Zoro stared at Rolan's calm, determined eyes, a little bewildered. "What kind of partner? A bounty hunter?"
"Of course not! To be honest, we're a Pirate crew," Rolan replied, rising to his full height. Standing over 1.8 meters, he towered slightly above Zoro.
Hearing the word "Pirate," Zoro's expression instantly hardened. Pirates were no friends of bounty hunters. He knew too well the evils they committed: robbing merchant ships, murdering, bullying the weak, plundering villages—they committed nearly every crime imaginable.
"Don't be so quick to judge. The Pirates I'm talking about may be different from what you've seen. 'Pirate' is just a title."
Zoro scoffed. "A Pirate is a Pirate. How could there be any difference?" He didn't believe in good Pirates. To him, Rolan, the strongest bounty hunter of the East Blue, becoming a Pirate felt like a degradation.
"I believe my reputation in the East Blue speaks for itself. Have you ever heard of me doing evil?" Rolan asked.
Zoro thought for a moment. "No, but you could have stayed a bounty hunter instead of becoming a Pirate."
Rolan shook his head. Zoro was too inexperienced to understand the World's complexities. "Being a Pirate isn't a choice you can take lightly. Do you know what a Pirate really is in this World?"
"Are they not just some bandits?" Zoro answered instinctively.
"No! You're thinking too simply. Pirates are defined by the World Government and the Marines. It's not about who burns or plunders. If the Marines see you as a threat, you're a Pirate. As long as your actions jeopardize their interests, you are labeled a Pirate."
Zoro frowned. "Why would I threaten the Marines? Shouldn't we be on the same side?"
Rolan gestured for him to sit. "Let me explain this World to you..."
He spoke of the unseen corruption and hidden evils even within the Marines, of Kuzan's choices, and the ease of life for someone like Kizaru. Zoro listened silently, realizing that the World wasn't as simple as he'd imagined.
"Alone, no one can survive on the sea," Rolan continued, "Just like you—you became a bounty hunter because you couldn't navigate. You couldn't return to Shimotsuki Village, so you had no choice but to hunt Pirates."
Zoro's ears twitched, embarrassed. He hated admitting it, but it was true—he got lost, and that loss forced him down the path of a bounty hunter.
Rolan studied him carefully. "Zoro, do you have a dream?"
Zoro's mind immediately flashed to a memory. "A dream? I promised someone I'd become the World's Greatest Swordsman."
A spark of delight lit Rolan's eyes. "A grand dream indeed. Do you know how to achieve it?"
"If I defeat the World's Greatest Swordsman, won't I become the World's Greatest?" Zoro answered instinctively, placing his left hand on the hilt of his sword.
Rolan's expression remained calm, though he was pleased. He gently swirled his cup of water. "Do you know who the World's Greatest Swordsman is?"
Zoro rolled his eyes. "Of course. Every swordsman knows—Dracule Mihawk, Hawkeye."
Rolan recalled the manga from his previous life: Mihawk had confronted Luffy at Baratie and recognized Zoro's potential after a fierce duel. Yet in this timeline, Mihawk was still on the Grand Line.
"Hawkeye isn't in the East Blue; he's on the Grand Line."
"The Grand Line? I'll go there," Zoro said, fire igniting in his eyes.
"Do you know navigation? Have a ship? Know where the Grand Line is?" Rolan asked, firing three rapid questions that left Zoro momentarily speechless.
"Come aboard my ship. My goal is the World's pinnacle, and the next stop is the Grand Line. There, you'll find Hawkeye and many others whose skill rivals his," Rolan explained.
Zoro considered, then said firmly, "Alright! I'll join your crew, but I don't have 100 million Berries."
Rolan laughed. "As my partner? I could never charge you."
Zoro revealed a gleaming portion of his blade, sunlight glinting sharply off the metal. "Also, I will become the World's Greatest Swordsman. Try to stop me, and I'll cut you down."
Rolan smiled, knowing Zoro's pride and confidence were genuine. "Then let's overturn this World together. The title of World's Greatest Swordsman? That's something you will achieve."
Their hands met in a firm clasp. "Welcome aboard. You won't regret it."
[Ding. Congratulations to the host for gaining a new partner. Reward: Advanced Armament Haki *1; Intermediate Conqueror's Haki *1; 100 million Berries; Breaking Sky upgraded to Intermediate; a pair of never-worn flip-flops.]
As the system's voice echoed, Rolan felt the Breaking Sky beneath him change.
'Merge all cards!'
[Ding. Fusion successful!]
[System, open personal panel.]
[Name: Rolan
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Observation Haki: Intermediate (Special Type) Foresight, Perception of Hearts
Armament Haki: Advanced
Conqueror's Haki: Intermediate
Body Techniques: Advanced
Electromagnetic Fruit Development: Intermediate
Pirate Ship: Intermediate Breaking Sky.]
Rolan nodded, confident. Though he could not rival an Admiral.
Next on the agenda: check the Tribaka Kingdom's tribute, and perhaps rescue those unfortunate slaves. Not for lolis, of course. He was curious about what had caused the World to stir so greatly, imagining it would not disappoint him.
"Ah, yes. I should head to town and ask where the Tribaka Kingdom is."
With that, Rolan vanished in an instant.
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Happy new month, Ladies and Gents 🍁
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