Chapter Fourteen: The Ghostly Man, Ajin

“Since you know my name and you’re aware that this is the Krieg Pirates, why do you insist on opposing us?”

In Gin’s eyes, the man before him was neither a Marine nor a bounty hunter, so what reason did he have to make an enemy of the Krieg Pirates?

“Why am I against you? That’s a question you should be asking yourselves.”

Rolan suddenly felt the urge to recruit Gin, so for now, he had no intention of fighting further.

Thinking of how, just now, his training had almost landed him in the sea when a cannonball nearly struck him, Rolan felt that simply taking Nami along was not enough—he might also need someone to handle all the trivial matters.

And the Gin before him seemed like a good choice. As long as he pledged loyalty, he would never betray him.

Recalling the scene from the anime at the Baratie restaurant, Rolan thought it was truly a waste for someone like Gin to follow Krieg.

He would be better off at his side, where he could witness a much broader world.

When Rolan said this, Gin’s expression darkened instantly. He turned to the pirates beside him and asked, “What exactly happened?”

“It... it seems someone fired on the captain’s sailing ship, and that’s why...”

The pirates recalled the sound of cannon fire earlier. If anyone had offended someone, this was likely the only reason.

Who would have thought that such a powerful individual would venture out to sea alone in such a tiny sailboat?

On the other hand, perhaps only someone with such strength would dare journey alone in a small craft.

Hearing this, Gin’s face grew even more somber. This wasn’t merely an offense; it was a death sentence.

As a pirate, he couldn’t say his fellow pirates were wrong. Even if he personally avoided such acts, to them, shelling a town was nothing unusual—let alone firing on a lone sailboat.

But the problem now was that they had fired on a small sailboat and provoked someone of this caliber—exactly the situation he wished to avoid.

“I’m willing to compensate you for all your losses. Would that satisfy you?”

Gin forced himself to remain calm.

He knew he was no match for this man—after all, this was someone who had toyed effortlessly with Pearl.

If he wanted this man to leave, his only options were to offer money and speak politely.

“That’s not enough.”

Rolan shook his head. He hadn’t come here merely to demand compensation for his sailboat.

“Then what form of compensation do you want?”

Gin pressed on, now truly eager to pay whatever price it took to get Rolan to leave.

After all, they were about to set sail for the Grand Line, and he didn’t want any trouble here.

“I want you.”

Rolan pointed at Gin, speaking slowly and deliberately.

“Me?”

Not only Gin, but all the pirates present were baffled by Rolan’s demand.

Though Gin was strong, compared to their captain Krieg, he was still lacking. If this man needed a henchman, why not take Krieg himself? Though, to be fair, Krieg would never agree to follow him.

“Are you making a fool of me?”

Gin dropped into a fighting stance, gripping his iron-ball flails tightly.

Rolan shook his head, unbothered by Gin’s threat. In a calm voice, he explained, “I know you, Gin. Because Krieg once saved your life, you swore your loyalty to him. But you know as well as I do—he’s not worthy of your devotion. Only by following me will you find a better future.”

Gin fell silent, saying nothing more.

He knew Rolan spoke the truth, but he couldn’t abandon Krieg. The reason was simple: just as Rolan said, Krieg had saved him.

Rolan continued, “To be honest, this ship, this fleet, only exists because I want to take you away. All your comrades know that, aside from my current strength, I also possess a Devil Fruit power. None of you are my match—not even Krieg.”

Gin glanced at the pirates and saw them nodding, their faces grim. He realized then that the man before him was not lying.

If someone could make him lose the will to fight without using his Devil Fruit powers, what would he be like when those powers were unleashed?

Gin dared not imagine it; until now, the strongest man he had ever known was their captain, Krieg.

So what should he do now?

Truthfully, if not for the debt he owed Krieg, Gin wouldn’t hesitate to leave with Rolan. Following such a powerful man promised a far brighter future than sticking with Krieg.

But Gin was not someone who broke his word easily.

When Krieg saved his life, Gin vowed to serve him until death. That promise would never be broken.

“I won’t go with you.”

Gin shifted back into his fighting stance, determined to express his resolve through battle.

He knew he was being blindly loyal, but he was not one to easily break his word.

“If Krieg were dead, would you still be so conflicted?”

Rolan suddenly glanced at the massive ship with the panther’s head prow, his tone calm.

“What are you planning?”

Gin’s heart tightened, and a rush of complicated feelings—part excitement, part anger—rose within him.

“To be honest, Gin, what I value is not your strength, but your loyalty. On these seas, betrayals and brotherhoods broken are commonplace. Yet because he saved your life, you gave him everything—even knowing he was in the wrong.”

“Such loyalty is rare, but regrettably, you’ve given it to the wrong man.”

As he spoke, Rolan walked toward the massive panther-headed ship.

As for Gin, the other pirates, or even Krieg, Rolan didn’t give them a second thought. They were just petty pirates of the East Blue, unworthy of notice.

This wasn’t arrogance—it was simply the truth of his strength.

And as for Krieg? He called himself Admiral of the East Blue, but his bounty wasn’t even as high as Arlong, the fish-man holed up in Cocoyashi Village.

“Stop! I won’t let you harm Captain Krieg!”

Gin swung his flail, charging at Rolan. Whatever might happen in the future, at this moment his loyalty to Krieg was unshaken.

He knew he was no match for Rolan, but he would not stand by and let him move against Krieg.

“You’re still too weak.”

Rolan turned, and with a swing of the scabbard of his short sword, sent Gin flying.

Lying on the ground, coughing blood, Gin was stunned by the sheer difference in strength—Rolan had subdued him with just a scabbard, in a single move.

Unlike with Pearl, Rolan had no interest in playing with Gin; his desire to recruit Gin had arisen on a whim.

If he succeeded, all the better; if not, it made no difference. After all, Gin was just a pirate.

He was not like Akainu, obsessed with absolute justice, but he certainly didn’t care for pirates.

If Gin chose to follow him, Rolan could overlook most of his piratical past.

If not, then Gin had no reason to live.

“You…”

Lying on the ground, watching Rolan walk farther and farther away, Gin’s heart was filled with both fear and anticipation.

The stronger Rolan appeared, the more conflicted Gin felt.

He worried for Krieg’s safety, yet he couldn’t help but feel a thrill at being singled out by such a powerful figure.

“So it’s you, bullying my crew, is it?”