Chapter 219: A Swordsman Without a Sword
The night breeze swept through the port of Hannabal, moonlight shimmering on the sea's surface.
The Going Merry lay quietly docked at the pier, its flag fluttering gently on the mast.
Inside the cabin, Lufia lay contentedly, her round belly protruding.
"I'm so full..."
She murmured, "Got a competition tomorrow... gotta conserve my energy..."
Then.
Huff—huff!
She fell asleep.
Ralph stood by the ship's railing, listening to Lufia's snores, a slight smile curling his lips.
He turned his head, looking toward another direction on the island.
There, hidden, was a massive steamship—the Salamander.
Gasparde's ship.
Ralph's gaze deepened.
Gasparde could only be said to have been defeated in full view of everyone.
Want to die?
It probably wasn't that easy.
After all, in the world of pirates, the chance of being beaten to death by fists was quite low.
Such a self-important scumbag, after being humiliated, would surely seek revenge like a madman.
Ralph wasn't going to give him that chance.
He glanced back at the sleeping Lufia, then
His figure vanished from the deck.
The Salamander was larger than imagined.
A steam-powered ship, it appeared exceptionally imposing in an era dominated by sails.
Ralph landed silently in the shadows at the stern.
Observation Haki spread out.
There were about a hundred pirates on board, most sleeping in the cabins, a few patrolling the deck.
The captain's quarters were on the third level, the most prominent position.
Gasparde should be there.
Just as Ralph was about to move, he heard a low whisper from a nearby cabin.
He paused, listening closely.
"...The boss really took a bad fall this time."
One voice said.
"Shh—keep it down, if he hears, we're done."
Another voice whispered urgently.
"What if he hears? Can he even fight now?"
"Are you crazy?"
"I'm not crazy."
"Didn't you see how he looked when he came back?"
"Wrapped up like a mummy, needing help to walk."
"That Straw Hat Girl punched him like that—I could do it too."
"Then go ahead and try."
"I... I'll think about it."
Silence for a few seconds.
Then a third voice chimed in:
"The second-in-command is done for too, his mask shattered, still unconscious."
"Our pirate crew is probably going to fall apart."
"Maybe it's for the best."
"Following a madman like Gasparde, who knows how we'll die someday."
"Shh! Keep your voice down!"
"What's there to fear? He can't hear..."
Listening from the shadows, Ralph's lips curled slightly.
Just as expected.
The captain and second-in-command taking a beating dealt a massive blow to a pirate crew.
If not for Gasparde's lingering authority, his subordinates would have likely rebelled already.
Most pirate crews at sea weren't held together by dreams and bonds.
They relied on reputation, wealth, and violence.
With the captain and second-in-command severely injured, their pride shattered, and reputation damaged, their combat power drastically reduced, unable to plunder, their source of wealth cut off.
A once-formidable pirate crew instantly became precarious, crossing into the kill zone.
What could be done about it?
You can't only believe in survival of the fittest when you're the one feasting.
Ralph withdrew his gaze and continued his stealthy ascent.
Just as he reached the second level, a loud crash echoed.
Bang!
Something flew out from the third level, slamming onto the second-level deck.
Ralph focused his gaze and saw it was a person.
Covered in blood, barely clinging to life.
Immediately after, a tall figure appeared by the third-floor railing.
Gasparde.
He stood there, wrapped in thick bandages, yet his back was straight, and his eyes gleamed with malice.
"Can't even grill a steak properly, what use are you!"
He coldly issued the command, "Throw him overboard to feed the fish!"
Several pirates, trembling with fear, rushed over and dragged away their dying comrade.
Gasparde turned and prepared to walk back to the captain's quarters.
Ralph chuckled quietly in the shadows.
This was clearly a deliberate provocation, meant to assert authority over his subordinates and show he was still capable of fighting.
Although Gasparde was wrapped in supreme bandages and appeared unscathed, Ralph could tell he was forcing himself to hold on.
If he wanted to kill him now...
This was undoubtedly the best opportunity.
And Ralph wasn't the only one thinking this!
A figure suddenly darted out from the darkness!
The person moved with incredible speed, holding a shovel in hand.
He charged straight at Gasparde!
The idea was good.
Unfortunately, it still fell short.
Gasparde wasn't so weak that he couldn't activate his Devil Fruit Ability.
Squelch!
The weapon sliced down from Gasparde's shoulder all the way to his stomach.
A massive gash, nearly splitting his body in two.
Yet, there was no blood, no internal organs.
Only green candy.
Gasparde looked down at his split-open body and laughed.
His arm suddenly transformed into a kanabo made of hardened candy.
Thud!
The attacker was sent flying by the blow, crashing into the mast before bouncing back and rolling several times across the deck.
"..."
The attacker struggled to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Moonlight illuminated his face.
A yellow jacket, black pants, short hair covering his cheeks.
It was the young man who had fought with Lufia in the underground casino during the day.
Gasparde's body slowly reformed, the candy merging back together, returning to human shape.
He looked down at the young man with a playful glint in his eyes.
"The recently notorious Pirate Executioner—"
He took a step forward.
"—Shuraiya?"
"You deliberately approached me in the casino, boarded my ship, all to assassinate me?"
Shuraiya propped himself up with the shovel, wiping the blood from his mouth.
He didn't answer, but the hatred in his eyes said everything.
"It seems you really found your chance."
Gasparde laughed, "But do we have a grudge?"
Shuraiya finally spoke.
His voice was hoarse, filled with deep-seated hatred.
"Eight years ago, you attacked a port, causing my father and my sister to die tragically!"
He raised the shovel, pointing it at Gasparde.
"This steamship was built by my father!"
"All these years, I've trained hard for this day—to take revenge!"
Gasparde paused for a second.
Then he laughed.
Laughed heartily.
He regained a familiar sense of control.
Over the years, he had killed many, and many had sought revenge against him.
But no one had managed to take him down.
Seeing the look in the other's eyes—wanting to kill him but unable to—he regained that invincible confidence.
"If you hadn't mentioned the ship, I would have forgotten."
He rolled his shoulders,
"So you're here for revenge?"
"Come on, do your best to entertain me!"
He spread his arms wide, as if welcoming the other's attack.
Shuraiya tightened his grip on his weapon, ready to charge forward—
Clap, clap, clap.
Applause rang out.
A figure emerged from the shadows.
Moonlight fell upon his face.
Black hair, a cross pendant hanging on his chest, and a faint smile on his face.
Ralph.
"I'm truly glad to see you've recovered so well, both physically and mentally," he said, clapping as he spoke. "That way, when I kill you, I can at least take a little pleasure in it."
Gasparde's expression instantly changed.
He instinctively took a step back, his head darting left and right.
He was searching for the Straw Hat Girl who had knocked him flying.
As a former Navy Rear Admiral, he knew of Haki.
But he never expected to encounter a pirate in the first half of the Grand Line who could use Haki—and a woman at that.
It wasn't Ralph he feared.
It was the monster who had punched him into a wall with a single blow.
Ralph saw what he was looking for and smiled.
"Don't bother," he said. "My captain isn't here."
Gasparde felt a bit more at ease.
But on the surface, he was still putting on a brave front.
"I wouldn't be afraid even if she were here!" he declared, puffing out his chest. "I was careless in the casino! For someone like you to dare come alone to assassinate me—you must have a death wish!"
He sized up Ralph.
No sword.
A bounty of only 35 million.
And the appearance of a Straw Hat Girl who could use Haki was already terrifying enough.
As for Ralph, the second-in-command... he probably couldn't use Haki.
Gasparde felt confident now.
He didn't even consider someone like that a threat.
Ironically.
Someone like that wasn't even worth Ralph using Haki on.
Just then, Shuraiya shouted unwillingly.
"He's my enemy! The one who takes his life should be me!"
He propped himself up with his weapon, covered in blood, yet still stood in front of Ralph.
Ralph glanced at him.
Then he did something no one expected.
He took a step to the side and made a gesture of invitation.
"Be my guest."
Shuraiya was stunned.
He had prepared to argue, to fight desperately, to prove that his hatred ran deeper than anyone else's.
But the other person just gave him the opportunity?
This left him at a loss.
Gasparde was also taken aback.
He, too, was a bit confused about what tricks this unknown swordsman was up to.
Famous for his swordsmanship, yet carrying no sword.
Came to take my life, but gave me to someone else.
He snapped his fingers over there.
Snap.
Snap.
Snap.
The eerie sound of snapping fingers echoed through the night sky.