CH 34

"Puff, puff…"

The crowd was like low weeds blown by the wind, like freshly cut wheat.

The sound of bodies collapsing to the ground echoed repeatedly.

People further away watched in horror, while several reporters, overwhelmed with excitement, couldn't help but take pictures.

"Big news! This is huge news!"

"Knocking out hundreds of thousands of people with just his presence—is this the legendary Conqueror's Haki?!"

At least one reporter had some insight.

Of course, it didn't happen in an instant.

Roronoa Zoro's Conqueror's Haki continued to spread, driving the Shimayun to trample over all the rebels.

Some stubborn ones resisted and remained standing, but they were continuously shaken by Zoro's overwhelming aura until they, too, finally collapsed.

At last, millions of rebels—all—knelt!

"Phew…"

"This feels amazing."

It's difficult for ordinary people to understand what it feels like to see, with your own eyes, millions of people stunned and collapsing because of you.

That absolute sense of dominance over the heavens and the earth.

In that instant, Zoro's Conqueror's Haki condensed even more.

Indeed.

The stronger the will, the stronger the Conqueror's Haki.

He could feel a faint urge to break through to the next level.

That night.

King Cobra invited everyone to a banquet, and Zoro didn't refuse.

But when he heard that Princess Vivi had decided to join Zoro's crew, Cobra's concern was impossible to hide.

How could his beloved daughter become a pirate?

Zoro simply stated: "I'm a pirate. Since when does a pirate return what they take? You can cry about it and report me—let the Marines come and catch me."

What could Cobra say? He could only keep toasting.

Zoro looked at Vivi and smirked. "Vivi is so beautiful, I can't bear to let her go."

"…"

Vivi blushed.

"…"

Seeing his blushing daughter and hearing Zoro's suggestive words, Cobra's heart shattered.

His precious daughter… being taken away?

He suddenly lost his appetite.

"So that's how it is… what an unlovable little brother."

Nico Robin, who had been observing, now understood Zoro's use of Na Jie and was both amazed and amused.

She quietly sighed to herself.

Isn't it just a storage ring?

Making it seem like an engagement ring is just absurd.

"Where is Zoro?!"

Suddenly, a loud voice rang out.

A tall, muscular man with a shaved head barged in.

Zoro glanced at him and muttered, "King Cobra, your guards are pretty weak."

Cobra looked embarrassed—it was the truth, after all.

Robin eyed the newcomer and explained, "This is one of the very few who knows the president's true identity—Daz Bonez, also known as 'Mr. 1.' He is extremely loyal to Crocodile."

"Hmm."

Zoro nodded slightly.

He had a reason for wanting to recruit Crocodile—after all, he couldn't just have a crew full of women.

At the very least, he needed some solid captains.

And captains needed subordinates, right?

Daz Bonez had potential. At least his Devil Fruit ability was decent, though he was still a bit weak.

"Tashigi, he's all yours."

Zoro turned to the eager swordswoman.

"He has the Dice-Dice Fruit, allowing him to turn his body into steel blades. He claims no swordsman can cut him."

"If you can defeat him, you'll be worthy of being called a true swordsman."

Cutting through steel—the foundation of swordsmanship.

Tashigi's eyes turned serious, and she immediately drew her sword.

"There is nothing a swordsman cannot cut! I will—"

"Too much talking. Just charge in and slice!"

Zoro interrupted with a sharp command, instantly breaking Tashigi's focus.

She glared at him but still rushed forward.

Clang! Clang!

The grand hall, once filled with the sounds of dinner, now became a battlefield.

In less than a minute, Tashigi was covered in wounds, blood dripping from her body.

But her eyes only burned brighter.

Two more minutes passed.

Tashigi, exhausted, collapsed into a pool of blood.

Vivi gasped, "Tashigi-sister!"

"She's fine, Vivi."

Kaya crossed her arms, and a soft light shone in the distance.

At the same time, Nami used her Cloud Wall to intercept Bonez, preventing him from attacking.

The light faded.

The cloud wall disappeared.

Injuries healed!

Energy restored!

Tashigi sprang back to life and charged again.

Daz Bonez: ???

"…"

Cobra was left in complete shock.

Meanwhile, Robin stole a glance at Kaya, astonished.

What a terrifying ability.

Minutes passed.

Tashigi fell again.

Nami blocked. Kaya healed.

And once again, Tashigi was back on her feet, charging in.

Bonez, growing more frustrated, roared:

"Zoro! You're just hiding behind women! I don't believe you actually defeated Crocodile!"

Zoro replied indifferently:

"Once you lose, you'll see that dead crocodile for yourself."

"ARGHHHHH!!"

Hearing the words dead crocodile and believing Crocodile had been killed, Bonez seemed ready to explode with rage.

He went all out, pushing Tashigi to the brink.

"As expected, Tashigi isn't the protagonist. She still hasn't unlocked her hidden power…"

Zoro continued watching casually, eating and drinking.

Until, two hours later—

The dinner tables had long been cleared away.

No one knew how many times Tashigi had been revived, but at last, she slashed through Bonez's steel body.

She had finally awakened the ability to cut through steel.

Both fighters collapsed together.

But Tashigi, gritting her teeth through the pain, forced herself to stand again.

She stabbed Bonez a few more times before letting out a relieved breath.

"I… I won."

She looked at Zoro, murmured softly, then fainted.

"Don't heal her."

Stopping Kaya before she could use her ability again, Zoro caught Tashigi and said:

"Let her wake up naturally and recover slowly. Once the wounds scar, her body will heal stronger."

"Pain makes people grow faster. I look forward to seeing her improvement."

Cobra was speechless.

And once again, he worried for his lovely daughter.

"Cobra, I will take care of your daughter."

"Vivi, let's go."

Zoro waved his hand, tossing Bonez into the undead prison, and teleported away with the girls.

As they vanished, Cobra watched Vivi's departing figure and sighed.

"It seems you've really grown up. Your eyes are always on Zoro… Do you want to marry him?"

"I just hope you're safe and happy."

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