The atmosphere in the ward was tense. Luffy looked at Rowen with determination. If Rowen gave even the slightest signal of intent to harm the villagers, even if he knew he wasn't a match, Luffy would boldly launch an attack.
It wasn't about winning or losing, nor was it about the difference in strength. He wouldn't sit idly by when people needed help. This was Luffy's way of the ninja!
Emmmm... the way of the sea?!
Faced with Luffy's determined gaze, Rowen smiled and said. "Whether they're safe or not now depends on you."
"Huh?"
A certain rubber idiot was completely confused by those words.
Considering Luffy's thick-headedness, Rowen decided to keep it short: "You haven't forgotten the bet you made when you challenged me, have you? If you want me to spare the villagers, you have to agree to one condition."
"That was your decision, not mine!"
Luffy complained loudly, then his expression turned serious.
"What condition?"
Those who get a little power tend to get arrogant, and this is almost the norm in the One Piece World. Those who boast and brag about what they're going to do, but in reality, don't accomplish much.
However, Luffy has always maintained the pure heart of a child, viewing the world from an outsider's perspective. This also makes him very aware of what "Status" represents in this sea.
Having grown up in a junkyard, Luffy is very clear about the kind of attitude so-called "upper-class people" should have towards those they consider "lower-class." Rowen's willingness to put aside his status and talk to him is, in Luffy's eyes, a nod to his grandpa, "Marine Hero" Garp, whom he sometimes refers to as the smelly old man.
Luffy isn't stupid, just carefree.
He knows very well that before he can beat Rowen, he has to stop his naive thinking and take Rowen's words as gospel.
In this regard, Luffy and Rowen are birds of a feather.
Because anyone who doesn't listen to them will be crushed by them, with only a slight difference in approach - one sends them flying, the other ends them. That's the only difference.
"Since I wasn't satisfied with what happened last night, if you want to calm my anger, from today on, you can't keep talking about becoming the Pirate King."
"What?!!!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Don't get too excited, hear me out first." Rowen's cold gaze swept over Luffy, and a powerful aura burst forth with his gaze, causing Luffy, who had jumped up, to break out in a cold sweat.
"Your dream of becoming Pirate King has nothing to do with me! Everyone has the right to dream..."
"As long as you don't stand in the way of Marine's Justice, then you're not my enemy... but if you do, heh!"
"You know what will happen."
Gūlp...!
Struggling to swallow his saliva, Luffy nodded in fear.
But it's not about wavering in his dream of becoming Pirate King. It's just the thought of going to sea and facing such a powerful opponent as Rowen that makes Luffy feel the pressure.
He has to get stronger!
"You should be thankful that you're not a pirate yet, so I can't kill you to eliminate future troubles... but it makes me angry when you keep that catchphrase in your mouth, so from now on, keep it shut!"
"Otherwise, every time you say it, I'll kill a villager in Windmill Village."
"This is not a deal, it's a warning. If you don't do as I say, you can try to see if I'll kill anyone."
"Understand?"
"I...!!"
After hearing these words, Luffy's face turned red in an instant.
It's like forcing a chain smoker to quit smoking, breaking free from a habit that's been cultivated for years. The discomfort level can be imagined.
And it's quite clear that the Marine Vice Admiral in front of him is soaked in blood!
The killing intent is something that only someone who has crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood would possess.
"It seems like you don't understand my words..."
Rowen's indifferent gaze swept over, and after a moment, he sighed, "Alright then! Since, in your heart, talking about your dream is more important than the villagers of Windmill Village..."
"Then I might as well kill them all!"
With that, Rowen made a move to get up.
"W-Wait... wait a minute!"
Luffy was pale with shock and quickly stood in front of the door.
This action strained his injuries, leaving him gasping for breath. After finally regaining his breath, he looked at Rowen and said, "Alright, I promise! That's enough!"
Anyway, the other party wasn't stopping him from dreaming, just telling him not to talk about it. Compared to everyone in the village, Luffy made his choice quite easily.
"Very well!"
"Remember what you said today! If you break your word, I'll show you what despair really means!"
Seeing this, Rowen smiled in satisfaction and disappeared on the spot.
Leaving Luffy, who was blocking the door and trying to stop Rowen from leaving, looking completely bewildered.
As the thunder clone dissipated, on the battleship's deck, Rowen stopped, picked up a water cup, and took a sip.
The moment Rowen realized that the infamous phrase "I'm going to be the Pirate King!" would no longer be shouted by Strawhat Luffy, he was filled with anticipation.
Eruption in silence, perversion in silence!
Rowen couldn't wait to see how far Luffy, who couldn't repeatedly declare that world-shaking proclamation, would go this time.
There would inevitably be a showdown between him and Luffy. After all, both of them are individuals who would never change their minds. To become the Pirate King, one had to find Raftel. The World Government wouldn't allow anyone to find Raftel, creating an irreconcilable contradiction.
Yet Luffy, destined to challenge veterans like Crocodile and "Gecko" Moria within months of setting sail, had a promising future... a very promising one!
"What did you say to him?"
Vice Admiral Momonga walked up to him and asked with a curious expression on his face. Honestly, given last night's situation, even if Rowen had killed Luffy, he wouldn't have had a way to deal with it. But he didn't do that. Instead, he repeatedly pressured Luffy, causing him to awaken Haoshoku Haki.
It was a strange feeling, it was as if Rowen saw Luffy as an opponent, yet taught him like an elder.
Clearly, he cared a lot about the little guy, but he insisted on playing the role of the stern one, using anger and hatred to help Luffy increase his strength.
That was the incredibly rare Haoshoku Haki!
Thinking of the scenes from last night, Vice Admiral Momonga had a vague premonition. If left unchecked, Luffy would undoubtedly grow into a headache-inducing opponent for them.
Such an amusing matter couldn't be kept to himself. Rowen immediately explained the deal he had made with Luffy. Vice Admiral Momonga's face turned strange after hearing it... but in the end, he couldn't hold back a chuckle.
"Pū chī!!"
"Hā Hā Hā Hā Hā!!! You're killing me, Rowen, are you a devil?!!!"
It was easy to imagine how uncomfortable Luffy would be, unable to say that famous line he had always shouted upon entering the scene. The days ahead would be so stifling!
Actually, a simple explanation from Garp could clear up this matter.
Even if Rowen was Ace's arch-nemesis, he wouldn't take it out on the villagers of Windmill Village.
But considering Garp's personality, if he found out that his grandson was no longer incessantly talking about becoming the Pirate King, he'd be so happy!!
Not to mention a clear explanation, he might even...
No, it was certain!
Garp would definitely further frighten Luffy, making him completely afraid to mention that phrase.
Not only would it not be explained clearly, but it would also exaggerate Rowen's ruthlessness to the villagers!
If this inadvertently changed the values Shanks instilled in Luffy and made him become a Marine, wouldn't that be a sight to behold!!!
Thinking of the challenges Luffy would face in the future, Vice Admiral Momonga bent over, laughing so hard that tears were about to come out.
"Right now, you can still laugh like this... Monkey D. Luffy, he's not an ordinary guy."
At the moment, Vice Admiral Momonga only saw the other party as a dreaming little devil, so he was naturally calm and collected. However, once he witnessed what Luffy would do, he feared that, apart from Garp, no one would be able to laugh.
Of course, spoiling this kind of thing wouldn't be fun. Rowen, in coordination with Vice Admiral Momonga, chatted about a few cheerful topics, and hearty laughter echoed on the spacious deck.
On the deck, the soldiers cast curious glances, wondering what these two high-ranking officials were discussing so happily. In their impression, Vice Admiral Momonga hadn't shown a smile in a long time.
Doot, Doot!!
The ship's whistle sounded as the Qilin slowly left the harbor after a day's stop, heading towards an unknown sea.
"I guess I've settled the favor now..."
Watching Windmill Village gradually disappear on the horizon, Rowen's lips curled up slightly.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's plan was too gentle. It was time to put a perfect end to this "Anti-corruption Storm."
(End of this chapter)