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"He's got real attitude, huh? So if we untie him, he's free to go, right?"
Luffy grinned as he met Zoro's beast-like gaze.
Raised by Garp—who thought "training" meant tossing him into wild beast dens—Luffy was no stranger to this kind of look.
It wasn't just dangerous.
It was primal.
Predatory.
Even without seeing Zoro fight, Luffy could tell—instinctively—that this man was no ordinary swordsman.
This guy was strong.
Crack!
Suddenly, a ladder clattered against the high wall. A little girl climbed up, peeked over at them, and raised a tiny finger to her lips.
"Shh."
She dropped back down and darted across the courtyard toward Zoro.
"Huh?"
Zoro looked up slightly, the sharp edge in his gaze softening ever so slightly.
His voice, while still gruff, lost a bit of its chill.
"You shouldn't be here, kid. Get lost."
The girl ignored the warning and smiled brightly as she held out a carefully wrapped rice ball.
"Mister Swordsman! You must be hungry, right? I made you something to eat!"
She puffed out her chest with pride.
"It's my first time making rice balls. I tried really hard."
Zoro didn't even blink.
He hadn't eaten or drunk a drop of water in twenty days.
And yet…
"Get out of here, brat. You want to die?"
His voice was cold. His expression, unchanged.
But not because he didn't care.
It was because he did.
"You didn't have to say it like that."
A calm voice echoed from above.
"Hmph. Who the hell are you? I said—both of you are in my way."
Zoro scowled as Ruen dropped from the wall and landed beside them.
"That was her sincerity," Ruen said gently, glancing at the girl, who now looked on the verge of tears. "A child's sincerity is more precious than gold."
He reached out and patted her head softly.
No way was he letting this little girl's kindness be trampled by that bastard Helmeppo.
"Heh. Well said, Ruen."
Luffy jumped down beside him, still grinning.
He'd been planning to keep watching a little longer before deciding whether to invite Zoro aboard. After all, strength wasn't the only thing that mattered to him.
But if his crew had already stepped forward?
Then so would he.
"Zoro, right?"
Luffy flashed his signature toothy grin.
"Yeah. Who're you?"
Zoro's tone was gruff, but the frost had started to melt from his words.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy. I'm going to be the Pirate King."
He jabbed a thumb at his chest proudly.
"Ruen," Ruen added, lips curving. "Luffy's crewmate."
"Pirate King? Are you stupid or something?"
Zoro's eye twitched.
Ruen chuckled.
"But Ruen," Luffy asked, scratching his head, "why'd you say Zoro didn't want to drag the girl into this?"
"It's simple," Ruen replied, voice calm. "Judging from how the townsfolk react to the Marines here, it's clear the local captain isn't a good man. And someone as infamous as the 'Pirate Hunter' wouldn't be tied up in a place like this without a reason."
He looked down at the little girl.
"But she can probably tell us the full story. You wouldn't have snuck in with food if it had nothing to do with you, right?"
The girl blinked, then nodded shyly.
"My name's Rika," she said with a polite bow. "I made those rice balls because he must be hungry…"
And so, she began to explain.
Captain Morgan's son, Helmeppo, had been parading around town with his so-called pet—a vicious dog—causing chaos and harassing customers at the restaurant Rika and her mother ran.
When she stood up to the beast, Helmeppo took offense.
But Zoro stepped in. He struck Helmeppo and his dog down in an instant.
Helmeppo, furious and protected by privilege, threatened to have everyone present executed.
So Zoro made a deal: he would let himself be captured and tied up here for a full month. If he survived without food or water, they'd be spared.
That had been twenty days ago.
"You're pretty tough, huh? I'd be dead in three."
Luffy grinned, clearly impressed.
"I'm nothing like you," Zoro replied with a firm smile. "I will survive."
"A true hardass," Ruen said with admiration.
In terms of willpower, Zoro was as iron-willed as they came.
Ruen recalled the scene from the original story—Zoro, battered and bleeding after taking all of Luffy's pain via Bartholomew Kuma's ability, yet when Sanji asked what happened, he merely replied:
"Nothing happened."
"That's your plan? Wait ten more days and they'll honor the deal?"
Zoro narrowed his eyes.
"You really think a guy who hides behind his daddy's authority is gonna keep his promise?"
Ruen's voice was flat.
Zoro froze.
"Hahahaha! That's rich!"
A grating voice rang out.
A man in a gaudy suit strutted toward them, flanked by two Marines.
"Helmeppo…"
Zoro's voice turned glacial.
"I was gonna wait until tomorrow to tell you," Helmeppo sneered. "But since the secret's out, guess we'll execute you today instead!"
"You bastard."
Zoro's teeth clenched.
"Imagine it! The great 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro, slain by me, Helmeppo! My name'll be known all across the sea!"
He laughed uproariously.
Swish—BOOM!
A stretchy fist rocketed forward and smashed into Helmeppo's smug face, sending him flying.
"Scumbag."
Luffy retracted his rubberized arm with a snap, his gaze cold.
"What the hell was that?!"
Zoro stared wide-eyed.
"That's Luffy. He ate the Gum-Gum Fruit. He's a rubber man," Ruen said casually, hands in his pockets.