"How old did you say you were? Eight?!"
Shiki stared at the 2.6-meter-tall Roldy in front of him, then at the boy's arm—which was thicker than his own thigh.
For perhaps the first time in years, the infamous sea overlord fell into silence.
Eight years old?
"What's wrong with being eight?"
Roldy tilted his head, puzzled.
"Nothing!" Shiki rubbed his temple. "Are kids these days all this terrifying…?"
But then it hit him.
An eight-year-old who could use Armament Haki—and whose combat power rivaled seasoned New World pirates?
This wasn't just a promising subordinate.
This was another future overlord in the making.
If he recruited the boy now—while he was still young, and while Shiki still held the favor of having "rescued" him—
Then in the future, he might gain a loyal right-hand man no less formidable than himself.
"Brat, looks like you've got nowhere left to go. How about coming with me? I won't hide it—I'm a great pirate with a 675,000,000 Berry bounty! Stick with me, and you'll eat well and live well!"
Though he had likely never done this before, Shiki's ability to paint grand promises seemed almost instinctive.
He enthusiastically listed the "benefits" of becoming a pirate under him:
Vast wealth.
High status.
No one daring to bully him on these seas ever again…
"Kid, you haven't even stepped into society yet. Let me tell you—the job market is brutal! Becoming a pirate under me beats ninety-nine percent of professions in this world! If you agree, I'll even make an exception and give you a signing bonus. Ten million—no, one hundred million Berries!
"I'll make sure you've got full coverage—seven types of insurance and three pension funds! Five months of paid vacation every year! I'll give you thirty percent of all plunder! And once we expand the company—cough, I mean pirate crew—you'll be vice captain…"
Shiki rambled on and on. He even reached the point of promising that Roldy could use his name at Pleasure Halls without paying before Roldy finally cut him off.
"Mr. Shiki… if I remember correctly, the World Government's laws prohibit employing eight-year-olds like me, don't they?"
"Huh? Since when were pirates legal?"
Shiki stared at him as if he were an idiot.
Roldy: "…"
So illegal professions now had better benefits than the Marines?
Seven insurances and three pensions… the Marines probably only had basic coverage.
Shiki's promises were grand—and tempting.
If it were anyone else, they might have flushed red with excitement and agreed on the spot.
But unfortunately—
He was negotiating with an eight-year-old.
You couldn't expect an eight-year-old to understand the hardships of employment.
"Sorry, Mr. Shiki. I'll remember your kindness. But being a pirate… I'll pass. I still want to be a good person."
This was an era before the Pirate King had ignited the Great Pirate Era.
Children didn't grow up playing games about becoming Pirate King or defeating Marine Admirals.
Shiki felt as though he had swallowed something foul.
No—
Worse.
Like biting into a Devil Fruit without being prepared.
A monster like this was worth cultivating.
But only if he could ensure the boy's loyalty.
Shiki hesitated.
Should he eliminate this rare genius here, preventing any future complications?
Or forcibly take him along, hoping that time and proximity would change his mind?
As he weighed his options—
Boom!
A cannon blast thundered across the sea.
The pirates halted mid-looting and turned toward the sound.
What they saw made their hearts sink.
Five warships bearing the white seagull emblem of the Marines were approaching from the horizon. Heavy black cannons lined their decks—clearly of Marine Headquarters specification.
At the forefront, the lead warship bore a fierce guardian statue carved at its prow.
And standing at the bow—
A tall, imposing figure.
"Shiki. It ends here."
Hearing the voice, Shiki looked up.
That savage grin returned to his face.
An old rival.
"Sengoku! You lapdogs of the World Government really are persistent!"