Weiss glanced at Jack, confusion written all over his face. Jack returned a firm look—it confirmed everything: Yes, this guy was crazy.
"Tsk, tsk."
"Let's go. Kill him and toss the body into the sea, then head back to the ship. He's just a pathetic loser—no need for sympathy." Weiss shook his head and turned to board the Chris.
A man who judged everyone else by his own pathetic standards.
"What did you say? I'm a loser? In need of sympathy?"
Rocco sprang up like a cat with its tail stepped on, scrambling to his feet despite the bleeding bullet wounds on his body.
"Am I wrong? What's the difference between a pirate fleeing the New World and one running from the Grand Line back to the Four Seas? It's all the same—just running away. Someone who can't even face his own failure… isn't worth much."
"And who the hell do you think you are? Just some wet-behind-the-ears brat who doesn't understand how terrifying the New World truly is!"
Rocco's grip on his dagger tightened, knuckles white, veins bulging like worms across his arms. His expression twisted with fear—clearly recalling something horrific from the New World.
"Oh, but I dare to fight an Admiral head-on."
...
...
"You have no idea—pirates from that region are monsters! They destroy entire islands like it's nothing!"
"Oh, but I dare to fight an Admiral head-on."
"In the New World, the strong have everything. The weak are just ants!"
"Oh, but I dare to fight an Admiral head-on."
"You…"
Rocco was at a loss for words. Admirals were at the pinnacle of the world's power. While he didn't know exactly how strong Weiss was, the man was undoubtedly a second-tier powerhouse—someone worthy of fear and respect.
To many, he was the true monster.
"Kill him."
Jack raised his gun and aimed at Rocco. As he said those words, Weiss almost felt like a villain.
"Wait! Don't kill me yet! I have information—a lead on a Devil Fruit."
The cold killing intent made Rocco shiver. He instinctively flinched, visibly trembling. Pleading for his life had become second nature to him—pride meant little if it meant staying alive. Otherwise, he wouldn't have fled the New World so shamelessly.
Besides, the one standing before him was the infamous Sword Demon. Begging was only natural.
"A Devil Fruit? Sorry, I already have one."
They had acquired a Zoan-type Devil Fruit from King on Canopy Island—presumably one of the five missing Zoan abilities, though details were scarce. None were particularly impressive, and Kadun hadn't consumed it.
"Yes, I know. It was all over the newspapers—the Sword Demon snatched a Zoan fruit from King. But what I'm talking about is a Paramecia-type!"
Seeing Jack hesitate, Rocco secretly let out a breath of relief. As long as he wasn't dead, as long as someone was listening—there was still a chance to live.
"What's the ability?"
"Uhh…"
"Kill him. He doesn't even know what it does and wants to barter with that?" Weiss mocked.
"Wait, wait! Don't be so eager to kill me! Just let me finish!" Rocco panicked.
"Alright, we'll kill you after you finish."
"..."
"No—no! You have to promise not to kill me. Let me go after I tell you!" Rocco insisted, trying to get a guarantee. He couldn't argue from the afterlife, after all.
"If the intel's valuable enough, I won't kill you," Weiss replied casually.
"And your crew can't kill me either!"
Rovco glanced at Jack, still aiming a gun at him, and quickly added that clause. Plenty of people in the New World had been tricked and killed by loopholes like that.
"Hmm…"
"You're seriously thinking about it?!" Rocco looked desperate.
"Fine."
After triple-confirming his safety, Rocco finally relaxed.
Strong people rarely broke their word, he thought. If the Sword Demon said he wouldn't kill him, then he wouldn't.
"The Devil Fruit is on Flying Bird Island. There's an upcoming auction there—and one of the featured items is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. The exact ability hasn't been announced yet."
"Flying Bird Island? Where is that?" Kadun asked.
"It's the next inhabited island on your route. They renamed it after a Devil Fruit user with flight powers appeared there a while back."
"Once you arrive, just ask around. The intel will prove itself."
"I can even board your ship and guide you!"
Worried Weiss might not believe him, Rocco added quickly. If he could join the Sword Demon's crew, even temporarily, that might become a valuable credential in the future.
"So… you're trying to trade your life for a piece of intel that's already well-known and something we would've learned about anyway?"
...
The sea breeze blew gently. It felt like a crow flew overhead. Rocco looked awkward, clearly not having considered that.
"S-So… can I still live?" he asked weakly, raising a tentative hand.
He was met with three cold, expressionless stares.
"No! You're a strong man. You gave your word—you said if I told you the info, you'd let me go! Your crew isn't allowed to attack either!"
Rocco was desperate. Was this really how he was going to die?
Weiss stroked his chin, letting his small sword dance between his fingers.
"Think carefully about what I actually said."
Rocco paused. Then, realization hit him like lightning. His face changed drastically, and in an instant—he vanished.
He understood. Weiss had said: If the intel is valuable enough, he might spare him. And Rocco's wasn't.
So he moved first. Maybe he could ambush the Sword Demon, kill him, and reverse his fate. If he succeeded, his name might echo across the seas.
Clang!
Rocco's dagger clashed against Weiss's blade, producing a crisp metallic ring.
"For giving me a piece of information I would've found out anyway, I'll send you off personally."
In Rocco's horrified gaze, Weiss disappeared.
A moment later—thud, thud—footsteps echoed behind him. Rocco turned with great effort… and saw a pair of hands slowly sliding a sword back into its sheath.
Pain flared in his neck.
Splurt—! Blood gushed like a fountain.
"So fast… Is this the gap between me and a real monster?"
He collapsed.
Back aboard the ship, the deck was littered with unconscious pirates. Not a single wound on them—they looked like they'd simply fallen asleep.
"Captain! Have you awakened Conqueror's Haki?!" Kadun asked excitedly, as if he'd awakened it himself.
Over the past six months, Weiss had taught them about Haki and its various types.
"No. This is just an application of sword intent."
It was something Weiss had thought up—a way to spread sword intent like Observation Haki, forming an invisible domain.
Right now, its range was limited. But if refined further, even without awakening Conqueror's Haki, it would be perfect for sweeping through weaker enemies.
Under the pressure of that sword domain, those who couldn't endure would simply faint.
Once it fully formed into a domain… Weiss might be able to kill with just a glance.
With that little detour out of the way, they cleared the Chris's deck and resumed their journey forward!
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