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  "Lieutenant ander."

  Rojen's face beh the mask was cold as he nodded slightly, his expression indifferent.

  In the eyes of the Marihe mysterious pirate hunter, Sword Saint Ge Nie, was known for being a stoid aloof swordsman. Therefore, Xiros didn't mind his cold demeanor; instead, he smiled aured for Rojen to take a seat opposite him.

  "I've been curious about you for quite some time, so when this opportunity arose, I thought I'd meet you in person. I hope you don't mind."

  Rojen nodded slightly and sat down across from Xiros without hesitation, remaining pletely silent.

  After waiting for a while and receiving no response, Xiros felt a bit awkward. He gave a light chuckle and spoke again.

  "Ge Nie, aren't you going to say something?"

  "Say what?" Rojen tered calmly.

  "For example, your background, birthpce, and your master." Xiros's eyes gleamed as he asked softly.

  In truth, the Marines routinely gathered intelligen powerful pirate hunters. With their current deployment i Blue, they needed more bat power, and these hunters, who operated between the Marines and pirates, were prime recruitment targets.

  Using promises of rank, wealth, or eveion, the Marines had already recruited many pirate hunters into their ranks.

  Among these, many branches were particurly curious about the mysterious and formidable Sword Saint Ge hey had tried to gather information on him several times, but uzzled them was that Ge Nie seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Before his ret rise to fame, there wasn't even a whisper about him.

  It was as if this person had desded from the sky, leaving everyoonished.

  "Background? Birthpce?" Rojen's tone carried a hint of amusement, with an undercurrent of suppressed anger.

  "Lieutenant ander, did you detain me just to dig into my ins?"

  Xiros was momentarily startled but quickly smiled. "I must admit, I'm very curious."

  He then stared ily at Rojen's mask for a long moment.

  "After all, you're an excellent partner. We want to ehat someorust has a clear in."

  "What kind of person are you beh that mask?"

  "And what if— just what if— you were a pirate? Now wouldn't that be iing?"

  With a pyful glint in his eye, Xiros finished his sentence, his voice ced with amusement.

  "A pirate?!"

  "Heh, you're quite the joker. Everyone knows that I have never shown mercy to pirates," Rojen said coldly. "As for my identity, I tell you."

  "My hometown isn't i Blue. I retly came to East Blue by ce."

  "I learned my swordsmanship ba my homend, South Blue. My master is known as the Sage of Ghost Valley, and I practice his Unhindered Sword Method."

  "You check all of this if you wish."

  Rojen's voice was cold and indifferent, clearly displeased by the inquiry into his personal background.

  "Heh, please don't be upset. The Marines are always cautious by nature— I hope you uand."

  Hearing Rojen's straightforward expnation, Xiros memorized the key details— South Blue, Sage of Ghost Valley, Unhindered Sword Method— and chuckled heartily.

  "Not from East Blue, huh? No wonder we couldn't trace his ins. South Blue, Sage of Ghost Valley, and the Unhindered Sword Method..."

  Xiros silently noted down these key terms, pnning to report them to his superiors ter. Sihe Marines had branches in all four seas, verifying the truth of this information would be an easy task.

  "Is there anything else? I've already been deyed here long enough." Rojen's blunt tone pulled Xiros back to reality.

  "Well, I hate to impose, and I uand this may be inve for you, but..."

  Xiros's tone suddenly became serious.

  "Please remove your mask, sir!"

  Xiros's deep, serious tone, bined with the gradually rising imposing manner emanating from him, caused Rojen's eyes to narroly.

  "As expected, these guys are starting to get suspicious of me," Rojen thought, his heart sinking as he raised his guard.

  "That's not happening!"

  "Lieutenant ander Xiros, I am not a Marine, so don't go too far."

  His tone became resolute, and his right haed firmly on the hilt of his sword. A fierce wave of sword i radiated from him, making Xiros's expression grow even graver.

  "As expected of the legendary Sword Saint Ge Nie. Such mastery of sword i is truly impressive," Xiros remarked, his voice calm but unwavering. "However, today, I will see your face!"

  His tone was resolute, and without further hesitation, Xiros suddenly stood up.

  In the instant, the feng sword resting beside his chair was already in his hand, and with a sudden thrust, he lunged forward.

  Rojen sehe violent surge of airflow as a sharp current cut through the air, heading straight for him with fierentum.

  "Are we really doing this?"

  "g!"

  With a resonant cry, Rainbow Abyss swiftly uhed. As the sword fshed out, Rojen stepped back three paces, spinning his right hand. A brilliant sword flourish blossomed in the air, and the glimmering sword tip halted abruptly in front of him.

  "g!"

  A crisp g echoed through the room as dazzling sparks flew. The two very different swords cshed, their tips colliding precisely in midair.

  Xiros's pupils shrank, and his right hand holding the sword trembled slightly as shock rippled through his heart.

  Though he had uhe attack first, Rojen had somehow mao strike ter but still intercept his thrust perfectly, as if he had anticipated the exact trajectory. The moment their swords cshed, a tremendous force traveled down the bde, nearly making him lose his grip.

  Such overwhelming power araordinary swordsmanship! In that brief instant, Xiros realized he was no match for Rojen.

  "A true master of swordsmanship!"

  "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now," Rojen said coldly, withdrawing his sword with a smooth motion. Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.

  Xiros watched in silence as Rojen's figure disappeared into the distance. Only then did he slowly lower his feng sword. His right arm trembled slightly, the aftershocks of the csh still rippling through his muscles. Beh him, the wooden chair let out a low creak before shattering into pieces three seds ter.

  "Such perfect trol of strength... such extraordinary swordsmanship. Where did this guy e from?"

  Deep in thought, Xiros gnced hesitantly at the golden Den Den Mushi beside him but ultimately refrained from giving the order to intercept Rojen.

  He wasirely sure whether the power Rojen had just dispyed was his full strength.

  Had he beeain, he would have taken the risk of arresting him. However, Rojen's calm and fident demeanor in that final mome him uain. It was as though Rojen believed he could escape unscathed even if he faced the entire Marine branch.

  "South Blue, huh? I'll have them iigate first."

  "But... there's ay pert ce that story is a lie."

  "That guy's identity is definitely suspicious!"

  Xiros's eyes flickered with determination as he came to a clusion.

  "He must be watched closely!"

  (End Of The Chapter)