"Rest assured, I won't let you down!" Yaro declared as he drew the sword from his waist. In that instant, Rogers felt the very wind around him shift and sharpen.
"He thinks he can take us all alone?"
"Don't underestimate us, damn pirate!"
"Die! That 10 million bounty is mine!"
The remaining bounty hunters charged, mouths still spouting threats. As the saying goes—villains die from talking too much.
"Captain was right! Numbers mean nothing!" Yaro bent his knees, blade angled low, his foot digging into the ground.
The wind around him howled violently. "This is the Wind-Riding Sword Style—Step-Forward Slash!"
He exploded forward with dazzling speed, body flickering like afterimages of blade and steel.
From the sidelines, Rogers's jaw dropped so wide he could've swallowed an egg whole. Step-Forward Slash? Wasn't that just Yasuo's E-skill?! And that line he remembered so clearly—As long as I dash fast enough, even teammates' question marks can't catch me! Damn it, that's exactly what it looked like now…
Each bounty hunter was slashed once as Yaro darted past. His figure halted behind them, sword sliding back into its sheath.
"You—!" The hunters staggered, trying to speak, only to feel a searing pain split across their chests. One by one they collapsed, blood spraying from gaping wounds.
"This swordsmanship…" Rogers muttered, walking up beside Yaro, still dumbfounded.
"Well? Impressive, right? Wiped them all out in a blink!" Yaro grinned, expecting praise.
"Watching you just makes me wanna hit someone!" Rogers snapped, promptly knocking him on the head with a fist.
"Argh—Captain! Why?!" Yaro rubbed his scalp, face full of grievance.
"Nothing. Couldn't help myself," Rogers said with a snort.
"…Fine, you're the captain. You win." Yaro sulked, shoulders slumping.
"Anyway, let's go find more crewmates. A doctor, a shipwright, and a cook—we can't go far without them." Rogers sighed. The guy already looked pitiful, so he didn't push it further.
"Got it, let's go. But seriously, I am a musician. I'm really good at playing the flute—"
"You wanna get hit again?"
"…No."
"Then shut up and follow me!"
"…Yes, Captain."
The two wandered for hours. Rogers did find a few doctors, but they were either hulking brutes or greasy old men—and every single one demanded insane conditions.
No ship smaller than 50 meters, no crew under 100 men. Rogers glanced back at their pitiful little boat and three-man crew… Yeah, forget it. Can't afford these 'grandmasters' anyway.
As for Robin… Rogers knew it wasn't the right time. He wasn't leaving the West Blue yet. When he did head for the Grand Line, he'd find her then. And at that point, he wouldn't be asking politely.
Disheartened, Rogers trudged back toward the boat with Yaro trailing behind. His mood soured further when Yaro, seeing his expression, actually offered to cheer him up with a flute performance. Rogers rejected it instantly.
"Captain, this is our ship?!" Yaro's eyes lit up when he spotted the massive passenger vessel at the docks. "So big! Hahaha, here I thought we were only three people—I was starting to think I boarded the wrong ship!"
"Sorry to disappoint. That's not ours…" Rogers sighed, pointing at the tiny vessel tied alongside.
"…Eh." Yaro's smile froze instantly.
Just then, the cabin door of the small boat creaked open, and Aiqi stepped out, waving. "Rogers, you're back! Is that our new crewmate?"
"…Yeah, sort of." Rogers led the way aboard with obvious reluctance. "He's a swordsman, I guess."
"Hello! I'm Yaro, swordsman and musician!" Yaro followed eagerly, introducing himself with a big smile.
"Oh, I'm Aiqi, navigator of this ship!" she replied politely—then turned on Rogers. "Didn't you say you were going to find a doctor and a cook?"
"Eh… things didn't work out…" Rogers scratched his cheek, embarrassed. To deflect, he suddenly smirked. "But Yaro, isn't our navigator gorgeous? Zehahaha!"
"You… hmph!" Aiqi huffed, cheeks flushing at the compliment.
"She really is pretty," Yaro added matter-of-factly. To him, it wasn't flirtation—just honesty and goodwill toward a shipmate.
"Of course! She's my navigator!" Rogers declared proudly.
"Geez…" Aiqi muttered, flustered but secretly pleased. Then she remembered the weather and quickly urged, "Rogers, we should set sail now. I feel a storm coming near Buro Island!"
"Alright then, prepare to sail! Raise the sails!" Rogers puffed up his chest, his voice filled with excitement. Their first voyage as a crew—history in the making! Then he froze. "…Wait. The Jolly Roger! Where's our flag?!"
"Idiot Rogers! We'll hang it when we build a new ship at Buro Island!" Aiqi rolled her eyes.
"We'll have a new ship?" Yaro brightened immediately. The tiny dinghy didn't exactly inspire confidence.
"Of course!" Rogers grinned. "Our pirate crew needs a name, too. From today, we are… the Dark Pirates! Zehahahaha!"
"Terrible name… but fine, it's historic at least," Aiqi said softly, her eyes shining with excitement. She had dreamed of the sea for so long.
Yaro sighed and pulled the ropes, raising the sails himself while the others talked. The canvas caught the wind, and Rogers untied the mooring rope. Their small ship drifted away, pushed toward the horizon.
From the rear deck of the passenger vessel, John stood with arms crossed, watching the little boat shrink into a dot. His lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. "The times are always changing. Now, Rogers… what mark will you leave upon this era?"
"They're gone… just like that," Melo murmured, joining him. Thinking of the years spent raising Aiqi, her eyes shimmered with unspoken emotion.
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T/N:
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