Roronoa Zoro

"Break the agreement? Hahaha, brat, do you think this is some kind of game? Break the agreement? Only idiots keep agreements. Not just you—Zoro is as good as dead too."

"I've already planned to execute him tomorrow. Hahaha, what an idiot, actually keeping some agreement. Moron!"

Hearing this, Helmeppo seemed to have heard some hilarious joke. He burst into laughter and pointed at Rika as he laughed.

"What?! You! Damn it!"

Rika flew into a rage, but what could a little girl like her do?

"How despicable! As the colonel's son, how could he do something like this?"

"What a pity, what a real pity! That Pirate Hunter Zoro is actually going to die at the hands of someone like him!"

"Damn it, this is absolutely disgusting!"

The people around them were indignant as well, cursing in their hearts.

But faced with someone powerful, how could they possibly have the courage to resist?

"Hahaha, bring me your best food and wine. Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll spare this pathetic little shop of yours. Otherwise, I won't even wait until tomorrow—I'll tear this place down right now—"

Helmeppo laughed loudly and barked at the proprietress.

Bang!

Just then, a fist shot forward and smashed hard into Helmeppo's face, sending him flying into the wall.

"What trash!"

Luffy said angrily, unable to stand the injustice.

"Young master!"

"Oh no, the young master's been hit!"

Seeing this, several Marines cried out and hurriedly helped Helmeppo up.

"This is bad! You hit Colonel Morgan's son. You'll offend the Marines!"

"Young man, you've brought disaster upon yourself. Run while you still can!"

"That's right. Colonel Morgan is known as Axe-Hand, and he's incredibly powerful. You're no match for him!"

The people around them cried out in alarm as well.

It had been deeply satisfying to watch, but Helmeppo had a powerful figure backing him. He was not someone they could afford to provoke.

They immediately urged him to leave.

"Y-You... you actually dared to hit me? Do you know who my father is? My father is the ruler of this place, a Marine colonel!"

Helmeppo glared at Luffy and roared.

"So what?"

Luffy said coldly, his gaze sharpening.

"Y-You... if you've got the guts, don't run! Just wait there! I'll have my father kill you right now! You dared to offend me? You're asking to die!"

Helmeppo was frightened at once. He had lorded over others for so long, yet this was the first time he had met someone ruthless who was not afraid of his father. Putting on a fierce front to hide his fear, he shouted.

"Is that so? No need for him to come here. I'll go punch him flying myself!"

Luffy said coldly. Then he rushed out the door and headed toward the Marine Base.

Helmeppo was dumbfounded. He had not expected Luffy to be unafraid at all—much less to go and punch his father flying.

"Damn it, just you wait!"

He then hurried out as well, intending to report the matter to Morgan.

"Mr. Luffy! Mr. Luffy!"

Seeing that, Coby ran out too.

"Hehe, he really can't stand injustice. Though in a world like this, where the strong prey on the weak, isn't this sort of thing common among Pirates?"

Moonlight smiled, paid the bill, and followed them.

"H-Hey, are you really planning to go after Colonel Morgan? That's the Marines!"

"That's right! The Marines are powerful enough already, and Colonel Morgan is known as Axe-Hand. His strength is terrifying!"

"Are you really going to do this?"

Seeing Moonlight leave as well, the people around them could hardly believe it.

"Axe-Hand? I don't know how strong he is, but I don't care about some mere colonel. As for the Marines, that doesn't matter. We're Pirates. We were enemies to begin with."

Moonlight shrugged in reply, then left the restaurant in the blink of an eye.

"Pirates! They're Pirates! No wonder they weren't afraid after hearing about the Marines. They really are natural enemies!"

"Pirates actually dared to come to an island with Marines stationed on it. They've got guts, all right. But they're different from the other Pirates. They actually stood up for someone over such a small matter!"

"They aren't ordinary Pirates!"

Hearing this, the people around them were stunned. They had not expected the three of them to be Pirates.

Pirates and Marines were natural enemies, so it was only natural that they were unafraid. Still, no one had expected Pirates to stand up for others.

"Pirates, huh? The Marines oppress us, yet Pirates are the ones trying to save us. What a joke."

More people sighed to themselves.

The Marines were supposed to represent justice, while Pirates were supposed to be evil. Yet everything had been turned upside down.

"Even if they're Pirates, they're not ordinary Pirates! They're different from those villains who burn, kill, and plunder. They're good people!"

Rika shouted, then rushed out after them.

"Rika!"

The proprietress hurried after her, but Rika had already vanished from sight.

At the Marine Base, on the enormous training ground, a seventeen-year-old boy with green hair and a bandana was tied to a cross. The blazing sun scorched the earth, making everyone feel stifled by the heat.

Yet the boy's expression was cold and stern, as though he did not care in the slightest. Facing the sunlight, he seemed to be waiting for something.

"You're Zoro, right?"

Just then, a boy wearing a Straw Hat climbed over the tall courtyard wall, walked over, and asked.

"Get lost!"

Zoro replied with only one word.

"You're pretty interesting. Rika asked me to save you. The colonel's son broke the agreement and plans to execute you tomorrow."

Luffy smiled brightly, speaking as though it did not matter.

"What?!"

Zoro abruptly raised his head. Though he had gone hungry for more than half a month, his eyes were still sharp, like an unsheathed sword.

"It's true. We heard Helmeppo say it ourselves, Mr. Zoro!"

Coby walked over as well and said to Zoro.

"Mr. Zoro, the Marine colonel uses his authority to tyrannize the villagers here. His son, Helmeppo, broke the agreement and intends to kill you. He should have already gone to report this, so the Marines will probably act soon. Please save them."

"Damn it. So they really are a bunch of scumbags!"

Hearing this, Zoro was finally convinced. He had long expected them not to honor the agreement, but he had acted that way for the sake of his own principles, because he had given his word. As expected, they had betrayed it.

"Who are you people? How dare you trespass into the Marine Base!"

"Bold of you! You actually want to free a prisoner! Inform the colonel immediately!"

"Surround them! Don't let them escape!"

Just then, the Marines discovered what was happening. They threw open the gates, and dozens of Marines surrounded them.

"Are these the ones daring to defy my authority?"

At the same time, a rough roar rang out. Morgan had received the report and rushed over at once.

He saw Luffy and the others.

"Oh no, it's Colonel Morgan! This is bad!"

Coby cried out in alarm.

He quickly hid behind Luffy.

"Damn it, untie the ropes!"

Zoro shouted as well.

"Okay, okay!"

Hearing this, Luffy hurried to work. But the ropes binding Zoro were special—the more Luffy tried to untie them, the tighter they became!

"Pirate Hunter Zoro, huh? Hmph. I don't care who you are. Anyone who dares resist my authority deserves to die. Go! Kill them!"