After finishing their business, the Virtue relied on its brand-new propulsion system to sail freely through the vast seas of the New World.
After drifting at sea for an entire year, one morning they finally caught sight of Dressrosa's iconic pink castle and the endless fields of flowers surrounding it.
"Captain, that's Dressrosa up ahead! Should we dock and take a look?"
Jinbe leaned over the railing and called out excitedly to Shiro.
"I've heard the Corrida Colosseum there is incredibly lively!"
Just as the crew gathered on deck, chattering about their docking plans, Hachi suddenly pointed toward Dressrosa from the lookout tower and shouted urgently:
"Hey, hey, hey! Everyone, look! That pirate ship rushing out from Dressrosa—doesn't it look like it's panicking? Like it's fleeing for its life!"
Following the direction of Hachi's finger, everyone saw a pirate ship flying a tattered skull flag, racing madly across the sea. Chaotic noises could be heard coming from its deck.
"Something's not right. Listen carefully,"
Redfield, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and frowned.
"It sounds like someone on that ship is screaming for help."
Shiro's eyes turned cold. He immediately gave orders:
"You stay here. I'll go take a look."
Before the words had fully faded, he activated his ability and sent himself flying, landing directly on the pirate ship.
The moment he touched down on the deck, Shiro saw a scene that filled him with rage.
A group of vicious-looking pirates stood in a tight circle, staring greedily at a red-haired girl trapped in the center.
The girl was about 1.7 meters tall. Her pink dress was smeared with dirt, and fear twisted her delicate features, completely replacing her original gentle elegance.
She was Princess Scarlett of Dressrosa.
Her entire body trembled as she clutched her chest tightly, as if trying to shield herself from the malicious gazes surrounding her.
"Captain, look at this—Dressrosa's princess is really something,"
a leering pirate said, rubbing his hands together and licking his lips.
"What should we do with her?"
The pirate captain, wearing a battered old hat, burst into laughter and slowly approached Scarlett, his eyes filled with disgusting lust.
"A princess, huh? Then of course I get to enjoy her first!"
"I've been sailing the seas for years—never touched a princess before. Today's my lucky day!"
"Being the captain really is the best,"
a tall, thin pirate chimed in.
"All the good stuff goes to you first!"
The captain lifted his chin smugly and waved a hand grandly at his crew.
"Listen up, you lot! I'm a man who hates wasting anything—every grain of rice counts. After I'm done having my fun, the princess is yours. One by one—nobody gets left out!"
The pirates erupted in cheers, waving their weapons as the savage light in their eyes grew stronger.
Scarlett's legs went weak. Using the last of her strength, she screamed toward the sea:
"Help! Please—someone save me!"
"Go on, scream!"
the captain sneered, leaning closer.
"The louder you scream, the more excited I get!"
He suddenly grabbed her dress.
RIP—
The neckline tore open, exposing her pale skin to the air.
The pirates held their breath, swallowing hard, their eyes glued to Scarlett.
Just as the captain's hand was about to touch her—
A golden figure suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his movement.
It was Shiro.
He stared coldly at the captain, killing intent filling his eyes.
"Who the hell are you?"
The captain jumped in shock, then roared in fury.
"Got a death wish, ruining my fun?!"
"The one looking for death," Shiro said coldly,
"is you."
With a sharp shout, the Tetanus Fang at his waist flashed out of its sheath.
A streak of cold light passed—
Splurt.
Before the pirate captain could even react, his body was split in two, blood spraying across the deck.
"He—he killed the captain!"
"Grab your weapons! Avenge the captain!"
The pirates froze for a moment, then screamed in panic, fumbling for their weapons.
Shiro snorted coldly. His figure flickered across the deck, his blade flashing again and again. Every swing was accompanied by a scream.
In mere moments, all the pirates lay dead in pools of blood.
After finishing them off, Shiro turned toward the corner of the deck, where Scarlett sat curled up, her clothes in disarray.
Frowning slightly, he removed his black cloak and gently draped it over her shoulders.
"It's over," he said softly.
"They're all dealt with."
"Wuu… thank you… thank you for saving me…"
Scarlett finally broke down, bursting into tears as she threw herself into Shiro's arms, clutching his clothes tightly.
Just moments ago, she had truly believed she would be humiliated—or even killed.
Shiro's arrival had been like a beam of light, saving her.
"Don't cry," Shiro said, gently patting her back and letting her lean against his shoulder, his voice firm and reassuring.
"As long as I'm here, no one will ever hurt you again."
"Mmm…"
Scarlett nodded, burying her face in his chest as her sobs slowly subsided, though her shoulders still trembled.
Shiro frowned slightly—not out of embarrassment at being hugged by a stranger, but because he couldn't help thinking to himself:
Princess Scarlett, I know you're scared, but could you not wipe your tears and snot all over me? I just changed this cloak…
Just as he was lost in thought, his Observation Haki suddenly picked up a rapidly approaching small boat, radiating a powerful presence.
Before he could gently push Scarlett away and look up, a towering figure leapt from the boat, landing on the deck like a falling iron tower.
The newcomer stood nearly three meters tall, powerfully built. A vicious scar ran from his forehead all the way down to his chin. His upper body was bare, revealing dense, corded muscles, and in his hand he gripped a sharp, gleaming longsword.
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