Just as Rogers expected, the man admitted without hesitation, eyes blazing with passion.
"Of course! I'm going to be the world's greatest swordsman—the man who will defeat him!"
Yep. Another hot-blooded idiot. Rogers was almost certain now.
"Well? Let me join you! I'm really strong!" Yaro pressed, his tone almost coaxing.
Rogers sighed. Since this guy really wasn't Yasuo, there was no real vendetta here—still, just looking at him was irritating.
The resemblance alone dragged back memories of being slaughtered by that damned "Wind Brother" countless times.
"Can I or not?" Yaro's voice grew impatient.
"I am headed for the Grand Line," Rogers admitted, "but I made a promise. I can only go once I meet the conditions."
"I don't mind! As long as we're going, that's good enough!" Yaro said eagerly. For some reason, something about Rogers made him feel strangely reliable.
"Why don't you just go yourself? You're close to the Red Line here. With the government's passageways or merchant ships, you could reach the Grand Line easily." Rogers frowned.
He wouldn't mind having Yaro aboard—annoying as he was, if he really was a strong swordsman, he'd be valuable.
Yaro flushed red, scratching his cheek. "Well… there was a little accident. On the road, I ran into a Marine who wanted my sword. I drove him off… and then I got a bounty."
Rogers's face darkened. He didn't even have a bounty yet, and now he'd be bringing one on board? What kind of captain would that make him?
"What's your bounty?" Rogers asked coldly.
"…Ten million Beli," Yaro muttered, clearly frustrated. A single clash had branded him an outlaw, barring him from legal routes to the Grand Line.
"I don't even have a bounty yet, and you already do. Doesn't that make me look bad as captain?" Rogers groaned, pretending to be deeply troubled—though really he was hoping to shake Yaro off.
But Yaro panicked. "It's fine! I don't want to be captain! You'll still be in charge!" He sounded desperate. So many crews had rejected him outright, and this was the first person who'd even bothered to talk it over.
Rogers narrowed his eyes. If he took in this "Yasuo lookalike," wouldn't that mean he'd be above him now? In a way, that was the perfect revenge for all the times he'd been cut down in the Rift.
Seeing Rogers hesitate, Yaro rushed in. "I'll follow your orders! Whatever you say, I'll do—aside from a few personal principles."
"Really?" Rogers's eyes practically gleamed. Having someone like this to boss around… it was tempting. "Then tell me—what else can you do?"
Yaro scratched his head, thinking hard. Then he answered bluntly: "Cut people."
"Obviously! You've got a sword on your hip!" Rogers's face twitched. "I meant special skills. Anything else?"
"Um… not really…" Yaro frowned, wracking his brain. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He pulled out the flute tucked at his waist. "I can play the flute! I guess that makes me a musician, right? Hahaha!"
"…A musician? Playing the flute?" Rogers's eyebrow twitched violently. His brain kept replaying those words like nails on a chalkboard.
"What? I'm good at it!" Yaro insisted. He raised the flute to his lips, ready to play.
"Don't!" Rogers groaned, cutting him off. "I'm sure you're great at blowing… the flute. But seriously, what good is that? Every girl I've seen can do it!"
"…All girls can?" Yaro froze, crushed. "I spent so long learning! Don't tell me they all know how?"
"I mean, the videos I've seen… yeah, they all did," Rogers admitted casually.
"…Unbelievable…" Yaro looked heartbroken.
"Anyway." Rogers coughed, shifting gears. "Listen—if you follow my lead, you're welcome aboard. Your goal is the world's greatest swordsman? Then being on my ship will get you there. After all, I will be the Pirate King!"
He lifted his chin, stealing a line from Luffy with extra bravado.
"Really? You don't even look stronger than me," Yaro said skeptically.
"You want to get on board or not?" Rogers glared.
"Yes!" Yaro said quickly.
"Then listen up. Don't think you can beat Hawkeye as you are now," Rogers warned.
"The road is long, but the sword will be my guide! Through battles, I'll grow stronger!" Yaro said firmly.
Hearing that, Rogers's fists itched. He wanted to smack him just for sounding so self-righteous.
"One question." Rogers's tone dropped. "Do you believe in me? Do you think I can become Pirate King? If you do, then board my ship. I don't want a crewmate who'll leave halfway."
"You mean… even if I challenge Hawkeye, you'll still stand with me?" Yaro's gaze sharpened, the wind around him swirling as though testing Rogers's resolve.
But Rogers grinned, unbothered by the breeze. "Hawkeye? I'm not afraid of him. My goal is the very top. Whether you win or lose, we'll face it together! Zehahaha!"
"Then… let me be your blade, Captain," Yaro said with a smile. For reasons he couldn't explain, trusting Rogers felt right.
"Welcome, my second crewmate! Zehahaha!" Rogers threw an arm around Yaro's shoulder, laughing heartily.
"…Second? Wait—you mean there are only three of us in this 'crew'?" Yaro suddenly had second thoughts. Had he just boarded a doomed ship?
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