In the second half of the Grand Line, people who had mastered Armament Haki were everywhere.
This was Sabaody Archipelago. Once ships were coated and passed through Fish-Man Island, they would reach the New World.
Areas 1 to 29 here were known as lawless zones.
A wealthy woman operating in such a place naturally had her own backing.
Though she was old, her will, driven by desire, still allowed her to use both Observation and Armament Haki.
"Boom!"
Another clash of Armament Haki.
This time, the old woman was forced back nearly two meters.
Rowan shook his arm. "Not bad, old lady. You've got strength, and your Observation Haki isn't bad either. But how long can your stamina keep this up?"
Before he finished speaking, a slash cut through the air toward him.
Rowan vanished.
When he reappeared, his kunai had already sliced open a guard's throat.
Without sufficiently strong Observation Haki, against Flying Thunder God…
You were nothing but a marked target waiting to be executed.
"You brat! I'll make you die painfully!"
The heavily made-up woman roared in anger.
Clearly, she had been fond of the man who had just died.
Her massive body moved surprisingly fast, but from that moment on, none of her attacks landed.
Rowan moved like a ghost.
With Observation Haki, he avoided everything.
Then,
The mark on her back activated.
Rowan appeared behind her, kunai coated in Armament Haki stabbing forward.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed from her neck.
At that point, only the captain who had blocked Rowan's earlier attack remained.
"Thud."
Her huge body collapsed.
Rowan turned to look at him.
Their eyes met.
Fear surged from deep within the man.
That gaze…
It felt like death itself was staring at him.
"Gulp."
He swallowed hard, dropped his sword, turned, and ran.
But it was meaningless.
No matter how fast he ran, Rowan only needed a single instant.
A mark.
A teleport.
The kunai flashed.
The last one fell.
His soul was pulled into the prison space.
Rowan retrieved the key, removed the cage and collar, then looked at the man inside.
"A samurai from Wano?"
Because Rowan was using Kuzan's face, Hikichi didn't recognize him.
He immediately bowed deeply in gratitude.
"My name is Shimotsuki Hikichiro. I have urgent reasons, and I must reach the New World."
Rowan thought for a moment. "You're looking for Whitebeard?"
Hikichi froze.
He quickly composed himself. "I… I only wish to return."
Return?
He risked death leaving Wano, crossed seas, survived Sea Kings, climbed Reverse Mountain, reached Loguetown…
And now he just wanted to go back?
Who would believe that?
Rowan glanced around, then slightly lifted his head, revealing the face under the cloak.
"Let's go. Another wasted night. First, go loot the bodies. Then we move."
"Huh? Loot… bodies?"
Hikichi was stunned again.
Rowan sighed. "You don't even have a single Beli on you, and you don't understand how important money is? That old woman came to spend money. Of course she brought some."
In the end, they found three suitcases.
Ninety million Beli.
Hikichi followed behind his savior, staring at him.
That face…
It felt familiar.
But he just couldn't place it.
"Yawn…"
Inside the prison space, Roger was bored out of his mind.
Counting days.
Waiting.
The only thing to look forward to was when new souls were brought in.
Last night, there had been a batch.
Tonight should have been quiet.
Then,
"Hm?"
Roger suddenly looked toward Corridor Six.
"I'm not dead? Kid! Come out! Come out!"
"Name your price! Let me out! I can give you two hundred million Beli!"
"Boss lady?"
"My neck… I'm fine? I didn't die?"
"My injuries are gone… how long was I unconscious?"
"Boss lady, save us!"
Amid the chaos, Roger walked in, grinning.
"Ahem. Everyone, you're dead. To be precise, you're in soul form now."
Silence.
All the souls turned to look at him.
Some recognized him instantly.
Gol D. Roger.
The Pirate King.
But…
Why was he here?
If they were dead…
Was this hell?
"As you can see, I'm dead too."
Roger laughed. "Think carefully. This prison has already given you the information. The sooner you understand the rules, the sooner you'll disappear peacefully."
They paused.
Then realization struck.
"Another dimension?"
"Dead souls imprisoned… black flames extracting sin?"
"That's impossible!"
"No one can judge me!"
"Roger! You're a pirate too, why aren't you imprisoned?!"
"If we're talking about sin, you're worse than any of us!"
"Pirate King! You must know how to get out! Tell us! We're all pirates, we all pursue freedom!"
Roger raised his hand to stop them.
"We're not the same."
"I don't deny my sins. Destroying a country's army because my crew was insulted, or what I said in Loguetown and the consequences it caused, those are sins."
"But I never harmed ordinary civilians for my own desires. No interest in that. And honestly, it's disgraceful."
"Pirates are the freest people on the sea. But people like you… I don't even want to acknowledge you as pirates."
"Using that kid's words, there's a difference between adventurers and thieves."
The corridor exploded with curses.
Roger casually picked his ear.
"Still lively, huh."
He grinned.
"Alright then, as usual… let me ask you something first."
"Who here has hidden treasure? Speak now."
The old woman slammed into the bars.
"In your dreams!"
"If you don't let me out, you get nothing!"
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