“However, for so many people to be fanatically obsessed with him, that Marine named Rougishumust be quite something!” Thinking this, Shanks opened the booklet with great interest.
“Sea Calendar Year 1498, November, Ensign Rougishuarrested a corrupt Marine, liberating five towns under dark rule, and said to that corrupt Marine, ‘I believe this is an immortal truth: what is gained by the sword will also be lost by the sword.'”
“Sea Calendar Year 1499, May, Lieutenant Rougishuassisted the Kingdom of Noah in quelling unrest, exclaiming on the bloody and brutal battlefield, ‘War is a feast for the Grim Reaper, opening the gates to hell!'”
“Sea Calendar Year 1499, July, Lieutenant Longinus…”
The booklet was only a few pages long, not heavy, and needed to provide detailed accounts of each event. Perhaps the author thought the thin booklet would soon be filled with more content, or maybe they believed the concise words were impactful enough.
After reading, the playful smile on Shanks’ face faded, replaced by a solemn and respectful expression.
“Boss, I have to say, this guy is indeed a very charismatic man. His legendary deeds and quotes, along with his dreamlike strength and appearance, would drive any girl crazy. If I were those girls, I’d probably be obsessed with him too,” a scruffy-looking gunman named Yasopp said with a laugh, having approached Shanks unnoticed.
Shanks chuckled, “If that Marine Major knew you were obsessing over him, I bet he wouldn’t be too happy.”
“Shanks, Yasopp, what are you laughing about? We’ve got everything we need. Let’s set sail while no one’s paying attention,” a cold-looking man with a gun at his waist and a lock of hair hanging down his left side squeezed through the crowd and spoke softly.
Shanks wrapped an arm around his shoulder, laughing carefreely, “Relax, Beckman. We haven’t even officially set sail yet. The Marines aren’t after us; what are we afraid of?”
“I don’t care, but as a former crew member of the Pirate King, you might not get away so easily,” Ben Beckman replied calmly, slipping out of Shanks’ grip.
“Shh! Keep it down; I don’t want the Marines noticing us so soon!” Shanks whispered dramatically, leaning close to Beckman.
Beckman shoved him away, expressionless, “You’re the captain. Do as you please.”
“Haha! Don’t worry. I’ll leave right after watching that Marine Major’s ceremony. As your captain, it’s my duty to take risks and gather intelligence,” Shanks boasted, ignoring their disdainful looks.
As Marines paraded past, the crowd erupted when Rougishufinally appeared.
“Ah! Lord Rougishuis here!”
“Major Longinus, I’ll always support you!”
Seeing several girls fainting from excitement, Shanks was stunned. Watching Rougishureceive medals from three kings, he muttered jealously, “He doesn’t look that special. Do they need to be like this?”
Yasopp draped an arm around Shanks, chuckling, “Boss, jealousy is the devil!”
Beckman added indifferently, “He’s definitely better-looking than you.”
Seeing Shanks’ crestfallen look, Yasopp said, “Boss, you’re missing the point. Once these girls outgrow their superficial phase, they’ll realize a mature man’s most important trait is depth.”
“I attracted Banchina with my melancholic, unshaven look…” Yasopp paused, then teased, “Your three scars show you’ve got stories. You’ll be more popular than that Marine soon!”
“Is that so? Hahaha!” Shanks laughed heartily, attracting annoyed glances from nearby.
“Now that the ceremony is over, can we go?”
“Haha! Since we’re here, why don’t we…” Shanks raised his hands in mock surrender under Beckman’s icy gaze, “Alright, alright, I get it!”
As the crowd dispersed, the three slipped away quietly.
On a deserted street, Beckman spoke with his hands in his pockets, “Captain, have you decided our next destination?”
“Yeah! I’m planning to follow Captain Roger’s route, witness everything he experienced, and complete the journey we left unfinished,” Shanks said, adjusting his straw hat with a determined look.
He and Buggy had left the ship midway due to their lack of strength, and he had always regretted not completing the Great Voyage.
“The Pirate King’s route, huh? Not bad…” Beckman nodded approvingly.
“Hey, I think someone’s calling for help!” Shanks suddenly perked up, looking into the distance.
“Hey, boss, we’re pirates! You’re not thinking of becoming a Marine hero after reading that Marine’s quotations, are you?” Yasopp teased.
“Haha! I can’t let someone I know get into trouble right in front of me!” Shanks said, rushing forward.
“Someone you know? Is it that girl from before? Has our boss found love?” Yasopp joked, quickly following.
In a dark alley, the petite girl was cornered by three thugs.
“Hehe, everyone’s at the square watching the Marines. We were going to steal, but now we have a better option!”
“Stop talking. Let’s get on with it. I want to be the first.”
“No way! Last time, we agreed it would be me next.”
The trembling girl threatened, “D-don’t come any closer, or Major Rougishuwill punish you!”
The three laughed, “Scream all you want; no one’s coming to save you. Soon, you’ll be screaming for a different reason.”
The thug in front unzipped his pants, only to be stopped by a sudden gunshot. He looked down, then screamed in agony.
“My… my balls…”
“Oops, I meant to shoot your hand. Guess I missed a bit,” said a man in a similar outfit, spinning his pistol casually.
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