The Dragon King Pirates

Seeing Christa show concern for Randall, Zephyr immediately grew jealous.

He said:

"Little Crystal, I was the one getting hit! Why are you asking about that brat?"

Christa replied timidly, "B-but Grandpa Zephyr looks really strong, so you probably weren't hurt..."

Zephyr rolled his eyes furiously, while Randall burst out laughing.

"By the way, how about Christa stays at my place from now on instead of the dorm?"

Zephyr suddenly suggested.

Randall's eyes lit up, and he looked at Christa.

"Little Crystal, what do you think?

Grandpa Zephyr is really rich. He has loads of delicious food at his place.

And he's super strong, too. Tons of people in the Marines would love to learn from him."

With that little speech, Randall laid out all the benefits of living with Zephyr.

Zephyr pursed his lips without saying anything, simply watching Christa expectantly.

Christa didn't really understand all that, but she could tell Randall wanted her to agree.

So she nodded.

"Okay! Grandpa Zephyr, please look after me from now on!"

She sounded like a little grown-up.

Her adorable manner immediately made Zephyr roar with laughter.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Only then did the onlookers snap out of their daze.

Then a storm of chatter erupted.

"Holy shit! Holy shit! What did I just see?"

"Did a human really make that crater?"

"Oh my god! Did you see that? Admiral Zephyr threw a punch! Admiral Zephyr actually threw a punch!"

"So this is the might of the strongest person in the Elite Camp..."

"That's terrifying! I bet even a vice admiral would only be this strong!"

"My future brother-in-law's little sister is so cute! Ah, I'm dying!"

"Holy shit, why are you still here, you damn creep?!"

"..."

Ignoring the stunned onlookers, Randall and the others leisurely walked away.

"Oh, right, Randall," Zephyr suddenly said.

"You should get out more these days. Catch some pirates or something."

Randall nodded without asking any questions.

"Be careful, Big Brother Randall!"

Christa tugged at the hem of Randall's clothes as she spoke.

"I know! I'm super strong!"

Grinning, Randall flexed his muscles for Christa.

Zephyr clicked his tongue.

At the same time, his hatred of pirates deepened a little more.

Such an adorable little girl...

Randall had originally planned to wait for Aequus and Milers to return.

But since Zephyr had suggested catching more pirates, he naturally listened.

After resting for a night, he left Marine Headquarters the next day under Christa's reluctant gaze.

Rather than heading to the Sabaody Archipelago, where pirates were most numerous, he set out toward the first half of the Grand Line.

In just a few days, Randall wiped out several pirate crews.

There was no denying it: with the Great Pirate Era only just beginning, the seas were absolutely crawling with pirates.

That day, Randall was sleeping soundly in his cabin.

Suddenly, something whistled through the air.

A cannonball slammed straight into the water near Randall's boat.

The little boat immediately began rocking violently.

Randall's eyes snapped open, bloodshot.

He rubbed his eyes and walked out of the cabin.

Then he checked the weather.

Yep, bright sunshine. A fine day to catch pirates.

How dare they disturb my sleep? These pirates must have a death wish!

Less than a nautical mile away, a pirate ship was swaggering about.

"Hey, you suck! You can't even hit it from this close? Move over and watch me!"

A pirate whose face looked like some kind of joke shoved the man standing in front of the cannon aside and took aim.

Then he lit the fuse.

Boom—

A cannonball traced a perfect arc, flying straight toward Randall's boat.

As it looked ready to sink the boat, the pirates' faces lit up with excitement.

But the next second, a young man suddenly emerged aboard it.

The young man merely kicked toward the sky, sending a blue Slashing Wave flying out and slicing the cannonball in half.

After destroying the cannonball threatening his little boat, Randall used Geppo to appear above the pirate ship in an instant.

Under the pirates' bewildered gazes, he wasted no breath and went straight to slaughtering them.

His finger jabbed repeatedly, points of light spreading like a sky full of stars as they rained down on the pirates.

Flying Finger Pistol: Many Stars!

The pirates immediately screamed for their lives, suffering devastating casualties.

A few of the stronger ones actually managed to block Randall's casual attack.

"Who are you? How dare you attack the Dragon King Pirates?!"

One of the surviving pirates roared at Randall.

That piqued Randall's curiosity, and he asked:

"I nearly wiped you all out with one move. Where exactly did you get the courage to talk to me like that?"

Are these pirates really that brave? Aren't they afraid of dying?

"You're finished! You're dead! If you've got the guts, let me call our boss here!

You wouldn't dare! The moment my boss gets here, you'll drop to your knees and beg for mercy!"

The pirate continued to bluster.

"Oh? So your captain isn't aboard?

Well, isn't that a nuisance!

Then hurry up and call him! Get your boss over here! Move it!

Go, go, go! Double time!"

Randall urged him on.

To catch the outlaws, take their leader first. Once a pirate crew's captain was gone, the crew was as good as gone.

The reverse was also true. If the captain remained unharmed, the crew would rise from the ashes within days.

The pirate said nothing and actually ran off at double time.

Meanwhile, he sneered inwardly. Just what you'd expect from a youngster. He can't even resist such a cheap provocation.

Haha, once the boss gets here, you're dead!

Before long, the man ran out of sight.

Randall wasn't worried about him taking the chance to escape. His Observation Haki wasn't just for show.

As for the pirates remaining on deck, Randall showed no mercy, giving each one a Finger Pistol.

They all died very peacefully.

One messenger was enough.

Soon, the pirate came trotting back.

This time, his entire demeanor had changed.

Now that he had someone backing him, he practically strutted, his nose held sky-high. Even someone as terrifying as Randall was nothing to him anymore.

"Kid, you'd better show me some respect!

Otherwise, once my boss gets here, you'll wish you could die!"

The pirate spoke while looking down his nose at Randall.

Randall wasn't about to indulge him and immediately slapped him across the face.

With a sharp smack, the pirate was left completely stunned.

"Hey! You little—"

Smack!

Randall slapped him again.

"No, you—"

Smack! Smack!

One wasn't satisfying enough, so Randall followed through with a backhand.

"If you don't know how to fucking talk, keep your mouth shut.

I'm afraid I might accidentally beat you to death, and then there'll be nobody left to tell your boss where we are."

The pirate immediately fell silent.

He was as quiet as a quail.

Meanwhile, he thought to himself, You're only getting to act tough for now.

Once his boss arrived, he would slap this bastard until he died!