Chapter 23

When all of the cannonballs are running out, I order my men to retreat to the second line, and I follow them behind. It did not take the pirates long before they arrived at the second line. I notice that there are only around fifty pirates left.

And among them is a giant man with eight arms and a spider butt behind him. I can also see a humanoid creature standing next to him. Another zoan user? By the look of it, he eats a Devil Fruit that lets him change into a rabbit.

"Gion, take care of the rabbit man. I will take care of the spider one."

"Roger"

I split my body into three and left the other behind before charging at the spider-man. In a matter of a second, I appear in front of him and punch his face.

"ARGH!"

I can hear a gunshot behind me; it looks like the other is also starting the fight.

"You bastard! You are the one sinking all of my ship! Die!"

I can see him charging at me and throwing his punch at me. I spread my Observation Haki to see the intent of my enemy. I move my body and dodge all of his attacks. He has a fast punch, but it cannot be compared to Garp's punch. That monster is a whole other level.

"Why can't I hit you?! Stand still you bastard!"

"Sure"

I stand still and coat my body that gets hit with Armament Haki. With my Observation Haki still on, I can predict the incoming attack and coat that area with Armament Haki.

After letting myself get hit by him for a minute, I thrust my fist forward, punched his stomach, and used my other hand to hit his jaw. Just like that, he fell to the ground unconscious.

"That's it? That is anti-climatic. Even the pirate I hunt on the sea is stronger than him. Man, I thought that I would get some challenges. Even the animal on Long-Lizard Island is stronger than him."

He really only has the number, huh? Also, he has devil fruit. It is a well-known fact in the Grandline that Devil Fruit users need really tough to be able to compensate for the weakness against Haki, but it looks like this man did not know that and thinks he is already invincible or he is really lazy.

I shake my head and see Gion is fighting against the Rabbit-Man with her sword. The Rabbit-Man is really agile, just like a rabbit. His leg power is enormous, and a single kick can destroy a concrete building.

Sadly, it was not enough to beat Gion.

She is faster than even the Rabbit-Man. It is true that she still needs training in her strength, but she can compete against the zoan user. Sadly for the Rabbit-Man, she has Haki. Each of her attacks is like she is attacking his weak point.

After another minute of fighting, she jumps into the air and swings her sword down, cutting the man's head.

On the other side of the area, my men were already killing all the pirates with their swords and guns. So it looks like I'm the only person who did not kill my target. Well, maybe next time.

I take the pirate captain and carry him on my shoulder. Then, I walk toward my men and look at Gion.

"Gion, take the Sea Stone chain and tie him, will you? We will take him to the Marine Base in two days. We will place him in the Brig."

"Yes, sir!"

She and three other people start to carry the pirate captain to our ship, where he will be placed inside the Brig while chained with a Sea Stone chain.

"Yuuji!"

"Oof"

I know she is coming because my Observation Haki is still in full power. I decide to stay still and let her tackle me.

"Bonney, you can't tackle me just like that. I could hit you without thinking, you know?"

"I'm sorry… I worried…"

"Hmmm? What is it?"

"I'm worried!"

"Hahahaha, you didn't need to worry about me, Bonney. I'm strong you know?"

"En! I know! You went POW and the bad guy went WOOSH! Then you go BOOM then POW before the bad guy is defeated!"

I release another laugh before patting her on the head and carrying her on my shoulder.

"HOOT! HOOT!"

Bonney and I look at the sky and see Jeanne land on my head before nipping my hair affectionately.

"Hahahaha, how are you girl? Are you doing a great job watching us from the sky?"

"Hoot! HOOT!"

"Ow Ow, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You are doing great, I just know it."

"Hoot! Hoot!"

"Yeah. Yeah. Now, come on. We need to tell the other about the great news."

~Two days later~

I hug the crying girl tightly and say.

"I'm not leaving you forever, you know? I will be back."

"No! Don't go! Please…"

I let her cry on my chest for a few minutes, and when she stops crying, I push her a little and look her right in the eyes.

"Bonney, you did not need to worry. I will come back and visit you. In fact, here."

I take out a stamp from my pocket before pushing it on her forearm. This is a semi-permanent stamp that the villager was kind enough to make for me. It looks like this village's specialty is to make a tattoo semi-permanent.

What I mean by semi-permanent is that a certain combination of plant-based liquid can erase it; otherwise, it is permanently stuck on your skin.

"This is the symbol of my crew. This symbol is something really important to us. It means you are a strong person who will protect the innocent and defeat the wicked. Just like a shield and a sword."

I look at her with a smile on my face and say,

"This is the symbol that says you are already part of my crew and as a part of my crew and family."

"Family?"

"Yup. You are now my family and as family I will never abandon you."

"Promise?"

"I promise"

She hugged me one last time before releasing me and wiping the tears from her eyes.

"I will become stronger! I will become stronger and then join you! I will become a Marine just like you! When you return I will be stronger! Just wait!"

"Hahahahaha! Then, here."

I gave her the knife that I ordered in Marineford.

"This is my personal knife. You can keep it for now. When I return, I will take it back."

"En! I will protect it!"

"Good."

I get on the ship alongside Gion. Both of us wave our hands as we leave the newly rebuilt Bronco Island.