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  The pirates' raucous ughter echoed across the waves, reag Rojen's ears.

  Rojen's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint appearing in them.

  He'd distinctly heard the name, "Roger." That irresponsible older brother had caused him no end of grief, but blood was blood.

  "Fooled, were you?"

  "So, you didn't believe a word he said."

  Rojen murmured, his eyes now bzing with killing i.

  These pirates were a scarred and savage lot. They cked the bright, heroic spirit of det folk. Clearly, they'd spilled plenty of blood, much of it i.

  "Surround his ship! A little fun before the Grand Line sounds like a fine way to pass the time!"

  Four pirate ships, all flying the same tattered fg, verged on [The Logan]. They were all part of the same crew.

  Rojen stood on deck, his face a mask, but the murderous i in his eyes burned hotter.

  Finally, [The Logan] shuddered to a halt with the four pirate ships blog its path.

  The pirates, grinning like devils, leaped onto [The Logan]'s deck, their ndings punctuated by heavy thuds.

  "Well, well, look what we have here. Where do you think yoing, kid?" A hulking brute with a face like a smashed pumpkin sneered while brandishing a rusty cutss.

  Rojen stared at him, silent.

  "I asked you a question, boy! Cat got your tongue? Answer me, or I'll gut you where you stand and toss you to the fishes!"

  A thiecked brute roared, his whole body radiating menace.

  "Heh, Perth, don't scare the little whelp too much."

  "Maybe he fell fer's lies and thinks he find treasure in the Grand Line. We've seey of his sort tely."

  A man in a gaudy coat, sp a captain's hat and twirling a flintlock pistol, stepped forward from the throng.

  He wore a thin smile, seemingly friendly, but the pirates instantly straightened up, their expressions shifting to a mix of resped fear.

  "Uh, yes, Captain!"

  Perth, the thiecked brute, visibly flinched and shuffled back.

  "So, d, were you one of the suckers who bought Roger's spiel about treasure in the Grand Lihe captain turned his attention to Rojen, his smile now predatory.

  Rojen, who had been standing like a statue, finally spoke.

  "You don't believe him?"

  The captain blinked, surprised. This kid wasn't scared, he was…calm. It was unnerving.

  "You've got spirit, I'll give you that." The captain's smile vanished, repced by a hard look.

  "As fer's words…ha! I'm not a fool. Why would I believe that drivel? It's just bait for the gullible."

  "Then why are you sailing?" Rojen asked, his hands hanging loosely at his sides, his posture rexed.

  "Why am I sailing?" The captain chuckled, a harsh, grating sound.

  "For riches, for wenches, for freedom, of course!" He paused, his eyes glinting. "And for fools like you. We sail, we enjoy the sea, we admire the sery, and theumble across naive mbs like you, ripe for the sughter."

  "We eat our fill, sing our songs, live free and easy. Isn't that the pirate life?"

  The captain's words sent the crew into another round of boisterous ughter.

  "Heh, sounds delightful," Rojen murmured, nodding slowly. "I have o question."

  "Speak your mind, whelp."

  "Do you have any money?"

  Rojen asked, his eyes suddenly gleaming.

  "Money?" The captain blihen roared with ughter. "I've plundered five ships and sacked a dozen towns, 'borrowing' a bit from each. Why? Are you looking for a handout?"

  He found this kid amusing. It wasn't ofte someone so young who wasn't trembling in his boots.

  If nothing else, the boy had guts.

  He was looking forward to toying with him before sending him to the depths.

  "Yes. I'm very ied. How about you give me all of yours?" Rojen's eyes shone as he spoke.

  "A blind dog chasing a rolling sausage, eh? Just what I need." He needed , and these pirates were delivering it right to him.

  As for them…he wasn't worried. There might be strong fighters in the East Blue, but these weren't them.

  "What did you say?"

  The captain was dumbfounded. Was this kid crazy?

  "Don't want to give it up?" Rojen's tourned ibsp;His right hand twitched, and with a 'shing', his sword was drawn.

  In the blink of ahe bde was at the captain's throat.

  The captain froze, terrripping him.

  "I—"

  "Then die!"

  Before the captain could utter another word, Rojen's sword fshed, and the captain's throat was cut.

  'Swish!'

  Rojen moved like a whirlwind. All the idle chatter was over. It was time for a.

  His bde was a blur, each elegant stroke followed by a spray of blood.

  His sword was cold and merciless. The pirates' cries of fear turned intlih rattles.

  Step by step, Rojen advanced, leaving a trail of corpses in his wake. The pirates barely had time to react before they were cut down.

  Five mier, a faint, metallic st drifted from the base of Reverse Mountain. Rojen stood on the captain's deck with a strange sense of emptiness washing over him.

  "This is perfect. It's time to abandon [The Logan]."

  He murmured, then began kig the bodies overboard. He gathered torches and tossed them onto the other pirate ships. Soon, the sea was abze.

  The captain's ship was bigger and faster than [The Logan]. Clearly, he'd spared no expense on this ship.

  Rojen had also learned from the pirates that their loot was stored in the captain's . He'd already checked. It was a substantial haul.

  Finally, Rojen stood on [The Logan]'s deck.

  "Farewell, old friend. I'm sorry, but it's time we parted ways. Thank you for the journey."

  With a sigh, he tossed a torto [The Logan].

  'Whoosh!' The fmes engulfed the ship.

  From the moment Dragon had set eyes on him, this ship's fate had been sealed.

  Rojen turned his ba [The Logan], his silhouette etched against the fiery backdrop.

  Sometimes, life was like that.

  You had to do things you didn't want to do.

  Only by fag them could you grow.

  (End Of The Chapter)