Chapter 539: Old Man's on Vacation
Chapter 539: Old Man's on Vacation
Down a bustling street,
"I've got to find those guys!"
A gruff man brandishing a pistol shouted down the street: "That long-nosed guy! The one in the swimsuit! And the one with the giant shoulder bag!"
This hulking brute wore a tattered red vest and a straw hat. Standing beside him were instantly recognizable figures:
'Pirate Hunter' Roronoa Zoro.
'Black Leg' Sanji.
'Cyborg' Franky.
'Child of the Demon' Nico Robin.
Every single one of them was a member of the Straw Hat Pirates!
The man wearing the straw hat at the front was none other than the infamous Monkey D. Luffy himself - the pirate with a 400 million berry bounty on his head.
The grandson of Navy hero Garp.
The son of Revolutionary Dragon.
The audacious criminal who'd dared ring the bell at Marineford Headquarters after surviving the Summit War.
Nearby civilians instinctively kept their distance, unwilling to provoke such dangerous figures.
That said, the locals weren't particularly afraid either.
Since Vice Admiral Golden Lion's arrival in Shabondy, pirate invasions had become rare. Even when they did occur, they were swiftly dealt with.
Though Luffy was a notorious pirate, most figured he'd be captured soon enough.
"Find them!" the gruff man bellowed. "Bring those three to me, and I'll allow them to join our pirate crew! They'll become chosen members of our elite ranks!"
"Oooh!!"
This declaration sent waves of excitement through the gathered pirates.
The Straw Hat Pirates!
To these pirates, they were legendary pioneers - the ultimate pirate crew.
Joining them meant they could make waves in the New World!
"Boss, it's time to go", a man with a Franky-esque pompadour whispered urgently. "We should head to the venue."
"Fine, let's move", the gruff man growled, grinding his teeth. "Those bastards dared offend me! When I find them, they'll pay dearly!"
That woman who refused to drink with them! That long-nosed guy! And that weird plant user! All so damn annoying!
He was 'Luffy' now!
How dare they not fear him?!
Unforgivable!
"Once Old Man gathers our crew, we'll mobilize everyone to hunt them down!" he spat venomously.
"Boss, I don't think that's wise", the Franky-lookalike cautioned. "The Navy here is too strong. We've been on edge since arriving. We should leave sooner rather than later. Stationed here is Vice Admiral Golden Lion, after all."
Golden Lion - to pirates, his record was terrifying.
He'd utterly defeated legends like Shanks, Lucius, and Buggy the Clown. Rumor had it he'd slaughtered tens of thousands upon arriving at Shabondy last year. Even the previous Super Novas' survival was uncertain.
They knew their own weakness - they were impostors. Facing Golden Lion? Madness.
"Scared?!" the gruff man sneered with a malicious grin. "We've already recruited powerful crews! Even Wet-Haired Kaliyu and Blood-Splattered Krib - those brothers with bounties over 100 million each! With them, we'll crush Golden Lion like the Black Mud he is!"
"Who knows? With their help, we might even boost our reputation! Cement the Straw Hat Pirates' legacy once and for all!"
"Move out! To the venue - it's time to rally my subordinates!"
Pistol in hand, he stormed down the street. The gathered pirates instinctively parted, clearing his path.
"Captain!" one pirate protested. "Why fear them? Maybe defeating them would make us famous too!"
"Not now", a burly man in a captain's coat, his back bearing a massive sword, interjected. "Their presence will surely draw the Navy. Fighting them now only benefits the Navy. Let's settle scores in the New World!"
Pirates - always arrogant, always blind to their own limits.
"Hey! The fight's not over yet!"
A downed pirate staggered up, spitting blood. "I haven't lost! Take back what you said! I say Kaido's the Strongest!"
Before the Straw Hats arrived, these pirates had been competing. These two captains in particular...
"Idiot! Still not giving up?!" The burly man sneered, approaching. "Let me teach you another lesson! When we reach the New World, I'll be the one to claim Kaido's head and take the Four Emperors' throne!"
Fist raised, he prepared to strike.
"Psst!"
Suddenly, a mocking chuckle rang out.
"Ha! Kuro, did you hear that? He says he'll take Kaido's head!"
The laughter erupted into unrestrained giggles.
The burly man turned sharply. In the crowd stood a man in a fur-trimmed, open-chested black coat, smirking. Beside him, a white-haired young girl with an ice cream cone laughed until tears welled in her eyes.
The brute's face darkened. With one punch, the pirate who'd just risen flew back several teeth, eyes rolling back as he collapsed.
"What's so funny?!" he roared, stomping toward the pair, his glare stormy. "What's so damn funny?!"
"Obviously, funny things make people laugh", Lida licked her ice cream, her large eyes curving into crescents.
"What's wrong with claiming Kaido's head?"
The brute yanked his massive sword free, blade pressing against the black-coated man's throat. "Little brat! One last chance! Whoever this is to you - important, I assume! If you don't take back your words, his neck bleeds!"
Lida blinked innocently upward. "Hey Kuro, looks like you're being threatened."
The man's body didn't move an inch under the blade.
"Tch. What mongrels they let in these days", he sighed, meeting the brute's confused glare. "This weakling? You couldn't spot him if he walked up and bit you. And that straw hat guy earlier? Did his cultivation go to waste these past two years?"
"Shut up! That's Luffy you're talking about!"
"Then if Luffy were that pathetic", Kuro snapped, "Garp would've drowned him at sea long ago."
"You two!"
The blade pressed harder. "Don't ignore me!!"
Bang!!
The brute's body flew backward, skidding across the ground for dozens of meters before stopping, his body convulsing.
Only then did his sword clatter to the ground after spinning through the air.
Lida lowered her hand, turning to Kuro. "Want to catch Luffy?"
Kuro pulled a cigar from his coat, lighting it as he exhaled a plume of smoke. He gestured to his black coat.
"Old Man's on vacation."
(End of Chapter)
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