Chapter 67: Tashigi — This Man Is Rich! Bring Out Your Best Swords!New2 days ago
"Customer, you're not joking, are you?"
The weapon shop owner frowned, clearly intending to persuade Luo Qi to reconsider.
It wasn't every day that he encountered a wealthy master swordsman.
And as a merchant with a conscience, he genuinely didn't want someone to lose their life because of a cursed sword sold from his shop.
"Don't worry."
Luo Qi smiled.
"Didn't you hear what this young lady said earlier?"
"I'm a fairly capable swordsman myself."
"How could I possibly be killed by a mere cursed sword?"
As he spoke, Luo Qi slowly exhaled.
Then, he raised the Sandai Kitetsu and casually swung it through the air!
WHOOSH!
The cursed blade traced a sharp arc through the air.
At the same time, a faint rumbling of thunder seemed to echo around it!
"This..."
The shopkeeper's eyes widened in astonishment.
At the very moment Luo Qi swung the sword, he had distinctly sensed something unusual.
The Sandai Kitetsu felt different from before!
It was almost as though the ominous aura surrounding the cursed blade had undergone a subtle transformation.
Could it be...
Has the sword submitted to him?
The shopkeeper blinked.
After thinking about it for a moment, he realized that such a possibility wasn't entirely unreasonable.
For weak swordsmen, wielding a cursed blade could lead to disaster.
However, powerful swordsmen were a different story.
Someone with sufficient strength and skill could naturally bring even a cursed sword under control!
As a weapon merchant, the shopkeeper was well aware of this principle.
And after recalling the faint sword energy Luo Qi had released during that casual swing, he became increasingly convinced of his theory.
This young man really might be capable of mastering the Sandai Kitetsu!
"Alright, enough staring."
Luo Qi's voice interrupted the shopkeeper's thoughts.
"Go ahead and sell me the sword you're holding as well."
After casually placing the Sandai Kitetsu into a suitable scabbard, Luo Qi turned his attention toward the weapon in the shopkeeper's hands.
Yubashiri!
One of the Fifty Skillful Grade Swords!
For Luo Qi, this wasn't merely an excellent weapon.
It was also an item that could potentially be used to upgrade his fleet and obtain additional Points!
Naturally, he had no intention of letting such an opportunity slip away.
"Well?"
Luo Qi smiled.
"How much do you want for both swords?"
"Both?"
The shopkeeper froze.
"Sir... are you a dual-wielding swordsman?"
He had originally assumed that once Luo Qi selected the Sandai Kitetsu, he would no longer be interested in purchasing Yubashiri.
However, Luo Qi didn't bother answering his question.
Instead, he walked toward the counter.
Then, he placed a money bag on its surface.
It was the bag containing the ten million Berries he had received from Reiju earlier!
Luo Qi didn't necessarily intend to use every sword he purchased.
Even if the shopkeeper offered to give him Yubashiri for free, as he had in the original story, Luo Qi wouldn't feel comfortable accepting it.
Since he had enough money, he naturally preferred to pay for the weapons properly.
However, the moment the shopkeeper saw the thick stacks of banknotes spilling from the bag...
His eyes went wide!
So much money?!
Although he owned a weapon shop and had accumulated a decent amount of wealth over the years, he had never encountered a customer quite as generous as Luo Qi!
"Ahem!"
The shopkeeper cleared his throat.
"Since you're being so generous, sir, I won't waste your time."
"The Sandai Kitetsu you're holding is a cursed blade."
"Anyone without sufficient strength who attempts to wield it risks meeting a terrible end."
"So I won't charge you anything for that sword."
"Consider it a gift!"
He then raised the sword in his own hands.
"As for this blade..."
"This is Yubashiri!"
"One of the Fifty Skillful Grade Swords!"
"It's one of the eighty-three finest swords in the world!"
The shopkeeper slowly drew Yubashiri from its sheath.
SHING!
A brilliant flash of cold steel appeared before Luo Qi and Tashigi!
The blade's beautiful finish immediately caught their attention.
"Ten million Berries!"
The shopkeeper declared confidently.
"For just ten million Berries, I'll sell it to you!"
"Th-This..."
Tashigi suddenly rushed forward!
"THIS IS YUBASHIRI?!"
Her eyes practically pressed against the blade as she examined it with undisguised excitement.
"Shopkeeper!"
"You actually had such an incredible sword?!"
"Why didn't you ever tell me about it before?!"
"Tell you?"
The shopkeeper glanced at her indifferently.
"Could you afford it, young lady?"
"Surely a Marine petty officer's salary isn't enough for you to casually produce ten million Berries?"
His tone was completely matter-of-fact.
However, the contempt contained within those words was unmistakable!
"..."
Tashigi froze.
For a moment, she was so embarrassed and frustrated that she couldn't think of a single thing to say!
Meanwhile, Luo Qi watched the exchange with an amused smile.
"Tashigi."
He suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder.
Then, he raised his thumb and pointed toward himself.
"Why don't you quit the Marines?"
"Come work with me as a bounty hunter instead!"
"Huh?!"
Tashigi turned toward him in surprise.
"You already know how much money I've made."
Luo Qi continued with a grin.
"I've only completed two major bounty hunts, yet I've already earned 63.5 million Berries!"
"That's enough to purchase six famous swords like Yubashiri!"
"And haven't you always wanted to collect famous swords?"
"If you sail with me, I guarantee you'll be able to earn plenty of money!"
"Buying famous swords won't be a problem at all!"
Luo Qi shook his head.
"Working as a Marine just doesn't pay enough."
...
[HAHAHAHA! BROTHER QI IS HILARIOUS!]
[Smoker was just trying to convince him to join the Marines, and now Brother Qi has turned around and started recruiting Marines into his own bounty-hunting team!]
[Seriously, if I were Tashigi, I'd immediately resign and join Brother Qi's fleet! He earned 63.5 million Berries from just two bounty hunts! How many years would a Marine have to work to earn that much?!]
[Did you guys see the shopkeeper's expression earlier?! I could practically feel the contempt he was directing at Tashigi through my screen!]
[These are famous swords! They're items the Forbidden Zone explicitly allows challengers to submit in exchange for rewards! Looks like Brother Qi is about to earn even more Points!]
[Brother Qi's adventures have once again demonstrated just how important money is! Without enough Berries, even if you found a famous sword, you wouldn't be able to afford it!]
[Well, you could always steal it. But then the Marines would put a bounty on your head, and you wouldn't be able to collect rewards for capturing wanted pirates anymore!]
[Exactly! It's much better to remain an honest bounty hunter!]
...
Tashigi looked at Luo Qi.
Then, she glanced at Yubashiri, which had already come into Luo Qi's possession.
For one brief moment, an incredibly tempting thought appeared in her mind.
Maybe...
Maybe becoming a bounty hunter wouldn't be so bad after all?
If I traveled with Lord Luo Qi, I could earn enough money to collect famous swords!
However—
No! No!
What am I thinking?!
How could I possibly abandon the Marines?!
Tashigi hurriedly shook her head, trying to drive those thoughts out of her mind.
Just then, she noticed the shopkeeper reaching toward Luo Qi's ten million Berries.
Her expression immediately changed.
"WAIT!"
Without hesitation, she rushed forward and stopped him!
"Hm?"
The shopkeeper frowned.
"What's the meaning of this, young lady?"
"You..."
Tashigi puffed out her cheeks angrily.
"You're trying to cheat him!"
"What?!"
The shopkeeper's expression stiffened.
"Although Yubashiri is an extremely rare and valuable sword, it's still only a Skillful Grade Sword!"
Tashigi continued firmly.
"There's no way it's worth ten million Berries!"
"Even the highest recorded market price for a sword of that grade was only seven million Berries!"
Hearing those words, the shopkeeper was startled.
He instinctively turned toward Luo Qi.
And when he saw Luo Qi looking directly at him, his heart began pounding!
"Y-You..."
He immediately pointed toward Tashigi.
"What do you know?!"
"You're not even a weapon merchant!"
"How could you possibly understand the market prices of Skillful Grade Swords?!"
However, Tashigi completely ignored his protest.
She adjusted her glasses and turned toward Luo Qi.
"Lord Luo Qi."
"You shouldn't pay him ten million Berries."
"Yubashiri is certainly an excellent sword, but it really isn't worth that much!"
Hearing her explanation, Luo Qi smiled.
"Well, I certainly trust Tashigi's judgment."
He slowly turned toward the shopkeeper.
"So, shopkeeper..."
"Does that mean you were trying to cheat me?"
Luo Qi's voice remained perfectly calm.
There wasn't even a smile on his face.
He simply looked at the man quietly.
However, that was more than enough to make the shopkeeper increasingly nervous!
Cold sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.
After all, this young man had defeated pirates with bounties worth tens of millions of Berries!
And according to Tashigi, he had even exchanged blows with Hawkeye Mihawk!
The shopkeeper suddenly realized that perhaps attempting to overcharge someone like him hadn't been the smartest decision.
"A-Alright!"
"Fine!"
"Seven million Berries!"
The shopkeeper waved his hand decisively.
He immediately pushed three million Berries back across the counter.
"Seven million Berries!"
"I'll sell you both the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri for a total of seven million!"
"Surely that's acceptable?!"
"Now that's more like it!"
Tashigi nodded in satisfaction.
She stepped forward, gathered the three million Berries, and carried the money back to Luo Qi.
"Lord Luo Qi!"
"Here's your change!"
She held out the banknotes with a bright, enthusiastic expression.
"..."
Luo Qi raised an eyebrow.
Watching her behavior, he couldn't help feeling that Tashigi was being a little too helpful.
Isn't she getting rather enthusiastic about all this?
However, before Luo Qi could say anything, Tashigi suddenly leaned forward.
Her eyes were practically sparkling!
"Lord Luo Qi!"
"You've bought your swords now, haven't you?"
"Then..."
Her face filled with anticipation.
"Could you finally let me witness your swordsmanship?"
Chapter 68: First Encounter with Straw Hat Luffy!New2 days ago
Loguetown, Marine Base.
Training Grounds.
"Hurry up! Petty Officer Tashigi is about to have a swordsmanship match!"
"What?! Which Marine soldier is bold enough to challenge Petty Officer Tashigi?"
"It's not one of our soldiers! It's Luo Qi, the bounty hunter who came to collect his bounty and brought Captain Nezumi here!"
"What?! Isn't he the swordsman who fought Hawkeye Mihawk?!"
"Don't tell me Petty Officer Tashigi was the one who challenged him!"
"I'm not sure about the details. Anyway, let's go watch!"
Several Marine soldiers hurried through the corridors of the base, excitedly discussing the upcoming match.
Just as they passed the door to the Marine Captain's office, it suddenly swung open.
Smoker stepped outside with two cigars in his mouth.
"Tashigi is going to spar with Luo Qi?"
He frowned slightly.
Recalling the instructions Fleet Admiral Sengoku had given him earlier, Smoker immediately headed toward the training grounds.
...
By the time Smoker arrived, Luo Qi and Tashigi were already standing on opposite sides of the training field.
"Are you seriously planning to experience my swordsmanship through an actual match?"
Luo Qi looked at Tashigi with a helpless expression.
"Although I know I'm no match for you, Lord Luo Qi, I still want to understand the difference between my abilities and those of a top-class swordsman!"
Tashigi held her sword firmly with both hands.
Her expression was exceptionally serious.
"So please, don't hold back on my account!"
The youthful awkwardness Tashigi usually showed had vanished.
Instead, she radiated the calm, determined presence of a genuine swordswoman.
Luo Qi frowned slightly.
Although Tashigi had practically dragged him to the training grounds, he still hadn't intended to fight her.
In his opinion, demonstrating his sword technique would have been more than enough.
There was no need for an actual match.
"What's the problem, Luo Qi?"
Just then, Smoker's voice sounded from nearby.
"Since you managed to emerge unharmed from an encounter with Hawkeye, why not let us see your swordsmanship?"
"Besides..."
Smoker glanced toward Tashigi.
"If you refuse her request, don't expect to enjoy any peace and quiet during your stay in Loguetown."
Smoker understood Tashigi's personality extremely well.
Although she appeared gentle and somewhat inexperienced, she was remarkably stubborn.
Once she made up her mind about something, even her superior officers would have difficulty persuading her otherwise.
Hearing Smoker's words, Tashigi immediately nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly!"
Luo Qi looked toward Smoker with an exasperated expression.
"Seriously? What kind of superior officer are you?"
"Aren't you worried I might accidentally injure your subordinate?"
He shook his head.
"See, Tashigi? This is exactly why you should come work for me as a bounty hunter instead!"
"There's no future in following this cigar-smoking guy around!"
"Hey!"
The corners of Smoker's mouth twitched.
"Do you really think it's appropriate to say that right in front of me?"
"Sorry, Lord Luo Qi."
Tashigi shook her head.
"I genuinely enjoy being a Marine, so I won't be joining your bounty-hunting team."
"Relax. I'm just joking."
Luo Qi smiled.
He placed the Sandai Kitetsu to one side and stepped forward with Yubashiri in his hand.
"Since you insist on seeing my swordsmanship, I'll demonstrate it for you."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Pay close attention."
"And don't blink."
Tashigi immediately tightened her grip on her sword.
However, before she could make another move—
Shing!
Luo Qi pushed his sword out of its sheath.
A flash of lightning suddenly appeared!
In the next instant, his figure shot past Tashigi at an astonishing speed!
Whoosh!
A severed strand of hair slowly drifted through the air.
It had come from Tashigi's head.
Just now, Luo Qi's sword had passed close enough to slice through her hair without injuring her!
However, Tashigi hadn't even realized what had happened.
The match was already over!
After his encounter with Hawkeye Mihawk, Luo Qi had become considerably more proficient with Thunderclap and Flash.
Cutting a strand of Tashigi's hair without harming her was naturally well within his abilities.
...
So fast!
Smoker's eyes widened slightly.
As someone watching from the sidelines, he had been able to appreciate the extraordinary speed of Luo Qi's attack even more clearly.
He instinctively imagined himself standing in Tashigi's position.
Then, he came to a rather unsettling realization.
Even I might not have been able to dodge that strike!
And when he remembered that Luo Qi could also use Haki, Smoker's expression became increasingly serious.
This guy...
He's stronger than me!
For some reason, that thought suddenly appeared in Smoker's mind.
And the realization only strengthened his determination to convince Luo Qi to join the Marines.
...
"I..."
"I lost?"
Only now did Tashigi finally recover from her astonishment.
She slowly raised her head and looked toward Luo Qi, who was standing before her with a gentle smile.
"Well, Tashigi..."
Luo Qi nodded encouragingly.
"I'm sure you'll become much stronger in the future."
"So don't let this bother you too much."
After saying that, he turned around and headed toward the passage leading out of the Marine base.
"Wait!"
Smoker immediately called out.
He quickly approached Luo Qi.
"Hm? Is there something else, Captain Smoker?"
Luo Qi turned toward him.
"I've already reported Captain Nezumi's case to Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Smoker spoke seriously.
"The Fleet Admiral is quite interested in your accomplishments."
"If you're willing to join the Marines, Headquarters can assign you a military rank appropriate to your strength."
Hearing this, Luo Qi looked at Smoker in surprise.
He genuinely hadn't expected his actions to attract enough attention for the Fleet Admiral himself to consider recruiting him!
However...
"Thanks, but I'll pass."
Luo Qi shook his head.
"Please thank your Fleet Admiral for the offer."
"But I really have no interest in becoming a Marine."
With that, he quickened his pace and left the Marine base.
Seeing how firmly Luo Qi had rejected the offer, Smoker had no choice but to convey his decision to Sengoku.
And upon hearing the news, the Fleet Admiral could only express his regret.
...
Time passed.
Before anyone realized it, ten days had gone by.
During those ten days, Luo Qi devoted himself to becoming more familiar with his abilities.
At the same time, he helped Law, Bepo, and his other companions with their training.
To Luo Qi's surprise, Law made some rather unexpected progress.
Although he still hadn't learned Thunderclap and Flash, and his Haki training had yet to produce significant results, he successfully mastered two techniques from the Six Powers!
Shave!
And Moonwalk!
Bepo, whose physical constitution was also quite impressive, managed to learn another of the Six Powers.
Iron Body!
As for Luo Qi himself...
His progress was even more remarkable!
After days of repeated practice and experimentation, he successfully developed a new variation of Thunderclap and Flash!
Thunderclap and Flash: Godspeed!
When activated, this new technique allowed Luo Qi to move several times faster than when using ordinary Thunderclap and Flash!
Naturally, Luo Qi was extremely satisfied with this result.
Originally, he had also planned to capture some pirates during his stay in Loguetown.
After all, defeating wanted criminals could earn him both bounty money and Physique Points.
Unfortunately, things didn't go quite as smoothly as he'd hoped.
Almost every time a pirate appeared, Smoker managed to capture them before Luo Qi could get involved!
Furthermore, the pirates arriving in Loguetown generally didn't possess particularly high bounties or impressive combat strength.
Gradually, Luo Qi lost interest in hunting them.
Instead, he focused his attention on training.
And just like that, ten days passed.
...
Loguetown Harbor.
"Alright, everyone!"
Luo Qi stood aboard the Explorer and looked toward his companions.
"Since we've finished preparing everything, let's set sail!"
After spending ten days in Loguetown, Luo Qi had finally decided it was time to head for the Grand Line!
However, just as the crew began preparing for departure—
"Luo Qi, something doesn't seem right."
Nami suddenly approached him.
"Hm?"
Luo Qi turned toward her.
"Something's wrong? What do you mean?"
"The weather."
Nami raised her head and studied the sky.
"There's a storm coming."
"A storm?"
Reiju, who was standing nearby, also looked upward.
Although the sky was somewhat gloomy and overcast, there weren't any particularly strong winds.
At first glance, it didn't look as though a violent storm was about to arrive.
However, Luo Qi had complete confidence in Nami's navigational abilities.
"If you're the one saying it, Nami, then I'm sure you're right."
He thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
Just as he was about to say something else—
"ALRIGHT, GUYS!"
A loud, enthusiastic shout suddenly came from the direction of Loguetown.
"LET'S SET SAIL!"
"Hm?"
Luo Qi frowned slightly.
He instinctively turned toward the source of the voice.
And then...
His eyes fell upon something incredibly familiar.
A straw hat!
A straw hat he would recognize anywhere!
Wait a minute...
Luo Qi's eyes widened slightly.
Straw Hat Luffy?!
Sanji?!
And Zoro?!
He stared at the familiar figures in surprise.
When the hell did these guys arrive in Loguetown?!
Chapter 69: Smoker — Why Didn't You Capture the Straw Hats?!New2 days ago
Just as Luo Qi was wondering when the Straw Hat Pirates had arrived in Loguetown, a powerful gust of wind suddenly swept in from the town!
Carried by the fierce wind, Straw Hat Luffy and his companions flew toward the harbor!
A moment later, they landed aboard a ship anchored roughly a hundred meters away from the Explorer.
Only then did Luo Qi recognize the vessel.
The Going Merry!
It was the Straw Hat Pirates' ship!
On its deck, Luo Qi also spotted Usopp, the sniper with the unmistakably long nose.
There was another man standing beside him, but Luo Qi had absolutely no recollection of that person.
"ALRIGHT, EVERYONE!"
The moment Luffy landed on the Going Merry, he excitedly threw both hands into the air.
"LET'S SET SAIL!"
"WE'RE HEADING FOR THE GRAND LINE!"
Hearing their captain's orders, Zoro, Usopp, and the unfamiliar male crew member immediately sprang into action.
They quickly unfurled the sails!
With the powerful wind filling its sails, the Going Merry began sailing rapidly away from the harbor!
However, Sanji behaved a little differently.
After noticing Luo Qi and the others aboard the Explorer, his gaze settled on Reiju.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He nodded toward her.
Seeing this, Reiju couldn't help smiling as well.
"So he really did go out to sea."
She shook her head with a soft chuckle.
"Looks like he's found himself some pretty good companions."
Meanwhile, Nami frowned slightly when she noticed the pirate flag flying above the Going Merry.
...
"HEY, LUO QI!"
Suddenly, a loud shout came from the shore.
"CAPTURE THOSE STRAW HAT PIRATES!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Luo Qi turned his head.
Sure enough, Smoker had arrived at the harbor with Tashigi and a group of Marine soldiers!
"Captain."
Law casually rested Kikoku against his shoulder.
"Should we take action?"
"Let's forget about it."
Luo Qi shrugged.
Then, he glanced toward Reiju.
"Reiju's younger brother, Sanji, is aboard that ship."
"I certainly don't want her complaining to me afterward if something happens to him."
However, that wasn't the only reason Luo Qi had no intention of pursuing the Straw Hat Pirates.
In fact, the moment he spotted Luffy, Luo Qi had already spread out his Observation Haki.
And just as he expected...
He detected an extraordinarily powerful presence near one of the buildings along the coast!
Following that powerful presence with his gaze, Luo Qi spotted a figure wrapped in a dark-green cloak.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the area!
For the briefest instant, Luo Qi clearly saw the distinctive tattoo covering the man's face.
The leader of the Revolutionary Army...
Monkey D. Dragon!
Luo Qi narrowed his eyes.
As though sensing Luo Qi's gaze, Dragon turned toward him.
A meaningful smile appeared on his face.
Then, the mysterious man disappeared into a swirling gust of wind!
As expected.
Luo Qi silently sighed.
With Dragon nearby, capturing the Straw Hat Pirates would be practically impossible!
There was absolutely no reason for him to attempt something so dangerous.
Besides, even if he somehow managed to capture Luffy and his companions, just thinking about the powerful figures standing behind the Straw Hat Pirates was enough to make Luo Qi nervous.
And there was another reason.
Bartholomew Kuma, the Revolutionary Army's Tyrant, had once sent Luo Qi flying away with his Devil Fruit ability, allowing him to escape Doflamingo's pursuit.
In a sense, Kuma had saved his life!
Considering that connection, Luo Qi had even less reason to capture the Straw Hat Pirates.
Therefore, no matter how loudly Smoker shouted from the harbor, Luo Qi simply turned his head away and pretended not to hear him.
Still, there was something he couldn't help wondering about.
Without Nami as their Navigator, how exactly are the Straw Hat Pirates planning to sail through the Grand Line?
Luo Qi also remembered that the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri, the two swords Zoro had originally obtained in Loguetown, were now in his own possession.
I wonder how Zoro will find suitable swords now.
Thinking about Yubashiri, which he had deliberately kept for upgrading his fleet, Luo Qi silently apologized to Zoro.
Sorry about that.
...
Seeing that Luo Qi had absolutely no intention of pursuing the departing Straw Hat Pirates, Smoker cursed angrily.
He immediately ordered the Marines around him to prepare a warship!
Since Luo Qi refused to help, he would personally pursue Straw Hat Luffy and his crew!
Meanwhile, aboard the Explorer...
"Oh my."
Reiju's lips curved into a beautiful smile.
"Thank you for being so considerate of me, Captain."
Luo Qi smiled in response.
He turned around, preparing to give his companions the order to set sail.
However, before he could speak—
Several unexpected visitors suddenly climbed aboard the Explorer!
"HEY, YOU BASTARDS!"
A pirate with a bright red nose and clown makeup shouted arrogantly.
"I'm taking over this ship!"
"If you want to stay alive, you'd better obey my orders and sail wherever I tell you!"
Standing behind the red-nosed pirate were several obvious underlings.
There was also a remarkably beautiful woman carrying an enormous spiked iron club!
Luo Qi raised an eyebrow.
Buggy the Clown?
And Alvida, the user of the Slip-Slip Fruit?
So these guys really are here too.
His gaze shifted between the two pirates.
Are they seriously delivering Devil Fruits right to my doorstep?
Before Luo Qi could say anything, Law and Bepo exchanged a glance.
Then, both stepped forward.
They walked straight past their captain and approached the intruding pirates.
...
Two minutes later.
The pirates who had been behaving so arrogantly moments earlier were now kneeling on the deck!
Their faces were covered in tears as they desperately begged Law and Bepo for mercy!
"PLEASE!"
"SPARE US!"
"WE'RE SORRY!"
...
[HAHAHAHA! Weren't those pirates acting incredibly arrogant just now?! Didn't they realize this is Brother Qi's ship?!]
[Seriously! They actually tried to rob a bounty hunter!]
[It only took two minutes for all of them to get defeated!]
[That red-nosed guy is pretty strange, though. His body can separate into different pieces! If he hadn't been fighting Bepo, I would've thought Law had cut him apart using his Devil Fruit ability!]
[And did you see him try to use his detached hand to sneak-attack Bepo?! Doesn't that idiot know our Bepo has already mastered Iron Body?!]
[The woman with the iron club is interesting too! Attacks seem to slide right off her body!]
[Looks like both of them are Devil Fruit users!]
[Doesn't that mean Brother Qi might be able to obtain two more Devil Fruits?!]
...
Seeing the pirates kneeling and begging for mercy, Law frowned slightly.
He had originally intended to finish them off.
However, he now turned toward Luo Qi, silently asking for his opinion.
Although Law had no particular reservations about killing enemies during a battle, he was considerably less inclined to kill someone who had already surrendered and was pleading for their life.
"Captain Luo Qi."
Reiju approached Luo Qi with several wanted posters in her hand.
"That red-nosed pirate is Buggy the Clown."
"His bounty is fifteen million Berries."
"As for the woman carrying the iron club, she calls herself Alvida."
Reiju examined the beautiful woman thoughtfully.
"However, the Alvida listed on the wanted poster is an overweight woman with a bounty of five million Berries."
"Considering her current appearance..."
Reiju gently touched her cheek, giving Alvida a long, curious look.
"Perhaps the change has something to do with the Devil Fruit she ate."
Hearing her words, Luo Qi nodded.
Naturally, he knew exactly why Alvida had become so beautiful.
It was entirely because of the Slip-Slip Fruit!
However, although her current appearance was undeniably attractive, Luo Qi couldn't help feeling somewhat uncomfortable whenever he looked at her.
After all, he knew exactly what Alvida had looked like before eating her Devil Fruit!
Compared to her, Baby 5 was much more pleasing to his eyes.
Luo Qi considered the situation for a moment.
Then, he spoke.
"Let's wait here for a while."
"Smoker looks like he's preparing to head out to sea."
"When he comes over, we'll hand these pirates to him and collect their bounties."
After thinking it over carefully, Luo Qi had decided against killing Buggy and Alvida merely for their Devil Fruits.
Buggy was once a member of the Pirate King's crew.
He's also one of Red-Haired Shanks's friends.
With connections like those, capturing him is one thing...
But I'd rather not have him die by my hand.
Having reached that conclusion, Luo Qi relaxed.
He hadn't bothered lowering his voice during the conversation.
Naturally, Buggy and the other pirates had heard everything.
The moment they realized Luo Qi had no intention of killing them, they all breathed enormous sighs of relief!
However...
Their relief didn't last long.
Because Luo Qi suddenly began walking toward them!
Buggy and the others immediately became nervous again.
This guy...
Just those two subordinates were enough to defeat all of us!
And he's obviously their captain!
Buggy certainly didn't believe that someone commanding fighters like Law and Bepo could possibly be weak!
Fortunately, Luo Qi didn't attack them.
Instead, he walked straight past the kneeling pirates and headed toward the stern.
There, Smoker's warship was preparing to leave the harbor.
As the Marine vessel approached the Explorer, Smoker and Tashigi jumped aboard.
"Luo Qi!"
Smoker immediately confronted him.
"Why didn't you capture those pirates who escaped just now?!"
"Aren't you supposed to be a bounty hunter?!"
Hearing his accusation, Luo Qi merely smiled.
"Smoker..."
"Those guys who just escaped..."
"Do they even have bounties on their heads?"
"..."
Smoker fell silent.
Chapter 70: The Musician Brook Catches Luo Qi's Attention!New2 days ago
Naturally, the Straw Hat Pirates didn't have any bounties on their heads yet.
After all, the two major pirate crews of East Blue—the Krieg Pirates and the Arlong Pirates—had already been defeated by Luo Qi and his companions!
Although Luo Qi wasn't sure why Sanji had decided to join the Straw Hat Pirates when the Krieg Pirates had already been eliminated, he was fairly certain about one thing.
The current Straw Hat Pirates probably hadn't attracted enough attention from the Marines to receive any bounties.
Sure enough, when Smoker heard Luo Qi's question, he was immediately rendered speechless.
"..."
After all, Luo Qi was a bounty hunter!
Without a bounty to collect, he naturally lacked a financial reason to attack those pirates.
However, Smoker still had some doubts.
Although they hadn't known each other for very long, Smoker considered Luo Qi a fairly decent person.
Even without a bounty involved, he believed Luo Qi might still be willing to deal with pirates if doing so wasn't particularly dangerous.
"Are you seriously telling me you didn't attack those pirates simply because they don't have bounties?"
Smoker frowned.
As he spoke, he glanced toward Buggy and the others, who were still being held captive nearby.
The pirates were already terrified.
And when the White Hunter's gaze settled on them, they became even more nervous!
Not a single one dared to move.
"Well..."
Luo Qi thought for a moment.
"Actually, that's not the only reason."
"Among the people who just left, I happen to know the man wearing the black suit."
"He's the younger brother of one of my companions."
"So it wouldn't really be appropriate for me to attack them."
Luo Qi knew that he might encounter the Straw Hat Pirates again in the future.
And even then, he probably wouldn't choose to fight them.
However, he also didn't want the Marines to mistakenly assume that he was secretly affiliated with the Straw Hat Pirates.
Therefore, he needed a reasonable explanation for his decision.
Naturally, he couldn't reveal Luffy's true identity.
That left only one convenient excuse.
The relationship between Reiju and Sanji!
Hearing Luo Qi's explanation, Smoker recalled the unusual similarities between Sanji's eyebrows and Reiju's.
He nodded thoughtfully.
"So that's how it is."
"However, your companion doesn't seem particularly bothered by the fact that her younger brother has become a pirate."
Luo Qi shrugged.
"Well, we're all people who travel across the ocean."
"There's no point in getting overly sentimental about every little thing."
"Since becoming a pirate was that guy's own decision, my companion can probably only wish him luck and hope he doesn't get captured by the Marines."
Luo Qi paused.
Then, he added with a faint smile:
"Come to think of it, it's a good thing we didn't accept your invitation to join the Marines."
"Otherwise, we'd now be expected to capture one of our companion's own family members!"
"..."
The corners of Smoker's mouth twitched violently.
For a moment, he couldn't think of a suitable response.
Eventually, he turned toward the Marines aboard his warship and ordered them to take custody of Buggy and the others.
"Hey!"
Seeing the Marines preparing to take the pirates away, Nami immediately hurried forward.
"You're welcome to take them, but don't forget our twenty million Berries!"
"Don't worry."
Smoker waved his hand dismissively.
"You'll receive every last Berry of your bounty payment."
With that, he and Tashigi returned to their warship alongside the other Marines.
Before departing, the Marines tossed a bag containing twenty million Berries onto the Explorer.
Then, the warship immediately set off in pursuit of the Straw Hat Pirates!
...
With both the Straw Hat Pirates and Smoker's warship gone, Luo Qi had no further reason to remain in Loguetown.
Before long, the Explorer raised its sails once again.
Its bow turned toward the Grand Line!
And with that, Luo Qi and his companions finally resumed their voyage.
...
[Brother Qi actually let those two pirates live! I thought he was going to kill them and collect their Devil Fruits!]
[There must be some reason we don't know about. We should trust Brother Qi's decisions.]
[Exactly! Maybe those two pirates have some extremely powerful connections behind them!]
...
Some time later.
Thanks to Nami's extraordinary navigational abilities, the Explorer successfully crossed Reverse Mountain!
The entire journey proceeded safely, and Luo Qi's fleet finally entered the Grand Line!
However, almost immediately after arriving, they encountered something astonishing.
An enormous whale!
A whale so unbelievably huge that it almost resembled a mountain rising from the sea!
"Unbelievable..."
Law stared at the massive creature before them.
"So that's a whale!"
"Yeah! Yeah!"
Bepo nodded repeatedly.
"I thought it was a wall!"
"Seriously..."
Nami placed a hand against her chest, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.
"We've barely entered the Grand Line, and we've already encountered something so terrifying!"
"I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest!"
She took another deep breath.
Then, she glanced toward the shore.
"I really don't understand how Luo Qi can remain so calm."
At that moment, Luo Qi was standing near the lighthouse at Twin Cape, speaking with its elderly keeper.
"Well, Luo Qi has traveled to many places."
Nojiko gently patted Nami's shoulder.
"Perhaps he's already witnessed things even more incredible than this."
Hearing her older sister's comforting words, Nami gradually relaxed.
...
Meanwhile, on the shore.
Luo Qi was speaking with Crocus, the lighthouse keeper of Twin Cape.
"Thanks for the Log Pose, Mr. Crocus."
Luo Qi casually tossed the navigation instrument in his hand before catching it again.
Then, he smiled at the elderly man.
"If I happen to encounter Laboon's former companions during my travels, I'll contact you through a Den Den Mushi."
Crocus looked at him with a somewhat surprised expression.
"You're quite an enthusiastic young man, aren't you?"
Over the years, Crocus had encountered countless travelers passing through Reverse Mountain.
Whether they were pirates or ordinary adventurers, most of them rarely paid much attention to an old lighthouse keeper like himself.
Some didn't even bother treating him with basic courtesy.
Luo Qi, however, was different.
From the moment he arrived, he had been remarkably friendly!
And after hearing the story of Laboon, the enormous whale, Luo Qi had even taken the initiative to ask for Crocus's Den Den Mushi number.
He claimed he wanted to help locate the whale's former companions.
It was a rather unexpected offer.
"Well, you gave me a Log Pose."
Luo Qi smiled.
"Helping you with a small favor is only natural."
"Besides, according to what you told me, Laboon keeps ramming his head against the Red Line every so often."
"If I can find his old companions, perhaps I can help put an end to his suffering a little sooner."
Hearing these words, Crocus slowly shook his head.
"I appreciate the thought, young man."
"But several decades have already passed."
"Laboon's companions probably aren't even alive anymore."
As someone who had once accompanied Gol D. Roger on a voyage around the world, Crocus possessed considerable experience and knowledge of the seas.
And when it came to Laboon's former companions, his assessment was rather pessimistic.
However...
Luo Qi didn't see things the same way.
After all, he knew the original story!
It was true that most of Laboon's former companions had already died.
But there was still one survivor!
One member of that old pirate crew who continued to exist somewhere in the world!
Brook!
The musician of the Rumbar Pirates!
And Luo Qi had another reason for requesting Crocus's Den Den Mushi number.
Helping Laboon reunite with his former companion was only part of his plan.
He also wanted to recruit Brook into his own fleet!
After all, although musicians weren't particularly rare in the One Piece world, finding one who was willing to join a fleet and embark on dangerous adventures across the ocean was another matter entirely.
And Brook was no ordinary musician!
Not only did he possess exceptional musical talent, but he also had considerable combat abilities!
Someone like that could prove extremely valuable aboard the Explorer.
Furthermore, Brook's musical proficiency might even qualify Luo Qi for another Treasure Chest reward!
How could Luo Qi possibly allow such a promising potential companion to slip through his fingers?
"Well, you never know, Mr. Crocus."
A mysterious smile appeared on Luo Qi's face.
"Perhaps..."
"A miracle might happen."
After saying that, Luo Qi waved goodbye to Crocus.
Then, he turned around and began walking back toward his companions.
"..."
Crocus watched his departing figure.
"What a strange young man."
The elderly lighthouse keeper couldn't help muttering to himself.
However, just as he was about to return to his usual activities—
"Hm?!"
His expression suddenly changed!
"Those two again?!"
Crocus immediately turned toward the sea.
There, a small vessel was rapidly approaching the enormous whale!
Standing aboard it were a man and a woman.
Both were holding rocket launchers!
And their weapons were aimed directly at Laboon!
"Not again!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Crocus rose from his seat and rushed toward the whale.
He had to stop those two before they fired their rockets and injured Laboon!