After all, this was a bustling city district. The moment the Steel Blade Pirate Crew appeared in force, weapons drawn, countless streetwise bystanders had already begun scattering in all directions.
It didn't take long for the once noisy and lively street to fall into complete silence.
Shops shuttered their doors with record speed, residents locked windows and doors tight, and pedestrians vanished almost without a trace.
Captain Steel Blade had no interest in the petty lives of these commoners. His gaze was fixed squarely on Garen, the man in the heavy armor wielding a greatsword.
It wasn't Garen's explosive power that caught his attention, but—just like Nami before him—the sight of that ornate armor and legendary sword stirred his greed for treasure.
"This guy's got some serious cash..."
A glint of avarice flashed in Steel Blade 's eyes. He waved his hand toward his crew and barked, "Surround that walking tin can!"
Immediately, a swarm of pirates obeyed, encircling Garen in several tight layers until not even a breeze could pass through.
With their uniform long blades all drawn, the group looked from a distance like a steel forest rising from the ground.
But they didn't strike right away. Instead, they tried to intimidate him, brandishing vicious glares while engaging Garen in a tense stare-down.
Although Garen's show of strength didn't faze the seasoned and powerful Captain Steel Blade, it was more than enough to scare these third-rate lackeys.
One of them, whom Garen had casually flung aside earlier, was still sprawled on the ground, howling in pain. Judging by the grotesque angle of his twisted limbs, he was likely going to spend the rest of his life with a wheelchair, a hospital bed, and a catheter for company...
Garen, on the other hand, hadn't moved either. This was his first time engaging in real combat with armed criminals.
The dog's trial had given him the courage to face life-and-death battles—but not the experience of cutting down enemies with a sword.
As both sides faced off in silence, the tense atmosphere was suddenly shattered.
A small squad of uniformed officers arrived in haste, their steps hurried and disordered.
Both Garen, surrounded by blades, and the proud Captain Steel Blade turned to look at the newcomers with curiosity.
These weren't marines, but local law enforcers—every well-established town had them. Their usual job was to keep market order and occasionally deal with weaker pirate riffraff.
Hearing that trouble had broken out in the town center, they were obliged to show up and go through the motions.
But the Steel Blade Pirates were clearly no ordinary small-time thugs.
The moment the infamous name "Steel Blade Pirate Crew" was mentioned, a cold sweat broke out on the forehead of the leading middle-aged officer.
This was someone far beyond his league. Being able to pay protection money and live another day was already the best-case scenario.
So, the experienced officer immediately put on a sycophantic smile, ready to bow and scrape his way through with a muttered apology.
But before he could speak, a hot-headed rookie in the squad stepped forward indignantly. Pointing at the towering, nearly three-meter-tall Steel Blade, he shouted without fear:
"Damn pirates!"
"I won't let you do as you please in my hometown!"
"Shut up!" the senior officer roared, his face pale. He rushed forward, trying to drag the young man back.
But it was already too late.
"Oh?"
"There's a brave one among these bottom-feeders?"
Steel Blade gripped his massive blade tighter, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "Hahaha…"
"My sword loves the taste of brave men's blood!"
Bang! A gunshot rang out, muzzle flashing.
The hot-blooded rookie fell to the ground, writhing in pain in a pool of blood.
"Y-You…"
He coughed up blood as he glared at the pirate, unwilling to let go of his indignation.
"You said you'd use your sword…"
"You f***ing shot me…"
Steel Blade 's face turned red. He sheepishly holstered his flintlock pistol, then waved his gleaming blade angrily at the wounded youth.
"I'll use whatever the hell I want!"
"And you have a problem with that? Sounds like you've all got a death wish!"
With that, the towering pirate began closing in on the trembling law enforcers.
His sword gleamed coldly, the air around him thick with the stench of blood.
He would kill. He would kill more. These officers posed no real threat to him.
But for Steel Blade, killing the weak was more than just sport—it was a way to spread his infamy across the seas.
It was a cruel irony:
The Navy and World Government had invested enormous resources into a bounty system to rein in pirates. But in the end, the wanted posters didn't ignite the zeal of bounty hunters. Instead, they became signposts that guided them only toward weaker prey.
Most bounty hunters would target low-reward pirates, avoiding those with high bounties entirely.
Even many self-proclaimed righteous marines went out of their way to steer clear of powerful pirates.
They'd lost the courage to confront the strong.
Meanwhile, the pirates reveled in it.
Bounties became a symbol of status and power—a badge of honor they proudly declared upon meeting others.
To earn this twisted identity, many pirates deliberately caused destruction and shed blood.
Captain Steel Blade was one of those chasing ever-higher bounties.
He had no qualms about using the lives of the weak to polish his reputation—like the group of helpless lawmen before him.
"Fall back!" the senior officer ordered without hesitation.
His team bolted instantly. They had wanted to flee from the beginning.
The murderous aura from Steel Blade was overwhelming. In their panic, they even dropped their weapons and gear all over the ground.
Yet the commander who issued the order didn't run.
This middle-aged man with graying temples stood firmly in front of the wounded youth, then knelt heavily before Steel Blade.
"Captain Steel Blade!"
The officer prostrated himself, his voice trembling but steady.
"The kid was ignorant. I beg you to forgive his rudeness!"
"I—I said no such thing…"
The wounded rookie was still struggling in the pool of blood, refusing to yield even now.
A vein bulged on the older man's forehead. If not for the youth's injuries, he would've smacked him across the face then and there.
But there was nothing more he could do. He bent his back lower, deeper—utterly humiliated.
"Hahaha…"
Steel Blade stopped his advance and laughed wildly, his voice echoing across the deathly silent street.
Then, his laughter abruptly ceased.
With a twisted grin, he said coldly:
"Too late."
"I want to kill."
The massive blade rose high into the air.
The officer shut his eyes in resignation.
"Enough!"
A thunderous shout exploded like lightning, brimming with fury.
Steel Blade froze mid-swing, turning with interest toward the source of the voice.
It was the man in the heavy armor—the one wielding the greatsword.
Surrounded by pirates, Garen's eyes blazed with a fury like never before.
"So, this is what pirates are…"
His worldview shattered, Garen gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles white from rage. "Thanks, I guess—for the live demonstration."
Among the vast number of pirates in this world, dreamers seeking freedom like in the comics were a rare few. Even the truly evil schemers were exceptions.
Most were like the scum standing before him—those who found pleasure in tormenting the weak.
Garen felt nothing but revulsion.
For the first time, he felt a true desire to fight—to take up arms for those who could not.
He clenched his greatsword tighter and turned his head slightly to shout behind him:
"Nami! Stay safe and protect yourself!"
"Eh?"
The reply came not from the orange-haired girl, but from a confused pirate.
The area behind Garen was long empty. Nami had vanished without a trace.
Whenever she had the chance, she made sure to stay out of danger. That was Nami's survival skills as the Cat Burglar.
"Sigh…"
Garen sighed helplessly. "Got tricked again…"
(End of Chapter)