One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 59: Whiskey Peak – Yubashiri and Kitetsu III

Zoro stood his ground, flanked on all sides by the Baroque Works number agents, their eyes narrowing with anticipation. Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9, joined by Mr. 8, circled him like a pack of predators waiting to strike. There was no mistaking their intent, and Zoro's lips curved into a smirk, his hand resting lightly on his two new swords, Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu.

In a nearby shadowed alley, Nami leaned against the wall with a knowing expression, her arms crossed, as if watching a predictable outcome unfold. She was joined by Gin and Goku, who, up until that moment, had been playing along, pretending to be passed out like the rest of the crew. The faint moonlight cast shadows over their faces, but it didn't fully reach them; they remained concealed.

Gin glanced over at Nami, raising an eyebrow. "So... how much longer do we wait before we jump in?"

Nami rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Not a chance. Zoro's got this. And frankly, I'd rather sit back and enjoy the show."

Goku grinned, crossing his arms as he leaned forward, eyes glued to Zoro. "Only a fool would walk into an ambush like this," he muttered, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

Gin chuckled, then shrugged. "So says the guy who'd probably charge in if there were more food."

"Hey!" Goku snapped, though his face broke into a grin. "I know better than to go around trusting every smiling face."

Nami let out a small sigh. "And yet two of our own crew members fell for this. No sense of self-preservation whatsoever."

Meanwhile, on the ground just ahead, Zoro met his opponents with a steady gaze, showing no sign of backing down. Mr. 8, clearly frustrated, threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Enough!" he called out, his voice echoing across the square. "Millions, forward! Don't give him an inch of space! He's one man—we can overwhelm him with sheer numbers!"

At Mr. 8's command, the Millions—a veritable army of bounty hunters—surged forward from every direction. Their footfalls reverberated through the cobbled street as they closed in around Zoro, weapons glinting under the faint light.

Goku watched with keen interest, a small smirk forming on his face. "Think he's gonna use his new swords?"

Nami chuckled, clearly entertained. "Well, he better—he's gonna need them."

Gin, equally enthralled, tilted his head. "If this goes south, you know we're gonna have to step in."

Nami dismissed the thought with a wave. "Zoro wouldn't let it get that far. He's not the type."

Back in the square, Zoro drew Yubashiri with a calm, measured motion. He shifted his stance, studying the approaching mob with practiced ease. The sword felt balanced in his grip, smooth and dependable—a complete contrast to Sandai Kitetsu, which seemed to pulse with a dangerous energy.

The first wave of attackers reached him, and Zoro's blade flashed in a swift, precise arc. Yubashiri cut through the nearest opponents with minimal resistance, sending them sprawling as Zoro pressed forward, moving with the poise and control of a seasoned swordsman. His strikes were deliberate, each one finding its mark, leaving a path of defeated foes in his wake.

Up on the rooftop, Mr. 8's expression grew more tense as he watched Zoro pick apart his men with ruthless efficiency.

"Can't believe he is only using one sword," Goku murmured, clearly impressed. "What's he saving the other one for?"

Gin shrugged. "Guess he likes a challenge."

Seeing Zoro's unstoppable advance, Mr. 8 barked another order. "All units! Don't let up! Press him until he can't move another step!"

With the relentless wave of bounty hunters bearing down, Zoro's movements became even more focused. He switched to Sandai Kitetsu, allowing himself to feel out the cursed sword's chaotic energy. The blade seemed to hum in his hand, each slash and thrust resonating with an almost feral intensity. Sandai Kitetsu cleaved through the remaining attackers with little effort, its wild power perfectly suited to the ruthless style Zoro adopted.

As the Millions fell back, wary of his strength, Zoro was ambushed by Miss Monday, her large fists swinging with ferocious intent. Zoro sidestepped her attacks, his body a blur as he dodged each strike with ease. With a final, decisive blow from Yubashiri, he brought her down, leaving her dazed on the ground.

In the alley, Gin couldn't help but laugh. "Guy's making it look easy."

Nami smirked. "Not that I expected anything less."

Next up were Mr. 8 and Mr. 9, the latter of whom moved in quickly, casting a length of iron wire in an attempt to restrain Zoro's arm. Zoro felt the wire bite into his skin, but his grip on Sandai Kitetsu never faltered. Just then, Miss Wednesday emerged, holding Usopp hostage.

Zoro glared at her, assessing the situation with a practiced eye. Without hesitation, he twisted, using Mr. 9 as a shield, causing Mr. 8's incoming attack to strike his own ally. The chaos of the moment gave Zoro the opening he needed. With a fluid motion, he broke free from Mr. 9's hold and closed in on Mr. 8.

"Baroque Works doesn't take kindly to interference!" Mr. 8 snarled, raising his weapon. But Zoro was faster, delivering a final, precise strike with Yubashiri that sent Mr. 8 crashing to the ground, defeated.

As the dust settled, Zoro took a steady breath, sheathing his swords with a satisfied look. The square was silent now, littered with the defeated forms of his foes, and he cast a glance over his shoulder, noting the three shadowed figures watching from the alley.

"Well," Nami said with a sly smile, stepping forward. "Seems you didn't need us after all."

"Didn't I tell you to stay out of this?!" Zoro said, raising an eyebrow at the trio.

Goku just laughed, stepping forward with a grin. "Where's the fun in that?"

Before they could say more, a new sound broke through the silence—a pair of voices, cold and calculating, drifting through the night air from the shadows.

"Well, well, looks like we underestimated you, swordsman," one voice said smoothly.

The other figure, laughing softly, replied, "Miss Valentine, don't you think it's time we showed them what Baroque Works is really capable of?"

Two new agents made their presence known, their identities and intentions unclear, but their danger unmistakable.

As the tension hung in the air, the two new figures stepped forward, their presence sending a cold chill down the spines of the fallen Baroque Works agents scattered across the street. Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine made their way across the cobblestone street, their expressions unimpressed as they surveyed the aftermath of Zoro's brutal takedown.

Mr. 8 and Miss Monday, nursing their wounds, looked up with wide, fearful eyes at the newcomers. Trembling, Mr. 8 pulled himself up, his mayoral composure shattered. "Mr. 5… Miss Valentine…" he stammered, "It's—it's good to see you. With you here, these troublesome pirates will be nothing but dust!"

Miss Monday, towering yet visibly shaken, added, "Yes! We—we weakened them already… they'll be no match for agents of your level!"

But Mr. 5 narrowed his eyes, his expression as cold as steel. "Help?" he scoffed, his tone as dismissive as it was dangerous. "We're not here to clean up your mess. You've already failed, and we don't waste our time on failures."

As he spoke, Mr. 5's appearance came sharply into focus, his figure embodying the sinister aura he exuded. A tall, lean man, he wore a dark brown suit, its sharp lines and immaculate tailoring accentuating his build. His short, dark hair was slicked back, his eyes hidden behind a pair of round, tinted glasses that gleamed menacingly in the moonlight. A faint scar ran down his cheek, giving his face a hard, unforgiving edge. The cigarette dangling between his fingers seemed to smolder almost as intensely as his disdainful gaze as he glanced down at the defeated agents with clear contempt.

Miss Valentine, by contrast, was strikingly cheerful, her wide, almost playful smile clashing with the cold cruelty in her gaze. Her blonde hair was styled into two thick ringlets that bounced with each step, and she wore a bright yellow dress patterned with bananas, giving her a deceptively innocent appearance. Her slender frame and alluring charm radiated an effortless confidence that was both attractive and deadly. Her parasol rested casually over one shoulder, casting a faint shadow over her wide, slightly mocking smile as she watched the other agents scramble and cower.

"Oh, dear," she said in a light, almost sing-song tone, "it's such a shame, isn't it? We're here for a mission, not for your little pirate problem."

At that, Mr. 9, struggling to rise after Zoro's attack, looked up, a hint of hope still flickering in his battered expression. "Then… what is this mission?" he asked breathlessly.

Mr. 5 took a slow drag on his cigarette, exhaling a thin wisp of smoke as he turned his gaze toward Mr. 9, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Someone in the organization has learned the truth," he said, his tone lethal. "They've discovered the real identity of Mr. 0."

A horrified silence fell over the street, and for a moment, every defeated agent seemed to freeze as the weight of Mr. 5's words sank in. Mr. 8's face drained of color, his usual bravado gone, replaced by a look of sheer panic.

"Surely… surely not…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Miss Valentine's smile only widened as she looked down at him, her tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Someone joined Baroque Works just to learn the identity of Mr. 0," she said, her gaze shifting to Miss Wednesday, who now wore a mask of pure dread.

Miss Wednesday's eyes widened, her hands trembling as she looked between the two agents. She felt a chill down her spine as she struggled to keep her composure, her mind racing with the implications. "Do they… do they really know?"

[A/N: Read 15-30 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]