Zoro's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost. He had no idea how Luffy could move so quickly. "W-what just happened?"
Nami had never been this close to such a powerful aura before. Her mouth was open, she stared at Luffy, who was still holding her tightly. Her breath was hitched, as if her heart had stopped beating.
"Ah—" Helmeppo, who was on the verge of choking, witnessed the scene in front of him with a look of awe.
Luffy glared at him, his eyes devoid of emotion. The gaze felt cold, empty, and utterly lethal. "You just insulted my people, didn't you?"
Is this guy... defending me? Nami, in Luffy's arms, heard those words and her cheeks instantly flushed. After so many years, Luffy was the first man who made her feel so "safe." Staring at his calm yet lethal profile, a strange glint shone in her bright eyes.
But she immediately mumbled to herself, "Who are 'your people'?" However, the way this man got angry for her sake was completely unexpected, and so bold!
"You, you quickly let me go…!" Helmeppo's face had already turned a purplish-blue. He was nearly choked out, but as the son of Axe-Hand Morgan who had been pampered since childhood, he didn't know how to beg for mercy. He foolishly still threatened, "Do you know who my father is? My father is Commander Axe-Hand Morgan. If you dare to kill me, he will surely…"
"Even the people in this small town will pay the price for your actions. You don't want the whole town to suffer because of you, do you?" He glanced at Zoro next to him, intending to scare Luffy with the same tactic. Before, his dog had almost bitten a little girl, and as a result he was stabbed to death by the Pirate Hunter Zoro. Later, he was even wounded by Zoro, and a blade was once held to his neck—the most influential son of a Commander! At that critical moment, he threatened Zoro with the life of the girl's family, and Zoro complied. Since Luffy was Zoro's companion, he would definitely care about the lives of ordinary people too!
"Morgan, buried with?" Luffy seemed to have heard something funny. He laughed, and the contempt in his eyes deepened. "Including your father Morgan, everyone will die here today."
How could a selfish person be intimidated by Helmeppo? Forget about the people in the whole town, even if you threatened him with Zoro, he wouldn't care! This was his personality, he would never change his principles for anyone or anything! Besides, his father Morgan wouldn't even have the chance to take revenge on the villagers in town!
Luffy's heart was filled with disdain, and he tightened his grip. Helmeppo's eyes rolled back, his face a mixture of unwillingness and ferocity. Luffy calmly said, "In your next life, be a dog… Shigan!"
"Pfft!!"
No sooner said than done. Luffy's finger glowed with Haki, instantly piercing Helmeppo's chest.
"Gomu Gomu—Shigan!"
In a flash, a finger went through Helmeppo's heart, emerging from his back. Helmeppo's scream came to an abrupt halt. His body went limp, his eyes still open, he had lost his breath.
Zoro and Nami were instantly shocked, feeling cold sweat dripping down their backs.
"He… he's dead?" Nami was stunned. Seeing this scene, she immediately hid in Luffy's arms, not daring to look up.
"Becoming a pirate, you'll inevitably face these things sooner or later." Luffy felt there was nothing wrong with what he did. He forcibly pushed Helmeppo's corpse, which was dead with its eyes open, in front of Nami.
"Ugh~" Nami shivered all over. She knew Luffy was right. She could only give him a pale look, then pushed Luffy away and ran to the side to vomit.
Luffy gave a wry smile, then looked at the astonished Zoro. "I think, even if I hadn't taken your swords, you still would have to join me."
Without waiting for Zoro's response, he walked straight over and undid the ropes that bound him.
"I thought I just came out today and a bounty poster might already be up, linked to the son of Marine Commander Morgan." Zoro showed no panic. He twisted his neck and moved his body. Then he looked at the relaxed Luffy and grinned. "With a captain like you, being a pirate isn't so bad."
"Welcome aboard!" Luffy said with a smile. "We'll get your swords later, and while we're at it, get that Grand Line map Morgan hid."
His initial goal wasn't just to recruit Zoro, but, more importantly, to acquire Morgan's map.
"Grand Line?" Hearing this, Zoro let out a weird laugh, "You want to go there? That suits me just fine."
He set sail to go to the Grand Line, to find the world's greatest swordsman—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, "Hawk-Eyes" Dracule Mihawk! To challenge him, become the world's greatest swordsman, and make his name resonate throughout the world! To fulfill the promise he had made to his childhood friend, Kuina! It was just that he had gotten lost and couldn't find his way. To make a living, he could only become a Pirate Hunter, living off bounties.
I hope that guy doesn't cause trouble at Morgan's place, otherwise we'll have another person on board…
Just then, Luffy suddenly remembered someone, and a brilliant smile bloomed on his face. He was formerly a Pirate King apprentice crewmate, a companion of Red-Haired Shanks, then a Warlord of the Sea, and then one of the Four Emperors, Buggy the Clown! If he could get him on board, he would definitely be stronger than Zoro and a very capable person.
Setting everything else aside, his own "Color of Luck" Haki made Luffy extremely envious. And who said he was weak? How could someone who could be on the Pirate King's ship be so simple? And his Bara Bara no Mi was one of the top Paramecia Devil Fruits. As long as he cultivated it a bit, this person's usefulness would definitely be greater than Zoro's!
"Captain, I don't feel comfortable without my swords, let's go…" Zoro hadn't finished speaking.
Luffy suddenly seemed to sense something and turned his head to look in the direction of the door. "It seems your swords will have to wait a little while to be retrieved…"
Not long after he finished speaking, a large group of Marines exploded in from outside. They were all holding guns, completely blocking the exit. The leader was a large man, carrying a huge axe in his left hand. His chin was fitted with a metal device, his short hair was golden, and his eyes were as sharp as blades… Just one look made people feel stifled. Ordinary people and small pirates would be so scared they wouldn't dare to move when they saw him.
This person was the head of the Marine branch in Shells Town, the local tyrant of this vast area: "Axe-Hand"—Morgan!
Hmm… also one of the two people who gave Vice Admiral Garp a headache!
Axe-Hand Morgan.
According to the original situation, he knocked Monkey D. Garp down with one axe, successfully captured a hostage, and escaped right in front of the Marine hero, which is how he earned the title of "Axe King." In the territory of Shells Town, he was a true Son of Heaven!
"Commander?" Nami, who was squatting on the ground vomiting, looked up. A hint of panic flashed in her eyes. That Helmeppo, he deserved his misfortune. But if they killed a Commander… Even if Luffy's grandpa was Vice Admiral Garp, something bad would happen, right?
But Luffy wasn't worried at all. He even pressed the Transponder Snail in his shorts pocket…