of them had charged ahead, Simon had stayed aboard and taken out a Warship on his own. His skill at handling both the ship and its cannons was exceptional.

"That man is powerful. He started hunting me because I discovered his secret." Sweat beaded on Simon's forehead.

"Oh? Is there someone that frightening in the First Half of the Grand Line?" Rogge asked in surprise.

"I was originally in the North Blue, but going after pirates there would have put my family at risk, so I came to the Grand Line. I'm a lone bounty hunter with no team. Bounty hunters here tend to band together. You saw that on Tavern Island," Simon said.

Rogge and the others nodded. They knew how bounty hunters operated, especially on the first island of the Grand Line, which was practically their territory.

"After I entered the Grand Line, I received an invitation from a bounty-hunting organization called Baroque Works. Its headquarters was in Alabasta. After a while on the Grand Line, I found I could hardly catch any wanted criminals. Those organizations had already carved up the work, so I had no choice but to approach Baroque Works," Simon said.

"Then why is a pirate hunting you? Didn't you join a bounty-hunting organization?" Jelly asked curiously.

"I was curious about the organization. It had a strict hierarchy and officers, but its mysterious boss never appeared. I wanted to know who he was. Eventually, through the woman closest to him, I learned his identity," Simon said.

"So they started hunting you because you found out who the boss was. Fair enough. Curiosity killed the cat. Not you, my little cat." Rogge patted Billy on his canine head. That dog face had such a taunting look that next time Rogge wanted a fight, Billy would probably only have to glance at someone to start one.

"I never imagined the boss of Baroque Works was that man. Just as I learned his identity, the woman beside him realized what I knew. I barely escaped Alabasta with my life," Simon said.

"Now I'm really curious. Who is this organization's boss?!" Ham asked.

"It's Crocodile of the Shichibukai, isn't it? Why all the secrecy? And why hunt you over it?" Rogge said, spreading his hands.

"Huh? Captain, how did you know?" Simon stared at Rogge, dumbfounded.

"Uh... I happened to know. I didn't realize Crocodile was hunting you, though. Our ship is headed for Alabasta, so he might hear about us and come after you," Rogge said.

"That's why I hope you'll change course, Captain." Simon nodded.

"Come on. We're going there for a reason. Don't count on us changing course." Rogge picked up the yelping Billy and walked toward the bow.

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

"So what if he's one of the Shichibukai? We can still fight him. He's human too, and he's only Crocodile. If he does come for you, remember: we're crewmates." Rogge smiled.

"Captain." Tears welled up in Simon's eyes again.

"There are still a few islands between us and Alabasta. Don't worry about it yet. Hahaha! Smile more. Things are better when you're happy," Rogge said.