Chapter Thirty-Three: Is This What the Navy Is For?

As expected, things unfolded exactly as Berumebo had anticipated.

When Zoro saw the group behind him, especially the young girl Donna, he immediately halted his movements and sheathed his sword.

“Well, Zoro,” Berumebo continued, seizing on the effect of his threat, “as long as you’re willing to give up resisting, I might consider sparing their lives—and yours, too. I won’t kill you, but since you killed my pet, I must take revenge. So here’s your punishment: you’ll be tied up in the execution square for a month, exposed to the sun, no food, no water. If you survive after a month, I’ll let you go. How’s that?”

“A month, is it?” Zoro fell silent, on the verge of accepting Berumebo’s terms.

He knew he needed to get stronger as soon as possible, but he couldn’t ignore the lives at stake before him.

“Is this what you do as marines?”

Suddenly, Rowlan stepped in front of Zoro, his short sword appearing in his hand.

A moment ago, because of Zoro’s arrival, Rowlan hadn’t planned to act—he knew that with Zoro’s strength, these people were no match for him. But when Zoro seemed ready to surrender for their sakes, Rowlan realized he could no longer stand by.

He already despised law enforcers who abused their authority and acted as accomplices to villains. Now they were bullying people right in front of him.

“You’re a swordsman too?” Zoro looked at Rowlan’s steadily advancing figure, sensing a powerful aura—this was a swordsman even stronger than himself.

And in the next moment, Zoro smiled.

A moment ago, he’d been worried his actions might bring disaster upon these people. Now he saw that his intervention had been unnecessary—this newcomer was obviously even more formidable.

“Sir, please step aside. As long as we bring Zoro back, all of this will be over,” one of the marines said, sweat beading on his brow as Rowlan advanced.

Rowlan hadn’t even made a move yet, but his presence bore down on them like a tangible weight. Clearly, this man was even stronger than the pirate hunter Zoro. They didn’t want to fight him, so they tried persuasion.

If he kept escalating things, there would be no turning back—soon it would all be beyond control.

But Rowlan cared nothing for their arguments.

He had resolved to act, and he would see it through to the end. If you don’t pull the weeds up by the roots, they’ll only grow back stronger.

Rowlan’s eyes were cold as he advanced on the marines, his voice sharp as he demanded, “Tell me, is this what the Navy is for?”

“Bullying the innocent, serving as accomplices to tyrants—is this the justice the World Government proclaims? Is this the justice the Navy claims to uphold?”

Even though the old blacksmith had explained that some of them had no choice, Rowlan showed no mercy in his rebuke.

Is being overpowered a reason to silently endure? Is following orders an excuse to oppress defenseless civilians just because you’re not strong enough to resist?

If it truly were so, then in the country he’d come from before crossing into this world, there would have been no need for all those sacrifices a hundred years ago.

If you’re not strong enough to fight, why even stand up at all?

“Justice? Don’t make me laugh—justice here is whatever my father, Captain Morgan, says it is.”

Hearing Rowlan’s words, Berumebo suddenly burst into laughter. They were all adults here—how could anyone still believe such nonsense?

Rowlan ignored Berumebo; he was nothing but a spoiled brat.

He looked coldly at the marines. If what the old blacksmith said was true, then these men ought to feel ashamed.

“If you truly have justice in your hearts, I can help you end this. The Krieg Pirates and Iron Blade Pirates have both fallen by my hand—Morgan is nothing to me.”

“If you don’t believe me, go check my ship—Krieg and Iron Blade are both locked in my hold.”

“But the question is, do you have the courage?”

Rowlan looked down on the marines, each of whom was half a head shorter than he, and challenged them.

The Iron Blade Pirates were the group who’d been shipwrecked in the storm—Rowlan had killed all of them except the captain, whom he kept as proof of his deeds.

He mentioned both groups to demonstrate his strength.

Defeating one pirate crew might be luck, but to bring down two in succession—that was true power.

“Krieg?”

“Iron Blade?”

As marines, they were familiar with all the wanted pirates in the East Blue. They’d recently received news of the destruction of the Krieg and Iron Blade pirates; at the time, they’d assumed Captain Smoker from Loguetown had handled it. Who could have guessed it was this young man before them?

“If what you say is true, sir, we’re willing to try,” one of the marines said. “We’ve endured Morgan’s tyranny for too long.”

“Every day, as we walk the streets, the townspeople curse us under their breath, call us lapdogs, say we’re unworthy to be marines. It stings, you know,” another added.

They were eager to act on Rowlan’s proposal—if someone strong enough to defeat Morgan appeared, who among them would willingly continue violating their conscience?

“Then start by arresting Berumebo. He’s Morgan’s son, and he’ll stand trial together with his father,” Rowlan nodded. These marines weren’t beyond hope yet.

If he hadn’t known from the original story that these men were nothing like Morgan himself, Rowlan wouldn’t have wasted his breath—he’d have cut them down without hesitation.

A few corrupt marines—killing them would have been nothing.

“Yes, sir.”

Marines never wavered when carrying out orders. Without hesitation, they turned and seized Berumebo, who continued to rage and threaten, but they no longer cared.

If this young man could really defeat Morgan, then Morgan was finished—and what weight did the threats of his spoiled son carry?

“Pirate hunter Zoro, can I ask you to look after them for me?” Rowlan turned to Zoro.

Though he believed most of the marines in Shells Town had acted under duress, human nature was unpredictable. Without Zoro to protect them, Rowlan couldn’t proceed against Morgan with a clear mind.

He trusted Zoro’s strength—Morgan might not even be his match, let alone these marines.

“No problem,” Zoro answered readily, curiosity about Rowlan sparking in his eyes.

He’d never heard of such a powerful swordsman in the East Blue before, and now that he’d met one, he was eager for a duel.

“Master Nus, if I’m not mistaken? I heard Berumebo call you that just now.” Rowlan turned to the old blacksmith. “I’ve already paid. Please have the weapons I requested ready for me. I’ll be back soon.”

As for Nami and Donna, Rowlan merely waved his hand—there was nothing more to say.

They all knew his strength. Dealing with a branch captain was a trivial matter—not worth making a big scene over.

“Let’s go,” he said. “It’s time we dealt with these corrupt marines.”