The First Member of the Sternritter

"Oh my~ So you found me after all? I thought I was hidden pretty well!"

A few seconds after Kaya spoke, another voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

Kaya turned and saw a man climbing up the steep outer wall of Skull Rock Mountain, using both hands and feet, looking just like a spider.

Who was the newcomer? He wore a top hat tied with a golden velvet ribbon and a pair of brown sunglasses, with a roguish smile on his face.

"I'm impressed you managed to hang on out there," Kaya said.

"Hahaha, this is the highest spot on Hachinosu, and the view's pretty nice too." The man patted the yellow dirt off his clothes.

Kaya had sensed the man's presence as soon as he came up here, but he had paid him no mind.

The man had been hanging on the almost vertical back of Skull Rock Mountain, listening to Kaya and Kaido's entire conversation from beginning to end.

"Hey, hey! I didn't do it on purpose. It was a complete accident! I just come here to scout a lot. I'm a gunman for the Rocks Pirates, after all!" The man spread his hands, defending himself.

Kaya glanced at the two pistols in his hands and recognized him.

Keel Bastar, a full-fledged member of the Rocks Pirates and a Paramecia Soul-Soul Fruit user. He was a powerful marksman who specialized in fighting with pistols.

"Keel, is it?" Kaya said his name.

"Looks like you've heard of me too." Keel slipped both hands into his pockets, striking a cool pose as if he were showing off. "I saw you when you were little that day too. I thought you'd eaten the Grow-Grow Fruit."

I see. So he was there the day I first met Rocks and the others too?

Kaya thought back. He hadn't noticed him at all.

"Blut? Reishi? Those are powers I've never heard of. Are they really not Devil Fruit abilities?" Keel said with a smile. "Was it really all right to tell that kid Kaido about your moves?"

"You certainly heard every word." Kaya's expression was perfectly calm. "Whether he knows or you know, it's nothing. It doesn't mean much."

Keel's mouth twitched. That really was true.

It was like knowing an enemy could use Observation Haki and Armament Haki. So what if you knew? Didn't you still have to fight them head-on?

"Trying to recruit Kaido and offering him such tempting terms could easily stir up trouble in the Rocks Pirates," Keel said, changing the subject.

"Looks like you really are a competent scout." Kaya stared at Keel. "...So what?"

"Even breaking up the Rocks Pirates is nothing to you? How scary." Keel grinned.

Suddenly, he swept out a hand, and a white, translucent ghostly creature with its tongue sticking out floated into view and headed straight for Kaya.

A ghost?

Faced with Keel's sudden attack, Kaya merely found it interesting. He had long known that this man was the current user of the Soul-Soul Fruit.

"Aha!" Keel raised both arms, aiming the barrels of his two pistols at Kaya at the same time.

Just then, Kaya glanced at the ghost flying toward him. Keel had summoned it first to draw his attention, probably.

What... unfortunate timing!

Pop!

In an instant, the ghost suddenly swelled up and burst in midair like a bubble!

Keel's eyelid twitched. He had yet to fire, and he could no longer keep his guns steady. His mouth fell open, and a great stream of blood practically sprayed out of it.

"How... is that possible?!" Keel dropped to one knee, his eyes behind his sunglasses filled with shock.

That was a ghost created by his fruit ability! Ghosts had no physical form and couldn't be touched.

He was skilled at using ghosts to confuse enemies and draw their attention, then taking the chance to shoot. A move didn't need to be complicated as long as it worked.

But what had Kaya done? He had merely stood there without moving, giving it a single glance.

With just that glance, the ghost had been destroyed!

"You look pathetic, Keel." A pair of shoes appeared in Keel's field of vision. He managed to raise his head and saw Kaya standing in front of him.

Kaya looked down at the man, at Keel, who had foolishly attacked him and paid a heavy price as a result.

"Using a ghost to attack me? Interesting." Kaya's quiet words sent a chill through Keel, making him feel as though he had plunged into an ice cellar.

"W-wait! I was wrong! Can we make peace?" Keel immediately begged for mercy. "If Kaido won't join, I will! I'm willing to be your strongest gun!"

"Oh?" Kaya's gaze shifted.

"Yes! That's right! The Sternritter, wasn't it? To tell you the truth, I've dreamed of becoming a kingdom's knight since I was a child!" Keel began speaking at breakneck speed.

As it turned out, when he was a child in his own country, he had once happened to see a group of knights escorting the king on an outing.

The knights rode white horses and wore magnificent silver and gold armor. They were admired by the people and looked imposing.

The sight had made a deep impression on him as a little boy. It became something he admired, and he resolved to become just as cool one day.

Later, when he grew up, he joined the army. Thanks to his diligent training, he became an outstanding marksman and met the physical requirements.

But to his surprise, before he could take up the post, someone stole his identity. Another man used his name and became a knight in the king's personal guard.

Furious, he tried to argue his case, only to be framed. Others accused him of colluding with pirates abroad, stealing and robbing at home, committing every crime imaginable, and even raping a ewe.

That was why he had been forced to flee his country.

With his dream shattered, he gave up on himself and became a pirate. Later, Rocks defeated the pirate crew he belonged to, so he simply joined Rocks.

Keel told the story with such sincerity that he almost believed it himself!

"Is that really what happened?" Kaya could tell the man was making up a story, but he didn't expose him.

"Uh, uh! Even if my story might be a tiny bit embellished, I'm still right here in front of you!" Keel said with an awkward laugh. "Boss Kaya, there's no future in following Rocks. Please take me in!"

Kaya smiled. "Very well. Since you're so eager to become a knight, I'll grant your wish."

"Thank you! Thank you, boss!" Keel breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that his life was safe.

In any case, he would submit for now and live to see another day.

He couldn't tell exactly what had happened to his body. All he felt was terrible pain, pain that reached deep into his soul.

Then Kaya did something that took Keel by surprise.

Kaya produced a wineglass from somewhere, then used the silver pentagram pendant tied around his wrist to pierce his palm. Blood flowed into the glass.

Keel's heart quietly began to race as he watched. He asked cautiously, "Boss, heaven and earth can bear witness to my loyalty! There's no need for that, is there...?"

"Isn't loyalty what being in this line of work is all about?" Kaya handed Keel the glass. "Drink this cup of blood wine, and from now on, your soul will be with mine."

Keel had no choice but to take it. Between living in misery and dropping dead on the spot, he knew which to choose.

As a pirate, knowing when to yield was a virtue.

He glanced at the blood wine, then could only grit his teeth, tip his head back, and drink the cup dry.

In the depths of his soul, where he couldn't perceive it, a Quincy Cross formed from blood appeared and a character was deeply engraved...