Chapter 183: Playful Intervention
Rhodes spent a month on Amazon Lily—ahem, a month of intensive training, not a honeymoon. During that time, the outside world had been anything but quiet.
First came the legendary meeting between Red-Haired Shanks and Whitebeard—two of the Yonko clashing with such force that even the heavens split apart as their backdrop.
Then came the news: Fire Fist Ace had been defeated by Blackbeard.
Though Robin's intelligence network couldn't uncover what happened afterward, Rhodes—intimately familiar with the original story—knew exactly what this meant. Fire Fist Ace would be handed over to the World Government by Blackbeard in exchange for a Warlord position, which would directly trigger the Paramount War at Marineford.
Without Rhodes's intervention, that war would lead directly to the deaths of both Whitebeard and Ace, and the meteoric rise of the Blackbeard Pirates as a new Yonko crew.
"Unfortunately for them, I'm here this time."
Rhodes's eyes gleamed with determination as he stepped through his spatial portal, emerging onto what appeared to be a rather prosperous island.
He left the alley and made some inquiries from passing locals.
"Terracas Island? That's a fair distance back along the Grand Line from Water 7... I remember Bloodshade mentioning this place. Supposedly the liquor and barbecue here are excellent."
Rhodes possessed an excellent memory and recalled his subordinate's casual recommendations.
Walking down the bustling street, a mouth-watering aroma suddenly caught his attention. Following his nose, he approached a small food stall run by a young woman.
To his surprise, the grilled meat wasn't the usual red and white—but a vibrant, appetizing purple!
"Wonder what kind of Sea King that's from..."
Curious but undeterred, Rhodes approached and purchased a skewer at a surprisingly reasonable price.
Bite.
"Mm! Crispy exterior, tender inside, with a unique chewy texture... Comparable to the Water-Water Meat from Water 7. Now let's see if the local liquor lives up to its reputation—"
Rhodes was mid-thought when a sudden commotion erupted behind him.
He turned to see two young women running—no, fleeing—down the street, pursued by a Marine officer whose Justice coat billowed dramatically.
"Oh? Familiar faces."
Rhodes watched with mild interest while continuing to eat his skewer.
The two fugitives were Sylvia—the aspiring swordswoman from Sixis Island in the West Blue—and Elsa, the merchant's daughter he'd encountered during his earlier travels.
The Marine captain chasing them was Hina—a striking beauty with long pink hair and a curvy figure, user of the Paramecia-type Ori Ori no Mi, the Bind-Bind Fruit.
"Stop running! Hina is telling you to stop!"
Hina shouted, but the two ahead completely ignored her. Frustrated, she stomped her foot decisively.
"Soru!"
WHOOSH!
In a blur of motion, Hina appeared directly in front of Sylvia and Elsa with impossible speed. With a sweeping gesture, pitch-black iron bars extended from her forearms, forming a cage that trapped both women.
"Hmph! You're far too naive to escape from Hina!"
Hina took a drag from her cigarette with satisfaction.
Simultaneously, a squad of Marines rushed up from behind, raising their rifles and aiming at the captured pair.
"Elsa... looks like we can't escape."
Sylvia panted heavily, gripping her sword hilt, feeling utterly helpless.
Such terrible luck—to run into an elite Marine, probably from Headquarters judging by her strength.
"We can't give up! Don't you still want to challenge the Dragon Slayer someday?"
Elsa said encouragingly despite their predicament.
"That was just a foolish dream... and a distant one at that."
Sylvia sighed softly. Only after arriving at the Grand Line had she realized how insignificant her current strength truly was, how impossibly far away her ambitions remained.
"This is all that disgusting World Government official's fault..."
Elsa muttered bitterly.
The two of them weren't criminals by nature—they'd never intended to become wanted fugitives.
Their troubles began when they'd beaten up a World Government bureaucrat who'd tried to force himself on them. They'd thought nothing of it since they hadn't killed him, but they'd never expected the official to have such powerful connections that he'd gotten them both placed on the wanted list.
And then they'd had the misfortune of running into an elite Captain from Marine Headquarters.
What absolutely rotten luck.
"We'll have to fight. If we truly can't win..."
Sylvia's eyes hardened with resolve. In this era, if a woman—especially a beautiful woman—was thrown into a cell, death would be preferable to what might follow.
"Yeah."
Elsa nodded grimly.
The two began their breakout attempt. Sylvia swung her blade to deflect the bullets fired by the Marines, while Elsa reached out and touched Hina's cage—her own Devil Fruit power causing the iron bars to suddenly shrink and warp. The two women quickly leaped through the opening.
"Another Devil Fruit user?"
Though surprised, Hina remained composed. She stepped forward to pursue and recapture them—
But suddenly found a young man casually eating a skewer blocking her path.
At first she assumed he was just a random civilian and moved to go around him, but no matter which direction she shifted, the skewer-eating young man somehow remained directly in her way. The intention was far too obvious.
"Do you want to be arrested by Hina for obstructing Marine law enforcement?"
Hina studied the young man more carefully and felt he looked vaguely familiar, though she couldn't immediately place him.
"Do me a favor and let them go this once."
Rhodes finished his skewer, slowly raised his head, and smiled pleasantly at Hina.
"Do you a favor? Just who do you think you—"
Hina's words died in her throat as recognition finally struck.
Rhodes. One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. The Dragon Slayer.
"Why are you here...?"
A bead of sweat formed on Hina's forehead. She took several steps backward and hurriedly called out to alert the Marines behind her.
"Eating barbecue, obviously. I heard the food here is excellent. Want to try some?"
Rhodes offered casually.
Who the hell is discussing food right now?!
Hina screamed internally, her beautiful eyes filled with wariness and tension—but also a hint of competitive fire.
Hina was an extremely confident person, proud of her abilities and combat skills. Even facing a Warlord of the Sea, she still possessed the courage to challenge him.
"Soru!"
The next instant, Hina's foot slammed down as her figure vanished in a blur, closing the distance to Rhodes almost instantaneously while extending her arms in a binding motion.
The Marines behind her were caught completely off-guard by their captain's bold assault.
CLANK!
Massive iron bars materialized around Rhodes from Hina's limbs, forming a tight cage that should have trapped him completely.
"Hina got him!"
Feeling her power successfully activate, Hina felt a surge of triumph. She looked at the bound Rhodes and declared confidently:
"So what if you're a Warlord? You dare interfere with Marine operations—"
But before she could finish—
CRACK!
A splintering sound echoed, followed by a tremendous CRASH!
Iron bars flew through the air in all directions as a figure calmly emerged, still eating his barbecue.
"Sorry, what were you saying?"
"Impossible! How could you break Hina's binding so easily?!"
Hina gritted her teeth and rushed forward again, attempting to activate her power once more.
But at that very moment—
The young man before her suddenly vanished from her perception.
SMACK!
Hina felt a sharp impact strike her rear with considerable force.
It was unmistakably a spank.
Hina froze completely, unable to process what had just happened.
Her legs were long and shapely, her figure proud and curvaceous—rivaling even Hancock's proportions, if slightly less extreme. She stood there in utter shock, completely unprepared for such a brazen assault.
The strange looks from surrounding civilians registered, especially the stunned expressions of her own subordinates. Her pale neck flushed crimson as humiliation and rage warred across her beautiful face.
"There's a price for trying to cage someone without permission."
Rhodes smiled, savoring the surprising softness and elasticity his palm had encountered.
SMACK!
He delivered another playful spank for good measure.
"Kyaaah...!"
Hina let out a mortified shriek, simultaneously shocked and fully realizing that she and this man weren't even remotely in the same league.
At that speed, she couldn't even perceive his movement, let alone react to it.
Whoosh!
She immediately leaped backward, putting distance between them, and glared at Rhodes with a mixture of shame and fury—though wisely making no further aggressive moves.
Awkward silence fell over the street.
"Captain Hina... should we continue pursuing the fugitives?"
One brave Marine asked hesitantly.
"We're leaving! Dragon Slayer, Hina will remember this! Hina will definitely get revenge someday!"
Hina's rear still burned with stinging pain. How could she possibly dare challenge this man further? After delivering her obligatory threat to save face, she fled with her troops in tow.
"Next time you come for revenge, better protect that cute butt of yours!"
Rhodes's voice carried clearly from behind her.
Hina stumbled and nearly face-planted into the street. She desperately quickened her pace, practically running away while her face burned bright red.
Her subordinates wisely said nothing, though several struggled to suppress grins.
After the Marines disappeared around a corner, Sylvia and Elsa cautiously emerged from their hiding spot in a nearby shop.
"Thank you so much for saving us!"
Elsa bowed deeply, then looked up—
Both women froze as recognition struck simultaneously.
"You're... the Dragon Slayer?!"
Sylvia's eyes went wide as dinner plates.
"Yo." Rhodes waved casually with his remaining skewer. "Long time no see. Glad to see you both made it to the Grand Line safely."
"I... you... we..."
Sylvia seemed completely unable to form coherent sentences, overwhelmed by encountering her idol under such circumstances.
Rhodes chuckled and turned to continue down the street.
"Try to stay out of trouble. The Grand Line doesn't forgive carelessness."
As he walked away, Sylvia finally found her voice:
"I'll get stronger! Strong enough to challenge you properly someday!"
Rhodes glanced back with an approving smile.
"I'll be waiting. Don't take too long."
(End of Chapter)
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