After more than half a month of sailing, the merchant ship finally reached Syrup Village. On the shore, the fat ship owner escorted Ron and Tashigi off the ship and immediately ordered the crew to set sail and escape from Ron's menacing presence. In the ship owner's mind, this voyage would undoubtedly be the most terrifying experience of his life.
During the journey, Ron had dispatched several crew members who had attempted to assassinate him in the middle of the night, leaving a bloody scene that had left everyone onboard petrified.
"Am I truly that frightening?" Ron observed the merchant ship speeding away as if it were fleeing for its life, and couldn't help but touch his nose with a wry smile.
"You're a criminal!" Tashigi gritted her teeth and said, "So, what exactly are you bringing me here for? Are you truly planning to sell me?"
Tashigi had a strong sense of self-awareness. The person before her was a powerful swordsman, and at most, she was just a hostage, for the navy her value was limited. The fact that Ron had let the merchant ship go without robbing its cargo was peculiar. As a pirate with a ten-million-Berry bounty, why would he allow such a significant opportunity to slip away?
Tashigi pondered silently. The teenager before her may not appear very mature, but his mind seemed incredibly complex. She couldn't fathom his intentions.
"Come on, we're not here to have fun!" Ron glanced at Tashigi, reached out, and took her soft, delicate hand, leading her toward Syrup Village.
"Huh? Let go of me! You, you..." Tashigi blushed and tried to break free of Ron's grasp, but her strength was no match for Ron's. As a swordswoman, her physical strength was on par with that of the typical Navy soldier, but without a weapon in her hand, she was powerless against Ron's superior strength.
"Hey, I'm not going to harm you," Ron turned to look at Tashigi, his eyes holding a strange glint.
"Don't get any ideas. I'll behave" Tashigi said, alarmed. She had noticed the change in Ron's gaze and decided to remain silent.
As they walked, Ron held Tashigi's hand, and despite her initial resistance, they began to resemble a couple on a casual stroll.
Ron was deep in thought. He considered how he could help Kaya. At this point, there were still nearly two years before Luffy's arrival, meaning Kaya's parents were alive. His initial plan was to treat Kaya's parents' illnesses. However, once her parents were healthy, would Kaya willingly leave with him?
Moreover, there was a malevolent butler, Klahadore, who was a pirate captain plotting to seize Kaya's family fortune. In the original plot, he had infiltrated Kaya's family for three years, planning to kill Kaya once her parents passed away and take their wealth. The current timeline indicated that Klahadore had already been within the Kaya household for over a year, waiting for the right moment to carry out his sinister plan.
"Enough of this! Don't overthink it," Ron shook his head. While he was not reckless, he also didn't consider himself exceedingly clever. Some problems required immediate action, not excessive contemplation. "With my current strength, I'll face things head-on, and overthinking won't change that."
Ron made a decision to impersonate hostile pirates in order to expose Klahadore's true intentions and eliminate the threat he posed. By doing so, he intended to reveal Klahadore's suspicious identity and then, once Klahadore retaliated, deal with him decisively. This plan would not only protect Kaya and her parents but also give Ron leverage over Kaya herself.
As a pirate, Ron knew he couldn't be too concerned with righteous deeds. He had already taken Tashigi away with him, and his next priority was to locate Nami. With these thoughts in mind, he felt a sense of relaxation. He had recently gained considerable strength, and his mentality had not fully adjusted yet. He needed to maintain the demeanor of a formidable pirate who wouldn't be pushed around. After all, he had a bounty of ten million Berries, and as he ventured into the Grand Line, he would have ample opportunities to build a reputation.
"Hahaha, let's go Tashigi. It's time to rescue your new friend Kaya!" Ron chuckled and led Tashigi towards the village that was now visible in the distance.
In the future, he would conduct himself with a sense of dominance and a disregard for the rules.
With hundreds of billions of skill points at his disposal, who in this world could intimidate him?