"..."
A fine, silken drizzle descended from the sky, washing over Tashigi's face and carrying away both her glasses and her tears.
"Why!?"
The defeated Tashigi lifted her head blankly. Staring at Zoro—who had just sheathed Wado Ichimonji—she suddenly shouted out loud:
"Why didn't you just kill me!?"
"You could have done it easily, couldn't you!?"
"Hm?" Zoro looked at her, about to say something—
—but in the next instant, his expression froze.
"Ku… Kuina!?"
Seeing Tashigi's face without her glasses, that familiar yet unfamiliar visage, Zoro blurted out the name of his old friend.
However, the very next second, he shook the raindrops from his lashes, forcing himself awake.
No.
Kuina had long since left this world.
This was simply a woman who looked astonishingly similar to her.
Zoro turned his back, refusing to look at the face that made his heart stir, and asked in a low voice:
"Why would I want to kill you?"
Tashigi clenched her fists, as if she had been deeply humiliated.
"You're a pirate, and I'm a Marine! We're natural enemies!"
"You committed heinous crimes at Marine Branch 16, and yet you show me mercy now!"
"Is it just because I'm a woman?!"
"This is the greatest humiliation imaginable!!! Damn you bastards!!!"
"Hey, you—!?"
Listening to Tashigi's completely unreasonable accusations, Zoro's brows instantly knitted together.
But at that moment, Red suddenly walked over and placed a hand on Zoro's shoulder, soothing him.
"That's enough, Zoro. Let it go."
As he spoke, Red slowly walked forward and picked up Yubashiri from the ground.
In the instant of Tashigi's astonishment, he gently slid the longsword back into her scabbard.
"Miss Tashigi, right?"
After doing all that, Red gave a faint smile.
"Seeking death just because of a single defeat—behavior like that doesn't look like the conduct of a strong person."
"After all, there are countless famous blades in this world still waiting for their true master. Your ambition isn't complete yet, is it?!"
"You… how do you know about that!?"
Hearing Red speak directly of her dream, Tashigi froze on the spot.
"That isn't important."
Red spoke lightly, his pitch-black eyes seeming to see straight through her.
"Just take good care of this sword."
"Since that shop owner entrusted his dream to you, don't disappoint it so easily."
"As for what happened at Marine Branch 16…"
At this point, Red paused slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting into a mysterious smile.
"For the next couple of days, you might want to pay close attention to the newspapers. There may be some news that will thoroughly shock you."
With that, he turned around directly. Giving a faint smile toward the red-nosed figure hidden among the crowd, an arc of electricity instantly flashed at his feet.
As Red leapt into the air, he called out to Luffy:
"Luffy, I still have a few things to deal with on my end."
"It might be faster if I handle them alone."
"So I'm leaving Zoro to you! Don't lose him, no matter what!"
"Hey, hey—do you think I'm a three-year-old kid!? I don't need someone watching me!" Zoro complained unhappily.
But both Luffy and Red ignored his protest completely.
"Hehe, leave it to me~"
Luffy patted his chest proudly.
Just that… handing a directionally hopeless man to an idiot—
was that really the right decision?
Red could only sigh helplessly in his heart.
After all, if he had any other choice, he wouldn't want to do something this outrageous either.
"Forget it. As long as they make it back to the Going Merry alive."
Red lowered his standards in his mind.
In the next instant, his entire body turned into a streak of lightning, shooting off toward the outskirts of Loguetown.
"Damn pirates! Don't treat us like we're nothing!"
Seeing Red suddenly "flee," the Marines—whose fighting spirit had been roused by Tashigi—once again closed in, raising their weapons and aiming their black gun barrels at Zoro and Luffy.
"Then… let's head back too, Zoro!"
Seeing this, Luffy suddenly grinned, planting his feet wide and assuming a fighting stance.
Zoro also smiled calmly, one hand resting on his sword, a faint spark of battle intent flashing in his eyes.
"All right!"
In an instant, the rain poured down in torrents.
And beneath the curtain of rain, Loguetown's plaza once again became lively!
Though the battle was still a one-sided crushing defeat, the Marines' desperate efforts managed to hold back the Straw Hats' two main combatants for a while.
—
On the other side.
Seeing Red suddenly fly off, Buggy the Clown's eyes gleamed.
Taking the cue, he immediately led his crew out of the encirclement and hurried toward the outskirts.
—
More than ten minutes later.
Still in that same farm on the outskirts of Loguetown.
For some reason—perhaps something about the location—it seemed that every shady meeting in Loguetown always ended up gathering here.
"Lord Red!!!"
Seeing Red standing in the open field, Buggy's group hurried over, removing their hoods, their faces filled with excitement.
The strength of the Straw Hat crew had completely blown them away.
And coupled with Red's mysterious methods as a Trainer…
They now had fully transformed into devoted fanboys of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Though many utilitarian motives were hidden beneath the surface, at the very least, their loyalty was genuine.
"You're here."
Seeing Buggy, Red smiled faintly, his gaze calm as ever.
The next moment, he shifted slightly to the side, revealing two men with swords slung at their hips.
They stood there in silence, expressionless, giving off the illusion of powerful warriors.
Red smiled at Buggy and said:
"Let me introduce you. These two are Johnny and Yosaku. They used to be bounty hunters."
"Because of some ties with our group, they're now considered members under the Straw Hat banner."
"Over here is the Buggy Pirates."
"You two shouldn't be unfamiliar with them."
"Since you're all on the same side now, get to know each other."
Bounty hunters!?The Buggy Pirates!?
Hearing Red's introduction, both Buggy's crew and Johnny and Yosaku wore expressions of shock.
After all, bounty hunters and pirates were even more hostile to each other than Marines and pirates!
But the very next second—
Whoosh!
Buggy was the first to extend his white-gloved hand, grinning at Johnny and Yosaku.
"Captain of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet's Buggy Pirates—Buggy the Clown!"
"Pleasure meeting you!"
"P-pleasure…!"
Johnny and Yosaku hurriedly reached out, but in their mental confusion, somehow stuck out the opposite hands.
After a moment of frantic flailing, they ended up shaking hands with Buggy in a completely ridiculous fashion.
There was no helping it.
Not long ago, they were still bottom-tier bounty hunters who couldn't even handle criminals with bounties of a few million Beli.
Their earlier "composed demeanor" wasn't composure at all—it was pure nervousness that left them frozen in place.
"All right, all right, just getting acquainted is enough. How long are you planning to keep shaking hands…?"
Watching the painfully awkward meeting, Red pinched the bridge of his nose and cut in.
He suddenly felt like he was the only sensible person in the entire pirate world.
Red addressed both sides:
"Today's main purpose was just to introduce you to each other, to avoid misunderstandings down the line where family ends up fighting family."
"Also, although Johnny and Yosaku are bounty hunters, I'm planning to have them open a weapons factory in the East Blue, specializing in making weapons for members of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet."
"Later, exchange contact info. Buggy, you'll be able to order supplies directly from their factory."
The idea of opening a weapons factory was something Red had thought about long ago.
He had simply lacked suitable candidates.
Now, the appearance of Johnny and Yosaku solved that problem perfectly.
They were too weak, and their potential too limited, making them unsuitable for entering the Grand Line.
But as factory managers, they were more than sufficient.
As for the starting location of the factory, Red had already decided it long ago—
on an uninhabited island near Cocoyasi Village.
First, the area was sparsely populated, making operations convenient.
Second, it could provide jobs for the villagers who had only just escaped the rule of the Arlong Pirates, allowing their lives to quickly return to normal.
With a weapons factory nearby, the villagers' defensive capabilities would also greatly improve—
indirectly maintaining peace and stability in Cocoyasi Village and the surrounding seas.
Startup funds would come from the bounties on the Don Krieg Pirates, the Arlong Pirates, and others.
Altogether, tens of millions of Beli—more than enough for the early stages.
Procurement and distribution could be handled directly through Kaya's merchant network, ensuring the factory continued running smoothly.
As for promotion, the Baratie could help.
With its constant flow of tourists and merchant ships, it was easily the best advertising location in the East Blue.
After that, Nojiko—Nami's sister—could help handle public relations, while Merry the butler could organize the management structure…
All trustworthy allies.
Through a single factory, the families and supporters of the Straw Hats across the East Blue would be fully woven into a vast web of relationships and intelligence—preventing anyone from using them as leverage against the Straw Hat crew in the future.
This idea had long been discussed with Red's companions and received strong support.
It could be said that everything was already in place.
All that was left—was to act.
(End of Chapter)