Free Web NovelChapter 26: Chapter 26
Chapter 26
After finishing shopping with the girls, Rorschach also visited the Pirate King’s execution platform. It looked surprisingly ordinary in real life.
He didn’t feel any special resonance like in the anime. In reality, he only sensed a faint lingering aura of willpower left behind.
Afterward, he took the girls around Loguetown looking for Log Poses and Eternal Poses. After some searching, they finally bought several of both at a map shop. freeweɓnovel.cøm
At the shipyard, Rorschach chose a triangular sailboat roughly the same size as the Going Merry. It cost 20 million berries — basically just a few meals’ worth of money for him now.
With 3.7 billion berries in his pocket thanks to Captain Rat’s generous "contribution," Rorschach no longer had to worry much about making money.
While he was moving supplies from the small sailboat, a squad of Marines approached him.
The leader was someone familiar — "White Hunter" Smoker, a Marine who truly believed in justice.
In his previous life, Rorschach had seen this guy constantly appear in fanfics, always getting humiliated. Even in the anime, he mostly suffered defeats and had almost no wins later on.
Following behind Smoker was a short-haired girl with red-framed glasses.
Tashigi. In the future, she would become a truly righteous Marine, but right now in the early stages...
Well, the difference is pretty big.
Tashigi suddenly felt a chill and tightened her coat as she followed Smoker toward Rorschach.
"You must be the recently famous Dual Blade Sword Master Rorschach," Smoker said, blowing out smoke with a confident tone.
"That’s correct. Is there something I can help you with?" Rorschach asked, feeling a bit confused.
He had seen Morgans’ newspaper a few days ago and thought the Navy might suspect him and issue a bounty. But after so much time with no movement from them, he assumed they didn’t care about a small-time bounty hunter like him.
"I’m Captain Smoker, stationed in Loguetown. I’m here on behalf of Marine Headquarters to extend an invitation."
"If you join the Navy, you can head to Headquarters and receive the rank of Commodore. Your achievements hunting pirates in the East Blue will also be publicized."
"With your strength, I believe you’ll reach Rear Admiral in no time," Smoker said, staring at Rorschach sharply.
Rorschach was a bit stunned. Another invitation to join the Navy? No wonder they haven’t done anything yet. So that’s what they’re planning.
"No thanks. I prefer a life of freedom. Working nine-to-five in the Navy isn’t for me. I’d rather explore freely," Rorschach smiled and rejected the offer.
"But shouldn’t those with power use it to uphold justice on the seas? A strong bounty hunter like you joining the Navy would surely be valued," Tashigi couldn’t help but speak up.
"Tashigi!" "Yes sir!"
Smoker shouted impatiently, causing Tashigi to straighten up instantly.
"This isn’t the place for you to speak," Smoker said helplessly.
"Hehe, young lady, having a sense of justice is good, but you can’t use it to restrict my personal freedom. I yearn for freedom. I want to explore the mysteries of the world, witness its beautiful sights, and live a quiet life with my crew. That’s my dream. So I’m sorry, but I must decline your invitation."
"But..."
"I said, this isn’t the place for you to speak," Smoker interrupted her again.
"Are you really sure you won’t reconsider?" Smoker asked with a meaningful look.
Rorschach shook his head.
"Sigh... We have no right to force civilians to join. Since you’re unwilling, we won’t push the matter."
"Now, this is a personal request. Could I invite you to have a match with me?"
Seeing Rorschach had no intention of joining, Smoker gave up and issued a serious challenge instead.
Heh heh, someone actually came asking to get beaten. Fitting for the "Perennial Jobber King."
Since he was in the One Piece world, it wouldn’t feel complete if he didn’t make Smoker eat a loss.
Rorschach immediately agreed.
The Marines retreated and cleared the area, creating a large open space. Smoker and Rorschach faced each other.
Rorschach drew his twin blades and took a stance.
"Those are... the famous swords Karamatsu and Sakura Ju. But their maintenance looks a bit poor," Tashigi exclaimed in surprise, then sounded heartbroken when she saw the condition of the blades.
"Weren’t those swords in the hands of the legendary pirate Shiki the Golden Lion? How did they end up here?"
Tashigi looked at Rorschach with suspicion.
Hearing her words, Smoker’s gaze became even sharper. With a slightly cold tone, he asked:
"Rorschach, what is your relationship with Shiki? Why do you have his twin blades?"
Rorschach showed no panic at having his swords’ origin exposed. Instead, he answered casually:
"Oh, I took them from a corpse with swords stuck in its legs. I once drifted to a small island and lived there for five years."
"I often found supplies washed up on the shore. One day, a golden-haired old man drifted to the island. When I tried to save him, I found he was already dead."
"So I removed the swords from his legs and buried him. Is there a problem with that?"
Seeing Rorschach’s flawless expression and having no evidence, Smoker couldn’t accuse him of being a pirate just because of two swords. He stopped pressing the matter.
However, he did receive good news — the legendary pirate Shiki the Golden Lion was dead.
"No, no problem. I was just curious," Smoker said.
Rorschach beckoned with his hand, signaling Smoker could attack. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
In an instant, smoke filled the air as Smoker’s body turned into white smoke and charged forward.
"White Fist!"
His smoke-formed arms detached from his body and shot forward like bullets.
Rorschach casually sidestepped, dodging them easily. The missed White Fists began circling him as more white smoke gathered, trying to engulf him.
Rorschach smiled, completely unconcerned. This kind of attack posed no threat to him. With a burst of Shave, he instantly appeared behind Smoker.
His twin blades coated in Armament Haki and Conqueror’s Coating, he unleashed a powerful brute-force slash.
This was the same move he had used against Ricky — though this version wasn’t charged as long and used less Haki.
He silently named it Armstrong Cyclone Slash in his mind.
Since Smoker knew about Shiki and Headquarters likely had records, Rorschach avoided using Shiki’s techniques to prevent exposing his identity.
"Ugh—!"
Smoker was hit and turned into black smoke, crashing through a building and slamming heavily to the ground.
"Captain Smoker!" Tashigi cried out worriedly. "How... Captain Smoker ate a Logia-type Devil Fruit. Normal attacks shouldn’t be able to touch him. How is this possible?"
Tashigi was still stunned by Smoker being knocked back.
Inside the smoke-filled building, Smoker coughed up two mouthfuls of blood and struggled to his feet.
"That was Armament Haki just now, wasn’t it? I didn’t expect someone in the East Blue to have already mastered it," Smoker said as he walked out, leaning against the wall.
"That’s correct," Rorschach replied with a smile. "Want to continue?"
"No. I’m not your opponent. Continuing would only end in my defeat," Smoker said heavily after a moment of silence.
"I hope you don’t walk the opposite path from the Navy."
Smoker gave Rorschach a wary look, then led his men away. Rorschach waved at him casually.
"Whew. Not only Conqueror’s Haki, but Armament Haki too? From the way he dodged my attack, his Observation Haki must be decent as well."
"Mastering all three types of Haki plus that monstrous strength... He’s a very dangerous man. I need to report this to Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately."
Smoker touched the spot where Rorschach had hit him. It still throbbed with sharp pain, but he forced himself to stay composed in front of his subordinates.
On the other side, after defeating Smoker, Rorschach received a system notification.
[Ding! Next sign-in location: Alabasta. Sign-in will unlock in forty days. Please proceed to the location.]
Hm? Usually the cooldown increased by five days each time. Why did this one jump to forty days?
Rorschach was a bit puzzled, but it worked out perfectly — he had somewhere he wanted to go anyway.
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