This was the first pirate Rojen had taken down, but it certainly wouldn't be the last. His monkey-faced mask and terrifying swordsmanship left a deep impression on those he rescued. After slaughtering all the pirates, Rojen quietly left, concealing his achievements and name.
All he left behind was the name "Sword Saint, Ge Nie." Three days later, he arrived at a Marine branch outpost.
Standing in front of the Marine camp, Rojen's gaze grew deep and contemplative beneath his mask.
"The safest place is right under their noses," he murmured. "No one will suspect that I've become a pirate hunter."
Walking boldly toward the Marine branch, Rojen reached the entrance, where two Marine guards stood watch, their expressions stern as they blocked his way.
"Who goes there?"
"Sword Saint, Ge Nie!"
Rojen uttered these four words coldly, his voice ringing out with a metallic clarity. The two Marines shuddered slightly, looking at him with serious expressions.
"A Pirate Hunter?"
Recently, word had spread of a pirate hunter named "Sword Saint Ge Nie" operating in the region. By now, he had already wiped out four or five pirate crews that had been causing trouble. Upon hearing the name, the Marines showed immediate respect.
This was a true powerhouse, someone who upheld justice and fought against pirates— naturally an ally of the Marines.
"Yes! Here's Stary's head."
Rojen spoke coldly as he took out a package. With a swift kick, he revealed the face of Stary, causing the two Marines to gasp once more.
Rumors about Stary portrayed her as a cruel and bloodthirsty female pirate who had killed countless victims. Some even claimed she ate human flesh, making her infamous for her savagery. Her strength was such that the local Marine branch had been unable to deal with her.
Yet the lean figure before them, wearing a monkey-faced mask, had taken her down with a single strike.
Strength commands respect, and the two Marines now regarded Rojen with awe.
"Where do I turn in the head, and where do I claim the bounty?"
Maintaining a cold and emotionless tone, Rojen's voice was devoid of warmth.
"Please, follow us!"
Respectfully, the two Marines led Rojen inside. Wearing his mask, Rojen's expression remained hidden from view.
Shortly afterward, the Marines brought Rojen to the office of the branch's Staff Sergeant.
"So, you must be 'Sword Saint Ge Nie'?"
In the modest office, the square-faced and rugged Staff Sergeant spoke while carefully observing Rojen. From the way Rojen carried himself, the sergeant could sense an overwhelming aura of sword intent radiating from his body, as though it could burst forth at any moment, making him feel uneasy.
"He's definitely a master," The Staff Sergeant thought to himself, silently raising Rojen's importance in his mind.
"You two may leave now."
After dismissing the Marines, the Staff Sergeant gestured for Rojen to sit down.
"Here's Stary's head. Where do I collect the money?"
Rojen placed the package on the desk without hesitation, revealing Stary's face. The Staff Sergeant's pupils contracted as he confirmed the identity of the head.
"It's definitely Stary. 3 Mllion Belly. You'll get every coin without delay!" The Staff Sergeant nodded firmly.
"Then make it quick," Rojen replied coldly, preparing to leave.
"Wait a moment, Ge Nie San," The Staff Sergeant suddenly spoke, forcing a smile onto his face. "I wonder if you might be interested in joining the Marines?"
"With your abilities, if you join the Marines, I guarantee that you'll start at the Staff Sergeant level, and with your skills, earning military merit would be extremely easy," The Staff Sergeant said earnestly.
"Just kill a few pirates, and you'll get promoted in no time. Your future would be limitless."
Rojen's eyes flickered behind the mask, and though there was a hint of interest at the corner of his lips, his voice remained cold.
"I'm not interested. I only care about money!"
After finishing his statement, he turned and left, with the Staff Sergeant accompanying him to the payment area.
The Marine branch's finance office wasn't far, and before long, Rojen had the entire 3 million belly bounty in hand. Throughout the process, the Staff Sergeant continued to persuade him, emphasizing the numerous benefits of joining the Marines.
"Right now, the Marines are preparing a large-scale cleanup operation in East Blue, and we need capable powerhouses like you. This is the perfect opportunity to make a name for yourself."
"You have to seize this chance! I can guarantee that in three years— no, in two years— you'll reach the rank of commodore!"
"In all of East Blue, a commodore rank is considered very high."
"Trust me, Ge Nie. You have a bright future ahead of you."
However, despite the Staff Sergeant's hopeful and enthusiastic persuasion, Rojen responded with nothing more than a cold remark.
"I'm only interested in money."
Money could make anything possible. Rojen needed wealth— lots of it. With sufficient money, he could gain immense power, and in this chaotic world, power was the only way to survive.
Because of the Staff Sergeant's interference, Rojen was delayed by half an hour before finally leaving the Marine base.
As he noticed the reluctant look in the Staff Sergeant's eyes, a shiver ran down Rojen's spine.
Shaking his head, he took a step forward and left the base.
"Too much involvement is never good. I hide my identity with this mask and intimidate them with my strength. That way, they won't be interested in the face beneath the mask. But if I really joined the Marines, with all their restrictions, some powerhouse above me would eventually grow suspicious!"
"With the Marines, I can neither be too close nor too distant. Keeping a respectful distance is the best approach!"
…
This was his first pirate-related transaction. Over the next three months, as Rojen sailed toward Loguetown, he killed dozens of pirates, all with bounties above a Million Belly.
Such accomplishments spread his name widely among both civilians and Marines. Even the higher-ups in the branch had started to take notice of him.
After all, it might be considered luck to kill a Million Belly pirate once, but doing it so many times without sustaining any injuries clearly demonstrated genuine strength.
The Marines, in their current situation, were in desperate need of talent like this.
At the same time, pirates began paying attention to this cold, masked swordsman with the monkey-faced mask. A formidable pirate hunter posed a significant threat to their kind.
In East Blue, Rojen sat alone on the deck of his ship, sipping premium wine slowly.
After several successful hunts, his wealth had accumulated to over 35 Million belly. He had gone from being a penniless commoner to living comfortably almost overnight.
"Without strength, becoming a pirate hunter is just asking to die. But with strength—"
"This is a golden road to riches!"
Standing on the deck, Rojen was in high spirits, gesturing grandly toward the sea.
In his past life, he had been a poor young man whose bank balance had never even hit four figures. He had never experienced the sudden transformation of becoming wealthy overnight.
"I need to hoard money!"
"Hoard money like crazy!"
"Only money brings a true sense of happiness!"
With a slight flush on his face, Rojen shouted loudly.
(End Of The Chapter)
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