With the restaurant waiter passed out cold, Genrou and the others had no choice but to leave the place.
After settling the bill, Genrou and Luffy brought a clearly reluctant Nami along as they made their way to the Marine base stationed in the town.
"Genrou, is that the pirate hunter guy?"
Luffy asked as he looked at the man tied to a pillar in front of them.
"That's right. He's the famous pirate hunter from East Blue—Zoro."
Genrou nodded.
"Wait, are you guys really planning to invite him as a crewmate?"
"Even though that restaurant lady said he let himself get tied up to protect her, he's still a pirate hunter, right?"
"Isn't that, like, your natural enemy? Aren't you worried he'll try to capture you?"
Nami asked with a puzzled expression.
"Nami, you're part of our crew now. If he's our enemy, that makes him your enemy too."
"Besides, do you really think he's capable of capturing me?"
Genrou placed a hand on Nami's shoulder and smiled mischievously.
"Tch, I'm only with you temporarily."
"But… yeah, I guess you really wouldn't have to worry about someone like him."
Thinking back on Genrou's outrageous powers, Nami shook her head with a sigh.
The voices of the trio reached Zoro's ears, causing him to slowly open his eyes and glance in their direction.
"Hey! What are you three yammering about? Don't you know where you are? You trying to die or something?"
Zoro grumbled, scanning the three of them with narrowed eyes.
But the moment his gaze landed on Genrou, his pupils shrank sharply—as if he'd seen something terrifying.
"Y-You're the infamous pirate Genrou! What the hell are you doing here? Are you planning to destroy this Marine base?!"
"Oh? You know me? As expected of the pirate hunter—looks like you've seen my bounty poster."
It made sense. Genrou's infamy was mostly known in the Grand Line and North Blue.
His wanted poster wasn't common in the East Blue, which explained why Nami hadn't recognized him at first.
"We're not here to destroy the base. We came to invite you to join our crew."
This time, it was the captain, Luffy, who stepped forward.
"What? You're pirates, and you want me, a pirate hunter, to join your crew? Are you brain-damaged?"
"Hehehe, it's because you're strong. And you protected the restaurant lady's daughter, too—so I want you with us."
"Tch! I wasn't doing it for her!"
"And anyway, there's no way I'd ever become a pirate."
Zoro declared, gaze turning serious as he looked straight at Genrou.
"You sure about that? Yeah, being a pirate's got its downsides."
"But at the very least, it gives you a shot at survival."
"That said… I'm really curious, what made a guy like you naïve enough to think that Marine captain's spoiled brat would keep his word?"
Genrou gave Zoro a pitying look before glancing over his shoulder.
Coming toward them was none other than Helmeppo, the spoiled son of the Marine base commander, flanked by several soldiers.
"I don't know who you are, but how dare you say I wouldn't keep my word!"
"Even if that's true, it still hurts to hear it out loud!"
Hearing Helmeppo's voice, Zoro immediately snapped his head around.
"You bastard—what did you just say?! You're not planning to honor the deal?! This is the last day I agreed to stay tied up!"
"Ahahaha! What a joke—you actually still believed what I said back then?"
Helmeppo laughed wildly, holding his belly before turning his gaze to Genrou.
"But I didn't expect someone to see through my plan so easily."
"And you lot had the nerve to barge into a Marine base?"
"Well then, die together with that green-haired freak."
"Soldiers! Aim at them and fire!"
Helmeppo barked the order, and the Marines behind him quickly raised their rifles, pointing them at Genrou, Zoro, and the others.
Nami's eyes went wide as she instantly dove behind Genrou.
Luffy calmly placed one hand on his hat, clearly unconcerned about the rifles aimed their way.
"Whoa whoa, seriously? You're really gonna shoot?!"
Zoro's eyes widened in disbelief—his first expression of fear showing through.
"You still clinging to hope, Zoro?"
"So, what's it gonna be? Want to join us and become a pirate?"
"If you do, we'll help you walk out of here alive."
Genrou turned back toward Zoro, flashing a sly grin.
"You sneaky bastard! Fine—if staying alive means becoming a villain, then so be it!"
"Genrou the infamous pirate, I'm joining you! Now untie me!"
Zoro shouted.
"Untie you? In your dreams. Fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With Helmeppo's command, the Marines all pulled their triggers at once.
"Damn it, I don't wanna die!"
Nami curled into a ball, practically hiding her whole body behind Genrou.
Luffy grinned and was just about to jump forward to deflect the bullets with his rubber body.
But Genrou moved even faster.
"Fork Shield!"
With a wave of his right hand, a massive silver-white fork-shaped energy construct materialized in front of them, instantly shielding everyone—including Zoro.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]