Logue Town.
Evening crept in, a soft, drizzling rain painting the town in a hazy, peaceful light.
Ever since those Two Great Monsters decided to stay, Logue Town had become safer, yet pirates still arrived in droves.
Food Tavern.
A "Closed" sign hung on the door.
Roya sat at the bar, slowly sipping his wine, the only customer in sight.
"Zoro's still not back?"
"Nope."
Ririka couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Sheesh, I've never seen such a troublesome kid. Doesn't he know to come home when it rains? Is he getting wet and hungry out there?
"That kid is getting more and more famous."
"Yeah, I've heard."
Roya's lips curled up in a smile.
Logue Town was becoming safer, but that Execution Platform seemed to draw the pirates in, like a strange magic.
And for bounty hunters with real skill, Logue Town was a gold mine. "Pirate Hunter" - the very name was like a blade hanging over the pirates' heads.
Some folks were even calling Zoro the Strongest Bounty Hunter in the East Blue.
Heh, kids fighting over toys.
Roya shook his head and said, "When Zoro gets back, tell him to stay put. I'm planning to head back to Shells Town in a few days, and we'll swing by Shimotsuki Village."
"Okay!"
Ririka's eyes sparkled. "Can I come with you?"
"Of course."
Roya nodded, smiling.
He was leaving the East Blue after the New Year, and he wanted to visit Colonel Rhodes, and Kaya with her parents.
He couldn't forget their kindness, taking care of him like they did.
He'd also send Zoro home. If I leave it to him, he'll never make it back in this lifetime. He'd get lost even with a map.
"Clang!"
The tavern door was thrown open, and about a dozen men with weapons stormed inside. From their rough clothes and the steel they carried, they were clearly pirates.
"Excuse us!"
The pirates looked angry and resentful.
The Marines in Logue Town were just too brutal, especially that jerk Bartolomeo. Not long ago, he'd strung up the pirates he caught under the Execution Platform and roasted them alive, showing it on a screen for everyone to see!
Who's supposed to be the bad guy here?!
They were being treated like rats, scared to even squeak for fear of the Marines. They had to sneak into a dump like this just to get a drink!
No wonder they were in a foul mood!
The pirate boss swaggered to the bar, his eyes narrowed, and said, "Landlady, get us ten barrels of wine and a mountain of food!"
"I'm sorry, we don't have that much wine," Ririka said helplessly. "And the tavern is closed. The cook's gone home. You should try somewhere else."
"Huh?"
The pirate boss frowned, his eyes landing on Roya at the bar. He grinned. "Then what's he eating and drinking?"
"This..."
Ririka looked at Roya, innocent and a little worried.
Roya put down his wine glass, annoyed. My rare moment of peace, ruined by these lowlifes. How irritating.
"Does this happen often?"
"Sometimes."
Ririka was calm.
Running a tavern meant dealing with pirates sometimes. Usually, she'd just serve them. If they caused trouble, she had a Den Den Mushi hidden under the bar to call the Marines.
They'd be here in three minutes, tops.
But today, because Roya was back, the tavern had closed early, so things might get a little trickier.
"Clang!"
A blade slammed into the bar.
The pirate boss sneered, "You were too busy chatting to notice me?"
"You're being awful arrogant," Roya said, standing up to face the pirates.
"Ten seconds."
"What?"
The pirate boss was confused.
Roya said calmly, "I'm giving you ten seconds to get out of this tavern. I don't want you dirtying up the place."
"..."
The pirate boss stared for a moment, then burst out laughing. The pirates behind him snickered.
"Brothers, I don't think this guy gets it."
"It's you who doesn't get it!"
Ririka leaned on her hand and said kindly, "You should run away now. This man is not someone you want to mess with."
"..."
The pirate boss's face darkened. He pulled out a bounty poster and slammed it on the bar. "See this? This old man has a bounty of 8 million--"
"Time's up."
Roya said suddenly, his fingers becoming a blur.
"Finger Pistol!"
"Pfft!"
The pirate boss's eyes rolled back in his head, a finger-sized hole appearing in his chest. His body fell backward, stiff as a board.
The other pirates froze.
What just happened?
The next second, searing pain exploded through them.
"Finger Pistol!"
In less than ten seconds, every single pirate was on the floor.
Roya's fingers dripped with blood. He disgustedly wiped them clean with a tissue, then took out a small Den Den Mushi to call the Marine branch.
"Get Bartolomeo over here. Leave these pirates to him."
Three minutes later, Bartolomeo arrived at the tavern with his underlings, a look of wild excitement on his face as he surveyed the pirates sprawled on the floor.
Tonight's gonna be fun!
"Behehehe!"
Barto sidled up to Roya, winking. "Roya, we'll take it from here. Enjoy the rest of your evening with your wife!"
"Get lost!"
Roya kicked Barto without ceremony.
That good-for-nothing belongs in G-5. He's wasting his talent in Logue Town.
The tavern fell silent once more.
Ririka grabbed a mop and wiped the bloodstains from the floor, then straightened the scattered tables and chairs.
Once she was done, she went to Roya, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Now, no one should bother us this time."
"Yeah."
Roya's hand slid onto her bottom.
It's late. No one else should spoil the mood.
"Clang!"
The tavern door was pushed open.
They both turned their heads to see Zoro, soaked to the bone, standing in the doorway. They stiffened slightly.
How did this kid even find his way home?
"Oh, Roya, you're back!"
Zoro was a little surprised, but seeing them embracing, he quickly understood what was going on.
Tch, how boring. Love only slows down your sword.
"I'll go make food," Ririka said, letting go of Roya and heading to the kitchen. She knew from experience that Zoro probably hadn't eaten yet.
That child just can't take care of himself. I remember one time he went hungry for three days straight, and only remembered to eat when he got home.
"Cough cough!"
Roya coughed lightly, his eyes falling on the swords at Zoro's waist. He was surprised. "You got new swords?"
"Yeah, the old one broke."
Zoro put the new swords on the table, still excited. "These are the new swords I got, Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu (Cursed Sword). A nice man at the weapon shop gave them to me."
"Oh! Also, I think I'm starting to get that Haki you told me about. When I was catching pirates a few days ago, I felt a special power in my sword, and then I cut through the other guy's sword!"
"I can cut iron now!"
Roya looked at the excited Zoro, his image blending with his memories. He's starting to look more and more like a swordsman.
"Zoro, let's spar."
"Okay!"
Zoro's eyes lit up, confidence surging through him.
Not long ago, I beat a pirate with a 16 million bounty! I'm ready to beat Roya!
Ten minutes later.
Zoro lay sprawled on the bar, eating with a bruised face and swollen nose. His mind was still reeling. I'm way stronger now. How come the gap between me and Roya just keeps getting wider?
Damn it! I need to train harder!
An empty bowl slammed onto the bar.
"Ririka, another bowl!"
"Eat slowly. There's plenty more."
*
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[T/N:
Latest Chapter translated on Patreon - Chapter Access up to Ch 252
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 272 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
Here are the novels I'm currently translating:
-> Naruto Paradise: An Evil Uchiha's Rise
-> One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King!
-> Young Master, Please Become Hokage!
Want to support my work and get early access to chapters? Check out my Patreon! 👇
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]