The burly bandit scratched his head at that, looking genuinely surprised.
"Boss, I'm Gillman. You don't recognize me anymore?"
Gillman… Who?
Higuma's mind blanked for a second, but on the outside he still gave a small nod.
In a situation like this, admitting he didn't remember the guy at all would be way too awkward.
"So it's Gillman, huh…"
Higuma patted Gillman's thick, muscle-packed arm and smiled.
"You've trained up nicely. I almost didn't recognize you."
"I knew it—Boss wouldn't forget me."
Gillman scratched his head, letting out a relieved breath.
"After all, you even said before you'd cheer me on for my dream of becoming the East Blue Bandit King."
"But Boss, I'm not the same as I was a few days ago."
"My new dream is to see you step onto the top of the world and become the one and only Bandit King of the whole world!"
"Boss, I'm just a rookie in the Higuma Bandit Crew, and my strength is nowhere near yours, but please—let me keep following behind you and do my part for your great cause!"
"So he's new… No wonder he felt unfamiliar…"
Higuma nodded—then immediately snapped back to reality, eyes widening.
"New?"
"What are you talking about? Since when did our crew have rookies? And what the hell is this 'Bandit King' thing?"
The big bandit scratched his head, and asked back in confusion.
"But Boss, don't we get a lot of new people joining every day?"
After a moment of silence, a very bad feeling crept up Higuma's spine.
He quickened his pace toward his mountain hideout.
Along the way, the number of bandits he ran into only kept increasing.
"Boss."
"Boss, hey! I'm new!"
"Higuma-boss, I'm new too…"
Sweat started pouring down Higuma's forehead.
Even after running ten kilometers, he wouldn't be sweating this much.
What the hell… How many underlings do I even have?
Higuma roared internally.
But not long after, his steps abruptly stopped.
In front of him stood an unbelievably massive, hulking silhouette.
The figure was a full six or seven meters tall—impossible to miss.
Higuma was one-ninety, but in front of that monster of a man, he was basically a speck, not even reaching the other guy's thigh.
"Boss, I'm new too."
The iron-tower of a man spoke.
Higuma frowned.
Unlike the other "newbies," this six-to-seven-meter-tall brute—broad as a bear—gave him an eerie sense of familiarity.
But there was no way a guy this huge had been in his crew. If someone like this existed, Higuma would've noticed on day one.
Confused, Higuma stared harder.
And the moment he really looked—his blood ran cold.
He recognized him at last…
Bartholomew Kuma!
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and an officer of the Revolutionary Army!
Why the hell was he here?
"Sorry. Bye."
Higuma said it fast, turning his gaze away as if it was nothing, and kept walking down the mountain path.
He didn't want to know why Kuma was here.
Everyone pretending nothing happened—wouldn't that be perfect?
But his frantic heartbeat betrayed him.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump…
A heavy, oppressive Emperor Engine rumble echoed through the forest.
In an instant, Kuma—who'd just said goodbye and was about to leave—stiffened. Then, slowly, he turned his massive body back around.
More sweat beaded on Higuma's forehead. He kept pretending he didn't feel Kuma's stare, craning his neck to look off in another direction.
"Man, the sky's so blue. The grass is so green. The air's so fresh…"
Higuma kept walking, forcing his steps to look casual even as they grew heavier and heavier.
Then, in the very next moment, his blood nearly froze solid.
In the direction he was looking, a plain little patch of bushes rustled.
Several cloaked figures stepped out.
The one in front had half his face beneath the hood covered in a dark red tattoo.
Monkey D. Dragon!
"Mr. Higuma, please forgive our little test just now."
With the Emperor Engine still rumbling, Dragon felt pressure piling onto his chest—and a twinge of regret.
"We have no intention of making an enemy of you. We came with goodwill. We only wish to speak with you properly, Mr. Higuma."
Higuma drew a deep breath and carefully scanned the area.
Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army.
Bartholomew Kuma, Revolutionary Army officer, secret operative.
And that big-faced okama king—Ivankov.
It was safe to say the Revolutionary Army's key figures in the East Blue were all standing right in front of him.
I've got nothing to talk about with you. It's definitely not going to be anything good. Get lost.
Higuma wanted to say it so badly.
But he knew exactly how much he was worth.
If Dragon personally showed up, he didn't have a choice.
And yet… agree?
Higuma was panicking inside. He had no idea what Dragon wanted, or what was about to happen.
"This isn't the place to talk. Come to the hideout. We'll talk there."
In the end, that was what Higuma said.
…
A short while later, Higuma led Dragon and the others to the gate of his mountain camp.
But at that moment—Dragon, Higuma, all of them—stopped in their tracks, captured by the scene in front of them.
Outside the hideout, a crowd of over a hundred bandits in headscarves milled about.
And at the very front, standing before them all, was a bald head so shiny it was practically reflective.
The bald bandit looked like an officer inspecting troops. He stood stiff-backed, face solemn, and shouted at the hundred-odd men:
"Our king is destined to lead the bandits of the Four Seas to rise up and correct this mistaken Age of Pirates!"
"The dawn of the Great Age of Bandits is coming—For the glory of the Bandit King!"
The next second, over a hundred bandits roared in unison:
"For the glory of the Bandit King!"
The chant was perfectly synchronized, merging into a single force as it rolled through the forest, the echoes lingering for a long time.
Higuma stared blankly, not even sure what expression he was supposed to make.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, spilling over that gleaming bald head in the crowd like a glowing egg, so bright it almost made his eyes hurt.
Higuma was practically moved to tears.
Why do I have such a dazzling subordinate?
For a split second, Higuma honestly felt like he'd wandered onto the wrong set.
After a long moment, he finally snapped back, and asked in a low voice:
"What… is this?"
"Boss! Perfect timing!"
The bald bandit's face lit up with joy.
"Boss, your plan was a huge success! We've already gathered up all the big and small bandit forces around here!"
"Now, across the whole lawless zone, our Higuma Bandit Crew is the true uncrowned king!"
"Some people are even calling you the Bandit King of the Goa Kingdom, Boss!"
By the time he finished speaking, the bald bandit's eyes were already turning red.
"Boss… we didn't fail you!"
(End of Chapter)
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