Chapter 302: Kurman
"It seems to be the Kurman family?"
Looking at the black-clad figures advancing and retreating with practiced coordination, constantly besieging Hajrudin and the other giants, Rhodes revealed a hint of understanding.
The Kurman family... the number one family in the underworld!
In the underworld, there are many so-called kings.
These kings are divided into two tiers.
The first tier includes figures like Stussy, the Queen of the Pleasure District, and Umit, the Shipping King, who are giants in their respective industries, but most have limitations—neither their personal strength nor their influence is worthy of Rhodes's attention.
The next tier includes figures like Doflamingo and Gild Tesoro, the Golden Emperor.
They are far stronger, with incredibly diverse businesses, including but not limited to slave trading, arms dealing, and various other criminal enterprises. Their transactions span the entire world, or even affect nobility, and their power and status are astounding.
The Golden Emperor, for example, can even mobilize the World Government's power with his immense wealth!
As far as Rhodes knows, the underworld also conceals some ancient families with long histories, at least a century old, with intricate networks of connections. The Kurman family is one of the most prominent among them.
According to records left by the Donquixote Family...
The Kurman family is an ancient and relatively active family in the underworld. One of their most powerful members surpasses Doflamingo in raw strength, but out of fear of Doflamingo's Celestial Dragon status, they've always kept to themselves, never even venturing into Dressrosa's waters.
Now, however, they appear rather brazenly in waters near Dressrosa.
"It seems my prestige isn't as high as I thought, not even matching Doflamingo's, or rather, not matching a Celestial Dragon's status..."
Rhodes shook his head, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice.
While Rhodes was pondering this,
Hajrudin and his group were gradually finding themselves in dire straits.
Even though they were elite warriors among the Elbaf giants, they felt powerless against the Kurman family's professional slave-hunting team.
Whether it was specially made steel wire nets or specialized drugs that paralyzed Sea Kings, Hajrudin and his group suffered greatly.
Their massive size certainly granted them immense strength and huge attack range, but it also made them easy targets.
"Gerd!"
A loud bang.
The female giant, Gerd, who resembled a giant version of Nami, was the first to fall. Entangled in a barbed fishing net, she was powerless and paralyzed by the drug, leaving her weak and helpless. She could only collapse to the ground with a pitiful cry.
"Get out of the way!"
Hajrudin roared, trying to help, but he was held back by nearby men in black and couldn't break through.
He could only watch helplessly as Gerd was bound and secured with ropes until she could no longer move.
The Kurman family was professional—they'd captured giants before and knew how to bind them so they were powerless to resist.
"Damn it, bastards!"
"Release Gerd!"
Seeing this, Hajrudin and the other four giants roared, their eyes bloodshot, instantly entering a berserk state.
But it was all in vain. Their anxiety and rage only created more openings, which the men in black exploited, inflicting multiple wounds, their blood staining the ground.
"Ugh..."
Gerd, heavily bound by ropes, lay on the ground, feeling not despair or fear, but only helplessness and sorrow.
Giants never fear death, but being captured alive is undoubtedly a disgrace.
A man in black stepped forward, preparing to give Gerd the final injection, completely shattering her consciousness.
With one companion captured, the other giants were unlikely to escape.
Therefore, capturing this group of giants was practically guaranteed.
But just when the leader of the men in black thought the situation was settled,
a clear, cold voice suddenly came from the heavens:
"You seem to have encountered some trouble, giants."
The voice was soft and gentle, not loud, but it seemed to possess special magnetism, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
The fierce battle instantly paused.
Both the men in black and the giants couldn't help but turn their heads to look, only to see a young man in white standing in mid-air, looking at them indifferently.
"Alone?"
The men in black felt no contempt, but rather a sense of gravity.
This was the New World—anyone who dared roam the seas alone was undoubtedly a monster among monsters, especially one who remained calm and composed facing so many powerful figures, clearly indicating he had something to rely on.
"Could it be that person?"
The leader of the men in black's pupils contracted sharply. Though startled, he remained calm
and gestured for his men to retreat. The men in black, though somewhat reluctant, obeyed his orders and quickly retreated in orderly fashion.
Hajrudin and the others didn't stop them. They rushed to Gerd's side, frantically trying to untie the ropes, but after several attempts, they discovered the ropes were only getting tighter.
"Damn it!"
Hajrudin and the others were sweating profusely, scratching their heads in
frustration. They feared hurting Gerd with their weapons, since giants weren't known for their delicate control of power.
Meanwhile, the leader of the men in black had arrived near Rhodes with several men. He looked at Rhodes, who stood mid-air, looking down at them, and felt a pang of unease.
After all, even within the Kurman family, Rhodes held top-tier status—otherwise, he wouldn't command an elite force.
However, considering Rhodes's status, the leader of the men in black could only grit his teeth and accept it.
Strength represented status,
and the Thunder God Swordsman certainly had the right to look down on him.
Of course, he wouldn't back down either, as the Kurman family also had a prominent figure.
The leader of the men in black said neither humbly nor arrogantly,
"Rhodes-sama, I am Ras of the Kurman family. Have you taken interest in these giants?"
"I am willing to offer two giants in exchange for your friendship, sir."
After saying this, he looked directly at Rhodes, seemingly trying to show he wasn't intimidated by the Thunder God Swordsman's reputation.
Rhodes remained silent, merely observing him indifferently, his cold expression revealing no emotion.
"..."
Ras's heart skipped a beat. Could this Thunder God Swordsman be trying to take everything?
He was indignant, but subtly invoked his backing:
"Sir, we've been tracking these giants for a long time, at great cost. Even my father has been monitoring the situation."
Hearing this, the men behind Ras relaxed slightly.
Ras's father was the pinnacle figure of the Kurman family
—Kurman Luke!
A top-tier powerhouse who rose to fame before the Great Pirate Era.
His most infamous feat was the massacre of several cities in a single night, leaving mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.
Throughout the underworld, Luke was renowned. Even Doflamingo, when expanding into the underworld, specifically sought to befriend him, not daring to offend him.
They assumed that with Luke-sama's reputation, even the most arrogant Thunder God Swordsman would know when to back down.
To receive two giant slaves without giving anything in return would satisfy even the greediest person.
Ras thought so too—he raised his head, staring intently at Rhodes.
Surrendering two giants was already a huge concession; to give any more would undermine the Kurman family's prestige!
(End of Chapter)
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