Return

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

Yet at the Island's center, beastly roars and anguished wails filled the air. After a while, the Island fell completely silent. Even the birdsong and the monkeys' playful cries vanished.

If anyone had been at the Island's center then, they would have seen a scene from hell. The ground was no longer a lush green meadow, but a sea of blood streaked with faint traces of green. Animal remains littered the ground: Tiger claws, giant baboons cut into several pieces. The most pitiful was a wolf, sliced down the middle and then hacked into segments, like a shredded carrot.

At the very center stood a mound formed from animal corpses. A twelve- or thirteen-year-old dark-haired boy sat atop it, animal hide wrapped around his waist, two swords embedded in the bodies before him.

The dark-haired boy was Werther. After mastering Tsubame Gaeshi, he had continued fighting on the Island, improving his practical combat skills, practicing swordsmanship, and familiarizing himself with Tsubame Gaeshi. Half a year had already passed.

Werther held a huge yellow fruit in his hand and ate it casually. In a Forest filled with severed limbs and the stench of blood, an ordinary person would vomit uncontrollably after one glance. Yet Werther had trained himself to eat heartily in this hellish environment. He was not forcing himself anymore; he had simply gotten 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 did not cut something up, his whole body felt uncomfortable.

"Almost time. I should contact Master with the Den Den Mushi. After all these life-and-death battles, I think I've met Master's requirements." Werther got up and headed for the 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 succeeded in using Lightning Thorn to activate his body's cells. Werther discovered that the cell activation from the Lightning Stimulation Method was actually stimulating the cells' ability to absorb nutrients, allowing them to absorb nutrients and a substance unique to lightning to the greatest possible extent. The training effect had reached an astonishing fivefold increase.

Thirteen-year-old Werther felt that he was in the middle of a growth spurt. Combined with the gradual strengthening of the Lightning Stimulation Method, he had grown stronger quickly, especially in terms of speed.

If the enhancement from the Lightning Stimulation Method stimulating the cells were quantified, then strength, stamina, and similar attributes increased by one, while speed increased by three.

Simply put, after the successful development of Lightning Thorn, not only had its training effect increased fivefold, but even if Werther did not train now, his body would continue slowly strengthening, though the change would not be obvious.

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

Master had given it to him two years ago. At the time, he had been amazed by this magical creature from the original story. He had played with it for quite a while before Master finally told him not to forget to feed it and give it water.

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

Werther still remembered the speechless look Master gave him before replying, "What living creature doesn't need to eat?"

Only then had Werther learned that Den Den Mushi also needed food and water, though they only needed to be fed once in a long while. The longer the interval between feedings, the more valuable the Den Den Mushi was. Werther's only needed feeding once a month. He had heard that the Navy possessed some that only needed feeding once every half year.

He picked up the receiver that had been manually attached to the Den Den Mushi, and it began to ring.

Buru, buru, buru, buru.

Click. The Den Den Mushi opened its eyes.

"Master, it's Werther. I'm about done training. It's time for me to go back, so find a ship to pick me up. I'm practically turning into a wild man here. Bring some clothes too." Werther sounded very happy. He was about to see his master and Senior Brother again after two years apart.

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

"Alright, Master. I'll hang up for now. We'll talk when I'm 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 for him. He spotted his Senior Brother Roy at the bow. With his height of barely five feet three and his blue braid, Werther recognized him at a glance.

Before the ship could even dock, Werther activated Lightning Mode, sprinted forward a few steps, and leaped straight onto the distant vessel.

Roy aboard the ship was also surprised. Seeing Werther surrounded by a faint blue glow, he smiled.

"Kid, you've gotten stronger. Before long, you'll 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 resumed his usual sharp tongue.

"How could I possibly be from the Dwarf Tribe? I'm only thirteen. One meter forty is perfectly normal. I'll definitely grow taller in the future. Unlike some people, already so old and still only one meter sixty. What a tragic story." The two senior and junior brothers, reunited after so long, immediately resumed their usual bickering.

After trading insults with Roy for a while, Werther extended his fist. Roy did the same, and the two bumped fists heavily. Neither man was particularly good at expressing his feelings, but in that clash of fists, they could both feel the bond between senior and junior brothers.

During the several days Werther spent aboard Roy's ship, he was no longer bored as he had been on the journey there, because Roy taught him how to drink. Yes, Roy taught thirteen-year-old Werther how to drink.

The alcohol Roy gave Werther came in a green bottle labeled JeReZ. Thinking carefully, Werther remembered 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 it was brewed from, but it had a pleasant taste. According to Roy, it was the kind of liquor that made a man feel masculine and bold.

After sharing several bottles with Roy, the two began spouting nonsense. By the time they had downed more than a dozen bottles, they were standing at the rail with their arms around each other's shoulders, pissing into the sea and competing to see whose stream went farther.

When he woke up the next day, Werther did not have a headache thanks to his robust Constitution. He only vaguely remembered drinking with Roy and getting a little too drunk. He had forgotten everything else. It seemed like 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 in his hand, taking a sip every few steps.

That was basically how he had spent those boring days on the ship. Werther also found that while he was not addicted to alcohol, taking a few drinks was rather nice. But remembering that he was about to see Master, he put the liquor into the bag on his back.

When he arrived at the Sword Hall entrance, Werther suddenly felt like he desperately wanted to go inside, yet was also somewhat afraid to do so. It was the first time he had ever felt this way. Was this longing?

Pushing open the gates, Werther found Master and Senior Sister An waiting for him in the courtyard. None of the apprentices who normally filled the courtyard were present. There was only Master, smiling in the yard, and Senior Sister An standing behind him.

"You're back. It's good that you're back." There were not many words. Yet Master's simple statement made Werther's nose sting.

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

"Come. Follow your eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Sister to the Secret Room. I have something to tell you." After speaking, Longliang headed toward the Secret Room. The four entered and sat down in chairs.

Seated in the place of honor, Longliang looked at Werther with satisfaction, then glanced at Roy and An. Both nodded, as though agreeing to one of Longliang's decisions.

"Werther, the Sword Hall I run also has another business: an assassin organization in the Underworld. We accept missions in the Underworld to assassinate pirates, Marines, merchants, and family forces in the East Blue. As long as there's a job, we take it. I don't know whether you want to join. This 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 wonder what it feels like to cut someone down. I've cut down plenty of beasts, though." Werther thought about it for a moment before agreeing. In truth, he had long sensed it. How could the owner of a Sword Hall have so many luxurious things in his daily life?

Longliang nodded. He had likely expected Werther's answer long ago. The moment the boy had entered, Longliang had smelled the faint scent of blood that even washing could not remove. He knew this disciple might be like An—not a good 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 rather than becoming self-destructive, she had become cruel and enjoyed torturing enemies.

He had finally taken in a third disciple who appeared normal, but the more he got to know him, the more he felt this boy might not be a good egg either. When it came to killing people, Werther showed no fear at all. His first thought was what it felt like to cut someone down.

Longliang sighed and waved his hand, sending his disciples away. Watching the few confused disciples leave, he could not help but think that he had once been a righteous man in his youth. How had he grown old only to raise disciples who all looked like villains? Perhaps he had changed as well.

I truly miss my hometown. Kozuki Oden, I wonder how you're doing. You climbed Laugh Tale with Roger. Did you truly think no one would come looking for you? As the ruler of Wano Country, what will you do? Will you choose to protect your country, or defend the honor of the Roger Pirates?