"Does it matter~? I'm not going to let you take me to Laugh Tale anyway."
Shanks pulled a face, thinking Orin was worried he might cheat—skipping the collection of Poneglyphs and heading straight to the final island on the Roger Pirates' efforts.
Though he didn't know it, Orin really did have an Eternal Pose to Laugh Tale in his hand.
"Forget it. You know my nature, Shanks."
Hands in his pockets, Orin turned his head and smiled faintly.
"Even if one day at the right time I help someone claim the One Piece, it definitely won't be you.
If the two of us actually joined forces, then the new era Captain Roger staked his life to create would become nothing but a pile of dogshit. No suspense, flatter than stagnant water."
"That'd be boring~."
Whether it was Shanks, or the future Pirate King Luffy, Orin never had any thought of joining or uniting with them.
Not because he disliked them—just that…
They already had the qualifications to become kings, and companions strong enough to match that.
Adding flowers to brocade wasn't nearly as meaningful as giving coal in the snow.
"Well… what a shame."
Hearing Orin's words, Shanks seemed to recall something. This guy had always been like this.
Captain Roger had told him before—given Orin's personality, he'd definitely become a troublemaker on the seas.
"Speaking of which, Shanks, when do you plan to make a trip back to the Holy Land?"
As if suddenly remembering, Orin turned and asked him.
But that sudden question made Shanks freeze.
His mouth hung open slightly as he stared at Orin's calm face in shock.
"Wait… how do you know about that, Orin?!"
He was sure he'd never told Orin this secret. After all, he'd only heard it privately from Captain Roger at the very end, just before parting.
Captain Roger had told him—Shanks was found in a chest on God Valley. Judging by his hair color and features, he was likely of Celestial Dragon blood, a descendant of the Figarland family.
But Roger also said—only those who picked up Shanks knew about it. No one else.
So how did Orin know?
"Why? Strange to hear that? Judging from your face…"
Orin slung an arm over his shoulder, patting him as though it were only natural to know.
Of course Shanks found it strange.
"This is something neither Captain Roger nor I ever told anyone! Why would you know about it?!"
"If you really want to know why…"
"It's because I'm sort of a Celestial Dragon myself."
"…"
Shanks froze for a moment, then stumbled back several steps, his face full of disbelief.
"Eh?!!"
"You've got to be kidding!!!"
His expression was almost comical.
"I saw you board from an island in the New World with my own eyes… don't tell me, Orin, your never-mentioned parents were actually Celestial Dragons?!"
Shanks felt like he'd uncovered a secret—that he and Orin were alike.
Both abandoned by Celestial Dragon parents, both raised by Roger, both monstrously gifted…
"Celestial Dragons this, parents that…"
Orin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Don't spout nonsense. I joined them recently by my own strength. I'm more like an unofficial member."
"You can do that?"
Shanks felt a little out of touch with the times, but still answered Orin's earlier question.
"I don't plan on going back yet. Maybe later. I don't have much bond or feeling for that place anyway…"
Leaning against the railing, Shanks watched as Orin lit a cigarette beside him.
"Phew…"
"Then work hard, Shanks. Your twin brother is no pushover. And your monster of a father…"
...
Landing on a deserted island,
The first contest was between snipers. Orin held back Mihawk, who was eager to go ashore first, and shamelessly warped himself and Yasopp onto the island.
After all, a match whose outcome he already knew wasn't worth watching.
If Mihawk and Shanks fought with everything they had, at their current levels it was impossible to say who would win.
But if it was only swordsmanship, then Shanks definitely couldn't beat Mihawk with his maxed-out talent. Orin knew—he'd tested it personally.
"Tch…"
The hawk-eyed boy's face darkened, glaring at Orin for blocking his duel. Shanks, meanwhile, burst into laughter.
Warped onto the island's center, Yasopp's face was full of wonder.
Having teleportation used directly on one's body was an unbelievably strange sensation.
The Warp-Warp Fruit…
It was practically tailor-made for snipers!
All eyes were on them. The two men—vastly different in build—stood back-to-back.
To Orin, it was a little silly. After all, with both of them using Observation Haki, firing only after ten paces was as pointless as pulling down your pants to fart.
But it was a long-held tradition among snipers.
So as a first-timer in the world of snipers, even the "World's No.1 Sniper," Orin chose to respect it.
With a snap of his fingers, a pair of black leather gloves appeared on his hands—holding a long black rifle.
Everyone stared tensely.
Step by step they began to walk. Orin strolled as if on a leisurely walk, while Yasopp wore a face of utter focus and readiness.
"One…"
"Two…"
"…"
...
"Ten!!!"
As Shanks called the tenth number, Yasopp spun almost instantly, instinctively firing at the tall figure's back.
Orin seemed half a beat late. Only as the shot fired did he turn.
A wisp of smoke streaked across…
Everyone's Observation Haki locked on Orin. They saw him extend two fingers—pinching the spinning bullet cleanly between them.
No Armament Haki. Just a bullet.
"What the—?!"
Yasopp's eyes filled with disbelief. He prided himself on his shot's speed and impossible angle.
And yet…
Click.
Orin raised his rifle, looking at Yasopp with calm indifference, his eyes glowing red.
"At least in sniping, you've still got a long way to go."
"Right shoulder."
Bang—!
With the crack of the custom sniper rifle, blood instantly blossomed on Yasopp's shoulder. Even though he tried to dodge, it was useless.
"What the hell… this exaggerated Observation Haki…"
"So this is the strength of the World's No.1 Sniper?"
Touching the bleeding hole in his shoulder, Yasopp gave a relieved smile.
"Why didn't you use Armament to defend, when I already told you the spot?"
Orin asked casually.
Yasopp only smiled fearlessly.
"In a gun duel, fearing injury. That's the true shame of a sniper!!!"
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo