"Unfortunately, I've officially joined the Dawn Pirates. I need to prove myself, so apologies." Urogue spoke calmly, a kind yet polite smile on his face, showing no anger.
"Hmph, pathetic…" Kidd said coldly.
"I'll make the first move." Urogue, the eccentric monk, held a pencil as thick as a steel rod, weighing it before swinging it like a club.
"What? Eccentric Monk Urogue has joined the Dawn Pirates?" Many present overheard him and were shocked.
Urogue was a newcomer with a bounty in the hundreds of millions. His potential was clearly immense, yet he openly declared joining the Dawn Pirates.
Wait—does the Dawn Pirates even recruit new members?
Recently, observers included not just the Supernovas but also some slightly weaker yet formidable pirates. After witnessing Rosen's overwhelming strength, some would naturally consider submitting while others might challenge—everything has its opposite.
Standing under a great tree provides shade; even aspiring to be Pirate King doesn't mean one can't humble themselves.
Many cunning pirates always plan how to join the Dawn Pirates and dismantle them from within, seeking the captain's head. Some aim to overthrow the captain upon joining and claim leadership themselves—a common occurrence in the pirate world.
Being a captain usually signals great strength, but some would replace the current captain for someone stronger to gain greater profit. Meanwhile, the Marines and intelligence agencies see planting one or two spies as a major success.
"This is big news." A reporter quickly took note, ready to spin it for a story.
"That meddlesome eccentric Urogue actually volunteered to join the Dawn Pirates? Surprising, but understandable. The captain's recent feats prove his strength is formidable."
"Bang!" Kidd swept to counter Urogue's strike, his expression tense. Though his bounty was high, Urogue's power exceeded expectations.
Clearly, those muscles weren't just for show.
Kid absorbed weapons, forming a steel arm, and slammed forward. A dull thud rang out as the pencil collided with the steel arm, sending shockwaves outward, whipping up a gust of wind.
"Strong, but not enough!" Kidd roared, amplifying his steel arm. With a mighty crash, Urogue's pencil flew from his hands, and he staggered back several steps.
"Die." Kid's other arm gathered weapons. Though smaller than the first, it was long and twisted into a dense, sturdy shape.
Ping! The follow-up steel arm struck Urogue's abdomen but only pushed him back slightly, failing to knock him down.
"Strong, but I'll return it to you. Retribution!" Urogue's body suddenly expanded, muscles bulging, towering with immense strength. He stomped the ground, cracking it, and unleashed a fist with a roaring wind.
Kid frowned. A direct hit had no effect? His body was incredibly tough. Kid braced both steel arms to block Urogue's punch.
A massive crash dented the arms, the impact pushing Kidd back ten steps.
"Underestimated you." Kidd finally took Urogue seriously. Despite their age gap, he wasn't old and had real power.
"Again."
Boom! The two clashed rapidly once more.
"Careful not to wreck the hotel, finding a new place would be a pain. Hmm, where's the boss?" Valentine reminded, only to realize their boss had vanished.
She stayed calm. Though weaker than the fighters, her specialty was agile combat. Hovering above, she could command her Laser Arrow Armor, capable of holding her own, though victory was unlikely.
"Now this is a fight worth watching! None of that ending in a few punches. Come on, boss, serve the food!" Bonney, with pink hair and heart-shaped lips, looked more like an over-energetic delinquent than a fearsome pirate.
"Captain!?" Bonney's subordinate suddenly panicked, though she, focused on her food, didn't notice.
"What's wrong? Hungry? Then eat…"
"N-no, it's… Crocodile…"
"Excuse me, I came here with a few questions for you." Rosen sat opposite Bonney.
"Ah? You have questions, so I must answer?" Bonney said, reaching out weakly.
Indeed, her hand was weak. She didn't need force—just touching her would turn a person into a child or elder, making them powerless. Using force might trigger Crocodile's defense, so casual contact was safest. Until now, she hadn't revealed much of her ability.
Bonney acted instantly, deciding on a strategy. She couldn't match him in direct combat, but taking the initiative would be advantageous for both dialogue and potential fights.
Rosen was slightly surprised that Bonney had prepared for trouble so quickly. Her life clearly hadn't been easy.
Unfortunately, some Devil Fruit abilities, even if not very destructive, were still on Rosen's radar.
Bonney's fruit, which could turn people into children or elders, was one of the abilities he was highly alert to, second only to the Childhood Fruit.
Rosen picked up a dining fork, slipping the prongs precisely between Bonney's fingers, stopping her advance.
"This isn't appropriate."
"Not appropriate? I've admired you for so long. Come, shake hands, get to know me. Ask anything, I'll answer everything I know." Bonney's eyes flickered but quickly masked it, extending her other hand graciously.
"Could you match your tone and expression when claiming admiration?" Rosen muttered, noticing her insincerity.
"You're so annoying." Bonney was displeased. Seeing Rosen's alertness twice, she realized she couldn't trick him. She would need to distract him and act.
Whoosh! Bonney instantly transformed into a small girl, a cute, miniature version of herself. Rosen watched calmly, almost amused.
Indeed, it was amusing—a 140 million Berry bounty pirate turning into a cute little girl.
"Hey, hey, react a little!" Bonney, ready to pounce, froze at Rosen's calm stare and complained in a childish voice.
(End of Chapter)