Zoro saw Captain Morgan, the town's top ruler, and immediately called out anxiously, "Hey — untie my ropes, quick."
Ignoring Zoro, Sandy's attention was already fixed on Morgan.
The man was over two meters tall, wearing a white coat. An enormous axe was attached to his hand, and there was a small metal door welded over his mouth.
Sandy stared in confusion. How does he eat? And with an axe for a hand, what does he do when he needs to use the toilet?
Watching Morgan swagger, Sandy's eyes lit up. "Sugoi. Hey, how about we get that big guy to come aboard as our cook? We'd save on knives. Also — do you scrape with your axe when you go to the toilet?"
A stunned silence fell over the place. Zoro, who was behind Sandy, momentarily forgot to demand his ropes be untied.
All the Marines across from them stared at Morgan in fear. From Morgan's expression, it was obvious he was about to go berserk.
Sandy didn't notice. He kept gawking. "I heard your name is Morgan, right? But I think you should be called Brother Axe."
He sized Morgan up. "Hmm, that build suits you, but that little 'door' on your mouth is a bit much. How do you eat?"
Everyone gaped at Sandy's train of thought.
Sandy ignored their looks and focused on Morgan.
Seeing the man grow angrier, he tried to be helpful. "Brother Axe, what's wrong? Constipated? Feeling uncomfortable? Then use 'Swift Relief' — I just happen to have this medicine at a bargain: only 998."
A buzzer sounded, mechanical and ridiculous, like a notification:
[Ding, congratulations to the host for completing a flamboyant operation...]
Morgan snapped. He didn't ask who this idiot was or where he came from; he simply barked to the Marines behind him, "What are you waiting for? Shoot them — execute these rebels!"
Marines raised their guns and aimed at Sandy's direction.
Cold sweat dripped from Zoro's forehead. Is this the end?
Sandy glanced at Zoro and Koby and shrugged.
"Why panic? Watch this." He slipped off his slipper and began an unnecessary product pitch. "This slipper of mine is made in Windmill Village in the East Blue — damn!"
Before he could finish, the Marines fired.
"Space Field, Space Shift..." Sandy made a rotating motion with his hand. The bullets suddenly changed direction and reflected back toward the Marines' feet.
Whoosh.
Sandy vanished from his original spot. As everyone spun around trying to find him, Morgan screamed.
"Slap." Sandy reappeared and slapped Morgan across the face with his slipper. "Do you think you're awesome? I don't like that look. I already called you Brother Axe and you still shoot..."
Slap. Slap. Slap.
The sound of slipper on cheek was crisp and humiliating.
Morgan had no idea what was happening. He didn't understand how this man had appeared behind him. The force was too great — Morgan staggered and fainted.
Glass shattered from the top of the Marine building.
Luffy had returned from searching for Zoro's swords.
Seeing Sandy hitting Morgan, Luffy asked Zoro in confusion, "What's wrong with him? Huh? Sandy — I didn't expect you'd bully the weak. I wanna fight you!"
Luffy exhaled two little streams of air from his nostrils. Everyone turned, mechanically, to look at this strange kid.
Sandy stopped once Morgan had gone out cold.
But Luffy wanted a fight, so Sandy stood and pointed a slipper at him. "What do you want? You wanna be beaten?"
Luffy grinned. "Who's scared? Come on."
Koby quickly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Luffy's waist, explaining what had just happened.
Luffy scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "Ohhh, that's what happened. Why didn't you say so earlier? Sandy's a good guy!"
Zoro, exhausted from being tied up for so long and starving after days without proper food, finally lost his temper. He fell to the ground with a groan, spat out, "You two bastards, cut it out! Untie my ropes, now!"
Morgan was defeated. Contrary to expectations, the Marines didn't rush to attack Luffy or Sandy. Instead they stared at the unconscious Morgan, then burst into cheers.
"Right! Tyrant Morgan is defeated! We're free!"
"Is this real? Hit me so I wake up if I'm dreaming."
"Finally — I don't have to do things against my conscience anymore!"
With time to spare, Sandy opened his system interface.
[pheromone system]
Host: Sandy
Strength: 1400 (1300 + 100)
Agility: 140 (130 + 10)
Stamina: 2700 (2300 + 400)
Conqueror's Haki: Lv2 (Deters opponents; can control release freely. Can knock out those with weak will.)
Flamboyance Currency: 7800.1 (6800.1 + 1000)
Space Backpack: Sword (Blade) — Alias: High Wind
[pheromone system friendly reminder: Please continue to work hard, be flamboyant to the sky.]
Sandy then opened Luffy's and Zoro's interfaces.
Luffy:
Strength: 2000
Agility: 155
Stamina: 3700
Potential: Gets stronger when facing strong opponents — infinite potential; turns misfortune into blessing.
Zoro:
Strength: 1500
Agility: 130
Stamina: 2500
Potential: Gets stronger when facing strong opponents — infinite potential; berserk attribute! May slap opponents when taunted; severe sense of direction loss...
Seeing their panels, Sandy sighed. These two are monsters. But why doesn't his own panel show a "potential" line?
Before Sandy could think more, Luffy had untied Zoro's ropes. Zoro, tied up for over twenty days, had been weak and hungry — he lost his balance and collapsed to the ground.
Sandy asked, curious, "Zoro — you were tied up for more than twenty days. What did you do when you had to pee or go to the toilet?"
Everyone stared at Zoro.
Zoro's face flushed crimson. He snarled, "Sandy, you bastard — I'm going to cut you!"
Nami, watching from the building, stifled a laugh and covered her mouth.