This was the first pirate Rojen had taken down, but it certainly wouldn't be the st. His monkey-faced mask and terrifying swordsmanship left a deep impression on those he rescued. After sughtering all the pirates, Rojen quietly left, cealing his achievements and name.

  All he left behind was the name "Sword Saint, Ge hree days ter, he arrived at a Marine branch outpost.

  Standing in front of the Marine camp, Rojen's gaze grew deep and ptive beh his mask.

  "The safest pce is right uheir noses," he murmured. "No one will suspect that I've bee a pirate hunter."

  Walking boldly toward the Marine branch, Rojen reached the entrance, where two Marine guards stood watch, their expressions stern as they blocked his way.

  "Who goes there?"

  "Sword Saint, Ge Nie!"

  Rojen uttered these four words coldly, his voice ringing out with a metallic crity. The two Marines shuddered slightly, looking at him with serious expressions.

  "A Pirate Hunter?"

  Retly, word had spread of a pirate hunter named "Sword Saint Ge Nie" operating in the region. By now, he had already wiped out four or five pirate crews that had been causing trouble. Upon hearing the he Marines showed immediate respect.

  This was a true powerhouse, someone who upheld justid fought against pirates— naturally an ally of the Marines.

  "Yes! Here's Stary's head."

  Rojen spoke coldly as he took out a package. With a swift kick, he revealed the face of Stary, causing the two Mario gasp once more.

  Rumors about Stary portrayed her as a cruel and bloodthirsty female pirate who had killed tless victims. Some even cimed she ate human flesh, making her infamous for her savagery. Her strength was such that the local Marine branch had been uo deal with her.

  Yet the lean figure before them, wearing a monkey-faced mask, had taken her down with a sirike.

  Strength ands respect, and the two Marines narded Rojen with awe.

  "Where do I turn in the head, and where do I cim the bounty?"

  Maintaining a cold aioone, Rojen's voice was devoid of warmth.

  "Please, follow us!"

  Respectfully, the two Marines led Rojen inside. Wearing his mask, Rojen's expression remained hidden from view.

  Shortly afterward, the Marines brought Rojen to the office of the branch's Staff Sergeant.

  "So, you must be 'Sword Saint Ge Nie'?"

  In the modest office, the square-faced and rugged Staff Sergeant spoke while carefully Rojen. From the way Rojen carried himself, the sergeant could sense an overwhelming aura of sword i radiating from his body, as though it could burst forth at any moment, making him feel uneasy.

  "He's definitely a master," The Staff Sergeant thought to himself, silently raising Rojen's importan his mind.

  "You two may leave now."

  After dismissing the Marihe Staff Sergeaured for Rojen to sit down.

  "Here's Stary's head. Where do I collect the money?"

  Rojehe package on the desk without hesitation, revealing Stary's face. The Staff Sergeant's pupils tracted as he firmed the identity of the head.

  "It's definitely Stary. 3 Mllion Belly. You'll get every without dey!" The Staff Sergeant nodded firmly.

  "Then make it quick," Rojen replied coldly, preparing to leave.

  "Wait a moment, Ge Nie San," The Staff Sergeant suddenly spoke, f a smile onto his face. "I wonder if you might be ied in joining the Marines?"

  "With your abilities, if you join the Marines, I guarahat you'll start at the Staff Sergeant level, and with your skills, earning military merit would be extremely easy," The Staff Sergeant said early.

  "Just kill a few pirates, and you'll get promoted in no time. Your future would be limitless."

  Rojen's eyes flickered behind the mask, and though there was a hint of i at the er of his lips, his voice remained cold.

  "I'm not ied. I only care about money!"

  After finishing his statement, he turned a, with the Staff Sergeant apanying him to the payment area.

  The Marine branch's finance office wasn't far, and before long, Rojen had the entire 3 million belly bounty in hand. Throughout the process, the Staff Sergeant tio persuade him, emphasizing the numerous bes of joining the Marines.

  "Right now, the Marines are preparing a rge-scale up operation i Blue, and we need capable powerhouses like you. This is the perfect opportunity to make a name for yourself."

  "You have to seize this ce! I guarahat in three years— no, in two years— you'll reach the rank of odore!"

  "In all of East Blue, a odore rank is sidered very high."

  "Trust me, Ge Nie. You have a bright future ahead of you."

  However, despite the Staff Sergeant's hopeful ahusiastic persuasion, Rojen responded with nothing more than a cold remark.

  "I'm only ied in money."

  Money could make anything possible. Rojen needed wealth— lots of it. With suffit money, he could gain immense power, and in this chaotic world, power was the only way to survive.

  Because of the Staff Sergeant's interference, Rojen was deyed by half an hour before finally leaving the Marine base.

  As he noticed the relut look iaff Sergeant's eyes, a shiver ran down Rojen's spine.

  Shaking his head, he took a step forward ahe base.

  "Too muvolvement is never good. I hide my identity with this mask and intimidate them with my strength. That way, they won't be ied in the face beh the mask. But if I really joihe Marines, with all their restris, some powerhouse above me would eventually grow suspicious!"

  "With the Marines, I either be too close nor too distant. Keeping a respectful distance is the best approach!"

  …

  This was his first pirate-reted transa. Over the hree months, as Rojen sailed toward Loguetown, he killed dozens of pirates, all with bounties above a Million Belly.

  Such aplishments spread his name widely among both civilians and Marines. Even the higher-ups in the branch had started to take notice of him.

  After all, it might be sidered luck to kill a Million Belly pirate once, but doing it so many times without sustaining any injuries clearly demonstrated gerength.

  The Marines, in their current situation, were in desperate need of talent like this.

  At the same time, pirates began paying attention to this cold, masked swordsman with the monkey-faced mask. A formidable pirate hunter posed a signifit threat to their kind.

  I Blue, Rojen sat alone on the deck of his ship, sipping premium wine slowly.

  After several successful hunts, his wealth had accumuted to over 35 Million belly. He had gone from being a penniless oo living fortably almost ht.

  "Without strength, being a pirate hunter is just asking to die. But with strength—"

  "This is a golden road to riches!"

  Standing on the deck, Rojen was in high spirits, gesturing grandly toward the sea.

  In his past life, he had been a poor young man whose bank bance had never even hit fures. He had never experiehe sudden transformation of beihy ht.

  "I o hoard money!"

  "Hoard money like crazy!"

  "Only money brings a true sense of happiness!"

  With a slight flush on his face, Rojen shouted loudly.

  (End Of The Chapter)

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