"Gentlemen, that's Shells Town—the headquarters of the 153rd Marine Branch," announced the long-haired pirate, forcing a flattering grin toward Luffy and Rokuro.
"Awesome! Is that the Marine base?" Luffy leaned over the Sunny Go's rail, wide-eyed with excitement, the breeze whipping his straw hat.
He looked so thrilled, so innocent, it was hard to believe he was technically a pirate. If anyone else had seen him, they might have assumed he was heading to visit a relative in uniform.
Clink!
The fishing rod in Rokuro's hand vanished in a flash of light, sealed back into the chakra storage seal etched into his right palm. The rod joined Alvida's iron mace and a few other tools in his growing ninja arsenal.
"Still the best chakra technique I've created," he murmured. "Efficient and chakra-light. Very scientific."
Then he glanced at Coby. "We're in enemy territory now. Marines will be on us soon. When the time comes, are you leaving quietly with them, or do we throw a farewell party?"
Coby hesitated, lips tight. Though he'd come this far with Luffy and Rokuro, their paths were destined to split. He wasn't a pirate. He still dreamed of becoming a Marine—one who stood for justice.
"I…" Coby looked away, uncertain.
"C'mon, Coby! Let's eat!" Luffy grabbed his arm and pulled him down the gangplank toward town. "Hurry up, Rokuro, you too! I'm starving!"
Luffy, of course, didn't care about Coby's inner conflict. He was too busy following his stomach. The two vanished into the streets, already arguing over what to eat first.
Rokuro stood there with a sigh and a bucket of fish. "You guys go ahead. I'll get us some cash first."
After all, someone had to behave like a responsible adult. As a "four-good" youth from the 21st century, Rokuro wasn't about to mooch off random townsfolk. Besides, they had something valuable: Alvida's old ship and her crew, still unconscious and tied up on the deck.
It didn't take long before a squad of Marines marched into the port with rigid precision. Their eyes were sharp, weapons holstered—but fingers twitching.
Rokuro raised both hands calmly.
"I'm a bounty hunter. Name's Cool D. Zeikan," he lied smoothly. "These are the surviving members of Alvida's pirate crew. I'd like to turn them in."
The Marines blinked, stunned. A dozen wanted pirates were sitting helplessly on the deck of a pirate ship.
Soon, Rokuro was escorted to the Marine base, carrying a small sealed scroll containing proof of his captures.
Inside the 153rd Marine Branch headquarters, a stern-faced Lieutenant Commander looked him over. "Bounty hunter or not, stop fishing in our ceremonial tank!"
Rokuro froze—his line had instinctively dropped into the Feng Shui pond at the entrance again.
He coughed and reeled it in. "Bad habit. Chakra reacts to water."
The officer sighed heavily.
"We've confirmed their identities," he continued. "Alvida escaped, but the bounties of her subordinates add up to 13.6 million berries. The ship itself is… well, usable. Altogether, we can offer 7 million berries."
Rokuro blinked. "That's it?"
The officer rubbed his neck. "Sorry… Shells Town's been a mess since Captain Morgan took charge. Funds are tight."
Rokuro had read the reports. Ax-Hand Morgan—a tyrant of a Marine—was ruling the town like a dictator. That explained the decaying streets and the nervous subordinates. Still, Rokuro wasn't greedy.
"Fine," he said, taking the money. "But don't spend it on statues of yourself, yeah?"
The officer chuckled awkwardly.
Rokuro was about to leave when the officer suddenly blurted, "If I may… you should leave town quickly."
"Because of Morgan?" Rokuro asked.
The officer didn't answer, but his clenched fists spoke volumes.
Rokuro smiled. "Actually… I'm not done here. I've got one more deal to make."
Outside the base, his partner Murkrow—Dark Crow—landed on his head, flapping impatiently and pecking.
"MUTE! MUTE!" it cawed and jabbed at his forehead.
"What is it now?" Rokuro asked, rubbing the spot. "You hungry? Or—?"
Then he followed the bird's gaze and sighed.
"Seriously…?"
On the base wall, Luffy and Coby were crouched, spying with zero stealth. Pointing, whispering, eyes wide.
Rokuro facepalmed. You two are pirates—don't just crawl over the Marine base like it's a jungle gym!
"Oi! Luffy! Coby! You started eating without me?" Rokuro called out, hands on hips.
Luffy turned, cheerful as ever. "Hey! Qikang! Come here! The Pirate Hunter's here! Let's recruit him!"
Rokuro's eyes sharpened. So it begins.
He leapt onto the wall with a quiet thud and peered into the Marine courtyard.
There—tied to a wooden cross in the center—was Roronoa Zoro.
Even bound and starved, the aura around him was brutal. A black bandana hung around his arm, and three earrings dangled from his left ear. He looked fierce and completely unfazed by the heat or glares from Marines passing by.
Rokuro narrowed his eyes. "Dang… seeing the real Zoro up close is different. So that's the future number two of the Straw Hats."
"Is he strong?" Luffy asked.
Rokuro chuckled. "A guy with three earrings? He's either a punk or a legend. In Zoro's case—both."
Suddenly, a nervous voice piped up.
"Mr. Luffy… Lord Saikan… we can't recruit him! He's dangerous!" Coby trembled beside them. "He's known for killing pirates without mercy. What if he cuts us down?"
Luffy tilted his head. "We'll just ask him nicely. If he says yes, we win!"
Down below, Zoro stirred.
"Get lost," he growled, weak but defiant. "I'm no monkey in a zoo. I don't need your pity."
At that moment, a ladder clunked against the outer wall.
A small girl in a simple dress popped up beside them. She glared at Rokuro before shushing them with a finger to her lips.
Without hesitation, she hopped over the wall and ran across the yard.
"Big brother!" she shouted, "I brought you rice balls!"
Zoro's eyes snapped open. "What the hell?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?! Leave, kid!"
"I made them myself!" she said proudly.
But danger was already approaching.
Clack… clack…
Bellamy-style duck steps echoed across the courtyard. The base commander's spoiled son, Helmeppo, strolled in with a smug grin.
"Well, well. What's this? Comfort food for the criminal?" He snatched a rice ball from her hand. "Looks like garbage!"
Then he dropped it and crushed it under his heel.
Rokuro scowled. That was the last straw.
In a blink, he appeared before the girl, facing Helmeppo directly.
"Hey," Rokuro said. "Look at me."
Helmeppo blinked. "What? Who are you?"
Rokuro activated his Sharingan.
The spinning red eye hypnotized Helmeppo instantly.
Genjutsu: Hypnotic Mirage!
Helmeppo froze, face going blank. Then, with a twitching smile, he shouted toward Zoro:
"My pet tried to bite me! How dare he! I'm Helmeppo, son of Captain Morgan! You think I'll let a pirate hunter go just because he begged?"
Rokuro fed him more words.
"I plan to let him rot in the sun. Then, when he's too weak to stand, I'll execute him personally. That's justice, right?! Ha!"
Zoro's eyes burned with fury. His teeth clenched so hard his gums bled.
Rokuro glanced at him, expression serious. Now you see the truth.
This wasn't justice. This was corruption. And Zoro, for the first time in days, felt something crack inside him.
His conviction returned.
And perhaps… just maybe… he'd consider joining a certain straw-hatted idiot and a ninja fisherman with a talking crow.