Onmyoji of the Grand Line

Page 302

"Hey! It looks like an island!"

Zorro, who had been staying outside the mosquito net, suddenly shouted from the bow of the ship.

All eyes turned to that direction—an island had appeared ahead of the Go Ahead Merry.

"See that island? That means we're getting closer to the Grand Line!"

"Heading to the Grand Line?"

Upon hearing Nami's words, Luffy's heart stirred.

"Yes. There is a very famous town on the island."

Nami leaned out from the ship's side and looked at it carefully.

“A town?” Angell was taken aback.

"Rogge Town".

"..."

"That's where Gordes Rodgers was born and then executed!"

"The place where the Pirate King was executed?"

Upon hearing about this legendary man, Luffy immediately tensed up.

"Shall we go?" Chen Zhao asked.

Nami looked at Luffy with expectant eyes and reached out to tidy up her red hair that had been dried by the sea breeze.

Long, long ago, there was a man who claimed everything in this world for himself.

His name was Gol D. Roger, the only person in history to have conquered the "Grand Line" and was known as the "Pirate King".

This man, who had endured all dangers and engaged in all sorts of piracy, left behind a vast treasure and was sentenced to death. Before his execution, with a fearless smile on his face, he uttered these perplexing words.

"Treasure? If you want it, come and find it! Everything in this world is there."

These are the relics of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King.

This alluring last message sparked a global frenzy. His words were brief, yet enough to ignite a desire for adventure. Gol D. Roger was not only a celebrity, but a legend. In search of the Pirate King's hidden treasure at sea, a crew member raised his arm, and ten like-minded companions gathered together, built a large ship that could hold a hundred people, and hoisted the pirate flag on the mast.

Thus began the "Age of Piracy".

Some pirates formed fleets, while others risked their lives to sail the "Grand Line." They measured winds, navigated, fought, plundered, deceived, betrayed, and made a name for themselves across the seas.

A truly courageous pirate has only one goal.

That is the wealth, prestige, and power left behind by Gordes Roger.

All pirates dream of becoming the "Pirate King," like Gol D. Roger, and seizing the treasure for themselves...

It has been 22 years since Gordes Rogers died.

The vast number of ships and their crews, as numerous as the stars, were all swallowed up by the sea.

However, the ocean did not fully reveal its true face!

????*

Rogue Town.

This is where Gol D. Roger, the "Pirate King," was born and executed.

Five- or six-story brick and stone buildings stand on both sides of the wide street. The first floor is an arcade of shops, with shelves filled with a dazzling array of goods. People come and go on the street, and the town is full of vitality.

"Wow—this town is huge! Is this where the pirate era began?"

Luffy looked up at the human-shaped archway and opened his arms.

Twenty-two years ago, with the death of Gol D. Roger, the once-conquered Grand Line sank back into darkness. Since then, no one has ever conquered this route again. The "mysterious treasure" buried along this route has now become a legend, still slumbering on the other side of the mist.

"Alright, I'll go check out the execution platform!"

Luffy was so excited he didn't know what to do, after all, his idol was the "Pirate King".

"I'm going to buy some things. It seems like they have some really good ingredients here."

Chef Yamaji, with a cigar dangling from his lips and a wicked smile on his face, was probably thinking about how to strike up a conversation with a beautiful woman.

"Alright, I'm going to find the equipment."

Usopp chimed in. "It seems everyone wants to go it alone."

"I still have things to buy."

Zorro raised his chin.

"I'll lend it to you. Three times the interest."

Nami wants to make a lot of money.

The Going Merry carried much treasure from previous expeditions. However, all of this treasure belonged to Nami.

Chapter 349: Three-Sword Style!

While Luffy, Zoro, and the others were fighting the enemy, Nami secretly stole all the treasures from behind—this was one of her usual tricks.

As a result, Zorro, penniless, had no choice but to accept three times the interest from Nami's loan shark.

After borrowing money from Nami, Zorro walked into the crowd in the shopping street. His companions also rushed towards their own destination. They agreed that after finishing this task, they would return to the Going Merry, which was docked at the western pier.

“I used to walk on the street like this all the time.”

It wasn't that long ago, actually. Before meeting Luffy, Zoro roamed the East Blue as a bounty hunter, known as Pirate Hunter Zoro and Three-Sword Style Zoro. He was once entangled with two pirates, Yoza and Johnny, but most of the time he was alone.

Zorro easily passed through the crowd.

Regardless, he was wearing a tattered vest, a knife at his waist, and three earrings in his left ear—clearly a member of the underworld. Even if he didn't intend to scare people, the kind-hearted civilians would probably be frightened enough to make way for him.

Fear does not bring him happiness.

Zorro was the kind of person who would rather die a glorious death than live a life of ease and comfort. He wore this outfit purely out of personal preference, with no other intention.

Sometimes, you need to be alone.

He muttered to himself, recalling his past experiences.

When did his life undergo such a dramatic change, transforming him from "Pirate Hunter Zorro" into a pirate's accomplice? He's no longer a hunter; he's a pirate.

"I can't die!"

At that time, Zorro clashed with Colonel Morgan of the Navy branch and was arrested. Just as he was about to be executed—

A boy smiled and said, "I'll save you. Join our team." His name was Luffy.

"If I have to die here—then there's nothing I can do. I really don't want to be a pirate!"

He recalled the words he had been forced to say and couldn't help but chuckle. It was when he was tied to a pillar and the navy pointed guns at him; he had uttered those words to save his life.

From then on, Zorro became a pirate.

"I have the ambition to become the greatest swordsman in the world! If I can achieve that, I don't care about my reputation! No matter what, I will become famous throughout the world!"

Seeing Luffy's dream of becoming the "Pirate King," Zoro vowed to become the world's greatest swordsman. From then on, he and Luffy set sail together, teetering on the brink of death time and time again.

but--

Just like his nickname "Three-Sword Zorro," his style involves three swords. But now, he only carries one sword at his waist. The other two...

"waste……"

Zorro has been dreaming about that eagle-eyed man a lot lately.

Zorro had just suffered a crushing defeat. He challenged Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the strongest swordsman. However, he was no match for him, not only failing to achieve his ambitions but also breaking both of his swords.

"A complete failure!"

Zorro's years of hard-earned swordsmanship, along with his pride, were completely destroyed.

He realized the enormous gap between himself and the top experts, and experienced the humiliation of a crushing defeat and the fear of death.

However, he did not give up his ambition. Giving up his ambition, giving up his expectations of himself, terrified him—that was Zorro.

He had made an appointment with someone else.

He was willing to give his life to become the greatest swordsman in the world!

This is the girl he promised to be with.

This is an agreement.

A white hilt and scabbard hung at his waist. His unrestrained nature, coupled with the exquisite white lacquered longsword, seemed somewhat incongruous. The sword that should have been on his left was now sheathed on his right. This was proof of his three-sword style; he was left- or right-handed and could wield the sword with either hand.

"Stop! Weren't you with that monster today?"

Obscene sounds could be heard from within the crowded throng.

Zorro, who was deep in thought, stopped and looked around.

In the middle of the street, two men dressed as pirates stopped a woman. One of them had already drawn a dagger from his waist.

A war is about to break out.