Just a few meters away from the tall stone building where Gojo slept soundly on the upper floors, a very different scene unfolded outside, beneath the moonlit sky. The Straw Hat Pirates remained unconscious inside the ground floor of the building, sprawled across tables and benches, completely unaware of the world beyond the walls—snoring, drooling, and dead asleep after the feast.
Far enough from the doorway that none of those slumbering pirates could hear them, Mr. 8 and his group spoke in low, serious tones.
Miss Monday stood, arms crossed tightly as she spoke.
"I understand why you welcomed Gojo like a king," she said, her voice low and edged with frustration. "A man with a fifty-million-berry bounty isn't someone we want to anger. But feeding these pirates too? When we're already on short supplies? That's pushing it."
Mr. 8—better known to Gojo and the Straw Hats as Mayor Igarappoi—gave a confident, almost smug nod.
"I'm not foolish enough to waste resources without purpose," he replied. "There's a reason for all of this."
He lifted a wanted poster and let the moonlight illuminate it. Monkey D. Luffy's grinning face stared back, with 25,000,000 berries printed boldly beneath.
Miss Monday, Miss Wednesday, and Mr. 9 all gasped in unison.
"Twenty-five million?! Seriously?!"
Miss Monday exhaled slowly. "Then you absolutely made the right decision feeding them."
Before any relief could set in, a cool voice cut through the night.
"So that's the truth behind your little welcome party."
All three turned sharply, eyes widening.
Perched on the slanted rooftop, outlined by moonlight, stood Roronoa Zoro—wide awake, unmoved by alcohol or fatigue. His hand rested casually near his swords, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
He had never let his guard down—not even for a minute.
Seeing Zoro standing there completely sober—no sway in his posture, no flush on his face, not even the slightest hint of alcohol dulling his eyes—Mr. 8 froze in shock.
"H-How are you awake?" he sputtered. "You should be unconscious! I saw you lying inside, asleep with my own eyes!"
Zoro smirked, hopping lightly down from the rooftop.
"A real swordsman never lets wine take him down," he said casually. "Of course I'm fine. And besides, I had my doubts the entire time. After all, you're with Baroque Works, aren't you?"
The words hit the group like a thunderclap. Zoro continued, voice steady and almost amused.
"I was approached by one of your agents back when I was working as a pirate hunter. They tried to recruit me—but obviously, I turned them down. So when I heard how you all introduced yourselves, with numbers and titles, it wasn't hard to put two and two together."
Mr. 8's expression hardened instantly.
"In that case," he said coldly, "we can't let you walk away alive."
By now, dozens more figures had begun closing in—armed townsfolk slipping from alleyways, rooftops, and hidden corners. What had been a quiet street moments ago now swelled with movement as nearly a hundred bounty hunters surrounded Zoro.
But Zoro only rested a hand on his sword and grinned.
"Heh. So it's what—barely a hundred of you?" he said, cracking his neck lazily. "You seriously think that's enough to take me down?"
Just at that moment, the shutters of a window right below the roof creaked open.
From the darkness, Gojo leaned out, blindfold already in place, a relaxed smile tugging at his lips.
"So this is what's happening," he drawled. "I figured something was off with all that kindness you people were pouring out. Free food, endless drinks, smiles everywhere… turns out it was bait. Baroque Works reeling in their catch with a party."
He gave a slow clap. "Honestly? Clever. I'm a little impressed."
Mr. 8 stiffened once again, eyes widening.
"You too?!" he shouted.
Zoro glanced down at the opened window beneath him.
"So you're awake as well," he said. "Guess you ended up caught in their little plan like the rest of us."
Gojo shrugged, completely unfazed.
"I chose to play along. They offered food that wasn't poisoned, so why should I complain? Free meals are free meals."
His tone sharpened the slightest bit.
"And whatever tricks they planned afterward—well, I can handle anything they throw without breaking a sweat."
The confidence wasn't bluster; Zoro knew it firsthand.
After watching Gojo casually overpower Captain Smoker—a Marine far more dangerous than any of Whiskey Peak's bounty hunters—Zoro had no doubts whatsoever.
If anyone here was in danger, it certainly wasn't Satoru Gojo.
Mr. 8, realizing the pretence had completely fallen apart, snapped into command mode.
"If you already know everything," he barked, "then you both must be eliminated! Attack! Kill them!"
The words had barely left his mouth before the air exploded with gunfire.
Pistols flashed, rifles sparked, and dozens of bullets tore toward the two intruders—some aimed at Gojo, others streaking toward Zoro.
Every single bullet targeted at Gojo stopped dead in midair—just inches from his skin—hovering as if frozen in time.
Then, like pebbles losing their strength, they clattered harmlessly to the ground.
Gasps and shouts burst from the surrounding bounty hunters.
"What in the—?!"
"Is that a Devil Fruit ability?!"
"It has to be! No wonder he's worth fifty million!"
"Some kind of invincible barrier…!"
But the awe quickly shifted into calculation.
If Gojo couldn't be touched, then the other one—the swordsman—must be the weaker link.
Almost eighty percent of the mob turned their focus toward Zoro at once.
Blades, clubs, chains, and makeshift weapons were raised as they surged toward him in a chaotic wave.
Zoro's grin widened, a savage excitement lighting up his eyes.
"So that's how it is," he muttered, drawing his blades fully. "Fine by me."
The first attacker rushed him—and fell immediately.
With each clean, precise swing of Zoro's swords, another body dropped to the dirt.
One slice, one step, one turn—every motion was lethal, every strike efficient.
Gojo watched from above with casual interest, leaning on the windowsill as if enjoying a street performance.
Zoro was clearly in his element, and Gojo saw no reason to intervene—not when the outcome was already decided before the battle even began.
----
Want to get daily updates and read 20+ chapters? Then join my Patreon!
Patreon Link: https://[email protected]/Hkj822
Join Discord Link: https://discord.gg/MXPrVTBM