Chapter 23: Three (Crossed Out) Two vs. Hundred Under the Moon
Reiner scanned the surroundings, then spoke coolly, knocking the ash from his cigarette, "About a hundred people outside, plus those 'Mr.' whatever officers."
"Sounds kind of familiar," Zoro murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Reiner looked slightly puzzled. "Baroque Works? Have you encountered them before?"
"Ah, I remember now. They tried to recruit me before."
"You're quite famous in the East Blue then, Zoro," Reiner teased, before heading towards the door. "Alright, let's go to work."
"Oh no! I've contracted the disease where I die if I step outside this door! The enemies are all yours!" The brave warrior of the sea clutched his chest, then promptly lay down and played dead.
"..."
Fine, a few small fry hardly require the intervention of God Usopp anyway.
"Then leave it to us. Let's go, Curly Brows."
"Shut up! Don't order me around, Moss Head."
Outside the house, the scene was bustling with activity.
The curly-haired Mr. 8 walked at the front, surrounded by several officer-level members, followed by about a hundred regular agents, all swarming towards the house where Reiner's group was staying.
Mr. 8 adjusted his collar and said, "Don't be careless! Their total bounty exceeds seventy million Beri! Take down the few inside the house first, then we'll deal with their ship."
"They're just a few drunk pirates. No matter how strong, they're just fish on the chopping block," the crown-wearing Mr. 9 scoffed, adding, "Anyway, there are only a few of them, while we have over a hundred. The advantage is ours!"
"Yo! Over a hundred, huh? That should take a while to cut down."
A disdainful voice rang out. Mr. 8 and the others paused, looking up instinctively.
Under the high-hanging full moon against the black sky, three dark silhouettes stood backlit by the cold moonlight on the rooftop.
"How can this be!?"
"Weren't they already down!?"
"Don't panic!" the curly-haired Mr. 8 yelled, his expression grim. "There are only three of them! And their strongest member, the captain, isn't among them!"
"He's right!" Mr. 9 gritted his teeth, quickly pulling out two metal baseball bats.
All the agents put on ferocious expressions, drawing swords and raising guns, preparing for a major fight.
"So little class. These must be the cheapest assassins I've ever seen," Reiner couldn't help but roast from below. "Is Crocodile so poor he can only afford this level of goon, or is he so rich he hires even these small fry?"
Reiner didn't plan to intervene personally. After all, they had treated them to food and drinks, and provided the company of so many lovely ladies. His undead didn't know how to hold back, and he'd feel a bit bad if they killed too many.
Only Reiner remained sitting alone on the high platform of the roof; Sanji and Zoro had vanished from his side at some point.
"Yo! So you're the ones after my head?"
"Making such a racket late at night instead of sleeping."
Zoro's and Sanji's voices suddenly erupted from within the crowd below, causing widespread panic.
Reacting quickly, everyone spun around, but by the time they aimed their weapons, the two figures were already gone.
Zoro unsheathed his three swords. Amidst flashes of cold steel and flickering shadows, blood instantly splattered everywhere.
Sanji moved like a swimming dragon through the crowd, his leg techniques dazzling as enemies fell in droves.
"They really are monstrously strong," Reiner couldn't help but admire, watching the battle below.
His own physical condition wasn't bad; thanks to the unique Zoan enhancement and daily training, calling his progress rapid wouldn't be an exaggeration. However, his combat skills were still lacking.
He had tried learning swordsmanship – abysmal talent.
Considered focusing on martial arts since its potential was high – ended up just flailing randomly.
Attempted to take a shortcut with firearms – turned out to be a master of tracing outlines (missing).
When he first arrived, he tried knives, spears, clubs, and staffs – no talent for any of them.
Rely on hard work?
He scoffed.
Later, he decided: continue training the body, since he had free time anyway, but don't force it, just enough to survive is fine. Let the undead handle the fighting.
"What kind of self-respecting summoner fights personally? This Necrolord has zero class."
Reiner knew where his advantages lay. Trying to grasp everything and be good at everything? Even wish-fulfillment novels wouldn't dare write that!
"You damn bastard! Finally found you!"
A shout interrupted Reiner's thoughts. Looking towards the sound, he saw several grunts had climbed up, surrounding him with drawn swords and knives.
The one who shouted was the leader, a brown-haired man, glaring furiously at him with a pistol raised.
"Why so much resentment?" Reiner looked puzzledly at the gunman.
Hearing this, the brown-haired man grew even angrier. "How dare you... How dare you—
—put your hands all over my little sister! I'm gonna kill you!"
What!? What is this!? I need to see my—
"They came onto me, alright!?"
Reiner forcefully threw down his cigarette butt and ground it out. "Who got the better end of the deal is debatable! And you're lecturing me about this?"
"Shameless bastard! Die!" The brown-haired man roared, about to pull the trigger.
BANG—!
A gunshot rang out, but it was the brown-haired man who fell.
"Yes! I am shameless! But taking a step back, aren't you also partially at fault?"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Reiner fired rapidly, and the remaining grunts fell one after another. The 'outline tracer' wasn't blind; when he needed to hit, he hit.
He gently blew away the wisp of blue smoke drifting from the muzzle.
The battle below was also nearing its end, with only a few officers remaining.
"Hot-Blooded No. 9 Backflip!"
The crown-wearing Mr. 9 leaned back, curling into a ball and rolling towards Zoro. His metal baseball bat swung towards Zoro.
Then Zoro simply twisted his body sideways, and Mr. 9 rolled right off the roof...
"..."
"Dude, are you going for comedy?"
Reiner's face instantly darkened. "Why does this win feel so embarrassing?"
"Prepare to die! —Mr. Bushido!"
A blue-haired beauty with a ponytail stood atop a duck, swaying her hips left and right while making flourishing hand gestures.
"Perfume Dance Kenpo: Bewitchment!"
"Pfft-haha~" Reiner recognized the woman below – it was Princess Vivi of Alabasta!
Seeing Vivi acting like a delinquent, Reiner couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Fuck, where's my camera!?"
This dark history needs to be recorded immediately! Play it on loop later whenever I need a laugh.
However, comedy aside, Vivi's technique actually worked.
As the hypnotic pattern on her clothes swayed continuously, Zoro suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.
"Go, Karoo!"
"QUACK!!!"
The duck shrieked, its webbed feet pattering on the ground as it carried Vivi charging towards Zoro.
At the critical moment, Zoro braced himself firmly, gritted his teeth, and swung his sword to block Vivi's Peacock Slashers (chain weapons), incidentally cutting her hair tie.
Her sky-blue hair cascaded down onto her shoulders, a few strands slightly obscuring her face.
Vivi knelt on the ground, looking appealingly pitiful with her fair face and bitten lip.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
Reiner glanced over with interest. "Have to say, Vivi really is a natural beauty."
However, today he witnessed what a true 'Sigma male' was. Zoro's expression remained unchanged as he charged forward, holding two swords in his hands and the Wado Ichimonji in his mouth.
"Princess!!"
Igaram panicked instantly, aiming his modified horn-bazooka at Zoro.
Reiner was also stunned. What?
The Princess of Alabasta, the potential tenth crewmate, the key figure related to an Ancient Weapon... is going to get randomly cut down by Zoro today?
"Three-Sword Style: Eagle Claw!"
Reiner didn't stop Zoro's attack, because Zoro was using the backs of his blades.
Although lacking Sanji's spirit of chivalry, Zoro also rarely, if ever, cut down women.
"Neck Meat Kick!"
Sanji kicked Igaram, knocking him over and preventing his sneak attack.
"Saved your life, Moss Head. No need to thank me."
"What did you say, Curly Brows? I would've been fine without you!"
The battle ended here. Reiner ignored the bickering pair and jumped down directly.
"Princess?" Nami emerged, looking confused.
Seeing Nami, Reiner couldn't help but tease, "Yo! How was the haul, Nami?"
"Damn it! What a bunch of poor ghosts! I finally beat you to the punch, but I didn't make a single Beri!"
Nami yelled furiously at him, while also viciously stomping on Igaram underfoot. "Hey! Bastard, wake up! What was that you just said about a princess?"
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 100 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 15 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you