"Hey..... if you want to live, pack up the treasure inside and bring it to me."
Arthur held an invisible sword, casually slashed to the side, pointed at the nearest pirate, and spoke in a calm, unquestionable tone.
"——"
Seeing Arthur hauling that figure, the pirate he pointed at answered in a trembling voice and dashed into the house at a near-fleeing speed.
Swish——
The other pirates swept by Arthur's gaze moved as if they had rehearsed it a thousand times, kneeling neatly in two rows like obedient children.
Only then was Arthur satisfied and put away the Sword of Promised Victory.
He waited in place. Before long, that pirate came running out carrying two big burlap sacks.
"Sir Wind-Sword, this is Captain Buggy's treasure. Not a single coin is missing." The pirate panted as he spoke.
"Alright, beat it." Arthur grabbed both sacks by the ears with one hand, hoisted Buggy with the other, and left under the pirates' awed stares.
"Phew—— scared me to death."
Only after the demon-king silhouette of Arthur vanished did the Buggy Pirates finally exhale, toppling like bowling pins all at once.
"Hurry, hurry and treat Lord Cabaji....."
Even as they relaxed, they didn't forget Cabaji, whom Arthur had cut down.
The crowd bustled again.
As for whether they would discuss rescuing Buggy next, Arthur didn't know.
Even if he did, he wouldn't care.
.......
Arthur, carrying Buggy and the two sacks, walked down the slope. Just as he turned a corner, he ran into Nami leaning against a wall.
Seeing her, Arthur deliberately acted as if he knew nothing about her tailing him and asked with a straight face, "Why are you here?"
"I really admire your courage, taking on the entire Buggy Pirates alone. Your strength is incredible....." Nami clicked her tongue at the sight of the unconscious Buggy. "He was said to be immortal, a position no one in the East Blue dared to challenge, and you dropped him by yourself."
"Immortal? He just ate a Devil Fruit." Arthur said indifferently. "Unless it's true immortality, it's nothing but a con trick. Before absolute strength, it does nothing."
His words made Nami pause, as if shaken by his presence.
Then, looking at his handsome face, Nami covered her mouth and smiled. "As expected of the Wind-Sword Knight. So confident and strong."
"You haven't answered me. Didn't I tell you to leave earlier?" Arthur fixed his gaze on her like a needle, his tone heavy. "Don't tell me you're after Buggy's treasure."
Idiot, who would covet treasure and not worry about getting killed. Under his sharp eyes, Nami couldn't find an excuse. Cursing inwardly, she admitted with an awkward smile, "I was going to sneak in and steal Buggy's hoard while you fought him, but I didn't have to move. You finished it."
"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Buggy and the treasure, I'm taking both." Arthur spoke with airy pride, but the look he gave Nami held a trace of appreciation. His Observation Haki felt her shifting emotions clearly. As in the original, her nature was kind.
Hearing that, Nami's embarrassment vanished in an instant, replaced by open worship. Eyes shining, she looked at him like a fangirl and shouted, "As expected of Lord Wind-Sword, too amazing!!"
Being stared at like that, Arthur subconsciously stepped back a couple of paces. Being adored by a beautiful girl is enough to make anyone float.
If only the glint in Nami's eyes wasn't shaped like a $.
"These are all mine. You don't get a share. Unless....."
Seeing her expression, Arthur suddenly felt like teasing her.
"So since you didn't leave, that ten million is off the table."
"Ah, no, absolutely not....." Nami exploded, glaring warily. She crossed her arms before her chest as if to ward him off. "You clearly promised. As a knight, you can't go back on your word!!"
"Fine. I can still give it to you, but you have to agree to one thing."
"One thing? If you want to touch my chest, that's fine....." Nami lifted the two treasures before her and threw him a sultry wink. "One time only costs one million beli."
"Tch!"
Arthur's face went black. He shot her a fierce glare, then handed her one of the sacks. "Take this bag to the townsfolk. That ten million is yours."
She took the sack on reflex, staring blankly, not understanding.
Seeing this, Arthur reminded her, "This town was wrecked when Buggy tested his cannonballs. Consider it rebuilding funds."
"Why?" Nami was even more confused. Whether it was giving her ten million to leave before, or now handing away spoils won with his life on the line, none of it fit the image of a hound-like bounty hunter. Weren't they supposed to love money above all?
"Why?" Confidence curved Arthur's handsome face as a knightly spirit that made people fall for him radiated outward. His voice was gentle. "Haven't I said it already? Money is external to me. It isn't about how much; enough is enough. I'm a bounty hunter. In this era, the sea is full of pirates. When I want money, I'll catch a few, just like now. But those villagers aren't like me. They're helpless and can't resist pirates. If I can do a little, and make their lives a little better, why not?"
"So you really are..... an idiot?" Nami lowered her head and murmured like a mosquito. At last she understood why the Wind-Sword Knight was a breath of fresh air among bounty hunters.
Catching her words clearly, Arthur pretended not to. "What was that?"
"Nothing. I agree." Nami lifted her head, flashed a bright smile, and ran off toward part of the town with the sack in her arms.
She didn't know that, with his back to her, the expression on Arthur's face finally turned properly smug.
If there were a favorability system, it would probably show Favorability +??.