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"Boom!"
A loud crash echoed. Lu En and Zoro looked over, only to see a massive statue plummet from the highest point of the Marine base, smashing heavily onto the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"This... this, could it be..."
Zoro's mouth twitched as he stared at the shattered statue. The appearance of the statue clearly belonged to the ruler of this Marine base, Marine Captain Axe-Hand Morgan. Zoro had been here for twenty days, and this statue had been under construction day and night; Morgan was extremely particular about it.
"Looks like Luffy got lost again."
Lu En had an amused expression. In the original story, Luffy smashed Morgan's statue while trying to catch Helmeppo, but this time, Helmeppo was already in Luffy's hands, yet the statue still ended up smashed. It could only be said that Morgan, a man of his caliber, simply wasn't worthy of this statue.
"Lu En, could I ask you a favor?"
Zoro's gaze shifted to Rika. His lips moved, and he spoke with some difficulty. Asking for a favor was harder than Zoro had imagined.
"Don't worry, Rika will be fine."
Lu En shielded Rika behind him, smiling faintly.
"Rebels!"
Just then, a group of Marine soldiers, led by a tall Marine officer, surged towards them. The most striking feature of the leading Marine was his arm, which was entirely an axe.
Marine Captain, Axe-Hand Morgan.
"You're the Straw Hat kid's accomplices, aren't you! And you, Roronoa Zoro, are you trying to stage a coup?! It ends here! You've committed treason. I'll execute you on the spot!"
Morgan's eyes were bloodshot.
"Lu En, at least take Rika and go!"
Zoro roared.
"Think you can run? All units, prepare!"
Morgan raised his hand.
Click!
Under the pressure of Morgan's power and authority, the Marine soldiers could only raise their guns.
"Are we... truly going to die here?"
Truly feeling the proximity of death, Zoro naturally felt no fear, but an intense unwillingness. He still hadn't fulfilled his promise to Kuina to become the World's Strongest Swordsman. And he had dragged Rika and Lu En into this.
"So noisy."
Lu En shielded Rika behind him, his eyes flickering wildly with a reddish-black hue.
"You... are you perhaps underestimating me too much? A mere Branch Captain."
Hum!
An invisible surge of Conqueror's Haki swept over the Marine soldiers holding their guns, ready to fire.
The next moment.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The many Marine soldiers holding guns rolled their eyes and instantly fainted.
"That power again. Can this power be released infinitely?"
Looking at the Marine soldiers sprawled on the ground, Zoro muttered in shock.
"Lu En? I remember now, there was a recent news report in the East Blue about a man who, without even lifting a finger, single-handedly wiped out the Alvida Pirates with just his presence. He's known as the 'Man Who Will Stand Atop the Heavens.' Are you that 'Heavenly King' Lu En?"
Staring at this incomprehensible scene, coupled with Zoro shouting Lu En's name, Morgan's forehead began to sweat as he recalled the most famous news in the East Blue during this period. He remembered the front-page headline from the World Economy News Paper just days ago, and it perfectly matched the current situation. That report had described this man as the coming new king of the seas. For Morgan, who believed titles were everything, a man with such a title was naturally terrifying. And he had just witnessed this unbelievable scene with his own eyes.
"The 'Man Who Will Stand Atop the Heavens,' 'Heavenly King' Lu En?"
Zoro looked at Lu En, muttering. What incredible arrogance and breadth of vision? But with such power, this man certainly had the right to be arrogant.
"Oh? Even trash like you knows about the report? The World Economy News Paper is quite efficient then."
Lu En nodded with great satisfaction. At least he didn't have to worry about the Marines giving him some strange, weird title.
"Aura increased, Conqueror's Haki intensity increased."
Indeed, it further confirmed Lu En's conjecture. A fearsome reputation on the seas could enhance one's aura and strengthen Haki's intensity. As for the principle, Lu En had a slight personal understanding. Because seeing Morgan's forehead sweating just from hearing his name, Lu En felt incredibly satisfied deep down.
"Gum-Gum Rocket!"
At that moment, accompanied by a loud shout, Luffy rocketed down from above the Marine base.
"Lu En, you've already handled so many?"
Luffy grinned, looking at the many unconscious Marine soldiers scattered on the ground, with only a few still conscious.
"Straw Hat Brat!"
Morgan's eyes instantly turned red when he saw Luffy. He had to avenge the destruction of his most important statue! But... looking at Lu En, cold sweat trickled down Morgan's forehead.
"Charge! Kill them!"
Morgan roared at the few remaining Marine soldiers.
"Captain, if we keep fighting that man, we'll end up like them! That man is a monster!"
The remaining Marine soldiers were terrified by this incomprehensible sight.
"I told you to kill them! Otherwise, I'll execute you for treason!"
Morgan roared.
"What's this? An internal struggle?"
Luffy looked at the roaring Morgan, then, unconcerned, took down the three swords strapped to his back.
"There are three in that room. Which one is yours?"
Luffy looked at Zoro.
"All three are mine, because I use Three-Sword Style," Zoro replied.
"Then, I'll untie you. Will you become my crewmate, or continue to stay here and be killed by the Marines?"
Luffy looked at Zoro, grinning.
"Forget it. Rather than dying here, becoming a scoundrel isn't so bad."
Zoro exhaled, a beast-like grin spreading across his face. A beast sensing a death threat was far more terrifying than a beast in its normal state.
"Awesome! A new crewmate!"
Luffy cheered, raising his hands.
"If you understand, then hurry and untie me!"
Zoro looked at the Marine soldiers who, after Morgan chopped down one of their own, now had no choice but to charge at them. He roared immediately.
"But this rope is really tight!"
Luffy fumbled with the rope.
"Hand me a sword!"
Zoro roared, and in Luffy's surprised gaze, Zoro gripped one of the swords with his mouth.
Splat!
The next moment, all the ropes on Zoro's body were severed. Zoro held a sword in each hand and one in his mouth, turning his back to block the few Marine soldiers who had charged at them with swords.
"Roronoa Zoro joins the Straw Hat Pirates."
"Current loadable term targets updated."
"Loadable: Roronoa Zoro term."
A light screen appeared before Lu En's eyes. The reason these few Marine soldiers and Morgan weren't swept away by Conqueror's Haki in one go was because Lu En had intentionally left them for Zoro to prove his allegiance. Only by fighting the Marines here would he truly become a scoundrel.
Zoro's term was now within his grasp.