Pirate: I Can Repel Anything

"Let's go."

Chris never wasted words. He leaped off the ship and landed on the island.

"Boss, wait for me!"

Pato hurried after him, jumping onto Chris's shoulder.

Then the group headed toward town...

Beneath a large tree.

A man sat in a chair, facing a huge crowd.

"Lafitte, everyone has filed complaints against you. They say you've used excessive force and endangered the town."

The Mayor looked at Lafitte and said bluntly, "I'm formally notifying you that you're being expelled. You're not welcome in our town."

"Exactly. A villain like you shouldn't be allowed to stay."

"Sheriff? You're nothing but a thug!"

"He beat someone up again yesterday. The poor man was in such a state I couldn't bear to watch..."

"Lafitte, leave this place. Get out of here!"

"That's right! If we let you stay, our town will be ruined sooner or later. Please leave!"

Lafitte leaned back in his chair, twirled his cane, and offered a polite smile.

"Although none of you like me, I won't take offense."

"In that case, I'll leave."

Lafitte stood, adjusted his Black Top Hat, and said with a faint smile, "It seems the time has come for my name to spread across the seas."

With Lafitte agreeing to leave, the Mayor had nothing more to say. He waved a hand.

"Come on. Let's go back."

With that, he led the townspeople away.

Suddenly, loud laughter came from behind Lafitte.

"Captain, this is the guy? He doesn't look strong to me! Wahahaha..."

Lafitte twirled his cane and turned to look.

At the front stood a young man in black clothes and trousers. His calm, calculating expression made it clear he wouldn't be easy to deal with.

Behind him were several women, a huge man, a sick man, and a few underlings.

Doc Q coughed and said, "Fight him in a bit, and you'll find out how strong he is."

"You're always egging Burgess on."

Honey Queen shot him an exasperated look. "First you wanted him to challenge Chris, and now someone else. Do you really love watching fights that much?"

Chris approached and stopped before Lafitte, his expression calm.

"If you want to go to sea, come with us."

"Before long, you'll be famous throughout the seas—a name everyone knows."

Lafitte planted his cane in front of him, rested both hands on it, and asked politely, "May I ask who you people are?"

Burgess was straightforward. He laughed and said, "Doesn't matter who we are. We're going to do big things."

"But with that scrawny build of yours, you'll probably be at the bottom once you're aboard."

Belo Betty shrugged, looking speechless.

"Keep talking like that, and he won't board at all."

Honey Queen smiled teasingly. "He's asking for a beating. Chris needs to knock some sense into him."

Chris looked at Lafitte and gave him an answer.

"You can think of me as a man who's about to become a Shichibukai."

"If you want to make a name for yourself, get on this ship. It's that simple."

Lafitte twirled his cane. With a gentle, gentlemanly smile, he said, "If joining you will help me achieve my goal, then I'll certainly come aboard."

"Thank you for taking me in, Captain. I'm deeply grateful!"

Chris nodded and said confidently,

"One day, you'll be proud of the decision you made today."

Then he turned and headed straight for the shore.

Baccarat walked with elegant steps and smiled. "One more person. Things will be even livelier aboard now."

Honey Queen blinked, mischief in her eyes. "I hope he's not too weak, or Burgess will definitely bully him."

"Since you've decided to come aboard, let's have a fight in a bit, Lafitte."

Burgess looked at him and issued the challenge without hesitation, brimming with fighting spirit.

Doc Q gave a mysterious smile. "I've waited a long time for this day. Is it finally here?"

Lafitte held his cane behind his back and asked politely, "Why do you want to fight me? Aren't we crewmates?"

"Ah, you don't know yet."

Burgess raised his voice. "There's a rule on this ship: the strong come first!"

"If you've got the strength, you can challenge anyone—even the captain."

Burgess shrugged and gave a strange laugh. "Forget the Captain Challenge. That's too difficult, and you're not qualified anyway."

"But you could take part in the First Mate Challenge."

"So how about it? Let's find a place and have a proper fight. I haven't thrown a punch in ages, and I'm itching to hit someone."

Interest showed on Lafitte's pale face. He nodded in agreement.

"That's a very interesting ship rule!"

"But you're right. The captain feels far too terrifying. I certainly wouldn't dare challenge him."

Lafitte twirled his cane and said with a gentle smile, "I can't be captain, but as for first mate, that position is mine."

(Lafitte has appeared. Next up is the Division Commander Challenge. Looking forward to it? Of course you are (*￣︶￣).)

Chapter 17

"Chris, aren't you going to stop them?"

Honey Queen glanced back, worry showing on her pretty face.

Belo Betty said evenly, "Why bother? This was bound to happen sooner or later. It's no surprise."

Baccarat shook her head slightly and gave a wry smile.

"I don't like all this fighting, but with our ship's rules, it's unavoidable."

Chris looked ahead and said calmly, "It's survival of the fittest. The weak don't get a say."

Before long, the group returned to the Chris.

The ship set sail, heading out into deep water.

"Captain, find an uninhabited island. I want a proper fight."

Burgess looked at Chris, full of confidence.

Doc Q leaned back in his chair, showing a rare flash of excitement. "It's finally starting. I've waited a long time for this."

Lafitte twirled his cane, as polite as ever.

"Captain, since Burgess wants to challenge me, please allow it!"

"I won't give up the position of first mate to anyone else."

Chris nodded and warned them, "You can fight, but watch yourselves."

"If either of you goes too far, don't blame me for killing you."

With that, he headed straight for the Training Room without another glance at them.

Honey Queen rolled her eyes at them. "I just don't understand why you love fighting so much. Hmph!"

Baccarat waved a hand and smiled. "Come on. Let's watch Chris train and leave them to it."

The three beautiful women chatted as they followed Chris away.

"Lafitte, I'll tell you up front. I ate the Paramecia-type Sound Wave Fruit, and I can fire a Laser Cannon from my mouth."

Burgess shrugged and grinned. "If you're not confident, you might as well surrender."

"After all, if I cripple you, the captain might kill me."

Doc Q wore an unusually serious expression. "You're right. The captain isn't an easy man to reason with."

"If you really cripple Lafitte, this day next year will be the anniversary of your death."

Lafitte adjusted his Black Top Hat and replied politely.

"Don't worry. I'm not as weak as you think."

"And I'll be careful not to hurt you."

Inside the Training Room.

Honey Queen sat in a chair and asked with a smile, "Who do you think will win?"

Belo Betty lit a cigarette and said flatly, "Burgess, obviously. Do you even have to ask?"

"His Devil Fruit is far too powerful. How could he lose?"

Baccarat looked at the two of them and smiled softly.

"Why are you guessing? Just ask Chris."

Honey Queen giggled and nodded. "You're right. We should leave questions like this to our captain."

"Chris, can I ask you something? Who's stronger, Lafitte or Burgess?"

All three looked toward the man ahead, waiting for his answer.

Chris swung the Blood Red Saber and answered without a moment's thought, "Lafitte is stronger."

They froze.

The three beautiful women exchanged glances, unable to believe it.

"What did Chris say?"

Honey Queen looked baffled. "He said Lafitte is stronger. Did I hear that right?"

Belo Betty exhaled a cloud of smoke, her brows drawn together in confusion.

"How could it be him? That can't be right!"

"He looks like a stage actor, and his skin's so pale. He's practically a pretty boy."

"How could he possibly be a match for Burgess?"

Baccarat shook her head with a wry smile. "We won't figure it out ourselves. Let's hear what Chris has to say."

Chris kept swinging the saber. He offered no explanation, only a simple answer.

"When they fight, you'll see."

Lafitte was a formidable fighter who kept his strength hidden.

At the Shichibukai meeting, he had dared to barge into Marine Headquarters...

At Impel Down, he had hypnotized the Marines and opened the Gate of Justice...

When Blackbeard fought Ace, Lafitte had easily dodged Ace's flames...

There were plenty of examples proving just how strong he was.