Return

On a deserted island in the East Blue, dense forests covered the land, brimming with the breath of nature.

Yet at that moment, the island's center was filled with the roars of wild beasts, mixed with wails of agony. After a while, the entire island fell completely silent. Even the chirping of birds and the playful cries of monkeys vanished.

If anyone had been at the island's center then, they would have seen a scene from hell. The ground was no longer lush green grass, but a sea of crimson streaked with bits of green. Animal remains littered the earth: tiger claws, large baboons cut into several pieces. The most pitiful was a wolf, sliced open down the middle and then chopped into several sections, like a shredded carrot.

At the very center stood a mound formed from animal corpses. Sitting atop it was a twelve- or thirteen-year-old black-haired boy, animal hide wrapped around his waist, with two swords planted in the corpse before him.

The black-haired boy was Werther. After mastering Tsubame Gaeshi, he had continued fighting on the island to gain real combat experience, practice his swordsmanship, and familiarize himself with Tsubame Gaeshi. Half a year had already passed.

Werther was holding a huge yellow fruit and eating it casually. In a forest filled with severed limbs and the stench of blood, an ordinary person would vomit endlessly after one glance. Yet Werther had trained himself to eat with relish in this hellish environment. He was not forcing himself; he had simply grown used to it.

After finishing the last bite of fruit, Werther raised his head and looked around. At first, he had cut his opponents into pieces to train his adaptability, but gradually, he found that he had become accustomed to it. In Werther's words, if he didn't chop something up, his whole body felt uncomfortable.

"About time. I should contact Master with the Den Den Mushi. After so many life-and-death battles, I feel like I've met Master's requirements." Werther stood and headed toward his newly built temporary shelter to retrieve his Den Den Mushi.

Over the past half year, Werther had spent nearly every day fighting. Injuries had become commonplace.

After prolonged development of the Lightning Stimulation Method, he had finally achieved the ability to use Lightning Thorn to activate his body's cells. Werther discovered that the cellular activation of the Lightning Stimulation Method actually stimulated his cells' absorption ability, allowing them to absorb nutrients and a unique substance found in lightning to the fullest extent. Its training effect had also reached an astonishing fivefold increase.

At thirteen, Werther felt that he was in the middle of a growth spurt. Combined with the gradual strengthening from the Lightning Stimulation Method, he was becoming stronger very quickly, especially in terms of speed.

If the Lightning Stimulation Method's cell stimulation and bodily enhancement were expressed numerically, then the increase to strength, stamina, and the like would be one, while speed would be three.

Simply put, after successful development, Lightning Thorn not only increased training results fivefold, but even if Werther did not train now, his body would still slowly grow stronger, though the effect would not be obvious.

Arriving at his temporary shelter, he picked up the Den Den Mushi by his bedside, which he had carefully raised for two years.

His master had given it to him two years ago. Back then, he had been amazed by this miraculous creature from the original story. He played with it for half a day before his master finally reminded him not to forget to feed it food and water.

Werther had been even more surprised and asked rather stupidly, "Den Den Mushi need to eat too?"

Werther still remembered the speechless look his master had given him before replying, "What living creature doesn't need to eat?"

Only then did Werther learn that Den Den Mushi also needed food and water, though they only had to be fed once in a long while. The longer the feeding interval, the more valuable the Den Den Mushi. Werther's only needed feeding once a month. He had heard the Marines had some that only needed feeding once every six months.

He picked up the artificially added receiver atop the Den Den Mushi, and it began to ring.

Purururururu, purururururu.

Click. The Den Den Mushi opened its eyes.

"Master, it's Werther. I've trained enough. It's time for me to return. Find a ship to pick me up. I'm practically turning into a wild man out here. Bring some clothes while you're at it." Werther looked very happy. After all, he would soon see his master and senior martial brother again, and he had not seen them in two years.

"Mm. I'll have your eldest senior brother handle it. If he doesn't have anything important to do, he may come pick you up personally. He's mentioned you to me several times." Longliang was also pleased to hear that Werther was returning. Although the Sword Hall had quite a few apprentices, he only had three disciples now, and he cared deeply about each of them.

"Alright, Master. I'll hang up for now. We'll talk when I get back." After saying goodbye to his master, Werther hung up the Den Den Mushi.

Several days later, at the island's shore, Werther finally saw the ship that had come to pick him up. He spotted his senior martial brother Roy standing at the bow. At one meter Six tall, with his blue braid, Roy was immediately recognizable to Werther.

Before the ship could dock, Werther activated Lightning Mode, dashed forward several steps, and leaped straight onto the distant vessel.

Roy was equally surprised. Seeing Werther covered in a faint blue glow, he laughed.

"Kid, you've gotten stronger. It won't be long before you surpass me. Though you haven't grown much taller. Don't tell me you're from the Dwarf Tribe." Roy had not seen him in a long time, yet he immediately started mouthing off as usual.

"How could I possibly be from the Dwarf Tribe? I'm only thirteen. One meter forty is perfectly normal. I'll definitely grow taller later. Unlike certain people who are already so old and still only one meter Six. What a tragic story." The senior and junior martial brothers had not seen each other in a long time, yet they immediately resumed their usual bickering.

After arguing with Roy for a while longer, Werther extended his fist. Roy did the same, and their fists collided heavily. Neither man was particularly good at expressing his feelings, but that clash of fists carried the bond between senior and junior martial brothers.

During the days they spent at sea with Roy, Werther was no longer bored as he had been on the way there, because Roy taught him to drink. Yes, Roy taught thirteen-year-old Werther how to drink.

The alcohol Roy gave Werther came in green bottles labeled JeReZ. Thinking carefully, Werther realized that this was the liquor Zephyr loved most in Strongest Enemy Z.

After taking a sip, Werther found it quite good. He did not know what kind of food it was brewed from, but it tasted excellent. According to Roy, it was a drink that made one feel the spirit of a true man.

After sharing several bottles with Roy, the two began talking nonsense. After more than a dozen bottles, they had their arms around each other's shoulders as they stood at the railing, urinating into the sea and competing to see who could pee farther.

When Werther woke up the next day, his strong physique kept him from getting a headache or anything like that. He only vaguely remembered drinking with Roy and getting somewhat drunk. He had forgotten everything else. It seemed he had blacked out?

Several days later, at the Loguetown docks, Werther finally returned to Loguetown. He wore the same clothes he had left in, except now he held a bottle of JeReZ liquor, taking a sip every few steps.

That was basically how he had spent those boring days aboard the ship. Werther also discovered that while he was not addicted to alcohol, taking a few drinks was quite nice. But thinking about how he would soon see his master, he put the bottle into the bag on his back.

At the entrance to the Sword Hall, Werther suddenly felt as though he really wanted to enter, yet was also somewhat afraid to do so. It was the first time he had ever felt like this. Was this what longing felt like?

Pushing open the gates, Werther discovered that his master and Senior Sister An were already waiting in the courtyard. None of the apprentices who usually filled the courtyard were there. Only his smiling master stood in the yard, with Senior Sister An behind him.

"You're back. It's good that you're back." There were not many words, but his master's simple statement made Werther's nose sting.

"Master, I'm back." With that, Werther walked up to his master and looked at the old man he had not seen in two years.

"Come. You, your eldest senior brother, and your second senior sister, come to the secret chamber. I have something to tell you." With that, he headed toward the secret chamber. The four entered and sat down in chairs.

Seated at the head of the room, Longliang looked at Werther with satisfaction, then glanced at Roy and An. Both nodded, as if agreeing with some decision Longliang had made.

"Werther, the Sword Hall I run also has another business. We operate an assassin organization in the Underworld. We accept missions in the Underworld to assassinate East Blue pirates, Marines, merchants, and family factions. As long as there is a job, we take it. I don't know whether you want to join. It is entirely voluntary. If you dislike this profession, you can help me manage the Sword Hall instead. I respect my disciples' choices." Longliang revealed what he had concealed from Werther two years ago.

"Of course. I've never killed a person before. I don't know what it feels like to cut someone down, though I've killed plenty of beasts." After considering it, Werther agreed to Longliang's offer. In truth, he had long sensed something was off. How could the owner of a Sword Hall afford so many luxurious things in everyday life?

Longliang nodded. He had likely expected Werther's answer. The moment the boy had entered, Longliang could smell the faint bloody stench that would not wash away from him. Longliang knew that this disciple of his might be like An—not a particularly kind person. He just did not know whether Werther would be as cruel as An. What a headache.

Thinking this, he looked at the three disciples before him.

His eldest disciple had become somewhat self-destructive after suffering trauma.

His second disciple had suffered the same trauma as the eldest, but she had not become self-destructive. Instead, she had become extremely cruel and enjoyed torturing her enemies.

He had finally taken in a third disciple who seemed normal, but the more they interacted, the more Longliang felt that this boy might not be a good person either. He showed no fear at the mention of killing people; his first thought was what it felt like to cut someone down.

Longliang sighed and waved his hand, telling his disciples to leave. After sending away the confused disciples, Longliang could not help thinking that he had been very righteous when he was young. How had he grown old only to teach several disciples who all looked like villains? Perhaps he had changed as well.

I truly miss my homeland. Kozuki Oden, I wonder how you are. You climbed Laugh Tale with Roger—did you really think no one would come looking for you? As the ruler of Wano Country, what will you do? Will you choose to protect your nation, or defend the honor of the Roger Pirates?